Transcript Highlights:

• I want to serve rural Minnesota.
• Minnesota's already feeling the impact, particularly in rural and underserved areas where there aren't
• They've practiced for two years in a rural or underserved area.
• Regarding the opioid epidemic impacting both rural and metro areas, it takes much longer for an ambulance
• or EMS to arrive in rural areas.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:14:38.720><c> Health</c> uh this is to help a small rural Health uh this is to help a small rural
• </c> many of those deaths 40% were in rural many of those deaths 40% were in rural Minnesota<00:28:41.880
• They're closing in both urban and rural areas.
• Thank you. delivery I would argue that for a rural delivery I would argue that for a rural Hospital<01
• </c> Health Systems if uh any of the rural Health Systems if uh any of the rural facilities<01:27:13.679

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I worry about the must statement for someone under 18 and impacting them.
• The impact on that? It's always subject. And that's any of the bills that I have.
• That we had a significant impact on our fire department, St. Pete's Hospital.
• So I don't like the qualification that only rural...
• So I don't like the qualification that only rural cities have these issues.

Summary: The House Local Government Committee held public hearings on four bills. HB 2174 would allow counties, cities, towns, or the Department of Transportation to designate accident risk zones on roads with repeated crashes, hold a public hearing, conduct engineering and traffic studies, increase enforcement, and use half of traffic fine revenue for safety improvements. The sponsor and local officials from Pasco and Colotis described serious crashes and fatalities on U.S. 12 and U.S. 395 and said the bill could provide a temporary safety tool while long-term fixes are pursued. Testifiers generally supported the concept but raised concerns about liability, implementation, youth penalties, and possible targeted enforcement, especially for motorcyclists; several suggested amendments and the committee discussed possible alignment with safe system practices. HB 2267 would direct the Department of Commerce to create a model urban forest management ordinance, update it every 10 years, provide guidance on tree retention and mitigation, and create a grant program for local governments that adopt or substantially adopt the model. Supporters from Washington Conservation Action, The Nature Conservancy, FutureWise, and the Puget Sound Partnership said trees are important for stormwater, heat reduction, air quality, public health, and climate resilience, and argued the bill could help balance housing growth with canopy protection. Opposition from the Building Industry Association of Washington and the Master Builders Association focused on the grant condition tied to adoption of the model ordinance, concerns that the bill would effectively mandate local policy, and worries that prioritizing tree retention could constrain housing production and increase legal risk. HB 2183 would require counties planning under the Growth Management Act to adopt extreme heat response plans by July 1, 2027, covering immediate response, long-term mitigation, protection of high-risk populations, tribal coordination, and public education. The sponsor and physicians from Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility cited the 2021 heat dome as a deadly disaster that overwhelmed emergency services and killed many people in their homes, arguing counties need coordinated planning for future heat events. Local public health officials supported the goal but asked for amendments to reduce duplication with existing emergency and mitigation plans and to clarify leadership roles; L&I requested that the bill reference existing worker-protection rules for outdoor workers. HB 1529 would let counties perform city roadway striping and paving work without counting it against city public works limits or bidding thresholds, if the county can do the work more cheaply or no bids are received. Supporters from Pasco and the Association of Counties said it would help cities use existing county equipment and crews more efficiently, while contractors and labor groups opposed it, warning about reduced competition, quality and oversight concerns, and the loss of prevailing-wage and small-business opportunities. No votes were taken on any of the bills, and the committee adjourned after the hearings.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> up, it's been more about the the impact up, it's been more about the the impact on<00:02:20.400>
• The amendment here is also a recommendation from the rural health transformation program.
• </c> the rural health transformation program. the rural health transformation program.
• </c><00:08:32.640><c> health</c> this was part of the rural health this was part of the rural health
• </c> recommendation as part of the rural recommendation as part of the rural health<00:09:01.600><c>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• So to answer your question, yes, we would be impacted and we're actually feeling this impact already.
• So, yeah, I’m practicing Sharia in my home, and it impacts my neighbor.
• I anticipate there's no anticipated impact to the state general fund.
• On tribal lands and in rural Arizona, the impact is worse.
• I actually have done curing work in rural Arizona.

