Transcript Highlights:

• > throughout employee contribution rate throughout employee contribution rate throughout the<00
• If the February inflation rate of 19%.
• contribute at a higher rate. contribute at a higher rate. uh<00:54:59.200> the<00:54:59.359
• > they<00:55:01.839> would uh the the rate um that they would uh the the rate um that they
• <01:09:36.880> of higher than average rates of higher than average rates of hypertension,<

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• is or what the national fraud rate is?
• is or what the national fraud rate is?
• what our projected fraud rate is or what the national fraud rate is? Mr.
• They're increasing water and wastewater rates.
• They're increasing water and wastewater rates.

Bills: HB2070, HB2129, HB2227, HB2439, HB2667, HB2745, HB2773, HB2825, HB2873, HB2876, HCR2005, HCR2044, SB1002, SB1036, SB1054, SB1271, SB1432, SB1435, SB1437, SB1439, SCR1022, SCR1031, SCR1033

Keywords: flood relief, Gila County, emergency funding, public safety, environmental cleanup, municipal libraries, annual reporting, state legislation, transparency, government accountability, chiropractic, chiropractor, chiropractic board, state board of chiropractic examiners, license discipline, unprofessional conduct, patient records, record retention, HIPAA, conflict of interest

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:24:58.919> a<00:24:59.440> requirement bill um it's it's setting a requirement
• You know, what's your rate of spending?
• I believe that's how it's set up through OVS for the current fee exemption.
• so I would imagine 100% rating is...
• All right, thank you, sir. would imagine 100% rating is I mean I would imagine 100% rating is I mean

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Public Safety heard testimony on several bills. HB 628 HD1, relating to education, would reinstate a prior law allowing veterans whose high school education was interrupted by wartime to receive a diploma. Testimony was generally supportive from the Office of Veterans Services, the Department of Education, the Hawaii Military Affairs Council, and an individual testifier, with one person in opposition. The committee later recommended passage of HB 628 HD1 as is, and the motion was adopted. The committee also heard HB 1158 HD1 and HB 1159 HD1, both relating to commercial harbors. HB 1158 HD1 concerns firefighting at commercial harbors and drew support from the Department of Transportation; the committee recommended passage as is and adopted the recommendation. HB 1159 HD1 would require masters or persons in charge of vessels to comply with a Harbor Master’s order to evacuate a commercial harbor during emergencies. Testimony included support from Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, the Department of Transportation, and comments from the Hawaii Harbor Users Group. Members raised concerns about small boat operators and safety, and the committee passed the bill with reservations. The committee then discussed HB 1262, relating to the Emergency and Budget Reserve Fund, and HB 1296, relating to the major disaster fund. Supporters of HB 1262 included the Climate Advisory Team and AARP Hawaii, while the Department of Budget and Finance cautioned about duplication of benefits with federal disaster aid and the need to preserve the fund’s primary purpose. Members questioned how the bill would interact with federal assistance and whether the fund could be used more broadly; no vote was taken, and the bill was deferred to decision-making. On HB 1296, HEMA and Budget and Finance opposed the measure, citing the need for flexibility in emergencies and concerns that added reporting requirements could hinder response efforts, while the Tax Foundation of Hawaii noted the major disaster fund is much smaller than the EBF. The committee likewise deferred HB 1296 to decision-making, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• And there's a set of.
• 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 mean that's this is all set by the Foundation School Program.
• I don't have it all in front of me, they're gonna lower ratings.

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:

• OF A CUSTOMERS THERE ARE VARIOUS FACTORS CONTRIBUTING THE SHIFT IN INCREASES IN ELECTRICITY COST RATES
• FACTORS CONTRIBUTING THE SHIFT IN INCREASES IN ELECTRICITY COST RATES ACROSS THE U.S.
• INTERACTION BETWEEN LOAD GROWTH IMPROVEMENTS AND ELECTRICITY RATES WAS RECENTLY ANALYZED IN THE U.S.
• AND SPECIFICALLY AROUND RATE.
• DO YOU HAVE ANY FEEDBACK ON OUR UTILITIES AND YOUR ANTICIPATION OF RATE REDUCTION ONCE AI CENTERS ARE

Transcript Highlights:

• Get it, get it set up. real quick.
• I think that, um, the evidence that I see that the, that the rates are, the rate increases are consistent
• The market usually dictates what the rates are.
• Um, I, uh, polled my companies about their last rate, uh, setting, um, adventures, uh, with the, with
• regulation system in Texas does not allow for excessive rates.

