Transcript Highlights:

• The EIPA is not nationally certified; it's more of a specialty plan.
• plan.
• atrip program the hospital rate atrip program the hospital rate Improvement<00:26:05.600> plan
• <00:51:16.720> the that is not a negotiated rate the that is not a negotiated rate the federal
• <00:54:32.559> their that's what they use to plan their that's what they use to plan their

Keywords: 00:00 Call to Order/Roll Call 00:16 Consideration of Referred Administrative Regulations 25:49 Discussion of Hospital Rate Improvement Plan 58:50 Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The committee began by reviewing a large slate of administrative regulations and explaining that it does not approve regulations but can find them deficient and send them back for further work. Members then asked questions on several items, including EMS reciprocity, dental hygienist licensure, and interpreter licensure. The EMS board explained that reciprocity would extend to applicants from any state, not just contiguous states, because the underlying statute had been amended. On the dental regulation, staff said the changes mainly clarified licensure requirements, reinstatement fees, and that dental hygienists administering local anesthetic must do so under direct dentist supervision. The most extended discussion involved the Board of Interpreters for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. The board chair said the main concern was that the EIPA is an educational specialty assessment, not a nationally recognized certification, yet the regulation would allow it to support full licensure. Members discussed whether that could let educational interpreters work outside their intended scope and whether a separate educational license or statutory change would be more appropriate. The board said it did not think the regulation could be fixed further at this point and suggested a statute could create a narrower educational interpreter license. After discussion, the committee voted to defer both related interpreter regulations, 201 KAR 39:030 and the companion regulation, for further work. The committee then took up two community mental health regulations, 907 KAR 1:044 and 907 KAR 5:005, which had been found deficient in Administrative Regulations. Department for Medicaid Services staff said the rules would expand and rename the mental health associate role as a behavioral health associate, making the role available in many more facilities, but would also require additional coursework or progress toward licensure. Some members and providers raised access-to-care concerns, especially for rural areas and unlicensed staff already working in the field. Staff said the proposal had been revised through work with CMHCs and licensing boards, but the committee ultimately voted to defer both regulations as well. After finishing the regulation review, the committee heard a presentation from the Kentucky Hospital Association on the ATRIP hospital rate improvement program. Hospital representatives said ATRIP is a Medicaid state-directed payment program funded through a provider tax and federal matching dollars, allowing hospitals to receive payments tied to quality measures. They reported improvements including lower Medicaid readmissions, high sepsis screening rates, reduced infections and opioid prescribing, expanded postpartum depression and suicide screening, and training for more than 1,000 people. They said the program has helped hospitals invest in staffing and quality improvement and warned that without it, many hospitals would face severe financial strain.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is consistent with historic plan.
• energy preparedness planning. energy preparedness planning.
• We do the energy security planning work.
• This bill complements the planning.
• , renovated annually, and at that rate, renovated annually, and at that rate, we're<00:58:31.200>

Bills: HF4560, HF4559, HF2317, HF3179, HF4880, HF2862, HF4374

Keywords: Public Utilities Commission, PUC, energy regulation, utility regulation, electric utility, public utility, rate case, multiyear rate plan, decoupling, rate decoupling, greenhouse gas, social cost of carbon, environmental cost, resource planning, certificate of need, distributed renewable energy, interconnection, budget billing, electronic filing, contested case

Transcript Highlights:

• and thus lower costs for health plans.
• The rates that are being utilized now are excessive.
• With the rate increases, we are starting to see the rate increases decrease percentage-wise, but they're
• The current rate regulation system in Texas does not allow for excessive rates.
• But the ultimate arbiter in a rate is the customer, because the customer... ...will pay a rate they feel

Bills: HB854, HB 1052, HB1642, HB2076, HB3042, HB3695, HB3787, HB4062, HB4092, SB213, SB493, SB896, HB5519, HB4635

Keywords: insurance, replacement cost, homeowner's policy, renter's policy, condominium insurance, property damage, claims process, telemedicine, teledentistry, telehealth, health benefit plan, insurance coverage, out-of-state services, anxiety, pain management, contraceptive devices, women's health, medical procedures, healthcare, laboratory

Transcript Highlights:

• their practice, the new doctor must go through a lengthy credentialing process with health insurance plans
• This means the patient must pay out of network rates, delay their care until the new doctor is credentialed
• practice is required to pay the health insurer the difference between in-network and out-of-network rates