Bills: HB2009, HB2022, HCM2001, HCM2002, HCM2004, HCR2001, HM2001, HM2004

Keywords: campaign contributions, foreign contributions, constitutional amendments, public disclosure, Arizona Revised Statutes, elections, voter registration, provisional ballots, primary election, voter participation, Muslim Brotherhood, terrorism, foreign terrorist organization, national security, Islamist extremism, Congress, Arizona, domestic security, CAIR, terrorist organization

Transcript Highlights:

• These closures will result in huge gaps in services with a significant impact on rural and Twin Cities
• These closures will result in huge gaps in services with a significant impact on rural and Twin Cities
• our rural program.
• impacts the body.
• families I mean I grew up on a impacts families I mean I grew up on a rural<01:03:58.720><c> hog</c>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I did notice that the fiscal note indicated that there would not be a impact to the state for this, but
• Representative Chiia: These events have created a total economic impact of 1.8 billion for the city of
• As mentioned previously, this is something that impacts specifically rural areas of the state with 92
• Our network helped house 928 people in 398 households across rural and urban Texas using these exact
• Ben Martin: This problem affects all areas of the state, both urban and rural.

Bills: HB158

Keywords: public funds, lobbying activities, political subdivision, government spending, transparency

Transcript Highlights:

• on the bottom line for any fiscal years those bills impact.
• It's a net zero impact, but it is shifting about $4 million onto the general fund.
• We're in a rural state.
• So for families who live in rural parts of the state, that's always going to be a challenge.
• I do think social media has an impact. I really do.

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The Senate Finance and House Appropriations committee met with a quorum present and began with questions about a Rural Health Funding Task Force. Members asked who created it, what notice was given, whether it was replacing JFAC, and whether it was separate from the governor’s task force. The chair said it was created by legislative leadership rather than this committee, that JFAC would still control funding decisions, and that the task force was intended to provide structure and policy direction if the funding moves forward. The committee then received a General Fund Daily Update from Legislative Services analyst Christopher LaHosette, who noted updated revenue projections, three introduced House bills with general fund fiscal impacts, and the green sheet’s totalizing function for tracking legislation. The main presentation was from the Department of Health and Welfare on the Division of Welfare, Mental Health Services, and Psychiatric Hospitalization budgets. Alex Williamson reviewed the divisions’ roles, staffing, and five-year spending trends, and outlined the governor’s recommendations, including Medicaid eligibility system changes tied to federal law, SNAP administrative cost shifts to the state, Medicaid expansion work requirements, restoration of transfer authority, and behavioral health requests tied to the Jeff D. settlement and Idaho Behavioral Health Plan. Director Juliet Sharon said the department’s requests were largely maintenance, restoration, or compliance items, including system changes for twice-yearly Medicaid redeterminations and work requirements. Members asked about the impact of federal changes, the $5 million increase in welfare operations, vacancy levels, endowment funds, and whether the department could compare SNAP administrative costs to other states. Several questions focused on mental health cuts, the former Center of Excellence, the request to combine adult and children’s mental health budgets, and the effect of reductions on crisis services, ACT services, and mobile crisis units. Sharon and Behavioral Health Administrator Ross Edmonds said the department was trying to preserve crisis and hospital services, maintain separate tracking for children and adults, and monitor access closely while complying with legal and federal requirements. The committee also discussed Magellan’s contract, audit findings, and managed care oversight. Sharon said Magellan is reviewed through monthly, quarterly, and annual deliverables and can be placed on corrective action plans; she also said the department has processes to prevent payments for deceased or ineligible individuals. Members asked about duplication of services, the use of endowment funds at state hospitals, the need for more behavioral health workforce data, and whether the department could share equipment or contract out maintenance at the psychiatric hospitals. No votes were taken, and the committee adjourned after indicating it would meet again Monday morning.

Transcript Highlights:

• areas are still served, and that we can start to increase service in our rural areas.
• This is especially true in many low-income and rural areas where shortages are most severe already.
• CMA also notes the proposal's workforce impact is limited.
• If you restrict that workforce without clear cause, the impact doesn't stop with us.
• If you restrict that workforce without clear cause, the impact doesn't stop with us.

