Transcript Highlights:

• This bill reflects only the concerns from insurers.
• The QPA is set by the insurance company.
• The QPA is set by the insurance company.
• I don't have a lot of empathy for insurance companies wanting to control... ...empathy for insurance
• Self-insured employers in Arizona can currently direct care, private self-insured employers.

Bills: HB2211 , HB2229 , HB2389 , HB2403 , HB2445 , HB2502 , HB2620 , HB2813 , HB2872 , HB2889 , HB2960 , HB4028 , HCR2007

Committees: House Appropriations , House House Appropriations Committee of Reference

Keywords: contractors, subcontractors, resident preference, public contracts, materials supply, Arizona Revised Statutes, local businesses, pregnancy resource center, pregnancy center, crisis pregnancy center, DHS, Arizona Department of Health Services, state appropriation, general fund, nonprofit grant, women's health, maternal health, reproductive health, abortion funding, pro-life

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill does not address issues of professional liability or medical malpractice.
• And then regarding liability and malpractice insurance, do the faculty at UNM Medical School pay for
• And so the entity pays for professional compensation and pays for the professional liability insurance
• The top two were unit damages of 83% and medical malpractice insurers 76%, which I'd figure out why the
• They don't want to work with the insurers.

Bills: SB4 , SB7 , SB9 , SB17

Committee: Senate Senate Health & Public Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• this upcoming year 125 bucks, which doesn't cover hardly anything you're talking about just the insurance
• This legislation establishes a new narrow defense from strict liability in lawsuits.
• I banking insurance and go. You're recognized to explain the bill. >> Thank you.
• or a National Association of Insurance Commissioners or a government entity records that will no longer
• Corporate governance annual disclosure including executive compensation insurers underwriting files.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill establishes affirmative defenses, exceptions, and exemptions from criminal liability.
• Our affiliates have significant concerns with this bill because it creates criminal liability and serious
• Decisions about how workers are held accountable for mistakes or potential criminal liability must include
• Decisions about how workers are held accountable for mistakes or potential criminal liability must include
• Under this bill, the attachment of criminal liability would vitiate that firm's coverage and possibly

Summary: The committee heard testimony on two main bills. ESSB 5975 dealt with lead limits in cookware and a proposed striker that would shift more of the standard-setting and testing process to the Department of Ecology under Safer Products for Washington. Supporters, including industry groups, Ecology, the Department of Health, and environmental advocates, said the striker would provide clearer, science-based, and more workable standards while still reducing lead exposure. Some witnesses, including environmental groups, argued the bill should remain stronger, while others said the striker was an acceptable compromise. No vote was taken on the bill during the hearing. The committee also heard extensive testimony on ESSB 5360, which would create tiered criminal penalties for violations of the Water Pollution Control Act, Clean Air Act, and Hazardous Waste Management Act, including felony penalties for knowing or negligent conduct in certain circumstances. The prime sponsor and Attorney General’s Office said the bill targets egregious polluters, adds whistleblower and worker protections, and responds to serious environmental harm cases. Tribal, environmental, and advocacy witnesses supported the bill as a way to hold repeat polluters accountable. Labor, business, industry, county, utility, and forestry representatives opposed it, warning that the language could expose workers and permit holders to criminal liability for mistakes or routine operations and that the bill needed more stakeholder work. At the end of the meeting, the committee took executive action on Substitute Senate Bill 6269, which updates the Motor Fuel Quality Act by modernizing the definition of motor fuel and folding alternative fuels into that definition. The bill passed the committee on a 19-0 vote, with two members excused, and was reported out with a do-pass recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• increase is coming from benefits going to employees as we move forward, the 80/20 on the health insurance
• There are other things such as liability, unemployment, workers' comp, the comp package; all that kind
• That's really, really, really good now, especially with the insurance rates.
• So I'm not saying they should be permanent at all, and it would be to reduce risk and liability, not
• The other issue that I would like to bring up and just clarify is that GSD increased our liability risk

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Sole liability for the manufacture and provision of abortion-inducing drugs. To engrossment. Mr.
• Senate Bill 6, relating to abortion, including civil liability for the manufacturer and provision of
• We had discussed some, the issue of liability and the concern.
• That they've just extended the liability to pretty much out there with the trial lawyers' association
• For flood insurance, both private and some federal, you need to have many of those measures in place.

