Transcript Highlights:

• of confirmation and every two years thereafter, ensuring regents understand fiduciary duties, accreditation

Bills: HB1974 , HB1853 , HB1973 , HB1574 , HB2619 , HB1966 , HB1643 , HB1671 , HB2558 , HB1854 , HB2173 , HB1575 , HB2229 , HB1535 , HB1978 , HB2508 , HB1549 , HB2187 , HB1550 , HB1977 , HB2314 , HB1871 , HB2319 , HB1591 , HB1858 , HB1898 , HB2372 , HB1765 , HB2012 , HB1706 , HB1962 , HB1963 , HB1975 , HB2009 , HB2083 , HB2224 , HB1877 , HB1959 , HB1626 , HB1665 , HB2488 , HB2456 , HB2548 , HB2207 , HB1832 , HB2079 , HB1985 , HB1618 , HB2486 , HB2242 , HB2045 , HB1703 , HB2236 , HB2480 , HB1976 , HB2287 , HB2288 , HB1777 , HB276 , HB1660 , HB1676 , HB1605 , HB1751 , HB1967 , HB2383 , HB2340 , HB1946 , HB2268 , HB1950 , HB2156 , HB2118 , HB1859 , HB1863 , HB1996 , HB2114 , HB2423 , HB2429 , HB2475 , HB2534 , HB2545 , HB1813 , HB1941 , HB2474 , HB2583 , HB1576 , HB1886 , HB1939 , HB2540 , HB2590 , HB2000 , HB2163 , HB2386 , HB1691 , HB1680 , HB2516 , HB1993 , HB2442 , HB1510 , HB1958 , HB1692

Keywords: HB1974, hearing loss, audiology, audiologist, hearing screening, hearing aids, cochlear implants, tele-audiology, communication access, assistive technology, speech-language pathology, deafness, hard of hearing, public health, kupuna, keiki, dementia, cognitive decline, fall prevention, State Health Planning and Development Agency

Transcript Highlights:

• received my bachelor's and master's degrees from FAMU and volunteered to serve on several of our accreditation-required

Summary: The Senate Appropriations Committee on Higher Education met to continue confirmation hearings, but the chair announced the committee would not present its budget that day and would instead roll it out the following week in coordination with House partners and Senate notice requirements. After a quorum was confirmed, the committee discussed how it would handle a large number of university board appointments, noting that some reappointments would be grouped for a block vote while others could be heard individually if members requested it. The committee then heard testimony from a series of appointees and reappointees to university boards. Florida A&M University nominees Roderick Harris, Victor Young, and Rafael Vasquez emphasized service to FAMU, student success, and support for the university’s national standing; Harris highlighted his FAMU background and faculty experience, Young cited his business and health care leadership, and Vasquez described scholarship support through his company. Florida Atlantic University appointees Linda Stock and Thomas Mersh focused on servant leadership, research growth, entrepreneurship, and FAU’s recent R1 designation and quantum computing initiatives. University of Central Florida reappointee Alex Martins discussed UCF’s preeminence goal, workforce needs, and strong nursing outcomes. The committee also heard from Florida Gulf Coast University appointees James Gris-Mall, Douglas Van Orte, Robert Rommel, Sarah Partial Perry, and reappointment Joseph Fogg, who spoke about workforce development, affordability, student success, water and nursing programs, and FGCU’s role in regional economic growth. University of South Florida reappointee Rogan Donnelly highlighted USF’s AAU status, research growth, and workforce-focused programs. Members and the chair responded positively throughout, praising the universities’ achievements and the nominees’ qualifications. At the end of the hearing, the committee voted by block on all nominees in tabs 2 through 13 and recommended them for confirmation without objection. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• received my bachelor's and master's degrees from FAMU and volunteered to serve on several of our accreditation-required

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Higher Education

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a faith-based coalition that provides the accreditation for any organization, you know, church basement

