Transcript Highlights:

• </c> is that there should be shared clinical is that there should be shared clinical decisionmaking decisionmaking
• of the negligent failure of an employee of the hospital, clinic, pharmacy, manufacturer, or provider
• ,</c><01:45:05.600><c> pharmacy</c> against a hospital, clinic, pharmacy against a hospital, clinic,
• The hospital, clinic, this part 17.
• ,</c><01:45:39.840><c> pharmacy,</c> the hospital, clinic, pharmacy, the hospital, clinic, pharmacy,

Transcript Highlights:

• U Refugee and Immigration Law Clinic in support in Zoom. Thank you so much.
• Moving to our next testifier, we have the Legal Clinic in support in person.
• We have the Legal Clinic in support in person.
• Sandy Ma for the Legal Clinic, testifying in support of SB 816.
• <01:52:58.159><c> and</c><01:52:58.719><c> their</c> clinic and their clinic and their recommendation

Committee: House Economic Development & Technology

Summary: The committee on Economic Development and Technology met on March 12, 2025, and heard testimony on several measures. On SB 9, the Hawaii Food Industry Association, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation testified in support, and there were no questions or objections. On SB 148, the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs offered comments, and a member of the public testified in support of combining boxing and MMA oversight into a single combat sports commission, with amendments to preserve safety standards and separate or distinct treatment for the two sports. Committee discussion focused on whether proposed requirements were primarily safety-related or cost-related, how to handle smaller events, and whether a one-year implementation delay was necessary; the department said many safety provisions already exist in the MMA program, that it was open to continued discussion on costs, and that it needed time to combine rules and appoint new commissioners. The chair suggested possible amendments to account for event size and to reduce burdens on smaller events. The committee then heard SB 816, which drew extensive testimony on providing legal representation for immigrants in immigration proceedings. Supporters included the Hawaii State LGBTQ+ Commission, ACU Hawaii, the Refugee and Immigration Law Clinic, the Legal Clinic, Hawaii Friends of Civil Rights, the Hawaiʻi Coalition for Immigrant Rights, Pride at Work Hawaii, and others. Supporters argued that immigration cases can be as serious as criminal cases, that counsel is essential for due process, and that representation improves outcomes; several also emphasized the economic importance of immigrants to Hawaii. One supporter noted a suggested amendment to include training for attorneys and partners doing deportation defense and asylum work. Opposition came from a Navy veteran who argued the bill would use state resources for a federal issue, create inequities, and impose fiscal burdens. The chair noted 69 testimonies in support and 44 in opposition, and later an additional supporter brought the total to 70 in support. No vote was taken in the portion of the meeting provided. The committee also heard SB 125, with the Department of Economic Development, the Agreed Business Development Corporation, and the Hawaii Food Industry Association in support, and the Tax Foundation of Hawaii offering technical comments about complicated nested definitions in the bill. Testimony on SB 125 focused on updating the Enterprise Zone Program so local manufacturers selling directly to retail could qualify, along with value-added products and certain health-related sectors. Finally, on SB 732, the State of Hawaii Creative Industries testified with comments, raising concerns about county permit-fee waivers, implementation timing, and the bill’s lack of a carry-forward provision for the film tax credit. The witness said uncertainty in the credit was already causing productions to delay coming to Hawaii and urged stability to support the industry and local workers. The committee then moved on to additional testimony on the measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• Genetic testing also plays a growing role in identifying eligibility for clinical trials and emerging
• Researchers report that people are reluctant to participate in research studies and clinical trials involving
• Researchers report that people are reluctant to participate in research studies and clinical trials involving
• genetic testing because they're concerned about how it clinical trials involving genetic testing because

