Transcript Highlights:

• In developing the program, DOH must establish training for producers and clinicians, treatment protocols
• to prescribe legend drugs or controlled substances within their scope of practice, meet minimum training
• this bill, subject to appropriation, the Department of Health must contract with a training entity to
• Many of us are already out here, and we're already trained. It's happening.
• This bill does not specify what training is required, and minimal training may not be sufficient to build

Summary: The Senate Health and Long-Term Care Committee met on January 27 and heard extensive public testimony on several bills before moving into executive session. Senate Bill 5921 would create a Department of Health medical psilocybin program for adults with qualifying conditions, with licensed producers and clinician participation requirements, training, background checks, and program standards. Supporters, including the sponsor and many clinicians, veterans, first responders, and patients, described psilocybin as promising for treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, trauma, and end-of-life anxiety, while opponents and some medical groups raised concerns about missing safeguards, contraindications, monitoring, cost, and the bill’s narrow medical model. Testimony was split sharply, with many also urging broader decriminalization or community-use protections. The committee later heard Senate Bill 6115, which would have the Department of Health contract for age-appropriate cancer education for grades 6-12; supporters from Cancer Pathways, educators, and families said it would improve prevention and risk awareness, while the bill drew substantial opposition in sign-in counts, and the hearing was ultimately closed without action that day. The committee also heard Senate Bill 5185, a pilot pathway for international medical graduates to obtain full unrestricted primary care licensure after supervised clinical practice, completion of exam and competency requirements, and annual reporting. The sponsor, Washington Medical Association, the Medical Commission, and IMG advocates said the proposal would expand access to primary care while maintaining patient safety, and the bill received supportive testimony. In executive session, the committee adopted proposed substitutes and advanced Senate Bill 5916 on non-opioid pain drugs, Senate Bill 5985 on endometriosis, Senate Bill 6019 on home care rate statutes, Senate Bill 6161 on dementia information, and Senate Bill 6183 on HIV antiviral drug coverage. For Senate Bill 5981 on the 340B drug pricing program, the committee adopted an amendment adding reporting and transparency requirements before moving the bill forward. The committee then adjourned, and the remaining hearing items were rescheduled for a later date.

Transcript Highlights:

• That way we know they at least got the post-training because if... ...least got the post-training because
• every police officer should be post-trained in the... ...officer should be post-trained in the state
• But otherwise, if we ... ...people trained.
• same training standards.
• And if we don't have... ...training standards.

Bills: HB202 , HB42 , HB146 , HB492 , HB285 , HB7 , HB454 , HB42 , HB7

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: law enforcement, immunity, civil liability, use of force, recruitment, bail reform, cash deposit, judicial discretion, criminal justice, Alabama law, youthful offender, capital murder, public safety, victims' rights, juvenile offenders, delinquent acts, juvenile court, nonfelony offenses, water safety offenses, HB285

Transcript Highlights:

• I helped train the next generation of osteopathic physicians.
• Some trained in Europe, very rarely have a title that is a DO title.
• to do, and others who are not trained to that degree.
• So again, this bill does not allow anyone to bypass training or work without supervision.
• Training or work without supervision.