Summary: The joint Assembly and Senate business committees held a sunset review hearing for five California regulatory entities: the Respiratory Care Board, the California Council for Interior Design Certification, the Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology and Hearing Aid Dispensers Board, the Board of Occupational Therapy, and the Board of Naturopathic Medicine. Each board or council described its licensing, enforcement, modernization, and consumer-protection work since the last review, and committee members focused on workforce access, transparency, fee authority, and whether current regulatory structures are appropriately tailored to public safety. For the Respiratory Care Board, the main issue was a proposal to move toward a bachelor’s degree requirement for licensure. Board representatives said the change would better align education with the complexity of care and could help the profession’s long-term status and reimbursement prospects, but Assembly Member Addis and others raised concerns about rural access, staffing shortages, and added barriers to entry. Public commenters, including respiratory therapists, families, and congregate living health facility operators, strongly opposed the degree mandate and urged continued use of LVNs for certain respiratory tasks in community settings. The board also discussed its ongoing work on LVN respiratory care issues, updated suctioning guidance, digitized licensing and enforcement systems, and fee cleanup language. The interior design item drew the most debate. CCIDC leaders defended the current title-act certification model, arguing it establishes competency without evidence of public harm and avoids the disruption a full licensure system could cause. Several committee members questioned the lack of enforcement authority, the private nonprofit structure, Bagley-Keene compliance, and whether certification meaningfully improves plan acceptance or public safety. Public testimony was split: supporters said the system works and preserves flexibility, while opponents argued the model lacks accountability, creates confusion, and does not reliably prevent plan-check denials or protect the public. The speech-language pathology/audiology board reported major modernization gains, including a new online licensure system, faster processing, continuing education audits, and updated supervision and advertising rules; it also received support for creating a new audiology assistant license category, while a consumer group urged more public members, proactive inspections, and faster discipline. The occupational therapy board reported growth, improved enforcement and licensing performance, and a need for additional fee authority to address rising costs, while public testimony supported reducing advanced practice hand therapy training hours. The final naturopathic medicine item began at the end of the transcript, but no substantive discussion was captured before the excerpt ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• But it hurts many of our small rural districts.
• I know we mentioned these costs and the impacts to some of these rural schools.
• As impacting their role as an agricultural school.
• This is also very critical to our rural communities.
• I think this is very important for our rural areas.

Transcript Highlights:

• rural areas.
• So I do think the rate differential in the dental sealant does have an impact.
• How do we bring providers to those rural areas?
• One is if the state has a plan for tracking the impacts of HR1.
• Logic behind that, because that's already in the same impact.

Keywords: 962, all

Summary: The Care Management Meeting opened with a DSS update on the PCMH program. Staff reported the program remained steady at 124 practices, 553 sites, and 2,548 providers, with some month-to-month fluctuation driven by practice consolidation, retirements, and a few practices leaving the program because NCQA requirements were burdensome. Members asked about declining provider and site counts, member attribution trends, and whether PCMH practices overlap with behavioral health homes; DSS said attribution changes are largely due to members becoming ineligible, moving, or getting other insurance, and that PCMH and behavioral health homes are separate programs that coordinate informally. The committee also discussed why some smaller practices leave the program and whether the requirements could be made easier to support retention. The committee then resumed a detailed presentation on the Husky Dental program. The presenter described the dental benefit’s history, the importance of preventive oral health, workforce and consolidation pressures in dentistry, and the lack of interoperability between dental and medical records. Network data showed year-over-year declines in enrolled dental practitioners and service locations, with access gaps concentrated in rural and eastern parts of the state. Appointment availability surveys showed average waits of 38 days for adults and 23 days for children, but much longer waits at FQHCs than private fee-for-service practices. The presenter said Connecticut remains above the national median on CMS pediatric dental quality measures, though sealant rates remain a concern, and noted that preventive care is associated with lower per-member costs. Members raised concerns about provider participation, large practices dropping Medicaid, mobile dental care, and whether the public directory accurately reflects which dentists are actually accepting new patients. The presenter said the plan uses secret-shopper calls, tracks appointment availability, and has begun using place-of-service coding to better identify school-based dental care. She also noted a new MOU with 20 Head Start programs to share data and provide oral health literacy and navigation support. The final major topic was implementation planning for HR1. DSS said CMS guidance was expected in early June and proposed using upcoming meetings to cover medical frailty, communication strategy, and data integration/ex parte verification. Committee members urged the department to create a dashboard to track disenrollments and other impacts of HR1, to build a process for complaints and problem resolution, and to think through cost-sharing, caregiver verification, exemptions, and notices. Members also asked about using existing eligibility structures such as the working-disabled program as a model. The committee agreed to move the next meeting to June 10 by Zoom, with the agenda to be circulated in advance and any PCMH Plus quality data shared if available.

