Transcript Highlights:

• and remediation rate, alongside SAT proficiency rates in reading and math.
• The graph on the left shows graduation rates alongside SAT proficiency rates.
• We are seeing increasing graduation rates. We are seeing slowly increasing proficiency rates.
• Now those two graduation rates and proficiency rates shouldn't be independent of one another.
• If we said increase graduation rates, they did their job. Graduation rates are up.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:24:29.760><c> a</c><00:24:29.919><c> bit</c> rate that generally a higher rate a bit rate that
• No, they get a monthly rate.
• be the rate to cover costs, assuming that all payers paid that rate.
• to do commercial rate setting.
• to do commercial rate setting.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Right now, our current seatbelt use rate is 79%.
• The highest use rate that we've ever had in the state is 84%.
• Right now, our current seatbelt use rate is 79%.
• The highest use rate that we've ever had in the state is 84%.
• To attain that use rate.

Committee: All ALC-REVIEW

Summary: The subcommittee reviewed multiple methods of finance and construction items, including projects for Arkansas State University, Black River Technical College, UAMS, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, and UCA. The UAPB Allied Health and Sciences Building appeared both as a method of finance and as an alternative delivery construction project, with East Harding Construction selected and AMR Architects as designer. Members approved the methods of finance, the alternative delivery project, and several discretionary grants, including Department of Health grants for a heart attack center designation and community health worker training, and DHS grants related to homeless services, behavioral health transition support, and an enabling technology pilot. The committee then reviewed service contracts, including RFQs, construction-related contracts, intergovernmental agreements, and a large number of out-of-state and in-state contracts. Testimony focused heavily on DHS staffing and state hospital contracts, the Arkansas State Police seatbelt survey, AEDC’s lithium supply chain analysis, and Shared Administrative Services’ new SuccessFactors performance-management contract. Members asked detailed questions about contract nursing costs, turnover, hiring timelines, and whether some contracts were being renewed or amended beyond their original projected costs. DHS and Veterans Affairs officials explained staffing shortages, retention incentives, and the use of contract labor as a supplement to state employees. Several contracts drew scrutiny and were held for further review. Representative Wardlaw raised concerns about projected costs and repeated amendments on the Department of Education security contract and on DHS staffing contracts, arguing that some had exceeded their original projected totals. The committee voted to hold contracts 5, 7, and 8 until Friday, while adopting the remaining contracts. The meeting ended after informational reports on service contract amendments without material change, executed contracts, and emergency procurements were presented, with no further business before adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• So it runs through our rates, just like everything else.
• But it'll be recovered through rates just like everything else.
• OST is cost recovery, so everything we do is recovered through the rates we bill the departments.
• So there's no increase to the rates just because of this loan.
• , solid rate, whatever.

Committee: All ALC-PEER

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I know what those rates are.
• are. our rates would what those rates are. our rates would not<01:20:12.560><c> compete</c><01:20:12.880
• rates the market rates of the market rates the market rates of insurance<01:33:05.120><c> fluctuate<
• HBIA has lowered rates.
• Yes. rates? Get stop having a lot of those. rates? Get stop having a lot of those.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have a fully comprehensive, risk-rated monitoring system that we're going to apply equally across
• , but it'll be recovered through rates just like everything else.
• So there's no increase to the rates just because of this loan.
• For rate increases, and they cannot supplant anything that's currently in place.
• , solid rate, whatever.

