Transcript Highlights:

• This makes it incredibly difficult for researchers, policy makers, patients, and healthcare workers to
• There is also research that PE investors harm patient care specifically in the hospital setting and the
• We see a higher incidence of adverse events as well as patient mortality.
• care and care implications for patient care and care continuity.<00:08:59.680><c> I</c><00:08:59.920
• and workers but state specific patients and workers but state specific evidence<00:09:10.720><c> is<

Transcript Highlights:

• handle displays, but we would love for our patients to be able to view the product, right?
• All of us here in this industry should be first and foremost concerned about patient safety.
• I work at Havevard Industries and I'm also a patient.
• It makes sense to make it more open if you guys have vested interests for patient health. and patient
• There's patients that consume cannabis for epilepsy that can have seizures if they smoke distillate.

Transcript Highlights:

• Without actual knowledge of the patients.
• But how will patients know that this non-opioid advanced directive is available?
• And we all want what's best for patients in Florida.
• It was actually at turning into better care, quality of care for patients in nursing homes.
• We want this patient satisfaction search unit survey done and we hope it happens.

Transcript Highlights:

• of Miami, those hospitals, University of Miami and the Moffitt Center who provide care to cancer patients
• Moffitt Center, which provides care to cancer patients, have opted not to participate in the program.
• So are they getting the supplemental payments for the other patients through a different program?
• other than cancer patients?
• other than cancer patients?

Summary: The Legislative Budget Commission met with a quorum present and considered two budget amendments for the Agency for Health Care Administration. The first, EOGB 2026-0831, authorized $2.1 billion in budget authority for the Low-Income Pool to support safety-net providers for uncompensated charity care. Members asked about the timing of CMS approval and whether the program addressed hospital shortfalls for insured patients and children; AHCA said the program is for uncompensated care and would follow up on specific questions. The amendment was adopted without objection. The second amendment, EOGB 2026-0875, placed $7.9 billion in reserve for Florida’s Directed Payment Program for hospitals, pending final CMS approval. Discussion focused on hospital attestations that no hold harmless agreements were in place, the meaning of those federal requirements, and whether any agreements had to be unwound; AHCA said attestations had been received from all hospitals and submitted to CMS. Members also asked about the approval timeline and whether another amendment would be needed after final approval, and AHCA said approval was hoped for soon but could not confirm the budget process. Representative Woodson raised concerns about cancer hospitals not participating in the DPP; AHCA responded that those hospitals participate instead in a separate Florida Cancer Hospital supplemental program, which had already been approved. This amendment was also adopted without objection, and the commission then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's about patients. It's about health care.
• But we're in the business of changing health care and making positive patient outcomes, making sure patient
• But we're in the business of changing health care and making positive patient outcomes, making sure patient
• It's, can you see my patients or not?
• Our goals are that we want good patient care and that patients are served well.

Committee: House Local Government, Elections and Pensions

Summary: The committee first met in executive session and unanimously voted Senate Substitute for Senate Bill 914 and House Committee Substitute for House Bill 3467 due pass. HB 3467 was amended before passage; the sponsor said the changes clarified that any tax authority would apply only if a tax change is actually approved, corrected county/city references, and fixed ballot-language issues involving sheltered workshops. Members generally praised the sponsor’s work, though one member noted concern about shifting more burden to sales taxes. The main public hearing was on H.J.R. 107, which would place before voters a constitutional question allowing Jackson County to consider separating Kansas City from the county or otherwise altering its charter government. Sponsor Rep. Steinmeyer argued the measure was about voter sovereignty and local control, citing prior Jackson County ballot measures and saying entrenched local power had blocked reform. Supporters echoed that Jackson County residents were frustrated with representation, taxes, and county governance. Opponents, including Kansas City and chamber representatives, argued the proposal was unnecessary, costly, procedurally unclear, and potentially destabilizing; several members also questioned the 10-year resubmission clause, the exclusion of local officials from the transition process, and the statewide fiscal impact. No action was taken on the resolution during the hearing. The committee then heard Senate Substitute for Senate Bill 975, dealing with ambulance district mergers and community paramedic/mobile integrated health services. Senator Black and supporters said the bill would help struggling rural ambulance districts merge without disrupting billing, contracts, or service, and would expand community paramedic care for low-acuity patients and hospital-at-home models. Several witnesses from ambulance and fire districts described successful programs and said the bill would improve patient care and help rural areas. Opponents, including ambulance and fire district representatives, supported the merger provisions but objected to Senate-added language they said would let districts provide community paramedic services across jurisdictional lines without memorandums of understanding, undermining local control and negotiating power. The hearing ended with testimony still ongoing after a recess for floor session; no vote on SB 975 was reported in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• And what that means is ultimately the patient suffers that, right?
• Patient and not just the bottom line. Okay. Your time is done. Okay, thank you.
• Patients aren't asking for, you know, their cost sharing to be a moving target.
• So patients aren't forced to go to a specific hospital.
• So patients aren't forced to go to a specific hospital.

