Transcript Highlights:

• Also, you have districts in the state that have zero INS tax rates.
• But, you know, we have an A and two B rated, you know, public schools.
• I don't have it all in front of me, they're gonna lower ratings.
• And the last part of your question, which was the A through F rating system.
• are attendance-based, but all the attendance-based money should goes up as soon as that student shows

Keywords: committee meeting, legislation, public testimony, discussion, procedural

Summary: The meeting covered various topics, but specific discussions and bills were not detailed in the available transcript. Despite the lack of documented debates or acknowledgments, it was noted that committee members were present, and there may have been attempts to address crucial legislative matters. The dynamics of the meeting suggested a standard procedural gathering where routine insights were likely shared among the attendees.

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:

• And can you share the base is jumping from 50 to 250,000? The admin base. The admin base.
• The admin base. Correct.
• In our implementation of rate reform, it was identified that those facility-based early intervention
• Facility-based early intervention providers need their own dedicated rate model.
• And we would expect that the rate would be in line with FHA, similar to that rate structure.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There's $2.5 billion a year we lose from our flat tax rate of 2.5%.
• We know we're going to have to get down to some serious negotiations. tax rate of 2.5%.
• The Arizona tax rate is already so low that the benefit to individual people is very small.
• The Arizona tax rate is already so low that the benefit to individual people is very small.
• It should not be based on the kind of income you have.

Keywords: 1182, all

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.

Transcript Highlights:

• > cycle their six rate uh six-month rate cycle their six rate uh six-month rate cycle started<01:
• That's a five-year rate-setting cycle for the default service energy rates. Okay, follow-up.
• That's a five-year rate-setting cycle for the default service energy rates. Okay, follow-up.
• base.
• by the Governance Council no differently than other investments for inclusion in the utility rate base

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's not based on somebody's net worth. It's not based on their income.
• One of the issues has been a lot of denials and a higher rate, possibly a higher rate of denial than
• It helps with rate need.
• So when I said before what our rate need is, our rate need is what we need to charge to be actuarially
• proposing sweeping rate decreases.

Summary: The Insurance and Banking Subcommittee received a lengthy presentation from Citizens Property Insurance Corporation CEO Tim Serio, with Insurance Commissioner Michael Yaworski also answering questions. Serio reviewed Citizens’ role as Florida’s insurer of last resort, its statutory funding structure, eligibility rules, depopulation program, reinsurance obligations, and the surcharge/emergency assessment mechanisms that can be used if Citizens runs a deficit. He emphasized that recent legislative reforms, combined with lower litigation and improved market conditions, have helped the private market recover and reduced Citizens’ policy count from a peak of about 1.41 million in 2023 to 936,182 at the end of 2024, with a projected drop to about 771,000 by the end of 2025. He also said the reforms reduced Citizens’ rate need and helped avoid an emergency assessment after the 2024 storms. Members asked about Citizens’ rate increases, why Citizens still seeks higher rates despite lower litigation, how the 20% eligibility threshold works, whether Citizens should be wind-only, and whether the state or federal government could help with deficits. Serio explained that Citizens is still charging below actuarially sound rates in most areas, that rate filings reflect reduced litigation and lower reinsurance exposure, and that assessments on all Florida property policyholders are the reason Citizens tries to build surplus and depopulate. He said the depopulation program is working better than in the past, with less than 2% of takeout policies returning to Citizens, and that the Office of Insurance Regulation has been vetting takeout companies more carefully. A substantial portion of the discussion focused on claims handling after Debby, Helene, and Milton, including flood-versus-wind disputes and Citizens’ use of the Division of Administrative Hearings for some claim disputes. Serio said Citizens had received 76,625 claims from the three storms and had paid nearly $823 million in indemnity and expenses as of January 7, 2025. He said many closed-without-payment claims were either below deductible, withdrawn, duplicate, or flood-only, and that Citizens had asked its internal audit function to independently review the claims data and denials. He also described Citizens’ storm outreach, catastrophe response centers, managed-repair program, and claim review process, and said the corporation remains focused on paying valid claims while minimizing the risk of assessments on the broader Florida market.