Committee: All ALC-PEER

Summary: The committee met with a quorum, opened with a prayer recognizing the death of Reverend Jesse Jackson, and then worked through a series of appropriation and transfer requests. In Section B, it approved a $273,000 temporary appropriation for the Department of Labor and Licensing. In Section C, it approved two Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act requests: $280 million for the Department of Transportation and $195 million for the State Broadband Office to support Arkansas BEAD broadband grants, including an extra help position. Members questioned the broadband awards, provider amendments, buildout timelines, accountability, and the status of unawarded locations; the broadband director said no provider had requested speed changes, awards would be monitored with milestone-based payments, and remaining locations would be addressed later as federal guidance is received. The committee also approved transfers in Section D, including $458,000 for the Department of Correction, $25 million for Department of Education programs such as declining enrollment and teacher incentive funding, and $229,000 for Shared Administrative Services project management support. In Section E, the committee considered a $4.7 million budget stabilization trust fund loan for the Office of State Technology to implement ServiceNow and related IT modernization, cybersecurity, and governance tools. Members pressed agency officials on repayment, cost savings, and whether the loan would simply roll over existing costs; officials said repayment would come through agency rates over a five-year period and that the new payment would be lower than the current loan being retired. The committee voted to give favorable advice to the Governor on the loan request. In Section F, the committee reviewed cash fund requests for wage and hour claims, unclaimed property, and a heritage grant; in Section G, it reviewed a $1.1 million federal grant to expand college and career coaching in rural districts; in Section H, it reviewed pay plan and performance fund requests totaling millions across multiple agencies; and in Section I, it reviewed budget manual formatting changes. The latter part of the meeting focused on reports, especially the Medicaid trust fund. DHS and DFA officials reported the fund balance had declined from prior years and was down to about $394 million after seven months, with further decline expected by year-end. Senators and representatives asked about the appropriate reserve level, the impact of pending Medicaid rules and legislation, FMAP changes, and whether additional funding would be needed in the upcoming budget. Officials said projections are updated regularly, more than 10 rule packages remain pending with CMS, and the governor and legislative leaders will discuss additional capital needs during budget development. Members also discussed the importance of balancing Medicaid spending with new federal funding and maintaining flexibility for critical areas such as labor and delivery. The committee then adjourned without further action on the reports.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, the provider rates, you know, 4% maybe reducing those to 3% or 2%.
• And he doesn't want our triple-A bond rating to be affected.
• And the reserves that we have is a big impact on why our bond rating is so high.
• The provider rate is $7.56 per 15 minutes, which is about $29 an hour.
• rate that we're returning.

Committee: House Health and Welfare

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That's reflected in the clearance rates.
• The case types most impacted by the surge in March of 2023 show a clearance rate.
• Additionally, small claims statewide clearance rates are significantly higher.
• rate after the enactment of this law.
• rates that they were showing ahead of time.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This would be, you know, rates to managed care plans.
• Question: Why do we have such a high error rate?
• The current error rate at this point is about 11%.
• So the sort of penalty rate will ultimately be dependent on our error rate in the federal fiscal year
• to know that the average error rate in the United States is 10.9, very similar to our error rate.

Committee: Senate Budget and Fiscal Review

Summary: The Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee held an oversight hearing on the impacts of H.R. 1 on California’s safety net, focusing on Medi-Cal and CalFresh. The chair and vice chair framed the discussion around major federal changes to work requirements, eligibility redeterminations, immigrant eligibility, and financing rules, while noting the state’s own structural budget deficit and the need for a second hearing later in March on county and safety-net impacts. The first panel included the Legislative Analyst’s Office, the Department of Finance, the UC Berkeley Labor Center, and the Food Research and Action Center. LAO and Finance described H.R. 1 as driving major enrollment losses and cost shifts. LAO estimated that Medi-Cal work requirements and six-month redeterminations could affect 3.5 million people, with 1 to 2 million potentially disenrolled, while CalFresh changes could subject more than 800,000 people to work requirements and cause over 600,000 to lose food assistance. They also highlighted new ineligibility for certain non-citizens, reduced federal matching for emergency Medi-Cal services, tighter provider tax rules, and higher state and county administrative costs for CalFresh. Finance said the governor’s budget reflects about $1.4 billion in new General Fund costs in 2026-27 and a $2.4 billion reduction in federal funds, with larger out-year impacts and up to 2 million Medi-Cal disenrollments by 2029-30. The UC Berkeley Labor Center projected up to 3 million Californians could lose full-scope Medi-Cal by 2028 when H.R. 1 is combined with state budget changes, though it said the state could limit losses by choosing not to apply some new requirements to state-funded populations and by keeping some immigrants in full-scope state-funded coverage. The Food Research and Action Center argued that CalFresh cuts and time limits would increase hunger, homelessness risk, and health costs, while also hurting local economies and increasing administrative burden. Committee members from both parties questioned the fiscal sustainability of Medi-Cal growth, the 11% CalFresh error rate and possible $2 billion penalty, county indigent care costs, and the effect of work requirements; several Democratic members argued the federal changes and state cuts would disproportionately harm low-income Californians, immigrants, and communities of color, while Republican members emphasized program growth, work incentives, and the need for budget restraint. No votes were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• That 4 and a.5% then we for MCO rates.
• Um and largest is growing at that rate.
• So as inflation increases, so does the rates for those.
• And do you, I mean, I'm sure you're at the same vacancy rates or a lot of them the same vacancy rates
• Now, it could be a function of reimbursement rates.