Committee: House General Laws

Transcript Highlights:

• They're always going to be good stewards of the patient.
• They're always going to be good stewards of the patient.
• They're always going to be good stewards of the patient.
• Then usually you don't want to keep the patient under for that hour.
• Then usually you don't want to keep the patient under for that hour.

Committee: House Health and Mental Health

Summary: The committee first heard public testimony on House Bill 2570, which would prohibit health insurers from limiting payment for anesthesia services based on the length of a surgical procedure. The bill sponsor said the measure was prompted by a prior Anthem policy that would not cover all anesthesia time if a surgery ran long, and argued that insurers should not create pressure to stop or rush procedures. Supporters from physician and nurse anesthetist groups said the bill would protect patients and providers from unfair time-based payment limits. An insurance industry witness raised concerns about unclear definitions, possible internal contradictions in the bill’s language, the use of time-based billing formulas, and whether dental anesthesia should be excluded; the sponsor responded that the bill was aimed at medical, not dental, anesthesia and that any wording issues could be worked out later. After the hearing, the committee moved into executive session on a combined committee substitute for House Bills 1945 and 2570. Members discussed an amendment rolling HB 2570 into the larger substitute and noted minor changes to the anesthesia language, including adding modifiers and clarifying billing terms, while also adjusting unrelated pathology language to make it workable with the department and possible Medicaid waiver requirements. Questions from members focused on whether the insurance industry’s concerns were addressed and whether dental anesthesia should be exempted; the sponsor said some concerns could be handled later and that dental situations involving separate anesthesia providers might still need careful drafting. The committee adopted the amendment and substitute and then voted the combined committee substitute do pass by roll call, with the motion approved unanimously by those present.

Transcript Highlights:

• Eighty percent of patients diagnosed with lung cancer at an early stage are alive 20 years after the
• Eighty percent of patients diagnosed with lung cancer at an early stage are alive 20 years after the
• Unfortunately, I see a lot of patients with lung cancer, but I do see the beneficial effects of finding
• Recently, I've had a 65-year-old patient. He's a Marine veteran. He's a Marine veteran.
• Me and the patients we serve.

