Transcript Highlights:

• If the Trump administration seeks to negotiate an end to the war, I would point out that Russia is not
• As we look at potential negotiations on trying to end that war, what is the best leverage that we can
• I believe they are a very deliberate negotiating partner.
• I believe they are very strategic in their negotiations.
• I'm not going to ask you to comment on the negotiations.

Committee: Senate Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel

Keywords: committee meeting, legislation, public testimony, SB4, HB2214, bipartisan support

Summary: The committee convened to discuss various bills and hear testimonies related to legislative matters, including public concerns and implications surrounding the proposed legislation. Notably, the members engaged in a vigorous debate over SB4, where several representatives shared differing viewpoints on its impact on local communities and the environment. Public testimonies were heard, with advocates arguing for the bill's potential benefits, while opponents raised significant concerns regarding the fiscal implications and land use. Following these discussions, the committee moved to vote on HB2214, which passed without issue, illustrating the bipartisan support for certain initiatives tied to public welfare.

Transcript Highlights:

• We still have not had the ability to negotiate with CMS in terms of the special terms and conditions
• And they're negotiated.
• So you negotiate with the federal government on these ends to get to agreeable terms.
• And they're negotiated.
• So you negotiate with the federal government on these ends to get to agreeable.

Summary: The committee received a briefing from AHCA Deputy Secretary Brian Meyer and Florida Healthy Kids CMO Ashley Carr on implementation of HB 121, which was enacted in 2023 to expand Florida’s KidCare/CHIP eligibility from 200% to 300% of the federal poverty level and replace the sharp premium “benefits cliff” with a tiered premium glide path. Sponsor Rep. Bartleman described the bill as a bipartisan effort to help working families keep children insured while moving toward economic self-sufficiency. The presenters explained that the program remains a joint federal-state structure, with Medicaid unchanged and the bill affecting only the CHIP-related portions of KidCare. AHCA said implementation has been delayed by federal CMS actions. The agency reported that CMS first rejected a state plan amendment approach, then required revisions to the premium tiers under a new maintenance-of-effort interpretation, and later issued a new interpretation of continuous 12-month eligibility that would prevent disenrollment for nonpayment of premiums. AHCA said it submitted an 1115 waiver, but negotiations over special terms and conditions reached an impasse, and the state has filed litigation challenging CMS’s interpretation. Members asked about the cost of litigation, the effect on future bills, the review process for CMS documents, disenrollment and reenrollment rules, and whether any additional legislative action is needed; AHCA said no further state action is needed at this time and that the key issue is the pending federal litigation. Several members and the sponsor emphasized the need for immediate implementation and asked about possible interim relief. AHCA said current coverage remains in place under the preexisting program, that there is a 30-day grace period for premium payment, and that reenrollment does not require a penalty or back payment, though coverage is not active during lapsed periods. The committee also heard public comment from Nicholas Hessing of the Children’s Services Council of Broward County and the Florida Alliance of Children’s Councils and Trusts, who supported HB 121 and said the expansion could make about 17,600 additional children eligible in Broward County alone. The meeting ended with Rep. Bartleman thanking staff and expressing hope that the new federal administration would allow the program to move forward, and the chair adjourned the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Do you like the part where the parish can negotiate their own deal?
• Do you like the part where the parish can negotiate their own deal?
• I have no negotiating. I have none. What's my leverage? Zero. That much.
• So I know if I'm in business, I'm not going to negotiate.
• And there's not a after-the-fact local negotiation.