Summary: The committee heard a series of bills on access to care, professional licensing, and consumer protection, beginning as a subcommittee because quorum was initially lacking. AB 1307 would create a pilot program allowing up to 30 qualified dentists from Mexico to work in underserved California areas for up to three years; the author and sponsor framed it as a cost-neutral way to address dental shortages, the California Dental Association moved from opposition to neutral after amendments, and members expressed support. AB 1703 would restrict use of osteopathic titles and osteopathic manipulative treatment to licensed DOs; supporters said it would prevent patient confusion and unlicensed practice, while non-physician osteopaths argued it would criminalize a long-standing, safe practice and reduce access. Members raised concerns about consumer clarity and access, and the author said she would continue working with opponents. AB 2250 made technical cleanup changes to last year’s hemp enforcement law, with support from the cannabis industry and no opposition. AB 1758 would raise the annual seller-of-travel assessment for the Travel Consumer Restitution Fund from $35 to $60, and AB 1794 would allow prescribed enteral nutrition formulas to be drop-shipped directly to patients’ homes with pharmacist oversight; both drew support and no opposition. AB 1775 would expand state licensing priority and related support for veterans discharged because of a federal transgender military policy, with emotional testimony from a transgender Army captain and support from equality and women’s organizations. AB 1939 would allow licensed professional fiduciaries to form corporations, and AB 2477 would create a limited provisional period for new pest control employees to work under supervision while licensing is pending; both were supported, though AB 2477 drew questions about supervision and committee amendments. AB 1999 would address veterinary workforce shortages by creating retired volunteer status, a shelter-veterinarian pathway, changes to VCPR rules, and narrowing the owner exemption to exclude surgical procedures; supporters cited animal welfare concerns, while some opponents warned about overreach. AB 2010 would permit high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter clinics in nontraditional settings to expand access, but the Veterinary Medical Board and some advocates opposed it unless amended over safety and clarity concerns. AB 2311 would let public health care district hospitals directly employ physicians, with supporters saying it would improve recruitment and access and opponents warning about erosion of physician autonomy; the author said the bill included safeguards, a sunset, and reporting requirements, and continued negotiations were ongoing. After quorum was established, the committee took roll-call votes and advanced the bills, generally on party-line or broad bipartisan votes, with several measures placed on call and others sent to Appropriations, Judiciary, Revenue and Taxation, Military and Veterans Affairs, or other committees as noted.

Transcript Highlights:

• Whoever administers this has to go through training as well.
• We do train, and fortunately, our Nurse Practice Act here does allow delegation with training and documentation
• So, oh, oh, 70, lost train of thought.
• That training doesn't take that long.
• And the trainings are online, which is nice.

Committee: House Health and Mental Health

Summary: The committee first met in executive session and approved a combined House Committee Substitute for House Bills 2642, 2296, 1996, and 1680 on a 15-0 vote after adopting a committee amendment and substitute. It then adopted a substitute for House Bill 2596, which expanded access for sole proprietors with at least one common law employee and their dependents, and passed that bill do pass by a 15-0 vote. The committee then heard several health-related bills. House Bills 2194, 2349, 1826, and 2560 focused on expanding epinephrine access in schools, child care facilities, nursing homes, and first responder settings to include nasal sprays and other delivery systems, with testimony emphasizing the need for easier administration, training, and broader school nurse support. House Bill 1827 would add occupational therapists to the list of professionals who can certify disability parking placards and plates, with supporters saying OTs already perform the functional assessments needed. House Bill 1783 would let the Department of Health and Senior Services contract with nonprofit public health institutes to help administer federal public health grants and reduce lapsed funds; supporters said the state lacks staffing capacity, while some members raised concerns about oversight and fraud. Finally, Representative Peters presented House Bill 2372, a large omnibus health bill combining many previously heard measures, including epinephrine delivery system updates, pseudoephedrine purchase limit changes, doula participation in Mo HealthNet, telehealth, workplace violence signage, long-term care inspection changes, RX CARES sunset removal, 340B language, anesthesia time protections, and other provisions. Support came from numerous medical, nursing, pharmacy, public health, and provider groups, while opposition focused mainly on the 340B provisions, non-opioid alternative language, anesthesia contracting language, and telehealth standards, arguing those sections needed separate consideration and stronger transparency safeguards.

Transcript Highlights:

• The number of highly trained, skilled physicians in Idaho. Mr.
• EIMR trains residents in three specialty areas: family medicine, internal medicine, and psychiatry.
• This is our fourth year of training, so this is our first year having a full complement.
• We thought this year was a bad year to bring up that it costs more to train.
• And this will be the first program in the state to start training child psychiatrists here. Okay.