Summary: The Assembly Health Committee heard a series of bills focused on behavioral health, cancer screening, provider reimbursement, research funding, workforce licensing, and tobacco regulation. SB 16 would require counties to maintain procedures for designating and training professionals authorized to perform 5150 evaluations and initiate involuntary holds; supporters said it would expand the pool of qualified clinicians and reduce reliance on law enforcement, while opponents raised concerns about local control and implementation. SB 1124 would require CDPH to create and post lung cancer screening eligibility signage at tobacco point-of-sale locations; supporters emphasized low screening awareness and early detection, and the bill was advanced with amendments. SB 28, a CARE Court cleanup bill, proposed an ombudsperson, reporting, electronic petitions, remote participation, and other changes to improve accountability and access; it drew both strong support and significant opposition over concerns about coercion, scope, and whether the program is working as intended, but it passed the committee as amended to Judiciary. The committee also heard SB 874, which would strengthen oversight of Medi-Cal behavioral health treatment services, including background checks for providers and a stakeholder workgroup to develop standards; it passed to Public Safety. SB 1049 would let providers resubmit corrected claims within 90 days after a plan’s denial or recoupment action when the original claim had a correctable technical defect; supporters described delayed and withheld payments harming practices, while insurers argued the bill could duplicate existing dispute processes. The bill passed to Appropriations on call. SB 1224 would create a state framework to compete for federal ARPA-H funding for emerging therapies research, with testimony from a UC Davis psychiatrist and veterans’ advocates supporting expanded research into treatments for PTSD, depression, and other conditions; it passed to Military and Veterans Affairs. Later, SB 1057 would change how the Department of Public Health evaluates conviction history for certified nurse assistants and home health aides, shifting from automatic denial toward individualized assessment based on the offense, time elapsed, and rehabilitation; it passed to Appropriations with some no votes. Finally, SB 1314, a tobacco-related bill, sought to create a 600-foot buffer around schools and day care centers for certain tobacco retailers and address related issues such as cigar lounge definitions and nitrous oxide sales; several local government and public safety groups supported it, while health organizations and business groups opposed it unless amended. The chair announced that committee amendments were being set aside for now and the bill would move forward to Business and Professions with a commitment to continue working on the language; it passed out of committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• Eighty percent of patients diagnosed with lung cancer at an early stage are alive 20 years after the
• Unfortunately, I see a lot of patients with lung cancer, but I do see the beneficial effects of finding
• Recently, I've had a 65-year-old patient. He's a Marine veteran.
• Financially, while hauling physicians like me and the patients we serve, without financial stability
• and necessary resources, our ability to provide appropriate care to our patients is severely limited.

Committee: House Health

Transcript Highlights:

• Four in ten cancer patients delay or skip treatment because of cost alone.
• Many patients aren't.
• I'm a patient advocate, so hospital sustainability is important to me.
• Dental offices often carry debt for patients paying over time.
• That will increase patient costs and worsen access to care.

Summary: The committee heard several bills, with the most extensive discussion focused on civil investigative demands for the Attorney General (ESSB 5925), automated license plate readers (ESSB 6002/6702), medical debt interest limits (ESSB 5993), default judgments in consumer debt cases (SSB 5720), adult guardianship technical changes (ESSB 5837), and Court of Appeals bailiff authority (SB 6011). Sponsors and agency staff generally framed the bills as targeted tools or clarifications, while opponents raised concerns about privacy, due process, overreach, and unintended consequences. The AG’s office supported 5925 as a way to investigate civil rights, wage theft, and related laws more efficiently; opponents argued it gave too much pre-suit power and lacked sufficient judicial safeguards. The Court of Appeals bailiff bill was presented as a near-identical extension of authority already given to Supreme Court bailiffs, with no major controversy beyond questions about training. The ALPR bill drew the sharpest policy split. Supporters, including the prime sponsor and civil rights advocates, argued Washington lacks meaningful regulation of license plate readers and needs limits on retention, sharing, and vendor access to protect privacy and prevent misuse. Law enforcement, cities, and some parking-related users said the bill was necessary but too restrictive or technically flawed, warning it could effectively shut down the technology or prevent use in serious cases; they asked for broader crime coverage, clearer definitions, and longer retention. Privacy and civil liberties groups supported regulation but urged stronger protections, especially shorter retention periods and tighter limits on third-party access. On medical debt, the sponsor and supporters argued that capping interest at 1% would reduce financial harm to patients, especially those facing serious illness, and would still allow administrative costs to be covered. They cited bankruptcy risk, chronic illness, and the burden on families, while noting the bill was narrowed from an earlier version and made prospective. Hospitals, collectors, dentists, and physician groups opposed the bill, saying it would not solve broader affordability problems, could reduce repayment incentives, and might push providers toward cash-only models or credit cards, especially harming small and rural practices. The committee also heard support for the consumer debt default judgment bill as a negotiated compromise that improves notice and preserves existing debt-buyer protections, and for the guardianship bill as a technical cleanup of adult guardianship and supported decision-making provisions. No votes or final actions were taken in the hearing excerpts provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• And whereas patients requiring blood transfusions include cancer patients, accident, burn, and trauma
• ><c> blood</c> And whereas patients requiring blood And whereas patients requiring blood transfusions
• include cancer patients, transfusions include cancer patients, accidents,<00:30:52.960><c> burn</c><
• ,</c> transplant recipients, surgery patients, transplant recipients, surgery patients, chronically<00
• :31:00.680><c> transfused</c><00:31:01.360><c> patients</c> chronically transfused patients chronically

