Transcript Highlights:

• Yeah, as a nurse taking care of patients, this comes up frequently.
• Oftentimes I will hear patients and families as they are in a hospital room at a time when they should
• ,</c><00:03:02.400><c> this</c> a nurse taking care of patients, this a nurse taking care of patients
• um as they hear patients and families um as they are<00:03:08.720><c> in</c><00:03:09.040><c> you</c
• </c> to create an office of patient to create an office of patient protection.<00:09:25.680><c> Um,</

Transcript Highlights:

• Even though I was not directly working with patients, I managed to see my coworkers who were subjected
• I talked about a PA friend who was punched in the face because a patient didn't like the wait time.
• Very kind, very patient. Back to H. 2688 regarding primary seatbelt.
• Sophia Maria, you have been very patient.
• Oh, thank you very much, Sophia, for being patient as well. Any questions? You're off the hook.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security heard testimony on several bills, beginning with a major workplace violence proposal for health care settings. Senator Lovely, the Massachusetts Nurses Association, the Massachusetts Hospital Association, and SEIU 1199 all supported legislation requiring hospitals and other health care employers to conduct facility-specific risk assessments, develop violence prevention plans, train workers, and provide reporting and protections for assaulted employees. Witnesses described workplace assaults as frequent and escalating, and committee members discussed balancing worker safety with concerns about criminalizing mental illness; testimony emphasized that the bill targets intentional assaults while preserving treatment and discretion for behavioral health crises. The committee also heard strong support for bills to strengthen traffic safety, including primary seat belt enforcement, rear-facing car seat requirements, and seat belts on school buses. AAA Northeast, the Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts, law enforcement, legislators, and the Massachusetts Insurance Federation all backed the measures, citing crash data, injury prevention, and personal stories of traumatic brain injury. Senator O’Connor testified for school bus seat belts, saying Massachusetts should join other states requiring them, and later Sophia Furzada of the National Transportation Safety Board urged passage of school bus seat belt and child passenger safety bills, saying lap-shoulder belts would reduce injuries and save lives in crashes where compartmentalization is not enough. Other testimony included support for a bill to make 9-1-1 disability indicator forms more accessible and inclusive, with the witness arguing the form should better reflect mental health, developmental disabilities, language access needs, and a fifth-grade reading level. The committee also heard opposition to a proposal to extend Christian’s Law to swimming pools, with a parks and recreation director warning of unintended consequences for municipal camps and underserved communities. Finally, the committee took testimony on a bill to expand the Forensic Science Oversight Board to include workforce representation, which MOSES said would restore technical expertise to the board. At the end of the hearing, the committee adjourned without taking votes on the bills discussed.

Transcript Highlights:

• So some rural areas have to do more air medical transports of critical patients.
• So some rural areas have to do more air medical transports of critical patients.
• So some rural areas have to do more air medical transports of critical patients.
• We've also prescribed and treated well over 3,000 transgender patients with hormone therapy.
• My son is a mental health patient. He has schizophrenia. He's here with us today.

Committee: Senate Rules

Summary: The Senate Committee on Rules convened with quorum and first approved several governor’s appointments not required to appear, including 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 and membership appointments, the 2026 session schedule, the 2026 Senate holiday schedule, and floor acknowledgments, all by 4-0 votes. The committee then heard confirmation testimony from Hernando Garzon, M.D., nominated as Chief Medical Officer of the Emergency Medical Services Authority. Senators asked about EMSA’s strategic plan, data integration, local flexibility in statewide standards, ambulance patient offload regulations, stakeholder engagement, disaster response, rural access, and alternatives to transporting 9-1-1 callers to emergency departments. Garzon emphasized data-driven decision-making, technical assistance to local EMS agencies, collaboration with hospitals and providers, and the use of community paramedicine, telehealth, and pre-positioned resources in disasters. Public commenters and members supported his confirmation, and the committee approved the appointment 4-0 for referral to the full Senate. The committee also heard from Stephanie Weldon, nominated as Deputy Director of the Office of Health Equity at the Department of Public Health. She described her tribal background, prior state, county, tribal, and nonprofit experience, and her focus on serving communities facing health disparities. Senators questioned her about how the office sets priorities, measures outcomes, balances equity work amid political opposition to DEI language, and tailors technical assistance to rural and tribal communities. Weldon pointed to work on tribal consultation, behavioral health, youth mental health, the California Reducing Disparities Project, gender-affirming care, reproductive health, housing and climate-related supports, and community advisory boards. Numerous public witnesses, including tribal and health equity advocates, spoke in strong support, and the committee approved her appointment 4-0 for the full Senate.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, for example, this summer patients at Eastern State Hospital, are we trying to do moving forward?
• So for example, this summer patients at Eastern State Hospital, So, for example, this summer patients
• And part of the reimagined helped us do was we’ve successfully discharged quite a few patients out of
• So there's really nothing that is, we've already removed the ability for new patients.
• Am I—so there's really nothing that is, we've already removed the ability for new patients, so you're

