Transcript Highlights:

• and CHIP eligibility.
• So for those, for the 1950s, eligible hours above the caps, but we're limited to that.
• An update on House Bill 121, which expanded CHIP eligibility.
• How does the Florida 12-month continuous eligibility policy...
• to... ...so that we can move forward with raising the eligibility to 300% of poverty.

Summary: The committee opened with roll call, welcomed members back for the first committee weeks, and heard brief personal updates from several senators before moving into agency implementation updates on recently enacted health care laws. The Agency for Health Care Administration reported on Senate Bill 64 creating rural emergency hospitals, explaining that AHCA adopted the required rules effective June 1, 2025, but that no hospitals have yet been designated. Members asked about possible hospital conversions, accreditation and survey responsibilities, and whether Florida would apply for federal rural health transformation funding; AHCA said it intends to apply and has already been working on the issue with federal officials. AHCA also reviewed the non-emergent care access plan requirement under Senate Bill 7016. The agency said hospitals with emergency departments must submit plans that help redirect non-emergent patients to appropriate care settings while complying with EMTALA, and that 83 plans had been received and 63 approved as of September 30. Members asked about data collection, managed care coordination, and the state’s health information exchange; AHCA said it has moved to a new HIE vendor and will continue monitoring implementation and possible care gaps. AHCA then updated the committee on the TEACH program, saying $6.8 million was spent in 2024-25 across 59 parent organizations and 229 facilities, with more than 1,800 students and nearly 380,000 clinical hours reimbursed. The agency said rulemaking is nearly complete, a new nursing student category and expanded facility eligibility were added, and a federal 1115 workforce waiver remains stalled after CMS signaled it will not approve new workforce demonstrations. AHCA also reviewed House Bill 121 on KidCare eligibility, explaining that implementation of the 300% poverty-level expansion remains blocked by federal litigation and waiver issues tied to premium nonpayment rules; members and public speakers urged action to close the coverage gap. Public testimony on AHCA’s presentation came from representatives of health centers and advocacy groups, who said the non-emergent care access plan has improved hospital-health center coordination and reduced repeat emergency use, and who urged implementation of KidCare expansion for children in the coverage gap. The Department of Health then presented updates on FRAM, the Sanadi screening grant program, the Health Care Innovation Revolving Loan Program, telehealth maternity care, swimming lesson vouchers, and House Bill 159 on pharmacist dispensing of HIV post-exposure prophylaxis. DOH reported strong participation in FRAM and the telehealth maternity program, 24 Sanadi grant awards in 42 counties, 4,945 swimming lesson vouchers issued last year and 2,371 so far this year, and three approved certification courses with five pharmacist certifications issued under HB 159. Committee members asked about recruitment of dentists and other providers, telehealth maternity outcomes, and why participation in the maternity program remains below expected levels; DOH said outreach and regional referral networks are expanding and more detailed outcome data will be included in the upcoming legislative report.

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, nobody wants someone that's not eligible to vote.
• you really are eligible and your registration was canceled for some reason, and you truly are an eligible
• You don't think that's a hindrance to the sovereignty of an eligible voter to vote, if they're eligible
• Eligible voters that are wrongly identified as ineligible.
• And maybe on like instead of just like population occupants, like eligibility, voter eligibility and

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• some kind of deferral when you become eligible for that COLA.
• Trujillo, who would not be eligible?
• Did that include all, um, eligible recipients?
• Eligible children receive a reduced amount.
• In a non-duty death with no designated survivor and no eligible spouse, it pays the eligible children

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:02:36.120> for the first is you have to be eligible for the first is you have to be eligible
• olds but in Minnesota they are eligible olds but in Minnesota they are eligible for<00:02:56.200
• general you're not going to be eligible general you're not going to be eligible for<00:04:25.000
• <00:04:31.639> at Gra on this table uh are eligible at Gra on this table uh are eligible at
• we also have a lot of income eligible we also have a lot of income eligible tools<00:54:12.119><

Bills: HF2254, HF2302, HF2502, HF2315, HF2475, HF2086

Keywords: HF2254, Minnesota child credit, baby bonus, child tax credit, income tax, individual income tax, tax relief, newborn, birth credit, family tax credit, tax refund, advance payment, Department of Revenue, taxable year, parenting, families with children, child credit, state regulations, families, taxation

Transcript Highlights:

• There’s a lot going on when it comes to eligibility.
• The systems are complex, eligibility.
• To talking about eligibility.
• Um, and then the federal eligibility.
• Uh, and we pay, uh, based on all eligible ...