Transcript Highlights:

• Yeah, as a nurse taking care of patients, this comes up frequently.
• Instead of a health insurance system that helps patients stay healthy, we have companies that fleece
• Instead of a health insurance system that helps patients stay healthy, we have companies that fleece
• support by establishing an Office of Patient Protection.
• And worst of all, patients without jobs.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> screen Medicare and Medicaid patients screen Medicare and Medicaid patients for<00:46:47.760><c>
• <00:51:08.320><c> health</c> accountable for the patients' health accountable for the patients' health
• </c><00:54:35.760><c> nor</c> and it's not patient nor and it's not patient nor community-centered.<00
• expectations, tracks patient participation, and then adjusts benefits based on patient compliance.
• expectations, tracks patient participation, and then adjusts benefits based on patient compliance.

Summary: The Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board met on September 24, 2025, approved the minutes from the September 9 meeting, and then continued its discussion of Medicaid waivers with Leslie Hoffman and Carmen Hancock from the Department for Medicaid Services. Members asked for updates on the 2024 waiver waitlist management assessment recommendations, including aligning waiver policies, standardizing applications and waitlist placement, and modernizing data systems. DMS said that work is being done jointly with Aging and Independent Living and Behavioral Health/Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities through task forces, that ARPA spending delayed action, and that implementation timelines extend through March 2027. The board also reviewed per-member waiver cost averages for fiscal years 2023 through 2025 for ABI, ABI long-term care, HCBS, Model II, Michelle P, and SCL. DMS emphasized these figures were benefit-only averages based on paid claims, not full waiver costs, and explained that true budget neutrality is calculated on an aggregate basis against institutional care comparisons approved by CMS. DMS said all six waivers remain in compliance with budget neutrality and that the most recent 18-month lag review for FY 2022 and FY 2023 found costs at or below institutional care. Members also asked about unused waiver slots; DMS said slots generally cannot be reallocated mid-year if they have been used, except in cases such as death or reserved capacity, because CMS treats participants as unduplicated for the waiver year. A major portion of the meeting focused on the new child waiver created under House Bill 6. Legislators questioned whether the waiver’s design, including the exclusion of participant-directed services and the emphasis on high-acuity children with behavioral health, DCBS, or juvenile justice involvement, matched the bill’s intent to keep children at home. DMS said it used the $14.7 million appropriated for FY 2026 to develop the program, that there is no priority list, and that the waiver is intended to serve the highest-acuity children while also addressing residential needs for those sleeping in offices or placed out of state. Members also raised concerns about the rapid growth of the HCBS waiting list and asked for more detail on age and timing patterns, which DMS said it would provide later. Finally, DMS gave average processing times from application to eligibility determination and from approval to service start, and said the overall average from application to services beginning was about 80 days, while members requested follow-up information on the Carewise assessment contract and related costs.

Transcript Highlights:

• A primary goal of the physical therapy profession is to advocate for patients to improve patient quality
• of life, and this bill allows us to keep patients in their physical health and functional mobility.
• A primary goal of the physical therapy profession is to advocate for patients to improve patient quality
• of life, and this bill allows us to keep patients in their physical health and functional mobility.
• A primary goal of the physical therapy profession is to advocate for patients to improve patient quality