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 480, which would allow anchoring in certain waterways, specifically Oyster Bayou, with restrictions to protect oyster leases and require a person to remain on board. After brief explanation from the sponsor, Representative DeWitt moved favorable and the bill was reported favorable without objection. House Bill 510, which would have prohibited importation of captured carbon dioxide into Louisiana for sequestration, was discussed briefly. The sponsor said the proposal appeared to conflict with federal law and interstate commerce concerns, and he asked to voluntarily defer the bill. The committee agreed, and HB 510 was deferred. The committee also heard House Resolution 279, urging the state to study geothermal energy policy; after questions about geothermal technology and possible overlap with CCS infrastructure, the resolution was adopted on a 10-3 roll call vote and reported favorable. The bulk of the meeting focused on House Bill 1152, as amended, dealing with the Carbon Dioxide Geologic Storage Trust Fund and a proposed injection fee for carbon sequestration projects. The amendment would set the fee at 19 cents per ton, with 12 cents going to the state trust fund and 7 cents going directly to affected parishes, while retaining existing fund caps and adding evacuation routes as an eligible local expenditure. Industry groups and local government representatives both testified: industry warned the proposal was rushed, could create uncertainty, and might hurt Louisiana’s competitiveness; parish officials argued locals need a meaningful revenue share, transparency, and bargaining power because they will bear emergency-response burdens. Members raised questions about the fee structure, exemptions for state lands and parish agreements, and whether the local share would continue for the life of a project. The bill remained under discussion at the end of the transcript, with talk of creating an off-session task force or working group to continue negotiations for next year.

Transcript Highlights:

• Come back to the negotiating table and work with Democrats on the business of the people. can support
• </c> proceedings come back to the negotiating proceedings come back to the negotiating table<00:01:19.000
• </c> working hard to get a negotiated working hard to get a negotiated agreement<00:11:47.000><c> with
• Sometimes when you want to negotiate, somebody else wants to fight.
• If they want to negotiate, we'll go back to the negotiating table.

Transcript Highlights:

• You each have to negotiate, or there is no negotiation with the credit card companies.
• Yes, you can negotiate a little bit.
• At the same time, we have no negotiating power.
• These are costs that are non-negotiable costs.
• Big box stores can negotiate fees with credit card companies.

Summary: The commission met to continue studying credit card payments, interchange fees, fraud, chargebacks, and the impact of card processing costs on small businesses, especially restaurants and retailers. Members heard extensive testimony from credit unions, retailers, restaurant owners, payment-industry representatives, and an airline trade group. Supporters of reform argued that swipe fees are a major and rising expense, that businesses are paying fees on sales tax and tips that are merely pass-through amounts, and that merchants have little negotiating power. Several restaurant and retail witnesses described thin margins, higher costs for card-not-present transactions, and chargebacks that they said usually favor cardholders and leave merchants absorbing losses and fees. Witnesses from the Cooperative Credit Union Association cautioned that state-level interchange regulation could reduce revenue used for fraud prevention, compliance, and member services, and could lead to higher rates or reduced access. Retail and restaurant representatives countered that fees have risen sharply, that statements are difficult to decipher, and that rewards programs and card-network pricing are subsidized by merchants and ultimately by all consumers. The Massachusetts Restaurant Association and independent operators urged legislation to bar fees on tax and tip portions of transactions and to allow businesses to pass along card fees if they choose, saying this would improve transparency and fairness and help keep small restaurants open. Other testimony came from the National Restaurant Association, which supported interchange reform and said modern point-of-sale systems can already separate tax and tip amounts, and from a payments-industry group that emphasized the broader economic benefits of digital payments and warned against state-by-state rules. Airlines for America opposed changes that could undermine airline credit card rewards programs. Commission members asked detailed questions about fee structures, card types, chargebacks, POS systems, and whether consumers paying cash are also affected. No votes or formal actions were taken at the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:13:31.520><c> can</c><01:13:32.080><c> negotiate</c><01:13:33.000><c> among</c> negotiations can
• negotiate among negotiations can negotiate among themselves<01:13:34.920><c> um</c><01:13:35.600><c>
• They might actually be easier on both sides to negotiate and have the same rights to, you know, speak
• :15:34.360><c> same</c> be able to negotiate have the same be able to negotiate have the same rights<
• </c><01:17:35.120><c> right</c> are being negotiated right are being negotiated right representative<