Committee: House Early Learning & Human Services

Summary: The committee heard an update on Washington’s child welfare system from Casey Family Programs and then from DCYF. Dr. David Sanders presented national and state trends showing fewer children entering and remaining in out-of-home care, more kinship placements, and relatively low use of group homes, but he also flagged concerns about children lingering in care for years and an increase in repeat maltreatment and child fatalities. He urged stronger focus on infants and young children, better coordination among child protection, health care, and law enforcement, and more proactive review and decision-making practices. Members asked for disaggregated data on children remaining in care, fatalities, and the role of fentanyl and other factors. DCYF said Washington has increased relative placements and guardianships, citing prior legislative changes such as HB 1747, HB 1227, and SB 6109. Officials reported a rise in critical incidents in 2025, especially near-fatalities involving children age three and under, many tied to opioid exposure, and described responses including safe child consults, hotspot identification, more training on neglect and medically complex cases, updated safety tools, and expanded community supports and peer services. Members pressed DCYF on cross-agency collaboration, preventive services, and whether a broader commission on child abuse prevention should be created; DCYF said it would be open to discussing that and noted existing work with health and legal partners. The committee then received a DSHS update on the agency’s “Reimagined” reorganization. Secretary Angela Ramirez said the restructuring consolidates administrations to reduce silos, improve customer experience, and better coordinate services across behavioral health, habilitation, aging, long-term support, technology, and analytics. She said DSHS will seek statutory alignment and CMS approval and is also redesigning its website. Members asked about federal HR1 impacts, SNAP, and whether DSHS has a team tracking federal changes; Ramirez said the agency is monitoring developments and will coordinate with legislators. Finally, DSHS provided an update on residential habilitation centers and implementation of SB 5393, which phases out new long-term admissions at Rainier School and closes it by June 30, 2027. Officials reported current census and capacity figures for the state’s RHCs, described recent resident transitions from Rainier, and said emergency and permanent rulemaking are underway. They also disclosed that a recent CMS survey found Rainier out of compliance with the active treatment condition of participation, prompting corrective action plans and a 90-day window to return to compliance. Members questioned the meaning of active treatment, the lack of available capacity, the consequences of noncompliance, and whether Rainier could be repurposed for other services; DSHS said it is working to correct the deficiencies and is open to future uses if directed and funded by the legislature.

Transcript Highlights:

• So for example, this summer patients at Eastern State Hospital, So, for example, this summer patients
• It's resulted in much better patient care.
• Part of the reimagined effort helped us do was we've successfully discharged quite a few patients out
• So there's really nothing that is—we've already removed the ability for new patients. Am I?
• So there's really nothing that is—we've already removed the ability for new patients, so you're going

Summary: The committee heard a lengthy update on Washington child welfare from Casey Family Programs and DCYF. Dr. David Sanders said Washington has sharply reduced out-of-home care and increased kinship placements, but he flagged concerns about low screening-in rates, long stays in foster care for many children, and a recent rise in repeat maltreatment and child fatalities, especially among infants. He urged more focus on infants and young children, better coordination among child protection, health care, and law enforcement, and more proactive review and investigation practices. Members asked for disaggregated data on children lingering in care, fatalities, and causes such as fentanyl exposure. DCYF said it has increased relative placements and guardianships, but also reported a concerning rise in 2025 critical incidents, mostly near-fatalities involving children age three and under, many opioid-related. The department described responses including safe child consults for opioid cases, more training, hotspot analysis, and proposed investments in peer support, public health nurses, community referrals, and an updated safety framework. Members also discussed whether a broader commission on child abuse prevention would be useful, and DCYF said it was open to that idea. The committee then received a DSHS reorganization update from Secretary Angela Ramirez, who described the “Reimagined” plan to consolidate four administrations into three new ones, with the stated goals of reducing silos, improving customer experience, and making transitions between services smoother. She said the agency is seeking statutory changes and CMS approval to align the new structure, and members asked about preparing for federal HR1 impacts, especially SNAP. Ramirez said DSHS is monitoring those impacts closely and emphasized the need for accurate data and cross-agency coordination. Finally, DSHS’s Behavioral Health and Habilitation Administration updated the committee on residential habilitation centers and implementation of Substitute Senate Bill 5393, which phases out Rainier School by June 30, 2027 and limits new admissions. Officials reported current census and staffing levels at the state’s RHCs, said Rainier has had some residents transition to supported living or adult family homes, and explained that emergency and permanent rulemaking was needed to implement the law. They also said Rainier was recently cited by federal surveyors for not meeting the active treatment requirement for two residents, and that the facility has 90 days to return to compliance before possible payment penalties or further remedies. Members pressed for details on the citation, the meaning of active treatment, the assessment process for admissions, and whether Rainier could be repurposed for other services; DSHS said it is working on corrective action and will follow up in writing.

