Transcript Highlights:

• requesting $1.5 million to establish a state-sponsored health care insurance pilot program, providing premium
• requesting $1.5 million to establish a state-sponsored health care insurance pilot program, providing premium
• The pilot program will close the coverage gaps by reimbursing individual premiums for TRICARE Reserve
• This is directly related to bringing down National Flood Insurance policy premiums.

Summary: The committee met to hear the Governor’s proposed budget for the Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development silo and to consider one bill. The Governor’s Office outlined a $117.4 billion state budget, including $18.3 billion for the TED area, with major allocations for the Department of Transportation, Commerce, Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, State, Military Affairs, Emergency Management, and the Florida State Guard. Agency heads then presented their priorities, including housing and disaster recovery funds at Commerce; pay, vehicles, aviation, and data systems at Highway Safety; facility modernization, recruitment, retention, and maintenance at Military Affairs; election audit, conservation lab, and historic preservation funding at State; transportation, aviation, seaport, and safety investments at DOT; and emergency response, flood mitigation, grant systems, and alerting at Emergency Management. Members asked questions about Visit Florida’s private match, FHP’s role in immigration enforcement and body cameras, National Guard deployment tempo and staffing, State Guard staffing and facilities, arts grant rules, rail funding, and the number of detainees at the Everglades detention site. Several notable positions were expressed during questioning. Visit Florida said it met and exceeded its private match requirement and described the match as important to ensuring value from public dollars. The Highway Patrol said its aviation assets have been used more heavily in immigration enforcement and that in-vehicle camera systems were a higher priority than body cameras at present. The National Guard and State Guard both emphasized heavy operational demands, readiness needs, and the importance of additional funding for facilities, personnel, and equipment. The Department of State said its audit funding would help counties move to automated post-election audits and that its arts grant rule changes were intended to create more consistent scoring rather than reduce access. The committee then took up CS/SB 48 on accessory dwelling units. The bill requires local governments to allow property owners to voluntarily create ADUs, preserves homestead treatment for the primary residence portion, limits parking restrictions, and extends density bonus incentives to housing for military families receiving basic housing allowance. An amendment was adopted removing reusable tenant screening reports and clarifying that compliant ADUs are allowed by right without a separate hearing or permit. Testimony from the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association supported the bill, especially the long-term rental requirement, as a tool to help workforce housing. The committee reported the bill favorably by a roll call vote, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• They know their premium rates are going up, and I would love to see the Congress vote to pass those subsidies
• <00:20:03.360> see<00:20:03.520> our<00:20:03.679> own<00:20:03.919> premiums
• As you see our own premiums relate to.
• As you see our own premiums go<00:20:04.559> up<00:20:04.880> and<00:20:05.200> deductibles

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: House and Senate DFL leaders Erin Murphy and Zach Stevenson discussed Minnesota’s budget forecast, arguing that rising health care costs, federal policy changes under Trump and congressional Republicans, and cuts to health care, food support, and clean energy are worsening the state’s fiscal outlook and household affordability. They said the state’s economy remains strong but is being undermined by higher premiums, tariffs, canceled projects, and shifting costs to state and local governments, while Republicans are prioritizing tax cuts for the wealthy and large corporations over working families. A major topic was fraud prevention and oversight. In response to questions, the leaders said every dollar of fraud is unacceptable, but that the budget forecast is not the right tool to measure it. They pointed to existing efforts, including BCA investigators, a governor-ordered and legislature-authorized audit, stronger laws passed in 2023-2025, and work on an independent inspector general proposal. They said the House DFL supports stronger anti-fraud measures and wants fraudsters held accountable, while also protecting services for vulnerable Minnesotans. The leaders also defended prior DFL budget decisions, saying the 2023 legislative session ended with a $5 billion surplus and rejecting Republican claims that DFL spending drained the state’s coffers. They said Minnesota must still balance its budget, but that the structural deficit is being driven largely by rising medical assistance and health care costs, which they argued are tied to federal actions and broader health system instability. No votes were taken in this transcript; it was a press availability with questions and responses.

