Transcript Highlights:

• Do we still call you Commissioner?
• Do we still call you Commissioner?
• Do we still call you Commissioner? Commissioner? Commissioner?
• . commissioner. commissioner.
• Commissioner<01:31:29.640> Utke. Commissioner Utke. Commissioner Utke.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the commissioner of administrative services, and joining me are Deputy Commissioner Cassie Keane
• <00:03:09.720> of Arling housee I'm the commissioner of Arling housee I'm the commissioner
• Cassie Keane and are Deputy Commissioner Cassie Keane and assistant<00:03:15.080> commissioner
• as we've become as we were self-insured as we've become as we were self-insured and<00:10:07.360
• the prescription drug claims, so it includes both self-insured claims and insurance rate.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Department of Administrative Services presented an overview of its budget and operations, emphasizing that it is the lowest-spending agency in state government and that its general fund allocation has declined since 2019. Commissioner Arling House explained that DAS also handles back-office functions for several administratively attached boards, which has affected staffing and spending comparisons. He said the department’s current general fund spending is roughly split between retiree health and other operations, and that the presentation was based on adjusted authorized spending rather than the original budget figures. A major portion of the meeting focused on retiree health benefits and the long-term effort to control costs. Deputy Commissioner Cassie Keane described how the state moved from a projected deficit in retiree health to savings through a series of changes, including higher premium contributions, co-pay adjustments, and shifting Medicare retirees into Medicare Advantage arrangements to capture federal reimbursement. She said the state has about 12,500 retirees and spouses on the plan, with roughly 10,906 Medicare retirees and 1,580 non-Medicare retirees, and that the savings have depended heavily on federal funding and procurement decisions. She also noted that Medicare retirees pay Part B premiums and that the state has grandfathered older retirees from some premium contributions. Members asked about what the expenditures cover, why the state offers retiree health instead of simply giving retirees a payment to buy coverage themselves, and whether out-of-pocket costs changed under Medicare Advantage. Keane said the plan covers actual health claims or insurance premiums, that co-pays and maximum out-of-pocket limits remain in place, and that the state has no authority to change benefit details without legislative action. She explained that retiree health is a long-standing employee benefit that wraps around Medicare and is not collectively bargained in the usual sense, though its eligibility rules and cost-sharing have been tightened over time to better target the benefit to long-term state service. The discussion also covered vendor performance problems. Keane said Anthem recently won the contract back from Aetna, but its pharmacy subsidiary, Caroline, caused serious service disruptions. DAS responded by withholding payments, assessing more than $2 million in performance guarantees, and hiring a third-party auditor to review the pharmacy processes. The current contract runs through the end of calendar year 2026, and officials said they are watching federal Medicare Advantage reimbursement changes closely because future savings are uncertain.

Transcript Highlights:

• for insurance for the firemen. for insurance for the firemen.
• Um, most of our programs are now under an insurance umbrella versus self-insured.
• self-insured and we're not self-insured self-insured and we're not self-insured now<01:07:21.359
• <01:09:40.159> Express employees health insurance. Express employees health insurance.
• >> Assistant<01:33:27.840> commissioner. >> Assistant commissioner.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The meeting began with approval of partial minutes, with members noting that DHS/HHS material was not yet included and that the minutes would be finalized later. The committee then heard from the General Court about several dedicated funds. Testimony explained the Joint Legislative Historical Fund, which receives a $25,000 annual general fund appropriation and transfers from visitor center sales above a $50,000 threshold, and is used for portrait maintenance, chamber work, Hall of Flags upkeep, and other historical preservation needs. Members also discussed the preservation of the Civil War flags in the Hall of Flags, with the General Court stating the flags are monitored through annual high-definition photos and that no immediate stabilization project is planned. A question about Union cemeteries was raised but the witness said he had no knowledge of federal funding for them. The committee also reviewed the visitor center revolving fund and noted that the accounting presentation is confusing because transfers are netted out so the fund ends each year at $50,000. Members suggested the narrative should clearly identify the transfer amounts and actual revenue, and staff agreed to note that in future reporting. The General Court then described its special legislative account as a stability reserve for capital and emergency needs, citing past uses such as the plaza ADA renovation, the legislative parking garage, and moving operations to One Granite Place. Members asked about interest earnings and were told the account is held in the treasury and any interest goes to the general fund unless statute directs otherwise; no additional funding was recommended at this time. The Department of Administrative Services then presented the law enforcement memorial fund, explaining it is a long-standing leftover construction fund with a small balance that has not been needed because the New Hampshire Law Enforcement Memorial Officers Association privately funds memorial upkeep and plaques. Members discussed whether the state should transfer the remaining money to the nonprofit, but no decision was made; the department said it would research whether such a transfer is legally possible. The department also reviewed the former land conservation endowment fund, now moving to Fish and Game under House Bill 2, and explained that it primarily covers administrative costs, management fees, and investment losses for a long-term conservation program. Members asked about the fund’s large balance and the increase in expenses, and were told the fund is intended to last indefinitely and that future reporting will shift to Fish and Game.