Committee: House Emerging Issues and Professional Registration

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 3037, which would allow certain Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Account tax credits, beginning in 2028, to be carried back to the immediately prior tax year. Representative Allen said the bill was a technical timing change that would not alter the credit amount, cap, refundability, transferability, or other safeguards. Supporters, including the American Federation for Children and a representative of the scholarship organization, said the change would help donors better match contributions to their actual tax liability and could increase participation. One member raised concern about the fiscal impact on education funding, noting the Department of Revenue’s estimate of reduced revenue, while the sponsor said the delayed start date was intended to give the state time to plan. The committee then heard House Bill 2830, which would increase the recorder fee that funds the Missouri Housing Trust Fund from $3 to $9 per real estate document. Representative Collins said the increase would strengthen funding for affordable housing, rental assistance, and homeless prevention. Supporters from Empower Missouri, Love Columbia, Peter and Paul Community Services, and Missouri’s Coalition of Recovery Support Providers testified that the fund is under-resourced, with many requests going unmet and some housing programs unable to support new construction or rehabilitation projects. They described local housing shortages, homelessness, and the need for more capital funding, arguing the fee increase would help meet demand without using general revenue. No opposition testimony was presented. Finally, the committee took up House Bills 1778 and 2760, both aimed at protecting religious exercise during emergencies. The sponsors said the bills were prompted by COVID-era restrictions on churches and would prevent government orders from limiting worship services, while still allowing compliance with building and fire codes and excluding violence or harm. Members debated whether the bills would create a special exemption for houses of worship and whether they could interfere with public health responses to future outbreaks. A Baptist minister testified in opposition, arguing that religious gatherings should not receive special treatment and that restrictions should apply consistently to all mass gatherings. The hearing ended without a vote, and the committee adjourned after public testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• I've been an occupational therapist for 25 years and founded Convivio Health, a CARF-accredited, multidisciplinary

Summary: The Labor and Workplace Standards Committee held its first meeting of the session and heard four bills. HB 2107 would make permanent and slightly narrow a temporary L&I requirement that, after an on-site safety inspection at a building construction site, the agency make a good-faith effort to notify the owner or employer within 10 working days if an immediately identified hazard could injure a worker. Construction industry groups and L&I supported the bill and said the pilot had worked well, with L&I reporting it had been able to notify owners almost 96% of the time during about 1,400 inspections. HB 2137 would remove the population threshold for binding interest arbitration for correctional employees in city and county jails. Teamsters representatives said the change would give corrections officers in smaller jurisdictions the same bargaining rights as other uniformed personnel and help address safety, staffing, and wage inequities. County representatives opposed the bill, saying it would increase bargaining and compensation costs for many counties, and asked for amendments requiring arbitrators to consider county finances and making awards nonbinding on county legislative authorities. HB 2264 would clarify unemployment insurance eligibility for workers who opt into an employer-initiated layoff or reduction-in-force plan, even if they can rescind their decision, so long as the termination results from the employer’s plan. Supporters said current court rulings create confusing and unfair denials of benefits for workers who leave in good faith during layoffs; NFIB raised questions about severance, retirement, and UI solvency. HB 2243 would allow physical therapists and occupational therapists to serve as attending providers in the workers’ compensation system. Physical therapy and occupational therapy advocates said this would speed care and return workers to work sooner, while retailers, food industry representatives, NFIB, the Washington State Medical Association, and L&I raised concerns about diagnosis, scope of practice, added costs, and the possibility that all PTs and OTs would have to join the provider network. No votes were taken; the committee heard testimony and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• COMPLIANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS, STATE REQUIREMENTS AND ACCREDITATION REQUIREMENTS.

Transcript Highlights:

• Ross County, growing its membership to over 1,200 businesses and retaining its five-star accreditation

Bills: SB26 , SB28 , SJR36 , SB26 , SB616 , SB565 , SB384 , SB28

Keywords: teacher compensation, education funding, public school educators, teacher retention, teacher designation, lottery, gambling, internet gaming, mobile application, criminal offenses, aquifer, water management, Edwards Aquifer, sustainability, regulatory framework, SB 565, Texas Water Code, TCEQ, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, compliance agreement

Transcript Highlights:

• Why does the bill remove the prohibited expenditures exemption for a program-specific accreditation?
• Accreditation programs have recognized that they can't force programs to break state law.
• Accreditation programs have recognized that they can't force programs to break state law.
• This bill also removes the requirement that law schools at FIU in Florida be accredited by the American

