Video & Transcript Research : 'payment rates'

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MN
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Energy Finance and Policy Committee 3/10/26

Energy Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • We'll match those payments at 100% and offer a $20 flat discount on those rates as well.
  • We'll match those payments at 100% and offer a $20 flat discount on those rates as well.
  • We'll match those payments at 100% and offer a $20 flat discount on those rates as well.
  • We'll match those payments at 100% and offer a $20 flat discount on those rates as well.
  • We'll match those payments at 100% and offer a $20 flat discount on those rates as well.
Bills: HF3458, HF3777, HF3778, HF3912
Keywords: electric utilities, service areas, Tribal lands, Minnesota statute, energy regulation, utility rates, public utilities, Public Utilities Commission, PUC, ratepayer, consumer protection, affordable energy, energy affordability, ability to pay, just and reasonable rates, rate regulation, electric rates, natural gas rates, energy conservation, renewable energy
Summary: The committee approved the March 5, 2026 minutes and then took up House File 3458, as amended, which would exempt tribes from utility exclusive rights and assigned service areas. The bill’s author and the Upper Sioux community chairman said the measure was prompted by a dispute over a solar project at the tribal casino and argued the issue is really about tribal sovereignty, not solar, citing tribal civil regulatory authority and prior court cases. The amendment A1 was adopted before testimony. Testimony was split. Chairman Kevin Jensel of the Upper Sioux community strongly supported the bill, saying the tribe should not be forced to follow utility service territories and that the state should correct a long-standing omission in law. Derek Mo of the Minnesota Rural Electric Association opposed the bill, warning it would undermine the regulatory compact, reliability, long-term planning, and financing for electric service, especially in tribal areas. Justin Johns of East Central Energy also opposed the bill, but emphasized that many cooperatives have productive tribal partnerships and said his co-op has worked successfully with the Mille Lacs Band on solar, resilience, and workforce efforts; he cautioned that removing service obligations could leave difficult-to-serve areas underinvested. Members discussed whether the Public Utilities Commission process already underway should be allowed to resolve the dispute and whether the bill’s scope could extend beyond the current solar issue. The chair responded that the bill was a legislative approach to a problem that had not been resolved and said the amendment addressed concerns about removing the obligation to serve. A roll call was requested, and the committee voted to re-refer House File 3458, as amended, to the General Register.
KY
KY

Kentucky 2025 Regular Session

Interim Joint Committee on Appropriations and Revenue (8-20-25)

Transcript Highlights:
  • <00:31:17.360> uh payments to match the Medicare rate uh payments to match the Medicare rate
  • a about SNAP payment error rates for a about SNAP payment error rates for a minute<00:37:10.320><
  • Upon a payment error rate.
  • payment error rate since has been a SNAP payment error rate since there's<00:40:51.520> been<00
  • payment error rate until June our 2025 payment error rate until June of<00:48:02.800> 2026.
Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 FY 2025 Budget Close Out 00:02:55 Impressions of H.R. – 119th Congress 00:28:15 SNAP Payment Error Rates 00:37:05, 958, all
Summary: The committee first established a quorum, approved the July minutes, and recognized Jennifer Hayes of the Department of State Budget Director for her retirement and long service. Secretary Hicks then presented a review of fiscal year 2025 closeout for the general fund and road fund, explaining that the general fund ended with a $313 million surplus and the road fund with a $61 million surplus. He attributed the general fund result to strong corporate income and LLC tax receipts, investment income, and lower-than-budgeted spending, while noting that individual income tax and sales tax underperformed estimates. He also described how the general fund surplus was allocated, with $62 million used for necessary government expenses and $251 million deposited into the budget reserve trust fund, which remained at historically strong levels. For the road fund, he said the surplus would be deposited into the Department of Highways construction account, and he highlighted record motor vehicle usage tax receipts despite lower motor fuels tax revenue due to a rate decline. Members asked questions about the pass-through entity tax, delayed filing deadlines, THC beverage sales, and income tax collection from undocumented workers. Hicks said the pass-through entity tax remains difficult to model because of timing issues and the first year’s unusual filing pattern, and that staff are still working with the Department of Revenue and other states to improve forecasting. He said the delayed filing deadline likely would not require a major restatement and that any related receipts would still be counted in fiscal 2026. On THC beverages, he said the issue would be considered in the next forecasting cycle. On the undocumented-worker question, he said withholding may capture some of the revenue but referred broader collection efforts to the Department of Revenue. The committee then shifted to an overview of the federal reconciliation act’s potential impact on the next biennial budget, with Hicks and Commissioner Lisa Dennis focusing on Medicaid and SNAP. Hicks said the Congressional Budget Office estimated roughly $900 billion in federal savings over 10 years, driven in part by work or community engagement requirements for the Medicaid expansion population and limits on state-directed payments. He emphasized that CMS still must issue regulations to define how the state-directed payment reductions will be calculated, making the exact fiscal impact uncertain. He referred members to a prior Medicaid Oversight Advisory Board presentation for more detail, and the discussion remained informational with no votes or formal actions taken on the federal changes.
KY
KY

