Transcript Highlights:

• real estate agents and Brokers property real estate agents and Brokers property appraisers<00:18
• why would you have unclaimed property why would you have unclaimed property I'll<00:19:31.720>
• <00:20:21.600> let go back to the unclaimed properties let go back to the unclaimed properties
• We don't have an ability to allow the plan to put the people into similar coverage or the same coverage
• or the same into similar coverage or the same coverage<01:30:49.080> but<01:30:49.239> on<

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The insurance industry just does not like mandatory coverages.
• It provides a step forward in coverage for MassHealth.
• A benefit-cost analysis of providing O&P coverage...
• Coverage, but of my dignity and my care.
• And a lot has helped, but the coverage for wigs and just the fighting for coverage and beating down my

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The hearing opened with the Senate and House chairs of the Joint Committee on Financial Services explaining that the day’s agenda would focus on health insurance and other insurance matters, with a large number of witnesses and a request for brief testimony. Legislators were taken out of order to accommodate their schedules, and the committee heard testimony on several bills, including coverage for hair prostheses for alopecia (H. 1223/S. 832), medically necessary oral and dental care for head and neck cancer survivors (H. 1258), modernizing fertility and family-building coverage (H. 715/H. 1190 and related bills), coverage for prosthetic devices to support physical activity for people with limb loss (the “So Everybody Can Move” bill), remediation coverage for home heating oil releases (S. 813/H. 1302), and expanded access to physical therapy for Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (H. 1170). A separate bill on sickle cell care and registry development (S. 788) was also discussed by Senator Liz Miranda. Witnesses largely offered personal stories and expert testimony in support of the bills. Advocates for alopecia coverage described the medical and emotional impact of hair loss, the high cost of quality wigs, and the argument that scalp and facial hair prostheses should be treated like other medically necessary prosthetics. Cancer survivors and supporters of H. 1258 said oral and dental care after head and neck cancer treatment is a quality-of-life issue and often not covered despite major out-of-pocket costs. Fertility specialists, LGBTQ+ advocates, and legislators supporting the modern family-building bills said the current infertility definition is outdated and discriminatory, excluding same-sex couples, people needing donors or gestational carriers, and others with medical barriers to conception. For the limb-loss bill, parents and adults with prosthetic needs stressed that activity-specific prostheses are essential for children and adults to run, swim, play sports, and stay healthy, but are often excluded from coverage. The home heating oil testimony focused on the financial devastation caused by residential oil spills and the need to make spill coverage automatic in homeowners policies. Environmental professionals and homeowners described cleanup costs ranging from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars, the strict liability homeowners face, and the fact that many policyholders do not know the rider exists. The insurance industry testified in opposition to the mandatory-coverage approach, arguing for clearer distinctions between first- and third-party coverage, risk-mitigation standards, a delayed effective date, and more emphasis on education and notification rather than mandates. Committee members pressed the industry witness on why agents do not routinely tell customers about the rider and suggested that the issue may require broader disclosure by insurers, agents, and fuel dealers. No votes were taken during the hearing; the committee heard testimony and discussed possible compromise language and future action.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's just not an automatic coverage.” “It's just not an automatic coverage to allow for review.
• Just to be clear, we're not denying people coverage.
• Next up, the Office of Public Property Risk. Mr.
• This is our actuarial provider for the property insurance program.
• That's what the state takes on with property damage.

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• regardless of most changes in their lives that previously would have affected their coverage.
• coverage rates in the state.
• have the coverage they need for their bills to be paid to providers. ensure people have the coverage
• It's going to deprive Minnesotans of healthcare and coverage.
• It is not the personal property of the staff.

Transcript Highlights:

• Bearer relating to the assessment of the use of the surplus government property to provide houses to
• AB 2519 by Holt relating to the disclosures required to record an instrument conveying real property
• An appraisal district for the Subcommittee on Property Tax Appraisals.
• AB 2559 by Patterson relating to imposition by a municipality of a moratorium on property development
• HB 2573 by Wally relating to Medicaid coverage and reimbursement of dualist services, referred to the

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• required coverage. Favorable. required coverage. Favorable.
• to provide coverage for scalp cancer to provide coverage for scalp cooling<00:31:35.520> systems<
• As amended, this bill adds leases of real property and rental agreements relating to real property to
• relating to real property.
• relating to real property.