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• is a general fund appropriation of $16 million for Gillette College, which is actually not fully accredited
• not</c><00:49:14.640><c> fully</c> which is is actually not fully which is is actually not fully accredited
• :49:16.800><c> and</c><00:49:17.040><c> it</c><00:49:17.280><c> is</c><00:49:17.359><c> for</c> accredited
• , but is coming and it is for accredited, but is coming and it is for the<00:49:18.240><c> new</c><00

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They said the center is nationally accredited by CABC, has state-licensed providers, and is working with
• We are actually<01:26:19.840><c> CABC</c><01:26:20.719><c> nationally</c><01:26:21.280><c> accredited
• </c> actually CABC nationally accredited actually CABC nationally accredited birth<01:26:22.159><c> center

Bills: HB0003 , HB0004

Committee: House Labor, Health & Social Services

Keywords: pregnancy centers, abortion, pro-life, healthcare, women's rights, state regulation, civil rights, freedom of speech, medical assistance, birthing centers, Medicaid, Wyoming, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, we broaden the eligibility criteria for accredited providers.
• So, we broaden the eligibility criteria for accredited providers.
• So, it's very focused on, of course, that tier one regionally accredited high school diploma, but also
• This is the actual regionally accredited high school diploma.

Committee: House Primary and Secondary Education

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• school and save a lot of money because it's basically free, and then they can finish up whatever accreditation
• 00:49:47.280><c> whatever</c> then they can finish up whatever then they can finish up whatever accreditation
• <00:49:48.240><c> they</c><00:49:48.480><c> need</c><00:49:48.720><c> or</c> accreditation they need
• or accreditation they need or apprenticeships<00:49:49.839><c> or</c><00:49:50.000><c> so</c><00:49:50.160

Committee: Senate Capital Budget

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• who are actively exploiting our veterans by taking advantage of their benefits, by requiring the accreditation
• by uh advantage of their benefits um by uh requiring<00:59:41.040><c> the</c><00:59:41.200><c> accreditation
• </c><00:59:41.680><c> of</c><00:59:41.760><c> claim</c> requiring the accreditation of claim requiring
• the accreditation of claim sharks.<00:59:42.640><c> Uh</c><00:59:42.880><c> that's</c><00:59:43.119>

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have administration and program costs, accreditation, education materials, etc.
• 59.839><c> costs,</c> have administration and program costs, have administration and program costs, accreditation
• ,<00:59:01.440><c> education</c><00:59:02.079><c> materials,</c><00:59:03.119><c> um</c> accreditation
• , education materials, um accreditation, education materials, um etc. etc. etc.

Committee: Senate Higher Education

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• HF 1742 calls for the creation of accreditation criteria that provides guidance to other postsecondary
• 54.680><c> of</c> living HF 1742 calls for the creation of living HF 1742 calls for the creation of accreditation
• <00:36:55.440><c> criteria</c><00:36:55.920><c> that</c><00:36:56.079><c> provides</c> accreditation
• criteria that provides accreditation criteria that provides guidance<00:36:56.760><c> to</c><00:36:56.920

Bills: HF2367 , HF2319 , HF2523 , HF1742 , HF671 , HF2331 , HF2722 , HF2406 , HF1674

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Keywords: HF2367, Community First Services and Supports, CFSS, personal care assistance, PCA, consumer-directed community supports, CDCS, home and community-based services, HCBS, direct support professionals, direct care workers, caregivers, support workers, SEIU Healthcare Minnesota & Iowa, collective bargaining agreement, retention stipend, health care cost stipend, training stipend, orientation program, retirement trust

Transcript Highlights:

• These changes must be adopted by January 1, 2026, for Minnesota to meet NAIC accreditation standards.
• Minnesota<00:50:00.280><c> to</c><00:50:00.400><c> meet</c><00:50:00.680><c> NAIC</c><00:50:01.440><c> accreditation
• </c> Minnesota to meet NAIC accreditation Minnesota to meet NAIC accreditation standards<00:50:03.400

Committee: Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Mental Health Services Administration under 42 CFR part 8, as well as being required to have an accredited
• Mental Health Services Administration under 42 CFR part 8, as well as being required to have an accredited
• Mental Health Services Administration under 42 CFR part 8, as well as being required to have an accredited
• Mental Health Services Administration under 42 CFR part 8, as well as being required to have an accredited