Transcript Highlights:

• But we've seen the impact of this program across the state.
• President and Senator, impact, if any, Mr. President and Senator, impact, if any, on porch pirates?
• Is the animal shelters all across the state, rural, urban?
• So I do know that in rural communities, this makes the difference.
• So there's no impact to funding and classes and diagnostics and services.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, heard an invocation from Rabbi Jack Stocker for New Mexico’s first Jewish Community Day at the legislature, and then proceeded with the Pledge of Allegiance, Spanish pledge, flag salute, and national anthem. Early floor business included unanimous-consent approvals for cameras on the floor and in the gallery, a relaxed dress code for guests, and an excuse for Senator Hickey. Majority Floor Leader Peter Wirth noted it was the last day for bill introductions and reviewed the day’s observances and receptions, including Multiple Sclerosis Advocacy Day, Jewish Community Day, Santo Domingo Pueblo Day, Lincoln County Day, and UNM Day. A large portion of the meeting was devoted to honoring the Artesia Bulldogs football team, recognized for winning another state championship and for their long record of success. Senators and coaches praised the team’s resilience, community support, and the role of local fundraising and school support in sustaining athletic excellence. The Senate also observed a moment of silence for New Mexico State Police Officer Darien Jarrett on the fifth anniversary of his death in the line of duty, with Senator Brantley speaking about Jarrett’s service and the impact of his loss on law enforcement and the region. The chamber then celebrated UNM Day with a formal certificate recognizing the University of New Mexico’s role as the state’s flagship university, its enrollment, degrees awarded, research, patents, health sciences, and hospital services. Multiple senators spoke in support, emphasizing UNM’s impact on education, health care, public service, first-generation students, and athletics, and several introduced guests from UNM programs and leadership. The Senate also read and adopted a certificate recognizing Dr. V. Sue Cleveland for 32 years leading Rio Rancho Public Schools, with members praising her role in building the district and supporting its growth and success. Later, the Senate recognized Valencia County Day and Hidalgo County Day, with senators highlighting each county’s history, economic development, agriculture, transportation, and community identity, and introducing local officials, business leaders, and youth honorary lieutenant governors. Additional floor remarks honored nurses and health care professionals tied to Lincoln County Day and related observances, with senators introducing guests from nursing, education, and hospital settings and emphasizing the importance of the nursing workforce and rural health care.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're helping to address the critical shortage. of primary care doctors in rural communities.
• To serve rural Texas patients, we respectfully request mission-specific funding for clinical support.
• counties. broadening our regional impact.
• But what is the impact of the overall Lamar schools to East Texas? How important?
• We are in a rural area of Orange. It's the tribal of Texas.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Research shows that rural women are more likely to die from cervical cancer, Research shows that rural
• Being in another rural area, and I know you and I have worked together on rural issues before, where
• And what about the impacts of HR1?
• It just provides more information on the impact.
• They have real impacts in our neighborhoods.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh I impacted in particular by that.
• </c><00:02:03.520><c> on</c> been has been a significant impact on been has been a significant impact
• While the majority of applications came from the Twin Cities, the proportional impact in rural and regional
• </c><01:14:56.320><c> communities</c> impact in rural and regional communities impact in rural and regional
• . impacted. impacted.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Our RSEs are essential for rural school districts for several reasons. Here are just three.
• isolation of rural school districts; specialized positions are especially difficult to fill.
• Our RSEs are essential for rural school districts for several reasons. Here are just three.
• and that's a big impact.
• It showed how impactful a child's education could be.