Transcript Highlights:

• This all limits its ability to ensure patient safety.
• For comparison, about one in seven Washington patients, or about 100,000 patients, say they prefer a
• For comparison, about one in seven Washington patients or about 100,000 patients.
• For comparison, about one in seven Washington patients or about 100,000 patients say they prefer language
• complaints around patient safety.

Summary: The meeting began with JLARC’s biennial executive committee elections. After confirming a quorum, members unanimously elected Representative Pollet as chair, Senator Wagoner as vice chair, Representative Orcutt as secretary, and Senator Solomon as assistant secretary for the 2025-27 biennium. The committee also approved the May 14 meeting minutes unanimously. Chair Pollet then outlined a commitment to more member input on audit scope and coordination with the State Auditor’s Office. Staff presented a preliminary report on Washington State recreation boating programs. They reported that six agencies administer boating-related activities, that the state collected about $108 million in boating-related revenue in 2021-23, and that $86 million was spent, mostly on infrastructure and water access, environmental protection, boater safety, and marine law enforcement. Staff said Washington’s boating laws and programs are broadly similar to other states and noted that the final report is expected in September. JLARC then reviewed several tax preferences. For natural gas used as a transportation fuel, staff said the preferences reduce fuel costs but did not meet emissions-reduction targets because fewer vessels and vehicles converted to natural gas than expected; staff recommended continuing some exemptions and modifying reporting requirements. For travel agents and tour operators, staff said the preference continues to provide tax relief, but large beneficiaries’ savings are rising while small beneficiaries’ use is declining, leading to recommendations to continue the small-business rate and add or revise performance metrics. Staff also reviewed a nonprofit low-income housing property tax exemption, concluding it helps developers build homes as intended but that the performance metric should better reflect housing outcomes; they recommended the legislature decide whether to continue or modify it. Other reviews covered multipurpose senior citizen centers, disabled veteran adapted housing, trade convention attendance, agricultural fertilizer and seed wholesaling, hazardous substance tax treatment for pesticides, and silicon smelter energy preferences, with recommendations ranging from continuation to expiration depending on whether the stated objectives were met. The committee then adopted the final cannabis market study for distribution. Staff reported that Washington businesses produced two to three times more cannabis than retailers sold in 2023, and that inaccurate and incomplete reporting limits the Liquor and Cannabis Board’s ability to regulate the market. The board said it concurs with the recommendations, including developing a plan for a new data system and considering broader social equity options. Finally, staff presented the proposed final report on Department of Health oversight of hospital data reporting, inspections, and complaints. Staff said DOH was late on most acute-care hospital inspections, had not fully verified third-party inspection standards, and did not adequately review adverse event correction plans or assess language access barriers in its complaint system. DOH said it concurs with all six recommendations and has already made some transparency improvements, including a public dashboard for adverse event reporting.

