Transcript Highlights:

• business or get out of the Universal Service Fund and helping fund it through, you know, by way of payment
• customers incur these expenses as their providers' costs are increased due to the city's levying these payments
• For, it makes sense to align the cost creator with that payment of those issues, and it breaks it down
• This proposed shift could quickly consume that revenue, and then some, leaving taxpayers to make up the
• item on the bill that residents are charged for. of the community pay; that is a hidden tax to the consumer

Bills: HB3713, HB3953, HB4055, HB4272

Keywords: telecommunications, local exchange companies, universal service fund, rate maintenance, business expansion, broadband access, internet service, multiunit residential properties, urban areas, affordability programs, fiber-optic cables, public land, construction permits, environmental impact, notification requirements, municipal projects, infrastructure, facility relocation, public right-of-way, 1184

Transcript Highlights:

• So, I want to make sure it's clear that this does not affect anyone who is using a payment processor
• . ...affect any transaction originating from a banking institution like a bank or credit union or payment
• They include bill payments, remittances, prepaid cards, and money orders.
• HB297 increases costs for businesses, consumers, and regulators while reducing... ...transparency and
• It lists banks, credit cards, payment processors, anybody that's exempt under the money transmission

Bills: HB297

Keywords: cash transactions, money transmission, regulatory compliance, criminal penalties, Alabama Securities Commission, 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Those payments offset the credit the hydro owners are earning as their net metering credit.
• Those payments offset the credit the hydro owners are earning as their net metering credit.
• Those payments offset the credit the hydro owners are earning as their net metering credit.
• Those payments offset the credit the hydro owners are earning as their net metering credit.
• Those payments offset the credit the hydro owners are earning as their net metering credit.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The furloughed employees who aren't required to work that I've talked to have been consumers. consumers
• ><00:47:28.880> is benefiting producers and consumers is benefiting producers and consumers is
• We provide benefits payment assistance.
• non-payment live in greater Minnesota. non-payment live in greater Minnesota.
• have to make and keep a payment have to make and keep a payment arrangement.<01:37:30.480> Uh

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So this is again about choice and about increasing consumer protections for those older adults.
• Healthcare providers, consumer advocates, and any other experts. Yes? Okay, thank you.
• Payment due of somewhere around $250,000. It varies among students.
• We are a health consumer advocacy organization for 30 years in New Mexico.
• And almost every day we hear from consumers.

Bills: SB101, SB21, HM52, HB132, SB14, SB20

Keywords: SB 101, Health Care Delivery and Access Act, repeal of repeal, sunset repeal, delayed repeal, health care, healthcare, access to care, medical services, provider regulation, state health law, New Mexico, SB 21, Medicare supplement, Medigap, open enrollment, guaranteed issue, birthday month enrollment, health insurance, insurance regulation

Transcript Highlights:

• It's immediate. receives notice of an eviction or late payment, remains physical posting on the door.
• Approving this bill would significantly diminish our ability to do that for our consumers, including
• In early 2023, an incinerator in Doral was closed after a fire consumed the plant.
• And at the same time, we should provide some predictability to our small businesses and consumers.
• And at the same time, we should provide some predictability to our small businesses and consumers.

