Video & Transcript : 'online pricing' :
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CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism Committee Apr 7th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- Price caps will decimate the resale market.
- Price caps will bring on significant ticket shortages, drive up ticket prices, and guarantee half-full
- Price caps will bring on significant ticket shortages, drive up ticket prices, guarantee half-full concert
- It's going to enhance prices.
- It's about the total price right there.
Summary:
The committee heard several bills focused on youth health, sports, and entertainment access. AB 1626 would require mental health training for youth sports coaches and create a model training for recreational and club coaches; supporters said coaches are often the first adults to notice mental health struggles, and the bill passed 6-0 to the Assembly Education Committee. AB 1884, as amended, would allow school districts that already use athletic drug-testing programs to add nicotine testing, with safeguards limiting disclosure and removing earlier punitive provisions; supporters framed it as a response to youth vaping, while opponents warned it could stigmatize students, discourage participation in extracurriculars, and burden schools. The bill passed 3-2 to the Assembly Education Committee, with some members still expressing reservations but supporting it after amendments.
AB 2503 addressed heat guidelines for desert school athletics, seeking flexibility in wet-bulb temperature rules so practices and games would not be pushed so heavily into evening hours. The author and a desert athletic trainer argued current standards do not reflect local acclimatization and create scheduling burdens; the bill passed 5-0 to the Assembly Education Committee. AB 1954, the PAR Act, would require third-party golf reservation platforms to have written authorization from municipal golf course operators before listing or reselling tee times, aimed at stopping inflated resale of public golf reservations. Supporters from city and golf organizations said the bill would protect affordable access to public courses; it passed 5-0 to the Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee.
The committee also heard AB 2319, which would create a standalone California post-production tax credit to keep editorial, sound, visual effects, and finishing work in-state even when principal photography occurs elsewhere. Labor and industry witnesses said California is losing post-production jobs to other jurisdictions and urged the bill be amended to include stronger labor standards; the bill passed to the Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee. Finally, AB 1720, the California Fans First Act, would cap resale prices for concert and live entertainment tickets at no more than 10% above face value, excluding sporting events and certain season-ticket arrangements. The author argued the bill would curb scalping and make live events more affordable for fans.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy
Transcript Highlights:
- More than 40% of jurisdictions in Massachusetts do not offer solar permitting online.
- Okay, Senator Barrett, we can't hear you online. How about now, Mark? Perfect. Okay.
- And I'm sorry, Senator, the folks online can't hear the representatives' questions. Is this better?
- I think we're going to hear from someone online. Please introduce yourself. We're ready for you.
- There are two technologies which have come online ...in particular.
Summary:
The hearing focused broadly on solar policy and several related bills, especially S. 2269, S. 2270, H. 3520, H. 3521, and related measures on distributed energy resources, municipal solar caps, permitting reform, and tax credits. Testimony from the Air Force supported S. 2232, which would exempt federal military installations from renewable energy production caps and net metering limits to support energy resilience at bases like Hanscom. Most other witnesses argued that Massachusetts needs to speed up rooftop, municipal, and community solar deployment to address high electricity prices, federal tax credit rollbacks, grid reliability, and climate goals.
A major theme was streamlining permitting through automated or “smart” solar permitting, including a statewide platform managed by DOER. Permit Power, SEIA, Vote Solar, 350 Mass, and others said current local permitting is fragmented and costly, and that instant permitting could reduce soft costs and speed installations. Several witnesses also urged changes to interconnection rules, including flexible interconnection, remote inspections, and faster utility approval timelines. Some speakers raised concerns about small towns lacking staff to meet short deadlines and suggested a state-hosted platform to reduce the burden on municipalities.
Another major topic was lifting caps on solar deployment. Municipal officials from Lexington and Cambridge said the 10-megawatt municipal cap and regional caps are blocking shovel-ready projects and should be removed, including for behind-the-meter municipal solar and MBTA-community housing. Other witnesses described additional limits on project size, net metering, and residential tax credits, and called for making the state residential solar credit refundable and larger. Several speakers also supported virtual power plants, distributed energy resource targets, solar canopies, microgrids, and expanded access for affordable housing, tenants, and low- and moderate-income customers.
No votes were taken. Committee members asked questions about permitting timelines, grid modernization, the rationale for caps, balcony solar, and interconnection delays, and witnesses said they would follow up with additional information where needed. The hearing ended with broad support from industry, municipal, environmental, and advocacy groups for advancing the solar and distributed energy bills, while some witnesses opposed provisions they viewed as overly restrictive, such as mandatory SMART participation for all solar projects.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism Committee Apr 7th, 2026
Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism
Transcript Highlights:
- This pricing creates a demand.
