Transcript Highlights:

• </c> planning and research at the federal planning and research at the federal Home<00:09:24.000><c>
• community banks, most credit unions, and insurance companies in New Hampshire are members of the Federal
• </c> new index that the New York Federal new index that the New York Federal Reserve<00:24:02.960><c>
• A big component is auto insurance.
• A big component is auto insurance.

Summary: The meeting was a Ways and Means briefing opened by the vice chair, who introduced Jason Wong of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston to discuss the national and regional economy. Wong focused on inflation, asking why it had fallen from about 9% in 2022 to the 2%–3% range, and what that meant for monetary policy and the risk of an economic downturn. He said the Fed’s target is 2%, noted that recent PCE inflation was about 2.4% and core PCE about 2.7%, and described the ongoing debate over whether interest rates should stay tight or be lowered further to protect the labor market. Wong explained that the improvement in inflation has been driven largely by goods prices, especially durable goods such as cars, appliances, and furniture, as well as non-durable goods like food. He said supply-chain disruptions during the pandemic caused major price spikes in 2022, but those pressures have eased and many goods prices are now at or below the Fed’s target. He also referenced the New York Fed’s Global Supply Chain Pressure Index, saying it showed extreme pandemic-era disruptions that have since receded. The main remaining inflation problem, he said, is in services, especially housing. Wong broke services into rent of shelter and all other services, explaining that shelter is a large share of household budgets and that housing inflation has a lag because rent measures often reflect older lease terms rather than current market rents. He said monthly Zillow data suggest market rents have cooled and may eventually feed through to official inflation measures. Members asked several questions about the chart’s time scale, the treatment of real estate, property taxes, and utilities, and Wong clarified that housing costs are counted in services and that the slides would be shared digitally. No votes or formal actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• You can have five bucks, and which is, 'Let me get your insurance.'
• And which is, 'Let me get your insurance.'
• You cannot supersede federal law.
• Federal law already protects medical care for everyone.
• to tie the length of the insured duration to federal law.

Bills: SB1051 , SB1114 , SB1115 , SB1122 , SB1132 , SB1162 , SB1169 , SB1171 , SB1172 , SB1173 , SB1174 , SB1175 , SB1179 , SB1188 , SB1233 , SB1236 , SB1242 , SB1316 , SB1368

Committees: Senate Health and Human Services , Senate Senate Health and Human Services COR

Keywords: SB1051, Arizona hospitals, immigration status, patient intake, admission forms, registration forms, health care reporting, uncompensated care, emergency department, lawfully present, undocumented immigrants, noncitizen patients, hospital funding, Arizona Department of Health Services, ADHS, border security, health care institutions, patient privacy, medical access, immigration policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Page 43 is the core for our federal grants.
• federal funds have been exhausted.
• federal funds.
• In the federal line, this is just some excess federal authority.
• But in the reduction from the federal government on the NSIP, I think the federal government determined

Committee: House Budget

Transcript Highlights:

• prevention and security services.
• </c><00:31:13.240><c> prevention</c> to pay for security prevention to pay for security prevention and
• </c> and security services. and security services.
• </c> our elections are secure. our elections are secure.
• and the Medicaid the private insurance and the Medicaid insurance<03:34:32.520><c> sides.

Transcript Highlights:

• insurers is that the home care agency providing services is licensed. ...of the insurers is that the
• Our insurance...
• She got she set up an LLC, she got insurance, she got workers' compensation insurance, and she paid the
• They have insurance. They are protecting your money.
• before you can offer that you're in health insurance and you should purchase that health insurance.