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 313, and Representative Perez moved to retain the bill, saying it needed work and was not ready as written. Representative Smith supported that approach, and the motion to retain passed 18-0. The committee then considered House Bill 391, an anti-SLAPP measure. Representative Smith and others argued the bill was too broad, could create litigation and discovery disputes, and might even be read to affect criminal cases. The committee voted 18-0 to retain HB 391 as well, and the chair agreed to place it on consent with a report to be prepared. The committee next heard House Bill 462, establishing a cause of action for unwarranted video imaging of residential properties. Representative McFarland moved to retain, saying the bill raised First Amendment and property-rights concerns. The motion passed 18-0. The committee then took up House Bill 509, a fiscal note bill requiring reporting related to forfeitures. Members on both sides discussed the bill’s cost, the burden of collecting and collating the data, possible duplication across fiscal years, and whether the information was already being collected. The OTP motion passed 11-7, and Chairman Lynn asked Representative McFarland to prepare the report; a minority report was anticipated. Finally, the committee considered House Bill 520, which would authorize Department of Education hearing officers to issue subpoenas. Representative Kuttab supported the bill, saying similar authority exists in other agencies and states. Opponents argued the DOE already can obtain information through the attorney general, that the bill would create an unbalanced internal enforcement process, and that the subpoena authority was not tied to the curriculum-related concerns raised in testimony. Representative Ter offered Amendment 0842H to shift subpoena authority from DOE hearing officers to the attorney general; the amendment failed 7-11. The committee then voted on the bill as amended, and the OTP motion passed 10-8, with a minority report also requested.

Transcript Highlights:

• These exactions will take negotiation. These exactions will take many<00:05:24.639><c> forms.
• Uh a developer has very negotiation.
• The the goal of the negotiated tactic.
• Chair Igo and I have talked and negotiated to this being a vehicle for our housing policy bill.
• The amendment is adopted. and negotiated to th this being a and negotiated to th this being a vehicle

Committee: House Housing Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• We're starting negotiations today.
• But if that's something you'd like to propose, the negotiations start today. I appreciate that.
• And through the budget negotiations, it's not...
• In the budget negotiation process, I understand your opinion on that subject matter. Mr.
• I would say we should start the negotiations for budget soon.

Summary: The joint House-Senate appropriations committee met to review the governor’s fiscal 2027 budget presentation from Ben Henderson, director of the Office of Strategic Planning and Budgeting. Early discussion focused on the state economy and revenue outlook, with Henderson describing strong GDP growth and low unemployment but also fragility for working families. Members questioned the executive’s revenue assumptions, which were said to be about $100 million per year higher than the JLBC baseline, and the committee chair asked for a written comparison of the revenue differences. Henderson also said the governor’s budget is structurally balanced and includes both ongoing spending and proposed revenue changes. A major portion of the hearing centered on data centers, AI investment, and water policy. Henderson argued Arizona’s data center tax incentive should be eliminated because it had already succeeded in attracting investment, while lawmakers questioned whether repealing the incentive and imposing a new water-related fee would discourage future growth. The executive said the water proposal would create a Colorado River Protection Fund and give the Department of Water Resources fee-setting authority, with the aim of encouraging more modern air-cooled facilities. Members also raised concerns about whether the data center changes would require a supermajority vote and whether the fee was effectively a new tax. The committee then reviewed major “critical spending” items, including correctional officer pay, prison health care compliance, probation funding, body-worn cameras, law enforcement staffing, fentanyl enforcement, cyber readiness, and border-related costs. Henderson said the budget includes $24.4 million ongoing for correctional officer pay and $118.3 million one-time for prison health care staffing, plus other public safety and homeland security items. He also defended the governor’s assumption of $759.7 million in federal reimbursement for border expenses, saying the governor had met with federal officials and that the state would seek the full amount. Members expressed skepticism about relying on that reimbursement and asked what would be cut if it does not materialize. Education and health and human services were also discussed. The governor’s budget includes K-12 funding, Prop. 123-related school facility bonding, and a proposal to shift some school facilities funding to bond financing, which several members criticized as inappropriate for short-term maintenance needs. The committee also reviewed AHCCCS/Medicaid costs, Division of Developmental Disabilities funding, and the expected impacts of federal HR1 changes on eligibility, provider funding, and rural hospitals. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the chair repeatedly limited debate and directed members to keep questions brief while the presentation continued.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's not far enough, especially since they can negotiate in this bill, can negotiate to lower that,
• You couldn't negotiate the part off of the property line. That would kind of be the base process.
• Representative Warwick said he was talking more about the negotiation aspect.
• He understood that by the time the negotiation of the setback has started, any future buildings that
• So it's keeping that with that negotiation I made last year. We'd make it 2034 instead of 33.