Summary: The committee first took up CS/SB 1730, a Live Local Act bill on affordable housing. The sponsor described it as a set of technical and policy adjustments to strengthen implementation, including changes to zoning, height, parking, moratoriums, attorney fees, and related land-use rules. An amendment by Senator Claudio was adopted, adding provisions such as a 10-story height limit near single-family neighborhoods, exclusions for certain protected areas, and changes to fee and use definitions. The committee then reported the bill favorably. Members next considered CS/SB 1674 on unrated bonds for Israel bonds, with a clarifying amendment adopted to make clear the bill applied only to Israel bonds. CS/SB 140 on charter schools was also approved after debate over parent-led conversion of public schools, municipal job-engine charter schools, and surplus school property; opponents warned about local control and impacts on teachers and communities, while the sponsor said the bill preserved district authority and created new school-choice and economic-development options. The committee also passed SB 96, a claims bill for Jacob Rogers, and CS/SB 954 on recovery residences, after strike-all amendments that addressed zoning, ADA concerns, bed caps, staffing ratios, and limits on operation in certain multifamily settings. Senators expressed support for expanding treatment housing but also raised neighborhood and staffing concerns. The committee then approved CS/SB 1714 on local housing assistance plans, which would allow SHIP funds for limited lot-rental assistance for mobile-home owners and require local plans to address mobile-home park closures. SB 658 on standardized construction lien release forms was reported favorably despite testimony from contractors and lawyers warning about possible effects on lien rights and the separate House proposal. The committee also reconsidered and then approved CS/SB 482 after a late-filed amendment addressing local government art fees and a key issue over defining “extraordinary circumstances,” with counties and cities saying more work remained. Finally, the committee passed SB 24 and CS/SB 4, both local claims bills, CS/SB 712 on synthetic turf and related construction rules, SB 952 repealing the emergency firearms/ammunition restriction, CS/SB 1164 allowing email notice delivery in landlord-tenant matters with opt-in safeguards, and SB 202 on municipal water and sewer rates, which drew extensive opposition from North Miami Beach and Miami Gardens officials over utility surcharges and revenue impacts. The meeting ended with SB 202 still under heavy questioning and testimony about the fairness and financial consequences of the surcharge structure.

Transcript Highlights:

• We've already issued some payments on initial milestones.
• We've already issued some payments on initial milestones.
• And obviously it's important if we're asking consumers to purchase EVs.
• Obviously, it's important if we're asking consumers to purchase EVs.
• Obviously, it's important if we're asking consumers to purchase EVs.

Keywords: 904, all

Summary: The House Transportation Committee held a work session focused heavily on Climate Commitment Act transportation spending and electrification programs. Staff first reviewed roughly $2.2 billion in CCA transportation allocations over three biennia, noting that the largest shares went to public transportation, active transportation, ferry electrification, ZEV programs, rail freight/ports, and planning, with about half of the electrification and fuel-conversion spending tied to state ferries. Members asked for more detail comparing CCA dollars with the broader transportation budget and for total project costs, not just CCA contributions. The Department of Ecology presented on the zero-emission school bus program. Ecology said the legislature codified the program in 2024 and requires electric buses once diesel and electric costs are equivalent, with exemptions available when electric buses cannot meet district needs. Ecology reported $38.3 million in CCA funding for 2025-27, with $21.4 million already obligated or spent to replace 91 diesel buses in 28 districts, plus additional federal EPA funding leveraged for 13 more buses. Members asked about health impacts, parity timing, rural route exemptions, charging and training costs, and whether the program includes infrastructure; Ecology said the grants cover buses, charging, and sometimes training, and that the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction is developing the cost-equivalency formula. The Department of Commerce described its clean transportation role, including EV rebates, charging infrastructure, tribal electric boats, and the EV Coordinating Council. Commerce said its rebate program was designed to lower monthly payments for low-income households, that 89% of recipients said the rebate was essential to their purchase, and that lease incentives helped draw additional federal dollars. Members asked about tribal boat details, utility interconnection and curtailment, range anxiety, and vandalism at charging stations; Commerce said battery storage and managed charging are being used in some projects, some utilities are more responsive than others, and vandalism remains a challenge. The Department of Enterprise Services reported 567 Level 2 and 46 Level 3 charging ports installed at 82 state sites, with 19 more sites in progress and over $100 million in additional candidate projects. DES said most funding is for new infrastructure, though some VW settlement money is used for replacements, and members asked about charger replacement needs, mobile charging, and EV fleet purchasing data. WSDOT then outlined its EV infrastructure and transit programs. It said the Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Partnership program has funded 23 new charging sites this biennium, including overburdened communities and tribal locations, and has supported 264 DC fast-charging ports statewide. WSDOT also described the new Washington Zero Emission Incentive Program, a point-of-sale voucher program for zero-emission commercial vehicles and equipment with $112 million available this biennium; it reported strong early demand, especially for off-road equipment and heavy trucks, and said technical assistance is being provided to help businesses participate. In public transportation, WSDOT said CCA funds support bus and bus facility grants, commute trip reduction, green transportation capital projects, paratransit, tribal transit, zero-emissions access car share, and other mobility projects, with most awards benefiting overburdened communities. Finally, WSDOT’s rail freight and ports division said port electrification projects are underway but spending is still low because of long design, permitting, utility, and supply-chain timelines; it estimated the $89.8 million program could reduce more than 140,000 metric tons of emissions over 10 years. Members questioned the pace of spending, the Northwest Seaport drayage project, and how state funds can leverage additional federal or port resources.

