Transcript Highlights:

• What we're doing payments. Uh uh no. What we're doing payments. Uh uh no.
• And reimbursement piece of the bill. And reimbursement piece of the bill.
• So payment as a payment in lie of tax. So payment as a payment in lie of tax.
• It'd be a lean payment? Lean for what? It'd be a lean payment? Lean for what?
• It'd be a lean for payment. So it'd be just like you for payment.

Bills: HB 10 , HB 12 , HB 147 , HB 1522 , HB 422 , HB 675 , HB 204 , HB 748 , HB 912

Keywords: regulatory reform, government efficiency, administrative law, rulemaking, agency deference, judicial review, de novo review, Texas Government Code, Administrative Procedure Act, state agencies, plain language, regulatory burden, regulatory reduction, cost-benefit analysis, fiscal note, public benefits and costs, contested case, rule challenge, Texas Regulatory Efficiency Office, advisory panel

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> insurance company to reimburse it, okay? insurance company to reimburse it, okay?
• </c> addresses the fact that reimbursements addresses the fact that reimbursements would<01:35:49.080
• I understand you have insurance payments.
• </c> understand you have insurance payments. understand you have insurance payments.
• </c><02:24:34.840><c> So</c> and reimburse for those services. So and reimburse for those services.

Committee: House Commerce and Consumer Affairs

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> the other positive is that now payments the other positive is that now payments are<00:14:56.880
• This that had payment factor increases.
• </c> farmer provisions, which added a payment farmer provisions, which added a payment factor<00:31:25.679
• </c> that that um payment factor increase. that that um payment factor increase.
• </c> transportation cost reimbursement transportation cost reimbursement program<01:42:48.639><c> which

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint informational briefing focused on how federal policy changes, tariffs, funding cuts, the federal shutdown, and delays in the farm bill are affecting Hawaii agriculture and food access. Opening remarks emphasized Hawaii’s heavy dependence on imported food and farm inputs, the state’s vulnerability to disruptions in USDA services, and the need for stronger state, county, and community coordination. Speakers also noted that immigration enforcement and broader global supply-chain pressures can affect local farm labor, production, and food availability. Sharon Herd, chair of the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, described both positive and negative federal impacts. She said Hawaii has benefited from some recurring grants and a large new $8.8 million federal grant, but also reported about $22 million in losses from suspended or terminated grants, including farm-to-school and water-related projects. She said some USDA programs, such as microgrants for food security and FISMIP, are currently suspended, while the specialty crop block grant remains active. She also said Hawaii farms declined from 7,328 to 6,569 between the 2017 and 2022 censuses and argued the state cannot rely on imports alone to feed its people. Amanda Shaw of Agriculture Stewardship Hawaii presented findings from federal funding cut reports. She said the first report, in March, identified about $88 million in potential cuts, and the newer report found $64.7 million in confirmed cuts and about $175 million in potential cuts. She said federal shifts are creating uncertainty for farmers, food-system organizations, and school and community food programs, and noted that 4,000 to 5,000 Hawaii farmers could receive less money because of changes to payment-factor provisions for socially disadvantaged farmers. She also said Hawaii has lost 18% of local USDA staff since September 2024, with possible further national reductions expected. No votes were taken; the meeting was informational only, and the chair noted that any legal questions, including the reported SNAP changes, would be for the Judiciary Committee to assess later.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:08:24.240><c> to</c> aggregate to approve contractors to aggregate to approve contractors to reimburse
• ><c> contractors</c><00:08:25.840><c> for</c><00:08:26.080><c> the</c><00:08:26.240><c> cost</c> reimburse
• the contractors for the cost reimburse the contractors for the cost of<00:08:26.639><c> their</c><00
• 689, Representative Neighbors, an act relating to the establishment of a Medicaid state directed payment
• And House Bill directed payment program.