Transcript Highlights:

• But I think it's in a capitated rate or— Mr.
• That's the GSD rate, the 10% anticipated health insurance rate, and then that 80-20 split increase.
• Where is really the success rate?
• rates.
• Which gives us a vacancy rate of about 2%.

Keywords: 996, all

Summary: The committee first heard an Aging and Long-Term Services Department budget presentation comparing the LFC and executive recommendations. The main differences were in the Aging Network, Adult Protective Services, Program Support, and Long-Term Care Division, especially the executive’s proposed $10 million infusion into the Kiki Savadra Senior Dignity Fund and $6.2 million for expanding New Mexico Care. LFC staff explained that the committee recommendation was lower in general fund and fund-balance use, while the executive emphasized rising senior population needs, meal and transportation costs, and the cost savings of keeping older adults at home. The secretary also reviewed the department’s special requests, including the conference on aging, outreach, emergency preparedness, and the Kiki fund, and described New Mexico Care’s growth, its evaluation results, and the department’s plan to separate Kiki into its own accounting fund. Members largely focused on senior services, rural meal delivery, transportation, caregiver support, and the Kiki fund. Several members urged stronger support for non-metro aging providers and for New Mexico Care, citing its role in keeping seniors out of nursing homes and the program’s reported savings and outcomes. Questions also covered eligibility, background checks for caregivers, respite care, dementia and Alzheimer’s screening, and whether Kiki funds can support home modifications such as ramps. The committee then voted to adopt the LFC recommendation with one executive language change: adding the executive’s page 14 language allowing an additional 12.5% distribution for initial payments to aging network providers at the start of FY27. Representative Dow opposed the motion. The committee then moved to the Attorney General’s budget. LFC staff explained that the office’s budget relies heavily on the Consumer Settlement Fund, with both recommendations reducing general fund revenue while increasing settlement-fund use, and that performance measures were in consensus. The Attorney General said the office was not seeking more general fund, but wanted greater ability to use funds it recovers. He highlighted major consumer and public safety work, including litigation against major social media and AI platforms, a case involving Snapchat and child exploitation/extortion, the statewide crime gun intelligence center, efforts to address oilfield theft, work on missing and murdered Indigenous persons, and efforts to protect federal funds coming into New Mexico.

Transcript Highlights:

• developers a lower rate of interest. developers a lower rate of interest.
• or lower interest rates?
• higher interest rates or lower interest<01:02:39.520> rates?
• interest rates? interest rates?
• We have one of the fastest rates, highest rates of increasing homelessness.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Vantage scores versus FICO scores, as there are two different types of credit ratings.
• Interesting, we had talked about before setting this bill the correlation of this.
• I'm going to set a time certain that we are voting, which will be 10:30 this morning.
• I'm going to set a time certain that we are upon recess or adjournment.
• However, many Texas physicians do not accept Medicaid due to low reimbursement rates.

Bills: HB 107, HB742, HB1639, HB1700, HB2071, HB2187, HB2402, HB2516, HB3211, HB4529, HB5342, HB694, HB923, HB4655

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

Summary: The committee heard testimony on a series of health and human services bills and left each one pending after public testimony. HB 4655 would expand financial literacy instruction for youth aging out of foster care to include credit scores, predatory lending, scams, banking, budgeting, and related consumer topics; the sponsor and Buckner International described the need to protect foster youth from financial pitfalls. HB 923 would add three public members and one physician to the Texas Medical Disclosure Panel; supporters said it would improve informed consent and patient voice, while a witness raised concerns about a House amendment requiring a physician majority for decisions and senators questioned scope-of-practice limits. HHSC said the panel is an independent body and the bill expressly bars it from changing scope of practice.