Transcript Highlights:

• to be serving Medicaid beneficiaries and uninsured patients.
• As threats to patients and providers continue across the country,... ...in our state.
• , shield the patient, and help them into the building because of what is potentially happening.
• I think back to this: this is about protecting the patients and the providers.
• Again, the bill is safeguarding patient privacy and protects providers. ...is safeguarding patient privacy

Transcript Highlights:

• My patients do not just have medical problems.
• We take care of around 45,000 patients in the community.
• Let me tell you about the reality our patients face every day.
• We take care of around 45,000 patients in the community.
• Some of my patients are employed as home health aides. They care for elderly patients at home.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Election Laws

Summary: The Joint Committee on Election Laws held a hearing on a wide range of voting-access and election-administration bills. The largest portion of testimony focused on same-day voter registration (H. 834/S. 505), with support from Rep. Gentile, Boston and Chelsea officials, civic groups, and election administrators from Maine and Vermont. Supporters argued that same-day registration would help eligible voters who move frequently, miss deadlines, or face administrative errors, and would reduce rejected provisional ballots. Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows and Vermont elections director Sean Sheehan testified that same-day registration has worked in their states without major administrative problems and has helped increase turnout. A Boston-based panel also described high rejection rates for provisional ballots and the burden of registration cutoffs on renters, students, immigrants, and low-income voters. A second major topic was restoration of voting rights for incarcerated people, including S. 524 and related House bills. The committee heard extensive virtual testimony from incarcerated individuals at MCI Norfolk and MCI Shirley, who said voting should be restored as part of rehabilitation, civic engagement, and reintegration. They described disenfranchisement as dehumanizing and argued that voting would help maintain family and community ties, reduce recidivism, and give incarcerated people a voice on laws affecting prisons and reentry. Rep. Erica Uyterhoeven also testified in support, saying the bill would restore municipal voting rights for incarcerated residents and align with broader efforts to expand political participation. The committee also heard testimony on bills affecting election administration and access, including a proposal to reduce or eliminate mandated early in-person voting in primaries and shorten the general-election early voting period, with supporters from the town clerks’ community arguing that low usage, staffing burdens, and costs justify the change. Opponents warned that reducing in-person early voting could hurt voters who do not use mail ballots and could disproportionately affect communities of color. Other bills discussed included decoupling the municipal census from voter registration, requiring periodic accessibility inspections of polling places, and a Somerville home-rule petition on non-citizen municipal voting and another on lowering the voting age in municipal elections. No votes or final committee actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:23:08.640><c> who</c> will end up doing is the patients who will end up doing is the patients
• them,</c><00:53:14.040><c> and</c> patient, the patients around them, and patient, the patients around
• The patient has civil rights.
• The patient has civil rights.
• . patients. patients.

Committee: House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• So I think having a patient coming around and saying, you know what, the wife tells me I'm snoring, I
• think something like that should be assessed by some health care providers that they have a doctor-patient
• This is Representative Burns' medically complex patients bill. House Bill 3457 be voted do pass.
• This is Representative Burns' medically complex patients bill. Any discussion?
• This is Representative Burns medically complex patients bill. Any discussion?

Committee: House Health and Mental Health

Transcript Highlights:

• be available to patients.
• </c> medical record via patient portal. medical record via patient portal.
• </c> to patients. to patients.
• for the patient of the minor<02:24:58.319><c> patient.
• </c> happens with the rare disease patient. happens with the rare disease patient.

Committee: House Children and Family Law

Transcript Highlights:

• So, I hope you will all be patient.
• Patients may miss life-saving options.
• Patients may miss life-saving options.
• </c> That's for long-term care patients. That's for long-term care patients.
• Uh but it is patients there currently.

