Transcript Highlights:

• All claim processing was done manually. Right now... It was a completely manual program.
• All claim processing was done manually. Right now, 18% of the claims are done automatically.
• When an applicant files a claim, an award amount is not guaranteed.
• 30,000 claims still under assessment by the department.
• And finally, the fiscal pressure for state and local governments from SIBTF claims is hidden.

Summary: The subcommittee heard a series of budget and trailer bill presentations focused on labor and public employment programs. The first item covered EDD Next modernization, where EDD described progress on customer service improvements, fraud prevention, language access, and the Integrated Claims Management System. The LAO urged stronger legislative oversight as the project enters its most difficult phase, and members questioned the revised schedule, total cost, change orders, stress testing, SB 1090 implementation, and how race and ethnicity data will be protected. EDD said the overall project cost remains about $1.2 billion, that the work is being phased with disability insurance and paid family leave first, and that fraud has been greatly reduced since pandemic-era programs ended. Members also asked for follow-up information on SB 590 outreach and equity impacts. The committee then reviewed the California Workforce Development Board’s request to reduce staffing as one-time grant workloads wind down, along with trailer bill language to streamline reporting requirements. The board and Department of Finance said the staffing reductions reflect the end of surge funding and that the proposal would consolidate roughly 10 to 12 reports into one annual report, with additional reporting only if new funds are appropriated for certain programs. Senator Durazo questioned the policy direction of reducing workforce staffing, while the administration said the positions were tied to temporary grant programs and that current staffing is sufficient for ongoing duties. Members also asked about the board’s role in AI-related workforce planning and the rationale for using state funds for the High Road Construction Careers Program. A major portion of the hearing focused on the Subsequent Injury Benefits Trust Fund reforms and related staffing request at DIR. The administration and LAO described rapid growth in applications, backlog, and liabilities, saying the program’s eligibility has expanded beyond its original intent and that liabilities could reach about $30 billion by 2030 without reform. The trailer bill would tighten eligibility, apply the changes to open cases, and use the QME process and contemporaneous evidence to document preexisting disabilities. Members raised concerns about fairness to pending claimants, evaluator capacity, and the relationship to other SIBTF legislation, while the LAO said the proposal largely aligns with its prior recommendations. DIR also presented a request to eliminate vacant positions under a statewide vacancy sweep, which drew criticism from members who argued the cuts could weaken enforcement and backlog reduction efforts; the committee asked DIR to return with more detail on impacts and on its use of temporary-help authority. The final items addressed a request for additional Cal/OSHA investigative staff and a trailer bill to make permanent the revised Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board petition timeline. DIR said the BOI staffing would help investigate fatalities and serious injuries more quickly, while members emphasized the importance of family contact and timely investigations. For the WCAB item, the chair explained that the 2024 change to Labor Code section 5909, which starts the 60-day decision clock when a case is transmitted rather than when a petition is filed, has reduced pending cases and should be made permanent; the remaining backlog was reported at 460 cases, down from 637 before the change.

Transcript Highlights:

• All claim processing was done manually. Right now, 18% of the claims are done automatically.
• When an applicant files a claim...
• When an applicant files a claim, an award amount is not guaranteed.
• 30,000 claims still under assessment by the department.
• be penalized for having a claim pending in the system.