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Financial Services

Summary: The Joint Committee on Financial Services held a fully virtual public hearing after a blizzard and state emergency closed the State House and created travel and cleanup concerns. Chairs Senator Paul Feeney and Representative James Murphy opened by thanking first responders and committee staff for making the hearing possible and noted that several members attended remotely. The committee heard testimony on three bills: H.5112, An Act Prohibiting Genetic Discrimination; H.4914, An Act Relative to the Massachusetts Uniform Commercial Code; and S.2921, An Act Relative to Travel Insurance. Most of the testimony focused on H.5112. Representative Dave Rogers and his constituent Robin Biggs testified in support of H.5112, describing gaps in federal genetic nondiscrimination law that do not cover life, long-term care, or disability insurance. Biggs shared her experience as a BRCA2 mutation carrier and said genetic knowledge helped her take preventive steps, but that people fear testing because insurers may use results against them. Lindsay Jack of the ALS Association and Lisa Schlager of FORCE also supported the bill, arguing that it would encourage preventive care, research participation, and fairer underwriting without harming insurance markets. They said insurers could still use medical history and diagnoses, but not genetic test results alone. Committee members asked questions about whether insurers currently request genetic testing and how such information is used in underwriting. Testifiers said the information is routinely asked for or found in medical records, but the bill would prohibit its use in coverage decisions and would prevent insurers from requiring testing. No votes were taken. After testimony concluded and no additional witnesses came forward, the chairs closed the hearing and adjourned the meeting by unanimous voice vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• And it is being going through clinical trials for the treatment of treatment-resistant depression.
• 05:24.720><c> being</c><00:05:25.520><c> going</c><00:05:25.760><c> through</c><00:05:25.960><c> clinical
• </c><00:05:26.560><c> trials</c> is being going through clinical trials is being going through clinical

Committee: Joint Drug Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Genetic testing also plays a growing role in identifying eligibility for clinical trials and emerging
• Researchers report that people are reluctant to participate in research studies and clinical trials involving
• Researchers report that people are reluctant to participate in research studies and clinical trials involving
• genetic testing because they're concerned about how it clinical trials involving genetic testing because

Bills: H5112 , S2921 , H4914

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Financial Services

Keywords: genetic discrimination, genetic testing, genetic information, DNA, hereditary risk, insurance underwriting, life insurance, health insurance, long-term care insurance, disability insurance, medical privacy, consumer protection, anti-discrimination, insurer regulation, Commissioner of Insurance, chapter 176D, underwriting, hereditary disease, genomics, travel insurance

Transcript Highlights:

• , and at the Kentucky Psychology Clinic, and at the Office<00:15:53.400><c> for</c><00:15:53.560><c>
• ,</c><00:15:56.200><c> which</c> Care Needs Diagnostic Clinics, which Care Needs Diagnostic Clinics,
• In my clinical work, I provide outpatient ABA services to children and families.
• </c> Many families will wait at the clinic Many families will wait at the clinic during<00:30:34.520>
• How am I going to navigate clinic? How am I going to navigate that?" that?" that?"

Committee: Joint Families & Children

Transcript Highlights:

• For example, this may increase the ability to have more trainees in clinics in the rural clinics, for
• more trainees in clinics in the rural<00:21:50.960><c> clinics,</c><00:21:51.360><c> for</c><00:21:51.360
• </c><00:21:52.720><c> Um</c><00:21:53.840><c> but</c> rural clinics, for example.
• Um but rural clinics, for example.
• </c><01:03:21.760><c> practitioners</c> as well as other clinical practitioners as well as other clinical

Bills: HB1853 , HB1591 , HB1961 , HB1854 , HB1965 , HB1962 , HB1959 , HB2505 , HB2576 , HB1801 , HB1804 , HB1864 , HB2319 , HB2314 , HB2115