Transcript Highlights:

• AND PROVIDER PERSPECTIVE BY CONSOLIDATING INTAKE OF CONSUMER INQUIRIES AND DEPLOYING MORE SELF SERVICE
• IT'S FOUNDATIONAL FOR CLAIMS PAYMENT MANAGED CARE AND COUNTER PROCESSING AND CAPITATION PAYMENTS AND
• THEN THAT HAS A CASCADING EFFECT ON THE TURNAROUND TIME AS FAR AS PAYMENT.
• AND THEN THAT HAS A CASCADING EFFECT ON THE TURNAROUND TIME ON INVOICE PAYMENT.
• AND SO IT WAS IMPORTANT WE WORK ON OUR INTERNAL PROCESSES TO MAKE SURE WE COULD GET PAYMENT OUT IN A

Transcript Highlights:

• And that includes doing a lot of key information gathering for consumer education and us also ensuring
• With that same family, if they were searching with a mobile voucher, and let's say the payment standard
• can again revisit that fixed below market rent opportunity, and as long as that rent is below the payment
• Ensure that you match, again, that mobile voucher opportunity within the correct kind of payment standard
• Matching a voucher opportunity within the correct kind of payment standard and matching process to a

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Long-Term Services and Supports and Health Equity Subcommittee met with a presentation from Housing Navigator Massachusetts. Staff described the nonprofit’s mission to improve access to affordable housing through a free, 24/7 search tool and public data dashboards. They explained how the site distinguishes between rent-based-on-income units and fixed below-market rent units, how mobile vouchers such as AHVP and Section 8 interact with those listings, and what types of housing are included or excluded from the database. They also reviewed accessibility filters, supportive housing resources, and related state programs such as EOHLC resources and RAFT. Committee members asked about the organization’s funding, the availability of voucher programs, and whether the site tracks demand for accessible units or wait lists over time. Housing Navigator said it is primarily supported through the state, works closely with the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, and does not collect personal application data because it is not part of the application process. Staff said accessible units appear to be in high demand, but they do not have direct data on how many people are waiting or how many applications result from site visits. They also said they are working to improve data sharing, more frequent updates, and future research tools. Members discussed ways to increase public awareness of Housing Navigator, including sharing a one-page fact sheet or infographic through disability organizations, local disability commissions, independent living centers, and the Massachusetts Office on Disability. The subcommittee also briefly discussed future goals, including inviting MassHealth to a January meeting, seeking regular updates on federal Medicare and Medicaid developments, reviewing the annual report’s recommendations, and possibly planning a future health equity event. The meeting ended with the introduction of new commission member Victoria Gill and a motion to adjourn, which was approved unanimously.

Transcript Highlights:

• Payments are then issued in order once sufficient funds are available and must be made within 14 days
• It if it serves their residents better, while maintaining existing consumer protections.
• This bill simply expands choice and, where appropriate, improves outcomes for both providers and consumers
• This bill definitely caught our attention because it helps our consumers live independently by working
• Thousands of our consumers in the Independent Living Centers network live in high fire risk zones.

