Transcript Highlights:

• personnel in federal litigation arising out of a claim of sexual misconduct. ...registered nurses, physicians
• , or physician assistants.
• medically tailored meals for enrollees of medical assistance programs, and the meals are meant to treat
• That could be an RN, nurse, or physician, but it needs to be a medical professional, not jail staff.

Bills: HB2510 , SGA9305

Committee: Senate Human Services

Keywords: community custody, probation, Department of Corrections, DOC supervision, Washington criminal law, sentencing, felony supervision, risk assessment, sex offense, serious violent offense, domestic violence, repetitive domestic violence, failure to register, sex offender registration, dangerous mentally ill offender, indeterminate sentence, parole, conditional commutation, gross misdemeanor, misdemeanor

Transcript Highlights:

• fairly when errors occur and treated fairly when errors occur and systems<01:00:27.200><c> issues</c
• We can expect to see a continued decline in an already limited physician supply, especially as it relates
• ,</c><01:28:56.800><c> APRNs,</c> care um discipline, physicians, APRNs, care um discipline, physicians
• </c><01:29:08.560><c> supply,</c><01:29:09.120><c> especially</c> limited um physician supply, especially
• limited um physician supply, especially as<01:29:09.760><c> it</c><01:29:10.000><c> relates</c><01:29

Summary: The committee first approved the draft minutes of its May 16, 2025 meeting, with one correction removing Representative Dry from the attendance list because she was present as a guest rather than an appointed member. The committee then received a Department of Health and Human Services update from Commissioner Lori Weaver, who focused on the rural health transformation grant process. She said the department has been gathering stakeholder input since July, issued a request for information on September 22, and is working toward an end-of-October draft and a November 3 deadline, with a grant writer request expected to go before Governor and Council at no cost to the state. The bulk of the meeting centered on federal changes affecting SNAP and Medicaid. Karen Heert explained that the federal law changes commonly referred to as the “Big Beautiful Bill” or HR1 will affect SNAP eligibility and state costs, including a shift in administrative cost sharing from 50/50 to 75/25 beginning in October 2026 and a possible state share of benefits if New Hampshire’s error rate is too high. She said the program affects about 43,000 households, that New Hampshire’s federal fiscal year 2024 error rate was 7.57% versus a national rate of 10.93%, and that the state must get below 6% to avoid liability. She also said DHS is preparing remediation steps, auditing cases, and seeking technology and staffing support, including a grant for automation and training. Henry Litman then described Medicaid changes under HB2 and the new federal law. He said New Hampshire returned to pre-pandemic eligibility verification rules on July 1, including a 10% income compatibility standard and reduced ex parte renewals, which has increased manual work and contributed to a drop in enrollment from about 185,000 in late June to about 178,000 in early September. He also reviewed new child premiums, pharmacy copays, Granite Advantage premiums, and possible Medicaid work requirements, noting that DHS is working with CMS on implementation details and may use a state plan option rather than an 1115 waiver because it would be less expensive and faster. Members asked several questions about the SNAP error-rate rules, the distinction between administrative and client errors, the effect of unpaid copays, and the timing and legal risk of the Medicaid work requirement; no votes were taken on those policy issues.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a family physician here in St. Paul. I work right up the street.
• I'm a family physician<02:29:33.520><c> here</c><02:29:33.680><c> in</c><02:29:33.920><c> St.
• I work right physician here in St. Paul.
• 30:51.040><c> say</c><02:30:51.280><c> that</c> members, 94% of physicians say that members, 94% of physicians
• ><c> prior</c> physicians reports that prior physicians reports that prior authorization<02:31:06.479

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• He got ChatGPT-generated physician assistance letters.
• This physician assistant had never met the veteran. She was from another state.
• </c> GBT created generated physician GBT created generated physician assistance<01:18:50.800><c> letters
• </c><01:18:51.600><c> This</c><01:18:51.840><c> physician</c> assistance letters.
• This physician assistance letters.