Kentucky 2026 Regular Session

KY Health & Human Services Delivery System Task Force (8-22-23)

ND
ND

North Dakota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Appropriations Apr 3rd, 2025 at 08:30 am

Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:
  • for the state, if we're non-grandfathered, would not apply because non-grandfathered requires co-payments
Bills: SB2271, HB1216
Keywords: adult residential facilities, care services, Medicaid, payment rates, elderly care, health services, North Dakota, prescription drugs, drug affordability, copay assistance, copayment accumulator, deductible accumulator, out-of-pocket maximum, health insurance, health benefit plan, self-insured health plan, self-funded plan, third-party payment, manufacturer assistance, patient assistance program
Summary: The Appropriations Committee met with a quorum and took up three bills. House Bill 1216, dealing with prescription drug expense co-pay accumulators in health plans, was presented by Rep. Karen Carl’s, who explained it would prevent insurers from refusing to count third-party assistance toward deductibles for patients using high-cost, non-generic drugs. An amendment was offered to clarify effective dates, including a delayed January 1, 2026 start for PERS coverage. PERS testified that the amendment would align with its calendar-year benefit structure and likely reduce the fiscal note. The amendment was adopted 16-0, and the bill was set aside for further discussion later. House Bill 1199, creating a criminal justice data-sharing system and missing persons/missing Indigenous people task force, was introduced with a committee amendment changing the Attorney General reference to the Attorney General or designee. The committee noted the bill includes a $250,000 general fund appropriation for ongoing costs. The amendment passed 16-0, and the amended bill received a do pass recommendation by a 15-1 vote, with one no vote from Senator Magrum. House Bill 1531, appropriating $75,000 for an irrigation expansion study by the Agriculture Commissioner, was supported as a way to update older economic-impact studies on irrigation and assess opportunities for expansion. Members discussed its relationship to broader study pauses and the history of irrigation development in the state, including Garrison Diversion and remaining authorized acres. The bill passed 16-0. The committee then discussed scheduling for the coming week, noting a heavy bill load and plans for daily morning meetings before adjourning.
OK
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Business and Insurance 2ND REVISED Mar 5th, 2026 at 09:30 am

Business and Insurance

Transcript Highlights:
  • issuers and networks from coordinating swipe fees and gives merchants more freedom in how they accept payments
  • They don't have any control over what the tax rate would be on their products.
  • It's a variable rate. They don't have any control. They don't have Any way to foresee that?
  • So, looking on the bill that we're on right now, an exempted payment card issuer means a payment card
  • We currently have a use-and-file system, which means that carriers can effectively change rates, and
Bills: SB1241, SB1242, SB1442, SB1592, SB1623, SB1625, SB1913, SB1940, SB1949, SB2102, SB592, SB992
Keywords: ticket sales, resale, consumer protection, fraud, bots, transparency, refunds, event tickets, medical marijuana, cannabis, marijuana license, commercial grower, grow operation, bond requirement, land reclamation fee, revolving fund, environmental remediation, redevelopment, Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority, OMMA
MN
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Health Finance and Policy Committee 2/23/26

