Video & Transcript Research : 'improper payments'

Page 85 of 368
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • And we will move on now to the Facilities Commission and Revenue Bonds for Lease Payments. Boom.
  • The first page of the lease payments is Please do. Okay.
  • To refresh everyone's memory, these are not lease payments to property owners.
  • To refresh everyone's memory, these are not lease payments to property owners.
  • That concludes my presentation on lease payments revenue bonds.
Bills: SB 1
Summary: The committee began with Article I budget items for the Secretary of State. LBB staff outlined recommendations that would reduce the agency’s appropriation by about $40.3 million, including changes to HAVA funding, removal of one-time business system replacement money, and a rider directing the agency to use Fund 5095 first. Secretary Jane Nelson and staff then defended several exceptional items, especially additional staffing for elections and business filings, a new website, digitization of records, cybersecurity tools, and renovation of the James Earl Rudder Building. Members focused heavily on election administration, cross-checking voter rolls, Harris County complaints, call-center response times, and whether online voter registration should be expanded. No votes were taken; the discussion was informational and budget-focused. The committee then heard the Office of the Governor and trustee programs. LBB presented a recommended $2.4 million decrease for the governor’s office proper and a much larger decrease in trustee programs driven by one-time funding and unexpended balances, while still preserving major border security funding and victim assistance funding. Governor’s staff emphasized Texas’ economic growth, the importance of border security, and efforts to seek federal reimbursement for the roughly $11 billion Texas has spent on border operations. Members discussed whether shifting National Guard deployment to federal control could reduce state costs, and they also reviewed the music incubator program, the Governor’s University Research Initiative, and the semiconductor innovation consortium. Staff highlighted a $5 million late-added request for grants to protect nonprofits from violence and terrorism. Again, the exchange was largely explanatory, with no formal action. Finally, the committee took up the Texas Facilities Commission and lease payments for revenue bonds. LBB recommended major reductions overall, including removal of border wall construction funding and capital complex bond funding, but added money for higher utility costs, renovation of the Rudder Building, and additional facilities staff. George Purcell also noted stable maintenance-and-renewal funding and new riders related to the Texas State Library and Archives Commission building, tenant communications, and space utilization. For lease payments, LBB recommended a smaller appropriation tied to revenue-bond costs allocated across agencies. The discussion was informational, with members asking about the Rudder Building renovation, border wall progress, and capital complex construction timelines; no votes were recorded.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • In Cal Fire's advance payment report to the Legislature, the agency found that advance payments for the
  • upfront would most help their organization apply for and manage grants and contract payments.
  • Forty percent of nonprofits said that concerns about payment timing were a reason that they chose not
  • Advance payment is a proven way to improve the nonprofit sector's effective partnership with the state
  • Advance payment is, it should be a right.
Summary: The Governmental Organization Committee heard a series of bills focused largely on alcohol licensing, nonprofit funding, tribal grants, public transparency, and tobacco policy. AB 342 (Haney) would allow local governments to create hospitality zones with extended last-call hours on certain days; supporters argued it would boost tourism, nightlife, and major-event readiness, while opponents warned of alcohol-related harms and public safety risks. AB 684 (Patel) would subject the UC Board of Admissions and Relations with Schools to open-meeting requirements, with supporters saying admissions-related changes should be more transparent and allow schools time to adjust. AB 1008 (Addis) would authorize up to 10 new on-sale general licenses in San Luis Obispo County to meet tourism demand, and AB 1039 (Hart) would require state agencies to offer advance payments on new nonprofit grants and contracts, which supporters said would help cash-strapped nonprofits deliver services. AB 221 (Ramos) would revise the Tribal Nation Grant Fund to provide more predictable annual distributions to eligible non-gaming and limited-gaming tribes, and it drew broad support from tribal representatives and others. AB 795 (Jeff Gonzalez) would create a California commission for the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration, with supporters describing it as a privately funded, nonpartisan planning body. AB 828/AB 28 (Mark Gonzalez, as referenced in the transcript) would expand neighborhood-restricted liquor licenses in Los Angeles County to reduce costs and support restaurant recovery, and AB 1246 (Hoover) would increase craft distillers’ direct sales limits and address barrel-storage rules; both were supported as small-business measures. AB 1428 (Ta) would require reporting of all surplus and underutilized state land, and AB 957 (Ortega) would prohibit tobacco sales in pharmacies, with strong public health support. Several bills were voted out on motions to Appropriations, some with amendments, while others were held or left on call until quorum was established; the committee also adopted a consent calendar and left rolls open for absent members on multiple measures.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Agriculture Committee Meeting - 2025-04-02

Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development

Transcript Highlights:
  • Is the program set up to be a one-time payment for that reduction, or is this an ongoing payment for
  • And then, if there's going to be more in-row acreage and additional payment or whatnot, right now it
  • seems unclear if this should be an ongoing payment going forward or not.
  • standard, such as growing cover crops to 12 inches, in order to receive a payment.
  • We have a maximum annual payment rate of $15,750.
LA

Louisiana 2026 Regular Session

Transportation, Highways and Public Works Apr 21st, 2026

Transportation, Highways & Public Works

Transcript Highlights:
  • to the end of your payment plan.
  • So if we miss a payment, we're basically shifting the due date of the payment.
  • If we miss a payment, we're basically shifting the due date of the payment.
  • We're delaying it to the end of the term, but we're not deferring the payment.
  • We're not waiving the payment, the fee, or anything. It's just moved to the end.
Summary: The House Transportation Committee met on April 21 and considered a series of transportation, licensing, tolling, and public safety measures. It reported favorably House Bill 745, extending special permits for tandem loads hauling containers to and from port facilities; House Bill 1000, a DOTD cleanup bill that clarifies Highway Priority Program reporting and raises the letter-bid contract threshold from $1 million to $3 million; and House Bill 1050, which clarifies commercial driver’s license rules, including age and intrastate/interstate driving limits. The committee also approved House Bill 1172 naming a portion of U.S. Highway 165 in Oberlin the Coulin Brooks Manuel Memorial Highway, House Bill 1218 naming a portion of Louisiana Highway 1090 the Lewis Pat Miramon Memorial Highway, House Concurrent Resolution 32 urging backup motors for the St. Claude Avenue Bridge, and House Bill 1207 on public contracting standards and competition in public bidding. A major portion of the meeting focused on House Bill 896, which responds to tolling issues at the Belle Chasse bridge project. The bill would require toll signage, local toll customer service centers, dispute procedures, and limits on administrative fees, with amendments addressing effective dates, in-person assistance, appeal deadlines, law-enforcement exemptions, and limits on certain charges. The author and witnesses described high administrative fees, long travel distances to customer service locations, and problems with toll bills, while committee members noted the issue was complex and ongoing. The committee reported the bill favorably as amended. The committee also heard House Bill 1159, allowing Jefferson Parish municipalities to use automated speed enforcement devices again under local control. Supporters from Gretna, Westwego, Harahan, and Kenner said photo enforcement reduced crashes, improved safety, and helped limited police resources, while opponents were not emphasized in the transcript. After discussion about whether the measure should be voluntarily or involuntarily deferred, the committee ultimately deferred the bill. House Bill 493, which would prohibit expropriation by the Amite River Basin Drainage and Water Conservation District in East Feliciana and St. Helena Parishes, drew extensive testimony about reservoir fears and local opposition; the committee voluntarily deferred it. House Bill 679, as substituted, created a driver’s license designation for people with brain injuries and required related law-enforcement training; witnesses described personal experiences with brain injury and the need for officers to recognize communication and behavioral effects, and the committee reported the substitute favorably. House Bill 1173, which waives late fees for certain reinstatement-relief payment plans for driver’s licenses, was also reported favorably, and House Bill 1024 creating a Louisiana Democratic Party prestige plate was approved as well.
LA
Transcript Highlights:
  • the end of your payment plan.
  • So if we miss a payment, we're basically shifting the due date of the payment.
  • If we miss a payment, we're basically shifting the due date of the payment.
  • We're delaying it to the end of the term, but we're not deferring the payment.
  • If you're on one of these payment plans, presumably you have some financial...
Summary: The House Transportation Committee met on April 21 and heard a series of transportation, licensing, tolling, and public safety measures. Early bills included HB 745, extending special permits for tandem/container loads serving port facilities; HB 1000, a DOTD cleanup bill that clarifies Highway Priority Program reporting and raises the letter-bid contract threshold from $1 million to $3 million; HB 1050, which revises commercial driver’s license rules and allows certain 18-year-olds to drive intrastate with a Class A license; and HB 1172, designating a portion of US 165 in Oberlin as the Coulin Brooks Manuel Memorial Highway. All of those bills were reported favorably, with HB 1000 adopted with amendments. The committee then took up HB 896 on toll facilities, prompted by concerns about Belle Chasse toll charges and customer service access. The bill would require local toll customer service centers, toll dispute procedures, and limits on certain fees; amendments were adopted to refine those provisions, including in-person assistance, appeal deadlines, and limits on additional charges. The bill was reported with amendments. HB 493, which would have prohibited expropriation by the Amite River Basin Drainage and Water Conservation District in East Feliciana and St. Helena Parishes, drew extensive testimony and debate over reservoir planning and local flood-control authority, but was ultimately voluntarily deferred. Later, HB 1173 was approved to give people in the OMV reinstatement relief program up to three months without a late fee on installment agreements, while keeping the payment due and moving it to the end of the plan. HB 1024 created a Louisiana Democratic Party special prestige license plate and was reported favorably. The committee also approved HCR 32 urging the Port of New Orleans to secure backup motors for the St. Claude Avenue Bridge, and HB 1159, concerning automated speed enforcement in Jefferson Parish municipalities, was ultimately voluntarily deferred after discussion of local control, public input, and prior legislation on speed cameras. The final major item was HB 679, as substituted, creating a driver’s license designation for people with brain injuries and directing law enforcement training on interactions with those individuals. The sponsor and several witnesses described personal experiences with traumatic brain injury and argued the designation would improve safety and communication during traffic stops. The substitute bill was adopted and the measure was reported favorably. The committee concluded by reporting HB 1207 favorably; that bill would limit unduly restrictive contractor qualification requirements in public bidding and require such requirements to be reasonably related to the project and justified in writing.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • That is a one-time payment for the upcoming fiscal year, and again, here to answer any questions you
  • That interest payment is likely to go up as part of the May revision. for the final budget package as
  • tax to that payment. Do we have a figure there?
  • The payment attributable to the debt. Okay, so it's... it's how much again?
  • The state has an outstanding loan to help augment costs for the interest payment.
Keywords: 988, house, all
KY