Bills: HB854, HB 1052, HB1642, HB2076, HB3042, HB3695, HB3787, HB4062, HB4092, SB213, SB493, SB896, HB5519, HB4635

Keywords: insurance, replacement cost, homeowner's policy, renter's policy, condominium insurance, property damage, claims process, telemedicine, teledentistry, telehealth, health benefit plan, insurance coverage, out-of-state services, anxiety, pain management, contraceptive devices, women's health, medical procedures, healthcare, laboratory

Transcript Highlights:

• kind of helps that system that's already guided because the PSC would take information and set the rates

Bills: HB68, HB140, HB168

Keywords: foreign investment, agriculture, property rights, critical infrastructure, sanctions, HB140, private sewer systems, wastewater utilities, Public Service Commission, PSC jurisdiction, utility regulation, rate setting, rate consolidation, affiliated systems, common ownership, private utilities, sewer rates, wastewater management, Alabama utilities, Jefferson County Board of Health

Transcript Highlights:

• Utilities can request a rate increase every 12 months with no cap on how much they can raise their rates
• A rate change under this section may not result in a rate increase to any class or category of ratepayer
• We are obligated to File rate applications that establish our just and reasonable rates based on our
• When our members file rate cases, Class A size or otherwise, they typically consider the impact a rate
• their rates were being increased.

Bills: HB 29, HB 685, HB 1633, HB 1689, HB 1690, HB 1918, HB 2010, HB 2500, HB 2608, HB 2626

Keywords: water audit, water loss, water loss mitigation plan, municipally owned utility, municipal utility, water conservation, Texas Water Development Board, TCEQ, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, water leakage, leak detection, billing data accuracy, utility validation, water audit validation, water scarcity, water management, infrastructure, public utility, conservation plan, administrative penalty

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill further suggests that water loss mitigation plans be rolled into the conservation plans that
• Plan, is there such a thing?
• conservation plan is both.
• Ultimately, the board-approved plan.
• having a more detailed plan.

Bills: HB29, HB685, HB1633, HB1689, HB1690, HB1918, HB2010, HB2500, HB2608, HB2626, HB29

Keywords: water audit, water loss, water loss mitigation plan, municipally owned utility, municipal utility, water conservation, Texas Water Development Board, TCEQ, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, water leakage, leak detection, billing data accuracy, utility validation, water audit validation, water scarcity, water management, infrastructure, public utility, conservation plan, administrative penalty

Transcript Highlights:

• case, within this section, a rate change may not result in a rate increase to any class or category
• increase rates significantly.
• Interest rates.
• We are obligated to file rate applications that establish our just and reasonable rates based on our
• In rate cases, class A size or otherwise, they typically consider the impact a rate increase will have

Bills: HB29, HB685, HB1633, HB1689, HB1690, HB1918, HB2010, HB2500, HB2608, HB2626, HB29

Keywords: water audit, water loss, water loss mitigation plan, municipally owned utility, municipal utility, water conservation, Texas Water Development Board, TCEQ, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, water leakage, leak detection, billing data accuracy, utility validation, water audit validation, water scarcity, water management, infrastructure, public utility, conservation plan, administrative penalty

Transcript Highlights:

• We appreciate and recognize the rate compression policies in place today and lowering the rate for all
• Sure, so we have the voter approved rate, which is the highest rate that you could approve without a,
• We have typically adopted a rate lower than the voter approved rate in the last several years in order
• to keep our property tax rate low.
• But what you're saying is right, that yes, tax rates go up and then that tax rate is paid by everyone

Bills: HB8, HB9, HJR1, HB 22

Keywords: HB 8, Texas public school accountability, school accountability, public school transparency, STAAR, state assessments, instructionally supportive assessment program, Student Success Tool, Texas Education Agency, TEA, accountability ratings, A-F ratings, through-year assessment, benchmark testing, norm-referenced assessment, college career military readiness, CCMR, local accountability plan, school district performance, campus turnaround

Transcript Highlights:

• We appreciate and recognize the rate compression policy. and lowering the rate for all taxpayers helps
• What's your all's tax rate?
• We have typically adopted a rate lower than the voter approved rate in the last several years in order
• to keep our property tax rate low.
• If rates go up, if they're not lowered, somebody's going to pay. for that higher rate.

