Transcript Highlights:

• but the IEP is not supposed to be based but the IEP is not supposed to be based on<00:56:14.880>
• listed separately from the hourly rate listed separately from the hourly rate for<00:58:33.520><
• , and that's the hourly rate.
• are getting the best reimbursement rate are getting the best reimbursement rate for<01:02:05.160
• Those are approved programs that we approve and we set their rates. need to pay based on how long the

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The work session focused on special education, especially the differentiated aid component and special education aid, which members noted is still often called “catastrophic aid.” The chair said the committee was trying to better understand how special education costs are growing, how districts are delivering services through SAUs or internally, and how reimbursement formulas affect local costs. Members also discussed the need for better data before making decisions on several education funding bills, and Representative Brown was tasked with capturing questions for follow-up information from the department or elsewhere. Testimony from the state special education director, Becky Fad, centered on why student counts in various disability categories have shifted over time. She said the categories themselves have not changed much, but autism has increased because of greater understanding and identification, developmental delay has grown because it applies to children under age 10 who may not yet have a clear diagnosis, and some students previously classified under speech/language or other health impairment are now identified in more specific categories such as autism. She emphasized that the IEP is based on a child’s individual needs, so a change in category would not necessarily change services, though it may help educators support the student differently. Members asked about whether the shifts reflect better diagnostic capability, whether the department should gather more data on the reasons for the changes, and whether autism-spectrum data could be broken down further. Fad said the department does not currently have data on the causes of the shifts or on where students fall within the autism spectrum, but that collecting and analyzing such data is on its list of priorities and a new data manager had recently been hired. She also explained that each child is counted only once on the chart by primary disability, that the IEP or eligibility team determines the primary category based on evaluations, and that any child can be referred for special education by a parent, teacher, or doctor, after which the district must meet within 15 days to decide whether to evaluate. No votes or formal actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:52:04.559> in wide ranging and wildly off base in wide ranging and wildly off base in
• moderating our rates as well.
• Rates were extremely high, and if I recall from earlier that term, the electrical rates of the co-op
• Thank you. based on these cost overruns or based on based on these cost overruns or based on the<03:35
• <04:22:52.040> payers suffer but all the states rate payers suffer but all the states rate

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This was the formula-based model in which 40% of funds were appropriated based on square mileage of the
• the state this was the formula based the state this was the formula based model<00:04:08.360>
• It looks at the base rate and it looks at the mileage charge with that.
• He said it looks at the base rate increase and the mileage charge.
• something with the Medicaid rates something with the Medicaid rates obviously<01:19:44.920> we

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• >> or an upcoming rate case. >> or an upcoming rate case. >> Okay.
• rate case."
• <04:52:20.560> Um that go obviously in into rates. Um that go obviously in into rates.
• do that across all the base? do that across all the base?
• party aggregate rate that our customer<05:10:17.280> base<05:10:17.680> became<05:10:18.080

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And is it earning interest at the rate of inflation of these projects?
• What allows or affords smaller entities to utilize that credit rate for better rates?
• but that underlying credit rating also is a to the rating agencies and to the board.
• Their credit rating will come on as part of the PUA.
• The rate setting doesn't change at all.

Bills: HB 1089, HB 1163, HB 1177, HB 1238, HB1318, HB1400, HB1407, HB1532, HJR7, HJR7

Keywords: coastal protection, environmental management, Gulf Coast, storm risk management, funding, Texas General Land Office, healthcare, insurance reform, patient access, insurance regulation, affordable care, health insurance, consumer rights, coverage transparency, claims process, insurance regulations, aggregate production, environmental impact, financial responsibility, reclamation

Transcript Highlights:

• We know in days of yore doctors were discriminatory based on race or based on what have you, and we had
• in our MCO contracts because as of now we pay providers based on certain rates based on what they're
• in our MCO contracts because as of now we pay providers based on certain rates based on what they're
• in our MCO contracts because as of now we pay providers based on certain rates based on what they're
• there are separate unique rates for our community mental health programs based on the high quality oversight

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So you'll see line two, that's the base amount from the previous year.
• So they'll adopt their rate increases in the spring.
• The E.D. to designate schools based on their performance.
• On 160, one thing that came up is when we compare ourselves, our rating.
• make, and then the 90% success rate of the small pilot program.