Kentucky 2025 Regular Session

Consensus Forecasting Group (9-16-25)

Transcript Highlights:
  • not a January payment.
  • There's a December payment.
  • except for there's not a payments except for there's not a January<01:15:39.280> payment.
  • There's a December January payment. There's a December payment. payment. payment.
  • Uh there was a large payments.
Keywords: 958, all
Summary: The meeting focused on preliminary fiscal 2026 revenue estimates and the governor’s office request for an official revision to fiscal 2026, with members reminded that any estimate adopted now would not bind the December official estimates. Staff from S&P Global walked through three forecast scenarios—control, optimistic, and pessimistic—based on recent federal tax changes, tariffs, and other policy developments, emphasizing that the outlook remains highly uncertain. Under the control scenario, the presentation projected below-trend real GDP growth of 1.8% in fiscal 2026, slowing to 1.5% by fiscal 2028, with unemployment peaking around 4.5% and the Federal Reserve cutting rates three times to a long-run range of about 2.75% to 3%. The optimistic scenario assumed lower effective tariffs, stronger growth, and better labor and housing outcomes, while the pessimistic scenario assumed a broader trade war, higher effective tariffs, faster deportations, weaker employment and consumer spending, and unemployment rising to about 6.3%. Speakers also noted that the forecast was prepared before later BLS revisions and that recent data on inventories and AI-related investment made the recent quarters look unusually volatile. Members discussed how the current fiscal 2026 outlook compared with earlier assumptions and noted that the eventual revenue revision may be smaller than the spread between the optimistic and pessimistic economic scenarios. The governor’s office and committee members also reviewed sector-specific impacts, including manufacturing, housing, light vehicle production, exports, and consumer sentiment, with particular concern about Kentucky’s auto and housing-related industries. No votes or formal actions were taken in the portion provided.
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