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Tuesday, February 17, 2026, 960, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened with an invocation, quorum call, and several introductions recognizing guests, including Reverend Jennifer Carsner and her daughter, President Kirk Schmoke, representatives from Maryland independent colleges and universities, students from Stevenson University, Howard and Anne Arundel counties, Washington College, a constituent, and the Greater Washington, D.C.-Maryland chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. The chamber also adopted a resolution honoring Damatha Catholic High School for winning the 2025 WCAC football championship and another recognizing the Greater Bethesda Chamber of Commerce on its 100th anniversary. Both resolutions were adopted unanimously after brief remarks and roll calls. The Senate then took up executive nominations, separating nominee 16 from the main report. The chamber voted 42 in favor on the remaining nominations and then 42 in favor on nominee 16, giving all nominees the Senate’s advice and consent. On third reading, the Senate passed several bills, including SB 46, SB 25, SB 58, SB 163, SB 170, SB 188, SB 247, SB 356, and SB 379, with recorded affirmative votes ranging from 36 to 42. These measures covered topics such as veterans cemeteries, tax credits and tax modifications, education funding, transportation revenue bonds, biotechnology incentives, a stillborn child tax credit, and recovery residence grant funding. The chamber also advanced numerous second-reading bills, generally adopting committee reports and amendments without objection. Among the measures discussed were collective bargaining for Alcohol, Tobacco, and Cannabis Commission police officers; adoption of the 2022 Uniform Commercial Code amendments for controllable electronic records; cemetery sale and transfer oversight; an additional license for electronic smoking devices; collective bargaining for Baltimore County Public Library supervisory employees; payroll processor exemptions under the Money Transmission Act; scalp cooling coverage for chemotherapy patients; orthoses and prostheses coverage under health and Medicaid plans; an online database of elevator inspection certificates; service animal program disqualification standards; extension of the State Board of Environmental Health Specialists; disclosure of lapsed professional liability insurance for nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and nurse midwives; and revisions to massage therapy licensure rules. Most reports were favorable, with several technical or substantive amendments adopted and bills ordered printed for third reading. A notable policy discussion occurred on SB 56, which would allow the Maryland Longitudinal Data System Center to share individual-level student and workforce data with a third-party data center for multi-state reporting. The sponsor explained the bill as a way to compare Maryland outcomes with other states while using data-sharing agreements and oversight to protect privacy; a minority whip raised concerns about the type of third-party data center and whether the practice was new. The sponsor said the bill was intended to formalize and safeguard data sharing, and noted a technical amendment would be offered to correct the amendment language.

Transcript Highlights:

• It clarifies how smoke damage is assessed, not whether coverage exists.
• It clarifies how smoke damage is assessed, not whether coverage exists.
• It does not expand coverage to soil, outdoor area, or non-covered property.
• I'm with the Mayor Property Casual Insurance Association.
• It does not change insurance coverage.

Summary: The Assembly Insurance Committee met as a subcommittee at first because a quorum was not initially present, then later established a quorum and heard several bills. The main special-order item was AB 1795 (Gibson), which would create statewide standards for testing, inspection, and remediation of wildfire smoke damage in homes, with CalEPA and public health agencies developing science-based standards and insurers required to follow new claims-handling timelines. Supporters, including Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara and wildfire survivors, said the bill would bring consistency and safety; insurers and consumer groups generally supported the concept but sought further amendments on scope, standards, and claim handling. The committee voted do pass as amended and refer AB 1795 to Appropriations, with the roll held open for later additions. The committee also considered AB 1576 (Ortega) on the Subsequent Injury Benefit Trust Fund, which would make changes intended to reduce litigation and employer assessments while preserving the program’s purpose of encouraging hiring of workers with prior disabilities. Labor-side witnesses supported the bill as a reform step, while business, public entity, and insurance groups opposed it, arguing it did not address the core structural problems and that a trailer bill was a better vehicle for broader reform. AB 1576 was voted do pass to Appropriations, with the roll held open. AB 1931 (Papan) would create an optional limited-lines license for utilities to offer home protection products for repairs to appliances and utility service lines. Support came from HomeServe, utilities, and industry groups, who said the bill would clarify current law and add consumer protections such as training, disclosures, and a free-look period; there was no opposition in the room. The committee passed AB 1931 to Appropriations. AB 2361 (Pacheco) would limit vicarious liability for peer-to-peer vehicle-sharing platforms like Turo while preserving insurance coverage requirements; supporters said it would align California with other states, while consumer attorneys opposed it as reducing accountability and consumer recovery. The committee passed AB 2361 as amended to Appropriations. AB 2098 (Kalra), heard later, would require employers to allow leave for workers to attend treatment for occupational injuries during work hours, subject to notice and business-necessity limits; labor groups supported it and business and insurance groups sought narrower standards. It was also voted do pass to Appropriations. The committee then completed roll-call add-ons and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Do the property insurance companies have to get approval from you to make those adjustments?
• , we still have... ...as we say, is not interested and not willing to write your property.
• We still have a mechanism by which you can still access and get insurance coverage.
• I have had lots of people that have same property tax. assessment values.
• There was a core reduction of Property rights issues.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:12:35.839> options workers compensation coverage options workers compensation coverage
• > again, or lapses in coverage, but but again, or lapses in coverage, but but again, can<00:19
• And you not have required coverage.
• secure workers compensation coverage? secure workers compensation coverage?
• compensation insurance coverage? compensation insurance coverage?