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Attendance Roll Call 00:00:36 Department for Medicaid Services 00:01:44, 958, all

Summary: The House Budget Review Subcommittee on Health and Family Services met for an overview of the Department for Medicaid Services budget. Commissioner Lisa Lee and CFO Steve Beal described Kentucky Medicaid enrollment at about 1.4 million members, including more than 600,000 children, and said the agency’s 2025 total budget was $20.6 billion. They reviewed enrollment trends before, during, and after the COVID-19 public health emergency, noting that redeterminations begun in 2023 reduced enrollment from its peak but that total membership remains above pre-COVID levels. They also explained the difference between the fee-for-service population, which includes long-term care and waiver members, and managed care members, and gave examples of the kinds of services and diagnoses seen in each group. A major focus was the governor’s recommended Medicaid budget and the department’s forecast process. Lee said the budget is split into benefits and administration, with benefits covering fee-for-service services, managed care capitation, transportation, and Medicare premiums, while administration covers contracts, personnel, operating costs, and IT-related advanced planning documents. She said the department uses a consensus forecasting group and actuary input, and that its forecasts have been within 1% of actual spending in recent years. The department also said the governor’s budget includes new waiver slots to address waiting lists, a 2% staff COLA, and a 10% phase-down on state-directed payments beginning in January 2028. Much of the discussion centered on House Resolution 1 and the funding needed to implement its Medicaid-related provisions, including community engagement requirements, six-month redeterminations, and future cost sharing. Lee said the department requested about $35 million in total funds for fiscal 2027, including about $8.2 million in general funds for system changes to the integrated eligibility system, claims processing, notices, and monitoring; and about $11 million in fiscal 2028 for ongoing maintenance, with about $1.6 million in general funds. She said the department expects to seek federal APD matching funds for the IT work. In response to questions, she explained that community engagement would apply to Medicaid expansion members, with qualifying activities including work, school, volunteering, or equivalent income, and that certain groups such as pregnant women, children, caretaker relatives, and some people with chronic disease or substance use disorder would be excluded. She said the department identified roughly 70,000 expansion members who could be subject to the requirement. No votes or formal actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our rates are down 11%. Yes, affordability. Our rates are down 11% in the last two years.
• Yes, time of use rates. Yes, shift loads. Section one of the bill is not about time of use rates.
• Things like VPPs, demand response, dynamic rates. Things like VPPs, demand response, dynamic rates.
• What are dynamic rates? Time-of-use, real-time pricing.
• or rate proceedings are impacted by this bill.

Committee: House Utilities and Energy

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our rates are down 11%. Yes, affordability. Our rates are down 11% in the last two years.
• Yes, time-of-use rates. Yes, shift loads. Section one of the bill is not about time-of-use rates.
• Things like VPPs, demand response, Things like VPPs, demand response, dynamic rates.
• What are dynamic rates? Time-of-use, real-time pricing.
• or rate proceedings are impacted by this bill.

Summary: The committee first heard AB 710, which would expand dynamic pricing and time-of-use electricity rates and require utilities to develop plans for advanced metering infrastructure so more customers can participate. The author and supporters said the bill would encourage load shifting to times when electricity is cheaper and cleaner, reduce curtailment of renewable energy, and help address affordability. PG&E and SDG&E opposed the bill as drafted, arguing the deadlines were premature, could disrupt ongoing CPUC rate proceedings and pilot programs, and might force costly changes before results are known; Golden State Power Cooperative was neutral and flagged a technical issue. After questions and discussion about timing and scope, the committee passed AB 710 on an 11-0 vote and also approved the consent calendar 15-0. The committee then held its first 2026 oversight hearing on implementation of the California Transmission Accelerator created by SB 254. GoBiz, IBank, CAISO, and the Department of Finance outlined the new program’s structure: GoBiz’s energy unit will coordinate the accelerator, IBank will evaluate and finance eligible projects, CAISO’s transmission planning and competitive solicitation process will identify projects, and the tax credit will provide an additional incentive for developers. Administration witnesses said trailer bill language and about 10 limited-term positions are being proposed to clarify roles, protect confidential information, and support the revolving fund, with roughly $26 million in administrative costs over five years. Committee members focused on coordination among agencies, supply-chain risks, regional market planning, and whether the accelerator has enough authority to move projects quickly. CAISO said its planning and competitive procurement processes already align closely with the accelerator and that no tariff changes are expected, while GoBiz and IBank said they are still developing financing strategies and learning from other states. Public commenters supported faster transmission but urged the committee to preserve the role of competitive developers, clarify ownership and risk allocation, and ensure wildfire safety and accountability. The hearing ended with no formal action beyond receiving testimony and committing to continued oversight.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's called a camel's rating, and the best rating is a one. The worst rating is a 5.
• It's rated 3, 4, or 5.
• Now, obviously, a 3-rated bank is not as bad as a 5-rated bank. operated back, but we still consider
• So it's tough to find deposits, interest rates.
• same level as the state. rate.