Committee: House Veterans and Military Affairs Division

Transcript Highlights:

• Adrian Mohammed with the Union of American Physicians and Dentists in support.
• George Osborne, representing the Union of American Physicians and Dentists, in support.
• I'm a family doctor, president of the Union of American Physicians and Dentists.
• Currently, UC resident physicians are negotiating their first statewide contract.
• George Osborne for the Union of American Physicians and Dentists in support. Thank you.

Summary: The committee heard several bills related to public employment. AB 1601, by Assemblymember Rogers, would give Sonoma County flexibility to work with its retirement board and actuaries on a possible retiree cost-of-living adjustment; supporters said Sonoma is the only 1937 Act county system without an automatic COLA and that retirees have gone since 2008 without an increase, while no opposition testified. The bill passed on a do-pass vote and was placed on the floor. AB 1729, by Assemblymember Lee, would update state telework policy by requiring written telework plans, adding more structure before return-to-office decisions, and restoring public reporting on telework savings. Supporters, including SEIU Local 1000, the Association of California State Supervisors, and many state workers, argued telework improves productivity, reduces emissions and commute costs, and could save the state about $225 million annually; there was no opposition. The committee approved the bill 6-0 and re-referred it to Appropriations. AB 1630, by Assemblymember Colosa, would allow union representatives to invite bargaining-unit members to observe meet-and-confer sessions, including remotely, to increase transparency and engagement. UC and CSU opposed the measure, saying observer rules should be negotiated at the table and warning the bill lacked clear limits on the number of observers and could create logistical and security problems. The bill passed 5-0 with one member not voting and was sent to Appropriations. AB 1750, also by Assemblymember Colosa, would require school employees who exhaust sick leave and are absent due to illness or injury to receive full salary for an additional five months. CTA supported the bill as a needed safety net for teachers and classified staff, while school districts and administrators opposed it over cost, staffing, and student stability concerns, saying it could encourage longer absences and strain already tight budgets. The committee passed the bill 5-0 and sent it to Higher Education. AB 1896, by Assemblymember Gonzalez, would bar people who participated in immigration enforcement from holding California public employment, with supporters framing it as a response to ICE and Border Patrol actions and opponents warning it was overbroad and could exclude otherwise qualified applicants from law enforcement jobs; the bill passed 5-1 and was referred to Public Safety.

Transcript Highlights:

• a bacterial infection or treating a bacterial infection or something<01:08:34.040><c> like</c><01:08
• And you see that two people are often not treated the exact same.
• And you see that two people are often not treated the exact same.
• And you see that two people are often not treated the exact same.
• You see that two people are often not treated the exact same.

Committee: House Criminal Justice and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• Skin in the game to actually train more physicians in the place we need them most.
• So, this is a communities as physicians.
• in the place we train more physicians in the place we need<01:16:10.640><c> them</c><01:16:10.960><c
• And I think it's a great idea that we get physicians and, um, the sponsor can correct me if I'm wrong
• We don't have the resources to take those graduate physicians and take them through their residency,

Transcript Highlights:

• it's going to be PA, physician associate, physician assistant.
• it's going to be PA, physician associate, physician assistant.
• it's going to be PA, physician associate, physician assistant.
• it's going to be PA, physician associate, physician assistant.
• it's going to be PA, physician associate, physician assistant.

Committee: Senate Executive Departments and Administration

Transcript Highlights:

• First, any violation of these new sections is treated as... Missouri Attorney General.
• First, any violation of these new sections is treated as unlawful practice under the Merchandising Practices
• Scott, with the Missouri State Medical Association and the Missouri Association of Osteopathic Physicians