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Commercial coverage by the company. Right.
• And even then, there’s a 30-day gap in coverage.
• , and if there’s either deficient coverage or the coverage is expired or whatever,... ...either deficient
• coverage or the coverage is expired or whatever, that still points to the delivery network carriers
• If that higher level of coverage starts when I accept a job, but their personal coverage quits when they

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Only by our property taxes.
• assessed value to their property.
• Property taxes, we heard about property taxes.
• property taxes we heard about property property taxes we heard about property taxes<00:48:16.319
• So these local property owners protecting their property rights also vote for local municipalities in

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• insurance pool to a broader commercial coverage.
• allows, for example, damage or loss of the church buildings or other structures, premises liability coverage
• , coverage for fraud...
• It covers furniture, equipment, contents, wind, hail, loss of use, and coverage when a building cannot
• This instrument provides relative to coverage for severe obesity treatment, to provide...

Summary: The House Insurance Committee met on May 12 with a quorum present and first took up Senate Bill 341, which would expand the Louisiana churches and nonprofit religious organizations self-insured fund from property-only coverage to broader commercial coverage, including liability, contents, wind and hail, and loss-of-use protections. The sponsor and Department of Insurance said the bill was the product of agreement among the parties and was intended to help churches and nonprofits, including smaller congregations, obtain affordable coverage. After adopting technical amendments, the committee reported SB 341 as amended without objection. The committee then considered Senate Bill 509 on bank-owned life insurance (BOLI), which would clarify insurable interest and allow exchanges of underperforming policies. The sponsor, industry representatives, and the Department of Insurance discussed how banks use these policies for employee benefit funding, the role of 1035 exchanges, consent requirements, and concerns about federal tax issues and state insurable-interest language. Because the parties were still working toward a solution, the committee adopted a technical amendment but voluntarily deferred SB 509 until the following week. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 464 on coverage for severe obesity treatment, which would create a framework for partially implementing the bariatric surgery mandate based on available appropriations. The sponsor and the Department of Insurance said the bill would let the state cover a proportional share of expected surgeries if only part of the required funding is provided. The committee reported SB 464 favorably without objection, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• insurance pool to a broader commercial coverage.
• , coverage for fraud.
• It covers furniture, equipment, contents, wind, hail, and loss of use of coverage when a building cannot
• This instrument provides relative to coverage for severe obesity treatment, to provide...
• A couple of years ago, we passed some legislation that looked to expand the benchmark coverage of our

Keywords: 965, house, all

Summary: The House Insurance Committee met with a quorum and took up three Senate bills. Senate Bill 341, by Senator Edmonds, was amended with technical changes and reported as amended. The bill expands the Louisiana churches and nonprofit religious organizations’ self-insured fund from a property-only pool to broader commercial coverage, including premises liability, fraud, contents, wind and hail, and loss-of-use coverage. Testimony from the sponsor and the Department of Insurance emphasized that the measure was intended to help churches and nonprofits, including smaller congregations, while preserving solvency requirements for the fund. The committee then heard Senate Bill 509, by Senator Cloud, concerning bank-owned life insurance (BOLI). The sponsor, bank and insurance industry representatives, and the Department of Insurance discussed allowing banks to exchange underperforming policies for better-performing ones under 1035 exchanges, while clarifying insurable-interest and consent issues. Members raised questions about former employees, split-dollar arrangements, and whether additional consent would be needed. Because the parties were still working on a solution, the committee adopted a technical amendment but voluntarily deferred the bill until the following week. Finally, Senate Bill 464, by Senator Barrow, was presented by Ryan Haney and the Department of Insurance as a framework to cover severe obesity treatment, including bariatric surgery. The bill would allow the state to partially implement the mandate based on the amount of funding appropriated, rather than requiring full funding up front. Supporters said the measure could reduce long-term health costs and align Louisiana more closely with neighboring states. The committee reported the bill favorably, and the meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• And, of course, we've seen that many Californians continue to be left without coverage.
• Just talk to the thousands of Californians who currently cannot find coverage or of losing their home
• Denny Ritter here on behalf of the American Property Casualty Insurance Association.
• Denny Ritter here on behalf of the American Property Casualty Insurance Association.
• We just want to express our appreciation. property casualty insurance association.