Summary: The Joint Committee on Aging and Independence held a hearing on several bills, led by Chair Tom Stanley and Senate Chair Patricia Jehlen. The committee first heard testimony on H. 765/S. 487, an act relative to councils on aging, which would update outdated statutory language and allow directors of councils on aging to make staffing decisions when a council is structured as an advisory body. Representative Donahue and Betsy Connell of the Massachusetts Association of Councils on Aging said the change reflects how most councils now operate and would resolve conflicts like the one that arose in Sherborn. Members asked about whether the bill would affect town managers, volunteer roles, and whether the language should more clearly exempt informal volunteer help; supporters said the bill is aimed at municipal staffing structures, not unpaid volunteer assistance. The committee then took extensive testimony on H. 789/S. 470, an act to improve Massachusetts home care, which would create a statewide licensure system for non-medical home care agencies and entities. Julie Watt, Jay Krillovich, Betsy Krimmins, Lisa Gargoni, Tim Foley, and several providers and advocates supported the bill, arguing that licensure would establish baseline standards for background checks, training, service plans, insurance, complaint procedures, and labor-law compliance, while helping consumers identify legitimate providers and reducing fraud and abuse. Several witnesses described problems with unlicensed or poorly supervised providers, and family members and dementia advocates emphasized the need for dementia-specific training and better oversight for vulnerable clients. Tim Foley also raised concerns about private equity’s growing role in home care and said stronger regulation is needed to protect consumers and workers. Committee members focused on practical questions about the bill’s scope, including whether it would reach informal paid helpers, volunteers, or people doing occasional household tasks, and what agency would enforce the rules. Supporters said the bill is intended to cover entities advertising home care services, not unpaid volunteer help, though they acknowledged regulators would need to work out details. John Sneeth of Tribute Home Care offered a more cautious view, saying licensure should not unduly burden smaller providers or reduce competition, and that enforcement would be key. The hearing also included testimony from the Alzheimer’s Association and family caregivers, who strongly supported the bill’s dementia-training provisions and described how trained caregivers improved safety and quality of life for people living with Alzheimer’s and dementia. At the end of the hearing, the committee also heard support for H. 778/S. 473, regarding the Commission on LGBTQ Aging, with Lisa Krinsky urging funding for a full-time director and continued support for the commission’s strategic plan. After public testimony concluded, the committee adjourned the hearing by motion and voice vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:05:10.560><c> data</c> sustainable funding for federal data sustainable funding for federal data
• </c><00:09:40.160><c> revenue</c> related to enhanced uh federal revenue related to enhanced uh federal
• federal compliance.
• </c> security grant language. security grant language.
• </c> Uh line 701 is funding from the federal Uh line 701 is funding from the federal childcare<00:17:

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, we can all agree that health insurance is extremely expensive and health insurance premium
• Meanwhile, the insurance company gets to double dip.
• never will be covered by insurance.
• My name is Miguel Bastides with the California Department of Insurance, here on behalf of Insurance Commissioner
• They rely on insurance brokers, agents, and related professionals to recommend insurance carriers, negotiate

Committee: House Health

Transcript Highlights:

• military service to apply only when the service member has federal military service of 90 consecutive
• To ensure that we have criminal justice information security compliance.
• During those 17 years, federal partners took some action. In 2001, the U.S.
• Howard Adams, WAVE, speaking in support, Preferred Governmental Insurance Trust.
• Insured and not a part of a larger risk pool.

Summary: The committee first took up SB 694, which would compensate the descendants of the Groveland Four—Charles Greenlee, Walter Irvin, Samuel Shepard, and Ernest Thomas—for the wrongful convictions, incarceration, and death tied to the 1949 case. Senator Bracey Davis described the bill as a final step after prior state apologies, pardons, and exonerations. The committee adopted a $4 million amendment that divided compensation equally among the four families and updated the recipient for Ernest Thomas’s share. Multiple family members and advocates testified in support, emphasizing the decades of trauma and the need for full justice. Senators in debate largely supported the bill, and it was reported favorably. The committee then approved SB 330, which clarifies disability provisions for firefighters, law enforcement officers, and correctional officers by refining the definition of heart disease and allowing certain officers who transfer agencies to rely on a prior physical under specified conditions. SB 474 also passed, expanding military leave protections to include public officials and employees who serve in the Coast Guard or Florida State Guard, adjusting pay eligibility for federal service, and updating related retirement and assistance provisions. SB 96, the Veterans Dental Care Grant Program bill, was amended to expand eligibility to veterans with incomes up to 400% of the federal poverty level and to move funding into the General Appropriations Act; members debated whether the broader eligibility could increase demand, but the bill was reported favorably. The committee also advanced SB 7018 on child welfare, making the Step Into Success pilot program permanent statewide, adjusting visitor/background-check rules for out-of-home placements, and creating a best-practices program through the Florida Institute for Child Welfare. CS/SB 480 on state IT governance was reported favorably after amendments that strengthened vendor performance metrics and restored state data center security provisions; it creates a new central IT governance structure under the Governor’s office and aims to improve oversight of procurement, spending, and technical debt. SB 1066, addressing partial restoration of the Ocklawaha River and Kirkpatrick Dam, passed after a late-file amendment and extensive testimony from environmental, recreation, and local economic interests. SB 1216, which gives school districts more flexibility in educator compensation, and SB 1120, which increases oversight and reporting for water management district spending, were also reported favorably. Finally, the committee considered SB 1366 on claims against the government, which raises sovereign immunity caps, ties future adjustments to CPI, shortens claim deadlines, and changes attorney-fee provisions. The bill drew support from local government and public-hospital groups as a compromise, but also significant concern from some senators about the impact on self-insured agencies and whether the fee changes would discourage attorneys from taking cases. The discussion remained ongoing, and the bill was still moving forward as the meeting continued.