Transcript Highlights:

• Additionally, PBMs have no say in the price that drug manufacturers set.
• Additionally, PBMs have no say in the price that drug manufacturers set.
• Additionally, PBMs have no say in the price that drug manufacturers set.
• When the Medicaid program sets their rates, they have to get approval from the federal government, and
• When the Medicaid program sets their rates, they have to get approval from the federal government and

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee held a lengthy hearing on a large docket of pharmacy and drug-pricing bills, with most testimony focused on PBM reform, 340B drug discount program protections, specialty medication access, and medication adherence. Chair James Murphy and Senator Paul Feeney opened the hearing and took testimony from legislators, patient advocates, pharmacists, health center leaders, industry representatives, and policy groups. Several speakers described delays, denials, high out-of-pocket costs, and pharmacy closures tied to PBM practices, while others emphasized the importance of community health centers and independent pharmacies in serving patients. On the 340B program, supporters including Senator Eldridge, Senator Payano, Community Care Cooperative, Fenway Health, the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers, and several community health center leaders argued that bills such as H. 1107 and S. 819 would stop discriminatory PBM and manufacturer practices, preserve contract pharmacy access, and protect safety-net providers that say they reinvest savings into care, pharmacy expansion, interpreter services, behavioral health, and other services. Opponents including PhRMA, the Community Liver Alliance, and a public policy analyst argued the program lacks transparency and accountability, has grown beyond its original purpose, and may benefit large hospitals and for-profit entities more than low-income patients. They urged more reporting and oversight rather than expanding protections. On PBM reform, testimony supported bills including H. 1157, H. 1234, S. 724, S. 831, and related measures that would require rebate pass-through, ban spread pricing, limit steering to PBM-owned pharmacies, and improve reimbursement for community pharmacies. Independent pharmacists and patients said current PBM practices raise costs, create administrative burdens, and threaten access to local pharmacies. PCMA, representing PBMs, opposed the reforms, arguing PBMs lower costs, that plan sponsors choose to contract with them, and that the Health Policy Commission and CHIA should complete their ongoing study before new mandates are adopted. The committee also heard support for H. 1322 and S. 734 on specialty medications, and for H. 781 and H. 1305 on medication synchronization to improve adherence. No votes or formal actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• The federal and state authorities set The federal and state authorities set the<00:10:51.800>
• This means that the reported occupancy rate of 56% is artificially low, and the actual occupancy rate
• capacity and occupancy rates. capacity and occupancy rates.
• <00:25:54.200> The looking at high occupancy rates. The looking at high occupancy rates.
• primary rate-limiting factor for primary rate-limiting factor for admission?

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:04:06.879> they out on the great interest rates they out on the great interest rates they
• home today at 7% or 8% interest rates home today at 7% or 8% interest rates they<00:04:36.600>
• <00:08:01.240> these much higher interest rates these much higher interest rates these benefits
• That's because rates are still being set at the higher cost of these materials.
• That's because rates are still being set at the higher cost of these materials.

Bills: HF1865, HF2014, HF2028

Keywords: mortgage, qualified mortgage, QM, points and fees, conventional loan, consumer lending, home loan, residential real estate, lender fees, service charge, finance charge, closing costs, Minnesota Statutes 47.20, housing finance, borrower protections, cooperative apartment loan, contract for deed, real estate lending, foreclosure, notice requirements

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:44:23.119> of schools are being paid at a rate of schools are being paid at a rate of
• <01:17:03.440> aside approved the proposition to set aside approved the proposition to set
• We must fight to hold those rates.
• We must fight to hold those rates.
• lever uh to set a formula for a number. lever uh to set a formula for a number.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, typically for liability insurance, there are rates set by department. Right?
• And so those rates are set by department and then.
• What went into that specific rate?
• The issue with that is there's a cutoff at which the additional expenses no longer go into that rate-setting
• So that just means we need to set a new high goal.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• These are reserves set aside again by you all as appropriators and set aside non-recurring dollars to
• The council has set a long term return expectation is what they call it, 6.8%.
• In the severance tax permanent fund, it is invested in below market rate investments.
• Its amortization rate period was 52 years.
• For Pera we're looking at about um between the employer and employee rate over 30%.