Summary: The Assembly Insurance Committee held its fifth oversight hearing on the California Department of Insurance’s Sustainable Insurance Strategy (SIS), with Commissioner Ricardo Lara providing an update on implementation. Lara said the department has finalized major reforms, including new catastrophe modeling tools, faster rate review procedures, use of forward-looking data tied to mitigation, and modernization of the FAIR Plan. He argued the strategy is intended to improve insurance availability in wildfire-prone areas, increase transparency, and stabilize the market, while also criticizing consumer intervenor groups and saying the department will tighten rules on intervener compensation and relevance. Members questioned Lara about when the SIS would begin producing visible market changes, how long rate filings would take to approve, and what the FAIR Plan modernization would mean for consumers’ costs. Lara said catastrophe model approvals should be completed by the end of the month, insurers are expected to begin submitting SIS filings in the coming weeks, and rate reviews have already been reduced from 281 days to 71 days. He also discussed a new market conduct investigation into State Farm’s handling of wildfire claims, ongoing complaints about smoke-damage claims, and a newly created smoke claims and remediation task force to develop standards. Lara said the department has helped more than 12,000 wildfire survivors, with over 38,000 claims filed and more than $17 billion paid, and that it is also working with other western states on underinsurance issues. Public commenters from the insurance industry, homebuilding, and insurance brokerage sectors largely supported the SIS and the department’s efforts, saying the reforms are needed to restore availability and stability. They emphasized the importance of timely rate approvals, FAIR Plan solvency, and greater transparency, and several noted that member companies are preparing to use the new filing process. The hearing ended without a vote or formal action, though members and the commissioner discussed ongoing legislative needs, including AB 226 and possible future FAIR Plan transparency measures.

Transcript Highlights:

• And for the couple hundred thousand Minnesotans who rely on Medigap coverage, we're hearing estimates
• ,<00:05:02.000> uh motans who rely on metagap coverage, uh motans who rely on metagap coverage
• can really have a detrimental coverage can really have a detrimental impact<00:05:22.080> on<
• It deals with the property and casualty market, which is under stress, and we need to learn a lot more
• Is that your sell uh sell property. Is that your understanding,<00:32:59.279> Mr.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And it ensures both providers coverage.
• You can tax the properties of an ERISA. You can tax the properties of an ERISA.
• It adds behavioral health coverage.
• are already providing adequate coverage. are already providing adequate coverage.
• don't call it a property tax? don't call it a property tax?

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• are each year in Florida, with 25% of all Florida accidents being a hit and run, and over 80% of property
• Florida accidents being a hit and run, and over 80% of property damage per the last year, which is 86,000
• It'll lower if you carry uninsured motorist coverage.
• If they cause the crash, your uninsured motorist coverage wouldn't even come into play as long as your
• It'll lower if you carry uninsured motorist coverage, it'll probably lower your uninsured motorist coverage

