Transcript Highlights:

• amount of the primary residence credit for that year to the state treasurer for when they make that payment
• Year to the state treasurer for when they make that payment to the counties, to move that up about two
• have that done so that the county treasurer then would be required to apportion and distribute the payments
• they need to verify those applications and ensure that the data is correct before they send the payments
• We do have an internal policy, like Linda had said, about getting payments to the counties by April 1st

Bills: SB2397

Keywords: oil and gas, tax exemption, development incentive wells, gross production tax, flaring, 908, all

Summary: The Senate Finance and Tax Committee met and first took up House Bill 1382, the gas tax bill. Members explained an amendment to ensure that the proposed three-cent gas tax distribution would include all counties and townships in oil-producing counties, rather than excluding non-oil-producing counties as in the original draft. The committee adopted the amendment unanimously, but then held the bill for the time being because of related work on the Department of Transportation budget in the House. The committee then turned to House Bill 1168, a large hoghouse amendment that combined the bill with the contents of House Bill 1176 and added technical corrections. The proposal would raise the primary residence property tax credit maximum from $1,250 to $1,650, keep the 75% cap with a $500 floor, and extend the credit to voter-approved levies while excluding special assessments. Other changes discussed included aligning the disabled veterans property tax credit with the $200,000 exemption level, adjusting budget and distribution dates so taxing districts are made whole sooner, exempting townships from a general-election vote requirement for levy increases, and modifying school funding formulas so schools are not shortchanged if mill levies are reduced under the cap. Testimony from the Association of Counties and the State Supervisor of Assessments was generally supportive of the technical cleanup and implementation changes, but they raised concerns about the June 1 distribution date, application timing, and the practicality of some programming and administrative changes. Committee members also discussed the policy and messaging implications of the 75%/floor structure and the difficulty of applying the credit to certain voter-approved levies. No final action was taken on House Bill 1168; the committee agreed to continue working on amendments and recessed until later in the day.

Transcript Highlights:

• They will provide needed funds to ensure that hospitals and providers can receive timely payment and
• top of that **$3.4 billion** loan, and we believe with that combination we will be able to make payments
• So you're saying that because of the trends that we're seeing right now and the increase in payments,
• billion from the general fund, and the $8 billion in federal funds to cover all of these Medi-Cal payments
• Any of this current payment going back to pay that loan that we took out just a month ago?

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for your testimony. faith for voluntary payment in Lee of faith for voluntary payment in Lee
• into negotiations for a voluntary payment in lieu of taxes.
• So we're getting rent payments based on their SSI benefit.
• You're up to date on your mortgage payments, you're able to continue with your future payments, and it
• <03:38:09.840> um up to date on your mortgage payments um up to date on your mortgage payments

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• > would<00:17:23.839> raise payment program which would raise payment program which would
• We increase Medicaid payments for birth centers.
• We increase Medicaid payments for birth centers.
• Medicaid payments at for birth centers. Medicaid payments at for birth centers.
• That was based on a fiscal note done on an MCA capitated payment program.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We are seeing now insurers are making payment decisions, enabling the department... ...and importance
• We are seeing now insurers are making payment decisions, enabling the department to evaluate adjuster
• For decades, any payment of compensation to these groups is made by insurance companies and ultimately
• meaningfully to the department's process under the law, they should not be left waiting years for payment
• participating in the intervener process, many of whom are not going to be able to wait years to get payment

Summary: The Assembly Insurance Committee held its fifth oversight hearing on the California Department of Insurance’s Sustainable Insurance Strategy (SIS), with Commissioner Ricardo Lara providing an update on implementation. Lara said the department has finalized major reforms, including new catastrophe modeling tools, faster rate review procedures, use of forward-looking data tied to mitigation, and modernization of the FAIR Plan. He argued the strategy is intended to improve insurance availability in wildfire-prone areas, increase transparency, and stabilize the market, while also criticizing consumer intervenor groups and saying the department will tighten rules on intervener compensation and relevance. Members questioned Lara about when the SIS would begin producing visible market changes, how long rate filings would take to approve, and what the FAIR Plan modernization would mean for consumers’ costs. Lara said catastrophe model approvals should be completed by the end of the month, insurers are expected to begin submitting SIS filings in the coming weeks, and rate reviews have already been reduced from 281 days to 71 days. He also discussed a new market conduct investigation into State Farm’s handling of wildfire claims, ongoing complaints about smoke-damage claims, and a newly created smoke claims and remediation task force to develop standards. Lara said the department has helped more than 12,000 wildfire survivors, with over 38,000 claims filed and more than $17 billion paid, and that it is also working with other western states on underinsurance issues. Public commenters from the insurance industry, homebuilding, and insurance brokerage sectors largely supported the SIS and the department’s efforts, saying the reforms are needed to restore availability and stability. They emphasized the importance of timely rate approvals, FAIR Plan solvency, and greater transparency, and several noted that member companies are preparing to use the new filing process. The hearing ended without a vote or formal action, though members and the commissioner discussed ongoing legislative needs, including AB 226 and possible future FAIR Plan transparency measures.

