Transcript Highlights:

• I definitely want to appreciate you all coming to speak to our kind of the state of behavioral health
• First, there's definitely a more restrictive limitation.
• First, there's definitely a more restrictive limitation.
• Definitely cancellation fees. And it's just, again, it's outside of the system.
• Definitely cancellation fees. And it's just, again, it's outside of the system.

Summary: The Assembly Health Committee held an informational hearing on Kaiser Permanente’s behavioral health care system, focusing on Department of Managed Health Care enforcement actions, Kaiser’s corrective action work plan, and testimony from patients, advocates, and union representatives. DMHC officials reviewed a long history of complaints, surveys, fines, and settlements involving Kaiser’s access to behavioral health services, including deficiencies found in 2012 and 2016, a 2022 non-routine survey, and a 2023 settlement that imposed a $50 million penalty and required $150 million in community investments over five years. DMHC said it continues to monitor Kaiser through quarterly meetings, complaint review, follow-up surveys, and a reimbursement process for members who could not obtain timely in-network care. Committee members pressed DMHC on what “timely access” and continuity of care mean in practice, how virtual care and group therapy fit into the standards, and what triggers a non-routine survey. DMHC said initial behavioral health appointments generally should not take more than two weeks, urgent care should be within days, and follow-up care within 10 days, with out-of-network care required when plans cannot meet standards. Officials also said Kaiser’s initial corrective action work plan lacked detail, but the revised plan was accepted and will be tracked through quarterly reporting and possible additional enforcement if Kaiser fails to comply. The second panel featured testimony from a Kaiser enrollee, a behavioral health policy expert, a Kaiser therapist, and the NUHW president. The enrollee described serious delays and inadequate treatment for his daughter after a suicide attempt, while the therapist and union leader said Kaiser’s behavioral health system is understaffed, relies too heavily on short appointments, group therapy, and webinars, and treats behavioral health as less important than medical-surgical care. They argued Kaiser’s one-appointment-at-a-time scheduling rule and limited treatment time violate parity requirements and harm continuity of care. Several members criticized Kaiser for not appearing at the hearing and said the testimony underscored the need for stronger oversight, clearer metrics, and faster remedies for patients.

Transcript Highlights:

• First, it would establish a first-ever statutory definition of what qualifies as an ultra processed food
• Unfortunately, as it's currently drafted, the definition of ultra-processed food that kicks things into
• One is of course we're open to having conversations about how we might tighten any of these definitions
• We could definitely talk about a milligram cap, but I think that we need to have some science to help
• It is definitely not the state of California.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We support this bill, and we do definitely see, based on our work, a greater need for these services
• We support this bill, and we do definitely see, based on our work, a greater need for these services
• We support this bill, and we do definitely see, based on our work, a greater need for these services
• <00:23:58.760> see<00:23:59.320> based this bill and we do definitely see based this
• We definitely need to update that data now. Is there any questions?

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee on Economic Development and Technology heard testimony on several bills, beginning with HB 22, which would limit state and local cooperation with federal immigration detainers. Supporters, including the Legal Clinic, the Office of the Public Defender, and the ACLU of Hawaiʻi, argued the bill would protect due process and constitutional rights regardless of immigration status. Some supporters requested amendments, including removing a probable-cause terrorism provision, adding enforcement language, and preserving warrant requirements. Public testimony was heavily in favor, with the chair announcing 91 testimonies in support and 52 in opposition. The committee then heard HB 73, which would prohibit setting aside public lands for immigration detention facilities. Testifiers in support said public land should serve local needs, not detention centers, and cited housing, food security, and community trust concerns. The Office of the Public Defender and others also supported the measure, and the chair reported 85 testimonies in support and 40 in opposition. The committee next took up HB 438, which would fund legal representation for people in immigration proceedings. Supporters, including the Public Defender, the University of Hawaiʻi Law School Refugee and Immigration Clinic, the Hawaiʻi Coalition for Immigrant Rights, the Legal Clinic, and the ACLU, emphasized the civil nature of immigration court, the severe consequences of removal, and the need for more pro bono and trained attorneys. Several suggested amendments focused on training and building a legal-services pipeline; the chair reported 83 testimonies in support and 51 in opposition. The committee also heard HB 457, aimed at requiring notice to detained individuals about their rights when ICE seeks to interview them or has a detainer request. Supporters said the bill would ensure people understand their right to remain silent and to refuse interviews, and the Legal Clinic suggested the warning be given orally, potentially via recorded messages, rather than only in writing. The Office of the Public Defender noted the bill aligns with existing due-process warnings in criminal court and suggested referencing current law. Finally, HB 476, which would raise the capital gains tax rate, drew support from Hawaiʻi Appleseed on fairness grounds; the Department of Taxation said it would review revenue questions but had no estimate available. After recess, the committee returned to decision-making and moved HB 22 forward on the chair’s recommendation of HD1, with the chair noting that the bill already contained language allowing counties to adopt stronger standards and protections.