Transcript Highlights:

• To another insurer, often in pursuit of a better rate of return.
• differently based on your health status.
• But I'm finding that since I got into it, they've doubled my rate.
• It's been a while since, since the rates have actually gone up. All right, thank you.
• into a rate discussion with you unless you want to.

Transcript Highlights:

• governance and inadequate rate setting. governance and inadequate rate setting.
• Health trust returned excessive rates.
• <00:30:47.440> and relates to setting rates and relates to setting rates and reserves.<00:
• You know, and there they set the rates, you know, and the requirement based on the rules that they follow
• rate reimbur you a reimbursement rate rate reimbur you a reimbursement rate you<00:54:11.760>

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up SB 297 and a new amendment, 2462, which combined the original Senate bill with the Carson amendment and added a proposed alternative regulatory system, RSA 420R. The chair and members discussed that the amendment was intended to give the Senate what it had asked for while also creating a dual system for public entity risk pools. Members asked whether the new structure would affect ownership or governance of health trusts, and the chair explained that 420R would be a separate regulatory statute while existing 420J-style arrangements could remain in place. The committee also noted that a paragraph had been accidentally deleted from the amendment and that another amendment would be prepared to correct it, with the subcommittee recessed while that was done. Public testimony focused on School Care, represented by Executive Director Lisa Ducette, who opposed the shift to Department of Insurance oversight under 420R. She argued that public entity risk pools are not insurance companies, that they are accountable to member entities and taxpayers, and that the proposed dual regulation would add unnecessary costs through examinations, higher reserves, and additional accounting requirements. She said the change could threaten tax-exempt status and create an uneven playing field, and she urged the committee to support SB 297 with the Carson amendment instead of moving to 420R. Committee members questioned whether the amendment would actually affect pools that stayed under the Secretary of State model, and one member cited support from the New Hampshire Municipal Association for the dual system. The discussion then shifted to amendment 245 on ambulance reimbursement and contracting timelines. Members reviewed a provision giving insurers 45 days and ambulance providers 60 days in the contracting process, and one member suggested making both periods 60 days. The chair and others said the current language was intentional and part of a broader compromise aimed at ending balance billing and forcing insurers to establish reimbursement rates. Members noted that the measure was unusual and that its effects would be reviewed over the next two years, with one member saying the bill would likely be difficult to roll back later. No final vote was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• It is based just on the child's income.
• First, and preferred, is our family-based safety services.
• So I'll start with community-based care.
• So, this was formerly called rate modernization.
• packages and rates to serve them.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The budget was actually based on the rate going down 1.4 cents.
• :08:29.360> rate<00:08:29.599> going<00:08:29.919> down actually based on the rate
• going down actually based on the rate going down 1.4<00:08:31.360> cents.
• receptive of submitting the rate sheets. receptive of submitting the rate sheets.
• rates? rates?

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The first is the base rate per ride, and then, depending on the distance, there is a per-mile rate component
• The first is the base rate per ride, and then, depending on the distance, there is a per-mile rate component
• The first is the base rate per ride, and then, depending on the distance, there is a per-mile rate component
• The first is the base rate per ride, and then, depending on the distance, there is a per-mile rate component
• The first is the base rate per ride, and then, depending on the distance, there is a per-mile rate component

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee met on March 2 and approved the February 23 minutes after a quorum was reached. The main presentation was from the Department of Human Services on non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT), a federally required Medicaid benefit that helps Minnesota Health Care Program enrollees get to medically necessary appointments. DHS said the program served more than 250,000 people in 2025 at a cost of $127 million, with participation up about 14% over five years, and described the seven transportation modes, provider enrollment requirements, STS certification, background checks, prior authorization rules, and planned transitions to a single administrator for parts of the program in 2026 and 2027. DHS officials emphasized fraud prevention efforts, saying NEMT is one of the agency’s high-risk Medicaid services. They described enhanced prepayment review, provider revalidation and site visits, removal of inactive providers, and a provider moratorium in metro counties. Inspector General James Clark said the governor’s anti-fraud proposal would add pre-enrollment risk assessments, more staffing and technology, and electronic visit verification. He also noted that about 80% of NEMT spending is in managed care and that managed care organizations have their own compliance and special investigations units. Committee members raised concerns about fraud, oversight, and privatization. Chair Robbins questioned DHS about the absence of the commissioner and the program’s use of brokers, citing past concerns and asking about the vendor MTM’s history; DHS said the RFP for the new broker had closed and the vendor selection was still underway. Representative Pinto questioned why oversight is outsourced to managed care organizations and suggested bringing more oversight back in house. MTM representative Phil Stahlberger defended the company’s record, said the Missouri dispute was about contract terms from about 15 years ago, and said MTM currently works in Minnesota counties and many other states, with on-site reviews, trip verification, and complaint review processes. No further votes or final actions on the NEMT policy were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Though our unemployment rate rose to 3.1% in March, it's still lower than the national unemployment rate
• national rate of 62.5%.
• national rate of 62.5%.
• national rate of 62.5%.
• tax base. tax base.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• rate is calculated. rate is calculated.
• department's current cost-based department's current cost-based outpatient<00:32:55.640> rate
• Sections 1 to 2, 5, and 14 to 24 of that article establish a new cost-based rate methodology and reconciliation
• It requires Medical Assistance reimbursement rates equal to 100% of the published Medicare rates for
• rate, notwithstanding any other rate increases or reductions in law for those specified mental health