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Line 47 is the UI Reimbursement Appropriation, which is $316,000 in each biennium.
• Line 182 is the Morris campus scholarship payment assistance of $1 million, which also remains unchanged
• Line 184 is for system-wide safety and reimbursement, totaling $732,000, which remains unchanged.
• Line 185 is for UI reimbursement, also at $732,000, which remains unchanged.
• The following language has been stricken: "the number of late payments in the previous 12 months."

Bills: HF2312

Committee: House Higher Education Finance and Policy

Keywords: higher education, college finance, student aid, financial aid, state grants, North Star Promise, scholarships, tuition relief, Minnesota State, University of Minnesota, Office of Higher Education, work-study, child care grants, Indian scholarships, tribal colleges, Hunger-Free Campus, student parents, pregnant students, parenting students, sexual misconduct

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:48:46.559><c> may</c> become concerned that their payment may become concerned that their payment
• </c> you know there's there's a reimbursement you know there's there's a reimbursement to<00:56:21.839
• is not reimbursed for that trip.
• </c><01:04:34.880><c> did</c> sure that that this reimbursement did sure that that this reimbursement
• </c> because there it's not a reimburseable because there it's not a reimburseable code<01:05:03.280>

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee began by discussing 15 retained bills and the chair’s preference to keep them alive through interim study rather than kill them, using them as vehicles for further discussion and possible later amendments. The chair said the bills would be executed out by November and then move to the House floor in January, and members generally agreed that interim study was the prevailing motion for the retained bills. Several health-related bills were then discussed. On Senate Bill 247, concerning pharmacy network exclusion when PBM reimbursement is below acquisition cost, members said the issue had been presented differently in prior discussions and noted unfamiliar intermediaries such as PSAOs; the bill was viewed as too complex to resolve immediately, so interim study was favored. A bill on treatment alternatives to opiates was said to need an amendment from the Insurance Department, and a bill on self-funded employer access to claims data was described as having changed substantially through amendment; the sponsor explained it was intended to incentivize self-funded plans to opt into the state’s all-payer claims database (CHIS) so their data could be used for cost analysis, and members indicated a separate bill would be brought later. The committee spent the most time on a glucose monitoring bill, with testimony from a sponsor and a parent of a type 1 diabetic describing the medical benefits of continuous glucose monitors, especially for preventing dangerous lows and managing fluctuations. Opponents and committee members raised concerns about the cost of a mandate, the effect on premiums in the individual and small-group markets, and whether the bill should require coverage without a prescription; one member cited medical literature suggesting limited evidence for non-insulin users. The chair concluded the bill was headed to interim study and said the committee would do further homework on the economic impact, especially for type 1 coverage. The meeting then moved on to a bill about insurer audits and clawbacks, where the Insurance Department commissioner explained that the issue involved several separate provider-payment problems that had recently come to the department’s attention and that the department would provide a report and work with the sponsor on next steps.

Transcript Highlights:

• But the pre-approval is essentially an agreement the state has made with an entity to make that payment
• The district is then essentially reimbursing, I guess, the private party.
• These payments are subject to an aggregate cap of $200 million.
• They're paying a lease payment to the school property, which is ...jurisdiction.
• They're paying a lease payment to the school property, which is not subject to taxes.

Bills: HB2091 , HB2140 , HB2320 , HB2384 , HB2398 , HB2502 , HB2780 , HB2918 , HB2939 , HB2950 , HB2999 , HB4020 , HB4026 , HB4029

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: insurance, financial surveillance, regulations, assessments, Arizona Revised Statutes, investment, state treasurer, gold bullion, treasury management, financial regulations, school districts, bonds, financial advisors, elections, municipal advisors, cost of borrowing, lease agreements, school property, tax exemptions, impact aid revenue bonds

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:01:06.880><c> assistance</c> farmland down payment assistance farmland down payment assistance
• So this allows us to use modernized payment options such as direct online payments, which reduce the
• 05:08.240><c> uh</c><01:05:08.400><c> this</c> certificate payment options, uh this certificate payment
• </c> allows us to use modernized payment allows us to use modernized payment options<01:05:18.400><c>
• </c> options such as direct online payments options such as direct online payments which<01:05:20.880