- Price caps will bring on significant ticket shortages, drive up ticket prices, guarantee half-full concert
- halls, Drive up ticket prices, guarantee half-full concert halls, and prompt the exit of online marketplaces
- It's going to enhance prices.
- It's about the total price right there.
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
Senate - Conservation Jan 29th, 2026 at 09:13 am
Senate Conservation
Transcript Highlights:
- This is a price of climate change, and we have to decide whether we're willing to pay that price with
- We have several online and none in opposition.
- Fair market price as much as we can.
- any price gouging.
- We have price checks to assure that we are within a realm of safe pricing.
Committee:
Senate Senate Conservation
WY
Transcript Highlights:
- I think half that price would Wyoming.
- Is there anyone online?
- >> There's no one online. >> No one online and no one here for public comment.
- Is there anyone online? public comment? Is there anyone online?
- </c> >> There's no one online. >> There's no one online.
Committee:
Senate Appropriations
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Transportation Committee Apr 6th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- As they could with the partners or now online.
- E85 is typically priced $1.50 to $2 per gallon. And meaningful relief.
- E85 is typically priced $1.50 to $2 per gallon lower than conventional gasoline.
- . 100% over the last decade, largely driven by station expansion and high gas prices.
- They also have the price discount of E85 relative to gasoline.
Summary:
The Assembly Transportation Committee met as a subcommittee until quorum was established, then heard several transportation-related bills. AB 1614 would extend existing anti-piggybacking rules to Class 1 bikeways, prohibiting multiple riders on a single bike or e-bike; supporters emphasized rising e-bike injuries and trauma cases, while People for Bikes argued it could create unnecessary barriers and enforcement issues. The committee also heard AB 2193, which would make autonomous vehicle manufacturers responsible for traffic citations when no human driver is present; Teamsters and transit labor supported the bill as an accountability measure, and there was no formal opposition on file.
AB 2629 would cap fees charged by DMV business partners for online vehicle registration services at 5% above DMV fees. The sponsor and consumer advocates said the bill would curb spoofed websites and hidden upcharges, while DMV business partners and related companies argued the cap would make the program economically unworkable and reduce service options. Members questioned how the 5% figure was chosen, and the bill advanced on a due pass recommendation to Appropriations after a roll call.
The committee also heard AB 2046, which would allow EPA-approved E85 conversion kits in California to expand access to lower-cost, lower-carbon fuel; supporters cited consumer savings and emissions reductions, and the bill passed to Appropriations. Finally, AB 2346 proposed broader e-bike safety rules, including speedometers, lighting, age-based speed limits, local authority to set path limits, and consumer disclosures; supporters framed it as a response to serious injuries and illegal e-motos, while opponents raised concerns about overbreadth, enforcement, and potential profiling. The committee approved AB 2346, sending it to Judiciary, and later completed roll calls showing the consent calendar and the other heard bills advancing out of committee.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Utilities and Energy Committee Jan 15th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- Dynamic pricing encourages customers to use electricity Dynamic pricing encourages customers to use electricity
- It means real-time hourly day-ahead pricing. So Means real-time hourly day-ahead pricing.
- So the resources are coming online, are expected to come online.
- So the resources are coming online, are expected to come online over a time frame building up, I believe
- And then we tie pricing to that.
Summary:
The committee first heard AB 710, which would expand dynamic pricing and time-of-use electricity rates and require utilities to develop plans for advanced metering infrastructure so more customers can participate. The author and supporters said the bill would encourage load shifting to times when electricity is cheaper and cleaner, reduce curtailment of renewable energy, and help address affordability. PG&E and SDG&E opposed the bill as drafted, arguing the deadlines were premature, could disrupt ongoing CPUC rate proceedings and pilot programs, and might force costly changes before results are known; Golden State Power Cooperative was neutral and flagged a technical issue. After questions and discussion about timing and scope, the committee passed AB 710 on an 11-0 vote and also approved the consent calendar 15-0.
The committee then held its first 2026 oversight hearing on implementation of the California Transmission Accelerator created by SB 254. GoBiz, IBank, CAISO, and the Department of Finance outlined the new program’s structure: GoBiz’s energy unit will coordinate the accelerator, IBank will evaluate and finance eligible projects, CAISO’s transmission planning and competitive solicitation process will identify projects, and the tax credit will provide an additional incentive for developers. Administration witnesses said trailer bill language and about 10 limited-term positions are being proposed to clarify roles, protect confidential information, and support the revolving fund, with roughly $26 million in administrative costs over five years.
