Transcript Highlights:

• They measure the utilization rate really against all available funding sources.
• USDA; we utilize anybody.
• So, I do utilities, and during COVID, costs really, really increased—doubled.
• for the water utilities.
• We do utilize CES quite a bit. We utilize HGAC quite a bit.

Committee: House New Mexico Finance Authority Oversight Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> many veterans are currently utilizing many veterans are currently utilizing this<00:27:20.400><c
• Um, skills uh utilizing their vehicles.
• </c> firefighters and it's 24 employee firefighters and it's 24 employee positions<01:17:51.360><c> in
• </c> positions are full-time employee positions are full-time employee positions<01:17:59.199><c> that
• So, just think a full-time employee.

Transcript Highlights:

• Employees. So I think that 40-day, I mean, all these timelines are flexible.
• they've got or any of the contractual employees they've got under their wings?
• But these companies sometimes only consist of five to ten employees.
• But these companies sometimes only consist of five to ten employees.
• So those four programs are the ones that utilize the program most, utilize the grants the most.

Committee: House Joint Committee on Rural Economic Development

Summary: The committee first met in executive session and voted several bills do pass. House Bill 2409 was approved 14-0, House Bill 2654 was approved 15-0, and House Bill 2747 was approved after adoption of a House committee amendment and substitute, also by a 14-0 vote. The committee then moved into public hearing on House Bill 1915, which would regulate payment practices in private construction contracts. Representative David Castile, the sponsor, said the bill was intended to ensure timely payment to contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers, limit abusive contract clauses, and require written notice before withholding payment. He emphasized that it was aimed at larger private projects and not owner-occupied residential work. Testimony on HB 1915 was mixed. Supporters, including electrical, mechanical, and subcontractor associations, said delayed payment is common, especially for smaller firms, and argued the bill would improve cash flow and reduce the need for liens. Opponents, including general contractors and home builders, said the bill as filed was too restrictive, especially the seven-day downstream payment deadline and the limits on withholding and termination rights, and warned it could increase costs and burden small builders. Several witnesses said they were working with the sponsor on a committee substitute to more closely mirror Missouri’s public prompt pay law and to clarify the residential exemption. The committee then heard House Bill 2151, which would raise income eligibility limits for the Fast Track Workforce Incentive Grant from $40,000 to $50,000 for single filers and from $80,000 to $100,000 for joint filers. Representative Travis Wilson said the change was meant to reflect inflation and expand access for adults changing careers, apprentices, and other eligible students. Supporters from community colleges, chambers of commerce, and workforce groups said the program is working well, is budgeted, and helps fill workforce needs; one witness cited strong completion and retention rates among recipients. No opposition was presented, and the hearing concluded with adjournment of the committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• of background, in Washington all employers must provide workers' compensation coverage for their employees
• many state programs, Washington's workers' compensation system serves as a vital safety net for employees
• Employees employed by a county with a population of 70,000 or more.
• A utilization report must be completed within 10 business days from receipt by L&I, or the treatment
• I'd remind you that 100% of the accident fund premiums are paid by employees.