Committee: House Legislative Review

Summary: The Committee on Legislative Review met in executive session and voted House Bill 2408 due pass by an 8-0 roll call. It then considered House Bill 3092, where a House Committee amendment was adopted and rolled into a House Committee substitute despite objections that the amendment had not received a public hearing and would repeal significant insurance-related provisions. The substitute for HB 3092 was then approved 6-3. The committee also adopted an amendment and House Committee substitute for House Bill 3004, which passed unanimously 9-0. In open hearing, Representative Hausman presented House Bill 3090 as a transparency measure requiring the state treasurer to report annually on special treasury funds that have had no spending for five years and whether those funds were moved to general revenue. She said the bill would help lawmakers identify inactive accounts and unused money. Members asked how the reporting would work, what funds might be affected, and whether the bill would move unused balances into GR after five years; the sponsor said it would. No witnesses testified for or against, and the hearing closed. The committee then heard House Bill 3205 from Representative Castile, which would regulate third-party litigation funding, require disclosure of outside and foreign-linked funders, restrict funding from foreign adversaries, and give enforcement authority to the Attorney General. Members questioned the bill’s scope, including whether the foreign-terrorist language could be read too broadly and how liability and funding-risk provisions would work. Testimony in support came from Associated Industries of Missouri, the Missouri Insurance Coalition/Missouri Civil Justice Coalition, and medical associations, all arguing that litigation funding can distort lawsuits, hide outside influence, and expose businesses and plaintiffs to abusive or foreign-backed financing. No opposition testimony was offered, and the hearing concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• May we be sensitive to the fact that a society is ultimately judged by how it treats those most in need
• Podiatric physicians registered with the DEA must complete controlled substance prescribing education
• for their arrest because they simply were caught sleeping on a park bench, and the veterans court treats
• Thanks to our leaders, strives to be a chamber where we treat each other with dignity and respect.
• This allows repeat violent offenders to be treated as first-time offenders for enhancement.

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, several introductions, and an announcement that there would be no conference that weekend. The chamber then took up a long special order calendar and passed a series of bills, often by substituting House companions. Early measures included trust law modernization to create a nonjudicial trustee discharge process, military affairs changes expanding leave and retirement-related provisions, a bill to prepare for the end of penny use by standardizing cash rounding, and a podiatric medicine bill regulating cellular or tissue-based products and informed consent. The Senate also approved veterans court expansion, RV park assessment clarification, alcohol-loss tax deduction authority, bail bond and pretrial release revisions, and a military-installation jurisdiction bill to allow juvenile cases on bases to be handled in state juvenile court under certain conditions. Most bills passed unanimously or near-unanimously, with the bail bond bill passing 36-1 after questions about charitable bail bonds and confirmation that existing law on return of charitable bail funds would remain unchanged. The chamber then paused for a lengthy farewell presentation honoring Senator Lori Berman, featuring a video, remarks from many senators, and Berman’s own closing speech reflecting on her 16 years of service, her legislative priorities, and her call for civility, bipartisanship, and continued support for issues such as school safety, Israel, anti-Semitism, and affordability. After the tribute, the Senate resumed and passed additional bills, including one expanding insurance coverage definitions for portable electronics and eyewear, a workforce and nursing education funding bill broadening support for health science programs, a recovery residences regulatory streamlining bill, a felony battery enhancement bill adding resisting an officer with violence as a qualifying prior offense, and a child welfare bill extending visitor thresholds in out-of-home placements, making the Step Into Success program permanent, and creating a best-practices program. The chamber also advanced a candidate qualification bill tightening party-affiliation requirements and adding a House provision on recent legal name changes; debate began on that measure as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• May we be sensitive to the fact that a society is ultimately judged by how it treats those most in need
• Podiatric physicians registered with the DEA must complete controlled substance prescribing education
• for their arrest because they simply were caught sleeping on a park bench, and the veterans court treats
• But this Florida Senate, thanks to our leaders, strives to be a chamber where we treat each other with
• This allows repeat violent offenders to be treated as first-time offenders for enhancement.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and heard several introductions and announcements before moving to a long special-order calendar. Early bills passed included a trust law measure allowing a nonjudicial process for trustee settlement and discharge, a military affairs bill expanding leave protections and retirement eligibility for certain Guard and Coast Guard-related public employees, a penny-rounding bill for cash transactions, a podiatric medicine bill restricting certain cellular/tissue-based products and adding notice and consent requirements, a veterans’ courts bill expanding access to those courts statewide, an RV assessment clarification bill, a military-installation jurisdiction bill giving juveniles on bases access to state juvenile justice resources, an alcohol-tax deduction bill restoring DBPR’s authority to allow deductions for unsellable alcohol, a bail bonds bill revising training, fees, remission timing, and electronic procedures, an eyewear insurance bill updating definitions for modern products, a nursing education fund bill expanding support to health science programs, a recovery residences bill streamlining regulation and background-check rules, a felony battery bill adding resisting an officer with violence as a qualifying prior offense, a child welfare bill extending visitor definitions, making the Step Into Success program permanent, and creating a best-practices repository, and a candidate qualification bill tightening party-affiliation requirements and, via the House version, adding a name-change disclosure provision. Most of these bills were substituted with House companions where applicable and passed on near-unanimous votes, with one recorded dissent on the bail bonds bill. Several measures drew brief debate or explanation. Senator Wright’s military affairs bill was amended to restore two Florida National Guard special project officer positions to retirement eligibility, and Senator Gates’ veterans’ courts bill was described as a way to better address PTSD, brain injury, and substance-abuse-related offenses through problem-solving courts. Senator Trunow’s bail bonds bill prompted questions about charitable bail bonds, with the sponsor saying the current statute would remain in place and that further discussion could occur later. Senator Massullo’s podiatric medicine bill was framed as a bipartisan patient-protection measure, and Senator Leak’s felony battery bill was presented as closing a loophole that allowed repeat violent offenders to avoid enhancement. The chamber also took up a candidate qualification bill that would create an enforceable party-affiliation requirement and, in the House version, restrict recent petition-based name changes for candidates. A major portion of the meeting was devoted to a farewell ceremony for Senator Lori Berman, with family, staff, former colleagues, and guests in attendance. Senators from both parties offered extended remarks praising her leadership, collegiality, policy work, and advocacy on issues including voting rights, women’s rights, Israel and antisemitism, school safety, breast cancer, Everglades restoration, and other constituent services. Berman’s own remarks reflected on her 16 years in the Legislature, her family, and her belief in dignity, respect, and practical problem-solving. The Senate then adopted a motion to spread her remarks upon the journal and recessed before returning to continue the calendar.