Summary: The committee heard a lengthy presentation from the Office of the State Board of Education on its budget, including the FY 2026 supplemental reversion for the Empowering Parents program, the FY 2027 Canvas learning management system renewal, a transfer of risk manager positions back to the institutions, and a one-time federal grant for AI-related subgrants. Members asked about staffing growth, federal-fund spending trends, the Canvas contract, the school safety tip line CETL Now, and the rationale for moving risk management functions. Director Jennifer White said the Canvas contract had been extensively reviewed and remains the best statewide solution, and she explained that the risk managers are being moved back because they work more efficiently embedded at the institutions. She also discussed the board’s data modernization efforts and said the office is pursuing better data-sharing and a phased approach to any future changes. A major portion of the meeting focused on White’s presentation of an outcomes-based funding proposal for higher education. She said the proposal is only the beginning of the work and would shift Idaho from an enrollment-based model toward one that rewards progression, completion, and workforce-relevant outcomes. The proposal would place 10% of base funding at risk, with institutions earning back funds through momentum measures and Idaho First funds tied to resident enrollment, completions, and priority programs. White emphasized the need for better data, a phased rollout, caps to avoid volatility, and special consideration for community colleges and dual enrollment. Committee members generally supported the concept but raised concerns about accountability, community college impacts, and how unearned funds would be handled. The committee then reviewed family medicine residency funding. Dr. Campbell outlined the Family Medicine Residencies budget request for additional residents and a fellowship, and program leaders explained the mixed funding structure that combines state positions, federal support, and patient-care revenue. Members asked about the impact of the 3% holdback, clinical placement capacity, and whether federal rural health funds might help. Program officials said the holdback affects some programs more than others, but they do not expect current residency numbers to drop, and they stressed the importance of continued legislative support to grow Idaho’s physician workforce. The committee also heard from Eastern Idaho Medical Residencies and the psychiatry residency program. Dr. Hinkley said Idaho has a severe shortage of psychiatrists, especially child and adolescent psychiatrists, and that residency training is the main way to retain physicians in-state. He and Dr. Moe described the program’s growth, the role of local recruitment, and the three-legged funding model involving state support, patient revenue, and hospital sponsorship. Members asked about expanding training to other regions, private support, and the program’s 10-year strategic plan. No votes were taken during the portion of the meeting provided, and the committee moved on to the next medical education budget item.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> training for this bill. training for this bill.
• We have already conducted several training classes.
• Their training for this program.
• We have already conducted several training classes.
• We have already conducted several training classes.

Committee: Senate Labor

Transcript Highlights:

• So we bring them together for regional trainings.
• We don't have the money to provide some of the expectations in training.
• But guess who's going to help me train those candidates?
• We could sort through them and pick the one that we knew had very good training.
• They're trained. They have teacher background knowledge.

Committee: Senate Education Pre-K - 12

Summary: The Senate Education Pre-K-12 Committee met to discuss the needs of rural school districts and the role of Florida’s three regional education consortia: the Panhandle Area Education Consortium, Northeast Florida Educational Consortium, and Heartland Educational Consortium. Executive directors and several rural superintendents described the consortia as member-led organizations that provide shared services, professional learning, leadership development, grant support, cooperative purchasing, risk management, IT/cybersecurity help, and back-office assistance that small districts could not afford to provide on their own. They emphasized that rural districts are often very small, have limited staff, and must still meet the same state reporting and compliance requirements as large urban systems. Testimony focused heavily on teacher recruitment and retention, alternative certification, and the difficulty of staffing specialized roles such as CFOs, MIS directors, IT staff, and content-area teachers. Superintendents said many new hires are career changers or alternatively certified teachers who need consortium-supported training, and several argued for more flexibility in funding so districts can raise salaries and compete with neighboring districts and nearby states. Members also asked about the impact of declining enrollment, homeschooling, and voucher-related school choice; superintendents said those trends are reducing FTE and creating budget instability, while also requiring districts to right-size staff and programs. Several speakers described the financial strain on rural districts, including rising insurance costs, transportation costs, and the challenge of forecasting budgets when enrollment changes after the school year begins. One superintendent recounted major hurricane damage and said consortium risk-management support was essential to recovery. Others said the consortia help districts pool resources for property and health insurance, payroll, student data systems, and procurement, and that this shared approach saves money and improves services. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Prepared and well-trained governance boards versus unprepared and inadequately trained ones.
• Yeah, so right now the bill requires the training to occur once every four years and for the trainings
• knowledge and training on school finance and accountability.
• and it's mandated training, that it's thorough.
• I also did CSBA training and some other trainings.