Transcript Highlights:

• Currently, these Texans face significantly higher premiums that are often five times higher than those
• disabled with ALS or end-stage renal disease, with the effects being fairly minimal on the senior premiums
• The senior premiums do go up; there is cost shifting, but it's only a couple percent based on that. out
• Otherwise, Chris Larkin will experience the same rapid increase in insurance premiums that my wife and

Bills: HB107, HB742, HB1639, HB1700, HB2071, HB2187, HB2402, HB2516, HB3211, HB4529, HB5342, HB694, HB923, HB4655, HB107

Keywords: sickle cell disease, registry, health data, confidentiality, healthcare access, human trafficking, first responders, health care, training, reporting, protection, cancer, female firefighters, health study, state health services, fire protection, telemedicine, teledentistry, telehealth, health records

Transcript Highlights:

• Just real quick, also on the way our health plans are compensated: they get paid a monthly premium payment
• contracts is a quality withhold for the first time, in which 1% to 1.5% of the health plan's monthly premium
• So typically, we pay our health plans a monthly premium.
• So what we do is basically that there's a monthly premium that we pay our health plans.

Summary: The Senate Health Policy Committee met to discuss maternal and infant health, beginning with a presentation from New Jersey’s Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Authority (MiHA). Pamela Taylor described New Jersey’s statewide effort to reduce maternal mortality and racial disparities through the Nurture New Jersey campaign, a strategic plan with more than 80 recommendations, universal home visiting, Medicaid-covered doula care, hospital report cards, limits on non-medically indicated early elective C-sections, and a new maternal and infant health innovation center. Senators asked about doula certification, funding, home visiting, and how New Jersey coordinates across agencies; Taylor said the authority uses quarterly stakeholder meetings, annual summits, and a tracker for recommendations, and that community input helped shape its programs. Florida Agency for Health Care Administration Deputy Secretary Brian Meyer then outlined Florida Medicaid’s maternal coverage and managed care structure. He reviewed eligibility and services for pregnant women, labor and delivery, postpartum coverage, newborn coverage, and family planning, noting 12 months of postpartum coverage, expanded benefits in managed care plans, and new contracts launching February 1 with more maternal-health-focused benefits, quality measures, and a new quality withhold incentive structure. Senators questioned doula certification and duplication with Healthy Start, provider access and network adequacy, kick payments, quality reporting, and whether Florida should consider broader eligibility standards; Meyer said many details are still plan-driven, that quality metrics are public, and that the agency is working on maternal-health work groups and incentives. Department of Health Division Director Shea Holloway followed with an overview of Florida’s maternal and child health programs and data. She cited Florida CHARTS data showing pregnancy-related deaths, severe maternal morbidity, and infant mortality trends, and described the Title V block grant, the Maternal Mortality Review Committee, the Florida Perinatal Quality Collaborative, the electronic prenatal risk screen, Healthy Babies, BH Impact for perinatal mental health, Healthy Start, WIC, family planning, telehealth maternity care, and the Pregnancy Care Network. Senators asked about delays in mortality review reporting, preterm birth, substance use disorder in pregnancy, WIC participation, cesarean rates, and the impact of the abortion ban; Holloway said the department is continuing to monitor outcomes, expand screening and telehealth, and use data and hospital partnerships to improve care. The committee then adjourned without further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• What we're asking to not post on the website but not change anything with the data classification is
• the public made a request for that video, we would process it and it doesn't change the data classification
• <00:04:26.160> is<00:04:26.479> all<00:04:26.720> the with the data classification
• is all the with the data classification is all the other<00:04:27.120> responding<00:04:27.680
• doesn't change the data classification. doesn't change the data classification.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It was a lot of work, and the concern was that workers' comp premiums were going really too high to a
• It was a lot of work, but the concern was that workers' comp premiums were going really too high to a
• statute in the state of New Hampshire, it was a lot of work, but the concern was that workers' comp premiums