Summary: The Assembly Aging and Long-Term Care Committee met on April 21 and heard three bills. AB 1819 by Assemblymember Sanchez would require buildings serving 50 or more people to have an automated external defibrillator on site. Sanchez said the bill is intended to protect older adults and other community members by improving access to life-saving emergency equipment; supporters included recreation and park districts and respiratory care professionals. The committee members present voted in favor, and the bill was passed as amended and re-referred to Appropriations, with the roll held open for absent members. AB 1983 by Assemblymember Blanca Rubio would create an optional sequential repayment method for continuing care retirement communities, allowing entrance fee repayments to be made in the order residents leave rather than waiting for a specific unit to be reoccupied. Rubio and Erickson Senior Living argued the change would make repayments more predictable and equitable while preserving consumer protections. Support also came from LeadingAge California and the California Assisted Living Association. The committee approved the bill and sent it to Human Services, again holding the roll open for later votes. AB 2037 by Assemblymember Patterson would establish a pilot grant program to help seniors and people with disabilities harden their homes against wildfire risk, with Patterson describing it as a way to support property maintenance and reduce wildfire spread. The California Foundation for Independent Living Centers, AARP California, and local officials testified in support, and committee members accepted amendments to add another county to the pilot. The committee voted to pass the bill as amended and re-refer it to Appropriations. After the initial votes, add-on votes were recorded and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• protect consumers from corporate abuse. protect consumers from corporate abuse.
• myself as much time as I may consume. myself as much time as I may consume.
• as much time as I may consume. as much time as I may consume.
• RDIC is a monthly payment<04:23:34.159> of<04:23:34.479> $1,700 payment of $1,700 payment
• time as I may consume. time as I may consume.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Thursday, May 21, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We also have a direct payment program for mental health rates in this bill.
• Specifically, I want to start with the directed payment for the hospitals.
• Forty-four other states have a directed payment program for hospitals.
• Their own directed payment program, and I can't be more grateful for that.
• I think the consumers need to be heard on this, and I think in the future, These consumer groups are

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:40:41.920> to where we will transfer that payment to where we will transfer that payment
• We do occasionally, advanced payments.
• , in which we make an advanced payment, in which we make an advanced payment, but<01:06:59.599>
• recovering overp payments recovering overp payments administratively,<01:15:48.000> but<01
• So when you're SNAP benefit payments.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee chair opened by explaining that the committee has expanded from a traditional audit-follow-up role into an oversight role focused on whether audit recommendations are implemented and whether controls are in place to detect fraud. He said the committee was concerned about fraud uncovered in social service programs in other states and wanted to understand New Hampshire’s safeguards, especially around major contracts and program performance. Charles Buchanan, director of the New Hampshire Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, and investigator Tim Brackett described the unit’s structure and mission. Buchanan said the unit, housed in the Attorney General’s Criminal Justice Bureau, investigates and prosecutes fraud by health care providers serving Medicaid beneficiaries, as well as abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation of residents in health care facilities. He outlined common Medicaid fraud schemes such as billing for services not rendered, upcoding, using unqualified staff, drug substitution, kickbacks, supplemental charges, and inflated customary charges. He also described resident abuse/neglect and drug diversion in hospitals, nursing homes, and assisted living settings. Brackett said his role is financial investigator/auditor and noted the unit is grant-funded and must include a prosecutor, investigator, and auditor. The witnesses then explained how cases reach the unit and how they are handled. Most referrals come from the state Department of Health and Human Services’ program integrity unit and from managed care organizations’ special investigations units, which look for fraud, waste, and abuse and refer credible allegations. Other sources include qui tam whistleblower actions, the national Medicaid Fraud Control Units association, citizen complaints, provider referrals, adult protective services law-enforcement referrals, local law enforcement, and federal agencies. Once a referral is received, the unit can accept or deny it; accepted matters may be investigated criminally or civilly, while nonviable matters can be referred back to HHS or other agencies for administrative action, including repayment demands and reimbursement offsets. No votes or formal committee actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• And if those payments are not increased, a district like mine, my own If those payments are not increased
• We are proposing to eliminate the prospective payment system, or what we call PPS, the RAP payments that
• These managed care payment increases are in addition to those payment rates that existed at that time
• These managed care payment increases are in addition to those payment rates that existed at that time
• The workforce quality incentive payments for nursing facilities, which are essential payments that are