Committee: House Utilities

Transcript Highlights:

• Currently, if you are a good negotiator, you don't pay the document service fee.
• Currently, if you are a good negotiator, you don't pay the document service fee.
• The documentary service fee, as staff identified, is a negotiable fee, as you mentioned.
• It's negotiable.
• It's a negotiable thing.

Committee: House Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• for, or the bargaining units are negotiating for on their behalf.
• So this is a very limited-in-scope negotiation that's going to take place.
• So we can negotiate at any time.
• So we should be able to finish the negotiations in time for the school year to start.
• A question was asked in one negotiation setting to the teacher union.

Summary: The committee took up a long agenda of bills, beginning with several measures that were amended and reported favorably, including a strike-all to SB 4 on child protective investigations and specific medical diagnoses, SB 1570 restoring a statewide missing-persons project for individuals with special needs, and SB 182 creating a teacher training and mentoring program for schools needing improvement. Members also advanced SB 794 on APD background screening and support coordination standards, SB 1168 on background screening for athletic coaches and related entities, and SB 214 to let rural special districts pay verified invoices directly for state- and federally funded work. Supporters emphasized improved child welfare investigations, help for families of vulnerable individuals, teacher retention, and better administrative efficiency; the APD bill drew especially strong testimony from waiver clients and providers about the importance of competent support coordinators and stable services. The committee also favorably reported SB 1376 on grants for genetic counseling education, SB 1574 requiring newborn screening for biliary atresia, SB 1510 as the DEP agency package with environmental, septic, water quality, solar, and permitting changes, and SB 598 updating funeral and cemetery licensing and consumer protections. SB 688, after a delete-all amendment, would create licensure for naturopathic doctors and a board of naturopathic medicine; it drew strong support from naturopathic advocates and sharp opposition from a critic who argued the bill would authorize diagnosis and treatment beyond appropriate limits. SB 1318 made a technical change to scholarship account reversion language, with senators clarifying that remaining funds would return to the scholarship funding organization for future use rather than to the state. Later, the committee approved SB 682 on domestic violence and protective injunctions, SB 130 on workforce training for current and former inmates, and SB 1548, the latest Live Local Act iteration expanding affordable housing options and limiting local barriers. It also reported favorably SB 536 on criminal gang membership criteria after extensive debate about constitutional issues and modern gang activity, SB 762 allowing cross-jurisdiction assignment of capital cases among regional conflict counsel offices, SB 1332 strengthening career offender registration requirements, SB 1742 creating a new offense for indecent exposure of sexual organs to a minor, and SB 1750 increasing penalties for serious sex offenses and child sexual abuse material crimes. The most contentious discussion came on SB 1226, which would overhaul Public Employee Relations Commission rules, require majority support for union certification, and impose new limits on union activities and dues-related practices; members debated constitutional concerns, differences between first responders and other public employees, and the bill’s impact on union representation and public-sector labor rights. Most bills were reported favorably by roll call, with SB 536 drawing several no votes and SB 1226 still under active debate at the end of the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• The topics the tribe and the state can negotiate are outlined in IGRA and include the type of gaming
• IGRA requires states to negotiate in good faith when negotiation requests are made by the tribe.
• public comment on the amendment and then decide whether to send the amendment back for further negotiations
• So you have completed that first part, the compact negotiation with the director.
• A little background about gaming here in the Lummi Nation: we negotiated and signed one of the first