Keywords: Call to Order and Roll Call – 00:00:00 Introduction of Board Members – 00:02:04 Overview of the Purpose and Goals of the Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board – 00:12:46 Medicaid Legislative Update - 00:20:26 Discussion of Next Steps and Future Meeting Dates – 01:04:06 Adjournment – 01:06:37, 958, all

Summary: The first meeting of the Medicaid Oversight Advisory Board opened with Chair Ken Fleming and Co-Chair Rocky Adams welcoming members, explaining the board’s purpose, and introducing the diverse membership of legislators, providers, advocates, and state officials. Fleming said the board would meet monthly, allow public comment at the end of meetings, and operate transparently with materials posted online and distributed in advance. Both chairs emphasized that the board’s work would focus on improving Medicaid outcomes, efficiency, and oversight, while preparing for possible federal changes and avoiding premature assumptions about what Congress may do. Members then gave brief introductions describing their backgrounds in medicine, nursing, hospital administration, behavioral health, insurance, budgeting, pharmacy, and Medicaid administration. Several noted direct experience with Medicaid populations or managed care, including the Department for Medicaid Services commissioner, health plan representatives, hospital and clinic leaders, and legislators with health care backgrounds. The board also heard from Stephanie Bates of the LRC Office of Health Data Analytics, who said her office supports the General Assembly with health-related data, policy, and research and would serve as a resource to the board. Bates then began a presentation on Medicaid basics, explaining that House Bill 695 created the board and that the presentation would cover eligibility, enrollment, covered benefits, waivers, managed care, the budget, and the federal reconciliation bill. She described Medicaid eligibility as complex, noted that Kentucky had more than 1.4 million enrollees, and explained enrollment churn and the unwinding of pandemic-era continuous coverage. She also outlined mandatory and optional Medicaid benefits, the requirement that services be medically necessary and provided by enrolled providers, and the main waiver types used in Kentucky, including 1115, 1915(b), and 1915(c) waivers. No votes or formal actions were taken at this meeting beyond organizational setup and receiving the initial informational presentation.

Transcript Highlights:

• for continued eligibility while in high school shall not be eligible for additional dual credit courses
• for continued eligibility while in high school shall not be eligible for additional dual credit courses
• It's an eligible high school eligible.
• 19.919> eligible<00:08:20.400> high apprenticeship means an eligible high apprenticeship
• Eligible registered teacher apprentichip Eligible registered teacher apprentichip program<00:08:

Keywords: Call to Order and Roll Call - 00:55 26RS SB 22 – 04:52 26RS SB 46 – 0:34:36, 958, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Education met with a quorum and opened the session by recognizing staff and an intern before taking up SB 22, relating to the dual credit scholarship program. Senator Jimmy Higdon presented the bill with Laura Arnold of Nelson County Schools, explaining that it is a narrower version of a prior proposal that had been too broad and had drawn an unfavorable fiscal note. The bill would create a Grow Your Own teacher apprenticeship scholarship for students in registered teacher apprenticeship programs, beginning in the 2027-2028 school year, allowing up to 20 dual credit courses total and no more than eight per year. It requires a district-approved commitment form, annual completion of at least one teaching-and-learning pathway course, and maintenance of a 2.75 GPA on scholarship-funded coursework. Students who withdraw or fail to meet academic requirements would lose eligibility and could be required to repay scholarship funds, though waivers for cause are included. The sponsor said the estimated costs were relatively modest at first and could grow over time, and described the program as a way to address the teacher shortage and help students earn an associate degree in high school and then complete teacher certification with less debt. Testimony from Nelson County Schools described the Lead Nelson model as a partnership among the district, Elizabethtown Community and Technical College, and Western Kentucky University, with students beginning education coursework in high school, earning dual credit, and receiving clinical hours in classrooms earlier than in traditional preparation programs. Witnesses said the model includes key assessments, university oversight, and collaboration on curriculum and outcomes, and that it has already produced at least one teacher who returned to Nelson County. Members asked about the GPA cutoff, possible reinstatement after academic recovery, federal funding opportunities, the amount and structure of apprentice pay, and the role of postsecondary partners. Mary Taylor of the Kentucky Department of Education said there appears to be federal support for similar apprenticeship efforts and noted a possible U.S. grant opportunity, while the presenters said high school apprentices are paid hourly and adult apprentices average about $24,000 annually. No vote or final committee action was taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'll agree that they should be eligible. Correct. Okay. Gotcha. Mr.
• addresses, which basically states that certain locations would be eligible for funding.
• Under, or by, and then you look back at eligible addresses to see if they're served or not by broadband
• It would still be eligible for funding. And so that, you know, obviously is a great concern.
• Change the way eligibility is considered under state law. Chair Holland, any questions?