Health Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • Massage therapy payment like doctors do.
  • can only have these rates reviewed when there's a change of 2.5% or more than the encounter rate.
  • can only have these rates reviewed when there's a change of 2.5% or more than the encounter rate.
  • can only have these rates reviewed when there's a change of 2.5% or more than the encounter rate.
  • can only have these rates reviewed when there's a change of 2.5% or more than the encounter rate.
Bills: HF362, HF2590, HF2760, HF3444
Keywords: massage therapy, Asian bodywork therapy, massage therapist, Asian bodywork therapist, licensure, professional licensing, health occupations, Department of Health, commissioner of health, advisory council, protected title, unlicensed practice, scope of practice, consumer protection, background check, professional liability insurance, continuing education, credentialing examination, state preemption, municipal regulation
TX
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs May 12th, 2025

Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • However, in some cities, municipally owned utilities adopt increased rates charged to tax-exempt entities
  • House Bill 685 keeps a municipality from adopting an increased rate for water or sewer utility service
  • since 2021, have complained about ongoing secondary drinking water contaminants and repeated excessive rate
  • There have been two rate increases, and we received letters saying that there would be maintenance and
  • There's been two rate increases. We're willing to pay for good water.
Bills: HB630, HB685, HB1318, HB2692
Keywords: outboard motors, certificate of title, vessel regulation, Texas Parks and Wildlife Code, marine documentation, HB 685, municipal utility rates, water rates, sewer rates, local government code, rate discrimination, tax-exempt entities, sales tax exemption, ad valorem tax exemption, nonprofit organizations, charitable organizations, municipal water service, municipal sewer service, utility billing, public utilities
Summary: The Senate Committee on Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs met with no quorum at the start, but later reached quorum and took up several bills. House Bill 2692, codifying the San Antonio River Authority’s enabling legislation and making non-substantive modernization changes, received brief supportive testimony from the River Authority and was left pending before later being voted out favorably. House Bill 685, which would prevent municipalities from charging higher water or sewer rates to tax-exempt entities than comparable customers, also drew support and was reported favorably. House Bill 1318, clarifying compensation issues when a municipality decertifies part of a retail water utility’s service area, was heard without opposition and passed out of committee. House Bill 630, exempting certain older outboard motors from title requirements, likewise passed and was placed on the local and uncontested calendar. The committee spent the most time on Senate Bill 2497, relating to filtration systems for certain public drinking water systems. Senator Zaffirini described the bill as a response to ongoing secondary water quality complaints, while TCEQ testified that such contaminants are aesthetic rather than health-based and that the water remains safe to drink if primary standards are met. The Texas Rural Water Association opposed the bill as written, arguing filtration may not solve most water quality problems and could be costly for small systems, while a consumer witness from Floresville supported it and described repeated rate increases and brown water after a filtration system was removed. Members discussed narrowing the bill through a committee substitute and emphasized the need for flexibility and technical expertise; the committee substitute was adopted and the bill was reported favorably, with Senator Kolkhorst later asking to be recorded as voting no. The committee also heard Senate Bill 2850, which would create a pollinator task force to study habitat loss, public education, and best practices for protecting bees and other pollinators. Senator Menendez and invited witness Erica Thompson of Texas BeeWorks highlighted major colony losses and the economic importance of pollinators to Texas agriculture, and Environment Texas and the Texas Beekeepers Association supported the measure. Members discussed monarch butterflies, native grasses, milkweed, and conservation efforts, and the bill was reported favorably and sent to the local and uncontested calendar. After testimony, the committee also voted out several pending items, including House Bill 5560 with a committee substitute addressing water-loss penalties and infrastructure improvements, and then recessed subject to the call of the chair.
AL
AL