Transcript Highlights:

• And a lot of associations place owners on payment plans, and there is a statute that involves. that and
• The owner has 30 days to request a hearing, 45 days to enter a payment plan.
• Because the owners end up entering into a payment plan or coming up with payment in full and And there's
• that contract for various reasons including financial of hardships, but there's things in place like payment
• plans, long payment plans that are allowed to homeowners.

Bills: HB406

Keywords: local economic development, notification, workforce development, municipal agreements, county contracts, 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Child Safety from entering into an agreement with a health care institution that allows or requires payment
• Safety may not enter into an agreement with any health care institution that would require or allow payment
• If a family believes a report could be tied to... ...payment, it also erodes confidence in the entire
• My question specifically is: I want to know if there's a paper trail for payment, right?
• agency entity, and so I, and it is general, just in any hospitals, do we have a paper trail of the payment

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The House Committee on Government was called to order with member and staff introductions, followed by a reminder of committee rules and amendment deadlines. Chair Blackman also gave an opening statement framing the committee’s work as legislative oversight focused on child safety, transparency, and systemic issues at the Department of Child Safety (DCS), noting the committee may hold additional hearings and use subpoenas if needed. The committee then heard a presentation from the Arizona Auditor General on a special audit of DCS investigations of non-criminal child abuse and neglect reports. The audit found that while DCS generally met initial contact timeframes, 123 of 125 sampled cases had at least one policy violation. Problems included failures to provide or document required notices to alleged perpetrators, incomplete or missing documentation of key investigative steps and safety plans, and investigations that exceeded statutory or policy timeframes. The Auditor General said DCS agreed with the findings and all 15 recommendations, and members asked questions about sample size, staffing, and whether the issues reflected broader systemic problems. After the audit, the committee considered House Bill 262, which authorizes a Buffalo Soldiers memorial in Wesley Boland Plaza. Supporters testified about the historical significance of the Buffalo Soldiers and the importance of recognizing their contributions in Arizona. The bill passed unanimously, 7-0, with members explaining their votes in support. The committee also heard House Bill 2018, which would prohibit DCS from entering into agreements with health care institutions that allow payment in exchange for reports of child abuse or neglect. The sponsor and supporters argued the bill would prevent financial incentives from influencing reporting and protect the integrity of mandatory reporting. Some members and public commenters raised concerns about DCS contracts, hospital reporting practices, and the need for documentation or a paper trail. After a recess and further discussion, HB 2018 was returned with a do pass recommendation by a 4-3 vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• I also think if our body were to entertain something like direct payment for Hold Harmless, again we'd
• It started simply in that we already have a GRT exemption for co-payments and deductibles.
• Medicaid payments, and they have to pay GRT on medical supplies and certain types of insurance payments
• Those were very costly to the state and local governments, and the whole... ...harmless payments that
• Does it mean there's a direct payment from the state?

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm going to keep with the Live Local theme here, so our major down payment and closing cost assistance
• The loan is for 30 years, but it's zero percent interest and there's no payments.
• I have a question: how much of the down payment assistance have we retrieved or had collected back from
• or other unexpected things like that, that can lead to those families struggling with the mortgage payment
• We also have the homeowner loan programs and the Hometown Heroes program that provide down payment and