02/03/2026 - House Regulatory Oversight

Regulatory Oversight

Transcript Highlights:
  • The bill directs the treasurer to contract with a third-party vendor to authorize electronic payment
  • the Constitution, which states, no state shall make anything but gold and silver coin a tender in payment
  • A business like Walmart receives payment in dollars.
  • It establishes a voluntary opt-in legal framework for private bullion depositories and electronic payment
  • processors to allow for payments based on physical gold and silver.
Bills: HB2123, HB2140
KY

Kentucky 2026 Regular Session

House Standing Committee on Families and Children. (2-26-26)

Families & Children

Transcript Highlights:
  • So we have additional training and we also have payment for supervised visitation, which I think are
  • Um, and as far as the um other payment.
  • Just to make a comment, um first um to follow up on the payment of the supervised visits.
  • on the payment of the supervised<00:13:57.199> visits.
  • And then um responsible for the payment.
Summary: The House Standing Committee on Families and Children met to consider three bills. House Bill 418, relating to domestic violence and child custody, was presented by Rep. Neimus with testimony from ZeroV and Greenhouse 17. The bill, as amended by a committee substitute, would require courts to prioritize family violence in custody decisions, create a rebuttable presumption against unsupervised visitation and custody after two or more acts of domestic violence, require certain offenders to complete parenting or intervention programs before unsupervised contact, require training for paid supervised visitation providers and parenting coordinators, and ensure victim advocates are available in protective order hearings. Members discussed the two-incident threshold, the definition of domestic violence under Kentucky law, fiscal impact, and whether the bill adequately addresses severity and context; the bill passed 14-0 with favorable expression. The committee then heard House Bill 611, also on domestic relations, presented by Rep. Dietz with support from ZeroV. The committee substitute would create a 10-year interpersonal protective order upon conviction for certain felony assaults, sexual offenses, and stalking involving family members, unmarried couples, or dating partners, and would expand reporting requirements related to domestic violence data, legal representation in protective order hearings, and child dependency/neglect/family violence data. Testimony emphasized improved tracking of cases and survivor safety. The bill passed the committee 14-0 with favorable expression. Finally, House Bill 598, relating to guardian ad litem and other appointed counsel, was presented by Rep. Dietz with testimony from Kentucky Youth Advocates. The bill, titled the Family Representation and Advocacy Act, would reorganize how legal representation is provided in child welfare cases by creating a Family Representation and Advocacy Commission under the Supreme Court, allowing the department to hire staff attorneys or contract with private attorneys, nonprofits, law school clinics, and social workers, and aiming to improve quality, accountability, compensation, and support. Testimony cited high caseloads, low compensation, attorney turnover, and delays in foster care cases. The committee substitute was adopted, and the bill passed 14-0 with favorable expression.
KY
Transcript Highlights:
  • <00:22:01.760> total city's municipal road aid payments total city's municipal road aid payments
  • You submit the payment to the prefer.
  • There's online payment.
  • 00:54:11.440> other<00:54:11.680> situations payment.
  • Are there any other situations payment.
Summary: The committee received reports on special purpose governmental entities from the Department for Local Government and the Fire Commission. DLG staff described SPGEs as limited-jurisdiction political subdivisions and reviewed the department’s registry, reporting portal, compliance monitoring, and planned system upgrades such as a two-way message center, automated noncompliance notices, and tracking for new entities and board expirations. They reported that, as of October 10, 2025, 69% of SPGEs were active and discussed compliance data by cycle, fiscal year, and district type. The Fire Commission reported that fire department mergers have reduced the number of departments by 16 since last year, largely because of volunteer staffing shortages, while financial disclosure compliance had risen to 94%. The commission also noted 509 compliance reviews, 19 in-house inquiries, seven referrals to outside agencies, and one recent federal prison sentence in a theft case. Members asked whether DLG advises SPGEs on tax rates; staff said it only performs calculations and the entities set their own rates. Questions to the Fire Commission focused on whether department reductions meant station closures; officials explained that most changes were mergers that keep physical buildings in place while combining personnel and finances to meet minimum staffing requirements. They said the trend is spread across the state but is especially pronounced in rural areas. The Kentucky League of Cities then presented its 2026 legislative agenda. Its priorities included modernizing city revenue options, increasing equity in road funding, fixing tax increment financing issues, addressing transient room tax collection from web-based platforms, strengthening emergency response coordination, clarifying massage parlor regulation preemption, correcting unintended consequences of House Bill 606, improving newspaper publication rules, and modernizing procurement statutes. KLC also said it supports allowing all cities to collect restaurant tax revenue, wants cities to receive a larger share of road funds and EV-related revenues, and seeks state collection and remittance of any future local sales tax to comply with the Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement. Members asked about best-value bidding, road-fund equity, Airbnb tax litigation, EV prevalence, and disaster funding applications; KLC said cities currently must accept the lowest bid, the road split should better reflect city street costs, the Airbnb tax case remains pending, EV data by locality has not been studied, and allowing cities to apply directly for disaster funds would reduce reliance on county officials. No votes or formal actions were taken beyond approving the September meeting minutes.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Committee on Taxes - 03/19/25