Summary: The committee first held a public hearing on Senate Bill 6136, which would require Labor and Industries to publish actuarial indicated workers’ compensation rates for each risk class and disclose when rate increases are capped below those indicated levels. The sponsor and supporters from the hospitality, retail, business, and construction sectors said the bill would improve transparency about how rates are set and how reserve funds and investment earnings are used to hold down premiums. L&I testified that the bill would require publication of a large amount of rate-setting information, but said it was already developed in the normal process and that the bill had no fiscal impact. Questions focused on reserve use, advisory committee involvement, and how the actuarial calculations interact with investment returns. The committee then moved to executive session and took action on several bills, adopting substitutes or amendments and advancing bills including SB 5292, 6014, 5972, 5869, 5874, 6058, 6039, 5944, and 6180, with most sent to Rules and SB 5292 sent to Ways and Means. The committee then heard Senate Bill 5847, which would expand injured workers’ access to medical care by allowing treatment outside the L&I provider network when no provider is available nearby, limiting employer steering to specific providers, shortening utilization review timelines, allowing provider deviation from L&I guidelines when medically appropriate, and expanding continued treatment and cancer monitoring. Labor and worker advocates argued the bill would better reflect the Murray decision and reduce delays in care, while L&I and employer groups said the current evidence-based guideline system works for most claims and warned the bill could weaken quality controls, create vague standards, and increase costs. Testimony also raised concerns about the 15-mile access rule, the employer communication restrictions, and the appeal process for provider removal. The sponsor said the goal was to improve individualized care and continue working with stakeholders. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 6067, which would change workers’ compensation time-loss calculations so that 100% of the employer-paid health insurance contribution is included in the benefit calculation instead of the current partial inclusion. Supporters said the bill would help injured workers keep health coverage during recovery and reduce pressure to choose between medical care and income, while opponents argued it would not guarantee the money is actually used for health insurance, could be diverted to other uses or attorney fees, and would significantly increase costs for employers and the accident fund. L&I said the bill would require IT and administrative changes and estimated substantial ongoing benefit costs. The hearing ended without further action on SB 6067, and the chair closed the session after public testimony concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• The general fund is most of the bills that passed through your committee are utilized at DHS.
• And that wasn't a typical utilization of retroactive eligibility.
• And we continue to have a big problem with long-term care employees.
• So is it going to be retro if employees... ...have already increased the pay to the employees?
• We don't have things that keep our employees working for us.

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• And we have about 2,700 employees in the state that live in Louisiana.
• So imagine an employee that, as an entry-level employee, has a very serious condition, and now the cost
• So in passing a maximizer, it was... ...shown to harm our employees.
• But the federal government has decided it is harmful to federal employees.
• But the federal government has decided it is harmful to federal employees.

Committee: Senate Insurance

Summary: The Senate Committee on Insurance met on May 6, 2026, and first reported HB 1241 favorably. That bill, by Chairman Furman, requires insurers to check with DCFS before paying certain insurance settlements to determine whether the recipient owes delinquent child support, and to withhold and remit arrears if found. DCFS explained that Louisiana already has intercepts and other collection tools, but no current mechanism for insurance settlements. Senators raised concerns about notice to obligors and about liability if insurers fail to withhold, but the bill was advanced without objection. The committee then heard HB 870, which would require health insurers and PBMs to cover lower-cost generic or biosimilar drugs when available and to use utilization management no more restrictively on those drugs. Supporters said the bill would improve access and lower patient costs by using wholesale acquisition cost as the comparison point. Opponents, including Louisiana Blue and the AFL-CIO, argued that WAC ignores rebates and net cost, could force plans to cover higher-cost biosimilars first, and could increase premiums and disrupt ERISA and fully insured plan design. The committee adopted a technical amendment set and then a second amendment set that added notice and reporting requirements tied to net cost calculations, and HB 870 was reported favorably as amended. Several other bills were moved with little or no opposition. HB 1176, concerning Medicare Advantage coverage for integrative cancer treatments such as cold cap therapy, cryotherapy, and acupuncture, was amended to change the effective date and then reported favorably. HB 1196, dealing with colorectal cancer screening follow-up colonoscopies, was also amended and reported favorably. HB 1162, a consumer protection bill requiring DOI to verify that a contractor named on a first-party property damage check is licensed in Louisiana, was amended and reported favorably. HB 826, which modernizes insurance referral rules to allow referrals by email or website address, was reported favorably. The committee also heard HB 1151 on insurer investment limits and solvency protections, and HB 1236 on pharmacy reimbursement and copay maximizer programs; both drew substantial testimony and concern, especially over retroactivity, PBM cost allocation, and whether copay maximizers shift costs to patients, but the transcript cuts off before final action on HB 1236.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> these operators and all their employees these operators and all their employees will<01:24:42.000
• </c> getting a lot of our employees getting a lot of our employees specifically<01:26:08.560><c> um</
• From C Maui, we have over 50 employees and families that depend on these jobs.
• </c> employ of probably over 300 employees employ of probably over 300 employees collectively<01:31:33.920
• </c><02:13:42.199><c> live</c> including the department utilizing live including the department utilizing