Committee members focused on coordination among agencies, supply-chain risks, regional market planning, and whether the accelerator has enough authority to move projects quickly. CAISO said its planning and competitive procurement processes already align closely with the accelerator and that no tariff changes are expected, while GoBiz and IBank said they are still developing financing strategies and learning from other states. Public commenters supported faster transmission but urged the committee to preserve the role of competitive developers, clarify ownership and risk allocation, and ensure wildfire safety and accountability. The hearing ended with no formal action beyond receiving testimony and committing to continued oversight.
WA
Transcript Highlights:
- Unlike other businesses, we cannot raise prices when our costs increase.
- We can't raise our price.
- So I was thinking about online pharmacies. My brother gets his meds through an online pharmacy.
- what that price will pay.
- to pay price B based on the contract, and price B is less, that's all the pharmacy gets.
Committee:
House Finance
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Commerce committee hearing on HF2149, the 'Consumer Grocery Pricing Fairness Act' 3/26/25
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> Grocery Consumer grocery Pricing Grocery Consumer grocery Pricing Fairness<00:03:47.760><c> Act<
- is</c><00:04:49.840><c> a</c><00:04:50.080><c> targeted</c> Pricing Fairness Act is a targeted Pricing
- </c> while preventing discriminatory pricing while preventing discriminatory pricing that<00:05:07.360
- “What this bill is about is not regulating prices. It’s about regulating price discrimination.
- is price discrimination.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Finance Mar 4th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- Unlike other businesses, we cannot raise prices when our costs increase.
- We can't raise our price.
- So I was thinking about online pharmacies. My brother gets his meds through an online pharmacy.
- what that price will pay.
- to pay price B based on the contract,' and price B is less, that's all the pharmacy gets.
Summary:
House Finance held public hearings on three Senate bills. SB 6129 would raise cigarette taxes, replace current nicotine/vapor product taxes with a 95% tax on nicotine products, and adjust revenue distributions to the Andy Hill Cancer Research account, the Foundational Public Health Services account, and a youth prevention account; staff and supporters said it would correct an unintended loss of public health funding and reduce youth nicotine use, while opponents argued it would be highly regressive, harm retailers and wholesalers, and push sales into illicit markets. SB 6231 would repeal the data center sales tax exemption for refurbishment and end replacement server equipment eligibility; the sponsor and staff said it would raise roughly $200 million and remove an obsolete preference, while labor, port, business, and data center representatives opposed it, citing lost jobs, reduced investment, and concerns about upsetting existing contracts and rural economic development. SB 6228 would repeal the preferential B&O rate for warehousing and reselling prescription drugs and create a lower preferential rate for critical access pharmacies; the sponsor said it would restore horizontal equity in the tax code and offset impacts on rural pharmacies, but pharmacy groups, wholesalers, retailers, and business organizations warned it would raise medication costs, worsen pharmacy closures, and be passed through to patients.
The committee heard extensive public testimony on all three bills. Supporters of SB 6129 included public health, cancer, pediatric, and emergency medicine advocates who emphasized youth prevention, cessation funding, and long-term health savings; opponents included tobacco, vape, retail, and business groups who said the bill would increase black-market activity and burden small businesses. SB 6231 drew opposition from construction trades, ports, local governments, chambers, and data center interests, who argued the tax preference supports ongoing construction, permanent jobs, and local tax bases, while committee questions focused on whether the bill would affect existing refurbishment contracts. SB 6228 was opposed by pharmacy associations, independent pharmacists, wholesalers, grocery retailers, and AWB, who said the tax increase would be passed through and could accelerate pharmacy desert conditions; the sponsor and supporters framed the bill as a correction to an outdated preference and a way to protect critical access pharmacies. No votes were taken; each hearing was closed, and the chair announced amendment requests were due Thursday at 5 p.m. and amendments posted by Friday at 5 p.m.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Business, Trade & Economic Development Feb 18th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- This is the first price increase in 10 years.
- This is the first price increase in 10 years.
- And Paula, is Paula online? I am. Good morning, Chair Kaufman. And Paula, is Paula online? I am.
- Is she online? Yes. Yes, I am. Yes, let's proceed. Thank you, Chair Kaufman.
- We have Michael Transou and Nika McKellos, I believe they're online.