Summary: The Senate Budget Subcommittee on Corrections, Public Safety, Judiciary, Labor, and Transportation heard presentations on labor and public employment issues from the Employment Development Department (EDD), the California Workforce Development Board (CWDB), and the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR). The committee first focused on EDD Next modernization, where EDD described progress on online claims, call center upgrades, language access, fraud prevention, and the Integrated Claims Management System (ICMS). The Legislative Analyst’s Office urged closer legislative oversight, especially as the project moves into the most difficult phase. Senators asked about the revised timeline, total cost, fraud reduction, stress testing, transparency around change orders, and the decision to phase in disability insurance and paid family leave before unemployment insurance. EDD said the overall project cost remained about $1.2 billion, that it had no major cost overruns, and that it had saved more than $20 million by shifting some shared customer portal work into ICMS. The subcommittee then considered CWDB’s request for additional operational resources and trailer bill language to streamline reporting. CWDB and the Department of Finance said staffing had been expanded during the pandemic-era surge in grant funding and should now be reduced as one-time grant programs wind down. Senators questioned the proposed staffing reduction, arguing that workforce development needs remain strong and that the board’s policy role still requires adequate capacity. The committee also discussed a proposal to consolidate multiple annual and interim reports into a single biennial report, with LAO supporting the streamlining. Members asked about reporting for specific programs and the cost savings from reducing duplicative evaluations. A major portion of the hearing addressed DIR’s proposed reforms to the Subsequent Injury Benefits Trust Fund (SIBTF) and related workload funding. DIR and LAO described rapid growth in applications, a large and growing backlog, and sharply rising liabilities and employer assessments. The administration’s trailer bill would tighten eligibility, apply reforms to open cases, and use contemporaneous evidence and QME reports to document preexisting disabilities. LAO said the proposal largely matched its prior recommendations and would help return the program to its original intent. Senators raised concerns about fairness to pending claimants, the effect on workers with undocumented preexisting conditions, and whether the QME system could absorb the added workload. The committee also heard DIR’s request to eliminate vacant positions under a statewide vacancy sweep, with members objecting that some vacancies reflect unmet enforcement and safety needs rather than excess capacity. The hearing continued with DIR proposals for additional Cal/OSHA investigative staff, permanent changes to Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board petition deadlines, and apprenticeship-related funding increases. DIR sought 14 permanent positions for its Bureau of Investigation to handle serious workplace fatalities and injuries, and members emphasized the importance of timely investigations and family communication. The WCAB requested making permanent a 2024 change that starts the 60-day reconsideration clock when a case is transmitted rather than when the petition is filed; the board said this had reduced the number of cases awaiting decisions from 637 to 460. Finally, DIR proposed increasing apprenticeship training grants from $3 million to $20 million annually using the Apprenticeship Training Contribution Fund, citing an $80 million fund balance and workforce demand tied to rebuilding and infrastructure needs, and then began discussion of a separate request to expand pre-apprenticeship programs.

Transcript Highlights:

• These adjustments would protect seniors with pre-existing conditions while preserving the bill's aim.
• These adjustments would protect seniors with pre-existing conditions while preserving the bill's aim.
• These adjustments would protect seniors with pre-existing conditions while preserving the bill's aim.
• These adjustments would protect seniors with pre-existing conditions while preserving the bill's aim.
• These adjustments would protect seniors with pre-existing conditions while preserving the bill's aim.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• AB 1744 Addis, sunscreen marketing claims, due pass on an A roll call.
• AB 2253, Borner, recycled content claims, do pass out on a B roll call.
• AB 1827, Chen, small claims, do pass out on an A roll call.
• AB 2431, Patel, downcoding medical claims, held in committee. AB 2468, Patel, support...
• AB 2431 Patel, downcoding medical claims holding committee. AB 2468 Patel, support.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And after applying all other adjustment factors, Cal OSHA... ...ultimately imposed a fine of about $21,000
• In 14 of the 20 violations we reviewed, Cal OSHA did not document or explain at least one fine adjustment
• So it would say that a serious starts off at $18,000, and then there are other adjustment factors that
• allow— And then there are other adjustment factors that allow the division to look at and to consider
• A claim that wasn't perfected, and therefore we wouldn't need to look at it in the audit, or something