Bills: HB2838, HB2964, HB3213, SB924

Keywords: broadband, internet access, digital equity, tax reduction, government funding, rural counties, fiber-optic, state funding, infrastructure, digital divide, economic development, fiber-optic cable, excavation, utilities, civil penalties, municipal regulations, video services, regulation, public right-of-way, franchise authority

Transcript Highlights:

• So this is an expanding who is eligible; it is just clarifying in law who is eligible.
• <01:04:25.400> ins the definition of eligible ins the definition of eligible ins institutions
• <01:27:10.679> training vocational Trade union eligible training vocational Trade union eligible
• <01:27:12.880> list provider eligible training provider list provider eligible training provider
• <01:32:20.800> of funding and then still eligible of funding and then still eligible of course

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Currently, just 82% of eligible workers claim the EITC in Massachusetts.
• campaign partnering with employers, chambers of commerce, benefit programs, and others to ensure eligible
• campaign partnering with employers, chambers of commerce, benefit programs, and others to ensure eligible
• They would remove the EITC cap on families with more than three children, expand EITC eligibility to
• And we want all eligible spouses to be able to be paid as caregivers. This is critical.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Revenue held a public hearing focused largely on tax-credit proposals tied to children, families, caregivers, child care, health care workforce development, and public health. A major portion of the hearing concerned bills to expand the state earned income tax credit and child and family tax credit, including H. 3073/S. 1957 and S. 1975. Testimony from advocacy groups, legal services, tax assistance organizations, and health providers supported increasing the EITC match from 40% to 50% of the federal credit, expanding eligibility to immigrant and mixed-status ITIN filers, larger families, younger and older workers, and SSI recipients, and raising the child and family tax credit to $600 per child with inflation adjustments and possible advance payments. Witnesses said these changes would reduce poverty, improve health and educational outcomes, and help families meet basic expenses; committee members asked questions about ITIN filers and expressed support for the policy goals. The committee also heard extensive testimony on S. 1938/H. 3159, An Act Supporting Family Caregivers. Speakers described the scale of unpaid caregiving in Massachusetts and supported a package that would create a refundable tax credit, respite vouchers, workplace and housing protections, unemployment insurance access for those who leave work to care for relatives, a permanent advisory council, and a provision allowing spouses to be paid caregivers under MassHealth. Several witnesses shared personal caregiving experiences, and committee members responded favorably, noting the emotional and financial strain on caregivers and the importance of supporting them as Medicaid and long-term care systems face pressure. Additional bills discussed included H. 3174 on a child and dependent care tax credit, which was presented as a way to offset the high cost of child care; H. 3197/S. 2019 to improve the financial security of family child care providers through a tax credit; H. 3218/S. 1960 to create tax credits for health care preceptors to address workforce shortages; S. 2064 to establish a living organ donor tax credit; S. 2034 to promote healthy alternatives to sugary drinks through a tiered tax; H. 3015 to create a tax-return checkoff for the YMCA Youth and Government Program; and several public testimony ideas including vaccination, literacy, and grade-improvement tax credits. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the hearing, which ended after all testimony was heard.

Transcript Highlights:

• due to SNAP changes in eligibility. due to SNAP changes in eligibility.
• that we have the right people eligible that we have the right people eligible for<00:41:54.360><
• eligible retailers. eligible retailers.
• 14.360> across<01:26:14.720> all the eligibility determination across all the eligibility
• and make it so that the the eligibility and make it so that the the eligibility process<01:26:54.480

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That is eligible.
• To be eligible for the initial disbursement of fiscal year 2026-27 funds, HAP-eligible large cities and
• To be eligible for...
• To be eligible for the initial disbursement of these fiscal year 2026-27 funds, HAP-eligible large cities
• The city of Oakland is eligible for $28 million under that allocation.