Summary: The Assembly Education Committee heard a full agenda of bills, first adopting a consent calendar of 11 measures without individual presentations. The committee then took up AB 1412, which would require California schools to implement or adopt a transferred special education student’s IEP within 30 days for out-of-state transfers and to coordinate more quickly on records. The author and military-family witnesses said the bill would reduce delays for highly mobile students, especially military children; a school administrators group opposed it. The bill received initial support from committee members and was moved on call. The committee also reconsidered AB 281, which would require notice to parents when outside consultants provide sex education instruction; the author accepted amendments removing a copy-right provision, but the bill remained on call after a split vote. The committee heard AB 1005, which would create a statewide drowning-prevention education and swim-lesson voucher framework for underserved communities. The author and supporters described drowning as a preventable public health and equity issue, while the bill was clarified as developing a plan rather than immediately launching a voucher program. It was voted out on a 3-0 roll with the measure placed on call. AB 908, as amended, would add compliance monitoring for existing requirements that schools use LGBTQ-inclusive instructional materials and curriculum under the FAIR Act. Supporters said the bill would improve implementation and student safety; opponents raised concerns about privacy, girls’ sports, and school burdens. The committee approved the bill 5-2 and sent it to Appropriations. The committee then heard AB 1401, which would affirm parents’ access to school records, including unofficial records unless exempt by law. The author argued that parents need clearer access to information held by schools and vendors, while school officials and teachers’ union representatives warned the bill was too vague and could sweep in personal notes, journals, and other sensitive material. The bill failed on a 2-3 vote and was placed on call. Finally, AB 727 would require student ID cards to include the Trevor Project hotline for LGBTQ youth; supporters framed it as a suicide-prevention measure, while opponents argued it conflicted with parental rights and religious beliefs. Committee discussion focused on whether 988 already provides similar access and whether the Trevor Project is an appropriate resource to print on IDs; the hearing continued with the bill still under consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• They might have training of their own.
• It's critical that we maintain local control and local training.
• Of the Criminal Justice Training Commission, but on appeal as well.
• There's a sunset on aerospace training programs. There's a sunset on aerospace training programs.
• After the last line: Criminal Justice Training Commission.

Bills: HB2720 , HB2073 , HB2487 , SB5816 , SB5919 , SB5831 , SB6137 , SB6244 , SB5420 , SB5868 , SB6044 , SB6132 , SJM8002

Keywords: behavioral health, emergency services, health insurance, provider access, mental health funding, premium assistance, funding, healthcare, subsidies, insurance tax, state regulation, insurers, taxation, budget impact, juice grapes, agriculture, commerce, market access, fire safety, insurance incentives

Summary: The House took up Second Substitute Senate Bill 5974, a bill modernizing and strengthening laws concerning sheriffs, police chiefs, volunteers, youth cadets, and related law enforcement roles. Members first considered a striking amendment and then a series of floor amendments, with debate repeatedly focusing on sheriffs as elected constitutional officers, the scope of state authority over local law enforcement, and whether the bill would create unfunded mandates or practical problems for counties. Supporters of the bill and many amendments argued for clarifying language, local flexibility, and state payment for new requirements; opponents generally warned the bill would weaken elected sheriffs, impose costs on counties, or overreach into local control. Amendment 2343, which would have added intent language emphasizing that sheriffs are directly accountable to the electorate, was debated at length and defeated on a roll call vote, 41 yeas to 56 nays. Amendment 2373, shifting background-check costs to the state through the Washington State Patrol, was also defeated, 44 yeas to 53 nays. Amendment 2374, narrowing provisions affecting private security and specially commissioned officers, failed 41 to 56. Amendment 2369, clarifying rules for volunteers and youth cadets, failed 41 to 56. Amendment 2371, limiting surveillance-related provisions to situations requiring a warrant, failed 42 to 55. Amendment 2372, clarifying that only non-public information would be restricted from disclosure, also failed 41 to 56. Later, Amendment 2370, which would have aligned the bill’s definition of volunteer law enforcement officers with existing statute, was defeated 42 to 55. Finally, Amendment 2352, which would have exempted current sheriffs from the bill’s new decertification rules, was debated as a protection against changing the rules midstream but was opposed on the grounds that the bill already grandfathered in the one sheriff who did not meet the new experience requirement; the amendment’s vote was not completed in the excerpt provided. The transcript also begins with the Speaker signing several bills, including Substitute House Bill 1570 and Substitute Senate Bill 6248.

Transcript Highlights:

• So having training on all levels, I am in strong support of, and not only just having the training, there's
• online components where you can get CPR and first aid training that is not the same as hands-on training
• </c> asking teachers to to take more training asking teachers to to take more training to<01:05:11.359
• But I like like training on this.
• </c> creates a plan, trains and practices. creates a plan, trains and practices.