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• 00:06:41.840> by<00:06:42.000> the evidence-based program developed by the evidence-based
• smoking rates in children. smoking rates in children.
• ,<00:45:05.359> predominantly<00:45:06.000> plant-based plant-based, predominantly plant-based
• that will provide a quality-based payment based on HEDIS.
• based payment based on provide a quality based payment based on heat.<01:26:03.600> Uh<01:26:

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The task force opened with a moment of silence for the Louisville UPS plane tragedy, approved the October 15 minutes, and reminded members to submit policy recommendations before the December 16 meeting, when the group will discuss its report to LRC. The first informational presentation, from the Department for Public Health, focused on youth vaping. Elizabeth Good and Julie Brooks cited a recent Surgeon General report warning that youth vaping can harm brain development, mental health, lungs, asthma, and hormones, and noted Kentucky survey data showing 8.7% of students reported daily vaping and 19.7% used vaping products in the prior 30 days. They described prevention and cessation resources including Catch My Breath, I Can End the Trend, Not on Tobacco, My Life, My Quit, Quitline services, and the Kentucky TRUST retailer education program, which trained 3,371 individuals in 2024 and distributed 253 Tobacco 21 toolkits. The next presentation came from Kentucky ABC on implementation of SB 100, which created the division of tobacco, nicotine, and vapor product licensing. Commissioner Scotty Tracy and Jamar Carter said all retailers selling tobacco, nicotine, or vapor products must be licensed, regulations were filed October 31, 2025, and the online application portal is live. In response to questions about sales to minors, they said violations carry escalating fines for clerks and owners, with a fourth violation resulting in no license renewal for two years and unpaid fines also blocking renewal. They said complaints can be submitted through the portal, by phone, or on the ABC website, and enforcement investigates tips and may use underage compliance checks. The committee then heard from Kim McKenna Johnson of One Cross Community Health, who argued for a “deficiency-first” and holistic approach to care centered on nutrition, lifestyle, and targeted supplementation. She said her clinic serves more than 7,000 patients in Taylor and Marion counties and described a model that includes primary care, behavioral health, functional medicine, addiction recovery, and chronic care. She cited Kentucky health rankings, claimed nutritional deficiencies cost the state billions, and said many children are overprescribed while undernourished. She urged broader insurance coverage for nutritional testing and supplements, rural demonstration grants, and Medicaid pilots for clinically prescribed supplements. Members asked about testing costs, dietitian support, long-term cost savings, compliance, and whether medications are often used to prevent damage from noncompliance; the presenter said the lab tests are generally covered, supplements are the main cost barrier, and seeing lab results can improve family buy-in. No votes were taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Northstar Alliance includes dozens of community-based and faith-based organizations who believe in
• The Northstar Alliance includes dozens of community-based and faith-based organizations who believe in
• <00:28:43.760> and dozens of community- based and dozens of community- based and faith-based
• <00:52:14.040> is<00:52:14.200> at vaccine rate is at vaccine rate is at 93%<00:52:
• saw a decrease in their murder rates saw a decrease in their murder rates even<01:09:55.080>