Committee: House Pensions, Investments & Financial Services

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'll continue to the rates.
• Bismarck is the lowest rate.
• When you say over 100, that's base rate? Base rate, yes. Sorry, I'm forgetting to acknowledge you.
• Does he have a base rate then? Yes, 34. Okay. So you're charging $34 for a base rate and $8.05.
• There's more than just the rate.

Summary: The Water Topics Overview Committee met with a quorum and received updates from the Department of Water Resources and the State Water Commission, followed by presentations from Deloitte on two legislative studies required by House Bill 1020. Director Reese Haas reviewed major project and budget updates, including the Northwest Area Water Supply and Southwest Pipeline projects, Resources Trust Fund balances, carryover spending, project prioritization, bid conditions, regional water system coverage, and department process improvements. Members also discussed how the commission prioritizes projects, maintenance expectations, and the impact of limited municipal water supply funding. No formal committee action was taken during the DWR update; the commission’s municipal funding decisions were described as pending its April 8 meeting. Deloitte then presented the cost-share policy study, which found that under current policy and forecasted revenues, North Dakota faces an estimated $1.3 billion shortfall over 14 years, with a near-term gap of about $1.8 billion through 2031. The firm outlined seven recommended options, including tighter definitions and a 25% cost share for eligible replacement projects, caps and financing strategies for the Mouse River and Red River Valley projects, aligning cost share with commission priority guidance, delaying lower-priority projects, using available lines of credit, and adjusting reimbursement timing for revolving loan funds. Committee members questioned inflation assumptions, affordability, user fees, and the use of legacy fund earnings for bonding, but no decisions were made. In the governance and finance study, Deloitte said final recommendations are still being refined, with a final report due May 29. The study examined the Southwest Pipeline, NAWS, and Red River Valley systems using governance and finance criteria such as decision authority, transparency, affordability, risk, and access to funding. For Southwest, Deloitte outlined options ranging from improved state-authority coordination to transferring ownership to the Southwest Water Authority; for NAWS, options focused on strengthening the authority’s role and potentially transitioning operations and maintenance; and for Red River, options ranged from enhanced facilitation to formal state oversight or state ownership. Members asked follow-up questions about ownership transfer, capital repayment streams, and why NAWS was not considered for transfer, and Deloitte said NAWS’s limited organizational maturity made that option less viable in the near term.

Transcript Highlights:

• NMSU has a 52.2% graduation rate in 2023. ...is in our state, NMSU has a 52.2% graduation rate in 2023
• Neither institution meets that graduation rate, and that graduation rate, by the way, is benchmarked
• MSU has a 52.2 percent graduation rate in 2023. 23. is in our state, NMSU has a 52.2% graduation rate
• Neither institution meets that graduation rate, and that graduation rate, by the way, is neither institution
• meets that graduation rate.

Bills: SB234 , SB210 , SB243 , SB244 , SM16 , HB8

Committee: Senate House Education

Keywords: foster children, school transportation, education funding, public education, child welfare, New Mexico Highlands University, soccer field, women's sports, infrastructure improvement, funding allocation, student athletes, appropriation, New Mexico State University, nutrition, travel support, funding, education, university support, financial assistance, parenting students

Summary: The Senate Education Committee began by announcing that SB 210 would be rolled over to Friday and would not be heard. The committee then returned to SB 234, which would provide foster child school transportation funding statewide rather than only for Albuquerque Public Schools. Members adopted an amendment striking the APS-only language and making the bill statewide after testimony from the sponsor, PED, and others that foster youth transportation is a growing issue and should have its own funding stream. The committee discussed how the money might be distributed and whether the $1.2 million appropriation would be sufficient, then voted do pass on SB 234 as amended. The committee next heard HB 8, which creates a Higher Education Major Projects Fund for large capital projects that are difficult to fund through existing capital outlay processes. Testimony from the sponsor, LFC, HED, and university representatives explained that the bill would support projects such as the UNM School of Medicine, an NMSU multidisciplinary building, student housing, student life projects, and certain Division I athletic facilities, while requiring design readiness, institutional matches, and legislative oversight. Several senators raised concerns about the clarity of the prioritization process, the Division I-only athletics language, the recurring nature of future funding, and the relationship to other capital funding streams, but the committee ultimately voted do pass on HB 8. The committee then considered SB 243 and SB 244, nearly identical bills for UNM and NMSU that would each appropriate $5 million for student health, student support, nutrition, travel, scholarships, and other athletic department needs. Athletic directors testified that conference realignment, higher travel costs, nutrition demands, and new revenue-sharing/NIL obligations have increased expenses, and sponsors said the bills were intended as one-time appropriations. Some senators questioned whether the requests should be recurring or funded through university revenue rather than the state, but both bills received do pass recommendations. Finally, the committee heard SM 16, as amended, which asks HED to convene a task force to study parenting students in higher education and recommend ways to collect data and improve support. Supporters said better data is needed to understand barriers such as child care and transportation, and the memorial passed with a do pass recommendation. The committee then adjourned until Friday morning.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, line 5, continue half year rate adjustments from the uh.
• line 8, we did, um, assisted, assisted living facility rates.
• Provider rate adjustments, uh, we did about $26.2 million for those provider rate adjustments.
• differing rates for children, income levels, adult expansion, and other groups.
• Um, Uh, other agencies such as DOH bring in money at various matching rates.

