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:

• </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:

• 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 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

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:

• In fact, there was a financial boon to NUMC in so much that New York State owed them the payments that
• BOOM TO NUMC IN SO MUCH THAT NEW YORK STATEWIDE THE PAYMENTS THAT WERE DUE AND OWED TO THEM.
• Reimbursement rates that you and I both agree are not enough.
• These are the healthcare professionals who provided the treatment and merely want to be reimbursed.
• Many of them are providing coverage counting on reimbursement rate.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and an invocation, then approved the prior day’s Journal and moved into motions, resolutions, and budget-related business. Senator Gianaris called up Senate Print 5898A for reconsideration; the Senate voted 59 ayes to restore the bill to the third reading calendar. Several amendments were also received on third-reading bills, and the Finance Committee was called into session while the chamber proceeded with resolutions. The Senate adopted Resolution J.2106 recognizing Second Chance Month and the mental health impacts of incarceration, with Senator Brisport speaking in support and a guest from the community recognized in the chamber. The body also adopted Resolution J.1492 designating May 27, 2026, as Taiwan Heritage Day, with remarks from Senators Sepúlveda, Stavisky, and Liu highlighting Taiwanese contributions to New York and expressing support for Taiwan amid current geopolitical tensions. The Finance Committee then reported several budget bills, including Senate Prints 9003D, 9004D, 9007C, and 9009C, which were moved to third reading. The remainder of the session focused on the supplemental and controversial budget calendars, especially tax and spending provisions. Senators debated the “Protecting Our Wallets” energy rebate, with supporters describing it as a one-time check for eligible taxpayers and critics arguing it was too small and not tied directly to utility bills; the chamber accepted the message of necessity and laid the bills aside. Members also debated extensions and changes to tax provisions affecting corporations, alternative fuel exemptions, Broadway and theatrical production tax credits, charitable deductions for certain 501(c)(3)s, nicotine pouch taxes, a new New York City pied-à-terre tax, and a standardbred horse-racing testing fee. Several senators criticized the budget as raising costs or favoring certain industries, while supporters defended the measures as revenue-raising, affordability, or public-health policies. No final votes on the controversial budget bills are shown in the excerpt beyond procedural rulings, adoption of the resolution calendar, and acceptance of committee reports.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:03:09.920><c> of</c> makes annual property tax payments of makes annual property tax payments
• payments.
• </c><01:25:15.600><c> and</c><01:25:15.840><c> so</c> reimbursement is really important and so reimbursement
• </c> certainly to reinstate the reimbursement certainly to reinstate the reimbursement and<01:25:22.480
• I'm wondering if Medicaid reimbursement.

Bills: HF1669 , HF4709 , HF3531 , HF4048

Committee: House Taxes

Keywords: tax credits, sustainable aviation fuel, environmental policy, corporate franchise, Minnesota taxation, electricity generation, property tax exemption, renewable energy, incentives, economic development, fuel delivery, tax exemption, retail transactions, diesel exhaust fluid, fuel lubricants, healthcare tax, gross receipts tax, hospitals, chiropractors, healthcare providers

Transcript Highlights:

• Car loan interest payments will be deductible if the car loan meets certain qualifying factors; basically
• This bill will have state directed payments to hospitals.
• I'm trying to get a handle on, How much we're going to lose under the Medicaid provider reimbursement
• That comes back to them in terms of provider reimbursement rates of more like $1.2 billion.
• Unless federally they provide some exemption or deduction for these types of per diem payments to you

Committee: House Federal Funding Stabilization Subcommittee

Transcript Highlights:

• And that's been in a few big areas, one of which is actually increasing the provider reimbursement.
• That is beyond my mortgage payment.
• The average home in New Mexico costs $54,000 for a down payment.
• They are facing big challenges, so they get the full payment back, but in fact, Mr.
• It's hard to get reimbursed in Medicaid.

Transcript Highlights:

• We don't ever reimburse the residency care side of that, right?
• Right, because their reimbursement rate isn't near what they're spending.
• They will no longer, those services will no longer be reimbursed. What is, yeah.
• So this is the rate at which the federal government matches the Medicaid payments in our budget.
• With intellectual disabilities, upper payment limit claim payment. This is $18.5 million.

Committee: House Budget

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> reimbursement rates to providers. reimbursement rates to providers.
• </c> pulls down a federal reimbursement. pulls down a federal reimbursement.
• </c><01:35:53.920><c> rates</c> in the reimbursement rates in the reimbursement rates pulls<01:35:57.199
• The federal no federal reimbursement.
• :42:24.000><c> least</c><01:42:24.800><c> $und00</c> reimbursement will be at least $und00 reimbursement

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Theoretically, we would have those reimbursement numbers and you could just set up a payable for reimbursements
• that June payment that gets made.<01:08:07.839><c> And</c><01:08:08.000><c> so</c><01:08:08.160><c>
• you have those reimbursement numbers and you could<01:08:37.359><c> just</c><01:08:38.159><c> Would<
• that's reported on your reimbursements that's reported on your financial<01:08:44.159><c> activity</
• </c> those payments? those payments?

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up HB 155, which drew a lengthy debate over an amendment to delay implementation until tax year 2027. Supporters said the delay would give lawmakers time to see whether projected revenues materialize and to reconsider the policy if needed; opponents argued it would reduce money available to services and local governments at a time of tightening revenues. Members also discussed broader revenue trends, including tobacco, rooms-and-meals, real estate transfer, and lottery revenues, and disagreed over whether tax cuts tend to increase revenue. The committee adopted amendment 2025-2983H on an 11-9 vote, then voted 11-9 to report HB 155 ought to pass as amended. The bill was sent to the consent calendar, with a majority and minority report to be filed. The committee then considered HB 224, with members expressing concern that the bill would redirect money collected for one purpose to another and should receive more study. A motion for interim study was made and seconded, and the committee approved interim study unanimously, 20-0, sending HB 224 to the consent calendar. Next, the committee took up SB 83, which the Lottery described as a vehicle for technical corrections to gaming law. The Lottery requested changes to remove a bond cap, reconcile inconsistent free-play/promotional-play language, redirect problem-gambling funds to the Commission on Addiction Treatment and Prevention, and revise background-check language after the FBI declined to conduct checks under the existing wording. The committee adopted amendment 2025-2984 unanimously, 20-0, then voted 20-0 to report SB 83 ought to pass as amended and placed it on the consent calendar. Finally, the committee began work on HB 524, a bill to repeal the New Hampshire Vaccine Association. Representative Yuli said members had received many emails and calls both supporting and opposing the program and that he had questions about transparency and the dollars involved. The transcript cuts off before any vote or further action on HB 524.