Summary: The hearing focused on a state audit of Cal/OSHA titled “The Division of Occupational Safety and Health: Process Deficiencies and Staffing Shortages Limit Its Ability to Protect Workers.” Committee leaders and the audit team described serious workplace tragedies, argued that California’s worker protections are not being adequately enforced, and said the audit was prompted by concerns that Cal/OSHA was too often relying on letters instead of inspections, delaying investigations, and closing cases without enough documentation. Members repeatedly emphasized that the issue was not just staffing, but also outdated policies, weak oversight, and inconsistent enforcement. State Auditor Grant Parks said the audit found a 32% vacancy rate in 2023-24, heavy reliance on hard-copy files, outdated or unclear policies, and inconsistent decision-making in complaints, accidents, citations, and fine reductions. He said Cal/OSHA conducted on-site inspections in only about 20% of complaints, used letter investigations more than 80% of the time, often lacked evidence that hazards were corrected, and sometimes failed to inspect serious injury cases on time. The audit also found weak documentation for fine calculations and settlement reductions, with some penalties reduced substantially without clear explanations. Parks said the agency had accepted the findings and would provide progress updates later in the year. Committee members pressed the auditor on vacancy rates, the use of letter investigations, the low rate of criminal referrals, and whether fines were being reduced too often. Cal/OSHA and DIR officials responded that the vacancy rate had fallen to 12% partly because 66 vacant positions were eliminated in a statewide budget reduction and partly because of hiring; they said 126 people had been hired in the first half of the year. They also said they had hired a policy writer, were updating several policies, were planning periodic internal audits, and were developing a new data management system expected to go live in late 2026 or early 2027. On fines, officials said Title 8 sets base penalties and allows adjustments based on factors like employer size, history, and good faith, with appeals and informal conferences also affecting final amounts. No votes or formal actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Every year for the fiscal year, the Department of Finance and Administration has to adjust these appropriations
• Oftentimes, that's a downward adjustment, so that's a little difficult for the programs because they
• They have not been approved, so any claims of such are illegal under federal and New Mexico state law
• front of the legislative committees regarding the registry bill last session, given the number of claims
• Claims about the FDA no longer having authority or the FDA having safe harbor for products in pending

Transcript Highlights:

• And so this position is to help with the claims and adjustments. This FTE was removed in 2017.
• Right now there's a significant increase in the claims that are happening at the Department of Veterans
• And so this position is to help with the claims and adjustments. This FTE was removed in 2017.
• Right now there's a significant increase in the claims that are happening at the Department of Veterans

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 2025, the Department of Veterans Affairs appropriation. Representative O’Brien explained the House changes, including funding for a restored Veterans Benefits Specialist FTE, salary equity adjustments for the commissioner and veterans service officers, one-time funding for veteran homelessness services, carryover authority for the Fargo Fisher House, and a highly rural transportation grants program. Members also discussed the commissioner’s prior salary increase and the use of transportation grant funds for administrative costs, as well as the status of the Fisher House project. The committee adopted amendment 25.092.0203 and then gave SB 2025 a do pass recommendation as amended, with Representative O’Brien as carrier. The committee then considered Senate Bill 2307, the library bill. Members debated a proposed amendment that would have removed the fiscal note, but several members objected on policy and process grounds, citing constitutional concerns, potential costs to counties and state’s attorneys, and the fact that the bill had not been heard as a full policy hearing. The amendment failed 4-19. The committee then voted do not pass on SB 2307 as introduced, and Representative Murphy was named carrier. The committee also briefly discussed House Bill 2188 on the Clean Sustainable Energy Authority. Representative Bosch described the program’s grant and low-interest loan authority and the Senate’s reduced funding levels. The committee amended the bill to restore the Senate funding amounts in Section 3, then passed the bill as amended, with Representative Kempenich carrying it. Finally, the committee considered two rural development bills and chose Senate Bill 2097, the rural endowment fund bill, for do not pass while advancing House Bill 2390, which uses regional councils to distribute rural development grants. The committee amended HB 2390 to lower the population threshold from 4,500 to 3,000, kept the 50% set-aside for communities under 1,500, and then passed the bill as amended, with Representative Mitskog as carrier.