Bills: HF2784 , HF2785 , HF2778 , HF2281 , HF2576 , HF2280 , HF2579

Committee: House Agriculture Finance and Policy

Keywords: beginning farmers, agriculture, loans, economic opportunity, farmers' equity, agriculture appropriations, farm to school, early care, child care food program, school lunch program, local food, Minnesota agriculture, food access, farm-to-institution, limited market access, county fairs, biofuels, E25, ethanol, meat processing

Transcript Highlights:

• so right now reduction in pilt payments so right now those<00:18:50.360><c> payments</c><00:18:50.760
• <00:32:08.240><c> uh</c><00:32:08.360><c> by</c> payments uh by payments uh by 30% 30% 30% um<00:32:12.120
• </c> proposal to scale back sfia payments proposal to scale back sfia payments raises<01:02:11.760><c
• </c> credit and the newly introduced payment credit and the newly introduced payment inl<01:03:03.160
• </c><01:23:25.880><c> go</c> the sustainable forestry payments go the sustainable forestry payments go

Committee: House Taxes

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• That the total has been over payments.
• They do all the reimbursements, approve, you know, time sheets and all of that kind of stuff.
• I will say that also when the money is on a reimbursement basis.
• </c><00:23:38.080><c> So</c><00:23:38.799><c> um</c> money is on a reimbursement basis.
• So um money is on a reimbursement basis.

Committee: House Legacy Finance

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> the</c><00:11:18.560><c> deposit</c> will reimburse or refund the deposit will reimburse or refund
• 00:11:29.279><c> the</c> to the program for reimbursement of the to the program for reimbursement of
• </c><00:17:21.360><c> And</c><00:17:21.600><c> what</c> department for reimbursement.
• And what department for reimbursement.
• </c><00:17:42.320><c> by</c> to the program for reimbursement by to the program for reimbursement by

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The informational briefing focused on the Office of the Auditor’s recent audit of Hawaii’s deposit beverage container program and the Department of Health’s response. State Auditor Les Condo reviewed the program’s structure, noting it was created to increase recycling and reduce litter, but said prior audits have repeatedly found weak internal controls, reliance on self-reported data, and an “honor system” approach. He cited examples of underreporting and overpayment risks, including a Whole Foods settlement and secret-shopper testing at a redemption center where the program reimbursed more than what was actually paid to consumers. Condo said the special fund continues to grow, increasing by more than $12 million between FY24 and FY25, and that the 2024 audit found no meaningful progress in implementing earlier recommendations. He also noted that many prior recommendations were later codified in law, including risk-based audits and internal control requirements, and said the office will audit the program again in about a year. Senator Fevella said the briefing was needed because he has seen little progress over the years and emphasized the program’s goals of reducing litter and promoting recycling. He noted that Hawaii has lost a glass recycler, underscoring broader challenges in the system. Department of Health Deputy Director Kathleen Hoe said the department is committed to addressing longstanding problems and said the director’s office meets with the program twice a month. Program staff outlined steps being taken to respond to the audit, including revising accounting and inspection/enforcement manuals, retaining third-party services, and implementing risk-based audits of distributors and redemption centers. They said internal control process documents from distributors were due June 30, with about 200 received and roughly 100 still outstanding, and that enforcement letters are being sent. The department also described plans for electronic reporting to reduce manual entry and improve accuracy, as well as a broader legislative proposal for a tiered audit system. Under that proposal, larger distributors would remain subject to the current every-other-year audit requirement, middle-tier distributors would be audited every five years, and smaller distributors would be exempt. Officials said the governor had temporarily waived enforcement of the 2025 independent audit requirement because of cost concerns for smaller distributors, while the department reviews submitted audits and considers a longer-term fix. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the informational briefing.