Transcript Highlights:

• and insurance rates that are affordable for all of us.
• You've already set the precedent.
• Four sets of parents testified. One set of parents lost their infant to CMV.
• As you heard, screening rates are 70, 75 percent.
• We had a crazy idea, which was to require restaurants to set up, have some seats set aside for non-smoking

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Health heard testimony on a wide range of bills focused on children’s health, tobacco control, newborn screening, pediatric cancer, palliative care, and professional licensure. Early testimony highlighted Senate bills to expand newborn screening for pyruvate dehydrogenase complex deficiency, lysosomal storage disorders, and congenital CMV, with families and clinicians describing severe diagnostic delays, missed treatment windows, and the benefits of early detection. Speakers also supported a bill to improve pediatric cancer research through a dedicated trust fund, and a bill to extend pediatric palliative care services to age 22, with parents and providers emphasizing continuity of care for seriously ill young people. Several witnesses gave personal accounts in support of the newborn screening measures. Families described children who endured years of misdiagnosis before receiving diagnoses such as Gaucher disease, Fabry disease, Pompe disease, Niemann-Pick disease, and CMV, often after irreversible damage had already occurred. Medical and advocacy witnesses said Massachusetts already collects some of the relevant screening data and argued that results should be reported to families, while others urged the committee to add conditions to the state panel because effective treatments already exist. The committee also heard support for a bill to establish a fetal alcohol spectrum disorder program and training for providers. On tobacco and youth health, testimony supported bills to ban internet tobacco sales, strengthen youth protections, and reduce lung cancer deaths through point-of-sale information and quit-line access. A student testified about easily purchasing flavored nicotine products online without meaningful age verification, and public health advocates backed measures to keep tobacco out of children’s environments. The committee also heard testimony on a bill to ensure parents have access to their children’s medical records through age 16, with exceptions for sensitive services already protected by law. The committee additionally took testimony on an optometry licensure bill, where ophthalmologists opposed language they said could broaden scope of practice and allow optometrists to use the title “optometric physician,” while optometry educators and students supported the bill as a modernization measure with no scope expansion. No votes were taken during the hearing; the chair repeatedly reminded speakers of time limits and noted that written testimony could be submitted for additional comments.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our lowest rate currently today is 5.25%.
• We keep setting a new record for the amount of loans that we’re servicing, partly because of the rate
• Mortgage revenue bonds are tax exempt, so we get a lower rate on those bonds.
• And because they're tax exempt, we're able to get a lower rate on them.
• But I don't see that happening anytime soon with rates dropping.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee met as the Regulatory Division of the budget section and received updates on several Industrial Commission-related agencies and programs. Legislative Council first reviewed base budget materials, then the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency reported on its current appropriation and staffing, noting that its new FTEs were being filled gradually and that it remained largely funded through special and federal funds. Agency leaders described homeownership lending, loan servicing, and housing incentive fund activity, including below-market mortgage rates, down payment assistance, and a growing servicing portfolio that has increased workload but not yet required additional FTEs. Housing Finance also detailed use of the Housing Incentive Fund and homeless grant dollars. Officials said the multifamily HIF round drew more than $73 million in requests and awarded $25 million, while the single-family program supported rural development and community land trusts. Homeless grant funding was split between emergency shelter, prevention, and rapid rehousing, with performance-based scoring used to renew or reallocate awards. Members discussed housing affordability, aging households, rental assistance, and the need to coordinate housing and site-preparation messaging with Commerce. The agency asked that HIF, single-family, and homeless funding be maintained or increased in the next session. The Department of Mineral Resources then presented its budget and operations update. Staff said the agency was on track financially, had filled most of its new reclamation FTEs, and was not expecting major litigation costs beyond normal late-biennium invoices. The director reviewed agency initiatives including Project North Star IT modernization, organizational restructuring, succession planning, rulemaking, and implementation of the development incentive well tax program and critical minerals rules. He also discussed oil and gas activity, explaining that longer laterals, especially three- and four-mile wells and the first five-mile spacing case, are helping keep production relatively flat even as rig counts ease. Members asked about gas capture, hedging, break-even prices, and the effects of Iran and Venezuela on oil markets. The committee also heard about enhanced oil recovery grants and the Pipeline Authority. The EOR program’s $25 million appropriation was fully allocated to six projects, with total awards reaching about $45.1 million when other fund balances were included, subject to a possible 5% reduction if federal DOE money does not materialize. Officials said the projects are public, reimbursement-based, and will produce results over the next several years. Finally, the Pipeline Authority outlined natural gas transmission projects, including the imminent Bakken Express line and the proposed Bakken East project, which WBI was selected to advance after an Industrial Commission RFI process. The project is moving through open season, survey permission, and regulatory work, with in-service dates projected for 2029 and 2030.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our lowest rate currently today is 5.25%.
• We keep setting a new record for the amount of loans that we're servicing, partly because of the rate
• So we get a lower rate on those bonds.
• And because they're tax exempt, we're able to get a lower rate on them.
• Chairman, trying to get set up here with the slide deck.