Transcript Highlights:

• Should there be a claim? Thank you, Chair.
• Certainly, there's still a claims bill process.
• Well, how would the state be responsible then for a claim?
• this act, the limitations of liability in effect on the date the claim accrues shall apply to the claim
• If a child is harmed and the claims bill process is the solution, Child is harmed and the claims bill

Summary: The committee took up a series of bills and reported several of them favorably, often after brief sponsor presentations, supportive public testimony, and unanimous or near-unanimous votes. Early measures included PCS for CSHB 1069 on background screenings for athletic coaches and qualified entities, CS/HB 365 on law enforcement interactions with individuals with autism spectrum disorder, and CS/HB 269 plus its linked public-records bill CS/SB 298 on domestic violence and dating violence. The domestic violence package focused on using NG-911 technology for discreet help-seeking, expanding protections to dating violence victims, and preserving confidentiality for participants in related programs. The committee also approved HB 6507, a claims bill for injuries involving DCF negligence, after limited discussion. Members then considered PCS for CSHB 1159, which increases penalties and updates terminology for sexual offenses involving minors, child sexual abuse material, and related crimes. The bill was amended to replace “child pornography” with “child sexual abuse material” and to address childlike sex dolls, and it passed unanimously. The committee also heard CS/HB 529 on community-based care lead agency and subcontractor liability insurance. That bill would remove a statutory liability-insurance requirement for certain child welfare providers amid an insurance market crisis; it drew extensive debate, with supporters saying it would prevent agencies from shutting down and opponents warning it would reduce accountability and leave children vulnerable. It passed 15-4 as amended. The committee next approved PCS for CSHB 277 on domestic violence and protective injunctions. The bill creates a Pinellas County pilot for electronic monitoring with victim notification, raises the victim relocation allowance, strengthens penalties for repeat injunction violations, and adds protections involving military orders and pets. Testimony was strongly supportive, including from survivors, and the bill passed 18-0 as amended. CS/HB 1009 on government publication of advertisements and public notices also passed, after an amendment requiring notices to remain publicly accessible; newspapers and press groups opposed it, arguing it would fragment access to notices, while the sponsor said it modernizes outdated posting rules. Finally, the committee heard PCS for CSHB 1471 on systems of law and terrorist organizations, which would create a state process for designating domestic terrorist organizations and bar public support for them; the bill drew sharp constitutional objections from civil liberties, press, labor, and advocacy groups over due process, free speech, and viewpoint discrimination concerns.

Transcript Highlights:

• This establishes enhanced prepayment review for fee-for-service MA claims.
• </c> MA claims. MA claims.
• um and cost reports and other claims um and cost reports and other billings.
• </c><00:14:10.560><c> from</c><00:14:11.000><c> managed</c><00:14:11.440><c> care</c> specified claims
• from managed care specified claims from managed care plans. plans. plans.

Bills: HF4207, HF4338

Keywords: housing aid, local housing trust, funding projects, income provisions, technical changes, human services, medical assistance, Medicaid, provider enrollment, provider revalidation, fraud prevention, program integrity, background study, background check, fingerprinting, licensing, license revocation, payment withholding, payment suspension, prepayment review

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, may I please claim my vote? Thank you. Mr. Chair, may I please claim my vote? Thank you.
• The device is designed so the intensity of the light can be adjusted.
• It claims to protect children while actually inviting harassment or worse.
• It claims to protect children while actually inviting harassment or worse.
• Now, if somebody claims that a biological male is so-and-so, so, Now, if somebody claims that a biological

Summary: The committee heard a series of bills on taxes, public health, veterans’ benefits, public notices, HOA rules, and school policy. SB 1045, which would bar local governments from taxing or feeing blockchain use in residences, passed 4-3 after brief discussion; supporters framed it as a tax-preemption measure, while opponents argued it would reduce local revenue. SB 1019, which would prohibit adding fluoride to public water systems, drew extensive testimony. The sponsor argued fluoride should be topical rather than systemic and cited emerging research on possible health risks, while dental and public health advocates strongly opposed the bill, citing decades of evidence that fluoridation reduces tooth decay and saves money. The committee voted 4-3 to advance the bill, with members on both sides explaining their votes at length. The committee also advanced SB 1050, granting free lifetime state park passes to Arizona veterans, after Arizona State Parks said it was neutral but warned of possible revenue losses; the bill passed 4-3. SB 1078, clarifying that court review of public-records denials is de novo, passed unanimously 7-0 with support from the Goldwater Institute and no opposition testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• WITH THE DEPARTMENT TO CARRY A VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION INSPECTIONS WHICH ALLOWS FOR QUICKER INSURANCE CLAIMS
• FOR THIS CYCLE THERE WERE DIFFERENT ADJUSTMENTS MADE TWO DIFFERENT SOURCES, SOME OF THE LARGE ONES OVER
• WERE INCREASED AND CORPORATE INCOME TAX FORECAST WAS DECREASED AND THERE WERE SOME OTHER MINOR ADJUSTMENTS
• THAT THE MIX OF NATIONAL VARIABLES THAT WE ADOPTED WILL SUGGEST THERE WILL BE A LITTLE BIT OF AN ADJUSTMENT
• TAX SOURCES THAT FEED INTO GENERAL REVENUE AND YOU WILL SEE THERE ARE BOTH POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE ADJUSTMENTS