Summary: The Senate Business, Financial Services and Trade Committee held a public hearing on a proposed amendment to the Washington State tribal gaming compact involving the Lummi Nation. Tina Griffin of the Washington State Gambling Commission explained the compact amendment process under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act and said the state and tribe had reached tentative agreement. She noted the commission’s role, the legislature’s 30-day hearing window, and that the proposal would next go to a commission hearing and then potentially to the governor for review. Lummi Nation representatives, including Vice Chair Terence Adams and tribal gaming officials, said the amendments would update their compact to add higher gaming limits, allow extension of credit to customers, and authorize electronic table games, along with conforming definition changes. They described tribal gaming as an important source of revenue for governmental services, infrastructure, and jobs, and said the proposed changes would be regulated through internal controls and the Lummi Tribal Gaming Commission to protect game integrity and customer welfare. Senator Hasegawa asked several questions about how customer credit would work, what limits would apply, and what oversight would exist. Commission staff said the detailed framework and limits would be set by the tribe after approval, with responsible gaming safeguards such as know-your-customer procedures and self-exclusion checks. Staff also said similar compact provisions had already been approved for other tribes, and that the tribe would follow applicable federal requirements such as the Bank Secrecy Act. No public comment was offered, and the committee closed the hearing without taking a vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• . negotiations. negotiations.
• We’re negotiating on the three bills we agreed to negotiate on right now.
• We’re negotiating on the three bills we agreed to negotiate on right now.
• > the</c> negotiate.
• We're negotiating on the negotiate.

Bills: HR747 , HR719 , HB5371

Keywords: courthouse construction, federal regulations, urban development, government spending, judicial facilities, political violence, Charlie Kirk, civil discourse, freedom of speech, unity, political extremism, condemnation, Civic engagement, continuing resolution, appropriations, fiscal year 2026, omnibus, government funding, federal budget, USDA

Transcript Highlights:

• I really have—you have taken a good negotiated bill and poisoned it. ...a good negotiated bill and poisoned
• I had a question: how many people were at the table to negotiate this?
• Madam Chair, there is no negotiated bill.
• And I hope that the negotiations will continue.
• So it was basically kind of almost a three-way negotiation.

Committee: House House Health & Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• negotiated negotiated uh<01:13:36.120><c> cost.
• </c><01:14:33.680><c> Is</c> limitation on their negotiations. Is limitation on their negotiations.
• </c> health plan, you can no longer negotiate health plan, you can no longer negotiate your<01:22:35.640
• </c> start at and we talk about negotiating start at and we talk about negotiating and<01:25:52.600><
• </c><01:34:35.520><c> points</c> back with the same negotiating points back with the same negotiating

Committee: Joint Public Health and Welfare

Transcript Highlights:

• From there, the PBMs will negotiate discounted rates for their plan sponsors.
• The PBMs walked away from those policy negotiations.
• If you take their ability to negotiate it away or regulate it to the point, Their ability to negotiate
• it away or regulate it to the point where it's difficult to negotiate.
• They will be the starting point for a negotiation.