Summary:
The Senate Business, Trade, and Economic Development Committee heard public testimony on several House bills. HB 2624 would expand an existing exemption in the solicited real estate transaction law to allow public entities to solicit and buy real property for any public purpose, and also for Indian tribes and nonprofit nature conservancy organizations; the sponsor said the bill is meant to fix an omission from last year’s law, while a forest landowners group opposed it as creating a loophole for low-ball offers to vulnerable owners, and Trust for Public Land supported it as a different kind of transaction with existing appraisal and public-process protections. HB 2334 would create a cash-transaction rounding system to address the end of penny minting; staff said rounding would apply after tax and be permissive for sellers, with immunity and preemption provisions, and retailers and grocery groups supported it as a practical solution to penny scarcity, while members asked about signage and mixed-tender transactions.
The committee also heard HB 1269, which would shorten pawn loan terms from 90 to 60 days, raise interest and fee caps, increase storage fees, and allow online payments for extensions. Pawn industry witnesses and the sponsor said the changes are modest, overdue, and needed to reflect inflation and operating costs while serving unbanked customers; some senators questioned whether the combined changes would more than double costs for borrowers, and industry witnesses said they were willing to work on the numbers. HB 2428 would require insurers to send advance lapse notices for individual life insurance policies to policyholders and a designated third party, with proof of delivery, to prevent unintended lapses; the sponsor, the Insurance Commissioner’s office, life insurers, AARP, and a business group all supported the consumer protection goal, though insurers noted added compliance costs and the bill’s delayed effective date for new policies.
Finally, the committee heard HB 1078 on pet insurance, which would bar cancellation or nonrenewal based on a pet’s age or conditions that develop during the policy term and would restrict certain affiliate-policy transfers; the Insurance Commissioner’s office strongly supported it as a consumer protection measure, and staff noted a fiscal impact estimate and a new fiscal note request. The committee also took testimony on HB 2624 from both supporters and opponents, and on HB 2334 and HB 1269 from industry and public witnesses, but no votes were taken in the meeting. The chair closed public testimony and adjourned the committee after hearing all scheduled bills.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Future of Payments and Sales Transactions by Credit Card and the Impacts for Small Businesses Jul 22nd, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- However, we have many commission members that are with us, both here and online.
- And I believe we're joined online by a couple of members as well.
- Seeing none in person, any online? Chris Galozy? Yes, I'd just like to ask a question.
- But many people would not be able to order online.
- Seeing and hearing none, nobody online, I will entertain a motion to adjourn.
Summary:
The Special Legislative Commission on the future of credit card payments and their impacts on small businesses held what was described as its last public hearing. Chair Paul Feeney opened by noting the commission’s mandate under Chapter 238 of the Acts of 2024 and explained that members would continue working on a final report after the hearing. The meeting featured testimony from banks, payment industry groups, restaurant advocates, convenience store representatives, and others, with repeated discussion of interchange fees, surcharging, fraud, and federal preemption issues.
Banking and card-industry witnesses, including the Massachusetts Bankers Association, the Card Coalition, and the Electronic Payments Coalition, argued that state-level interchange restrictions would disrupt a global payment system, create compliance problems, and likely apply only to a small share of transactions because of federal preemption. They emphasized consumer and merchant benefits of cards, the role of banks in absorbing fraud losses, and recent federal and state developments, including Illinois litigation, OCC and NCUA actions, and a settlement that they said would give merchants more flexibility. Several witnesses also suggested alternatives such as vendor compensation for tax collection and modernizing Massachusetts’ surcharge ban.
Restaurant and convenience-store advocates took the opposite view, saying swipe fees are a major burden on thin-margin businesses and that merchants should not pay interchange on sales tax or gratuities that are not their revenue. Mass Restaurants United and individual restaurant owners described severe financial strain, rising costs, and the need for transparency and relief. NACS supported swipe fee reform and argued that current fees are excessive and inflationary. A few members questioned witnesses about whether industry should share more of the burden and about the feasibility of changing the current system.
No votes or formal policy actions were taken. The chair said the commission would meet again to discuss a draft framework and final report, and members of the public were invited to submit additional written testimony before the commission concludes its work.
WA
Transcript Highlights:
- So we will go to online testimony. All right. Thank you. So we will go to online testimony.
- We pay the discounted price post-rebate.
- on the drug, we're paying full price.
- We'll go to online testimony now. Leanne Prelip.