Summary: The committee opened with the State Controller’s Office May Revision requests, including funding for Fiscal book-of-record stabilization, a Broadcom IDMS licensing adjustment, the California State Payroll System, ACFR reporting automation, and $3 million for unclaimed property outreach. Testimony emphasized progress on Fiscal becoming the state’s accounting book of record in July, faster ACFR publication, and the move to electronic unclaimed property claims. Members asked about the size of the unclaimed property fund and how quickly money is transferred to the General Fund; the Controller’s office said about $15 billion is held, with most excess transferred regularly, and the LAO noted the fund is the General Fund’s fourth-largest revenue source. No concerns were raised by Finance or the LAO, and the item was closed after no public comment. The committee then heard the administration’s proposal to tax prewritten digital software and software-as-a-service, with Finance saying it would modernize sales tax treatment and raise an estimated $450 million General Fund and $560 million local revenue in 2026-27. The LAO supported modernizing the tax but suggested broader digital goods coverage and a business-use exemption; industry and taxpayer groups opposed the proposal, warning of higher costs for consumers and businesses. Members also heard CDTFA’s administrative request tied to the proposal, plus a separate CDTFA budget reduction reflecting lower operational needs; that reduction was presented as a savings item and drew positive reactions. Next, the committee considered federal conformity for “Trump accounts,” which would align California tax treatment with federal rules for tax-deferred children’s accounts and avoid tracking burdens for families. The LAO recommended approval, and the item drew no opposition. The committee also heard a proposal to cut the first-year $800 annual business tax to $400 for LLCs, LPs, and LLPs; Finance argued it would lower startup costs and encourage new business formation, while the LAO said the benefit was not well targeted and could subsidize entities that would form anyway. Members discussed the policy tradeoff, and public commenters split between support for small business relief and concern about revenue loss. The final major revenue item was a permanent business tax credit limitation, capping credits at the greater of $5 million per corporation or 50% of pre-credit liability, while excluding the low-income housing tax credit and personal income tax credits. Finance said it would raise significant revenue from large profitable corporations, and the LAO said it was a reasonable option but noted it would mainly affect the R&D credit and could have future implications for programs like California Competes. Public testimony was sharply divided, with business groups opposing the cap and anti-poverty advocates supporting it as a way to recapture revenue. The committee also heard FTB’s CalFile realignment request, which would return most of the direct-file-related resources to the General Fund while retaining a smaller staff to improve CalFile, and the California Arts Council’s request to reauthorize the Keep Arts in Schools voluntary contribution fund, which members and advocates supported despite relatively modest annual donations. The hearing continued with GoBiz proposals on civic media funding, CA RISE reappropriation, and a semiconductor facility reversion, with the LAO supporting the latter two and members raising questions about the civic media program’s scope, outreach, and inclusion of broadcast and ethnic media.

Transcript Highlights:

• In short, approximately 30 new dairy farms will have come on this bill modifies the eligibility this
• bill modifies the eligibility criteria<00:08:32.560> for<00:08:32.719> the<00:08:32.800
• This bill corrects that issue by ex<00:10:20.800> expanding<00:10:21.360> eligibility<00
• :10:22.000> to<00:10:22.240> new<00:10:22.480> dairy ex expanding eligibility to
• Multiple farms of those are not eligible for this. Thank you, commissioner. Another follow-up.

Bills: HF3298, SF3832, HF3528, HF3516, HF3972, HF4118

Keywords: underground storage tanks, petroleum, reimbursement program, environmental regulation, pollution control, dairy assistance, investment relief, agriculture support, food production, economic relief, barbering, licensing, examinations, barber schools, public safety, certifications, Barber Examiners Board, dentistry, licensure, registration

Transcript Highlights:

• And in order to do that, one thing that you can do is looking at tiered eligibility.
• income eligibility.
• They're doing the enrollment and eligibility.
• , making the eligible population for this service bigger.
• I mean, not the majority, 44 percent were already eligible. Percent were already eligible.

Bills: SB2

Transcript Highlights:

• So, people stayed on regardless of their eligibility.
• They were no longer eligible and came off the rolls. Eligibility to get Medicaid.
• So it just depends on which eligibility group they're enrolled in.
• Then retroactive eligibility...
• Actually checking whether a student is eligible for Medicaid.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think by most reasonable interpretations would be and could be eligible for under the various grants
• Uh, it meets all of the eligibility requirements, both in terms of population size with the amount of
• funds that were appropriated for that purpose, uh, to make sure that they can be utilized by an eligible
• address which basically says, you know, certain locations would be eligible for funding regardless of
• Their concern without putting this eligible address definition in state law because that could be quite

Transcript Highlights:

• that lower costs for eligible consumers. that lower costs for eligible consumers.
• <00:30:35.840> for to check if they may be eligible for to check if they may be eligible for
• quick estimate, uh that he's eligible quick estimate, uh that he's eligible for<00:32:04.000>
• some income, but they're not eligible some income, but they're not eligible for<00:42:26.880>
• eligibility whenever possible. eligibility whenever possible.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:33:04.399> uh Dees would take the list of eligible uh Dees would take the list of eligible
• Um, would this contractor be working on both the financial eligibility and the medical eligibility?
• to do there with our eligibility team. to do there with our eligibility team.
• 08:26.719> long-term<02:08:27.119> eligibility,<02:08:27.920> part eligibility,
• long-term eligibility, part eligibility, long-term eligibility, part of<02:08:28.320> the<02:08