Transcript Highlights:

• May we be sensitive to the fact that a society is ultimately judged by how it treats those most in need
• Podiatric physicians registered with the DEA must complete controlled substance prescribing education
• for their arrest because they simply were caught sleeping on a park bench, and the veterans court treats
• Thanks to our leaders, strives to be a chamber where we treat each other with dignity and respect.
• This allows repeat violent offenders to be treated as first-time offenders for enhancement.

Transcript Highlights:

• Treating such misconduct as a mere professional lapse addressed only through retractions or institutional
• Treating such misconduct as a mere professional lapse addressed only through retractions or institutional
• Treating such misconduct as a mere professional lapse addressed only through retractions or institutional
• It establishes strict personal liability for any health care professional or physician who provides a
• These doctors should have questioned me, but everything, it was all treated like it was a consequence

Bills: SB1015 , SB1049 , SB1066 , SB1081 , SB1092 , SB1133 , SB1134 , SB1139 , SB1147 , SB1148 , SB1168 , SB1189 , SCR1001 , SCR1002 , SCR1005 , SCR1010

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Elections

Keywords: gender transition, detransition, healthcare liability, medical malpractice, youth protection, legal action, Arizona law, child safety, dependency cases, attorney regulation, foster care, legal representation, probation, dangerous crimes, children, Arizona Revised Statutes, criminal justice, juvenile offenses, rehabilitation, candidate

Transcript Highlights:

• including clients, in addition to customers, for an agreement between a health care entity and a physician
• This hopefully will help give us good information about how we can better prevent and then be able to treat