Bills: HB8, HB9, HJR1, HB22, HB8, HB9, HJR1, HB22

Keywords: HB 8, school finance, compressed tax rate, maximum compressed tax rate, MCR, PYMCR, property tax, school district taxes, Education Code, Tax Code, state aid, school funding formula, local school taxes, Texas school finance, tax rate compression, public education funding, ad valorem tax, tangible personal property, income-producing property, business personal property

Transcript Highlights:

• Excuse me, the old rollback rate, but now we call it the voter-approved rate.
• tax rates at the voter-approval tax rate, and how often voters have approved tax rates in excess of
• rate, and 19% of cities approved by voters tax rates above the voter-approval rate.
• So even where the rates have been and with lots of thoughtful planning, it sounds like you're relying
• And we did go up above the no new revenue rate, but this year we're planning for the no new revenue rate

Bills: SB9

Keywords: property tax, ad valorem tax, voter-approval tax rate, no-new-revenue tax rate, tax rate calculation, Tax Code, local government finance, municipality, county, special taxing unit, sales and use tax, property tax cap, tax rollback, tax levy, maintenance and operations, debt rate, disaster relief rate, Texas Legislature, local taxing unit

Summary: The Senate Committee on Local Government met to hear Senate Bill 9, which would lower the voter-approval tax rate for certain local taxing units from 3.5% to 2.5%. Sen. Bettencourt, the bill author, argued the change would continue the state’s property tax reforms begun in 2019, slow local levy growth, and give voters more say over larger tax increases. He and supporters cited data showing property tax levies have grown faster than population plus inflation, and said the bill would help protect taxpayers while preserving the state’s broader investments in school tax relief, water, rural law enforcement, and ambulance funding. Supporters included the Texas Taxpayers and Research Association, the Texas Association of Business, the Texas Public Policy Foundation, and the Texas Association of Manufacturers. They said the bill would improve transparency, encourage more disciplined budgeting, and create certainty for homeowners and businesses. They argued that lower tax-rate growth would help attract and retain employers and investment, and that voters would still be able to approve higher rates when needed. Local officials and other opponents said the bill would constrain cities and counties facing rapid growth, inflation, infrastructure needs, and public safety costs. Testimony from county judges, city finance officials, firefighters, and urban county representatives emphasized pressures from jail operations, roads, water, EMS, police and fire staffing, and unfunded mandates. Several witnesses asked for carve-outs or exemptions for public safety and disaster-related costs, warning that a one-size-fits-all cap could force service cuts or shift costs elsewhere. The committee heard extensive questioning but no final vote or disposition on the bill was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• So that's why this bill would disallow the use of credit scores in our Premium rating system.
• The question would be: Has there been any state that has banned the credit scoring and seen their rates
• I think they're using this plan to provide to their employees.
• that are passed through these plans.
• Is that will those discounts be preventing those discounts now through this plan to the employer that

Bills: SB1303, SB1343, SB1435, SB1438, SB1444, SB1641, SB1765, SB1916, SB2067

Keywords: workers' compensation, workers comp, Oklahoma Workers' Compensation Commission, Administrative Workers' Compensation Act, self-insurance guaranty fund, multiple injury trust fund, physician advisory committee, advisory council on workers' compensation, workers' compensation court, insurance, employer liability, self-insured employer, fund transfer, records transfer, agency reorganization, statutory cleanup, technical corrections, Title 85A, SB1343, Vision Plan Contractual Requirements Act

Transcript Highlights:

• the Texas Municipal retirement System with greater flexibility in determining employee contribution rates
• Under current law, a city may set member contribution rates at 5%, 6%, or 7% of employee compensation
• It does not mandate an increase in contribution rates.
• Municipalities that adopted different contribution rates for different departments prior to September
• Strategic plan on even numbered years.

Bills: HB104

Keywords: property tax, ad valorem tax, tax rate election, voter-approval tax rate, no-new-revenue tax rate, de minimis rate, local government, special district, tax increase, tax notice, public hearing, tax code, Health and Safety Code, Texas property taxes, taxing unit, election threshold, two-thirds vote, majority vote, budget approval

Transcript Highlights:

• of return, uh, and the interest rates on the ESF and I understand the importance of liquidity, but I
• A $5 billion investment at that rate earns about $210 million a year.
• Their average rate of return has been 8%.
• What's the, what's the rate of return on that?
• Uh, filing it with the rates as an expense or, uh, filing it, uh, with individual policyholders.