Summary: The Committee on Community Affairs held its first meeting and heard presentations focused on affordable housing implementation under the Live Local Act. Florida Housing Finance Corporation described its role in administering rental and homeownership programs, including SAIL, SHIP, the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program, disaster recovery efforts, supportive housing, and the Live Local funding and tax incentives. Officials said the first year’s $150 million Live Local rental allocation was fully committed to 23 developments producing 3,171 units with mixed-income set-asides, and they outlined how projects were selected through competitive solicitations tied to statutory priorities such as mixed-use development, publicly owned land, foster youth, rural areas of opportunity, redevelopment, and housing near military installations. They also discussed the tax credit contribution program, the missing-middle property tax exemption, sales tax rebates, and the year-one ad valorem exemption for qualifying affordable projects. Members asked detailed questions about the data and program design, including the use of area median income figures, per-unit subsidy levels, county targeting, tenant relocation during redevelopment, and whether the programs were helping lower-income households. Florida Housing said it uses competitive scoring and data from the Schimberg Center and that redevelopment projects are supposed to include tenant relocation plans. The homeownership portion of the presentation covered the Hometown Heroes program, which provides down payment and closing cost assistance to first-time homebuyers, with exceptions for active-duty military and veterans. Staff said the program has assisted more than 21,000 families and leveraged over $6.5 billion in first mortgages, and members asked about repayment rates, credit scores, and whether participants were staying in homes long enough to show the program was serving intended buyers. The committee then heard from OPAGA on two required Live Local evaluations: affordable housing strategies in other states and affordable housing policies in Florida. OPAGA reported that Florida has a high share of cost-burdened households, with 1.5 million households cost burdened and 1.4 million severely cost burdened, and that Florida’s counties and municipalities reported more than $1.4 billion in affordable housing expenditures in fiscal year 2023-24. The report identified 13 innovative out-of-state programs, with three considered high-potential for Florida implementation, and summarized Florida local government practices such as SHIP-funded homeownership and rental assistance, expedited permitting, mixed-income zoning, rehabilitation programs, and interlocal cooperation. No votes were taken, and the meeting adjourned after the presentations and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• with a directed dispensing payment with a directed dispensing payment program<00:02:03.600> with
• I am not a child care payments are.
• So then we raised payment rates.
• rates, how to get um how to make payment rates, how to get payment<01:47:55.920> rates<01:47:
• <02:08:26.000> have<02:08:26.320> to payments have to payments have to be<02:08:28.000>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Line 224 is the Farm Down Payment Assistance Grants Program.
• Paragraph B is for the cost share payments for the cost of organic certification.
• Paragraph C is for the farm Down Payment Assistance Grants.
• Increases the maximum farm down payment and assistance grant to $20,000.

Transcript Highlights:

• bill is aimed at, allowing the Guarantee Association to ensure that those who are in need receive payment
• , rather than just making payments and then having to claw them back for individuals who they later find
• This deals with establishing medical assistance payment. medical assistance payment, and I talked to

Transcript Highlights:

• have been lags in payment before.
• and the late payments.
• All of the late payments were up date. All of the late payments were up to<03:22:26.800> date.
• Um, we have met all the payments. I mean, the payments are on track.
• Um, we have met all the payments. I mean, the payments are on track.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint House Committee on Tourism and Senate Committee on Economic Development and Tourism held an informational briefing on the Hawaii Tourism Authority’s interim action plans, current projects, contract updates, destination management action plans, and state auditor findings. Interim CEO Caroline Anderson described her role as temporary and said she was focused on identifying problems, gathering information, communicating with stakeholders, and implementing solutions. She said HTA is now operating as a typical state agency subject to state controls, but noted that HTA’s work often involves nontraditional programs that can create process errors. She also said she had directed staff to review the auditor’s findings on the destination management action plan process and that the review was posted publicly. A major topic was the search for a permanent CEO and the agency’s restructuring under SB 1571. HTA board chair Tata Po said he hoped to select a CEO within about four months, with three to six finalists expected in roughly two to two-and-a-half months, and said the job description would largely remain the same except for compensation and reporting changes under the new law. Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism representatives explained that HTA’s board is now advisory and does not approve the budget, while DBEDT retains budget authority. They also said HTA is working with the governor’s office and DBEDT on contract and budget transitions, including a possible shift to a calendar-year process so grantees and contractors have more certainty. Members pressed HTA on staffing, oversight, and accountability, especially around the destination stewardship team and the CNHA/Kilohana and HVCB contracts. HTA said the destination stewardship team supports destination management and product development, including workforce development, sports, and implementation of destination management action plans, and that staff provide direction to contractors rather than simply handing work over to them. Anderson said the stewardship team had 11 people and that the destination management side covered about 15 contracts, while the branding side had three managers overseeing nine contracts. She said the agency had 47 contracts overall and that the major contracts included CNHA/Kilohana and HVCB. Several members criticized HTA’s management history, questioned staffing qualifications and compensation, and expressed concern that the agency had lost public trust. No votes or formal actions were taken during the briefing.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, you got two things going on. payments. You have major maintenance payments.
• maintenance payment for the formula. maintenance payment for the formula.
• We can calculate the major maintenance payments for each building category.
• <00:36:09.760> for in how we calculate a payment for in how we calculate a payment for maintenance
• next fall we'll get another July payment next fall we'll get another July payment going<02:45:51.360