Bills: SB8 , SB4 , SB43 , SB1 , SB2 , SB13 , SB6 , SB10 , SB16 , SB14 , SB3 , SB8 , SB4 , SB43 , SB1 , SB2 , SB13 , SB6 , SB10 , SB16 , SB14 , SB3

Transcript Highlights:

• So why isn't insurance in New Hampshire.
• only state that doesn't mandate auto liability insurance.
• </c> that doesn't mandate auto liability that doesn't mandate auto liability insurance.<01:25:44.960>
• ><c> department</c><02:01:02.480><c> was</c> we're uh the insurance department was we're uh the insurance
• </c> looking to form a new insurance looking to form a new insurance company.<02:09:04.159><c> So,</c

Committee: Senate Commerce

Transcript Highlights:

• not get any points taken off your license or driving record, as well as there is a prohibition on insurance
• Madam Chair and members, Senate Bill 1165, insurance cost-sharing breast exams, prohibits licensed insurance
• Madam Chair and members, SB 1094, Civil Liability; Gender Reassignment Surgery.
• It clarifies that it is not a defense to liability under the section that a minor's parents consent to

Summary: The caucus reviewed a long list of Senate bills spanning elections, transportation, health care, criminal justice, housing, water, and local government. Early discussion focused on SB 1037, which would tighten security and custody requirements for electronic voting systems, and SB 1568, which would require testing of election equipment timekeeping functions. Members also discussed several election-related measures, including SB 1687 moving the primary date to May starting in 2028 and SB 1825 changing the process and deadline for filling precinct committeeman vacancies. Some members raised concerns about whether election-related bills had testimony from people who actually work elections. Several transportation, land use, and local-government bills were summarized, including SB 1024 on roadable aircraft, SB 1205 on motor vehicle booting, SB 1473 on assisted living occupancy limits, SB 1566 on penalties for malicious permit delays, SB 1787 on exactions and appeals, and SB 1419 on solar installation and roof integrity requirements. Members flagged SB 1624, which caps photo-enforcement civil penalties at $75 and bars points and insurance impacts, as well as SB 1478, a liquor omnibus bill with cider-related changes. There was also discussion of water and land issues, including SB 1200 on commingling effluent in water systems, SB 1447 extending a Pinal County groundwater fee diversion, SB 1560 increasing the Water Supply Development Revolving Fund loan cap, SB 1075 creating a foreign entity review commission for land conveyances, and SB 1280 prohibiting transport of Mexican gray wolf pups into Arizona. Health and human services bills included SB 1095 and SB 1094, both related to gender transition care for minors, which drew strong opposition from members who called them harmful and unnecessary; both were pulled from consent for further discussion. Other health-related measures included SB 1165 on breast cancer screening cost-sharing, SB 1253 allowing newborn surrender at hospitals, SB 1446 reducing dialysis documentation requirements, SB 1561 on assisted living notices and vulnerable adult study work, SB 1162 and SB 1164 on health care institution licensing and ownership-change claims processing, and SB 1178 expanding naturopathic IV drug administration authority, which was noted as having mixed votes and was pulled for closed caucus discussion. The caucus also reviewed criminal justice and public safety bills such as SB 1092 on probation for dangerous crimes against children, SB 1239 on sex-offender registration prosecutions, SB 1240 on probation success incentive payments, SB 1493 on reinstatement costs for law enforcement officers, SB 1502 on unlawful flight and reckless endangerment, SB 1512 on vulnerable adult theft definitions, SB 1520 on immigration data sharing, SB 1540 on motor fuel theft, SB 1635 on warning someone about an imminent arrest, and SB 1669 on rape-shield evidence rules. Several bills were pulled from consent, some were noted as split votes or controversial, and the meeting ended with plans to move into closed caucus for further discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Simply like a warranty, this is not insurance.
• exempt from the requirements of this chapter and Title 36 of the Oklahoma statutes and the Oklahoma Insurance
• The requirements of this chapter and Title 36 of the Oklahoma statutes and the Oklahoma Insurance Code
• Arthur, would you agree that currently, who has a plug-in liability for all the lists on the state's
• so if the average cost of plugging wells is around $25,000 per well, the state already has that liability