Transcript Highlights:

• Lines 24 through 30 appropriate grants to the Office of the Secretary at the Department of Homeland Security
• Section 3G refers to the funding for the leveling up insurance premium tax revenues.
• This is the insurance rebate equalization figure, starting on lines 10, and this is an increase from
• This is the insurance rebate equalization figure, starting on lines 10, and this is an increase from
• are only made when the required non-federal funding is available, and that Delaware has no obligation

Committee: Joint Finance

Summary: The Joint Finance Committee met to review and vote on the fiscal year 2027 Grants and Aid Act, which was expected to be pre-filed as Senate Bill 337. Members first reviewed Section 1, covering county seat payments, paramedic operations, senior center allocations, senior center transportation, and Homeland Security grants. They approved Section 1 after discussion of how senior center transportation is being moved from DART to grant-in-aid and how some organizations can appear in both the senior center formula and the general aging category. The committee then worked through Section 2, which included one-time appropriations and the various grant categories for aging, arts/historical/recreation, economic housing or labor services, family and youth services, health or disability services, and neighborhood and community services. Members discussed several specific items, including New Castle County reassessment-related funding, Friends of Cooch’s Bridge, Slaughter Neck Community Action Organization, Plastic-Free Delaware, Love, Inc. of the Delmarva, and the Southern Delaware Horse Retirement Association. One aging line for Slaughter Neck was reduced back to flat funding after members questioned a large increase, and the revised category total was adjusted accordingly. Each of the Section 2 subcategories was then adopted. Section 3, covering fire companies and public service ambulance companies, was approved with increases across apparatus, ambulance, rescue truck, aerial truck, rescue boat, substation, and insurance rebate equalization funding. Section 4, for veterans organizations and youth programs such as Boys State, Girls State, and Trooper Youth Week, was also adopted. The committee then approved the epilogue sections, which included eligibility, audit, payment, and reporting rules; special provisions for the Wilmington Senior Center contingency; conditions tied to several one-time appropriations; withholding funding from Merri-Dell Volunteer Fire Company pending a corrective report; and reprogramming $1,485,000 from a prior SMART food program appropriation toward SNAP/WIC-related food access initiatives. The meeting ended with remarks thanking staff and noting that it was likely the last JFC meeting for two members, followed by adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• time to make its final report on current Senate documents relative to public safety and homeland security
• time to make its final report on current Senate documents relative to public safety and homeland security
• time to make its final report on Senate Document No. 2912 relative to public safety and homeland security
• Keenan, Renters Insurance. Senator Keenan. Thank you.
• This amendment would require that the insurance be put in place.

Transcript Highlights:

• form versus people voting in a federal election.
• Federal form versus people voting in a federal election. In Arizona, that was brought up.
• form to register voters for federal elections.
• Those voters will be allowed to cast ballots only in federal elections.
• Sarge, please secure the chamber. The chamber.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> expended, let's say we get the federal expended, let's say we get the federal funds<00:10:50.399
• </c><00:10:57.920><c> funds</c> dollar fordoll and any federal funds dollar fordoll and any federal funds
• </c> health insurance uh payments. health insurance uh payments.
• </c> letter number one for court security letter number one for court security grants<02:26:14.960><c
• </c> purposes of the department security purposes of the department security system.

Committee: Joint Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• /c> federal operation especially impacted federal operation especially impacted beauty<00:36:50.160><
• ><c> bypassed</c> These federal actions have bypassed These federal actions have bypassed local<00:36
• ><c> of</c><00:41:07.040><c> which</c> federal presence, all of which federal presence, all of which
• ,</c><00:53:30.640><c> um</c> six properties, health insurance, um six properties, health insurance,
• </c> reports of federal activity in the area. reports of federal activity in the area.

