School employers would pay at least 80% of insurance costs

School districts and charter schools would pay at least 80% of the cost of insurance. The rule covers employees of school districts and charter schools. This provision would take effect July 1, 2026.

The board could no longer grant waivers for health, disability income or term life insurance. The rule applies to school districts and charter schools seeking to opt out of health, disability income or term life insurance through the authority. The restriction covers waivers of school district and charter school participation in the Public School Insurance Authority. The board could not grant these waivers beginning July 1, 2027, and existing waivers would no longer be effective after June 30, 2027.

The state agency responsible for state employee health benefits would establish reference-based pricing for hospital services. The pricing program would cover in-network and out-of-network hospital services under state employee health plans. Hospitals could not bill plan members above the payment limit set by the health care authority secretary, except for cost sharing allowed by the member’s plan. This provision would take effect July 1, 2026.