Summary: The Labor and Commerce committee held its final executive session and took action on several House bills. On ESHB 1155, concerning noncompetition and nonsolicitation agreements, the committee adopted the Stanford striking amendment and then advanced the bill to Rules on a two-pass recommendation; the King amendments on goodwill/ownership interests and specified executives were withdrawn. The committee also advanced SHB 1570, giving non-academic student employees at Western Washington University collective bargaining rights, to Ways and Means, and ESHB 2303, banning employer requests or coercion for employee microchipping, to Rules. SHB 2405, creating a PTSD workers’ compensation treatment pilot program, was sent to Rules, and 2SHB 2479, creating a wage recovery program and account to help advance unpaid wages to low-wage workers, was sent to Ways and Means. The committee also adopted amendments and moved forward several liquor and cannabis-related bills. EHB 1941, dealing with cannabis producer agricultural cooperatives, was amended with the Saldana striking amendment and sent to Rules. HB 1526, allowing snack bar liquor license holders to sell wine by the glass, was amended with a Saldana striking amendment and sent to Rules. ESHB 2476, expanding the theater liquor license to larger theaters and requiring alcohol control plans when minors are allowed, was also sent to Rules. In each case, members noted the bills’ policy goals and, where relevant, the need for further fiscal review or referral to the appropriate committee. During the session, members briefly discussed the policy rationale for the bills, including worker protections, faster recovery of unpaid wages, PTSD treatment access, and support for business investments in theaters. The committee also took a moment at the end of the meeting to thank staff for their work and heard remarks from Senator Conway reflecting on his long service on the committee and the importance of bipartisan labor-management problem solving. All bills reported out were approved subject to signatures, with referrals either to Rules or Ways and Means as noted.

Transcript Highlights:

• Emergency physicians are legally and ethically obligated to treat every patient regardless of insurance
• Physicians claim-by-claim arbitration.
• :01.720><c> and</c> Emergency physicians are legally and Emergency physicians are legally and ethically
• </c> ethically obligated to treat every ethically obligated to treat every patient<04:31:04.520><c> regardless
• </c> in vulnerable moments are being treated in vulnerable moments are being treated like<04:33:32.320

Transcript Highlights:

• provider network may serve as an attending provider to claims where the non-network provider is treating
• I think they should also be treated very differently. So I urge adoption of this amendment.
• And under current law, under the Climate Commitment Act, we treat them all the same.
• And under current law, under the Climate Commitment Act, we treat them all the same.
• We would treat an aerospace manufacturer using natural. Amendment Act, we treat them all the same.

Bills: HB2689 , SB5420 , SB5868 , SB5877

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: Working Connections Child Care, child care subsidy, subsidized child care, Washington DCYF, Department of Children, Youth, and Families, low-income families, child care providers, licensed child care centers, family child care, market rate survey, subsidy rates, income eligibility, state median income, SNAP, Basic Food, collective bargaining, provider reimbursement, daily payment, half-day care, partial-day care

Transcript Highlights:

• the hands of somebody else, and the majority of the numbers that come back say they're not being treated
• Districts have had to get their standing orders from individual physicians and purchase from local pharmacies
• I'm a licensed physician in the great state of California for the last 24 years, and I've practiced allergy
• As you said, we should be treating folks as closely as possible to the same.
• As you said, we should be treating folks as closely as possible to the same.

Summary: The Assembly Education Committee met without a quorum for much of the hearing and heard several bills out of order. SB 249 by Senator Umberg would move county board of education elections from the primary to the statewide general election. Supporters, including the League of Women Voters and many educators, argued the change would increase turnout and make the electorate more representative. The Orange County Board of Education opposed the bill, saying it would increase costs, reduce local control, and bury education races on crowded general-election ballots. The chair and members discussed turnout, cost, and representation, but the bill was held pending a quorum. Senator Grove presented SB 373, which adds safeguards for California students placed in out-of-state non-public schools through IEPs. The bill would require more robust LEA and CDE oversight, including annual site visits, student interviews, quarterly contact, stronger certification standards, and restrictions on prone, supine, and mechanical restraints. Testimony from a survivor of an out-of-state placement and from advocates emphasized abuse, neglect, and the need for stronger monitoring. There was broad support and no opposition testimony, but the measure was also held pending a quorum. Senator Ashby presented SB 568, the epinephrine in schools modernization act, to clarify and expand requirements for stocked epinephrine so they clearly apply to all public schools, including preschool programs. School nurses and medical experts said the bill would close gaps created by universal preschool and ensure life-saving treatment is available for anaphylaxis. The committee discussed dosing and implementation, and the bill was supported without opposition testimony. The committee also heard SB 414, the Charter School Accountability Act, which would strengthen fiscal oversight, audit standards, and transparency for charter schools and authorizers. Supporters said it responds to fraud and audit findings while preserving charter flexibility; opponents, including school employees and teachers, said it did not go far enough on authorizer accountability and small-district oversight. After discussion, the committee voted 7-0 to pass SB 414 as amended to Appropriations. The committee also briefly heard SB 743 by Senator Cortese, which would create an equalization reserve account to provide additional funding to underfunded school districts and reduce funding inequities tied to ZIP code. The author said the bill would support student achievement and teacher retention over time. The transcript cuts off before testimony or action on SB 743 was completed.