Committee: House Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs

Summary: The committee heard several measures, beginning with SB 946 on wastewater management, which would clarify that the ban on discharging wastewater or raw sewage into state waters after 12/31/26 applies to treatment plants. Testimony was in support from the Department of Health, Maui County Council, Mayor Bisson, and individuals, and no one testified in opposition. SB 849 on wildlife conservation would prohibit intentional taking, harming, or killing of the Hawaiian hawk (ʻio) and increase penalties for taking native aquatic life, wildlife, and land plants; DLNR supported the bill, noting the ʻio was delisted federally in 2020 and that the measure also updates penalties and adds a rehabilitation/community service option. No questions were raised, and the bill drew support testimony only. For SB 330 on invasive species prevention, the Attorney General raised a supremacy clause concern with language requiring state enforcement of federal quarantines and recommended reverting to a prior version with a catchall for federal regulation. The Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species supported the bill as a way to close a biosecurity gap, while the Department of Agriculture said it supported the intent but wanted to avoid acting without a cooperative agreement with USDA and suggested deleting the portion allowing action without such an agreement. The committee also heard SB 1393 on public land use, which would require the School Facilities Authority to consult with DOE and other agencies before land conveyances or leases and repeal a requirement that DOE transfer title upon request; both SFA and DOE supported the measure, with DOE emphasizing the need for early communication and consultation, and members asked about possible disagreements or stalemates. The committee then heard SB 321 on private roads and ways, which would deem certain privately owned roads and similar ways transferred to adjacent owners or community associations if conditions are met. The Hawaii Land Title Association said the bill as drafted would create uncertainty and proposed a court process to clarify ownership and create a recordable order; written support came from the Mortgage Bankers Association of Hawaii, Hawaii Financial Services Association, and one individual. SB 66 on housing permitting would require permit decisions within 60 days for certain housing projects and deem permits approved in some circumstances; DLNR’s historic preservation office supported the intent but noted county historic preservation roles, OHA suggested amendments to clarify county duties, and DPP opposed the time limits as risky for health and safety reviews, warning about back-and-forth review cycles and possible mismatches between approved plans and field work. Realtors, NAIOP, Hawaii Food Industry Association, Hawaii YIMBY, and the Maui Chamber supported the measure, while Lahaina Strong, Hawaii Good Neighbor, and two individuals opposed it. Finally, the committee heard SB 1170 on expeditious redevelopment of affordable rental housing, which would speed permits for rebuilding permanently affordable multifamily rental housing damaged by natural disasters and exempt certain projects from EIS requirements. HHFDC supported the bill, citing the Front Street Apartments rebuild and the long SMA permit timeline on Maui, and the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development supported the intent while suggesting technical placement of amendments. Testimony in support also came from the Maui Chamber of Commerce and Joe Blanco, who described difficulties rebuilding a project originally developed under older statutory requirements and said the bill’s added language addressed those issues.

Transcript Highlights:

• A parental leave eligible employee means an eligible employee who is a permanent state employee, has
• A permanent state employee who is a full-time employee would be entitled to 240 hours of paid parental
• The state shall not charge the employee for parental leave, and the employee may return to the position
• , eligible employees control prevents the employee from giving notice according to section 5A of the
• During the time of the parental leave, employees, under the section, employee should return, continue

Bills: LB764 , LB815A , LB839 , LB888 , LB955 , LB972A , LB1029 , LB1087 , LB1091 , LB1126A , LB1181A , LB1237A , LB1261A , LB304A , LB762 , LB889 , LB929 , LB966 , LB1022 , LB1187 , LR508

Transcript Highlights:

• I know that when I am trying to hire a new employee or recruit a new employee, the second thing they
• or recruit trying to hire a new employee or recruit a<02:48:14.319><c> new</c><02:48:14.479><c> employee
• Uh, thank employee into your business?
• The eighth highest utility bills in the country.
• Utility bills were, we appropriated $35 million for residential ratepayers to try to lower their utility

Transcript Highlights:

• We are also seeing the opportunities for utilizing renewable energy for fertilizer.
• They utilize resources more than once, and many of us in this body share the desire to do that.
• But the effect of the proposal is a shift in the cost of utilities, maybe indirectly, but ultimately
• Speaker, that do what this bill does, especially with energy and utility issues.
• The clerk will read the last line: Benefit of its employees.