Bills: HB99 , HB38 , HB165 , HB127 , HB72 , HB151 , SB40 , SB104 , SB136 , SB164

Committee: House House Judiciary

Summary: The committee heard House Bill 38, which would require insurance coverage for specialized wheelchairs, activity chairs, and related mobility devices for people with limb loss or other disabilities, with guardrails limiting the number of covered devices over time. The sponsor and supporters, including the Office of Superintendent of Insurance, Disability Rights New Mexico, the Disability Coalition, physical therapists, and disability advocates, said the bill would improve access, inclusion, and physical activity without significant premium impact. Questions focused on the substitute language, the device limits, and how Medicaid would handle coverage separately. The committee ultimately passed the House Health and Human Services Committee substitute for HB 38 on a 10-0 vote. The committee then approved House Bill 165, which expands the C-PACE financing program to businesses using industrial revenue bonds and clarifies that counties and municipalities are not liable for payments. Support came from economic development and business groups, who said the bill would remove a barrier to energy- and water-efficiency upgrades and encourage investment. The bill passed on a 10-0 vote. House Bill 127 also passed unanimously after discussion of its three parts: a provisional licensure pathway for internationally trained physicians, a telehealth registry for out-of-state providers, and changes to expedited licensure. Supporters said it would help address provider shortages, especially in rural and underserved areas, while the sponsor explained that the amended version includes safeguards such as exam requirements, supervised practice, and a provisional-to-restricted-to-full licensure path. The committee voted 11-0 to advance the bill. House Bill 72, which would increase penalties for distributing certain controlled substances, including methamphetamine, to minors, drew strong support from law enforcement and the chamber of commerce but significant concern from the Public Defender and several members over strict liability, mandatory sentencing, and the breadth of the penalty. After debate over whether the bill could reach low-level or peer-to-peer conduct and whether the penalty was proportionate, the committee voted to table the bill by a 6-4 vote. The committee then took up House Bill 151, a revised childhood sexual abuse statute of limitations bill. The sponsor presented a committee substitute that changed commission appointments, added reporting and solvency-related provisions, and adjusted procedures for compensation and appeals. Members raised concerns about parity, definitions, administrative costs, and how awards would be determined, but the committee approved the committee substitute on a 7-0 vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• Will FQC's patients be in the OBBA.
• </c> by rule and by law uh we see patients by rule and by law uh we see patients without<00:43:03.680
• </c> patients from 40 different communities. patients from 40 different communities.
• </c> uh is is safe with that patient as well. uh is is safe with that patient as well.
• This is a direct their patients.

Committee: House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• We're going to roll right into the agenda, starting with the PCS for HB 815, which is patient referrals
• The goal is to analyze how often plans are steering patients to providers with whom they have ownership
• the out-of-pocket cost for patients.
• That patients aren't blindsided by new restrictions after they've enrolled in a health care plan.
• HB 899 is about fairness, stability, and protecting those choices patients make with their doctors.

Summary: The Health Care Facilities and Systems Subcommittee met with a quorum present and considered four measures. The first was the PCS for HB 815, which would direct AHCA to study referral patterns by Medicaid managed care organizations and plans, including whether patients are being steered to providers with ownership or profit-sharing ties and how those services compare in cost. Members discussed transparency and potential cost impacts, and the PCS was reported favorably by a 17-0 vote. The committee then took up HB 1543, which narrows and clarifies an existing licensure attestation related to foreign countries of concern and controlling interests in health care entities. An amendment was adopted without objection to make clear the attestation applies to direct controlling interests. The bill was supported as a clarification for complex corporate structures, and it was reported favorably as amended by a 17-0 vote. Next, HB 899 addressed prescription drug coverage disclosures, aiming to prevent mid-year changes that could disrupt treatment or increase out-of-pocket costs for patients with chronic conditions. Supporters from Epic Pharmacies and the Florida Society of Rheumatology appeared in support, and the bill was reported favorably by a 17-0 vote. Finally, the PCS for HB 493 on memory care facilities sought to add minimum standards and oversight for facilities advertising memory care services. The Florida Senior Living Association opposed the bill as overbroad and urged more refinement, while AHCA supported the added guardrails. The sponsor said the bill was intended to protect vulnerable residents and improve transparency, and the PCS was reported favorably by a 17-0 vote. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• population, that they also cover the same service for all patient populations who need that care.
• Thank you, other Assemblymembers, for waiting patiently. File item number 27, AB 1697.
• Thank you, other assembly members, for waiting patiently.
• Thank you, other assembly members, for waiting patiently. File item number 27, AB 1697.
• That's money flowing to Wall Street and not patients. SB 623 stops that.