Bills: HB104

Keywords: property tax, ad valorem tax, tax rate election, voter-approval tax rate, no-new-revenue tax rate, de minimis rate, local government, special district, tax increase, tax notice, public hearing, tax code, Health and Safety Code, Texas property taxes, taxing unit, election threshold, two-thirds vote, majority vote, budget approval

Transcript Highlights:

• , are, you know, compared to their plan, are, you know, compared to their plan, the<00:27:20.880>
• Virtual power plant plans must be built into a public utilities integrated resource plan filing.
• Virtual power plant plans must be best.
• financial incentive, but uh all rate financial incentive, but uh all rate payers<00:54:25.680>
• So, I appreciate return rate of return.

Bills: HF2986, HF3555

Keywords: virtual power plant, VPP, distributed energy resources, DER, demand response, load management, grid modernization, peak demand, peak shaving, battery storage, energy storage, solar photovoltaic, solar panels, electric vehicles, smart thermostats, heat pumps, aggregator, public utilities commission, PUC, rate recovery

Transcript Highlights:

• I also wanted to flag multi-year rate plans. U Mr.
• I also wanted to flag multi-year rate plans. U Mr. Litman brought up multi-year rate plans.
• <00:49:22.960> Litman multi-year rate plans. U Mr. Litman multi-year rate plans. U Mr.
• B. brought up multi-year rate plans.
• B. brought up multi-year rate plans.

Bills: HF4236, HF4122, HF4377

Keywords: public utility, interim rates, utility rates, rate case, general rate case, Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, PUC, rate increase cap, rate freeze, refunds, customer refunds, ratepayer protection, electric utility, gas utility, regulated utility, ratemaking, return on equity, rate base, test year, rate design

Transcript Highlights:

• And then the bill also requires that the agency provide you what if ratings, which basically shows you
• my My understanding of the bill is that the first two exams will not be figured into A through F ratings

Bills: HB8, HB26, HB192

Keywords: HB 8, Texas public school accountability, school accountability, public school transparency, STAAR, state assessments, instructionally supportive assessment program, Student Success Tool, Texas Education Agency, TEA, accountability ratings, A-F ratings, through-year assessment, benchmark testing, norm-referenced assessment, college career military readiness, CCMR, local accountability plan, school district performance, campus turnaround

Transcript Highlights:

• Regulated health plans.
• HB 2516 requires insurers that already... offer Medigap plans to those 65 and older to offer plans at
• a plan.
• Right now, the only supplemental plan that someone under 65 is offered is Plan A. ...doesn't pay for
• All the other plans are lettered plans. I think A through M or N.

Bills: HB1464, HB1635, HB2516, HB3317, HB3502, HB4012, HB4268, HB4386, HB4877, SB916

Keywords: prescription drugs, drug pricing, pharmacy benefits, health insurance, health benefit plan, insurer, HMO, self-insured employer, public employer, school district, county, municipality, university system, higher education, retirees, dependent coverage, stop-loss coverage, bulk purchasing, group purchasing, purchasing pool

Transcript Highlights:

• projects can take three to ten years from the initial planning to completion.
• above the voter approval tax rate for a specific purpose.
• It states that the plan, referring to a reappraisal plan, may not include a standard where the timeline
• Built into that bill was what we call an unused increment rate.
• That rate allowed a taxing entity that adopted a rate below the cutoff to... ...be able to bank the difference

Bills: SB1277, SB1531, SB2452, SB2520, SB2521, SB2529, SB2538, SB2539, SB2541, SB2873

Keywords: municipal sales tax, street maintenance, local option tax, Tax Code Chapter 327, sales and use tax, street repair, sidewalk maintenance, water infrastructure, wastewater system, stormwater system, local election, ballot language, reauthorization, municipal finance, infrastructure funding, Texas municipalities, street and sidewalk tax, special district tax, public works, property tax

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill also requires that the agency provide what-if ratings, which basically shows you what you would
• but my understanding of the bill is that the first two exams will not be figured into A through F ratings

Bills: HB8, HB26, HB192

Keywords: HB 8, Texas public school accountability, school accountability, public school transparency, STAAR, state assessments, instructionally supportive assessment program, Student Success Tool, Texas Education Agency, TEA, accountability ratings, A-F ratings, through-year assessment, benchmark testing, norm-referenced assessment, college career military readiness, CCMR, local accountability plan, school district performance, campus turnaround