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So that word incentive payments.
• Does this eliminate all alternative compliance payments for the renewable?
• ,<02:44:07.520> but still receiving the overp payments, but still receiving the overp payments
• over payments are for prior periods. over payments are for prior periods.
• payments payments >> and<03:11:47.920> and<03:11:48.080> also<03:11:48.399> again

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• payment for second injuries. injuries. injuries.
• And this allows an exception for membership-based and direct payment facilities.
• payment for legal services. payment for legal services.
• <06:31:39.200> So<06:31:39.440> we're pay that payment out.
• So we're pay that payment out.

Keywords: 10am HB 1 & HB 2, 928, house, all

Summary: The committee of conference on HB 1 and HB 2 reviewed comparison documents and worked through a long list of House and Senate positions, agreeing on some technical or already-enacted items while setting aside others for later discussion. Early on, members agreed to delete a House Bill 2 section tied to a bill already passed into law, and a representative explained a technical amendment to the EFA provisions clarifying enrollment-cap repeal language and compulsory attendance rules for EFA students. That amendment was discussed but a vote was postponed because not all members were present. The committee also noted that the overall EFA budget numbers had already been settled separately. Several items were either agreed to or held for further negotiation. Members agreed to delete sections already covered by other enacted bills, including BTLA-related language, and to accept a technical amendment changing "municipalities" to "political subdivisions" in a section affecting funding eligibility. They also agreed on some items involving workers’ compensation second injuries, certain pilot-program language, and some sections related to state loan repayment and other technical corrections. In contrast, they set aside or disputed items involving site evaluation, lottery-related provisions, opioid abatement, the Commission on Aging, Granite Advantage premium costs, renewable energy/offshore wind funding, special education funding, and several education trust fund and unique-fund provisions. The committee spent substantial time on policy disputes. The House side argued against keeping money in dedicated Fish and Game funds rather than increasing the main Fish and Game fund, while the Senate side defended its approach and raised concerns about fee impacts, including one tied to the fishing license. The members also discussed a housing appeals board proposal, with one member suggesting a possible compromise that would preserve some function while shifting duties and possibly sunsetting the arrangement later; the contracts for the positions were noted as running through June 30, 2028 and June 30, 2029. Another extended discussion concerned the child advocate records-access section, which one side wanted removed as policy that should go through the normal bill process, while another member asked to hold it and suggested a possible middle-ground, time-limited approach. Later, the committee agreed to remove sections already handled in other bills, including House sections 254 and 255, and discussed but did not resolve disputes over liquor licensing functions, cannabis-related language, cost containment, special education, and several fee and fund provisions. The Senate explained its position on the governor’s commission language, saying opioid abatement trust funds could not be used for that purpose and that the commission should continue to be funded through 5% of gross liquor profits; it also described renaming the body the Commission on Addiction Treatment and Prevention and expanding its scope to include problem gambling. The meeting ended with several major items still open for later negotiation.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:19:06.559> system and implement a payment system and implement a payment system implementing
• Video lottery facility payments, intercepts for restitution payments, child support payments, and debts
• , video lottery, facility payments, video lottery, facility payments, intercepts<00:53:19.280>
• for<00:53:19.440> restitution<00:53:19.839> payments, intercepts for restitution payments
• , intercepts for restitution payments, child<00:53:20.400> support<00:53:20.640> payments,<