Transcript Highlights:

• But yes, this will definitely free up sheriff's deputies, and it'll free up Highway Patrolmen for their
• duties, because we've definitely got a shortage of troopers now.
• But yes, this will definitely free up sheriff's deputies, and it'll free up Highway Patrolmen for their
• duties, because we've definitely got a shortage of troopers now.
• House Bill 3678 adds municipal elected and appointed officials to the definition of public officials

Bills: HB2936, HB2937, HB2951, HB2960, HB2979, HB2980, HB3062, HB3082, HB3087, HB3148, HB3152, HB3262, HB3264, HB3266, HB3268, HB3269, HB3278, HB3299, HB3544, HB3606, HB3678, HB3790, HB3903, HB3996, HB4139, HB4140, HB4142, HB4143, HB4144, HB4260, HB4272, HB4296, HB4324, HB4339, HB4341, HB4342

Keywords: HB2936, children, child protection, adoption, Oklahoma Adoption Code, gestational carrier, gestational agreement, surrogacy, intended parent, preplacement home study, home study, prospective adoptive parent, foster placement, child abuse, child neglect, child sexual abuse, child sexual exploitation, lewd molestation, sex offender registry, Oklahoma Sex Offenders Registration Act

Transcript Highlights:

• One is the county definition of rural... One is the county definition of rural.
• Smith Station is definitely rural.
• It replaces line 39 on page two with the following: the physician income tax credit to provide definitions
• And then on line 43 of page... definitions.

Bills: HB46, HB379, SB22, HB487, HB273, HB525

Keywords: rural physician, tax credit, healthcare access, physician recruitment, Alabama, HB379, Alabama income tax, nonresident exemption, remote workers, traveling employees, mobile workforce, withholding tax, state tax reciprocity, multistate employees, temporary work, work location tracking, time and attendance system, remote work taxation, professional athlete, professional entertainer

Transcript Highlights:

• Expanding the definition of sensitive places to include entire campuses risks turning vast portions of
• Um, there was a misdrafting where we didn't update the definitions for students.
• >> But I can definitely get that list. >> But I can definitely get that list.
• > new<01:43:32.400> students Definitely that's true for new students Definitely that's
• The focus is definitely on graduate students, but there are definitely more opportunities for undergraduate

Bills: HF4362, HF4252, HF4440

Keywords: firearms, guns, gun rights, gun control, campus safety, public college, university, postsecondary institution, higher education, visitor carry, concealed carry, open carry, campus policy, Minnesota Statutes 624.714, petty misdemeanor, parking lot carry, firearm possession, public safety, college campus, student carry

Transcript Highlights:

• The amendment dated February 16 at 2:32 p.m. modifies the definition of resident pupil as it relates
• And to the extent that we collaborate with the board, I mean, I definitely think that is prudent.
• I will definitely be in touch with all of you.
• So this is definitely a much broader conversation.
• There definitely needs to be some changes and some fine-tuning. So with that, I would...