Committee: Senate Jobs and Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> One of the other major issues is the automobile liability insurance changes that the Governor has
• &gt;&gt; ONE OF THE OTHER MAJOR ISSUES IS THE AUTOMOBILE LIABILITY INSURANCE CHANGES THAT THE GOVERNOR
• We don't have any federally chartered institutions.
• And the money that they invested in order to — and secured with that property — is at risk.
• Let them then take the next step to actually secure the property and make it right.

Summary: The Senate opened with routine formalities, approved the journal, welcomed a SkillsUSA student delegation, and then moved into budget and policy business. The chamber accepted a Rules Committee report and took up a supplemental budget extender, Senate Print 9963, which would extend state operations through April 22 and authorize $12.7 billion, including about $5.1 billion in new funding for Medicaid, payroll, and school aid. Senator O’Mara questioned the delay in the budget, the lack of public detail, and unresolved issues such as CLCPA changes, auto insurance, and SEQR reforms; the sponsor said negotiations were ongoing and that school aid would likely build on the executive budget. The extender passed 57-1, with Senator Weik voting no. The Senate then adopted Senate Resolution 1887, sponsored by Senator Brisport, memorializing the Governor to proclaim April 2026 as Arab American Heritage Month. Senators Brisport, Fahy, Salazar, and Gounardes spoke in support, emphasizing Arab Americans’ cultural, civic, and economic contributions in New York and condemning anti-Arab and anti-Muslim bias. The resolution was adopted by voice vote and opened for co-sponsorship. The chamber next considered several bills on the calendar, including a bill by Senator Cleare to prohibit state-chartered financial institutions from investing in private correctional facilities. Supporters framed it as a moral response to private prisons and rising federal use of detention facilities, while opponents argued it would overregulate state-chartered banks and affect private investment decisions. The bill passed 36-22. The Senate also passed a bill by Senator Krueger raising the nonprofit lobbying disclosure threshold from $5,000 to $10,000, after debate over transparency and whether the change would reduce oversight; it passed 35-23. Finally, the Senate passed Senator May’s bill on advanced transmission technologies and utility planning, after extensive debate over ratepayer costs, battery storage, and data center growth; supporters said it could lower energy costs through more efficient grid use, while opponents said it would raise rates and duplicate existing studies. The bill passed after being restored to the non-controversial calendar.

Transcript Highlights:

• I had health insurance.
• them to be able to take that insurance.
• can afford to take the insurance.
• them to be able to take that insurance. and I hear too low for them to be able to take that insurance
• can afford to take the insurance.

Summary: The Assembly Health Committee heard a long agenda of health-related bills, beginning with AB 2651 by Bonta, which would require schools to notify parents when school vaccination rates fall below herd immunity thresholds. Supporters, including family physicians, PTA representatives, and medical groups, said the bill would improve transparency and help parents protect children and vulnerable family members. Opponents argued the data could be misleading, could identify medically exempt or conditional students, and might lead to stigma or discrimination. The bill was later moved out of committee on a due-pass-as-amended motion, with one no vote recorded on the roll call. The committee also heard AB 2123 by Aguirre-Curry on medical debt relief, AB 1570 by Wilson to eliminate out-of-pocket costs for medically necessary breast diagnostic and supplemental imaging, AB 2201 by Berner to restore Medi-Cal eligibility and renewal flexibilities, AB 2448 by Berman to strengthen privacy protections for reproductive and gender-affirming care records, AB 2034 by Addis on food additive safety and transparency, and AB 2598 by Krell to require better notification of next of kin when a patient dies in a hospital. Each bill drew strong support from authors, advocates, and affected individuals, while some drew opposition from insurers, industry groups, or transparency critics who raised concerns about cost, duplication, implementation, or unintended harm. Several bills were moved forward on due-pass-as-amended motions, including AB 2123, AB 2201, AB 2448, AB 2034, and AB 2598. The committee also heard AB 2551 by Elhawary, which would require health plans to collect and publish data on how often enrollees must go out of network for behavioral health care and why. Supporters said the measure would expose access barriers and high out-of-pocket costs, especially for communities of color and people with language access needs; opponents said it would add another reporting mandate and might not solve provider shortage problems. Members generally expressed support for the bill’s goals and several described personal or district-level experiences with behavioral health access problems. The bill was then moved out of committee on a due-pass motion. The committee also took up consent items and other procedural motions, with multiple bills reported out and some placed on call.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> national security. With that, Mr. national security. With that, Mr.
• Union Calendar number 89, H.R. 3343, a bill to amend the federal securities laws to specify the periods
• A bill to amend the federal securities laws to specify the periods for which financial statements are
• , private securities contain securities, private securities contain lots<05:32:58.638><c> of</c><05:32
• :07:57.920><c> from</c> would exempt IDA securities from would exempt IDA securities from securities<