Bills: SB3263 , SB3261

Committee: Senate Education

Summary: The joint Senate Committee on Education and Committee on Health and Human Services heard testimony on several bills related to student health and safety, University of Hawaii programs, and workforce development. For SB 2969, which would appropriate funds for the University of Hawaii to expand and sustain the Maui Wildfire Exposure Study and Maui Health Registry, testimony was overwhelmingly supportive. Witnesses described the ongoing physical and mental health impacts of the August 2023 Maui fires, said the study has identified serious untreated conditions and connected participants to care, and emphasized its role in serving survivors and training students. The committee also heard support from the Department of Health, the Alzheimer’s Association, the American Lung Association, Maui residents, and study staff. No vote was taken during the hearing. The committee then heard SB 2657, which would establish an Alzheimer disease and related dementia research center at the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine. University of Hawaii and Alzheimer’s Association representatives supported the bill, saying a local center would improve coordination of existing research, build state capacity, and help Hawaii compete for future NIH designation and federal funding. A family member affected by Alzheimer’s also testified in support, citing the disease’s impact in Hawaii. In response to questions, the university said the proposal would follow a five-year phased plan, with the first year funding used to recruit a senior neuroscientist and staff person, at an estimated cost of about $375,000, and that the effort would still strengthen Hawaii’s research infrastructure even if federal funding is not secured. For SB 2612, which clarifies immunity for Department of Education employees and agents who assist students with medication administration under certain conditions, the Department of Education said the bill is intended to protect volunteers and help ensure students can participate in school activities even when staffing is limited. The committee discussed how volunteers would be selected and whether every school would have someone available, and DOE said schools currently rely on health attendants, nurses, and trained volunteers. The committee also briefly discussed liability language and gross negligence exceptions. The hearing then moved to SB 2412, which would fund a bachelor’s degree program in sign language and sign language interpretation at UH Mānoa with a future master’s pathway. Testimony from interpreters, educators, and university officials emphasized the shortage of interpreters, the need to retain local talent, and the program’s role in building a pipeline; university representatives said the initial request would fund a faculty/staff position as a first step, with additional funding needed later. No final committee action or votes were announced in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• My oldest patient is 72 years of age.
• </c><00:20:00.160><c> and</c> research as well as patient and research as well as patient and professional
• My oldest patient is 72 years disease. My oldest patient is 72 years of<00:20:08.080><c> age.
• </c> health, patient and caregiver education. health, patient and caregiver education.
• We also participate in patients.

Committee: House Mobile County Legislation

Transcript Highlights:

• access. ...cycle from academic research to biotech to pharma and back to patient access.
• , including for difficult cancers like colon cancer. ...to more cures for our patients, including for
• I treat patients with leukemia and other cancers, and thanks to new discoveries, also now starting to
• Let's keep Massachusetts... ...the beacon of hope for patients everywhere.
• My experience as a nurse showed me how critical research is to improve the patient experience.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies

Summary: The committee on Economic Development held a hearing on the DRIVE Act, a proposal to invest $400 million in Massachusetts research and innovation without new taxes. Governor Healey and administration officials said the bill would direct $200 million to public higher education research and regional partnerships and $200 million to a research funding pool for hospitals, universities, and other institutions, with the goal of retaining talent, leveraging private and philanthropic dollars, and offsetting major federal R&D cuts. They argued that research is a core economic engine for the state, supporting jobs across labs, construction, services, and surrounding businesses, and said the bill would help protect the Commonwealth’s tax base and competitiveness during a period of federal uncertainty and cuts to SNAP, Medicaid, and other programs. Committee members raised concerns about whether Fair Share surtax dollars should instead be used for K-12 and other community needs, whether the proposal is enough given the scale of lost federal grants, and how the money would be allocated. The governor responded that the funds are one-time surplus dollars, that most surtax revenue already supports education, and that the bill is meant as a bridge to stabilize public higher education and research. She also said the legislation includes a review board and could support a revolving or matched-fund approach in some cases. Several members pressed for more detail on selection criteria, future funding, and whether private companies and large endowments should contribute more. University of Massachusetts leaders and researchers testified that federal grant cancellations and delays are already causing layoffs, furloughs, rescinded admissions, and lost research capacity. UMass officials said the bill would help preserve faculty, postdocs, graduate students, and research programs in medicine, climate science, marine science, Braille instruction, and AI decision-making. They emphasized that the funding should be merit-based and that the state needs to act quickly to prevent talent from leaving Massachusetts. Business, labor, and industry groups, including MassBio, the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, AIM, the AFL-CIO, and Building Trades, supported the bill, saying it would protect jobs, sustain the innovation ecosystem, and reinforce Massachusetts’ national leadership in research and life sciences. No vote was taken in the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• The fear of medical debt affects our relationships with our patients and can make patients delay or defer
• The fear of medical debt affects our relationships with our patients and can make patients delay or defer
• The fear of medical debt affects our relationships with our patients and can make patients delay or defer
• The fear of medical debt affects our relationships with our patients and can make patients delay or defer
• ,</c> aggressive in reaching out to patients, aggressive in reaching out to patients, trying<00:27:08.880

Bills: HF1646 , HF2443

Committee: House Commerce Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Is there language in the bill that prohibits them from passing that fee on to the pharmacy and the patient
• What we have in the bill cannot be passed on to the patient or customer, whatever you want to call him
• bear any costs associated with the dispensing fee and shall not pass that on to the plan member or patient
• I have seen patients and know of patients.
• I've seen states stepping up to engage to protect patients and protect small businesses.