Transcript Highlights:

• So the current investments are largely awarded based on an institution's overall performance based on
• We have seen records in our four-year graduation rate, our access progress rate and bachelor salaries
• So we want away from enrollment based funding and rolled out performance-based funding.
• And then we show you the results of that appropriation based on the performance-based funding model result
• I think it comes back to market rate.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• tax base. tax base.
• . rating. rating.
• Madam Speaker, those credit ratings are based on our financial institutions, our credit rating institutions
• those credit ratings are based on our those credit ratings are based on our financial<01:51:39.880
• poverty rate. poverty rate.

Keywords: 926, house, all

Summary: The House opened with a devotional by Representative Tiffany Lumley focused on lessons from horses and horsemanship, using the imagery to encourage legislators to lead, listen, stay patient, and remain attentive to constituents outside the chamber. The chamber then welcomed newly appointed Representative Kevin Scully of Burlington, who was sworn in and assigned to the Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs. Members took up several procedural items and resolutions. Senate Bill 239, relating to a child abuse and neglect reporting working group and carrying an appropriation, was referred to Appropriations, and Senate Bill 157, relating to recovery residence certification and affecting state revenue, was referred to Ways and Means after a favorable report with amendment from Human Services. The House also read and adopted concurrent resolutions honoring the federal TRIO programs in Vermont, recognizing tourism economy day and the importance of the visitor economy, and honoring former Representative John Killacky of South Burlington for his artistic and legislative contributions. Multiple members offered personal remarks about John Killacky/Colacci, his arts career, activism, and service in the House, and guests connected to the resolutions were welcomed from the gallery. The House then concurred in the Senate proposal of amendment to House Bill 237, which would allow certain doctoral-level psychologists to prescribe medications. The committee explained the Senate’s changes, including revised training and rotation requirements, a later effective date, and a future OPR report, and said the bill was intended as one tool to address mental health provider shortages; the House agreed by voice vote. The chamber next began second reading of House Bill 955, a major education reform bill titled “next steps in transforming Vermont’s education system,” with the Education Committee describing mandatory cooperative education service areas, merger study committees, and related changes intended to improve efficiency, support local voice, and strengthen public education. No final action on H.955 was taken in the portion provided.

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:

• 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:

• 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:

• 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:

• <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:

• 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:

• 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 up, and now we're giving the
• This bill aligns the maximum millage rate with the rollback rate.
• 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 on property tax reform. The measure would increase the homestead exemption in stages, lower the assessment cap on non-homestead property from 10% to 5%, and limit county and municipal ad valorem tax revenues to specified uses such as public safety, education, infrastructure, natural resources, debt service, employee benefits, and certain administrative costs. Supporters, led by Senator Avila, argued the proposal would provide meaningful property tax relief and push local governments to rein in spending, while opponents warned it would shift costs to fees, reduce local flexibility, and threaten funding for core services. Several amendments were offered and rejected. Senator Sharief proposed an income-based circuit breaker for property tax relief; Senator Smith offered a sunset clause; and Senator Berman proposed revising the ballot statement to better match the amended proposal and remove outdated references. Each amendment failed on recorded votes. During questioning and debate, senators pressed Avila on the ballot language, the effect on local services, whether the legislature could later restrict local spending by statute, and whether renters would benefit. Avila said the ballot language was not his and repeatedly stated he was presenting the governor’s proposal, while also saying local governments would need to prioritize budgets and that future legislatures could address implementation details. After the amendment votes, the joint resolution was read a third time and moved into final debate. Supporters said the proposal would give homeowners relief and force fiscal discipline at the local level. Opponents, including Senators Nathan, Bracey Davis, Smith, Polsky, and Errington, argued the measure was rushed, lacked a completed fiscal analysis or replacement revenue, and could harm police, fire, libraries, parks, housing, and other local services. They also criticized the ballot summary as misleading, especially regarding the staged homestead exemption increase. The transcript ends during debate, before any final vote on the joint resolution itself.

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:

• In the last couple of years, even though we had this big rate increase since the pandemic, rate increases
• We would say this year we looked at the rates, and you can look at the rate filings.
• So they had a 2.6 experience rate, and I can't recall the surcharge rate, but we charge them for the
• In response to your question, broadly speaking, the rates we've seen—the theft rates have gone down nationwide
• And when you started talking about experience ratings, ratings, all the lights flashed all over in my

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