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The third item is our DI program admin and benefit adjustments.
• There is a large current-year adjustment and a somewhat larger budget-year adjustment, just north of
• We reviewed the two salary adjustments, find no issues with those two.
• So this is with regards to the unfair labor practices adjustment.
• adjustment, which is one of CDCR's biannual population adjustments.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• is the budget bill Junior and makes changes to various 2025 Budget Act items, including several adjustments
• is the budget bill Senior and makes changes to various 2025 Budget Act items, including several adjustments
• for represented and non-represented child care providers, as well as a one-time cost-of-living adjustment
• And so these we have more claim to these dollars, and maybe other claim to the dollars.
• In AB 156 and section 4, we appreciate the adjustments to the displaced firefighter list.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Regulation of all insurance companies, producers, consultants, and adjusters.
• Separating that out, we have 115,000 114,000 adjusters.
• I haven't put a claim in in 20 years.
• licensed at about 245,000 producers, agents, adjusters in the state of New Hampshire.
• That were able to work on and adjust this system.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The meeting began with introductory remarks for new and returning members of the House Commerce Committee, led by Chairman John Hunt. Members briefly introduced themselves and their backgrounds, and several noted the committee’s bipartisan, collegial tone. Hunt explained the committee’s structure and traditions, including the division into three subcommittees: banking and business, consumer protection, and liquor commission matters, with insurance now handled as a single area. He also reviewed basic hearing procedures, including decorum, questions for information only, and the committee’s practice of moving bills through subcommittees before full committee executive sessions. The committee then heard an overview from the New Hampshire Insurance Department, led by Commissioner DJ Bettencourt and staff. The department described its mission as promoting a safe and competitive insurance marketplace and emphasized consumer protection, market competition, and affordability. Officials outlined the department’s responsibilities, including licensing insurers, producers, adjusters, and TPAs; reviewing insurance forms; regulating companies and market conduct; overseeing financial solvency; and investigating insurance fraud. They also noted that the department is self-funded through assessments on insurers, collects premium taxes and fees for the state, and returned more than $2.7 million to companies in fiscal year 2024 due to underspending. The presentation also covered the broader regulatory framework for insurance, including the role of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in promoting uniform standards across states and territories. Officials said New Hampshire licenses about 1,200 insurance companies and roughly 245,000 producers and adjusters, and that the department’s financial examinations are part of an accreditation system used nationwide. No votes or formal committee actions were taken in the portion provided; the session was primarily organizational and informational, with the insurance department presentation beginning the committee’s substantive work for the term.

Transcript Highlights:

• All right, well, I'll just tell you, I'm sure I've never brought an unfair trade practice claim in my
• Placed on such a claim by the Unfair Practices Act.
• An individual can bring that claim in the absence of the Attorney General.
• So if you're for a $10,000 claim and taking attorney's fees and so forth, I don't think it's going to
• We're going to adjust it. We're going to probably...