Committee: House Health

Summary: The committee heard testimony on SB 2047, relating to pharmacy benefit managers. The Insurance Division said the bill would require new enforcement resources and estimated an appropriation of about $1.5 million and five positions. Kaiser Permanente asked for an amendment to exclude HMOs from the definition of third-party PBMs, saying the bill should not interfere with integrated care models. PCMA and the Hawaii Pharmacist Association supported narrowing amendments, with pharmacists objecting to section 3 and warning the bill as amended could create major operational burdens and a significant general fund cost. No vote was taken in the portion provided, and the chair moved on to the next measure after questions. The committee then took up SB 2080, which would allow Hawaii to join the psychology interjurisdictional compact. Supporters, including DCR, the Hawaii Association of Health Plans, the Hawaii State Association of Counties, the Grassroot Institute, and others, said the compact would expand access to psychology services, especially for people in rural areas or those needing continuity of care while traveling. Opponents, including the Board of Psychology and a Shamanad University psychology professor, raised concerns about client safety, crisis-response procedures, enforcement costs, FBI background checks, and possible loss of state control over training and specialization standards. The board said Hawaii’s current 1,900-hour internship/postdoc requirement is higher than the compact’s standard and that the state is still implementing a separate provisional licensing law that may address some access issues. The discussion focused on whether the compact would meaningfully reduce shortages and whether Hawaii should instead pursue changes within its existing licensing system. Finally, the committee heard SB 2277 on hospital price transparency. The Office of Consumer Protection initially noted the bill could require significant staffing, but later testimony from SHIP suggested the measure could be handled more simply by working with the Healthcare Association of Hawaii and publicly posting violations. The Healthcare Association of Hawaii opposed the bill, arguing hospitals already must comply with federal CMS transparency rules and that adding state requirements would increase costs and legal exposure, especially if violations were treated as unfair or deceptive trade practices. Steve Fenberg testified in support, saying the bill would simply codify existing federal requirements in state law and that he was open to amendments removing state enforcement and the unfair trade practice language. No final action was taken in the excerpt provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• With legislative support, Veterans Community Health has expanded suicide prevention leadership, clinical
• Suicide prevention does not begin in a clinic.
• ><00:17:01.040><c> It</c><00:17:01.279><c> begins</c><00:17:01.519><c> in</c> does not begin in a clinic
• It begins in does not begin in a clinic.
• </c> community- based outpatient clinics community- based outpatient clinics where<01:26:36.000><c> our

Summary: The subcommittee opened its first meeting of the session with member introductions and a statement from the chair that veterans issues would remain distinct and receive separate attention. The first item was an update on the Minnesota Military and Veterans Museum at Camp Ripley from Executive Director Randall Dietrich. He said the museum has operated for nearly 50 years, has outgrown its current space, and is building a new 40,000-square-foot facility with $32 million in state support plus several million more in private funding. He described construction progress, planned exhibits including restored military artifacts and the USS Ward gun, and said the museum is scheduled to open on September 12. In response to Senator Kunish, Dietrich said the museum is actively incorporating stories and flags representing women, tribal nations, and other underrepresented groups, including 11 tribal flags at the entrance, and is working to integrate those stories throughout the galleries rather than isolating them. The committee then received an update from the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs on the veterans suicide prevention plan from Rachel Johnson, Veterans Committee Health Director, with John Kelly later answering questions on department impacts. Johnson said the plan is a coordinated statewide framework built with legislative support, expanding regional coordinators, veteran health navigators, data analytics, and community partnerships, including a suicide mortality review pilot in Hennepin County. She said Minnesota loses about 100 veterans a year to suicide, that firearms remain the primary mechanism, and that prevention must address community connection, economic stability, and access to care, not just clinical treatment. She also said the plan aligns with state and federal strategies and is intended as a living roadmap. In response to questions, Johnson said the department is exploring data-sharing policy issues, has not seen a direct financial impact from federal VA staffing changes, and is tracking federal proposals affecting VA advisory groups. She also said 988 data is available in general but more Minnesota-specific data on the veteran option is still being gathered. Members asked follow-up questions about trends in veteran suicide, the role of families in identifying warning signs, and the Hennepin County mortality review pilot. Johnson said the annual number has remained around 100 for about 15 years, with a dip in 2024 and a return to that level in 2025, and that the Hennepin County pilot was chosen because it offers a manageable geography and existing coalition work, with an initial review expected by May or June. The final item began a presentation from the Minnesota Association of County Veteran Service Officers. Legislative chair Larry Fonder said the group’s priorities are protecting veterans from fraud and modernizing the property tax benefit for disabled veterans, but the presentation would focus on educating the committee about the role, training, certification, and accountability of county veteran service officers. President Tom Anderson, the Winona County VSO and a Navy veteran, began describing his background and office staffing when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• And what our clinical teams are seeing are really violent withdrawals.
• And so that just kind of tells you how that looks in a clinical setting.
• We're using the same a clinical setting.
• </c><00:32:24.480><c> But</c><00:32:24.880><c> youth</c> seeing it more clinically.
• But youth seeing it more clinically.