Bills: HB0076 , HB0102 , HB0115

Committee: House Education

Transcript Highlights:

• Current ICE recruits receive 250 fewer hours of training and are only receiving a 14-week training program
• Current ICE recruits receive 250 fewer hours of training and are only receiving a 14-week training program
• Current ICE recruits receive 250 fewer hours of training and are only receiving a 14-week training program
• Current ICE recruits receive 250 fewer hours of training and are only receiving a 14-week training program
• In a few months, we trained hundreds of volunteers, and to date, we have over 2,000 individuals trained

Committee: House Public Employment and Retirement

Transcript Highlights:

• So is there a separate fiscal for the training?
• say the training, if I may, Madam Chair, are you talking about the building of the training itself or
• potentially this training looks like.
• I think that we talked a lot today about training, and there is some training, but I think more importantly
• It is absolutely true that leaders are trained.

Summary: The committee took up a long agenda of education bills, with several measures passing on bipartisan votes. Early items included SB 1632 on career readiness assessments and college credit pathways, SB 1594 requiring principals to be trained in special education law, SB 2045 establishing 30 minutes of daily recess for younger grades, and SB 1630 allowing districts to count a day of virtual instruction when high school students are taking statewide assessments. Other bills passed addressed school security funds (SB 1251, adding licensed mental health services as an allowable use), teacher association access (SB 1884), library book complaints and penalties (SB 1250), human trafficking survivors’ access to higher education (SB 1262), reduced-price meals moving students into free meal status (SB 1374), high-dosage tutoring for early literacy (SB 1292), and the repeal of the sunset on the Innovative Pathways to Teaching Program (SB 1432). Votes were generally favorable, though SB 1251 and SB 1884 drew the most debate and both passed 8-3, while SB 1250 passed 7-3 and SB 1374 passed 9-1. Several bills generated extended discussion over local control, school safety, and teacher retention. SB 1251 drew concerns that school security funds were being broadened beyond physical security, while supporters argued mental health supports can also improve safety. SB 1884 prompted questions about whether it would open collective bargaining or negotiation meetings to other associations; the author said the intent was to prevent “closed shops” and ensure equal access, while opponents argued equal access already exists and the bill could create confusion. SB 1790, the Protected Learning Environments Act, drew testimony from educator Dr. Elizabeth Pleasant about classroom discipline, teacher burnout, and student behavior; the bill would direct SDE to provide guidance for a three-tier discipline matrix, and it passed 7-2. SB 1481, increasing recess to 40 minutes and prohibiting it as punishment, and SB 1614, limiting adjunct teachers in early grades, also passed after brief discussion. The committee also heard broader policy proposals on federal uncertainty and school leadership. SB 1489 would prepare Oklahoma for a possible federal block grant of IDEA funds, fold some parent-rights and principal-training provisions into state law, and address the cost and backlog of special education dispute resolution; it passed 9-0. SB 1718 proposed an Oklahoma Principal Leadership Development Program for new and early-career principals, with discussion focused on program structure, portability, and stipends. Throughout the meeting, members repeatedly emphasized teacher support, student safety, and the balance between state guidance and local district discretion.

Transcript Highlights:

• training.
• Just like, you know, when we train young educators so that they are fully trained in all the aspects
• Upon being discharged, Eric received a little further training in what he was trained in within the Army
• Our faculty are highly trained.
• It's a lot about the good training that they get.