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, as amended, this bill will not result in increased insurance premiums for the folks that are subsidizing
• So, as amended, this bill will not result in increased insurance premiums for the folks that are subsidizing
• So, as amended, this bill will not result in increased insurance premiums for the folks that are subsidizing
• So, as amended, this bill will not result in increased insurance premiums for the folks that are subsidizing
• So, as amended, this bill will not result in increased insurance premiums for the folks that are subsidizing

Keywords: House streaming session for Saturday, March 21, 2026, 957, house, all

Summary: The House convened with 126 members present, heard the prayer, approved the previous day’s journal, and then took up a series of Senate messages and committee reports. Senate bills on consent calendars 21 and 22 were read the first time and referred to committees. The House then adopted favorable reports, often without amendment, on a wide range of bills including workers’ compensation evaluation procedures (HB 1325), a state shark designation (HB 97), several local alcoholic beverages measures, commemorative months for Muslim American Heritage and Jewish American Heritage (HB 661), and local license commissioner changes in Anne Arundel, Worcester, Harford, Baltimore City, and Prince George’s counties. Several bills were amended before being ordered printed for third reading. HB 121 (Baltimore County alcohol sales) was amended to change the sponsor to the Baltimore County delegation. HB 1335 on Department of Information Technology workforce recruitment and retention was amended to convert the measure into a study and recommendations report. HB 1037 on PSC oversight of broadband and VoIP was similarly amended from direct oversight to a study and report. HB 1164 on water and sewage rate consolidation and limited-income mechanisms was amended to remove rate-consolidation provisions, require a PSC study, and delay implementation. HB 1381 on stopping or parking in bike lanes added exceptions for emergency, transit, disability pickup/drop-off, disabled vehicles, loading/unloading, and construction or maintenance; HB 1504 prioritized sidewalk and bicycle pathway projects near highways with complete streets or Vision Zero policies; HB 912 adjusted community cat trap-neuter-return rules; and HB 969 clarified electric vehicle charging billing and service fees. The most extended debate centered on HB 639, the Transportation Aviation Passenger Health and Safety Act. After amendments turned it into a reporting measure for fixed-base operators and aviation service companies regarding flights carrying detained individuals, warrants, refueling, and emergency-response documentation, members questioned its practical operation, safety implications, and possible federal preemption issues. The floor leader explained the bill as amended was intended to gather information for Maryland safety and emergency planning. On motion of the committee chair, the House agreed to special order HB 639 until the end of the session for further clarification. The House also amended and advanced HB 1063 on hunting management, including deer damage permits and Sunday hunting rules, and heard a brief statement from an Eastern Shore delegate about the Rural Caucus’s approach to offering amendments rather than opposing bills outright. The session ended with HB 972, creating the Maryland Fair and Agricultural Education Promise Fund, amended to rename the bill in honor of the late Delegate Charles Otto and to replace lottery funding with an annual appropriation; the House adopted the amendments and the favorable report.

Transcript Highlights:

• , if not a large premium, for local things.
• if not a large least a small premium if not a large premium<01:29:04.880> for<01:29:05.120>
• for local things and um and I I premium for local things and um and I I just<01:29:07.120> wonder
• But a lot of people are willing to pay that extra premium for something local, for something fresher,
• for willing to pay that extra premium for something<01:30:55.120> local,<01:30:56.080> for

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up a Senate message on HB 179, relative to hazardous waste accident fees. Members reviewed the Senate amendment, which would cap the daily non-payment penalty at no more than $1,000 per day and limit the cumulative penalty to 25% of the cost, with no additional daily penalty if the responsible party is following an agreed payment plan. Members discussed the change from the committee’s earlier version, which had allowed penalties up to 100% of the damages, and agreed the revised language was reasonable. The committee voted to concur with the Senate amendment and indicated the bill could be placed on consent. The committee then recessed SB 302, requiring background checks for solid waste facility owners, because a late request for an additional change had not yet been fully reviewed. It next voted on SB 229, relative to the sale of uninspected bison, red deer, and elk meat. Supporters said the bill would expand retail access to these meats, support New Hampshire farms, and improve food security. Members also noted the Department of Agriculture did not object, that the bill would remove a sunset and keep more workable inspection rules in place, and that the animals involved are largely from closed herds. The committee voted unanimously to pass SB 229 and agreed to place it on consent. Finally, the committee considered SB 50, establishing a committee to study the regulation of private animal boarding facilities. Members described disturbing testimony about missing, injured, or dead dogs and the lack of clear oversight, licensing, or even a reliable list of kennels in the state. They discussed possible study topics including licensing, inspection authority, standards, penalties, and protections for both pet owners and boarding operators, including disclosure of medical conditions. The committee voted unanimously to pass SB 50 and also agreed to place it on consent. After the executive sessions, the committee heard a presentation from the New Hampshire Food Alliance on the state’s first food and agriculture strategic plan, introduced by director Nicole Cardwell, with participation from advisory committee members including Rep. Bixby and Commissioner Sean Jasper.