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The Senate Education Committee began by welcoming a new Senate Page, Caleb Williams of Shelley, and briefly asking about his plans after graduation. The committee then approved minutes from February 10, 12, 16, and 17, 2026, by voice vote. It next took up Senate Bill 1317, which would create regional service centers to help school districts and charter schools share hard-to-fill special education and related support staff, with startup funding proposed from $1 million redirected from the driver training account. The bill’s sponsor and Department of Education staff said the measure would help rural and small districts comply with IDEA by pooling services such as speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, school psychology, and administrative support, while preserving local control and reducing duplication and costs. Testimony was broadly supportive from superintendents, teachers, a parent advocate, and others, who described staffing shortages, high contract costs, and service gaps in rural districts. A few senators raised concerns about the fiscal note, the use of state funds, and the lack of clarity about how the centers would be structured and where they would be located. The committee voted to send Senate Bill 1317 to the Senate floor with a do pass recommendation; Senators Zito and Carlson voiced reservations, with Zito stating he would vote no. After that, the committee heard an informational presentation from Idaho Falls School District 91 on its PASS program, a behavior-support model for young students that uses tiered interventions, check-in/check-out, behavior academies, and a self-contained classroom to reduce disruptions and keep students in general education longer. The committee also heard from Kootenai Classical Academy about its Hillsdale-based classical education model, emphasizing virtue, Socratic discussion, phonics, no phones or screens, and strong literacy and civics instruction, with the school highlighting spelling bee success and strong academic outcomes.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the Rural School Innovation Zone executive director.
• House Bill 120 supports what rural education is all about.
• As everyone knows, Texas educates more rural students than anybody else in the United States.
• The rural school innovation zone inspired our PIP, which we're proud to be a member of.
• So the way the Rural Pathway Excellence Partnership program works, uh, like Mr.

Bills: HB20, HB120

Keywords: fraudulent solicitation, disaster relief, nonprofit organizations, criminal penalties, consumer protection, fraud prevention, charitable donations, higher education, LGBTQ studies, DEI studies, program prohibition, educational policy, HB120, Texas, Texas Education Code, public universities, public colleges, queer studies, gay studies, lesbian studies

Transcript Highlights:

• Noe Otomo, representing California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation, in opposition to AB 928.
• We are also deeply concerned about the disproportionate impact on immigrant, rural, and working-class
• I'm in rural Sacramento County, and I strongly oppose this bill. My name is Michael Mahoney.
• I'm in rural Sacramento County, and I strongly oppose this bill.
• And as I told you at the beginning, I'm from rural California.

Summary: The committee heard several bills, with AB 928 on cockfighting drawing the most extensive debate. The author and supporters said the bill targets large-scale illegal trafficking of fighting birds by creating civil penalties for properties with more than 25 individually tethered or caged roosters, while exempting legitimate poultry, hobby, educational, and religious operations. Supporters, including animal control and veterinary witnesses, described cockfighting investigations and the burdens on local agencies. Opponents argued the measure could profile immigrant, rural, Latino, Asian, and Hmong communities and create unnecessary law enforcement and immigration consequences. After questions about exemptions, enforcement, and local ordinances, the committee approved the bill on a due pass motion, with some no votes and the bill placed on call. The committee also advanced AB 1199, which would align California hospital credentialing law with federal standards by allowing recredentialing and reappointment of medical staff every three years instead of every two. Supporters from the California Hospital Association said the change would reduce administrative burden while preserving patient safety oversight. The bill passed unanimously and was placed on call. AB 2537, a cannabis enforcement bill, was presented as a way to prioritize Department of Cannabis Control resources toward the most serious public health and safety violations rather than technical infractions. Supporters said it would improve enforcement efficiency without weakening authority; members asked about rulemaking and whether the bill focused on the legal market. The committee passed the measure on a due pass motion, with the bill also placed on call. AB 1349, dealing with speculative ticketing, would require ticket sellers to own or have a contractual right to tickets before listing them for resale. Supporters from independent venues and the music industry said speculative ticketing deceives consumers and harms artists and small venues, while opponents warned about effects on the secondary market and ongoing antitrust litigation. After late amendments and additional discussion, the committee moved the bill forward on a due pass motion, placing it on call. The committee also heard AB 1693 on speeding retail tenant-improvement permits through a qualified professional certifier process and shorter local review deadlines; members questioned whether the bill allowed self-certification, and the author said the city would still review the plans. That bill passed and was placed on call. Later, AB 1826, a cannabis due-process bill requiring more timely disclosure and procedures when products are embargoed or recalled, also passed after discussion about giving businesses a meaningful chance to respond. AB 2166, a factory-built housing bill creating a state financial backstop to help modular housing factories obtain insurance and stay in business, advanced despite concerns about whether the market risk was too high for state involvement. Finally, AB 2667 on deceptive vape products began testimony, with the author describing youth vaping and devices disguised as everyday items, but the transcript cuts off before further testimony or action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill takes meaningful steps to expand access to rural communities.
• access, and improve outcomes for Florida's rural residents.
• Shannon, USDA Senior Advisor for Rural Prosperity, shared their support for our Senate Rural Renaissance
• Strong rural economic support, strong urban communities.
• That is why I'm so excited about the Rural Office of Prosperity.