Alabama 2026 1st Special Session

Alabama House Commerce and Small Business Committee Mar 11th, 2026

Commerce and Small Business

FL
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Finance and Tax Feb 12th, 2026

Finance and Tax

Transcript Highlights:
  • requirement in the bill that counties, municipalities, and special districts consider the occupancy rates
  • requirement in the bill that counties and municipalities and special districts consider the occupancy rates
  • The bill also makes clear that rounding applies only to cash, not electronic or card payments, and provides
Bills: S0118, S0450, S0678, S0680, S1074, S1520
Keywords: recreational vehicle parks, special assessments, property tax, occupancy rates, commercial assessment, ad valorem, homestead exemption, disabled veteran, veteran surviving spouse, first responder, line of duty, service-connected death, tax exemption transfer, remarriage, primary residence, Florida Statutes 196.081, property appraiser, local government revenue, surviving spouse tax relief, alcohol distribution
Summary: The Committee on Finance and Tax met with a quorum present and heard several bills, most of them focused on tax policy and property-related exemptions. CS/SB 118 clarified how non-ad valorem special assessments apply to recreational vehicle parks, and an amendment removed a requirement that local governments consider RV park occupancy rates when apportioning assessments. The bill was supported by a Florida Retail Federation representative and was reported favorably. The committee also reported favorably on SB 1520, which modifies Live Local Act property tax exemption provisions by extending the vesting period for the missing middle exemption and expanding the data used for local government opt-outs; SB 678, which reestablishes the framework allowing distributors to deduct unsellable alcohol from monthly excise tax; and CS/SB 680, which creates a sales tax exemption to address double taxation on electricity used at EV charging stations. Each of these bills had support from industry or trade groups, and CS/SB 680 drew comments from Senator Gaetz praising the bill as a solution to prior tax collection confusion. The committee then approved CS/SB 450, which updates property tax exemption rules for surviving spouses of permanently and totally disabled veterans by allowing transfer of a larger portion of the exemption to a new homestead; an amendment raised the transferable amount to up to 120% of the prior exemption. The final bill, CS/SB 1074, was amended to establish uniform rules for rounding cash transactions to the nearest nickel in light of the Federal Reserve’s suspension of penny distribution, while preserving tax calculations and providing liability protections; it also included safeguards for pawn and recycling transactions. All bills considered were reported favorably, Senator Gaetz asked to be recorded as voting yes on all bills, and the committee adjourned without objection.
TX
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Senate Committee on Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs May 12th, 2025

Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • However, in some cities, municipally owned utilities adopt increased rates charged to tax-exempt entities
  • House Bill 685 prevents a municipality from increasing the rate for water or sewer utility service on
  • That qualify for a sales tax or ad valorem tax exemption that is higher than the rate established for
  • Water contaminants and repeated excessive rate increases.
  • There's been two rate increases. We're willing to pay for good water. We have tailored this down.
Bills: HB630, HB685, HB1318, HB2692
Keywords: outboard motors, certificate of title, vessel regulation, Texas Parks and Wildlife Code, marine documentation, HB 685, municipal utility rates, water rates, sewer rates, local government code, rate discrimination, tax-exempt entities, sales tax exemption, ad valorem tax exemption, nonprofit organizations, charitable organizations, municipal water service, municipal sewer service, utility billing, public utilities
TX
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Local Government May 12th, 2025