Transcript Highlights:

• accident victims and their insurance accident victims and their insurance companies<01:17:01.600
• I'm not saying not insurance collision coverage to pay for property damage; they have insurance but not
• a lot I'm not saying not Insurance a lot I'm not saying not Insurance Collision<01:19:49.800>
• before they started talking to insurance before they started talking to insurance companies<01:20
• injuries it's not simply an insurance injuries it's not simply an insurance company<01:23:12.520

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Really, what she was doing is buying her own insurance because her insurance had lapsed.
• <00:17:48.559> Really grabbing her proof of insurance.
• Really grabbing her proof of insurance.
• > had insurance because her insurance had insurance because her insurance had lapsed.<00:17:53.120
• insurance but really she did not. insurance but really she did not.

Bills: HF719, HF2484, HF2486

Keywords: safety, school transportation, infrastructure, capital investment, state bonds, library construction, education funding, early childhood, child protection, funding, bonds, education facilities, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Commissioner, thank you for being here. Thank you very much.
• These security guards may not be covered by liability insurance.
• And so by that, they are oftentimes not insured because some insurance companies provide the liability
• ... insurance based on the number of employees.
• Well, I mean, most of your security companies have an insurance policy.

Bills: SB 36, HB 1065, HB2929, HB2956, HB3009, HB3420, HB3626, HB3649, HB4956, HB4993, HB5293, HB5308, HB5528, HCR118, SB36, HB4023

Keywords: transportation, regional authorities, mobility, infrastructure, sales tax, employee classification, private security, misclassification, workforce regulations, Texas Workforce Commission, autism, peace officers, training program, law enforcement, intervention, communication, developmental disability, family violence, central database, criminal offense

Transcript Highlights:

• trust, or the life insurance trust under TRS for House Bill 441. that makes it even more difficult uh
• trust or the trust the health insurance trust or the life<00:10:21.959> insurance<00:10:22.399
• trust under TRS for House life insurance trust under TRS for House Bill<00:10:25.120> 441<00:
• He said it is annual: the Commissioner of Education shall annually identify the subject areas that are
• of Education shall annually commissioner of Education shall annually identify<00:12:28.320> the

Keywords: Consideration of HB 73 02:23 Consideration of HB 441 07:24 Consideration of HB 462 18:44, 958, all

Summary: The House State Government Committee met with a quorum and considered three bills. House Bill 73, as amended by committee substitute, added We Lead CS to the list of agencies participating in the Teachers’ Retirement System administrative provisions. The sponsor explained the bill corrects an oversight involving a computer science education service provider established in 2022. A question about fiscal impact was answered with no expected fiscal note or actuarial impact. The committee adopted the substitute and passed HB 73 19-0 with favorable expression. House Bill 441 addressed teacher shortages by expanding the number of retired teachers and critical-shortage-area teachers school districts may hire. The sponsor said districts could hire retired teachers up to 10% of staff and critical shortage area teachers up to 10%, replacing lower current limits and a temporary COVID-era provision that had expired. Members asked about work limits, salary rules, and how often shortage areas are identified; the sponsor said retired teachers remain subject to existing earnings limits, critical shortage teachers are paid at least a rank-two, 10-year salary, and shortage areas are identified annually by the Commissioner of Education. Supportive comments noted the bill was a stopgap and that long-term solutions should include recruitment, retention, and pay. The committee passed HB 441 19-0 with favorable expression. House Bill 462 would allow county clerks to correct marriage applications or licenses by affidavit, without requiring a lawsuit in circuit court, when there are obvious errors or omissions. The Kenton County clerk and another clerk testified that the change would help people who need corrected records for Social Security, Real ID, inheritance, and other legal purposes, while still preserving data needed by Vital Statistics. Members described the bill as a practical efficiency measure. The committee passed HB 462 19-0 with favorable expression, and the meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the commissioner for the Office of Administration.
• So we're self-insured. We pay them to— they're supposed to process...
• So it's, it's, but we're self-insured.
• to be on Missouri state insurance?
• Voluntary life insurance is page 92.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:53:35.040> policies are deductible on on insurance policies are deductible on on insurance
• state millions of dollars and insurance state millions of dollars and insurance companies<00:56:
• I am the commissioner for the Department of Information Technology, and with me today is Deputy Commissioner
• So if the claimant has commercial insurance or has other insurance that can pay for the claim, that third-party
• or has other uh commercial insurance or has other insurance<05:31:28.718> that<05:31:28.840><