Taxes

Transcript Highlights:
  • The next one is reducing the sustainable force incentive payments. That's a 30% reduction.
  • sustainable Force incentive payments sustainable Force incentive payments that's<00:42:25.480>
  • With that, I will be talking about the proposed 30% cut for the CIFA funding payments.
  • stability the band's annual CIFA payment stability the band's annual CIFA payment is<00:46:24.440
  • consequences of the proposed payment consequences of the proposed payment reduction<00:47:10.720
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
KY
Transcript Highlights:
  • So it's like a mortgage payment. We make a mortgage payment for a school district twice a year.
  • <00:09:32.720> mortgage<00:09:33.040> payment<00:09:33.360> for payment.
  • We make a mortgage payment for payment.
  • make payments.
  • Uh there was a payment make payments.
Summary: The committee received an informational presentation from the Kentucky Department of Education and the School Facilities Construction Commission on school facilities funding. Staff explained the main funding sources used for school construction and renovation, including the mandatory “nickel” property tax levy, growth and equalized growth nickels, the equalized facility funding nickel, the Fort Knox/BRAC-related nickel for Hardin County, and the recallable nickel that districts can adopt locally. They also described the state equalization formula, noting that local construction costs have risen and that state support is formula-driven rather than a dollar-for-dollar match. The SFCC outlined how unmet facility need is calculated through district facility plans, which are developed locally with community, staff, and board input and then reviewed by KDE staff for consistency and reasonableness. The commission said it will update the statewide unmet need report this fall, adopt it in December, and provide the figure to the committee in January 2026. It reported that the statewide unmet facility need was about $7 billion in 2023, with about $951 million in local revenue available, and said its offers of assistance are paid as debt service over eight years. The commission also said the most recent legislative offer of assistance was its smallest since SFCC’s creation in 1985, and requested an additional $60 million for the next biennium. Members asked about how districts use nickel tax levies, who determines facility need, whether the process includes physical inspections, and how bonding capacity affects offers of assistance. Staff said nickel levies are generally adopted with regular tax rates, that facility need is locally developed but reviewed by KDE, and that KDE project managers and district-hired architects review plans on paper rather than through in-person inspections. They also explained that bonding capacity can affect a district’s ability to use or receive assistance. Questions were also raised about federal funds tied to earlier KIX grants and about districts with zero remaining offers of assistance; staff said most grant-funded projects are underway or complete, and that a zero balance means a district has spent its available assistance. No votes or formal actions were taken.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Committee on Human Services - 04/13/26

Human Services

Transcript Highlights:
  • <00:16:57.640> review having uh sufficient post-payment review having uh sufficient post-payment
  • <00:17:08.679> integrity program and payment integrity program and payment integrity safeguards
  • establish a comprehensive post-payment establish a comprehensive post-payment review<00:17:33.760
  • It would make the following changes to the payments to enhance payment integrity in the rates and to
  • <00:41:40.160> in payments to enhance payment integrity in payments to enhance payment integrity
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
MN

Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session

Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection - 02/27/25

Commerce and Consumer Protection

Transcript Highlights:
  • Just as with coerced debt, we are proposing not to count those payments as taxable income.
  • <00:53:51.920> as to count that uh those payments as to count that uh those payments as taxable
  • actions where the court orders payment actions where the court orders payment for<01:11:40.800><
  • <01:32:19.280> from action with respect to a payment from action with respect to a payment
  • Thank you, Senator Rest. would have received a payment under this would have received a payment under
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
MN

Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session

House Children and Families Finance and Policy Committee 2/19/25

Children and Families Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • <00:53:17.920> to investigation um and stopped payments to investigation um and stopped payments
  • orders issued um and five stop payments orders issued um and five stop payments um<00:53:38.359>
  • You know, there's not a licensing regulation violations authority to stop payments.
  • You know, there's not a licensing regulation violations authority to stop payments.
  • <01:04:49.640> um violations result in a stop payment um violations result in a stop payment
Keywords: 1183, house
MN

Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session

House Health Finance and Policy Committee 2/17/25

Health Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • This bill says that people must not receive any service, payment, grant, loan, subsidy, or other form
  • These higher payments pay for the accessible and quality health care ecosystem that we all enjoy and
  • These higher payments pay for the accessible and quality health care ecosystem that we all enjoy and
  • These higher payments pay for the accessible and quality health care ecosystem that we all enjoy and
  • These higher payments pay for the accessible and quality health care ecosystem that we all enjoy and
Bills: HF10, HF27
VT

Vermont 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Session - 2026-04-16 - 1:00PM

Vermont House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • ,<01:24:45.720> which aggregate education payment, which aggregate education payment, which
  • opportunity payments opportunity payments to<01:26:04.960> change<01:26:05.360> the
  • they're grand list maintenance payments they're grand list maintenance payments previously<02:10
  • ,<02:10:14.240> which pilot funds for those payments, which pilot funds for those payments
  • <02:10:40.760> annual<02:10:41.040> payment parcel payment annual payment parcel payment
Keywords: 926, house, all
Summary: The House opened with a devotional by Representative Tiffany Lumley focused on lessons from horses and horsemanship, using the imagery to encourage legislators to lead, listen, stay patient, and remain attentive to constituents outside the chamber. The chamber then welcomed newly appointed Representative Kevin Scully of Burlington, who was sworn in and assigned to the Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs. Members took up several procedural items and resolutions. Senate Bill 239, relating to a child abuse and neglect reporting working group and carrying an appropriation, was referred to Appropriations, and Senate Bill 157, relating to recovery residence certification and affecting state revenue, was referred to Ways and Means after a favorable report with amendment from Human Services. The House also read and adopted concurrent resolutions honoring the federal TRIO programs in Vermont, recognizing tourism economy day and the importance of the visitor economy, and honoring former Representative John Killacky of South Burlington for his artistic and legislative contributions. Multiple members offered personal remarks about John Killacky/Colacci, his arts career, activism, and service in the House, and guests connected to the resolutions were welcomed from the gallery. The House then concurred in the Senate proposal of amendment to House Bill 237, which would allow certain doctoral-level psychologists to prescribe medications. The committee explained the Senate’s changes, including revised training and rotation requirements, a later effective date, and a future OPR report, and said the bill was intended as one tool to address mental health provider shortages; the House agreed by voice vote. The chamber next began second reading of House Bill 955, a major education reform bill titled “next steps in transforming Vermont’s education system,” with the Education Committee describing mandatory cooperative education service areas, merger study committees, and related changes intended to improve efficiency, support local voice, and strengthen public education. No final action on H.955 was taken in the portion provided.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Labor and Employment Committee Apr 29th, 2026