Local Government

Transcript Highlights:
  • then, of course, this specifically addresses the situation where they're wanting to make a split payment
  • and they don't get notification of the amount of the payment in time to even make that first half.
  • Several years back, we lowered the percentage rate that counties and cities could raise your taxes, right
  • Early detection in Wade's case: early detection in stage one colorectal cancer has a 90% survival rate
  • And this is about split payments catching up on the right month.
Bills: HB198, HB303, HB1535, HB2742, HB3305, HB3348, HB3505, HB3711, HB4753, HB2715, HB21, HB30
Keywords: HB 198, Wade Cannon Act, firefighter cancer screening, occupational cancer screening, fire protection personnel, local government, political subdivision, Texas Commission on Fire Protection, National Fire Protection Association, NFPA standards, occupational medical examination, public safety, firefighter health, cancer prevention, annual health screening, confidential medical exam, pulmonary function test, electrocardiogram, chest x-ray, blood test
Summary: The Committee on Local Government heard and discussed a series of House bills dealing with municipal structure, tax payment timing, local provider participation funds, firefighter cancer screenings, sunset review of the Trinity River Authority, replacement certificates of occupancy, and open meetings enforcement. HB 303 would remove the 501-resident floor so very small type A and B municipalities can convert to type C cities; HB 2742 would give property owners a later first split-payment deadline when tax bills are mailed after November 30; HB 3305 and HB 3348 were local provider participation fund measures with committee substitutes; HB 198 would require political subdivisions to offer occupational cancer screenings for firefighters; HB 1535 was a sunset bill for the Trinity River Authority; HB 4753 would allow a municipality-issued proof of a certificate of occupancy to substitute for a lost original; and HB 3711 would treat certain Open Meetings Act violations as offenses against public administration and require public explanation when prosecutors decline to act. Testimony was generally supportive or limited, with several witnesses and senators emphasizing practical fixes, firefighter health and cost savings, local government transparency, and administrative cleanup. For HB 198, firefighter representatives gave emotional testimony about cancer deaths and the value of early screening. On HB 3711, a witness supported the bill but urged stronger enforcement and broader application. Several senators raised policy concerns on HB 2715 about routing removal proceedings through a regional presiding judge rather than the local county, arguing it could politicize the process. The committee took no public testimony on most bills and repeatedly left them pending subject to call of the chair before later voting them out. HB 21, HB 30, HB 1535, HB 1520, HB 198, HB 303, HB 2742, and HB 4753 were reported to the full Senate, generally by unanimous or near-unanimous votes, and several were also recommended for the local and uncontested calendar. HB 30 passed on a 5-1 vote, while the other reported bills were approved unanimously or with no recorded opposition. The committee then recessed subject to the call of the chair.
OK
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Appropriations and Budget Health Subcommittee Feb 9th, 2026 at 04:30 pm

A&B Health Subcommittee

MN
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Human Services Finance and Policy Committee 3/20/25

Human Services Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • payment for that. Any discussions? payment for that. Any discussions?
  • That includes the following: a payment rate methodology for family residential services as well as life
  • A<01:29:49.520> payment<01:29:49.840> rate<01:29:50.159> methodology<01:29:50.960
  • > for<01:29:51.199> family A payment rate methodology for family A payment rate methodology
  • rates. And there is a cost to this work. rates. And there is a cost to this work.
Bills: HF2216, HF1978, HF2354, HF1963, HF1994, HF1995, HF1894
Keywords: assisted living, nursing home, long-term care, guardian, conservator, resident rights, arbitration, mandatory arbitration, consumer protection, fee increase, rate increase, price hike, private pay, public funds, Medicaid, waiver services, elderly, seniors, older adults, disability rights
AL
AL

Alabama 2026 1st Special Session

Alabama Senate Banking and Insurance Committee Apr 1st, 2026

Banking and Insurance

TX
TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

Insurance Mar 26th, 2025

Insurance

Transcript Highlights:
  • You can't enter into these value-based payment arrangements with employer plans, essentially which are
  • incentives for enrollees to use certain physicians or providers through modified deductibles, co-payments
  • Well, yeah, I can only speak in, in a very general term to, to our physician, you know, payment rates
  • The facility is, is a different billing system, different contracting, different payment rates, but to
  • part of that within your community, so you know where to go from a physician perspective, you know, payment
Bills: HB139
Keywords: ad valorem tax, tax rates, voter-approval, taxing unit, property tax, local government
HI
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