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Wednesday, April 8, 2026, 960, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened, established a quorum, and handled several ceremonial and introductory matters before moving into committee reports. The chamber welcomed the doctor of the day, recognized an intern and a guest in the gallery, extended birthday wishes to Senator Chris West, and received remarks from the Romanian Ambassador to the United States, Dr. Andre Moraru, who emphasized Romania’s strategic partnership with the United States, NATO cooperation, investment ties, energy projects, and support for Ukraine. Senators also briefly noted Maryland’s military and diplomatic ties to Romania. The ambassador’s remarks were journalized, and members were given time to meet with him off the floor. The Senate then took up a series of second-reading bills, mostly from the Finance Committee, adopting committee amendments and favorable reports without objection. Among the measures advanced were Senate Bill 39 on behavioral health reimbursement rate methodology and a work group for certified community behavioral health clinics and outpatient mental health centers; Senate Bill 605 directing the Public Service Commission to study broadband and VoIP oversight; Senate Bill 721, Ralph’s Act, providing expedited DDA/Medicaid eligibility for certain recently relocated individuals; and Senate Bill 891 on perinatal mental health screening, coverage, training, and reporting. Each was amended in committee and ordered printed for third reading. The Senate also advanced several House bills, including House Bill 427 extending the task force on responsible use of natural psychedelic substances and adding an HBCU representative; House Bill 480 requiring transportation network companies to maintain written deactivation policies; House Bill 532 requiring overtime pay for firefighters employed by governmental units after 168 hours in a 28-day period; House Bill 816 reducing the Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund assessment cap from 3% to 1% and authorizing an affordability program; House Bill 829 requiring human trafficking awareness training for certain for-hire and rideshare drivers; House Bill 862 requiring a two-person crew for certain freight rail operations in shared corridors, contingent on similar action in neighboring states; and House Bill 999 revising Class 9 limited distillery license rules and production limits. Most of these bills were reported favorably, with no objections, and were ordered to third reading or passed for third reading as applicable.

Transcript Highlights:

• S-1759 by Senator Singleton increases the amount of rental payments defined as rent constituting property
• tax for purposes of deduction from gross income for property tax payments and increases the property
• tax credit option for certain individuals. ...of deduction from gross income for property tax payments
• provide recipients of state tax refunds, unemployment benefits, and state employee compensation certain payment
• A-4678 by Assembly Member Greenwald clarifies payments for non-resident students enrolled in Renaissance

Keywords: 1146, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If the local government enters into a probate agreement, payment stops immediately.
• Payments are improperly received, they must be repaid. This is not a bailout.
• To Otero County for payments related to the revenue bonds issued in two thousand seven hundred fifty
• In Otero, we took the bond payments and a year's worth of bond payments, nothing else, in order to do

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• How long does it take to reconcile and remit payment to Baker County after a traffic citation has been
• with little to no explanation as to why these funds were spent, along with several contracts and payments
• Another family refinanced their home to restart a 30-year mortgage because they could no longer afford payments
• cold just last Wednesday, abandoned their home because they could no longer afford these increasing payments
• Another family, an... ...could no longer afford these increasing payments.

Summary: The Legislative Auditing Committee heard several local-government audit requests and unanimously approved each one. The first item was Baker County, where county commissioners asked for an operational and financial audit because of repeated late audits, concerns about the finance office, and lack of confidence in county financial reporting. The county clerk supported an audit but argued it should be countywide and include all constitutional officers; she also described a dispute over access to the county finance system and pending litigation. After brief questions, the committee adopted a 9-0 motion directing the Auditor General to perform an operational audit of Baker County’s financial operations and records, with scope to be finalized during the audit. The committee then approved an audit request for the Concord Estates Community Development District in Osceola County. Senator Arrington said residents alleged excessive board compensation, large unexplained spending, missing financial reports, and refusal to provide records or hold open meetings. Residents and a board member testified about rising assessments, deteriorating amenities, and lack of transparency. The committee voted 10-0 to direct an operational audit of the CDD. It also approved, by 10-0 votes, operational audits of the town of Melbourne Beach, based on allegations of fiscal and operational improprieties and lawsuits that had cost the town more than $150,000, and the city of Apalachicola, where Senator Simon said longstanding water utility failures, grant issues, and consent-order problems warranted review. The final request was for a financial and operational audit of Cape Coral’s Building Department. Representative G. Lombardo said building-fee revenues appeared to be transferred for non-building purposes, permit processing was inconsistent, and the department relied heavily on a private firm while the building official had prior ties to that firm. Industry representatives testified that building funds were being diverted, service levels were suffering, and private-provider inspections were not always reflected in fee reductions. The committee adopted the motion 10-0. After completing all agenda items, the committee adjourned.