Committee: House Legislative Health & Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• And so when we look at that rate of the drowning, yes, it goes up.
• study, procure a consultant for the rate study, perform the rate study, and implement the rates, including
• As you know, the same factors probably went into that rate that would go into another additional rate
• What that reasonable rate of return is is certainly up for debate.
• What that reasonable rate of return is is certainly up for debate.

Summary: The committee heard and advanced a wide range of bills, with several focused on water safety, utilities, and local government transparency. CS/SB 848 on stormwater treatment was explained as clarifying water quality credits and water quality enhancement areas, and it was reported favorably after one support appearance. SB 28, a claim bill for Reginald Jackson against the City of Lakeland arising from injuries caused by a police shooting, was also reported favorably. CS/CS/SB 658 on water safety requirements for rental properties drew extensive testimony in support from child advocacy and drowning prevention advocates, who cited Florida’s high child drowning rates and the disproportionate impact on children with autism; the bill was amended to require front-end certification and remove local add-on authority, then passed favorably. CS/SB 18, a claim bill involving the estate of a deceased minor and the Broward County Sheriff’s Office, was reported favorably after questions about the verdict, settlement posture, and who would receive the funds. SB 934 on areas of critical state concern was amended to remove a provision viewed as conflicting with the Live Local Act and then passed favorably. SB 1622, which creates a one-time waiver for certain late-filed financial disclosure fines, also passed favorably with support from an appearance form. SB 1264 on private schools and zoning was reported favorably after members noted ongoing concerns and planned further discussion. CS/CS/SB 260 on electric vehicle storage in towing yards was amended to narrow the bill to storage issues and cap the fee period until inspection; it drew both support and opposition from insurers, fire officials, and vehicle industry representatives, and was reported favorably. CS/CS/SB 1014, dealing with municipal utility service to properties outside city limits, was amended to limit it to residential development and clarify capacity standards, then passed favorably. CS/SB 1102 expanded the local infrastructure surtax to include body camera programs and was reported favorably after an amendment requiring voter approval. Finally, CS/SB 1724 and SB 1566, both on local government utility and budget transparency, were amended and reported favorably despite concerns from cities and counties about implementation costs and burdens.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> services system through um through rate services system through um through rate through<00:10:41.120
• :42.399><c> you</c> through rate setting, which is, you through rate setting, which is, you know,<00:
• There is a permanent out-of-network minimum rate schedule.
• </c> ambul of the rates ambul of the rates as<00:12:34.320><c> they</c><00:12:34.560><c> interact</c>
• 15:46.160><c> the</c><00:15:46.399><c> insurance</c> network rate schedule, the insurance network rate

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They also found that turnover rates are higher for different groups of teachers.
• So statewide, the average teacher retention rate was 87%. advantages.
• They were also asked to rate programs for retaining teachers.
• Now looking at the map on the left-hand side showing retention rates.
• In the darkest shaded regions, the retention rate is higher than 86%.

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The HST rate on aviation fuel is 1.48 per barrel for fiscal year 2026, and the tax rate is adjusted annually
• of 0.38% instead of the general B&O tax rate of 0.38% instead of the general wholesaling rate of 0.484%
• Turning to the bill before you, the preferential B&O tax rate is repealed.
• So currently the general wholesaling rate is 0.484%.
• Often it rates below our cost to purchase the drug.

Bills: SB5989 , SB5898 , SB6240 , SB6244 , SB6231 , SB6228 , SB6220

Committee: Senate Ways & Means

Keywords: aircraft fuel tax, tax revenue distribution, aviation funding, transportation, state revenue, aeronautics, taxation, aircraft fuel, state funding, aviation fuel, hazardous substance tax, air quality, noise mitigation, environmental impact, tax exemption, agriculture, hazardous substances, crop protection, warehousing, data center