CPC Public Hearing - Thu Apr 9, 2026 @ 2:00 PM HST

Consumer Protection & Commerce

Transcript Highlights:
  • /c><01:14:09.640> case<01:14:10.000> was rates outside of the rate case was rates outside
  • a rate case.
  • More contentious rate cases means more expensive rate cases.
  • rate increases.
  • rate case. rate case.
Bills: SB3302, SB2061, SB2050, SB2102, SB2694, SB2089, SB847
Keywords: SB3302, homemade food products, farm kitchens, home kitchens, Department of Health, DOH, food safety, food labeling, value-added agriculture, small farms, agricultural land, commercial food establishment permit, cottage food, direct-to-consumer sales, local food systems, Hawaii Revised Statutes, chapter 91, farm-to-table, food processing, public health regulation
Summary: The committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce met on April 9, 2026, and heard testimony on several measures. SB 3302 SD1 HD1, dealing with homemade food products, would require the Department of Health to adopt rules for farm kitchens producing homemade food products that are no more stringent than rules for home kitchens. The Department of Health said it supported the bill with technical amendments, and the Hawaii Food Industry Association and Grassroot Institute of Hawaii also supported it. No opposition was heard. A lengthy discussion focused on SB 2061 SD2 HD1, which concerns a 99-year leasehold residential condominium project and HCDA’s rules for sales, income restrictions, and buyback pricing. HCDA supported the bill and said the House draft clarified unclear provisions and would help move the project to pre-sales. Testimony and committee questions centered on whether the project should remain owner-occupied in perpetuity or allow investor purchases after an initial sales period. HCDA explained that the bill was revised to make the project feasible in the market, that 60% of units would be income-restricted for buyers at or below 140% of area median income, and that the remaining units could be sold without owner-occupancy restrictions. Some members and testifiers expressed concern that the bill had shifted away from the original owner-occupancy vision and could become an investment property model, while others argued the changes were necessary for the project to pencil out and compete with fee-simple developments. No vote was taken during the discussion shown. The committee also heard SB 2050 SD1 HD1, which would allow chiropractic students in accredited programs to engage in clinical practice beginning July 1, 2028. The Hawaii Board of Chiropractic and the Hawaii State Chiropractic Association supported the measure, and one testifier described personal experience with student chiropractic care in California. Members questioned why the board requested delaying implementation until 2030, and the board said it needed more time to develop rules because it meets only a few times a year and rulemaking is lengthy. Finally, SB 2102 SD2 HD1, on industrial hemp in commercial feed, was introduced; the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity offered comments, the Department of Health raised concerns about regulating pet food and possible jurisdictional conflict, and a farmer testifying in support suggested narrowing the bill to federally approved livestock feed rather than pet food.
TX
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Senate Committee on Local Government May 12th, 2025

Local Government

Transcript Highlights:
  • Chairman and members, many counties across the state of Texas allow property owners to split payments
  • So, Nichols, several years back, we lowered the percentage rate the county and the cities could raise
  • In Wade's case, early detection in stage one, colorectal cancer has a 90% survival rate.
  • Without objection, so ordered. 3742, which is the payment. Right, okay.
  • Payments catching up on the right month.
Bills: HB198, HB303, HB1535, HB2742, HB3305, HB3348, HB3505, HB3711, HB4753, HB2715, HB21, HB30, HB21, HB198, HB303
Keywords: HB 198, Wade Cannon Act, firefighter cancer screening, occupational cancer screening, fire protection personnel, local government, political subdivision, Texas Commission on Fire Protection, National Fire Protection Association, NFPA standards, occupational medical examination, public safety, firefighter health, cancer prevention, annual health screening, confidential medical exam, pulmonary function test, electrocardiogram, chest x-ray, blood test
TX
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Pensions, Investments & Financial Services Apr 23rd, 2025