Committee: House Elementary and Secondary Education

Summary: The committee first took up HB 2274, the interstate teacher certification compact. Members questioned the fiscal note, including the initial IT cost and ongoing annual costs, and DESE explained that the first-year expense would cover software setup while later costs would maintain the system and consortium membership. The bill sponsor and supporters argued the compact would streamline reciprocity and help both incoming and Missouri-trained teachers. The committee then voted HB 2274 do pass by a vote of 17 ayes and 1 no. The committee next heard HB 1876 and HB 2115, both aimed at restoring cursive instruction in elementary schools. The sponsors argued cursive is important for reading historical documents, signatures, literacy development, and access to primary sources, and several members echoed concerns that many younger teachers and students can no longer read cursive. Questions focused on implementation, including whether fifth grade was the right benchmark, how testing would work, and whether the bills would require too much instructional time or cost. A Missouri NEA witness supported the general goal but urged local control and caution about adding mandates. No vote was taken on these two bills during the hearing. The committee then considered HB 1757, a gifted education bill, and adopted a committee substitute after approving an amendment that delayed implementation to the 2027-28 school year, clarified screening versus assessment language, required a committee rather than a single staff member to handle referrals, and directed districts to use recommendations from the state gifted advisory council. Members discussed how the bill would affect districts with existing gifted programs and whether it would require changes to current practices. The committee voted the House Committee Substitute for HB 1757 do pass by a vote of 20 ayes and 0 noes. Finally, the committee heard HB 2776, which would create an associate-of-applied-science pathway into teaching and allow temporary certification for people who complete the program. The sponsor and supporters, including community college and school district leaders, said the bill would address teacher shortages, especially in rural areas, by creating a lower-cost, work-friendly route into the profession while still requiring mentoring and classroom experience. Opponents, including Missouri State University, argued that teacher preparation should still lead to a bachelor’s degree and warned that the proposed pathway could leave teachers underprepared in content and pedagogy and place added burdens on districts and veteran teachers. The discussion also covered pay, retention, and whether the new pathway should be a stepping stone to full certification rather than a terminal credential.

Transcript Highlights:

• . $3 million in year one for a prescribed fire, a new learning hub, as well as a training center.
• They receive training from fire personnel. This training provides them with a sense of expertise.
• The initial training required for all company officers has been established.
• train the personnel required for years two through five.
• This multi-year training plan includes the development of an additional training center, technical services

Transcript Highlights:

• And we have the training. I see we have the training. Representative A.
• Are we going to ensure that this training teaches our officers how to engage, training teaches our officers
• There'll be a general training to kind of describe that. they are looking into the possibility. training
• And both of those laws came with training.
• Louisiana, we do trainings for Carter.

Committee: House Judiciary

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and heard a series of bills, mostly from the Senate, covering military affairs, courts, veterans’ services, tobacco/vape regulation, and emergency alerts for missing persons with disabilities. Several measures were described as cleanup or modernization bills, including SB 317 adding the House and Senate military committee chairs to the Louisiana Military Advisory Council, SB 357 updating court administration and appellate e-case management provisions, SB 421 modernizing electronic records language, and SB 232 and HB 597 addressing judicial compensation and related funding/commission issues. The committee also heard SB 164, which would add public works employees to the definition of first responders, and SB 510, which would regulate certain licensed establishments that allow on-premises consumption of hemp/THC products and related age restrictions. These bills were generally presented as technical updates or alignment with existing practices, and the committee reported them favorably after brief questions and, in some cases, amendments. A major portion of the meeting focused on SB 208, which revises Louisiana’s law on services provided to veterans after a prior version was struck down. Senator Kathy and LDVA representatives said the bill is intended to protect veterans from unaccredited “claim sharks” by limiting fees and creating state-level safeguards, while an opponent argued the issue is preempted by federal law and should be left to Congress and the pending appeal. The committee also heard extensive testimony on SB 34, which would create “Bryan’s Call” emergency alerts for missing children and adults with cognitive or developmental disabilities, including wireless alerts and responder training. Family members and disability advocates described fatal risks from elopement and drowning, and supporters said the bill would fill a gap between Amber and Silver Alerts; the committee moved the bill favorably. Another bill, HB 302, sought to restrict vape sales near schools; the sponsor and Alcohol and Tobacco Control discussed possible language changes, and public health testimony supported broader protections for youth. Several bills were voluntarily deferred, including HB 1190, HB 1097, and HB 374-1, and the committee adjourned after reporting the remaining measures favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:46:46.880><c> across</c> science and AI teacher training across science and AI teacher training
• and</c><01:57:00.560><c> certification</c> food safety training and certification food safety training
• ><c> and</c> continue counseling, training, and continue counseling, training, and capital<02:18:43.760
• BISAC has the trained, of this fund.
• </c><03:09:05.439><c> Uh,</c> training programs statewide. Uh, training programs statewide.