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 2773, International Criminal Court — Federalism.
• HB 2793, annexation and territory procedures — Federalism.
• HB 2271, insurers covering firefighters rate deviation.
• Guard of World Federal Services, a security contractor, was awarded over $300 million to run the detention
• I mean, they're still under federal watch.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> federal support. federal support.
• </c><00:43:20.400><c> The</c> federal uh supplemental dollars. The federal uh supplemental dollars.
• There was the one-time federal funds.
• The access is Security standards.
• </c> very secure, very stable. very secure, very stable.

Summary: The committee met on November 5, 2025, and first approved the minutes after a moment of silence for the UPS airport tragedy. The main presentation was from the Personnel Cabinet on the state health insurance plans and executive branch salary schedule adjustments. Officials said the health plan covers roughly 265,000 active members and up to about 300,000 across all benefit offerings, including school board employees, retirees, and other eligible groups. They described rising claims and expenditures, especially from high-cost claimants and pharmacy spending, and said recent premium and benefit changes were intended to balance costs while preserving recruitment and retention efforts. They also explained that employee premiums had not increased for several years, while employer contributions rose sharply in recent years, and projected a 10% employer increase and 3% employee increase going forward based on actuarial analysis. Committee members asked about deductibles, GLP-1 drug costs, claims validation, and the causes of cost growth; officials said the plan uses multiple payment-integrity vendors and that the increases reflect utilization, drug trends, and high-cost cases rather than a change in coverage. The committee also discussed executive branch salary schedule adjustments. Personnel and budget officials explained that when the legislature approves annual pay increases, the salary schedule is adjusted by the same percentage through executive order so the minimum and midpoint stay aligned with approved compensation levels. They said the 2025 adjustment was a 3% match effective September 16 and that the change was costless because salaries had already been increased. Members raised concerns about salary compression, noting that new hires can sometimes be paid near the level of long-serving employees. Officials said the adjustment helps prevent compression from worsening but does not solve it, and they acknowledged prior RFP efforts to address the issue were unsuccessful because no qualified bidder met the requirements. After the health plan and salary discussions, the committee began a presentation from the Cabinet for Health and Family Services on Kentucky’s senior meal program. Secretary Stack explained that the program is a federal-state-local partnership under the Older Americans Act, with area development districts helping deliver services. He outlined eligibility rules, noting that congregate meals at senior centers are available to people age 60 and older, with a spouse of any age allowed to join, and that home-delivered meals have additional homebound and assistance requirements. Members asked whether there was any means test for congregate meals, and the secretary said there is not; the only threshold is age for the center-based meals, while the home-delivered program has additional criteria.

Transcript Highlights:

• THIS IS HOUSE ORPHANED BILL, IT IS HOUSE BILL 5015, STATE GROUP INSURANCE, SENATOR ROUSON YOU ARE RECOGNIZED
• . >> Vice Chair Rouson: HB 5015 STATE GROUP INSURANCE.
• THIS IS THE HOUSE CONFORMING BILL RELATING TO THE STATE GROUP INSURANCE PROGRAM.
• Berman: THERE'S ALSO WHOLE DISCUSSION ABOUT THE PRIORITIES INCLUDING NEW TECHNOLOGY OR CYBER SECURITY
• Berman: OKAY, DO WE HAVE BUSINESSES LINED UP THAT WE THINK WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE CYBER SECURITY

Transcript Highlights:

• This is not anything about we can disregard federal law or federal regulation.
• This is the whole principle of federalism. As you know, we have a federalism committee.
• It works for the insurance companies.
• It works for the insurance companies.
• I do hold an insurance license.