Transcript Highlights:

• irregularities or suspected fraud, DCYF is to immediately suspend all of the licensee's subsidy payments
• and place future payments into an escrow account until the licensee proves the validity of its attendance
• C6 requires the Department of Health to reimburse private detention facilities for any additional costs
• millions of dollars, so they need to live up to their contract, and I do not think we should be reimbursing
• of dollars, so they need to live up probably to their contract, and I do not think we should be reimbursing

Bills: HB2464

Committee: Senate Human Services

Keywords: detention facilities, law enforcement, reporting requirements, incidents, private detention, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So it would increase the reimbursement by $300 for the infants and $150 a month for the others.
• Section 48 has to do with long-term care value-based care incentive programs and payment withhold.
• We compared state by state about how we reimburse at what level.
• And so you're leaving so much information out when you only look at the surface because we reimburse
• Does this at all affect the per-pupil payment of the 11,400 or whatever that is?

Committee: Senate Appropriations

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 1012, the Department of Health and Human Services budget. Senator Dever walked through the amended budget, highlighting a roughly $5.85 billion all-funds total, major one-time items for IT, child care, housing, behavioral health, juvenile justice, rural EMS, and supportive housing, along with funding for Medicaid expansion, CCBHCs, opioid settlement uses, and several studies and reporting requirements. Members discussed the provider inflation increase, with Senator Mathern urging a 2%/2% rate instead of 2%/1.5%, but the committee adopted the subcommittee amendment and then passed the amended bill 15-0 with a do-pass recommendation. Senator Dever was named as carrier. The committee then considered House Bill 1540, a school choice/education savings account-style bill. Senator Shibley explained the subcommittee amendments, including clarifying the Bank of North Dakota as administrator, adding a means test at 400% of the federal poverty guideline, and adjusting the fiscal note to about $21.7 million for the second year. In debate, members raised concerns about the bank being assigned duties outside its normal role, the lack of DPI involvement, and whether the means test should be tiered rather than a hard cutoff. The committee rejected a do-not-pass motion 5-10-1, then approved a do-pass motion on the amended bill 9-6-1, with Senator Wobama noted as the likely carrier. The meeting ended with the chair announcing the committee would adjourn and reconvene the next morning.

Transcript Highlights:

• If we have to create a second reserve for bond payments, it would result.
• A reserve for bond payments would result in a $1,400 per unit, or $935,000 across the whole property
• current prohibition for elected officers, directors, or committee members. ...of a credit union to be reimbursed
• Just for, but they are just for reimbursables. Just for reimbursement.
• state of Florida, so I was comfortable bringing forward the change to allow for expenses to be reimbursed

Summary: The committee heard and advanced several insurance, financial regulation, and public safety bills. SB 1656, a large Office of Insurance Regulation bill, was taken up with a delete-all amendment and extensive discussion. The bill would increase transparency in insurance rates and mitigation data, update reciprocal insurer rules, limit use-and-file rate filings, expand cybersecurity breach notification, and strengthen oversight of continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs). Residents and senior advocates generally supported stronger oversight to prevent bankruptcies like the Unison case, while CCRC operators and industry groups warned that lien authority, reserve requirements, and other provisions could raise borrowing costs and burden well-run communities. The committee adopted the delete-all amendment and then reported the bill favorably after debate and public testimony. The committee also passed SB 1658 on the public records database for uniform mitigation verification forms, with a clarifying amendment protecting policyholders’ personal information. SB 1612 on financial institutions was reported favorably after an amendment and substitute amendment dealing with credit union investment limits and reimbursement rules for board members. SB 1740, an insurance bill aimed at reducing premiums and insolvency risk, was amended to prioritize rate-decrease filings and prohibit AI as the sole basis for claim denials; it was then reported favorably. SB 1212 on firefighter health and safety was amended to add occupational disease language and other firefighter protections, including safer gear, cancer prevention, and possible telehealth mental health services, and was also reported favorably. Finally, SB 1184 on residual market insurers was amended to preserve existing excess-and-surplus line standards, strengthen consumer disclosures, and clarify Citizens-related appointment rules before being reported favorably. Throughout the meeting, committee members repeatedly noted that several bills were still being refined with stakeholders, and multiple public witnesses testified in support of or opposition to the CCRC and insurance provisions, focusing on resident protection, financial stability, and unintended cost impacts.