Bills: SB25 , SB250 , HB22 , HB27 , HB33 , HB47 , HB233 , HB290 , HB308 , HB324 , HB382 , HB533 , HB559 , HB575 , HB980 , HB1157 , HB1207 , HB1236 , HCR45

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: HB22, Act 279, Clerks of Court Retirement and Relief Fund, retirement system, pension, cost-of-living adjustment, COLA, retirees, beneficiaries, survivors, funded ratio, actuarial valuation, Consumer Price Index, CPI-U, employer contributions, funding deposit account, unfunded accrued liability, public retirement, Louisiana retirement law, court clerks

Transcript Highlights:

• MDs, DOs, and I believe even PAs were the ones that ultimately read and give the response to the patient
• . ...ultimately read and give the response to the patient.
• And they're the ones that consult with the patient and give them the information.
• Reviewing and they're the ones that consult with the patient and give them the information.
• It seems like this is limiting a full amount of what a doctor can do for their patient.

Bills: HB4248 , HB3194 , HB3849 , HB4095 , HB4302 , HB3342 , HB3344 , HB3287 , HB3645 , HB3647 , HB3930 , HB3931 , HB1818 , HB4454 , HB4336

Committee: House Health and Human Services Oversight

Summary: The committee took up a series of health and human services bills, beginning with House Bill 4248, which was reported due pass on a 9-0 vote after an unclear procedural vote call. The next major item was House Bill 3194, a bill to prevent pregnancy resource centers from being singled out for discrimination. The author said the measure was intended to protect private nonprofit pregnancy centers from lawsuits and government interference, including in staffing and mission-related decisions. Members questioned the bill’s impact on counseling, contraception referrals, ectopic pregnancy treatment, employment practices, and whether it was necessary given existing law. The bill was reported due pass on a 10-2 vote. The committee then advanced House Bill 3849, a request bill from the Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth to update language and broaden mentoring program credentialing, and House Bill 4095, which reaffirms the state role in the 211 collaborative and clarifies that it applies to hotline services for needs such as food, housing, clothing, transportation, and medical assistance. House Bill 4302 would allow the Office of Juvenile System Oversight to disclose a complainant’s identity to law enforcement if the complainant threatens harm. All three were reported due pass unanimously. Members also approved House Bill 3342, described as a Medicaid audit reform bill intended to curb punitive audits of providers; the author said the bill arose from cases where providers were penalized over reporting issues rather than fraud. House Bill 3344, aimed at improving foster care standards and home placements, passed 10-2 after questions about income thresholds, letters of recommendation, and whether the bill would apply to guardianship placements; the author said the goal was to raise standards and improve outcomes for children. House Bill 3287, requiring hospitals to post information and develop protocols for domestic violence and human trafficking victims, passed 12-0. House Bill 3645 created an alternate pathway for hospice referrals when a patient lacks next of kin or power of attorney, and House Bill 3647 established an all-payer claims database while emphasizing that the data could not be sold; both passed 12-0 after members raised concerns about federal consistency and privacy. Later, House Bill 3930, which defines “service animal” and requires sellers of emotional support animals to disclose that they are not service animals, passed 10-2. House Bill 3931 corrected a prior death-certificate change deadline and was reported due pass unanimously. House Bill 1818, a social work licensing cleanup bill, was amended to extend a sunset date to 2028 and then reported due pass 12-0. House Bill 4336 clarified pain-management definitions, including acute pain, and was reported due pass 12-0 after questions about labor and epidural care. House Bill 4454, an untimely PCS on medical marijuana edibles, would require clearer THC labeling and prohibit child-attractive shapes; the author cited pediatric ingestion incidents, and the bill passed 11-1. The committee then revisited House Bill 1818 to change the effective date to November 1, 2026, by unanimous consent.

Transcript Highlights:

• A lot of patients we serve, working.
• They We've seen it for these patients.
• </c><00:19:19.120><c> and</c> trespassing, or threatening patients and trespassing, or threatening patients
• Services to all patients regardless of their ability to pay.
• So we overburdened with patient care.