Bills: HB0103 , HB0070 , HB0091

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:01:43.200><c> studies</c><01:01:43.680><c> showing</c> clinical studies showing clinical studies
• ,</c> longitudinal, clinical, longitudinal, clinical, hisystopathological,<01:48:28.480><c> forensic<
• findings documented across many clinical findings documented across many reports<01:49:16.239><c> of
• Implementing this type of reporting across clinical pathology and autopsy evaluations would allow more
• </c> literature identify recurring clinical literature identify recurring clinical and<01:58:53.840><

Summary: The committee met as a special House committee on COVID response efficacy, noted absences, and restated its mission to review New Hampshire’s pandemic response, including federal guidance, federal funds, emergency use authorization vaccination efforts, long COVID treatment, patient bill of rights implementation, and vaccination policies. The main business was discussion of a proposed letter or report language concerning current COVID vaccine recommendations for young children, especially those under age two, and how to support any conclusions with cited scientific and state sources. Representative Polozov argued that the committee should ask the governor or agencies to reconsider current recommendations, saying the committee should focus on whether vaccination is needed for that age group, whether it is effective, and whether the risks outweigh the benefits. He said he had distributed articles and wanted the committee to pair its conclusions with scientific and statistical data. Other members asked him to identify the specific New Hampshire DHHS and American Academy of Pediatrics sources for the recommendation, clarify the age range being discussed, and separate any evidence about adverse effects in other age groups from the infant/toddler demographic so the letter would be transparent and not misleading. Members generally agreed the letter should be carefully sourced and refined, with citations for each claim. The chair said the committee would treat the request as urgent and try to finalize a version by the next meeting, noting that some members would be traveling. The committee also discussed scheduling additional testimony in September and October, possibly with extra meetings, to continue gathering evidence and to hear from witnesses. The chair then began reviewing supporting articles, including studies he said were new since the 2024 report, and introduced a 2025 South Korea cohort study and another 2025 Italian cohort study as examples of the evidence he wanted to incorporate into an updated 2026 report.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 256, establishing safety care requirements for clinically administered drugs.
• House Bill 256, establishing safety care requirements for clinically administered drugs.
• </c> clinical clinical efficacy issues, so. clinical clinical efficacy issues, so.
• And whatever the clinical guidelines are for that is what would get approved.
• And whatever the clinical guidelines are And whatever the clinical guidelines are for<00:31:11.920><c

Committee: House Commerce and Consumer Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• Students are committing to this career in clinical psychology.
• </c> committing to this career in Clinical committing to this career in Clinical Psychology<02:54:21.080
• </c><02:59:43.960><c> psychologist</c> another licensed clinical psychologist another licensed clinical
• </c><02:59:49.840><c> psychologist</c> cannot have one clinical psychologist cannot have one clinical
• Psychology again there was a Clinical Psychology again there was a lot<03:20:01.199><c> of</c><03:20