Transcript Highlights:

• with the reimbursement request.
• For example, our review of reimbursement requests submitted to the department in fiscal year 2022 found
• Finally, the department making payments to schools that did not submit expenditure reports Finally, the
• department making payments to schools that did not submit expenditure reports increases the risk that
• requests to ensure they're supported by expenditure reports prior to making payments.

Committee: House Education

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There were two award judgment payments made in this fiscal year, which totaled about roughly $10 million
• So those are the final judgment payments.
• There is one final payment that is yet to be resolved, and that's for the attorney fees that were accrued
• There is one final payment that is yet to be resolved, and that's for the attorney fees that were accrued
• We do anticipate that that fee amount would be substantially less than any of the payments that have

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Those ARS payments are... Thank you. ...a customer density of one customer for two square miles.
• And so, Charles, what do you think that will bring the reimbursement rate to? Do we know?
• Not the, I need to look on the reimbursement rate. Mr.
• So this is to cover, for example, for Otero, their bond payments for the next year for the prison.
• It's all reimbursable, but it's not a hold harmless.

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 152, which would create a low-income telecommunications assistance program and continue support for rural broadband operations and maintenance through the State Rural Universal Service Fund. Senator Padilla and Office of Broadband Access and Expansion Director Jeff Lopez said the bill responds to the loss of federal affordability support and would help low-income households pay for broadband, while also preserving funding for rural carriers and maintenance. Supporters included the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, the New Mexico Exchange Carrier Group, tribal telecom representatives, and several rural providers, who said affordability is the main barrier to service and that the bill would help families, students, and rural communities. A few witnesses opposed parts of the bill, arguing that the ARS funding should be redirected entirely to broadband affordability and that legacy POTS-line support should sunset. Committee members asked about ETC requirements, satellite and wireless options, rural density, and the sunset provision; the sponsor said the sunset on ARS would be removed and that stakeholder discussions would continue in the interim. The committee voted due pass on the Senate Finance Committee substitute for SB 152. The committee then took up Senate Rules Committee substitute for Senate Bill 132, which would add software planning and replacement to the state’s equipment replacement fund. The sponsor and expert said state agencies now rely heavily on software for core services and that planning for software alongside hardware would improve efficiency, security, and long-term sustainability. There was no opposition, and the committee voted due pass on the substitute. The meeting then shifted to a lengthy discussion of Senate changes to House Bill 2, the budget bill. Senate Finance staff described roughly 300 changes, including additional funding for fire response, early childhood, housing, health care, quantum initiatives, public safety, courts, transportation, education, and several social service programs. Members questioned cuts or reallocations affecting state employee pay, public school capital outlay, the state fair redevelopment, CARA, personal care services, the Office of Child Advocate, and other items. The presenters repeatedly defended the Senate’s use of funds as a way to preserve reserves while prioritizing health care, housing, education, and other recurring needs, and said reserves would remain above the target level even with the changes discussed.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is to finish out the reimbursements to vendors who are currently conducting school turnaround in
• So this will finish out the payments for Riverview Gardens, and then at this point there are no other
• Page 47, lottery vendor payments. Again, this is just based on sales.
• So 49 is also related to the same thing; that's the lottery payment there.
• Some of it will be used to reimburse some state expenses.