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Department of Administrative Services presented its capital budget process and priorities, explaining that it maintains and operates 96 state buildings and uses annual facility walkthroughs, condition assessments, and rough cost estimates to rank projects for the governor’s capital budget. Officials described how requests are triaged, how the governor’s office and Public Works refine estimates, and how the resulting capital budget book serves as legislative intent for approved projects. They also noted that this year the governor’s office asked for estimates on all selected projects, which increased workload but reduced detail. The department highlighted several requested projects, including $1.5 million for the ERP system sustainability fund, which officials said is critical because the state is upgrading its core financial, HR, and budget system to the cloud. Other priorities included courthouse HVAC and boiler work, brick repointing at the State House annex/main building, window replacement at the Spalding building, and elevator replacement on the hospital campus. Officials also said the governor’s proposed capital budget included fewer DAS projects than in past years and asked the committee to consider funding closer to historic levels. The committee then reviewed lapse and reallocation items. DAS said most older projects are still in design, bid, or construction because projects now take four to six years rather than two to three, in part due to ARPA-related workload and post-COVID construction backlogs. Members discussed lapsing $81,000 from the completed Spalding roof project and redirecting small remaining balances from several 2019 projects toward the Hillsboro County South cell block project through the Capital Project Overview Committee. Officials also confirmed ARPA-funded projects are expected to be completed before the December 2026 deadline and explained that the ERP system is the main state IT exception outside DOIT’s usual centralized control, though it still requires DOIT consultation and approval.

Transcript Highlights:

• Schnell, the commissioner, and with Mr. Schnell, the commissioner, and Mr.<00:31:24.480> Hunt.
• I'm the commissioner for the Schnell.
• , >> Uh, Bobby Bham, assistant commissioner, >> Uh, Bobby Bham, assistant commissioner
• Thank you, Commissioner.
• Thank you, Commissioner.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• MA private insurers have never saved us a dime.
• Insurers claim that this great bonus Insurers claim that this great bonus that they're receiving provides
• Americans lost their health insurance.
• It demanded insurance companies cover more... demanded insurance companies cover more preventative services
• And one thing we could do, and I wish we would do, is to give the state insurance commissioners the authority