Bills: HB1175 , HB1376 , HB1500 , HB1796

Keywords: HB1175, small business, residential zoning, land use, zoning reform, neighborhood store, neighborhood cafe, convenience store, minimarket, corner store, mixed-use, local government, city zoning, town zoning, code city, parking regulations, hours of operation, alcohol service, food requirement, commercial use in residential areas

Transcript Highlights:

• So, utilized in expansion of programming in support of opioid use disorder treatment.
• PMS also, in accordance to that grant, facilitates two full-time employees.
• Our FTEs, our full-time employees, I foresee that expanding and growing as time evolves because that
• There's been this trend upward in both visits and patients utilizing the school-based health centers.
• And they utilize primary care about 3 times or more, or if they use primary care visits, primary care

Committee: House Legislative Health & Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> required cost increases for utilities required cost increases for utilities and<00:42:21.599><c>
• Yes, sick and safe time is having some impact on some categories of employees in terms of the budget,
• employees now are being paid as a result of that more than they otherwise would have been.
• now are being paid as a result employees now are being paid as a result of<01:09:47.960><c> that</c>
• We then train our accounting employees with a checklist that forces them to verify the correct chart

Committee: House Higher Education Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 1384, utilities contribution non-recoverable expenses lobbying.
• SB 1385, public utilities renewable energy resources as... SB 1386, watershed health survey use.
• SB 1404, provider benefits employees injuries provider.
• SB 1448, aggravated assault utility workers.
• SB 1400, public safety employees counseling wellness. Public Safety.

Transcript Highlights:

• Yes, sir. their employees. It's very technical work.
• You can utilize it for extra classes. You can utilize it for extra tutoring.
• Are we utilizing this fund?
• Are we utilizing this fund?
• Montana has programs that utilize AI. Montana has programs that utilize AI.

Summary: The committee first heard the Office of State Treasurer’s FY27 budget presentation from Treasurer Vivek Malik. He highlighted record investment earnings, growth in MOBUCK$ linked deposits, record unclaimed property returns, expansion of the MOST 529 plan, and changes to the MoABLE disability savings program. Members then focused heavily on two budget requests: $750,000 for the Show Me My Retirement Savings program and additional spending authority for the Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (MOST Scholars) program, along with a staffing request for compliance and communications positions. Much of the discussion centered on MOST Scholars’ rapid growth, how applications are prioritized, whether income is reverified, how funds flow through educational assistance organizations, and concerns about marketing, geographic distribution, and the use of public dollars for private schools. The treasurer also answered questions about the 529 plan, the pending lawsuit over the ESA general-revenue transfer, and whether funds should be swept back to general revenue when unused. Several members raised policy objections to MOST Scholars, including concerns about discrimination by participating private schools, the lack of annual income requalification, and whether the program shifts money away from public education. Other members defended the program as a parent-driven choice option and asked about expanding access, improving outreach, and ensuring the program is fully funded. The treasurer said the office was following the statute as written, that the program’s demand could exceed available resources, and that the office would continue to seek more funding and better outreach. The committee then concluded the treasurer’s budget hearing. The committee next began the FY27 budget hearing for the Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development. Commissioner Bennett Boggs introduced the department’s leadership team and gave a brief overview of the department’s role in aligning postsecondary education with workforce needs through its coordinating board and strategic planning. The hearing had just started when the transcript ended, and no votes or final actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• 10 at-will employee contracts.
• </c> employees and 10 at employee contracts. employees and 10 at employee contracts.
• At will employee contract modules.
• </c> state employees work within that agency. state employees work within that agency.
• Uh new employees, things everything. Uh new employees, things like<02:41:17.280><c> that.