Committee: House Commerce

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There's a change proposed to school bus depreciation payments.
• This would look at usage data to make that shift to doing those payments over a 15-year period.
• There's a change proposed to school bus depreciation payments.
• This would look at usage data to make that shift to doing those payments over a 15-year period.
• School districts don't get proper reimbursement for those programs, but we're obligated under federal

Summary: The House Appropriations Committee opened with committee guidelines for the 2026 session, including limits on testimony, amendment deadlines, confidentiality expectations, and professionalism rules. Chair Ormsby also reviewed housekeeping for the public hearing, noting the meeting was recorded and live streamed, and that testimony would be limited to one minute because of the large number of sign-ups. The committee then began its work session on Governor Ferguson’s proposed 2026 supplemental operating budget, presented by OFM Director Katie Chapman, who outlined the state’s fiscal pressures: higher caseloads in major programs, a revenue forecast decline of about $390 million, federal policy changes tied to H.R. 1, inflation, and a relatively small ending fund balance. She said the governor’s budget solves about a $2.3 billion shortfall through nearly $800 million in spending reductions, revenue shifts, fund transfers, use of about $1 billion from the Budget Stabilization Account, and some tax preference changes, while also making targeted investments in areas such as child welfare, behavioral health, wildfire response, housing, and IT modernization. Chapman also explained that the proposal does not fully balance over the four-year outlook under the state’s statutory assumptions, but said the governor relied on the budget-balance law’s exception tied to BSA use and low employment growth. A question from Rep. Connors about credit ratings was answered with the view that the impact is difficult to predict and that Washington’s strong pension funding and balanced-budget framework remain positives. The public hearing drew testimony from state officials and many advocates, most of whom opposed specific cuts or fund shifts in the governor’s proposal. Secretary of State Steve Hobbs objected to proposed sweeps from the corporations and charities fund and the library archives account, citing prior cuts, layoffs, cyberattack-related costs, and the need to upgrade aging systems. Commissioner of Public Lands Dave Upthegrove urged restoration of wildfire prevention funding, saying the proposed amount was still $30 million short of the commitment in House Bill 1168 and that underfunding would increase suppression costs and risk to communities. Many education witnesses opposed reductions to Working Connections Child Care, transition to kindergarten, local effort assistance, Running Start, and higher education across-the-board cuts, arguing they would harm access, equity, and workforce development. Higher education leaders from community colleges, the University of Washington, Western Washington University, and Evergreen State College described staffing cuts, program reductions, and pressure on student services, while K-12 groups and OSPI said the budget would deepen existing funding gaps. A large portion of testimony focused on human services, health, housing, and civil legal aid. Child welfare and youth-serving organizations supported some targeted investments but opposed cuts to child care, child welfare network administration, and youth programs; advocates for foster youth, homeless youth, and mentoring programs asked for continued or increased funding. Health care and long-term care providers warned that proposed Medicaid and rate changes would reduce access for seniors, people with disabilities, and safety-net patients, while Planned Parenthood and abortion access advocates urged full restoration of the Abortion Access Project and related reimbursements. Housing and legal aid witnesses backed the governor’s proposed right-to-counsel funding but asked for more support, and homelessness advocates sought contingency funding for federal housing programs. Crime victim and domestic violence service providers repeatedly said the proposed $12 million was far short of the roughly $21.38 million needed to avoid service cuts and closures. Other testimony addressed the Climate Commitment Account shift for the Working Families Tax Credit, with environmental advocates opposing the diversion of CCA dollars and workforce advocates supporting the governor’s economic security and employment programs. No votes or formal committee action were taken during the hearing portion described in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• There is no assurance that commercial payers will reimburse services without licensure, and the financial
• And so in this bill, it allows the insurance department to take the needed money or the payment reimbursement
• And so in this bill, it allowed the insurance department to take the needed money or the payment reimbursement
• But if your trust is largely composed of real estate, a bank doesn't get any fees or payments from that
• But if your trust is largely composed of real estate, a bank doesn't get any fees or payments from that

Committee: Joint Business and Labor Interim Committee

Keywords: 985, all