Pensions, Investments & Financial Services

Transcript Highlights:
  • same with ATM and point-of-sale skimmers, except TDLR is not involved, since they do not regulate payment
  • So that depends on what the actual investment returns are. returns, what the actual retirement rates
  • We want to make sure that we're not wasting public money through unnecessary long-term interest payments
  • But basically, we shouldn't be spending— we shouldn't be making interest payments 28 years from now on
  • It does not mandate a contribution rate increase.
Bills: HB886, HB1514, HB2434, HB2688, HB2802, HB3161, HB3221, HB4029, HB4339, HB4591, HB4774, HB4802, HB4853, HB5627, SB1737
Keywords: retirement, supplemental payment, benefits, Employees Retirement System, eligible annuitants, legislation, annuity, service credit, Employees Retirement System of Texas, employee benefits, pension reform, public retirement systems, municipality pensions, firefighters, police officers, retirement age, DROP program, actuarial studies, pension benefits, municipal retirement
TX
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Pensions, Investments & Financial Services Apr 23rd, 2025

Pensions, Investments & Financial Services

MN
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee 4/15/26

Agriculture Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • department through June 30th of the year 2030, which I think is a very important aspect to the down payment
  • department through June 30th of the year 2030, which I think is a very important aspect to the down payment
  • is a very important aspect to<00:02:57.640> the<00:02:57.720> down<00:02:57.920> payment
  • to the down payment assistance program. to the down payment assistance program.
  • This will adjust the per diem rates to 125 for these other two committees, and they'll go in to match
Bills: HF3548
Keywords: farm assistance, down payment, agriculture, state funding, loan modification, 1183, house
Summary: The Agricultural Finance and Policy Committee met on April 15, 2026, approved the April 13 minutes with a correction to Assistant Commissioner Peter Kesset’s name, and then took up House File 3548. The bill, moved by Chair Anderson for re-referral to Ways and Means, centered on the farmer down payment assistance program and the Department of Agriculture’s budget and policy provisions. Anderson described the DE4 amendment as compromise language that reserved up to 25% of funds for applicants with purchase contracts, removed a proposed marijuana exclusion, and allowed appropriated funds to remain available through June 30, 2030 rather than reverting to the general fund at the end of the biennium. Laura Schreiber of the Land Stewardship Project testified in support, emphasizing the importance of keeping funds available and urging that grants remain capped at $20,000 so more farmers could participate. The committee then adopted several amendments. A23, described as the governor’s budget request and department policy bill, was adopted and included moving the Emerging Farmers Office into the Agricultural Marketing and Development subdivision, combining some reports into the Agri report, and addressing delegated authority with MDA. A17, allowing certain eggs past their quality assurance date to be donated to food shelves under specific handling requirements, was adopted. A18, adjusting per diem rates for certain non-representative committee members, was adopted. A19, shifting about $20,000 to support farm land transition services such as mediation, contracts, financial planning, tax preparation, estate planning, and housing assistance, was also adopted. A22, which combined funding for wolf depredation claims and the local food purchasing program, drew the most debate. Representative Smith questioned why the two items were combined and sought to divide the amendment, but staff said that would be problematic because the funding changes were interdependent. Supporters said the amendment would pay about 80% of wolf-loss claims and add money for local food purchasing, while opponents argued the local food need was greater and the wolf depredation approach was not the best use of funds. The roll call on A22 was confusing in the transcript, but the amendment ultimately prevailed. A21, which would have removed a physical-contact requirement for farm cervidae containment, failed on a 7-7 tie after opponents argued it would weaken disease protections and supporters said the fencing costs were driving deer farmers out of business. Hansen then declined to move A24, which would have advanced a paraquat ban, saying there was no agreement and he did not want a negative vote at that time. After the DE4 as amended was adopted, the committee took a final roll call on House File 3548 as amended. The bill failed on a 6-8 vote and was laid over. In closing, members on both sides said the bill contained useful provisions for farmers, but disagreement over the unresolved paraquat issue prevented the committee from advancing it.