Summary: The committee met as the Regulatory Division budget section and first reviewed the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency’s budget and program update. Legislative Council outlined the agency’s base budget and historical funding, and Housing Finance staff reported on homeownership lending, housing incentive fund (HIF) awards, and homeless grant spending. Agency officials said the five new FTEs approved last session are mostly filled, with one homeless program manager still open. They described strong demand for HIF, noting that September 2025 multifamily requests exceeded $73 million while only $25 million was available, and that single-family and homeless programs are also heavily subscribed. Members discussed the agency’s local loan servicing workload, interest-rate benefits, down payment assistance, and the need to coordinate housing discussions with Commerce and site-preparation efforts. The agency asked that HIF, single-family, and homeless funding be maintained or increased, and committee members emphasized accountability and statewide access for homeless prevention and rapid rehousing funds. The Department of Mineral Resources then presented its budget and agency initiatives. Staff reported that the department is on track financially, that most of the five new reclamation-related FTEs are hired, and that litigation costs tied to oil and gas matters are expected to continue appearing late in the biennium. The director reviewed ongoing modernization and organizational efforts, including the North Star IT project, succession planning, training, and rulemaking for oil and gas and critical minerals. Members asked about longer laterals, spacing, and production trends; the department said operators are increasingly drilling three-, four-, and even an initial five-mile lateral, which is helping keep North Dakota oil production relatively flat even as rig counts ease. The director also discussed oil price volatility tied to Middle East conflict, hedging practices among producers, gas capture remaining around 95%, and the likelihood that current production levels will stay near flat unless prices or geopolitical conditions change significantly. An update on the enhanced oil recovery grant program followed. The Industrial Commission’s grant administrator said the full $25 million appropriation was allocated in the fall to six projects, and because the oil and gas research fund also had carryover and biennial tax revenue, total awards reached about $45.1 million. The projects are expected to run two to four years, with meaningful results not likely until mid-2026 or later. Members questioned whether the public would have access to the research findings and how accountability would be maintained; staff said the grants are reimbursement-based, require regular status reports, and will culminate in public final reports. The committee also heard from the North Dakota Pipeline Authority, which updated members on natural gas transmission projects, especially WBI Energy’s proposed Bakken East pipeline. The authority said the project has advanced through a nonbinding and then binding open season, with WBI now securing survey permissions and moving through regulatory and landowner processes, while other related gas transmission projects near Minot and Epping are also in development.

Transcript Highlights:

• If you would take this page, setting aside BEAD dollars, setting aside digital equity dollars, the $40
• <00:57:32.079> aside setting aside bead dollars setting aside setting aside bead dollars setting
• You're set it out of man, correct? Right.
• <01:25:56.840> for mortality rate for the death rate for mortality rate for the death rate
• <01:34:41.880> for reimburse at a much lower rate for reimburse at a much lower rate for licensed

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• They could certainly set up a charter.
• They could certainly set up a charter.
• Once you set up a charter, and counties can set up charters, then you create home rule and you have a
• Once you set up a charter and counties can set up charters, then you create home rule and you have a
• We were the first state in the country to set up this mechanism for drawing maps, and setting aside the

Bills: SB1246, SB1338, SB1428, SB1443, SB1501, SB1566, SB1571, SB1645, SB1646, SB1663, SB1688, SB1805, SB1808, SB1825, SCR1023, SCR1029, HB2079, HB2080, HB2130, HB2239, HB2324, HB2375, HB2610, HB2619, HB2620, HB2716, HB2745, HB2749, HB2837, HB2857, HB2968, HB4064, HB4066, HB4087, HB4130, HCR2048, HCR2058

Keywords: homeowners associations, foreclosure, common expense liens, condominiums, special assessments, unit owner, public benefits, eligibility, immigration status, documentation, Arizona law, county governance, supervisorial board, population-based representation, local government, elections, noise pollution, environmental nuisances, building permits, urban development