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on House File 16, and the chair moved the bill with a recommendation that it be re-referred to Elections Finance and Government Operations. Representative Rymer said the bill would require reporting to ICE when an illegal immigrant is arrested on suspicion of a violent crime, even if the county attorney does not prosecute, and would bar state and local entities from blocking federal immigration enforcement. He described the bill as narrowly focused on serious offenses such as murder, assault, robbery, kidnapping, and criminal sexual conduct, and said it was intended to improve communication with federal authorities about dangerous offenders. Supporters argued the bill would improve public safety and cooperation with federal law enforcement. David Zimmer, a former local law enforcement official, said cooperation with ICE is consistent with law enforcement practice and helps with information-sharing, warrants, consulate notifications, and locating individuals. Several other supporters, including a crime victim family member and a security officer, said the bill would help identify dangerous criminals and protect communities. Opponents said the bill would reduce trust in local law enforcement and discourage victims and witnesses from reporting crimes. Testifiers from the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota, The Advocates for Human Rights, Violence Free Minnesota, the Minnesota Council on Latino Affairs, the Northstar Alliance, the City of Minneapolis, and others said mandatory ICE notification could deter domestic violence and trafficking victims from seeking help, harm due process, and undermine community safety. Some also warned it would interfere with local separation policies, burden local agencies, and have negative economic and civil rights impacts. The committee also heard emotional testimony from individuals describing domestic abuse and immigration-related fears, and from family members of a murder victim who supported the bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• We got to go back to ʻāina-based.
• The rates are completely outdated, and the proposed rates that are in there now is a marginal tax rate
• The rates are completely outdated, and the proposed rates that are in there now is a marginal tax rate
• The rates are completely outdated, and the proposed rates that are in there now is a marginal tax rate
• <01:44:00.920> on no based on plans and I guess based on no based on plans and I guess based

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And then a mill, or a mill rate, is the conversion factor that we get to obtain a rate.
• The school relief was a mill levy rate, a mill levy, a mill rate that was bought down back in 2012.
• So that's inputting the mill rates.
• Ours is a graphical-based one, kind of like Tyler's. It's not a text-based software.
• So it is a number, a historical mill rate. Again, a mill rate is just a conversion factor.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The subcommittee of the Tax Reform and Relief Committee met with a quorum to begin its study of whether the content of North Dakota real estate tax statements should be revised to improve transparency. Legislative Council staff reviewed the background for the study, including House Bill 1176, current statutory requirements for tax statements, and recent changes such as separate line items for bonded debt, primary residence credit, and legacy fund-related amounts. The Tax Department then explained the current statement format and noted that the form is prescribed and approved by the tax commissioner, with changes typically driven by statute and implemented collaboratively with counties and vendors. County officials from the North Dakota Association of Counties described the full annual process for preparing budgets, setting levies, calculating taxable values, and issuing notices and tax statements. They said counties spend significant time coordinating with taxing districts, neighboring counties, and software vendors, and that the new budget hearing notices and valuation notices have not generated much public response. Members raised concerns about the usefulness and clarity of certain line items, especially the legislative tax relief calculation and the primary residence credit, and discussed whether the current statement creates confusion rather than transparency. Testimony also addressed the 3% cap, mill levy worksheets, assessment cycles, and the role of county auditors and tax directors in maintaining accurate values. The committee also heard from software vendors CPT and Tyler Technologies about how legislative changes are programmed into tax systems and how online taxpayer portals can provide more detailed breakdowns of tax bills. Vendors said changes required by law are generally absorbed in contracts rather than billed directly to counties, and they demonstrated web tools and pie-chart style breakdowns that show where tax dollars go. NDACO presented a survey of eight counties estimating tax statement preparation and mailing costs, concluding that outsourced printing tends to be cheaper on average and that total statewide tax statement costs may be roughly $600,000, though the estimate was based on limited data. No votes were taken; the meeting was informational and focused on gathering testimony and identifying issues for possible future recommendations or bill drafts.