Summary: The Senate Judiciary Committee met as a subcommittee and announced a large agenda, including a consent calendar and several bills pulled for separate hearing. Early in the hearing, the committee heard AB 1876, which would codify federal nondiscrimination protections in state health care law. The author and supporters said it would protect access to coverage and services for all protected classes, including transgender people, while opponents argued it would force coverage of disputed gender-affirming treatments and impose penalties on providers and insurers. No vote was taken during the informational-style presentation, and the author requested an aye vote when a quorum was present. The committee then heard AB 1650 on requiring rental vehicles used by government agencies for enforcement to be clearly marked, with supporters describing it as a transparency and public-trust measure in response to immigration enforcement activity and opponents later withdrawing opposition after discussions with the author. AB 635, dealing with the Mobile Home Residency Law Protection Program, would extend and revise a resident-funded legal assistance program for mobile home owners; supporters said it improves access to justice and enforcement, and there was no opposition. AB 1697 would extend the date for enforceability of certain employment contract provisions under AB 692 and add an urgency clause; the NFL supported it, SIFMA was support-if-amended, and the chair noted sympathy for some workers while expressing concern about high-paid executives. The committee also heard AB 2784, the annual State Bar fee bill, which held fees flat while making governance and reporting changes; it drew support from the State Bar and no opposition. AB 2782, the Assembly Judiciary Committee civil omnibus bill, made minor clarifying code changes and also drew no opposition. Other measures heard included AB 2662 on monitoring and reporting federal immigration enforcement impacts, AB 2235 on allowing judges to use alternate mailing addresses for safety, AB 1544 on courthouse access and transparency, AB 2624 expanding Safe at Home protections to immigrant service providers, AB 1857 to block grocery restrictive covenants that prevent new grocery stores in underserved areas, AB 1892 clarifying HOA duties and election notice rules, AB 634 banning products containing tianeptine, AB 1684 limiting HOA restrictions on home cooling systems, AB 1752 increasing appraisal reimbursement in eminent domain cases, AB 1660 improving compliance by financial institutions with public guardian requests, AB 782 narrowing a prior housing redevelopment law for certain charter cities, and AB 2195 limiting occupational license suspensions for low-income parents owing child support. Across these bills, testimony was largely supportive, with several measures drawing “support if amended” or no opposition after negotiations; the transcript does not reflect final votes on the bills discussed here.

Transcript Highlights:

• And if there's incidents involving various patients with various providers, they do quality review.
• in elderly patients on 1/1/2025. the next morning I came in.
• I was up all night with a patient operational day-to-day.
• The patient woke up blind in one eye. It hurts me.
• It is inconceivable spending more money and more litigation is going to help patients.

Transcript Highlights:

• It just be the patient themselves, like?
• So is that going to be something that... by the patient themselves?
• I mean, is that going to be asked to every patient?
• I'm sorry, I keep saying patients in my head, members. Correct, correct.
• Patient-centered care often under complex clinical circumstances.