Labor and Employment

Transcript Highlights:
  • And in continuation, they collaborated with me to locate the funds to facilitate payment.
  • And she hasn't received any payments since the 2019 determination that she is owed wages.
  • While payment in that case is positive, the employer did pay for some of the wage theft.
  • plan and put a down payment of $10,000.
  • However, a few months later... ...and put a down payment of $10,000.
Keywords: 988, house, all
KY
Transcript Highlights:
  • effectuate a 2 and 1/2%<00:18:29.360> reduction<00:18:29.800> in<00:18:29.880> payments
  • for plan year 1/2% reduction in payments for plan year 27<00:18:31.880> and<00:18:32.000>
  • . payments. payments.
  • We also increase general fund by $13 million each year to support a one-time supplemental payment to
  • in aid payments for each qualified volunteer fire department.
Summary: The Kentucky Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committee met with a quorum and first took up House Bill 503, the legislative branch budget, adopting a committee substitute and reporting it favorably. The chair said the Senate version fully funds defined calculations, provides 2% raises in each fiscal year for legislative employees, removes a paragraph on operating expense reductions, and includes $1 million in the first year for a judicial branch salary study. House Bill 504, the judicial branch budget, was then amended and reported favorably; changes included 2% annual raises for judicial employees, revised operating expense language, $1 million each year for county current services, retention of Boyle County fit-up language, reporting requirements for smaller capital projects, full funding for nine judges added in 2022, and removal of furlough prohibitions and certain budget implementation language. Both bills passed the committee unanimously with favorable expressions to the floor. The committee then considered House Bill 500, the executive branch budget, adopting a committee substitute before hearing a lengthy summary of major spending and policy changes. The chair described statewide 2% annual employee raises, agency base reductions with many exemptions, increased school safety and 911 funding, veterans and military funding, local government and severance-related changes, attorney general and auditor funding, pension and retirement system support, education funding changes including SEEK, postsecondary and scholarship provisions, public safety and corrections funding, and multiple capital projects. The chair also highlighted Medicaid-related provisions, including added waiver slots, increased state-directed payments, a 2.5% reduction in managed care vendor payments for plan years 2027 and 2028 with savings redirected to fee-for-service rates, and additional funding for behavioral health and public health programs. The bill was reported favorably after members explained their votes, with several noting they had only recently received the full 228-page bill and wanted more time for detailed review. Finally, the committee adopted a committee substitute for House Bill 900, an appropriation measure for government agencies, and reported it favorably. The chair said the bill remains a work in progress and that one-time funding requests from across the Commonwealth and across party lines would continue to be addressed as the process moves forward. All measures considered during the meeting passed the committee with unanimous or near-unanimous favorable votes, and the meeting adjourned after no further business.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • I'm an attorney, and I worked on payments policy for about 18 years for U.S.
  • amount, and the bill would only apply to 10% of the financial marketplace in California, will the payment
  • Right now, the U.S. has about 25 percent of the payment card volume worldwide, but we have...
  • Right now, the U.S. has about 25% of the payment card volume worldwide, but we have about 40% of the
  • It is not a part of the payment processing system at all.
Summary: The Assembly Banking and Finance Committee heard several bills, beginning with AB 407, which would expand the California Pollution Control Financing Authority. The author said the measure would increase flexibility and access to resources, and the bill was approved 7-0 and sent to the Committee on Local Government. The committee also adopted the consent calendar, which included AB 76, by a 7-0 vote. A lengthy portion of the meeting focused on AB 1065, which would prohibit swipe fees on the sales tax portion of credit card transactions. Supporters, including small business owners, restaurant and grocery representatives, and a payments-policy expert, argued the bill would reduce costs for merchants and consumers and rein in dominant card networks. Opponents, including banks, credit unions, and payment industry groups, argued the bill is likely preempted by federal law, would be difficult to implement, and could disproportionately affect community banks and credit unions. After extensive questioning about preemption, fraud, implementation, and consumer impacts, the committee rejected the bill on a 6-0 vote, but then granted reconsideration by a 7-1 vote. The committee then heard AB 1365, which would create the Cal Account Program, a zero-fee, zero-penalty state banking account for unbanked and underbanked Californians. Supporters said the program would help low-income households, survivors of abuse, and others facing barriers to traditional banking, while opponents from community banks and credit unions argued existing low-cost accounts and the Bank On program already address the need and raised concerns about cost, feasibility, and duplication. The bill advanced on a 6-0 vote and later received enough votes on the reopened roll to move forward to the Committee on Labor and Employment. The committee also approved AB 1052, which would create a legal framework for digital assets and address unclaimed digital property and restrictions on public officials issuing or promoting digital assets, and AB 1180, which would create a pilot program for paying state fees with digital financial assets and require a report on broader adoption. Both bills passed with broad support after brief testimony and discussion. Final roll calls later confirmed AB 1052 and AB 1180, along with AB 407 and AB 1365, were moved out of committee.