Bills: SB511 , SB512 , HB591 , HB909 , HB938 , HB1154 , HB1187

Committee: Senate Insurance

Keywords: automobile repairs, insurance transparency, repair shop liability, non-OEM parts, policyholder rights, automobile insurance, appraisal process, insurance policyholders, dispute resolution, claim valuation, behavioral health, crisis services, mental health care, insurance coverage, healthcare access, pharmacy benefit managers, reimbursement standards, local pharmacies, drug pricing, regulation

Transcript Highlights:

• here on this measure is to allow public sector unions to actually negotiate this bill.
• </c><00:16:30.079><c> this</c><00:16:30.240><c> bill</c> to um thr actually negotiate this bill to um
• </c> contributions and the negotiations contributions and the negotiations behind<00:17:14.640><c> it
• is something that we think is a negotiation between us and the employee group.
• process. what we negotiate so uh setting a what we negotiate so uh setting a percentage<00:26:07.760

Committee: House Labor

Transcript Highlights:

• Do you negotiate with the unions for the judicial branch, or does the executive branch negotiate for
• Do you negotiate with the unions for the judicial branch, or does the executive branch negotiate for
• Shorba, Madam Chair, Representative Ric, um, we do all of our own negotiations.
• Do you negotiate with the unions for the judicial branch, or does the executive branch negotiate for
• um do you negotiate with the unions for um do you negotiate with the unions for the<00:29:40.640><c>

Transcript Highlights:

• we notified Labmar that it was selected as the preferred proposer, which meant we could begin negotiations
• And so I think, you know, throughout this process, as things are being negotiated, I want us to be—because
• — You know, throughout this process, as things are being negotiated, I want us to be cognizant of the
• day competitive period before we make a selection, after which we do have some flexibility with negotiating
• I'll just— ...have some flexibility with negotiating. Yeah, okay. It's a good deal.

Summary: The Louisiana Transportation Authority met on March 26 with a quorum present and approved the September 10, 2025 minutes. The main item was the Cameron Ferry privatization proposal from Labmar Ferry Services. Staff explained the ferry’s current operational problems, including reliability issues with the aging Cameron No. 2 vessel, limited backup capacity, and staffing challenges. They also reviewed the competitive solicitation process that followed Labmar’s unsolicited proposal, noting that Labmar was the only proposer and that local entities, including the Cameron Parish Police Jury and Cameron Port Harbor and Terminal District, had no objection to the concept. Staff and counsel outlined the statutory public-purpose factors the board had to consider and described the scope of a potential agreement, which would cover vessel operations, maintenance, facilities, communications, dry docking, and emergency response. Board members praised DOTD staff and the Cameron ferry workers for their long service and emphasized the need for more reliable service and better contingency planning. Senator Abraham asked procedural questions about the unsolicited proposal and the solicitation process. The board first voted that the privatization proposal would serve a public purpose, then voted to approve the proposal contingent on execution of a comprehensive agreement; both motions passed without objection. The meeting also covered next steps. DOTD said negotiations would continue through spring and early summer, with a possible transition to Labmar in late summer 2026 if an agreement and funding are secured. Staff reported that two new hybrid ferries, the Holly Beach and the Cameron, are expected in May and August 2026, and that temporary docking and site improvements are underway. A feasibility study for terminal expansion estimated costs between $30 million and $50 million, with permitting and design likely taking at least a year and a half to two years. Members discussed the need for a multi-year funding plan, and the meeting ended with a motion to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• So my understanding is that there are negotiated rates for dentists to charge through dental plans.
• And the reimbursed rate that the dentist has already negotiated is no longer on the table because the
• So the contract, per se, between the negotiation...
• The reality is the person, the patient, can work with the dentist to negotiate what that price is.
• The patient can work with the dentist to negotiate what that price is.

Bills: HB1411 , HB3143 , HB3144 , HB3901 , HCR1019 , HB3981 , HB4248 , HB3194 , HB3849 , HB4095 , HB4302 , HB3342 , HB3344 , HB3287 , HB3645 , HB3647 , HB3930 , HB3931 , HB1818 , HB4454 , HB4336

Keywords: True Grit Trail, Oklahoma, tourism, signage, Department of Transportation, state parks, historical sites, economic development, medical marijuana, license transfer, Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority, moratorium, business regulation, commercial grower licenses, licensing restrictions, agriculture, psychological autopsy, mental health, suicide prevention, state health department