Committee: House Public Safety

Summary: The Committee on Public Safety met on January 31, 2025, and first heard House Bill 1062, a housekeeping measure relating to the Hawaii Air National Guard. Testimony in support came from representatives of the Adjutant General and other National Guard witnesses. A member raised a technical question about language allowing the Guard to hold the rank authorized by the Department of the Air Force, and the response was that the bill should not require additional HR language; no vote was taken. The committee then heard House Bill 674, which would authorize allowances for TRICARE dental and vision coverage for Hawaii National Guard personnel ordered to active duty for more than 30 days. The Department of Defense supported the bill through Brigadier General Ross, Director of Joint Staff, and Terry Heiti also testified in support. There were no questions or action taken on the measure. House Bill 652, relating to veterans’ rights and benefits and regulating compensation for advice or assistance on veterans’ benefits, drew the most discussion. The Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of Hawaii supported the bill, arguing it would protect veterans from illegal or exploitative practices and noting its own service to more than 2,000 veterans in fiscal year 2024. Opposition came from the National Association for Veterans Rights and Veteran Benefits Guide, which argued the bill would restrict access to needed services and that some for-profit providers operate legally and should not be barred. Committee members questioned the scope of the bill, accreditation requirements, and whether nonprofit or pro bono services would be affected. A Department of Defense veteran services official said veterans can be vulnerable to exploitation and that some legal fee arrangements can be abusive, while also noting pro bono options exist. The committee did not reach a decision on the bill during the excerpt. The committee also began hearing House Bill 1058, which would create a veteran cemetery board within the Office of Veteran Services to help state veteran cemeteries comply with federal standards. The Office of Veteran Services and Terry Heiti testified in support. Members asked about the board’s membership, timeline, and consultant selection, and were told the working group was still in an organizational stage and no construction timeline had been set. The final measure discussed was House Bill 503, which would appropriate funds for a consultant to evaluate locations and designs for a Hawaii First Responders Memorial. The Department of Accounting and General Services supported the bill, and testimony in support was received from county and city officials, UPW Hawaii, and individuals. Members asked about the working group, timeline, and budget, and were told the project was still in early planning; no final action was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:39:12.960><c> indicated</c> most appropriate clinically indicated most appropriate clinically
• Joe's mobile health clinic.
• Joe's mobile health clinic. Our St. Joe's mobile health clinic.
• clinical clinical optometrist.<03:02:49.120><c> I</c><03:02:49.279><c> I</c><03:02:49.600><c> am</c>
• </c> ...on training and clinical experience.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• 1980s Tylenol tampering crisis helped establish the FDA Forensic Chemistry Center in Cincinnati, a laboratory
• missing a beat, continuing to carry on my health care legislation and expanded from maternal health to clinical
• He secured a very competitive position at the Mayo Clinic to continue federally funded medical research
• Her work has already contributed to projects that advance into human clinical trials in Arizona.

Bills: HB9238 , HB8340 , HB8467 , HB8464 , HB8312 , HB7892

Keywords: financial management, accountability, government oversight, taxpayer funds, federal agencies, budget, performance metrics, improper payments, fraud prevention, payment integrity, government waste, waste, fraud, and abuse, financial loss, federal spending, federal programs, OMB Circular A-123, Do Not Pay Initiative, Treasury Department, Office of Management and Budget, Inspector General

Transcript Highlights:

• In addition to that, those providers, based on their own clinical judgment, can do as many screens, you
• of the things that I keep coming back to is how do we get more folks in this room who do direct clinical
• people on the call right now, like the bulk of their work, how they spend their days, is they do clinical
• president of the Massachusetts Association for Infant Mental Health and the current chair of our clinical
• president of the Massachusetts Association for Infant Mental Health and the current chair of our clinical

Summary: The Ellen Story Commission for Postpartum Depression held its spring meeting with a large turnout, beginning with roll call and a review of the agenda. Co-chairs Representative Brandy Fluker-Reid and Senator Liz Miranda highlighted progress from the recently enacted maternal health omnibus law and the Moms Matter Act, including creation of a midwifery board, expansion of out-of-hospital birth options, doula services, lactation support, MassHealth coverage changes, and a trust fund for community-based behavioral health and substance use grants. Members also discussed implementation of the new law, the commission’s annual report, and the need to continue supporting birth centers and perinatal mental health services. A substantial portion of the meeting focused on commission membership and vacancies. Commissioners discussed whether to remain on the body, the need to fill several open seats, and whether the commission’s statutory composition should be updated to better reflect current practice and expertise. Members suggested adding more clinicians working directly with perinatal families, infant mental health experts, and a representative from PSI of Massachusetts, while also noting the value of having regulators and professional society representatives at the table. Several participants said any changes to membership would likely require legislation, and the co-chairs said they would explore options and possibly circulate a flyer or other invitation process for nominations. The commission also discussed meeting structure and future planning. Members generally supported moving to quarterly virtual meetings, with a preference for a 4 p.m. start time, and some suggested one annual in-person gathering. The group agreed to postpone the usual May Advocacy Day because the Great Hall was unavailable and instead aim for a fall event, with volunteers stepping forward to help plan it. Commissioners raised top-of-mind issues including postpartum depression screening reimbursement, care for people after miscarriage or abortion, access for undocumented pregnant people, and the impact of federal cuts. The meeting ended with agreement to crowdsource legislative priorities for the next quarter, consider future presentations from outside organizations, and send updates between meetings, followed by a motion to adjourn that passed unanimously.