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, the A1 amendment allows the credit to be claimed by an insurance company against the premiums
• Background insurance companies do not pay the income tax; instead, they pay the premiums tax, which is
• imposed at a relatively low rate on their premiums.
• relatively low rate on their premiums uh relatively low rate on their premiums uh received<00:50:25.240
• tax and that described in the premium tax and that are<00:50:35.200> available<00:50:35.640><

Bills: HF1277, HF812, HF457, HF633

Keywords: data centers, tax exemption, Minnesota statutes, economic development, employment growth, income tax, tax brackets, tax adjustments, Minnesota, tax policy, underutilized buildings, adaptive reuse, building conversion, historic preservation, downtown revitalization, vacant property, vacancy reduction, refundable tax credit, income tax credit, grant in lieu of credit

Transcript Highlights:

• Medi-Cal helps pay for Medicare premiums and cost-sharing.
• ADAP clients may also qualify for insurance premium assistance through various programs funded through
• ADAP, including the Medicare Premium Payment Program.
• In 2025, the Medicare Premium Payment Program served 8,354 clients who were 50 and over.
• HIP program, which is employee-based premium assistance.

Summary: The committee held an inaugural hearing on the health care and support needs of older LGBTQ Californians, with members and witnesses emphasizing that this population has made major gains in rights and longevity but still faces discrimination, isolation, economic insecurity, and gaps in services. Opening remarks highlighted concerns about older LGBTQ people entering nursing homes and feeling forced back into the closet, as well as the growing number of Californians aging with HIV. The hearing was structured into three panels, with public testimony considered if time allowed. The first panel focused on the overall health and support landscape. Justice in Aging described survey findings showing discrimination, poor health, difficulty with errands, and economic insecurity among older LGBTQ Californians, and warned that federal Medicaid cuts and broader federal actions could worsen access to home- and community-based services and culturally competent care. CalHHS and the Department of Aging described the Master Plan for Aging, the first statewide LGBTQIA older adult survey, and efforts to support gender-affirming care, PACE, care management, and community supports. Witnesses stressed the need for better outreach, data collection, and a “no wrong door” approach so people can more easily find and access services. The chair and senators pressed the departments on how survey findings are being translated into concrete action and how state agencies are coordinating across silos. The second panel addressed health care for seniors living with HIV. A longtime survivor described severe financial and benefits consequences from a federal clawback and argued that California needs stronger legal, navigation, and housing supports, including HIV-specific housing funding. The Department of Aging reported on implementation of SB 258, saying it has educated area agencies on aging, added HIV data to planning tools, and found that 20 of 33 area agencies identified HIV as a target population, with 16 including specific strategies. The Office of AIDS outlined Project Cornerstone, Ryan White, ADAP, HOPWA, a Medi-Cal waiver, and PrEP-AP, noting these programs serve thousands of older clients and that local case managers are expected to coordinate whole-person care. Case managers and advocates said housing, food, transportation, mental health, and premium assistance remain major needs, and senators asked whether future ADAP rebate funds could support navigation, housing, and other gap-filling services. The final panel turned to transgender, gender nonconforming, and intersex seniors. The Department of Social Services described protections under SB 219, including nondiscrimination notices, resident rights postings, required records for preferred names and pronouns, and annual inspections of licensed facilities. The Department of Public Health and a TransLatin Coalition leader were introduced to discuss additional supports for TGI seniors. Across the hearing, members repeatedly returned to the themes of visibility, coordination, and implementation, asking departments to follow up on how they will better connect services, improve outreach, and ensure that existing laws and programs are actually reaching the people they are meant to serve.