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• for insurance insurance companies for insurance companies.<00:24:19.520> The<00:24:19.679>
• Commissioner John Martin, Commissioner Hup Huffman, Commissioner Jeff Gray, Commissioner Allison McCulla
• , including the county commissioners, including the county commissioners, Commissioner<00:27:34.000
• , Commissioner Commissioner John Martin, Commissioner Hup<00:27:35.600> Huffman,<00:27:36.320>
• would be covered by health insurance. would be covered by health insurance.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• . insurance. insurance.
• I'm here on behalf of the Insurance Commissioner.
• Sorry, Chair, I do have a question for an insurer, for the Insurance Commissioner.
• for the Insurance for an insurer for the Insurance Commissioner.
• Commissioner. Commissioner.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee first heard several measures and took testimony without questions on SB 2431 relating to health savings accounts and SB 2797 relating to consumer protection. For SB 2797, the DCCA Office of Consumer Protection offered comments, Retail Merchants of Hawaii opposed the bill over gift card fraud compliance costs and legal risk, and AARP Hawaii supported it. The committee also heard SB 2946 on foreclosures, where the Hawaii State Bar Association’s Collection Law Section and several lenders, associations, and individuals opposed the measure, while the Hawaii Bankers Association and others offered comments. SB 2961 on insurance drew comments from the Insurance Division and Hawaii Insurance Council, with NAMIC opposing and some individuals supporting. SB 2948 on insurance fraud received comments from the Insurance Division and support from the American Property Casualty Insurance Association, with NAMIC and the Alliance for Responsible Consumer Legal Funding also commenting. No votes were taken during the hearing portion, and the committee recessed after testimony. The committee then reconvened for decision-making on the 9:30 agenda. SB 2431 was passed with amendments, including DOTAX-requested changes, a five-year limit on credit carryforwards, removal of an aggregate cap, a rural definition, transparent reporting, technical amendments, and a deferred effective date of July 1, 2050. SB 2797 was also passed with DCCA-requested amendments, technical changes, and the same deferred effective date. SB 2946 was deferred because there was no testimony in support. SB 2961 was passed with amendments, but after Senator McKelvey raised concern that policy-limit language could undermine the bill, the committee removed two policy-limit amendments before adopting the recommendation. SB 2948 was passed with amendments deleting certain definitions, aligning penalties and public-records provisions, adding coordination and disclosure clarifications, and making technical changes; one no vote by Senator Awana was recorded, with the rest in favor. The committee also considered SB 3000 from a prior hearing and recommended passage with amendments clarifying the Attorney General’s authority, creating a special fund, and addressing concurrent actions, again with a deferred effective date and one no vote by Senator Awana. In a joint CPN/GVO agenda, SB 2258 relating to school agriculture procurement targets was passed with amendments after the Department of Education said it would need to follow up on whether changing the target period from calendar year to school year would create procurement or scheduling issues; the committee added technical changes, a deferred effective date, and routed the bill to Ways and Means, with a note that Education should also have received it. In a later joint CPN/AEN hearing, SB 2452 relating to climate-friendly insurers drew strong opposition from the Insurance Division and several insurance groups, who warned it could push insurers out of the authorized market and into the surplus lines market, raising costs; Senator Dela questioned whether the bill would worsen an already strained market, while the division said the legislature could make the policy choice but warned of market disruption. The hearing then moved to SB 2760 on invasive species, where DLNR, DAB, CGAPS, and the Oahu Invasive Species Committee generally supported broader inspection and quarantine authority, civil penalties, and longer interim-rule authority, while committee members asked about staffing, treatment capacity, and implementation for non-agricultural commodities such as building materials and vehicles.

Transcript Highlights:

• 2022, the second-highest rate in the nation, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners
• 2022, the second-highest rate in the nation, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners
• 2022, the second-highest rate in the nation, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners
• 2022, the second-highest rate in the nation, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners
• 2022, the second-highest rate in the nation, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Commissioner Gandhi. Okay. Commissioner Gandhi.
• Commissioner<01:03:03.200> Gandhi, Commissioner Gandhi, Commissioner Gandhi, Chair<01:03:04.480
• Commissioner<01:05:20.240> Gandhi. Commissioner Gandhi. Commissioner Gandhi.
• Commissioner<01:09:20.480> Gandhi, Commissioner Gandhi, Commissioner Gandhi, Chair<01:09:21.600
• Commissioner Gandi? Commissioner Gandi?

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• THAT POLICYHOLDERS ARE NO LONGER PLACED INTO A SEPARATE SYSTEM OF JUSTICE SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY ARE INSURED
• FIRST MICHAEL WICKERSON PROPERTY INSURANCE. NO FURTHER PUBLIC TESTIMONY. NOW WE ARE IN DEBATE.
• I'M HERE TO THINK COMMISSIONER AND HIS TEAM OUR SCHEDULES HAVE NOT ALIGNED WHERE WE CAN DIG IN ON THIS
• FIRST WE HAVE BERT SAUNDERS WITH COLLIER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS.
• ONE OF MY COMMISSIONERS MCDANIELS IS HERE.

Transcript Highlights:

• This promptly and chair calls Commissioner Morath and we will continue.
• Commissioner, I have a couple of questions I want to ask.
• Commissioner Morath on methodology on your most recent fiscal size up.
• We operate a very low benefits program health insurance benefits program.
• They operate their own health insurance programs. from Bryan, they do health insurance for public school

Keywords: infrastructure, water supply, flood mitigation, Texas Water Fund, community projects, funding allocations