Transcript Highlights:

• This amendment ensures that companies that fill canisters that are sold to dental clinics, doctor clinics
• medical and dental this amendment ensures that companies that fill canisters that are sold to dental clinics
• doctor clinics can continue to do the good work and I urge your support Thank you. sold to dental clinics
• , doctor clinics can continue to do the good work, and I urge your support.

Bills: HB1160 , HB1289 , HB1339 , HB1798 , HB1065 , HB1717 , HB1795 , HB1859 , HB2107 , HB2113 , HB2124 , HB2125 , HB2133 , HB2134 , HB2140 , HB2151 , HB2155 , HB2165 , HB2185 , HB2191 , HB2205 , HB2211 , HB2219 , HB2242 , HB2245 , HB2253 , HB2283 , HB2317 , HB2343 , HB2385 , HB2406 , HB2417 , HB2426 , HB2501 , HB2531 , HB2574 , HB2606 , HB1170 , HB1544 , HB1834 , HB2111 , HB2156 , HB2188 , HB2199 , HB2206 , HB2296 , HB2360 , HB2436 , HB2471 , HB2478 , HB2510 , HB2525 , HB2532 , HB2543 , HB2605 , HB2624 , HJM4012 , HB1759

Keywords: design review, local government, land use, zoning, project permits, housing density, middle housing, affordable housing, parking minimums, single-family zoning, infill development, growth management, comprehensive plan, permit streamlining, objective development regulations, architectural review, administrative review, transit-oriented development, accessory dwelling units, ADU

Summary: The House convened, established a quorum, recited the Pledge of Allegiance, and heard a prayer before caucusing. The chamber then received a Senate message that Substitute Senate Bill 5820 had passed the Senate. Members took up a long series of House bills on second and third reading, with most advancing by wide margins after brief debate and, in some cases, amendments. Among the measures considered, Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2165 on impersonating law enforcement drew the most debate. Supporters said it would address public safety and accountability by prohibiting people from claiming police authority or creating that impression, while opponents argued it could create confusion, overlap with existing law, or interfere with federal-state law enforcement cooperation. Amendment 1521 was adopted to protect ceremonial transfers of badges and identification to families of fallen or retired officers. The bill ultimately passed 56-38. Other bills passed included House Bill 2624 on clarifying property-related definitions for conservancies, House Bill 2385 delaying implementation dates tied to Medicaid reimbursement changes, Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1717 on affordable housing tax remittance, Second Substitute House Bill 1859 on housing development on faith-owned land, Substitute House Bill 2151 adopting national standards for factory-built housing inspections, House Bill 2155 protecting the nursing title, House Bill 2111 on Interstate Bridge toll interest revenue, House Bill 2543 on county clerk fees, House Bill 2606 updating the Office of Privacy and Data Protection’s performance measures and AI-related duties, and House Bill 2417 aligning victim rights for National Guard members. Later, the House considered additional bills on early learning, marine safety, energy devices, nitrous oxide sales, derelict vessels, and a Seahawks-related resolution. House Bill 2317 on early learning assistance was amended to clarify school and community/technical college premises and passed unanimously. House Bill 2436, a technical fix for pilotage-related vessel requirements, also passed unanimously. Substitute House Bill 2296, dealing with distributed energy resource devices and meter-mounted equipment, passed 56-38 after concerns about timing relative to UTC rulemaking. Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2532, restricting nitrous oxide sales with exemptions for medical, dental, and automotive uses, passed unanimously after an amendment clarifying those exemptions. Substitute House Bill 2199, aimed at removing derelict and sinking vessels, passed unanimously. Finally, House Bill 1759 designating December 12 as the “Day of the 12s” in honor of the Seahawks and their fans passed 93-2 after enthusiastic floor remarks and a brief point of order. The House then recessed for caucus until 2 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• When I'm not in the dean role, I manage four rural health clinics that are in counties that have no other
• I'm a local practicing physician with a Direct Primary Care Clinic.
• So ironically, Pfizer and Mayo Clinic are being sued by their own employees for being failed fiduciaries
• But if it's going to have clinical implications, then you, the doctor, can advocate on that patient's
• Patient care, that there's no clinical implications for any patient. Thank you for the suggestion.