Transcript Highlights:

• $103.5 thousand, or 3.3 percent, in personnel to account for group insurance and employee liability premium
• The agency requested increasing its personnel category by $11.3 thousand for premium increases and its
• The request increased personnel costs by $14.6 thousand for employee health premiums and GST rates, and
• majority of the agency's request is for personnel increases related to GSD risk and health insurance premium
• increase in general fund revenue in the personnel services category for increased group health care premiums

Transcript Highlights:

• If that occurs, it could either greatly increase the cost of premiums. for individuals in this state
• Utilities in fire-prone states like Texas face increased premiums, and in some cases, anecdotally, those
• premiums are $400 percent and higher.
• will help increase the likelihood that a utility can obtain. insurance and hopefully reduce those premiums
• a utility is credit quality generally results in higher rates over time due to higher insurance premiums

Bills: HB 13, HB143, HB144, HB145, HB366, HB470, HB805, HB912, HB13, HB143, HB144, HB145

Keywords: emergency communication, infrastructure, first responders, grant program, interoperability, Texas Interoperability Council, local governments, HB 143, Texas Railroad Commission, Public Utility Commission of Texas, Natural Resources Code, oil and gas, well site, surface facility, electrical power line, National Electrical Code, NEC, electrical safety, utility disconnect, service disconnection

Transcript Highlights:

• This resulted in $400 to $700 increases per month in premiums for family coverage this year.
• for our health plans increased premiums for our health plans increased an<01:35:35.920> average
• <01:35:43.360> for<01:35:43.600> family per month in premiums for family per month
• in premiums for family coverage<01:35:44.320> this<01:35:44.560> year.
• and have been rebuffed every premiums and have been rebuffed every time. time. time.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That is because insurance companies already have the opportunity to obtain premiums and they may obtain
• to obtain premiums and they may<00:42:48.079> obtain<00:42:48.400> a<00:42:48.560>
• They can recoup it in the civil court or they can recoup it in premiums.
• Well, who pays the premiums? Again, it is the collective body that is buying that insurance.
• premiums on the back of Coloradoatans. premiums on the back of Coloradoatans.

Keywords: 981, all

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, approved the corrected journal, and heard several announcements about upcoming committee meetings, events at the Capitol, and recognitions, including Music Therapy Day, Black History Month activities, adoptable puppies, and a Colorado Agricultural Forum. Members also celebrated Representative Story’s birthday and recognized the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD) for its long-running support of arts, culture, science access, and economic impact in Colorado. The House adopted Senate Joint Resolution 12, designating February 20, 2026, as Colorado FFA Day, by a vote of 64-1 with one excused. The chamber then moved to special orders for several bills. The first major bill considered was House Bill 1017, which would prohibit insurers from receiving criminal restitution unless they are direct victims. Sponsors argued the bill prioritizes human victims, prevents restitution from becoming an unpayable burden on low-income defendants, and clarifies the law in response to court concerns and stakeholder feedback. Opponents argued it would shift costs to taxpayers and policyholders and could increase civil litigation and insurance premiums. An amendment, L005, was adopted to clarify the bill’s scope, and the bill then passed as amended. The House also took up House Bill 114, concerning minimum lot size and local land-use rules. An amendment, L002, was offered to prohibit certain local lot frontage, setback, open-space, or coverage requirements that would effectively prevent construction of a single-family home on a 2,000-square-foot residential lot. Supporters framed the measure as protecting housing access, while opponents argued it would override local land-use decision-making and public hearing processes. The transcript ends during debate on a substitute motion related to the amendment, before final action on House Bill 114 is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• So this is the average annual premium per $1,000 worth of coverage.
• And so I think you see that reflected in some of the premiums and some of the dynamics around rates.
• So this is the average annual premium So this is the average annual premium per<01:23:20.560>
• <01:24:20.480> and reflected in some of the premiums and reflected in some of the premiums
• or the change in insurance in uh premium or the change in insurance payment.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Doing this will keep the premium for the program closer to the intended mark of 7 when it was first released
• the premium for the program<00:03:05.640> closer<00:03:06.000> to<00:03:06.280> the
• The current bill, as it is stated, there are premium breaks for small businesses.
• um as it is stated um there are premium um as it is stated um there are premium breaks<00:28:17.519
• <00:28:32.600> rate your bill it changes that premium rate your bill it changes that premium