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• you are eligible.
• Then we have to check it to see that they're eligible, that they met the eligibility of doing either
• eligible that they met the eligibility eligible that they met the eligibility of<00:36:40.240>
• Um they would be able remain eligible.
• > by<00:39:21.359> demonstrating to regain eligibility by demonstrating to regain eligibility

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• States receive federal matching dollars for providing those qualified services to eligible enrollees.
• States receive federal matching dollars for providing those qualified services to eligible enrollees.
• States receive federal matching dollars for providing those qualified services to eligible enrollees.
• To be eligible for MinnesotaCare, an individual has to be a Minnesota resident.
• For federally eligible enrollees, the program is jointly financed, so the federal money and the state

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The meeting was an informational walkthrough for the Health Finance and Policy Working Group, focused on committee structure, budget basics, and major health-related accounts and programs. Staff explained the roles of House Research and House Fiscal, then reviewed key funds used by the committee, including the general fund, government special revenue fund, federal funds, the health care access fund, remediation account, and drinking water revolving fund. They also outlined the committee’s main budget areas, noting that medical assistance is the largest general fund item and that the Department of Health is a substantial agency funded by a mix of federal, general fund, and special revenue dollars. A major portion of the presentation covered subsidized health coverage programs. Staff described Medical Assistance (Minnesota’s Medicaid program) as an entitlement for eligible Minnesotans, with no premiums or cost sharing, and explained its managed care and fee-for-service delivery systems. MinnesotaCare was presented as a separate federal-state basic health program for people who are not eligible for MA, with income limits, premiums for adults age 21 and older, and cost-sharing requirements; staff noted that federal premium tax credit changes affect MinnesotaCare premium ranges. The presentation also summarized MNsure’s role in the individual market and in determining eligibility for premium tax credits, cost-sharing reductions, MinnesotaCare, and MA. The committee also received an overview of health-related licensing boards and occupational regulation. Staff said Minnesota has 16 health-related licensing boards, funded mainly through the state government special revenue fund and subject to legislative appropriation, and explained that health occupations may be regulated by the Department of Health, the Office of Emergency Medical Services, or the boards under chapter 214. Interstate licensure compacts were briefly noted as a way to ease practice across states. No bills were debated and no votes or formal actions were taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• And they describe the eligible costs, the ineligible costs, and where the eligible costs kick in at that
• It’s moving in terms of what services are eligible, which are not eligible, how much, for example, in
• which are not services are eligible which are not eligible<00:20:19.200> how<00:20:19.440>
• not eligible for billing.
• monitor to determine their eligibility. monitor to determine their eligibility.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The subcommittee opened its second meeting on House Bill 742, which would require catastrophic special education aid to be drawn from the education trust fund, and discussed whether to also examine differentiated aid within the adequacy formula. The chair said the committee had previously heard from HHS/Medicaid officials and now wanted to hear from local special education directors about how the aid system works in practice, including billing, training, data collection, and whether districts handle claims consistently. Members also referenced Arkansas as a possible comparison state and said they hoped to develop ideas by November to address the current funding process. Committee members focused on the current special education aid thresholds and the impact of proration. The chair described the existing formula as requiring districts to absorb costs up to 3.5 times the state average per student, with the state paying 80% from 3.5 times through 10 times and paying above that, and said FY25 appropriated about $34 million while actual claims were about $50.1 million, leaving roughly a $16 million shortfall that caused proration. Members also raised the possibility of lowering the threshold to 2.5 times and asked how that would affect the number of eligible students and costs. Another member asked about how districts decide whether services are education-related or medical-related and how Medicaid or private insurance reimbursement affects later state aid claims. District representatives from Boothby Therapy Services, Bedford, and Guilford introduced themselves and described their roles. Guilford’s director said the district tracks students with paraprofessional support, nurses, transportation, or specialized programming, uses a data system to log every service touchpoint, and tries to maximize both Medicaid and special education aid; she said a lower threshold would likely capture all students with paras or nurses and that rising staffing and service costs would increase the number of students over the cap. Bedford’s assistant director said the district uses a different system, tracks roughly 60 to 80 students a year, and pursues Medicaid and special education aid simultaneously but does not pursue private insurance if it would affect FAPE; she said reducing the threshold to 2.5 times would likely double the number of qualifying students. Members asked follow-up questions about software, data entry, and how districts decide whether to bill Medicaid or seek state catastrophic aid, and the directors explained that their systems log services by staff type and student, with some districts using the same data for both Medicaid and state reimbursement claims.