Bills: HB139 , HB1818 , HB1942 , HB1959 , HB2221 , HB2254 , HB2563 , HB2067 , HB2275 , HB3211 , HB139

Committee: House Insurance

Keywords: HB 1818, Texas Insurance Code, Texas Department of Insurance, commissioner of insurance, health maintenance organization, HMO, insurer, utilization review, preauthorization, prior authorization, medical necessity review, health care services, medical care, insurance regulation, insurance examination, regulatory oversight, confidential records, public information exception, Chapter 843, Chapter 1301

Transcript Highlights:

• been able to charge facility fees at those clinics.
• these clinics and they are acquired these clinics and they are affiliated<01:56:59.040><c> with</c><
• </c> facility fees at those clinics. facility fees at those clinics.
• </c><03:28:37.279><c> where</c> number of freestanding clinics where number of freestanding clinics where
• This is at a provider-based clinic that is separate from a hospital.

Transcript Highlights:

• definition of a religious activity, which means that people who are protesting outside of abortion clinics
• , or maybe they're just simply praying a rosary outside an abortion clinic, if there is some kind of
• , there could be an argument made that someone's simply saying, please go away from this abortion clinic
• violence because, unlike the federal FACE Act, this bill does nothing to protect reproductive health clinics
• religious activity or service, even if it's just a protracted utterance by a person who's involved in the clinic

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, recorded attendance, welcomed former Senator Limpancrazi, and recognized page Owen Washburn and his family. The chamber then moved through messages and second-reading listings, and the Committee of the Whole considered several House bills. HB 2398, dealing with watercraft operation and peer-to-peer watercraft sharing insurance, received a floor amendment clarifying the types of insurers that may provide primary commercial boat liability coverage and was reported do pass as amended. HB 2477, relating to the Arizona Education Savings Plan, was amended to add investment guardrails, conflict-of-interest protections, an advisory team, limits on land investments, and statutory treatment of the local government investment pool, then reported do pass as amended. The Committee of the Whole also considered HB 2251 on midwifery, which was amended to transfer oversight of licensed midwives from the Department of Health Services to the Naturopathic Physicians Medical Board, add a licensed midwife to the board, separate midwife and naturopathic funds, apply investigative and disciplinary procedures, and make conforming changes; it was reported do pass as amended. HB 2991, concerning minors’ access to technology content and social media, drew extensive debate. A floor amendment revised age-signal and parental-consent procedures, changed default settings language, removed a private right of action, and made other technical changes. Senators Tise, Epstein, and others argued the bill still raised serious First Amendment and censorship concerns, while Senator Bullock defended it as a child-safety measure that did not require uploading ID. The bill was ultimately reported do pass as amended. In third reading, the Senate adopted the Committee of the Whole report, retained HB 2397 on the calendar, and voted on several bills. HB 2104, HB 2105, HB 2763, HB 2786, HB 2771, HB 2782, and HB 4117 passed; HB 2457, HB 2494, and HB 2696 failed. HB 2457 and HB 2494 drew opposition over local control and land-use concerns, while HB 2696, aimed at fuel and gas prices, drew criticism that the Commerce Authority was not the right vehicle and that the issue was driven by federal policy. HB 4117, relating to offenses against public order and religious services, passed after sharp debate over whether it would protect worship or chill protest and free speech, with opponents warning of vague language and potential political prosecutions. The Senate also voted to reconsider its prior action on HB 2311 and HB 2601, requested the House return HB 2995 for reconsideration, and adjourned until Thursday, June 11, at 10:00 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• definition of a religious activity, which means that people who are protesting outside of abortion clinics
• , or maybe they're just simply praying a rosary outside an abortion clinic, if there is some kind of
• there could be an argument made that someone's simply saying, 'Please go away from this abortion clinic
• violence because, unlike the federal FACE Act, this bill does nothing to protect reproductive health clinics
• religious activity or service, even if it's just a protracted utterance by a person who's involved in the clinic