Summary: This joint informational briefing focused on Act 310 grants and aid, with committee members hearing one-minute testimony from organizations first in person and then by Zoom. At the outset, the chairs explained there would be no Q&A during the briefing and asked testifiers to focus on how federal cuts were affecting their work. The meeting was organized by registration number and included both neighbor island and Oʻahu applicants. Testimony centered on organizations seeking state support to offset federal funding losses or anticipated reductions. Health and social service providers described impacts from Medicaid, SNAP, ACA subsidy, Title X, and other federal changes, including Aloha Care, Community Clinic of Maui, Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies, West Hawaiʻi Community Health Center, Hawaiʻi Disability Rights Center, Hawaiʻi Youth Services Network, Alcoholic Rehabilitation Services of Hawaiʻi, and Kokua Kalihi Valley. Other groups highlighted losses affecting food security, housing, disaster preparedness, and climate resilience, including the Kohala Center, Feeding Hawaiʻi Together, Hawaiian Lending and Investments, Dynamic Community Solutions, and the Pacific Tsunami Museum. Several arts, youth, and education organizations also testified, including Hawaiʻi Literacy, Hawaiʻi Youth Symphony, Honolulu Theatre for the Youth, Sounding Joy Music Therapy, Big Brothers Big Sisters Hawaiʻi, Girl Scouts of Hawaiʻi, Kids Hurt Too Hawaiʻi, and US Vets, each requesting funding to preserve programs and staffing. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the briefing. The only action was procedural: the chairs moved through the applicant list, limited testimony time, and then transitioned from neighbor island in-person testimony to Oʻahu and later Zoom participants.

Transcript Highlights:

• So that cross-training has been happening.
• So that cross-training has been happening.
• So that cross-training has been happening.
• So that cross-training has been happening.
• for our arbitrators and training for our arbitrators and previous<01:42:20.560><c> training</c><01:42

Committee: House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• And training is underway.
• March, and phase two of training is actually happening this week.
• If you're needing a training for the AIM tool, please feel free to connect.
• They've also done a lot of training. Many of you have probably heard of QPR.
• So we talked about some of the trainings.

Summary: The meeting opened with approval of the April minutes and brief administrative updates, including notice that House Bill 5447 had passed both chambers of the General Assembly. Speakers reflected on the bill’s key provisions, which include eating-disorder working groups, an evidence-based screening requirement for school-based health centers beginning July 1, 2027, and a DSS-led feasibility process to explore an inpatient psychiatric facility for young adults ages 14 to 21. New staff introductions were also made for the Behavioral Health Advocate’s office and the TCB team. A major portion of the meeting focused on marketing and outreach for urgent crisis centers (UCCs) and the broader youth crisis continuum. Daydream Communications presented research showing low public awareness of UCCs but strong interest once families learn about them, with parents wanting specialized, compassionate care, clear expectations, insurance clarity, and bilingual support. United Way described its parallel work on a statewide crisis continuum marketing toolkit, using the SAMHSA framework of “someone to talk to, someone to respond, and somewhere safe to go,” and outlined plans to distribute consistent messaging through websites, social media, flyers, and community venues. Members emphasized coordinating with existing platforms and ensuring the marketing reflects the actual experience at UCC sites. DCF then presented on adolescent substance use services, citing data showing high need and low treatment access among Connecticut youth. The department reviewed its ASAM-based continuum, SBIRT efforts in outpatient psychiatric clinics, medication-assisted treatment access, and statewide services such as MST, MST emerging adults, STRIDE, multidimensional family therapy, youth recovery supports, and the AIM matching tool. A new young people peer support program was highlighted, with referrals accepted from families, hospitals, community providers, DCF, youth diversion, and the judicial branch. Questions addressed parent consent, peer matching, and whether the AIM tool could be linked through 211. The meeting concluded with an update from the Connecticut Suicide Advisory Board and its regional boards and grant-funded initiatives. Presenters reviewed the state suicide prevention plan, regional coalition work, postvention response, lethal means safety efforts, and the 988 capacity improvement grant that supports Connecticut’s centralized 988 contact center at United Way. They also shared youth suicide risk data from the Connecticut Youth Risk Behavior Survey, noting recent declines in reported suicidal ideation and attempts, and provided resources for training and materials. No formal votes were taken beyond the approval of the April minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• They're finishing up their FTT Or their field training program.
• Our training staff find it a burden to run an academy.
• Highly likely, they'll come from through our size that specialized training.
• You know, we have a core training staff of just a handful that do in-service training and those types
• They'll be there for a month Doing nothing but firearms training.

Committee: House Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• We've we've been training our teachers to develop the gems.
• You can take on the AI tool and training on something.
• And we've we've now down to 3 years of the training teachers.
• We've trained well over 1000 that onto the institute.
• They attended our training first on this, a fanatical AI use.