Transcript Highlights:

• off-boarding employees.
• We're adding two employees to this budget, and one of those employees is associated with maintaining
• Today, Edutech supports PowerSchool through their 12 employees.
• Those eight employee reductions don't show up in the overall employee list because they're actually there
• So when we come back, we'll see those eight employees off the list of the overall total of employees

Committee: House Appropriations

Summary: The committee began with roll call and a brief update on remaining work, then took up Senate Bill 2213, the “science of math” bill. Members clarified that the appropriation for the program was not included in the DPI budget and would remain attached to the policy bill for now. The committee adopted the amendment and then gave the bill a do pass recommendation, 21-2. The committee next considered Senate Bills 2036 and 2037, both juvenile justice/Human Services bills involving mental health and criminal responsibility evaluations for minors. Testimony explained that the bills create new processes and require DHS to contract with specialized providers, with appropriations of $500,000 in 2036 and $300,000 in 2037. Members debated whether the funding should come from existing DHS resources or remain as separate appropriations, and whether the programs were one-time or ongoing. The committee adopted amendments on both bills and then recommended both do pass, with 2036 passing 14-6 and 2037 passing 17-4. The committee then heard Senate Bill 2021, the Information Technology Department budget. Representative Bosch outlined major themes in the budget, including migration from PeopleSoft and the mainframe, onboarding/off-boarding automation, double-counting of IT spending, and the transition of education technology from PowerSchool to Infinite Campus. Members also discussed a study amendment related to a statewide enterprise resource planning system, and added language on grant management and compliance management. The committee adopted the amendments and gave the budget a do pass recommendation, 20-0-3. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 2011, the Highway Patrol budget. Representative Pyle explained the House changes, including shifting some one-time costs to the motor carrier electronic permit fund, funding for body armor, breath tests, road course resurfacing, fleet costs, handgun replacement, and carryover authority for federal technology funds. The committee adopted the amendment and then passed the budget 21-0-2. The committee then began Senate Bill 2399, a Human Services bill on Medicaid reimbursement for psychiatric residential treatment facilities, but deferred action after testimony from a facility representative and committee discussion about therapeutic leave days, reimbursement rates, and whether a cap on reimbursable days should be set in statute or rule. The chair said the committee would seek more information from DHS and take the bill up the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• We've got employees that are commuting from Deming to Silver City—a tremendous amount of traffic going
• And just about two to three weeks before session started, one of my employees went head-on and got hit
• Then down at the tables on page 2, down at the bottom is our employee breakdown.
• We have 297 employees between our four programs in District 1. We currently have 22 vacancies.
• Chair, Vice Chair Lara, just— we are currently actively ongoing right-of-way acquisition and utility

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, are there any employees of HECTRA? All employees are paid by Harris County.
• All HECTRA employees are paid by Harris County. So there are no HECTRA... employees? No, sir.
• Right, and all of our employees are Harris County employees, and HECTOR is a department.
• Anick, do you need all 78 employees in the market?
• We recruited a diverse group of employers and employees to get the employee perspective on what you wanted

Bills: HB2065 , HB2462 , HB2621 , HB3187 , HB3539 , HB3563 , HB3726 , HB4164 , HB4207 , HB4368 , HB4706 , HB4916 , HB4950 , HB4967 , HB5177 , HB4429 , HB5597

Committee: House Transportation

Keywords: commercial vehicles, parking regulations, residential areas, local governance, land use, traffic safety, high occupancy vehicle lane, pregnant operators, transportation, parental rights, motor vehicle regulations, live video feed, state agency, transparency, public safety, regional transportation, mobility program, sales tax, public infrastructure, local government

Transcript Highlights:

• We care about employees. Retail is the second-largest private employer in the state.
• We care about employees.
• It has utility to law enforcement to have these things available.
• I see this has utility in the right context, the right construct here.
• I see this has utility in the right context, the right construct here.

Bills: SB5925 , SB5906 , SB6070 , SB6002

Committee: Senate Law & Justice

Keywords: Attorney General, civil investigative demand, CID, subpoena-like demand, investigative authority, consumer protection, civil enforcement, pre-suit investigation, document production, interrogatories, deposition, oral testimony, confidentiality, trade secrets, judicial review, enforcement action, Washington RCW, law enforcement powers, government transparency, due process

Transcript Highlights:

• Do you utilize that in Albuquerque and Bernalillo County?
• I'm a state employee. I'm always Title 32.
• As of Saturday, we started utilizing it.
• They're all assets being utilized.
• They're all assets being utilized.

Committee: House Courts, Corrections & Justice Committee