Summary: During this committee meeting, the focus was on discussing critical infrastructure funding, especially related to water supply and flood mitigation projects. Chairwoman Stepney and the Water Development Board presented extensive details regarding the Texas Water Fund, which included $1 billion appropriated to assist various financial programs and tackle pressing water and wastewater issues. Additionally, funding allocations aimed at compromising the state's flood risk and improving water conservation were hotly debated, emphasizing collaboration among committee members and the necessity of addressing community needs in such projects.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm here to testify on House Bill 2888, An Act relative to the insurance advisory committee.
• This bill makes a targeted but important update to Section 3 of Chapter 32B, ensuring that insurance
• House 2888 would amend Section 32B, which governs municipal insurance advisory committees.
• Chairman, Frank Valery, and the commissioner is on the commission. I want to... Mr.
• Chairman, Frank Valery, and the commissioner is on the commission.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Service heard testimony on a wide range of retirement, municipal workforce, and public employee labor bills. Early testimony focused on H. 2749, a Plymouth home rule petition to classify Plymouth harbormaster employees as Group 4 for retirement purposes. Supporters, including local officials and retirement board representatives, argued the employees perform law-enforcement and rescue duties comparable to police and fire personnel, that the change would be fair, and that it would have little or no fiscal impact on the town. A separate harbormaster-related bill, H. 2743, was also introduced later in the hearing. The committee also heard testimony on provisions of the Municipal Empowerment Act (H. 56), including a temporary critical-shortage exemption allowing retired state or municipal employees to return to work in hard-to-fill positions, and a renewed OPEB commission to study retiree health care costs. Administration and municipal officials said the measures were needed to address staffing shortages and rising benefit liabilities, while emphasizing the shortage exemption would be time-limited and require proof of recruitment efforts. Related retirement bills drew support and caution: advocates for higher COLA bases and enhanced COLA benefits urged relief for retirees, but some asked the committee to wait for recommendations from the special COLA commission before acting. A major portion of the hearing concerned labor rights at the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority and the Committee for Public Counsel Services. Union representatives and employees backed bills to extend just-cause protections, promotional rights, and collective bargaining rights to MWRA and CPCS workers, arguing they currently lack protections available to most other public employees. Testimony described unfair discipline, delayed promotions, and high turnover, and committee members indicated prior favorable action on similar MWRA bills and expressed support for addressing CPCS labor rights. The committee also heard from representatives of the Massachusetts Municipal Association and public higher education employees in support of H. 2820, which would require timely funding of ratified state employee contracts, with witnesses describing long delays in receiving negotiated raises and back pay. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the chair repeatedly invited written testimony and closed each panel after questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• and then a board and the Commissioners and then a board and the Commissioners and<00:34:01.240><
• Jerry Bump, Acting Insurance Commissioner.
• Jerry Bump, Acting Insurance Commissioner, said the bill is adding an exemption to say that entities
• under the insurance data security law do not need to comply with this law.
• <01:41:23.320> commissioner's the dcca insurance commissioner's the dcca insurance commissioner's

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee on Economic Development and Technology heard testimony on several measures, beginning with SB 1343, which would amend quorum requirements for the Small Business Regulatory Review Board. The board chair testified in support, saying it has been difficult to fill all seats and that using active seats for quorum would help the board function more effectively. No opposition or questions were raised, and the committee moved on. The committee then heard SB 1578, which drew mixed testimony. DBEDT supported the measure and the Attorney General suggested inserting preamble language from HB 1025 to provide historical context on the East-West Center. Austin Martin of the Libertarian Party of Hawaiʻi opposed the bill, arguing it could invite improper behavior, create loosely regulated satellite offices, increase foreign influence, and add competition for land ownership. The committee took no vote during the hearing. The bulk of the meeting focused on SB 1641, a measure to establish a Hawaiʻi film commission/authority and related funding and governance structure. DBEDT supported the intent and offered friendly amendments to clarify the distinction between film and media industries, while the Honolulu Film Office and labor representatives from IATSE, Teamsters, and Pride at Work supported the bill but urged changes. Their concerns centered on conflicts of interest, especially having producers on the commission, and they asked for more labor representation and clearer oversight rules. The Attorney General raised constitutional and special-fund concerns, saying the grant standards and special-fund language needed work. Committee members discussed renaming the entity as a Hawaiʻi Film Authority, broadening its scope beyond cultural production, adjusting the commission makeup, and clarifying funding sources, including the existing film and creative industries fund and the 0.2% rebate contribution. No final vote was taken in the portion provided, but members indicated the bill would need substantial revisions and an HD1.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, Commissioner.
• Chair and commissioner.
• Chair and commissioner.
• Chair and commissioner.
• DHS Commissioner, Mr.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all