Summary: The committee heard testimony on a large number of health-related measures, with the most extensive discussion on SB 2283, which would expand mail-order pharmacy access for prescription drugs. Supporters including HMSA, the Board of Pharmacy, and health plan groups said mail order could lower costs, improve adherence, and reduce hospitalizations, while independent pharmacies and rural neighbor-island providers warned it could harm local pharmacies, reduce access for patients who rely on face-to-face service, and create delivery and storage problems for medications. No vote was taken on SB 2283 during the excerpt, and the chair moved on after hearing testimony. The committee also heard SB 2855 on opioid antagonists, with the Insurance Division and HMSA noting that medically necessary opioid antagonists are already covered and suggesting the issue may be addressed through education or administrative fixes. Fentanyl and substance abuse groups supported the measure. SB 3045 on health insurance coverage for continuous glucose monitors drew broad support from diabetes and health organizations; HMSA said it had already expanded coverage for members on injectable insulin but raised concerns about supply constraints and said it had not yet seen an auditor study referenced in discussion. Members asked whether the bill would extend coverage beyond current policy. SB 2843 on domestic violence received support from the Public Defender’s Office, prosecutors, and victim-related organizations, who said the pilot program for misdemeanor domestic violence cases had reduced backlogs and improved court efficiency. A prosecutor also supported retaining coercive control as a petty misdemeanor tool in larger domestic violence cases. SB 2845 on healthcare facility access drew strong support from many health, legal, and advocacy groups, who said it would protect patients and staff from disruptive interference at healthcare facilities; one opponent argued it would chill lawful speech and protest and unfairly exempt labor demonstrations. The committee then heard SB 2854 and SB 3202, both healthcare-related measures, with testimony largely in support. SB 2854 drew comments from health and dental groups, and SB 3202 focused on workforce and licensing issues, including support for retired physicians volunteering, preceptor tax credits, and adding advanced midwifery and physician assistant-related provisions. The chair repeatedly enforced a one-minute testimony limit and moved through the agenda without recorded votes in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• AB 1794 allows internal nutrition formula to be shipped directly to the homes of patients who depend
• medication management for residents in long-term care facilities, assisted living facilities, and patients
• fragile patients who would otherwise be forced to struggle with transportation due to a combination
• They work closely with physicians, nurses, and other providers to deliver safe care for patients.
• population, they also cover the same service for all patient populations who need that care.

Committee: House Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• House, House Bill 2557 requires a health care provider, after receiving a written request from a patient
• So just making sure that patients have access to their medical records in a timely fashion, especially
• the House House Bill 2557, requires a health care provider after receiving a written request from a patient
• So just making sure that patients have access to their medical records in a timely fashion, especially
• about it, but it's a good legislation that allows continued care with specifically more fragile patients

Summary: The Republican caucus reviewed a long list of House bills returned from the Senate with amendments, generally asking staff to describe the changes and then confirming whether the sponsor concurred. Many measures were accepted with little or no debate, including bills on tax filing penalties (HB 2016), court-ordered restitution for homeless or indigent defendants (HB 2028), vaccination and mask restrictions (HB 286), bullion investments by the state treasurer (HB 2140), nursing care complaint timelines (HB 2195), privacy protections for county records (HB 2327), cold plunge regulation (HB 2439), medical records access timelines (HB 2557), licensing board procedures (HB 2660), school and public records provisions, AI governance (HB 2592), fingerprint clearance temporary work authorization (HB 2916), development fees (HB 2946), affordability infrastructure districts (HB 2999), distracted driving penalties (HB 2109), health aide scope of practice (HB 2189), eviction record sealing (HB 2244), backyard structure rules in planned communities (HB 2342), inmate transition services (HB 2440), nuclear-ready community designation criteria (HB 2456), address confidentiality protections (HB 2594), groundwater/medical reimbursement changes (HB 2932), traffic citation signature authority (HB 2369), advanced math enrollment (HB 2423), school district training and intervention requirements (HB 2435), job order contracting limits (HB 2482), special education and placement rules (HB 2621), DCS parent rights notice changes (HB 2661), domestic violence expert testimony standards (HB 2662), inmate mental health study committee provisions (HB 2673), legislative subpoena enforcement (HB 2745), ACA trade office oversight (HB 2752), utility reporting changes (HB 2756), Native American language proficiency credit (HB 2895), mental health judicial review timelines (HB 2923), mobile food vendor licensing (HB 2118), medical intervention/school attendance rules (HB 2248), school board finance training (HB 2379), and school board meeting access/video requirements (HB 2380). Sponsors repeatedly stated they concurred with the Senate amendments, and no roll-call votes were taken in the transcript. A few items were set aside or sent back, including HB 2035 and HB 2249, and one bill (HB 2594) was left pending because the sponsor had not yet responded.