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Health held the first of several hearings on the Governor’s May Revision for health care, with opening remarks focused on the state’s projected $12 billion deficit, looming federal Medicaid changes, and the potential impact on Medi-Cal, public health, reproductive health, and safety-net providers. Several members criticized the proposal as balancing the budget on vulnerable Californians, while others defended the need for cost containment and questioned the administration’s assumptions. The chair set ground rules for respectful, focused questioning and outlined three topics: the Medi-Cal proposals, Proposition 35, and Proposition 56. DHCS Director Michelle Baas presented the May Revision’s Medi-Cal package, saying the department’s budget totals $200.6 billion overall, including $45.2 billion General Fund, and that the proposals are intended to address rising caseloads, pharmacy costs, and managed care spending. She described proposed changes for adults with unsatisfactory immigration status, including a freeze on new full-scope enrollment for those 19 and older, $100 monthly premiums beginning in 2027, elimination of adult dental and long-term care coverage, removal of PPS/RAP payments to FQHCs and rural health clinics for that population, and a pharmacy rebate aggregator. Other proposals included eliminating certain OTC drug classes, removing GLP-1 coverage for weight loss, prior authorization and step therapy changes, reinstating the Medi-Cal asset test, eliminating acupuncture as an optional benefit, allowing utilization management for hospice, raising the managed care minimum medical loss ratio to 90%, reducing PACE capitation rates toward the midpoint of the actuarial range, eliminating the skilled nursing facility workforce and quality incentive program, and suspending the SNF backup power requirement. The LAO said the revised Medi-Cal spending estimate is about $2.5 billion higher than the Governor’s Budget in the budget year, and that the increase appears driven more by higher per-enrollee costs than by caseload alone. The LAO said the budget solutions are concentrated in a few areas, are largely ongoing, and should be considered in light of federal uncertainty, but suggested the Legislature could explore alternatives such as more targeted income thresholds for the undocumented expansion and simpler asset-test rules. Department of Finance officials said the proposals are difficult but necessary to address a third consecutive deficit and rising Medi-Cal costs. Members then pressed the administration on the methodology and impacts of the proposals, especially the enrollment freeze, premiums, asset test, hospice controls, PACE reductions, and the elimination of benefits and provider payments. No votes or formal actions were taken at this hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• My idea was that we need to make sure that if you're, if you, you've got a delinquent tax payment and
• We do get payments in before the attorney. attorney fees attached in July.
• The committee sub clarifies that the tax is remitted by whoever collects the guest payment.
• , trying to remedy and today's payment payment methods.
• For the payment of maintenance and operation funds and secured by a pledge of property taxes.

Bills: HB19, HB30, HB851, HB1663, HB1681, HB1769, HB1937, HB1979, HB2428, HB2433, HB2825, HB3159, HB3424, HB3486, HB3487, HB3504, HB3605, HB3879, HB3994, HB4382, HB4752, HB5444, HB5446, HB5447, HB3199, HB4847, HB19

Keywords: local government debt, property tax, ad valorem tax, bond election, certificate of obligation, anticipation note, school district tax rate, voter-approval rate, debt service cap, municipal finance, county bonds, flood control district, hospital district, public works, tax transparency, property tax notice, November uniform election date, general obligation bonds, local debt reform, taxpayer notice