Keywords: 00:00:00 Call to Order/Roll Call 00:01:19 Discussion of 25RS HB 785 00:30:25 Roll Call Vote on 25RS HB 785 00:32:15 Discussion of 25RS HB 61 00:36:42 Roll Call Vote on 25RS HB 61 00:38:07 Discussion of 25RS HB 788 00:51:01 Discussion of 25RS SB 14 01:11:09 Discussion of 25RS HB 685 01:44:57 Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The House Standing Committee on Health Services met with a quorum and took up House Bill 785, as amended by a committee substitute that combined language from HB 785 and HB 787. The bill was described as addressing Medicaid managed care organization (MCO) audits, provider contract notice and amendment procedures, mental health parity compliance, and related transparency requirements. Supporters said the measure would tighten notice to providers, limit repeated contract amendments and rate reductions, require more standardized audit procedures, and add reporting on Medicaid claims, appeals, and grievances. It also includes a provision requiring coverage of at least two evaluation-and-management billable services per physician per recipient per date of service, and a section addressing narcotic/opioid treatment program licensing and reimbursement language. Testimony in support came from Representative Kim Moore, John Inman of BrightView Health, Michelle Sandborne of the Children’s Alliance, and Kelly Cormic of RYSE. They argued that MCOs often use audits and recoupments in ways that are burdensome, opaque, and financially damaging to providers, especially smaller and rural ones. They cited examples of multiple audit requests in short timeframes, large record requests with short deadlines, delayed or absent feedback, and recoupments taken before appeals are resolved. They also said parity laws are not being consistently enforced and that the bill would give the Department of Insurance authority to suspend or revoke an MCO certificate of authority for willful or repeated parity violations. Committee members generally expressed support for provider protections and transparency, while asking for clarification on the narcotic treatment and E/M billing provisions. Tom Stevens of the Kentucky Association of Health Plans testified in opposition, saying the bill is complex to implement and should be handled through the broader Medicaid oversight work of House Bill 9, the MOAB. He said the issues raised were better suited for that bipartisan stakeholder process and noted the committee substitute had not yet been fully reviewed by his group. After discussion, the committee adopted the committee substitute and then moved to a vote on the bill; the roll call began, with several members recorded as voting yes, but the transcript cuts off before the final vote result is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• Large-scale availability of SAF would help the MAC advance through the airport carbon accreditation program
• Advance through the<00:38:09.839><c> airport</c><00:38:10.560><c> carbon</c><00:38:11.000><c> accreditation
• </c><00:38:11.880><c> program</c> the airport carbon accreditation program the airport carbon accreditation

Bills: HF1126 , HF967 , HF1066 , HF1669 , HF926

Committee: House Taxes

Keywords: property tax, Indian Tribe, tax exemption, Minnesota, public charity, property tax exemption, Minnesota statutes, unorganized territory, federally recognized, soil conservation, water conservation, local government aid, environmental funding, Minnesota legislation, tax credits, sustainable aviation fuel, environmental policy, corporate franchise, Minnesota taxation, tobacco

Transcript Highlights:

• What I can say is that it is standard practice for zoos that are accredited by the American Zoological
• for zoos there it is standard practice for zoos that<00:17:17.839><c> are</c><00:17:18.039><c> accredited
• 18.880><c> the</c><00:17:19.360><c> um</c><00:17:20.000><c> by</c><00:17:20.160><c> the</c> that are accredited
• by the um by the that are accredited by the um by the American<00:17:20.880><c> Zoological</c><00:17

Committee: Senate Environment, Climate, and Legacy

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• as I mentioned earlier, providers can receive increased rates under CCAP for either having an accreditation
• having</c><01:14:59.080><c> an</c> under CCAP for either having an under CCAP for either having an accreditation
• :00.360><c> a</c><01:15:00.480><c> three</c><01:15:00.719><c> or</c><01:15:00.880><c> four</c> accreditation
• or having a three or four accreditation or having a three or four star<01:15:01.400><c> parent</c><01

Committee: House Children and Families Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house