Bills: HR1038 , HB3263 , HB3127 , HB2997 , HB3115 , HB2123 , HB3587 , HB3028 , HB2035 , HB3369 , HB3620 , HB3621 , HB3622 , HB3624 , HB3175 , HB3173 , HB3178 , HB1979 , HB4476

Transcript Highlights:

• When you reduce fee authority but maintain enforcement responsibilities and a liability exposure, you
• Additionally, the Senate analysis of companion legislation notes potential conflicts with National Flood Insurance
• Flood insurance affordability is theoretical. It affects thousands of homeowners.
• When we're talking about private providers, they are licensed, they are insured, and they have a liability

Committee: House Commerce Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• School districts have what you and I would call a deductible on our insurance policies.
• They have what’s called a self-insured retention.
• The second cost impact is the ongoing, quote-unquote, insurance premium.
• Again, most public agencies don’t deal directly with an insurance company.
• Those risk pools do deal with insurance companies at the higher levels.

Summary: The subcommittee opened with remarks on the state budget and K-12 education, noting the large increase in the Proposition 98 minimum guarantee, the use of deferrals and reserves in the prior budget, and the challenge of balancing education funding against other state priorities. Superintendent Tony Thurmond described California education as improving overall, citing gains in test scores, graduation, and college readiness, but said major gaps remain for low-income students, students of color, agricultural communities, English learners, foster youth, and students with disabilities. He praised recent investments in universal meals, transitional kindergarten, community schools, arts, broadband, and special education, while warning that declining enrollment, chronic absenteeism, and the proposed $5.6 billion Prop. 98 settle-up create uncertainty for districts. He also urged a long-term literacy plan, expanded tutoring, universal kindergarten, and continued protections for students and families affected by immigration enforcement, including ICE-related fear and attendance loss. The committee then heard a detailed presentation on Proposition 98 from the Department of Finance and the Legislative Analyst’s Office. Finance explained that the Governor’s budget projects the minimum guarantee will rise by about $21.7 billion over three years, with a $5.6 billion settle-up obligation in 2025-26 intended to avoid overappropriation if revenues weaken. Finance also described revised reserve deposits and withdrawals, ending with about $4.1 billion in the Public School System Stabilization Account by 2026-27. The LAO said recent revenue collections were stronger than expected in the current year but warned that the outlook for 2026-27 is weaker and that stock-market-driven revenues remain volatile. The LAO supported maintaining reserves and one-time spending buffers, but recommended fully funding the guarantee and using other budget solutions rather than shifting the settle-up into future deficits. Members asked about the settle-up process, certification timeline, the effect of attendance declines tied to immigration enforcement, and wildfire-related impacts, including Pasadena Unified’s $4 million special appropriation. On LCFF and necessary small schools, Finance proposed a 2.41% COLA and about $2.2 billion in additional LCFF funding for districts and charters in 2026-27, plus a $30.7 million ongoing increase to raise the necessary small schools allowance by 20%. The LAO supported funding the COLA but said the small-school increase was not tied to a specific cost study and could be redesigned to better target small districts, noting that only a fraction of very small districts would benefit. Questions focused on how small schools access supplemental and concentration grants and how attendance recovery programs are being implemented. The Department of Education said only 130 LEAs had reported attendance recovery so far, likely because it is a new program with compliance requirements, though interest appears to be growing. FICMAT then reviewed the fiscal health of local districts, reporting an uptick in qualified and negative certifications, though still far below Great Recession levels. It said declining enrollment, rising special education costs, and higher labor and insurance costs are the biggest fiscal pressures, and that some districts are using fiscal stabilization plans and staff reductions ahead of second interim reports. FICMAT also discussed wildfire impacts on Pasadena Unified and Los Angeles Unified, explaining that Pasadena’s $4 million state appropriation was based on an early post-fire assessment and that the district is being monitored with the county office of education. Members raised concerns about Pasadena’s leadership, special education staffing shortages, AB 218 sexual abuse litigation costs, insurance premium increases, and the need for stronger prevention and training measures. FICMAT said SB 848 and related policies address some of those concerns by strengthening standards, training, and reporting requirements.