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Then in subdivision three are definitions.
• And so the second definition is indeed what consumer data is.
• .<00:09:15.760> I<00:09:16.320> um definitions.
• I um definitions.
• <00:51:11.920> appreciate concerned uh but definitely appreciate concerned uh but definitely

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• For example, we were told that physicians are concerned with the definition of punitive damages in the
• a definition that was created through that discussion process.
• I felt it was reasonable and addressed the concerns about the definition of occurrence.
• Included in the bill is a change to the definition of value of medical care, and this definition specifically
• I'm definitely, you know, support this, but I've just asked that you possibly... Thank you.

Bills: HB99, HJR5, HM39, HB206, HB213, SB41, SB153, SB165, SB261, SB264

Keywords: medical malpractice, malpractice reform, patient's compensation fund, PCF, health care liability, tort reform, damage caps, punitive damages, hospital liability, physician liability, nurse practitioner, certified nurse-midwife, outpatient facility, ambulatory surgical center, urgent care, free-standing emergency room, insurance surcharge, superintendent of insurance, New Mexico hospitals, medical review process

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 670 establishes a clear definition for immigrant integration, specifically outlining its
• This definition aims to provide and significance within the framework of the program.
• Equal Pay Act by revising outdated gender language and clarifying the definition of wages.
• Senate amendments simply add the definition of hospital. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.
• Senate amendments simply add the definition of hospital. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Summary: The Assembly convened, established a quorum, offered prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and then moved through a long floor file with many Senate bills. Early procedural actions included unanimous-consent motions, a successful roll-call to rescind prior action on SB 351, and a 54-vote suspension of Joint Rule 61(a)(3) to allow floor amendments on SBs 80, 351, and 415. The chamber also made several referrals, moved one item to the inactive file, and welcomed new Assembly Member Natasha Johnson and other guests. The bulk of the meeting consisted of concurrence and third-reading votes on a wide range of measures, many of them passing with little or no opposition. Topics included tribal gaming grants (AB 221), State Bar fee and bar exam changes (SB 253), AI guardrails in community colleges (SB 241), consumer arbitration clauses (SB 82), due process for law enforcement in Racial Justice Act cases (SB 734), dental payment fee disclosures (SB 386), HOA balcony inspection reports (SB 410), farmland protection and EIFD rules (SB 5 and SB 516), emergency shelter zoning (SB 340), HIV confidentiality (SB 504), election signature-cure reforms (SB 3), contractor workers’ compensation compliance (SB 291), fire training funding (SB 345), wage theft enforcement (SB 355 and SB 261), food allergen disclosures (SB 68), ride-share insurance coverage (SB 371), housing and disaster recovery measures (SB 233, SB 625, SB 21), midwifery education (SB 520), mobile home insurance access (SB 525), epinephrine in schools (SB 568), health facility emergency licensing (SB 582), hair relaxer enforcement (SB 236), wastewater surveillance (SB 317), and several tax, transportation, and public health bills. A number of bills drew brief policy debate or opposition. SB 388, creating a California Latino Commission, prompted criticism from some members who argued the money should go directly to community needs rather than a new commission; it still passed. SB 50 on digital safety for victims of abuse, SB 20 on silicosis prevention, SB 306 on prior authorization reform, SB 373 on oversight of out-of-state special education placements, and SB 437 on reparations descendant-status verification were among the more substantive and discussed measures. Most bills passed by wide margins, often unanimously, and several urgency or tax-levy measures required 54 votes and were approved. The session ended with continued passage of remaining file items and multiple items retained or passed temporarily for later action.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so I think we really need to take a look at that definition to make sure that we are not We don't
• What is the definition that the CYFD must report on near fatality?
• It is definitely to create this cohesive and equitable system.
• One of them is to have the legislature actually talk about and think about what is our definition of
• Madam Chair, Representative Chavez, thank you for that question, and I'm definitely going to get you

Transcript Highlights:

• They're growing at a faster rate, and definitely with public safety in mind, especially fire stations
• > have<01:18:00.320> Jefferson will we will definitely have Jefferson will we will definitely
• And so, it's definitely something over.
• <01:26:03.760> of<01:26:03.840> capital um align with the definition of capital um
• the definition of capital projects.<01:35:35.720> So,<01:35:36.240> I<01:35:36.600>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And, um, honestly, the only real opposition on this bill is in relation to changing the definition of
• To changing the definition of qualified resident.
• I'm going to definitely cautious.
• Um, definitely more palatable.
• :08:29.280> there's because of the definitely there's because of the definitely there's there's

Bills: SB2190, SB2338, SB2424, SB2356, SB2981, SB3028, SB3187, SB2378, SB2398, SB2192, SB2155, SB3219, SB3218

Keywords: affordable housing, employment contracts, salary caps, housing finance, public housing authority, executive compensation, parking minimums, off-street parking, transit-oriented development, TOD, housing supply, smart growth, redevelopment, adaptive reuse, micro units, rail transit, public transit stations, county zoning, land use, urban planning

Summary: The House Housing Committee heard testimony on a series of housing-related Senate bills. SB 2190 SD2 on inclusionary zoning drew support from HHFDC, Hawaii YIMBY, Grassroot Institute, Housing Hawaii’s Future, and Hako Seed Center, with opposition from OHA and Aloha Independent Living Hawaii. SB 2338 SD1, dealing with housing agency personnel authority, received comments from the Attorney General cautioning that the bill should be clarified to avoid conflicts with civil service and collective bargaining laws and recommending removal of a provision limiting employment contracts; HHFDC said its comments addressed those concerns and supported the measure. SB 2424 SD1, concerning HHFDC, received broad support from housing, business, and community groups, with one opposition. Testimony focused on changing the definition of “qualified resident” so people who already own an HHFDC-assisted unit could later purchase another if their housing needs change; HHFDC said the current rule forces people to sell before buying again and that the bill would help people move up the housing ladder and encourage more housing development. SB 2356 on parking also drew broad support from state agencies, housing advocates, business groups, and local officials, with Unite Here Local 5 in opposition. SB 2981 on land use had strong support from many organizations and 67 individuals, with Unite Here Local 5 opposing. SB 3028 SD2 on property conveyance generated the most detailed policy debate. Supporters, including Catholic Charities Hawaii, Hawaii Children’s Action Network, Indivisible Hawaii, and others, backed restructuring the conveyance tax into a marginal rate system and urged changes to revenue allocations, including dedicated funding for homeless services, DHHL, and the rental housing revolving fund. The Tax Foundation of Hawaii supported the marginal-rate concept but opposed dedicated special-fund allocations and criticized the bill’s blank sections. Committee members questioned the historical purpose of the conveyance tax, and the Tax Foundation explained it was originally a modest tax tied to property-value tracking when the state still ran the property tax system. The committee also heard SB 3187 SD2 on off-site construction, SB 2378 SD2 on housing permitting, and SB 2398 SD2 on residential housing utilities. OPSD supported SB 3187 but said it preferred the House version and wanted clarification that off-site certification should apply to factories in Hawaii, not out of state, to avoid outsourcing labor; it also suggested starting with a small scope. SB 2378 SD2 drew support from engineering, housing, and labor groups, with testimony that the House version included needed fixes to make the program insurable. On SB 2398 SD2, the Board of Water Supply opposed the bill, saying it could require disclosure of sensitive infrastructure information beyond ordinary water-availability assessments and raise critical-infrastructure and cybersecurity concerns; developers and housing groups supported the measure. No votes or final actions were taken in the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, yes, definite headwinds. So, yes, definite headwinds.
• So, yes, yes, yes, definite<00:24:50.720> head-<00:24:51.000> headwinds.
• We are in the definite head- headwinds.
• Hennepin for definitive treatment. Hennepin for definitive treatment.
• different definitions for this. different definitions for this.