- They get priced out now, and they will be priced out in the future if we don't all pull together, put
Bills:
SB6294 , SB6211 , SB5650 , SB6033 , SB6297 , SB6343 , SB6067 , SB6082 , SB6323 , SB6324 , SB5862 , SB5923 , SB6151
Committee:
Senate Ways & Means
Keywords:
local government finance, Washington state, RCW, real estate excise tax, REET, sales and use tax, property tax levy, county tax, city tax, affordable housing, housing services, behavioral health, mental health, developmental disabilities, children and families services, youth services, utility tax, low-income utility assistance, veterans assistance, homelessness
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Utilities and Energy Committee Feb 25th, 2026
Utilities and Energy
Transcript Highlights:
- Otherwise, it should be submitted online via the committee website.
- times when prices are lowest.
- times when prices are lowest.
- These storage projects are coming online in 12 to 18 months.
- Yes, there's uncertainty about what's actually going to come online.
Committee:
House Utilities and Energy
CA
Transcript Highlights:
- And when that happens, if you do not use a business partner, online.
- California drivers face some of the highest and most volatile fuel prices in the nation.
- E85 is typically priced $1.50 to $2 per gallon. Aguirre Curry.
- E85 is typically priced $1.50 to $2 per gallon.
- They also have the price discount of E85 relative to gasoline.
Committee:
House Transportation
LA
Transcript Highlights:
- , the price increases from when they started, maybe look at other prices in other states.
- prices as humanly possible.
- prices as humanly possible.
- Texas isn't trying to set drug prices. Texas has no appetite for price controls.
- Number one: spread pricing.
Committee:
House Insurance
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- The convoluted nature of prices, of course, allows for price gouging, extra billing, and surprise billing
- There's a negotiated price that's set. They still just tried to get me for an extra price.
- Now, a lot of opponents say, well, adding price transparency costs and so forth, finding our cash prices
- It could have been someone who saw something online.
- The price varies widely, and a patient doesn't have a real reason to care once the price is over the
Bills:
SB331 , SB883 , SB926 , SB1137 , SB1138 , SB1144 , SB1151 , SB1236 , SB1270 , SB1522 , SB1869 , SB2207 , SB2422
Committee:
Senate Health & Human Services
Summary:
The committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 883, which would protect physicians’ ability to prescribe off-label medications and treatments, framed by the author as a “Right to Treat” measure tied to COVID-19 care. Supporters, including physicians and patient-choice advocates, said the bill would safeguard the doctor-patient relationship and prevent interference by boards, pharmacies, or hospitals. Several witnesses described using hydroxychloroquine, ivermectin, budesonide, antibiotics, steroids, and monoclonal antibodies during the pandemic, and said they faced complaints, board scrutiny, or pharmacy refusals for those prescriptions. The bill was left pending after public testimony closed.
The committee then took up Senate Bill 331, which would extend hospital price-transparency requirements to additional health care facilities such as freestanding ERs, urgent care and retail clinics, ambulatory surgical centers, outpatient clinics, and birthing centers. Proponents argued that broader disclosure of prices for shoppable services would help consumers compare costs and reduce surprise billing, while opponents from ambulatory surgery centers said the bill would impose costly compliance burdens on small providers and that insurers or the state already have much of the needed data. The bill was also left pending.
Senate Bill 2422 would expunge Texas Medical Board records and impose reparations for disciplinary actions tied to COVID-era treatment decisions, including references to ivermectin, hydroxychloroquine, budesonide, and masks. The author and supporters argued that doctors were unfairly targeted for trying to save patients and should be made whole; the Texas Medical Board representative said most pandemic complaints were dismissed, that actions generally involved broader issues such as privileges, documentation, or informed consent, and that no physician was disciplined solely for prescribing off-label COVID medications. The bill was left pending.
Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 2207, which would loosen Texas Medical Board rules on physicians advertising themselves as board certified, especially by reducing barriers tied to maintenance of certification requirements. Supporters said the current rule is overly restrictive, inconsistent, and costly, and that it drives physicians out of practice; they also said Texas is one of only a few states with such a rule. Witnesses described hospitals using the rule against physicians and said the change would improve transparency and competition. The bill remained pending after testimony.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Future of Payments and Sales Transactions by Credit Card and the Impacts for Small Businesses Jun 21st, 2026 at 11:00 am
Transcript Highlights:
- We also have the commission members online.
- Any commission members online, would you like to introduce themselves? She's Sarah.
- People can join online or in person.
- They offer low-cost, easy access once they're all online.