Transcript Highlights:

• You can't support your family, you can't keep your health insurance.
• In my 30-year career this is the first time I've lost my health insurance.
• They're losing jobs, homes, health insurance. their dignity.
• Our health insurance is in your hands and our businesses are in your hands.
• So he wouldn't have insurance today, health insurance today, if it wasn't for us, you know, giving him

Transcript Highlights:

• As California families can no longer afford health insurance or are being kicked off from...
• The bill does not seek to expand or expose hotels to any further liability.
• Be honest about... ...as the best practice to reduce liability all around.
• Insurance may still consider medical history and family history.
• Well, at least they have insurance. Well, their insurance quotes are now over $40,000.

Summary: The Assembly met in session, established a quorum, approved dispensing with the previous day’s journal, and then took up a long third-reading file. Early procedural actions included moving AB 1589 to the inactive file and continuing reconsideration items. The chamber then considered a series of bills largely focused on immigration enforcement, detention, worker protections, child care, voting access, and related public services. Several immigration-related measures passed, including AB 2393 on damages for false imprisonment/arrest, AB 1994 on an immigrant victims’ rights and resources card, AB 1929 on health plan investment disclosures, AB 1633 imposing a tax on for-profit detention facilities, AB 1650 requiring decals on rental vehicles used for enforcement, AB 1655 protecting CalWORKs benefits when a child is detained, and AB 1896 disqualifying people who participated in immigration enforcement from certain public employment. AB 2230, which would bar immigration enforcement near polling places and child care facilities, also passed after extensive debate. Supporters framed these bills as accountability and protection for vulnerable communities; opponents argued they targeted federal law enforcement, were unnecessary, or raised constitutional concerns. AB 1851 on statewide school mental-health guidance also passed unanimously. After the midday recess, the Assembly returned and continued with more bills tied to immigration impacts and child welfare. AB 2379 passed with urgency, requiring child care providers to be informed of constitutional rights and trained on protections when confronted by immigration enforcement. AB 2460 passed to update school behavioral-health referral protocols for students affected by immigration enforcement trauma. AB 2495 passed to expand prohibitions on employer immigration-related threats, and AB 2662 was presented as a way for California to monitor and document federal enforcement actions and report on their community impacts. Throughout the day, the floor featured repeated exchanges over whether the bills addressed real problems or were political messaging, but the measures that came to a vote generally advanced with majority support.

Transcript Highlights:

• Trust your insurance provider.
• Um, uh, so the liability concerns are unaffected by this bill. We're not changing liability at all.
• </c><00:58:04.319><c> associated</c> owner is have the liability associated owner is have the liability
• It includes an insurance company.
• , insurance, insurance, uh,<05:05:16.000><c> whether</c><05:05:16.240><c> I</c><05:05:16.400><c> want

Transcript Highlights:

• We're going to go to tab 2, SB 642, foreign and alien bail bond insurers.
• The bill would align certain recordkeeping and disclosure requirements for foreign and alien insurers
• so that they operate under the same rules as domestic ones in the bail bond surety world, the insurance
• While participants can face criminal liability, excuse me, restitution, the offense is not a felony,
• While participants can face criminal liability, excuse me, restitution, the offense is not a felony,