Transcript Highlights:

• Unfortunately, sometimes the facility in which they are being treated is unable to adequately meet their
• is unable to adequately being treated is unable to adequately meet<00:02:55.120><c> their</c><00:02:
• or a health care provider if a physician or a health care provider writes<00:20:17.120><c> a</c><00:
• </c> millions of additional dollars to treat millions of additional dollars to treat each<00:43:34.400
• Cavities have to be treated, and there is an alarming shortage of dentists in rural Kentucky.

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 392, sponsored by Representative Proctor, which would help the Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities pay for emergency medical and psychiatric services provided to patients outside state facilities when those facilities cannot meet their needs. Proctor described it as a continuing improvement bill to address payment issues for services delivered at community-based facilities. The bill received no substantive opposition in the meeting and passed the committee with favorable expression by a vote of 15 yes, 0 no, and 1 pass. The committee then considered House Bill 580, presented by Representative Kim Moser and Elena Sweezy, which tightens oversight of peer support specialists. The bill was described as building on House Bill 505 from the prior year by reinstating supervision requirements, adding parameters around group sizes, creating a pathway for temporary peer support specialists to become fully registered after nine months, and addressing Medicaid reimbursement and accountability concerns. Members asked about reimbursement; the sponsor said Medicaid was okay with the bill and that commercial insurance coverage would be up to insurers. Representative Fleming emphasized the need for stronger financial oversight of the peer support code. The committee adopted a substitute and title amendment, then passed the bill with favorable expression. House Bill 688 was then heard, with Representative Bratcher explaining that it addresses two issues: preventing fraud in nurse licensure by giving the Kentucky Board of Nursing more discretion to review out-of-state credentials, and expanding school authority to administer certain emergency medications. He said the bill changes the board’s authority from “shall” to “may” so it can verify transcripts, curricula, accreditation, and exam passage. During discussion, Representative Sharp explained his yes vote by noting the bill also adds rescue medications such as glucagon and Solu-Cortef and allows prescribed emergency medications for known conditions in schools. The committee passed the bill with favorable expression. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 16, which would leave decisions about adding fluoride to drinking water to local governing bodies rather than maintaining a state mandate. Supporters, including Representative David Hale, Dr. Jack Call, and Cindy Batson, argued that fluoridation should be a local choice and raised concerns about cost, potential health risks, and the precautionary principle. Opponents, including Dr. Steve Robertson of the Kentucky Dental Association, defended fluoridation as beneficial for preventing tooth decay and warned that local removal decisions could increase Medicaid costs and may not reflect the broader public interest. The transcript provided does not show a final committee vote on House Bill 16 in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Just as a doctor should not treat herself or a lawyer represent herself, the police should not police
• In January of 2024, Physicians for Human Rights, PHR, issued a report.
• Physicians for Human Rights, PHR, issued a report, and this is cited in our letter to the committee.
• And we never step up to do what we should do, which is treat them as the heroes that they are.
• They deserve to be treated as such.