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:21:46.679> while patients out of pocket payments while patients out of pocket payments
• <00:21:48.960> are the commercial and private payments are the commercial and private payments
• <00:36:37.800> who<00:36:37.920> are provided to Consumers who are provided to Consumers
• You've got to appreciate that the consumer will feel that in some way.
• <01:15:09.159> those Insurance um bundled payments those Insurance um bundled payments those

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• on our student large monthly payments on our student loans. loans. loans.
• For early career teachers supporting a family, premiums now consume 25% of their income.
• The employee share comes added on top now through the state aid payment.
• <01:20:22.640> And uh uh through the state aid payment.
• And uh uh through the state aid payment.

Bills: HF3119

Keywords: teacher compensation, educational staff, unlicensed staff, minimum wage, inflation adjustment, education finance, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The road usage charge choice that they make will then be added to their vehicle registration payment
• So it's just another line item on the existing registration payment.
• The mileage choice program allows consumers to pay that highway use fee on a per-mile basis.
• Issues of payment. And you said your program is a prepayment.
• If there are any other panelists here who can speak to the issue of payment, I just wondered if there

Summary: The Assembly Transportation Committee first took up three highway naming resolutions on its consent calendar: ACR 109, SCR 78, and SCR 90. The committee approved the consent calendar with 11 aye votes and no no votes, then adjourned the bill-hearing portion. Members also recognized committee science fellow AJ Mendeola for his service, noting his contributions to bill analysis and staff support. The committee then held an informational hearing on alternatives to the gas tax, focused on the projected decline in fuel-tax revenue and the need for a more sustainable transportation funding model. The chair and invited experts described how inflation, improved fuel efficiency, and growth in electric and other alternative-fuel vehicles are eroding gas-tax revenues. Presenters from the National Conference of State Legislatures and the University of California discussed state options such as higher or indexed gas taxes, EV registration fees, road usage charges, delivery fees, public EV charging fees, transportation network company fees, and managed lanes, emphasizing tradeoffs among revenue adequacy, fairness, administrative cost, and public acceptance. Committee members raised concerns that mileage-based fees or EV fees could function as new taxes on commuters and lower-income drivers, especially if the gas tax is not repealed. Presenters responded that road usage charges are generally intended as replacements for the gas tax, not additions, and argued that mileage-based systems better preserve the user-pays principle while being less tied to vehicle fuel efficiency. They also noted that flat EV registration fees are easy to administer but can be less equitable because they are not linked to actual road use. Officials from Hawaii, Utah, and Oregon described their state programs and policy choices. Hawaii said its new road usage charge began July 1, 2025, for EVs, offers a choice between a per-mile charge and a flat annual fee through 2028, and will transition to mandatory EV participation before expanding to all light-duty vehicles by 2033. Utah described its voluntary EV road usage charge program, quarterly reporting, privacy protections, and legislative scenarios for removing the cap or making participation mandatory. Oregon outlined its constitutional cost-responsibility framework and broader transportation funding challenges, including reliance on user fees and limited use of general-fund support.

Transcript Highlights:

• social security payments. social security payments.
• security payments were were interrupted. security payments were were interrupted.
• an eviction for non-payment of rent? an eviction for non-payment of rent?
• 57.679> the<01:46:57.920> consumer frequently does protect the consumer frequently does
• ,<01:57:38.960> and costs, miss child care payments, and costs, miss child care payments,

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• property owners, insurance policies, roofing services by contractors, prohibited practices, and consumer
• roof's age, strengthens standards for evaluating roof conditions, and aligns roof and contractor consumer
• to the illegal sale of marijuana by people licensed by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer
• House Bill 177 now before you relates to the fee for passing bad checks to localities and payment orders
• provides a limited safe harbor so that a taxpayer is not charged a fee for a first-time electronic payment

Keywords: March 06, 2026 - Regular Session, 976, house, all