Summary: The committee met with a quorum present and heard a series of transportation-related bills, most of which were reported favorably. SB 532 would exempt 100% disabled veterans from paying Florida tolls. SB 1738 would allow certain counties that previously opted out of transportation concurrency to opt back in by maintaining current levels of service, though there were concerns about congestion and future growth. SB 1696 aimed to reduce transportation network company driver impersonation, allow transit authorities to contract with ride-share platforms, and permit those platforms to participate in state-funded paratransit trips. SB 1378, as amended, would allow courts to order restitution in standard leaving-the-scene crashes; the amendment made restitution discretionary and required that the driver caused or contributed to the crash. SB 1210 would increase penalties for red-light and stop-sign crashes and require bodily injury insurance for drivers who cause such crashes. SB 1820, via strike-all amendment, addressed dealer-manufacturer relations by requiring written explanations of performance measures, prohibiting retaliation against dealers asserting statutory rights, and limiting franchise termination or nonrenewal to substantial breaches. SB 1246 created a specialty license plate for safe coastal wildlife, with proceeds going to the Zoo Miami Foundation for conservation work and an amendment allowing up to 10% for administrative and marketing costs. The committee also considered SB 574, which would allow Florida residents with Purple Heart license plates to pass tolls free of charge; the bill was amended to change the plate reference to a specialty plate and was reported favorably. SB 1662, the FDOT department bill, was substantially revised by strike-all amendment covering a wide range of transportation issues, including USF’s role in the Florida Transportation Research Institute Consortium, Florida Transportation Commission provisions, seaport and airport-related changes, strategic space infrastructure, sewer lines in rights of way, small county road assistance, aggregate supply chain programs, and Jacksonville Transportation Authority board appointments. Testimony on SB 1662 included support from USF and the Florida Public Transportation Association, which raised concerns about added oversight and bureaucracy for transit systems. Most bills received support from affected stakeholders, and several were amended before final favorable votes. Roll calls were taken on each measure, and all of the listed bills were reported favorably by the committee. At the end of the meeting, senators requested to be recorded as voting in the affirmative on several bills, and the committee adjourned after a brief personal privilege remark from Chair Collins.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 283 was subject to a strike-everything amendment, now titled Supplies Health, Health Coverage
• It adds the following equipment outlined on point one of your caucus sheet to be included in coverage
• Nicole, Madam Chair, Member, Senate Bill 1294, Property Tax Assessment Destroyed Property, creates clarifying
• changes regarding the county assessor's authority to prorate the value of destroyed property for property
• Madam Chair Member, Senate Bill 1294 Property Tax Assessment destroyed property creates clarifying changes

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The caucus reviewed a long calendar of bills spanning health care, education, tax, public safety, firearms, elections, and family law. On health and education, HB 283 would expand diabetes-related coverage for certain supplies; SB 1126 would require schools to provide records and cooperate with Department of Child Safety caseworkers; SB 1210 would require out-of-state private postsecondary institutions to register in Arizona; and SCR 1006, which would create private causes of action over restroom and pronoun policies in schools, drew strong opposition and was requested to be pulled from consent. Members also discussed HB 2308, which would bar dental insurers from owning dental practices, and SB 1049, which would cap spousal maintenance at four years and change how the marital standard of living is considered; both prompted questions and SB 1049 was pulled from consent. Several tax measures were also reviewed. SB 1293 would limit GPLET abatements by protecting school district revenue, and members noted prior opposition. SB 1294 would clarify county assessors’ authority to prorate destroyed property for tax purposes, though members said they were still researching whether it was necessary. SB 1430, the Tax Corrections Act of 2026, would make technical tax changes and remove redundant language, but members said they wanted Department of Revenue-requested corrections restored. SB 1053 would reduce concealed weapons permit fees for Arizona residents and was pulled from consent after concerns about fee impacts and unresolved amendment language. On public safety and firearms, SB 1058 would prohibit government records distinguishing firearm retailers and firearm owners and was pulled from consent after criticism and reference to a prior veto. SB 1093 would expand riot-related offenses to include property damage and add riot to conspiracy and racketeering provisions. SB 1160 would restrict drones near ticketed entertainment events, with supporters framing it as a public safety measure and clarifying that event-authorized drone use could still be exempt. SB 1211 would allow lifetime injunctions for felony aggravated harassment involving domestic violence. The caucus also considered election-related bills. SB 1006 would raise the threshold for aggregated campaign contribution reporting from under $100 to under $200, and it was pulled from consent. SB 1029 would create a process for terminating a campaign committee after a candidate’s death. SB 1038 would make cast vote records public records, SB 1057 would add fraud countermeasures for paper ballots, and SB 1237 would require consultation with county recorders and legislative leaders before the Secretary of State updates the Elections Procedures Manual. Several of these election bills were noted as having been vetoed previously, and the meeting ended by moving into closed caucus.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:16:47.519> of for um requiring Medicaid coverage of for um requiring Medicaid coverage
• , expanding coverage for certain areas?
• <02:33:58.520> expanding<02:33:59.080> coverage explore um coverage expanding coverage
• explore um coverage expanding coverage for<02:33:59.680> certain<02:34:00.279> areas<02
• coverage coverage determinations<02:50:54.920> um<02:50:55.120> and<02:50:55.359> we

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And increasingly, these workers are not simply protecting property.
• Four in five work full-time, yet only about half have employer or union health coverage.
• These are the conditions... ...yet only about half have employer or union health coverage.
• Under existing law, large employers are already required to offer affordable coverage.
• The licensing requirements include a requirement to file workers' compensation coverage.

Keywords: 988, house, all