Bills: S0086 , S0642 , S0712 , S0758 , S0896 , S1224 , S1300 , S1370 , S1712

Committee: Senate Criminal Justice

Summary: The committee met with a quorum present and took up a series of bills, beginning with SB 1300 on education and workforce development for current and former inmates. Senator Claudio explained that the bill is intended to expand collaboration between the Department of Transportation and the Department of Corrections to provide training opportunities tied to Florida’s need for CDL drivers. The bill was reported favorably without debate. Members then considered SB 896 on campus safety, as amended by strike-all and late-filed amendment. The bill would require postsecondary institutions to adopt active assailant response plans, conduct security risk assessments, improve threat reporting and information sharing, and allow voluntary participation in the guardian program; the late-filed amendment removed a prohibition on guardians wearing uniforms. After questions about the firearm-discharge provision near campuses and testimony both for and against, the committee reported the bill favorably. The committee also reported favorably SB 86 on commercial motor vehicles operated by unauthorized aliens, SB 642 on foreign and alien bail bond insurers, and confirmed appointees listed on tabs 10 through 19. The committee next heard SB 712 on pyramid promotional schemes, which would create a new prohibition and increase penalties while preserving legitimate direct sales plans. Members raised concerns about whether participants in such schemes might themselves be victims, and the sponsor said prosecutorial discretion would distinguish victims from primary wrongdoers; the bill was reported favorably. SB 1224 on rental housing application fraud was also amended and reported favorably after testimony from apartment and realtor groups in support. In the latter part of the meeting, Chair Martin presented SB 1370 to expand habitual traffic offender status to repeated unlicensed driving, and SB 1712 to create a statewide FDLE counterintelligence and counterterrorism unit. SB 1370 was reported favorably unanimously. SB 1712 drew extensive questioning and public opposition over concerns about broad language, surveillance, and possible impacts on speech and protest, but the sponsor said the unit would focus on protecting the state from adversary intelligence threats and operate within constitutional limits; it was reported favorably. Finally, SB 758 on the Justice Administrative Commission was amended to adjust commission membership and reported favorably unanimously. The committee then recorded additional votes for members and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• What's going to happen to the insurance rates for pharmacies?
• You're familiar with the All-Payer Insurance Claims Database.
• When healthcare is provided via insurance, which is.
• I think everyone in the sound of my voice is familiar with the concept of product liability.
• There is no criminal liability. There is no harm brought against moms. Moms are victims.

Bills: SB 8 , SB 1 , SB 2 , SB 5 , SB 10 , HB27 , HB7 , HB17 , HB1 , SB 9 , SB 7 , SB 17 , SB 4 , HB20 , HB18 , HB7 , HB17 , HB1 , HB20 , HB18 , SB9 , SB7 , SB17 , SB4 , SB1 , SR85 , SR87 , SB8 , SB5 , SB2 , SB10 , HB27

Transcript Highlights:

• Many consumers were struggling to find insurers that would allow them to add an endorsement for the HOA
• there are some concerns that folks from the HOA community had about uncertainty with regards to liability
• From the HOA community had about uncertainty with regards to liability for damage or injury that might
• area of a shared parking lot, and privately owned chargers can then, you know, potentially create liability
• know, and they're concerned about how it might make it more difficult for them to obtain adequate insurance

Committee: House Housing and Community Development

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 648, by the Business Committee, relating to insurance.
• House Bill 738, by the State Affairs Committee, relating to limited liability companies.
• House Bill 562, as amended by the Business Committee, relating to insurance.
• We ask them to do so much, and it would be a huge burden if we had to take on the liability of all of
• Where it rests right now, I feel, is a real liability for our firefighters and our police, and in fact

Transcript Highlights:

• There's no information about what kind of insurance someone had.
• There's no information about what kind of insurance someone had that's contained in this data.
• Lowering statutory expectations shifts risk and liability from the state to local governments, often
• of Senate Bill 50, cautions that removing enforceable refresher standards in these evolving high-liability
• areas can weaken statewide consistency and increase exposure under well-established liability frameworks

Bills: SB30 , SB43 , SB50 , SB136

Committee: Senate Senate Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• The Senate eliminates excess insurance coverage on line. 55, this insurance was mostly used for state
• Supreme Court has ruled that they have personal civil liability for antitrust issues, which is why the
• So already we're in a position that addresses some of the antitrust and personal liability concerns.
• targeted continuing education for home inspectors, specifically in areas critical to Florida's ongoing insurance
• And there's some liability potentially on him.