Transcript Highlights:

• This trust fund is not going to be based on need. It's going to be based on politics.
• Utility rates are going up, garbage rates, electricity rates are going up, insurance rates are going
• The maximum millage rate determines what millage rate can be levied by a government with a majority vote
• This bill aligns the maximum millage rate with the rollback rate. The rollback rate is...
• The rollback rate is the millage rate that would provide a taxing authority with the same tax revenue

Summary: The Senate took up Committee Substitute for Senate Joint Resolution 2F, a proposed constitutional amendment to expand homestead property tax relief, lower the assessment cap on non-homestead property from 10% to 5%, and limit county and municipal ad valorem tax revenues to specified uses. Senator Avila presented the measure as a major property tax reform intended to provide relief to homeowners and restrain local government spending, while opponents argued it would shift costs to fees, services, and state appropriations and could harm local budgets, public safety, schools, and other services. Several senators also raised concerns about the ballot language and the lack of a completed fiscal analysis. The chamber considered and rejected multiple amendments. Senator Sharif’s income-based “circuit breaker” amendment failed, as did Senator Smith’s sunset clause amendment and Senator Berman’s amendment to rewrite the ballot statement for greater accuracy. During questioning, Avila said the revised language was meant to preserve flexibility for local governments and that future legislatures could set implementing procedures and, if necessary, prohibit certain local expenditures by general law. He also confirmed that the proposal would not affect refinancing or portability, and said the measure would not prevent local governments from continuing to fund many services such as libraries, parks, animal control, code enforcement, mosquito control, public housing, county health departments, and elections. Debate on final passage was extensive. Supporters described the proposal as overdue relief for homeowners and a way to force local governments to prioritize spending, while critics called it a risky tax shift that could reduce local revenue by billions and force cuts or higher fees. Some senators emphasized concerns about public safety funding, mental health and social services, and the accuracy of the ballot summary; others argued the measure would give voters a chance to decide on property tax reform. After debate, the resolution was rolled over for third reading and the Senate continued discussion, but the transcript provided does not include a final vote on the joint resolution.

Transcript Highlights:

• So maybe specifying that DOH must inspect at least every 18 months, not based on an average.
• Two preferences provide preferential business and occupation tax rates for travel agents.
• Large travel agents with annual incomes over $250,000 pay a reduced B&O tax rate of 0.9%.
• Pay a reduced B&O tax rate of 0.9%.
• This is a 33% rate. And small beneficiaries saved 1.2 million in fiscal year 2024.

Summary: The committee met on December 3, 2025, with a quorum present and approved the September 17 minutes. Members first voted to suspend the 2026 JLARC lodging tax expenditure report for one year, based on staff’s explanation that the report is self-reported, not verified, and less useful than State Auditor accountability audits; the motion passed. The committee also approved renaming the JLARC I-900 subcommittee to the “Committee to Hear SAO Performance Audits,” while keeping the opening script noting that the performance audit process exists under Initiative 900. The committee then heard follow-up updates on two prior performance audits. The Department of Health presented a draft strategic management plan in response to findings on hospital inspections, complaints, adverse event review, and hospital data access. JLARC staff reiterated that 72% of hospital inspections were late, that DOH did not verify third-party inspection standards or review adverse event reports, and that complaint data suggested possible language-access barriers. DOH said it concurred with the recommendations, had improved on-time inspection compliance to about 49%, planned annual updates starting in July 2026, and would work on accreditation oversight, complaint-language access, and data accessibility, though members pressed for firmer deadlines and questioned the three-year timeline for language access improvements. The Liquor and Cannabis Board also reported on its cannabis market study recommendation. JLARC staff said the agency’s data were incomplete and unreliable, limiting oversight of production, recalls, tax collection, and diversion. LCB said it had improved its current CCRS system but still relied on self-reported data, and it presented a decision package for a new traceability system estimated at about $9 million over three fiscal years. LCB described a plant-tagging and serialization approach tied to production, processing, testing, and retail, but acknowledged it did not currently have sufficient staff to fully implement the system without additional funding. The committee also received briefings on JLARC’s recommendation-tracking tools and the 2024 public records reporting summary, including a high-level review of agency response rates, request volumes, costs, and litigation. Finally, JLARC presented the proposed final report on the Office of Privacy and Data Protection, concluding that OPDP meets its statutory responsibilities and has high user satisfaction, but that its mandate should be updated to better match its current capacity and focus; the committee adopted the report for distribution. The meeting then moved into the 2025 tax preference performance reviews, where JLARC staff summarized nine reviews and noted that the Citizens Commission on Tax Preference and Performance Measurement endorsed all 17 legislative auditor recommendations, with comments on seven. Early reviews discussed included natural gas transportation fuel preferences, travel agent and tour operator B&O rates, nonprofit low-income housing development, multipurpose senior centers, disabled veteran adaptive housing, and trade convention attendance, with staff and commissioners generally recommending continuation of some preferences, modification of others, and improved objectives or performance measures where needed.