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• That structure is important because it means that it does not interfere with insurance plans or premiums
• Generally, these plans offer much<01:30:44.719> lower<01:30:45.040> premiums<01:30:45.840
• in exchange for more much lower premiums in exchange for more limited<01:30:47.440> coverage<
• There can be trade-offs between<01:37:02.960> premium<01:37:03.440> and<01:37:03.920>
• > deductible<01:37:04.400> and between premium and deductible and between premium and deductible

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• pernicious contracts for all workers, irrespective of their income, line of work, or employment classification
• pernicious contracts for all workers, irrespective of their income, line of work, or employment classification
• pernicious contracts for all workers, irrespective of their income, line of work, or employment classification
• or<00:21:22.120> employment line of work or employment line of work or employment classification
• uh however a house file classification uh however a house file 1768<00:21:26.440> seeks<00:21

Bills: HF1355, HF1469, HF1768

Keywords: commercial diving, scuba diving safety, aquatic plant management, workplace safety, environmental regulations, HF1469, Minnesota, workforce development, job training, job skills training, reentry, reentry services, formerly incarcerated, ex-offenders, inmates, recently released inmates, felony conviction, felony-level offense, corrections, prison release

Transcript Highlights:

• The prices we pay for insurance are premiums.
• The prices we pay for insurance are premiums.
• The prices we pay for insurance, our premiums, depend on these companies that provide modeling services

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The Arizona Senate convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, welcomed guests from the Arizona Psychiatric Society and Brigadier General John Connolly, and adopted a lighthearted April Fool’s proclamation directing the sergeant-at-arms to wear a silk top hat. The chamber also approved a House request to adjourn from April 2 to April 7, and transmitted Senate Bills 1181 and 1473 to the Governor. Later, the Senate observed a moment of silence for Passion Swartz after a personal privilege statement about her disappearance and death, and discussed the need to improve turquoise alert practices. The Senate then considered two Committee of the Whole calendars. On the first, it advanced HB 2120 on property tax exemptions and disability determinations, HB 2174 on insurance modeling/data organizations, HB 2289 on truth-in-taxation bond notices, HB 2861 on marital/postnuptial agreements, and HB 2903 on banks and financial institutions, all receiving do-pass recommendations and later passing the Senate. On the second calendar, it advanced HB 208 on school libraries and professional associations, HB 2040 on public educational institutions and adoption information, HB 2075 on school employee contracts, HB 2203 on Department of Education reporting requirements, HB 2255 on school employee training, HB 2383 on school district leases and housing development, and HB 257 on a special plate tied to the mining museum; all were adopted from committee and passed the Senate, with HB 2255 requiring and receiving a three-quarters vote. Several bills drew floor debate and recorded opposition. Senators argued that HB 2075 unfairly applied transparency rules only to school districts, HB 2174 weakened insurance consumer protections, HB 2289 could bias voters on bond measures, HB 2903 used vague “social credit score” language, HB 2008 attacked school librarians, and HB 2040 imposed adoption messaging in health settings. Despite these objections, the Senate passed each measure by recorded vote, with HB 2223 and HB 2203 passing unanimously or near-unanimously, and the remaining bills passing by varying margins before being transmitted to the House.

Transcript Highlights:

• On the next row, 20, those are just that 10% increase in medical premiums for all public school personnel—that
• ended up with a 5.2% increased recommendation for the SEG compared to a 2.5% increase in medical premiums
• That's to cover the cost of regular insurance premium increases.

Keywords: 996, all