Transcript Highlights:

• Per current law, the school district may also submit claims for reimbursement by the legislature under
• The claims shall be subject to verification by the Department of Enterprise Services.
• Altogether, this bill is a modest and cost-effective adjustment that recognizes the sacrifices of our
• Altogether, this bill is a modest and cost-effective adjustment that recognizes the sacrifices of our
• It directs the Office of Financial Management to review and adjust compensation amounts at least every

Bills: SB6052, SB6051, SB5907, SB5860, SB5574

Keywords: digital transcript, transcript sharing, student records, education data exchange, K-12, higher education, community colleges, universities, school districts, charter schools, state-tribal education compact schools, educational service districts, data interoperability, secure platform, student consent, FERPA, privacy, education technology, records management, transcript standard

Transcript Highlights:

• There's no opt-out provision for a victim of a tort claim.
• I had to adapt and adjust, as I still do to this day.
• They just go because of claims of, you know, lots of...
• claims.
• The liability claim… we were subsequently sued for a million dollars on this claim.

Bills: HB4806

Keywords: civil action, damages, health care services, noneconomic damages, negligence, legal standards, 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That's that situation where there are multiple claims before a court.
• product claims, and it is not for death cases.
• Cases, the extra claims that might come in.
• All of those claims arose out of a single business transaction.
• There are fraud claims, statutory claims, you know, a whole variety of things, but they all arose out

Bills: SB1538, SB2883, HB1734, HB2340, HB2350, HB3376

Keywords: digital court reporting, court reporting, court reporter, electronic recording, audio recording, video recording, transcription, verbatim record, judicial administration, Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial System, courts, depositions, grand jury, referee, court commissioner, court technology, courtroom technology, access to justice, accuracy

Transcript Highlights:

• Rates are based on historical claims.
• For state fiscal year 2026, adjustments were applied to account for incurred but not reported claims,
• Uh they go back and historical claims.
• They're adjusted for actuarial rate.
• Adjustments and perspective trending.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Budget Review Subcommittee on Health and Family Services met in person, approved the October 15 minutes, and began with a moment of silence following a Louisville UPS plane explosion that was described as a local tragedy affecting many families and first responders. The main presentation was an overview of Kentucky’s Medicaid non-emergency medical transportation (NMT) program from the Department for Medicaid Services and the Transportation Cabinet. Witnesses explained that NMT is a federally required Medicaid benefit, administered by the Transportation Cabinet under a risk-based capitated model, with eligibility limited to Medicaid members traveling to medically necessary, Medicaid-covered services and who lack access to other transportation. They also described exclusions, including certain KCHIP, QMB, and PACE members, and outlined the brokered regional structure, call center operations, scheduling rules, vehicle and driver oversight, complaint handling, and rider surveys. The presenters reported that NMT handled more than 3.1 million trips in state fiscal year 2024, with over 1.38 million trips already recorded in October, and said customer satisfaction surveys were high. They said the FY 2025-26 contract total is about $360.6 million, with monthly per-member capitation rates set by region through an actuarial process and approved by CMS. They emphasized that payments are tied to monthly Medicaid enrollment and that the state draws down federal funds for the exact amount paid, with no leftover balance. They also said most NMT use comes from adult day centers and rehabilitative care such as dialysis. Members questioned the witnesses about how quality metrics and contract standards are set, whether the state had explored alternatives such as Uber Health or other integrated models, and how utilization was calculated. The witnesses said contract requirements are developed collaboratively by Medicaid Services, the Transportation Cabinet, and other agencies, and that studies of other models generally found higher costs and lower approval ratings, with additional research on a hybrid model expected by the end of the year. They clarified that one figure reflected the share of Medicaid members with registered vehicles, while another reflected actual NMT users, and they defended the capitated structure as shifting financial risk to brokers rather than the state. Representative Fleming also raised concerns about oversight, reporting, and the apparent gap between budgeted and contracted amounts, asking whether any unused funds would return to general funds; the discussion ended before a final answer was given.

Transcript Highlights:

• Oz went on to say this annual adjustment isn't meant to penalize states. Dr.
• Oz went on to say this annual adjustment<00:05:12.320><c> isn't</c><00:05:12.560><c> meant</c><00:05:
• 12.800><c> to</c><00:05:12.880><c> penalize</c> adjustment isn't meant to penalize adjustment isn't meant
• There is a difference between a formalized operation to claim that there's public... ...operation to
• claim that there's public input and, in fact, a de facto outreach to people.

Keywords: Public Health and Welfare - Room 216, 4 June, 2026; 2:30 PM, 925, all