Bills: HF4343

Keywords: sales tax, use tax, advertising tax, taxable services, digital advertising, online marketing, marketing services, search engine marketing, lead generation, internet advertising, ad agency, media buying, campaign planning, Minnesota tax law, service tax, broadening tax base, web advertising, promotional services, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• It also provides a definition for pregnancy or related conditions that cross-references the definition
• The definition is a new change since the committee last heard the bill.
• It also provides a definition for pregnancy or related conditions that cross-references the definition
• Chapter 8, section 18 on page 38 just applies that new definition.
• One of the primary changes definitions.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee took up House File 2312 and first adopted the DE1 amendment, after which the amended bill was discussed. Nonpartisan fiscal staff walked through the spreadsheet and explained the bill’s higher education budget changes, including increases for state grants and tribal college assistance, unchanged funding for several existing programs, and reductions or eliminations for items such as state work study, summer academic enrichment, student loan counseling, concurrent enrollment, and the student parent support initiative. Staff also noted transfers to special revenue funds, the cancellation and reappropriation of ALS research funding, and a new licensing/registration revenue item. The committee was told the bill met the committee’s zero target overall, with a net general fund change of zero relative to the February forecast, while also adding some non-general fund expenditures for program licensing and registration. Members asked several questions about the transfers and specific line items, including whether any new special revenue accounts were being created, the foster care wraparound services line, and the treatment of the University of Minnesota and Centric Care partnership. Staff explained that the transfers generally did not create new accounts, that some items were not in the base, and that the U of M/Centric Care partnership was a one-time appropriation in the prior bill but was now being built into the base at a different amount. The University of Minnesota section also included new or continued funding for medical school development, health training restoration, emergency assistance grants, ALS research, and a weather resiliency program, while the Mayo Foundation section eliminated funding for Mayo Medical School and the Mayo family medicine residency program. The policy portion of the DE1 was then introduced. It included a maximum tuition and fee amount for state grants, direct appropriation of emergency assistance grants to Minnesota State, a juvenile justice appropriation for Metropolitan State University, and the ALS research reappropriation to the University of Minnesota. It also contained repealers for unfunded programs, including a delayed repealer for the student parent support initiative. In the higher education policy article, the bill would allow Minnesota State to offer applied doctoral degrees in cybersecurity, make technical changes to hunger-free campus and sexual misconduct procedures, extend pregnant and parenting student protections to private institutions, allow OHE to retain up to 10% of certain competitive grants for administration, consolidate reports, change the state grant formula so negative FAFSA contributions count as zero, and reduce the state grant lifetime credit cap from 180 to 120 credits. The Northstar Promise provisions would limit tuition and fees to resident rates and require MnState, and request the University of Minnesota, to ensure eligible students receive the benefit.

Transcript Highlights:

• My question is: Is there a definition for 'original bill'?
• my head if there's a full definition my head if there's a full definition into<00:35:50.079>
• Lucero that there are definitely issues Lucero that there are definitely issues around<00:40:30.560><
• So I definitely can look into that and see what the right reference might be.
• So I definitely can look into that and see what the right reference might be.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It definitely applies to that act.
• It definitely applies to that act.
• It definitely applies to that act.
• on this have you read the definition on this have you read the definition that<01:03:37.400>
• <01:03:41.960> is you so you know what the definition is you so you know what the definition

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• um the the softest I'll say definition um the the softest I'll say all<00:12:10.279> this<00:
• and at least get change the definition and at least get them<00:12:44.199> not<00:12:44.920><
• <00:13:11.720> that<00:13:11.959> definition<00:13:12.519> needs<00:13:12.839>
• > to<00:13:13.040> be definitely that definition needs to be definitely that definition needs
• world if we just change that definition world if we just change that definition and<00:13:24.680

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Additionally, the Senate amendment modifies the definition of non-point source project and defines the
• a commercial entity may not retain any identifying information of a depicted person, and alters definitions
• a commercial entity may not retain any identifying information of a depicted person and alters definitions
• the conference community Any identifying information of a depicted person and alters definitions.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• conference committee report changes the House-passed version of Senate Bill 271 by narrowing the definition
• from telecommunications network equipment to wire because that's really what we've narrowed the definition
• It also adds in a section on who can legally... ...what we've narrowed the definition down to, just wire
• they might go to try to recycle it and might be kind of stuck because it can't fit into the bill's definition

Keywords: 964, all