- They never say the prices are going up because frankly the prices on interchange have been pretty flat
Summary:
The Special Commission on the future of payments and sales transactions by credit card heard extensive testimony from credit union, banking, retail, restaurant, and payments-industry representatives about proposals to limit interchange fees, especially on the tax and tip portions of transactions. Several witnesses opposed state-level restrictions, arguing they would create a patchwork of rules, burden state-chartered institutions, raise compliance complexity, and ultimately reduce resources for fraud prevention, cybersecurity, rewards, and access to credit. Others, including retail and merchant advocates, said swipe fees are a significant and growing cost for small businesses and that states should consider reforms such as limiting fees on taxes and tips, allowing surcharging, improving transparency in merchant contracts, and studying collection costs more closely.
Witnesses also discussed recent legal and regulatory developments, including Illinois’s interchange-fee law, OCC and NCUA interim rules, and the ongoing Visa/Mastercard antitrust settlement. Industry representatives said the Illinois law has been delayed and is likely preempted for most transactions, while merchant advocates argued the state efforts and court rulings show that networks and banks do not set fees competitively. The proposed antitrust settlement was described by some as a meaningful but limited merchant victory, with temporary fee reductions and expanded surcharge/steering rights, while others said it still falls short of structural reform.
The commission members pressed witnesses on the practical effects of fees, the cost of cash, whether merchants can pass costs through, and whether small businesses are actually seeing benefits from the current system. Members repeatedly emphasized the need for a fair middle ground that protects both small businesses and the payment system. No substantive votes or policy actions were taken beyond accepting testimony, and the meeting ended with adjournment after all scheduled witnesses had spoken.
LA
Transcript Highlights:
- , the price increases from when they started, maybe look at other prices in other states.
- prices as humanly possible.
- Texas isn't trying to set drug prices. Texas has no appetite for price controls.
- Number one: spread pricing.
- Spread pricing.
Committee:
House Insurance
Summary:
The House Insurance Committee met on April 29 with a quorum present and took up several insurance and health care-related bills. SB 192, a dental reimbursement bill, was amended to allow dentists to opt in electronically to credit-card payment methods and to clarify applicability and effective date; it was reported as amended. SB 84 would require prostate cancer screening coverage for men over 40 under current clinical guidelines and prohibit cost-sharing; supporters from the American Cancer Society said Louisiana has a high incidence of prostate cancer and that out-of-pocket costs deter early screening. The committee adopted amendments and reported the bill as amended. SB 275, dealing with reimbursement and network participation for certified registered nurse anesthetists, drew support from nursing and hospital groups and was reported favorably. SB 169, a cleanup bill on biomarker testing, was also amended and reported.
The committee spent substantial time on SB 401, which creates a temporary prescription drug affordability board to review pricing data on selected drugs and report findings to the legislature. Supporters said the board would improve transparency and help lawmakers understand drug pricing trends; opponents raised concerns about confidentiality, market effects, and the lack of a defined policy outcome beyond reporting. Amendments narrowed the scope, added confidentiality protections, and removed opposition cards, and the bill was reported as amended. SB 387, a major PBM reform bill tied to SB 401, would change PBM compensation, rebate handling, formulary practices, audits, and appeals, while excluding ERISA plans after discussion and amendment. Supporters argued it would curb spread pricing and other practices that raise costs, while opponents from the Pelican Institute and PCMA warned it would interfere with private contracts, reduce flexibility, and could raise premiums or disrupt city, school board, and small-group plans. After extensive debate and a roll call, SB 387 was reported with amendments by a 10-4 vote.
The committee also considered SB 241, which requires certain insurance adjusters and public adjusters to include license numbers in written communications. After amendments limiting the requirement to individual licenses and removing one statutory reference, the bill was reported as amended. Throughout the meeting, members and witnesses repeatedly discussed the need for transparency in drug pricing and PBM practices, the role of ERISA and non-ERISA plans, and potential impacts on public employers and consumers.
WA
Transcript Highlights:
- And if not, then we can get back to you online or with an email. Sure.
- apps and online gaming platforms.
- apps and online gaming platforms.
- Okay, it does not look like Tim Jordan is online. Cora is online.
- This maintains a severe quality penalty under a 95% price-based tax.
Committee:
House Finance
Keywords:
HB2038, Washington, B&O tax, business and occupation tax, social media tax, platform tax, youth behavioral health, mental health, adolescent mental health, children's mental health, telebehavioral health, behavioral health account, state treasury, digital services tax, internet platform, social media companies, youth services, depression, anxiety, public health funding