Bills: SB263 , SB370 , SB663 , SB924 , SB987 , SB1939 , SB1937 , SB1598 , SB2798 , SB2801 , SB2580 , SB2569 , SB2514 , SB2064 , SB1940 , SB1621 , SB2601 , SB1379 , SB1376 , SB1372 , SB1353 , SB2216 , SB2166 , SB2148 , SB535 , SB777 , SB827 , SB1141 , SB1330 , SB1352 , SB1664 , SB1612 , SB1862 , SB1936 , SB1453 , SB1448 , SB1398 , SB2137 , SB2111 , SB53 , SB226 , SB1677 , SB1723 , SB1839 , SCR8 , SB31 , SB33 , SB3 , SB1405 , SB1948 , SB243 , SB20 , SB217 , SB264 , SB269 , SB650 , SB681 , SB528 , SB502 , SB740 , SB916 , SB995 , SB2581 , SB3031 , SB24 , SB2570 , SB1566 , SB552 , SJR1 , SB646 , SB379 , SB1171 , SB1121 , SB1120 , SB1061 , SB1036 , SB1019 , SB890 , SB11 , SB868 , SB1188 , SB1254 , SB2778 , SB2543 , SB2443 , SB1333 , SB1259 , SB1401 , SB1404 , SB2139 , SB2165 , SB2237 , SB2268 , SB1202 , SB1198 , SB1212 , SB1451 , SB1470 , SB1498 , SB965 , SB1547 , SB1667 , SB1818 , SB1902 , SB2129 , SB2078 , SB2069 , SB1737 , SB1589 , SB1318 , SB387 , SB1150 , SB1574 , SB2127 , SB3034 , SB860 , SB1278 , SB263 , SB370 , SB663 , SB924 , SB987 , SB1939 , SB1937 , SB1598 , SB2798 , SB2801 , SB2580 , SB2569 , SB2514 , SB2064 , SB1940 , SB1621 , SB2601 , SB1379 , SB1376 , SB1372 , SB1353 , SB2216 , SB2166 , SB2148 , SB535 , SB777 , SB827 , SB1141 , SB1330 , SB1352 , SB1664 , SB1612 , SB1862 , SB1936 , SB1453 , SB1448 , SB1398 , SB2137 , SB2111 , SB53 , SB226 , SB1677 , SB1723 , SB1839 , SCR5 , SCR32 , SCR8 , HB3228 , HB2802 , HB45 , HB1318 , HB5560 , HB2894 , HB4344 , HB4238 , HB2775 , HB34 , HB33 , HB 12 , HB148 , HB 130 , HB4273 , HB4850 , HB2733 , HB4783 , SB1833

Keywords: SB 263, Texas franchise tax, cost of goods sold, COGS, broadcasters, television broadcasting, radio broadcasting, media tax, broadcast license, FCC, 47 C.F.R. Part 73, 47 C.F.R. Part 74, film production, television production, tax deduction, margin tax, Texas Tax Code, depreciation, amortization, broadcast rights

Transcript Highlights:

• And a patient who qualifies for assistance at one hospital may be treated differently at another, even
• Patients between 300% and 350% of the federal poverty level will receive at least a 75% discount, and
• patients between 350% and 400% will receive at least a 50% discount.
• The bill also requires hospitals to maintain a medical hardship policy for patients whose hospital bills
• It creates presumptive eligibility pathways for patients already enrolled in programs such as Medicaid

Bills: SB313 , SB296

Committee: House Health & Human Development

Summary: The House Health and Human Development Committee met and considered a series of health, human services, and related bills. The committee heard and advanced House Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 13, which standardizes hospital charity care and financial assistance statewide, and Senate Bill 296 with Senate Amendment 1, which restructures the Delaware Health Fund grant process with a more formal, transparent competitive rubric. Both measures received supportive testimony from DHSS, the Delaware Healthcare Association, and the Delaware Nurses Association, and both were released by committee on roll-call votes. The committee also released Senate Bill 313 with Senate Amendment 1, which places a temporary moratorium on acquisitions of nonprofit acute care hospitals by for-profit entities and expands notice/review requirements for sales of hospital real estate; Senate Bill 340 with Senate Amendment 1, which requires long-term care facilities to carry specified liability insurance, with questions raised about the exemption for state-owned facilities; Senate Joint Resolution 20, which directs DHSS to study independent assessment tools for Medicaid home- and community-based services; and Senate Bill 341, which updates Delaware Health Information Network law and formally recognizes DIN as the state’s health data utility. Testimony on these bills was generally supportive, with some discussion on constitutional concerns, insurance coverage, and the rationale for the state exemption in SB 340. Later, the committee advanced Senate Bill 257, which requires new animal shelters to be licensed and inspected before operating and removes a prior exception for certain rescue organizations; and Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 278 with House Amendment 1, which allows earlier pre-authorization for summer child care enrollment and lowers copays for half-day care. Public testimony on these measures came from animal welfare advocates, YMCA representatives, and other stakeholders, all largely in support. Each bill was released by committee, with several votes walked for absent members, and the meeting adjourned after all agenda items were addressed.