Summary: The committee heard several public safety-related bills. AB 383 by Assembly Member Davies would expand and clarify firearm restrictions tied to juvenile adjudications, allow certain minor firearm possession for hunting or training with guardian approval, and authorize warrants in some domestic violence-related firearm surrender situations. Supporters, including a district attorney representative, argued it would close gaps in existing law and improve public safety; opponents said it would over-criminalize youth and disproportionately affect marginalized communities. The bill passed as amended to Appropriations. AB 400 by Assembly Member Pacheco would require law enforcement K-9 units to meet statewide POST standards covering training, use of force, and handler skills. Supporters said the bill would create consistency, accountability, and safer deployments; opponents argued the standards were inadequate and would legitimize harmful canine practices. After debate over whether the bill expanded canine use or simply standardized it, the committee approved AB 400 and sent it to Appropriations. AB 380 by Assembly Member Gonzalez would extend price-gouging protections during emergencies, including for hotels, food, essential goods and services, and commercial property, and would remove the 12-month lease limit loophole for rent gouging. Supporters said the bill responds to wildfire-related exploitation and provides clarity for disaster victims; business and landlord groups warned it could amount to commercial rent control and create uncertainty for future emergencies. The author said he would continue working on amendments, and the bill passed as amended to Appropriations. AB 358 by Assembly Member Alvarez would create a narrow exception to Cal-ECPA so law enforcement could inspect tracking or surveillance devices found in a person’s home, vehicle, or property with the finder’s consent. Supporters said the change would help stalking and domestic violence victims preserve evidence quickly; privacy advocates argued warrants and existing emergency exceptions already cover these situations. The chair proposed narrowing the language to “tracking or surveillance device,” and the bill was held on call after an initial roll with only three votes in favor. The transcript also began AB 247, which would raise pay for incarcerated hand crew firefighters, with testimony from formerly incarcerated firefighters in support, but the discussion was not completed in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• So I've been in health care since 2001, wrote software packages in health care, have physician offices
• So right now you have people that are being treated fee-for-service with needs in ABA that are already
• Now, that does not require necessarily for somebody being treated by a certain provider to leave that
• Now, that does not require necessarily for somebody being treated by a certain provider to leave that
• They also have programs in place encouraging yearly visits to primary care physicians, and said they

Summary: The Health Care Budget Subcommittee met to organize the new term, take roll, and hear introductory presentations from the six agencies under its jurisdiction: the Agency for Health Care Administration, Agency for Persons with Disabilities, Department of Children and Families, Department of Elder Affairs, Department of Health, and Department of Veterans’ Affairs. The chair outlined the committee process, including assigning members to review agencies and make budget recommendations. Each agency head gave a high-level overview of their budget, staffing, major programs, and priorities, with recurring themes including Medicaid, long-term care, disability services, child welfare, mental health, aging services, public health, and veterans’ health care. Several agency leaders highlighted recent initiatives and funding priorities. AHCA emphasized Medicaid managed care, provider regulation, Hope Florida, hospital-at-home, and cancer-related efforts; APD discussed iBudget services, Hope Florida, a managed-care pilot, online applications, and forensic care costs; DCF focused on child protection, foster care, adult protective services, food/cash/medical assistance, mental health, and opioid treatment; Elder Affairs highlighted Alzheimer’s services, community-based senior care, guardianship, ombudsman services, and disaster outreach; DOH covered cancer innovation, maternal telehealth, cybersecurity, HIV/hepatitis/syphilis screening, and school nursing; and Veterans Affairs described benefits and health care access for veterans, long-term care, and federal reimbursement. Several speakers also raised concerns about rising costs, provider rates, disaster response, and access to services. The committee heard two public comments from disability advocates about Medicaid redeterminations affecting iBudget waiver recipients and provider payment delays. In response, AHCA and APD said they were coordinating on data sharing, early outreach, escalation processes, and efforts to reduce disenrollments and make recertification smoother. Members then asked questions about provider rates, opioid settlement spending, managed care quality measures, pediatric rare disease grants, group home transparency, senior outreach, ABA services moving into managed care, annual Medicaid recertification, veterans’ service utilization, waiting lists for elder services, and prevention spending. No formal votes were taken during the meeting.