Summary: The Senate Appropriations Committee met with a quorum present and took up two bills. The first, SB 250 on rural communities by Senator Simon, was described as a broad rural development package creating an Office of Rural Prosperity, a Renaissance grant program, housing and transportation investments, added funding for rural education consortiums, and health care initiatives for rural areas. Senator Harrell asked about overlap between road funding programs, and the sponsor explained that eligible counties could receive both SCRAP and FARM funding. Several organizations waived in support or spoke in support, and the bill was reported favorably by unanimous vote. The committee then heard SB 318, the committee substitute for educational scholarship programs by President Gates. The bill was presented as a response to Auditor General findings about the rapid growth and administration of Florida’s school choice and scholarship programs. It would separate Family Empowerment Scholarship funding from the FEFP, require more frequent student enrollment verification, lower scholarship funding organization administrative fees, require return of overpayments, create a student ID system, establish a $250 million stabilization fund, require annual audits, and direct DOE to recommend future program administration through competitive procurement. Gates also offered five amendments, including technical changes to eligibility documentation and a substantive amendment requiring a DOE report on future administration and competitive selection; all five amendments were adopted. During debate and public testimony, senators and witnesses discussed accountability, software solutions, reimbursement delays, monthly attestations, and impacts on public schools and families. Supporters and opponents alike raised concerns about bureaucracy, fraud prevention, special education services, and whether the bill would help or burden parents. Gates said the bill aimed to fix tracking and payment problems without capping the program, and he noted the IEP timeline would be aligned with public school timelines. After debate, the committee reported CS for SB 318 favorably by unanimous vote, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• So some rural areas have to do more air medical transports of critical patients.
• And on that note, can you speak to anything related to our rural communities that we know have their
• So when we talk about rural and we talk about emergency services in healthcare, I know it.
• And the Chair talked about rural areas, and rural areas just have completely different needs.
• I, Kui, CEO of the California Rural Indian Health Board and a member of the York Tribe...

Summary: The Senate Committee on Rules established quorum and approved several routine items on the agenda, including governor’s appointments not required to appear: Courtney Welsh to the California Housing Partnership Corporation Board, Janessa Goldbeck to the California Veterans Board, and Tom Huntington to the State Parks and Recreation Commission, each by 3-0 vote. The committee also approved reference of bills to committees, the 2026 committee chair/member assignments, the 2026 session schedule, the 2026 holiday schedule, and floor acknowledgments, all by unanimous votes. The committee noted that some 2026 committee changes would take effect February 1, 2026, and that new committees would depend on adoption of a Senate resolution. The committee then heard from Dr. Hernando Garson, nominated as chief medical officer of the Emergency Medical Services Authority. He described his background in emergency medicine, disaster response, and EMS leadership, and members questioned him about EMSA’s strategic plan, data integration, statewide standards versus local flexibility, ambulance patient offload time regulations, stakeholder engagement, and emergency response coordination. Dr. Garson emphasized data-driven decision-making, technical assistance to local agencies, collaboration with hospitals and EMS stakeholders, and the need for safer alternatives to routine ambulance transport such as community paramedicine, telehealth, and nurse triage. He also discussed disaster preparedness for vulnerable and rural communities and the use of regional and state assets, including ambulance strike teams, during fires and floods. The committee approved his appointment 4-0. The final item was Stephanie Weldon’s nomination as Deputy Director of the Office of Health Equity at the Department of Public Health. Weldon, who identified as Yurok-Tolowa and Karuk, spoke about her tribal, county, nonprofit, and state experience, her role as the first Native American woman in the position, and her commitment to health equity, rural communities, and culturally responsive public health work. Senators asked about how the office sets priorities, measures outcomes, addresses behavioral health, tribal consultation, youth mental health, and how it responds to political pressure around DEI language; Weldon said the office focuses on community-driven, data-informed work and transparency. Public commenters strongly supported her confirmation, citing her leadership on the California Reducing Disparities Project and related equity efforts. The committee approved her appointment 4-0, sending it to the full Senate for confirmation.