Transcript Highlights:

• fish producers, including Department of Natural Resources, um, to produce fish with valuable fish genetics
• So this has to do a lot with wild fish genetics that are of important value to Minnesota's fisheries.
• So, this has to do a lot with genetics.
• So, this has to do a lot with wild<00:19:22.880><c> fish</c><00:19:23.120><c> genetics</c><00:19:23.560
• that are of of of wild fish genetics that are of of of important<00:19:24.960><c> value</c><00:19:25.480

Committee: Senate Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, members of the committee, House Bill 4010 is about regulating genetic counselors.
• It provides that a person may not take or threaten to take adverse action against a genetic counselor
• for declining to participate in a genetic counseling service on the basis of conscience.
• And that doesn't appear to be limited to persons on the Genetic Counseling Board.
• It isn't a prohibition of disciplinary action against genetic counselors, but instead it reads as a restriction

Committee: House Rules

Transcript Highlights:

• technical readiness, workforce capacity, governance and regulatory alignment, financial and operational viability
• Genetics right now? I'll let Dr. Obermeyer speak to the latter question.

Summary: The joint informational hearing by the Assembly Health and Privacy Committees focused on generative AI in health care, with opening remarks emphasizing both the promise of improved care and the risks around privacy, bias, workforce impacts, reimbursement, and liability. Members and witnesses repeatedly stressed that AI should augment clinicians rather than replace them, and that California has a role in shaping responsible adoption. The first panel featured health systems and developers describing current uses such as ambient scribes for physicians and nurses, imaging triage, maternal-fetal risk prediction, and administrative automation. Speakers from Cedars-Sinai, Kaiser Permanente, Penguin AI, and Google highlighted efficiency gains, reduced clinician burnout, faster treatment, and some reported patient-safety benefits, while also noting the need for human review, governance, and ongoing monitoring. Committee members pressed the panel on bias, especially for multilingual patients, women of color, and Medi-Cal populations, and on whether predictive tools could worsen disparities or drive unnecessary interventions such as C-sections. Witnesses said tools must be tested in real-world settings, with humans in the loop and outcomes tracked by demographic group. They also discussed the legal landscape, with concerns that liability may fall more on hospitals and physicians than on developers, and that clearer rules may be needed for clinical, clinical-adjacent, and administrative uses. Several speakers argued that administrative uses like prior authorization and coding are lower-risk and ripe for automation, while clinical applications require much stronger safeguards. The second panel shifted to broader policy and equity issues. The California Health Care Foundation described early AI adoption in the safety net, including a Los Angeles County homelessness-risk model and AI tools supporting community health workers, and said safety-net providers want guidance on privacy, liability, safety, bias, and workforce impacts. Dr. Ziad Obermeyer described research showing racial bias in widely used risk algorithms and argued for accountability, access to data under strong protections, public-sector leadership, and partnerships to steer AI toward better outcomes. Dr. Michelle Mello said most organizations lack strong governance, that monitoring is difficult and costly, and that states could require AI governance structures as a condition of licensure. The discussion closed with calls for clearer standards, better data access for evaluation, and policy approaches that protect patients while allowing beneficial AI to spread beyond large health systems.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's where we did genetic testing and found out our sweet girl had a mutation of the SCN2A gene.
• Today, we are here to stress to you the importance of funding for genetic testing.
• Access to genetic testing has dramatically improved.
• We do believe that it's severely underdiagnosed because of the lack of genetic testing.
• I don't think it's specific; you don't know what the genetic testing panel is going to find.

Committee: House Insurance

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill ensures that children with pre-existing genetic conditions are not are only separated from their
• However, genetic and DNA testing, which is critical in identifying pre-existing conditions can take 3
• The most advanced genetic testing using updated technology available.
• We sought expert consultation from other specialties, including clinical genetics, molecular genetics
• He suspected osteogenesis imperfecta and he ordered genetic testing.

Transcript Highlights:

• DO THIS BY ADVANCING AN UNDERSTANDING WHERE PEDIATRIC DISEASES, CREATING AND DEVELOPING ADVANCED GENETIC
• DIAGNOSTIC TOOLS CHEMICAL PROVIDING CONFERENCE OF CARE TRAINING, EDUCATORS, PRACTITIONERS AND HEALTHCARE GENETIC
• AT CERTAIN HOSPITALS AFFILIATED WITH RESEARCH UNIVERSITIES TO HAVE THEIR CHILD SCREEN FOR A RARE GENETIC
• THIS BILL HAS A SUNSHINE GENETIC PILOT PROGRAM.
• BELIEVE SENATOR HARRELL STATED EARLY SCREENING WHEN IT COMES TO RARE DISEASES WHICH PERHAPS THERE'S A GENETIC

Transcript Highlights:

• And in recognition of this award, he directed a $10,000 donation to support genetic testing for families
• 30.800><c> support</c> directed a $10,000 donation to support directed a $10,000 donation to support genetic
• 32.200><c> testing</c><00:10:32.920><c> for</c><00:10:33.120><c> families</c><00:10:33.640><c> who</c> genetic
• testing for families who genetic testing for families who otherwise<00:10:34.760><c> can</c><00:10:35.120

Transcript Highlights:

• Have your genetics, your family history.
• It's in the devices we wear, the apps we use, the genetic tests we purchase, and the choices we make
• These questions become even more important with genetic information.
• When information from research, healthcare, wearable devices, genetic tests, health applications, and
• These questions become even more important with genetic information.

Transcript Highlights:

• or her designee, and that board identify agriculture sectors, and those sectors would be dairy, genetics
• or her designee, and that board identify agriculture sectors, and those sectors would be dairy, genetics
• or her designee, and that board identify agriculture sectors, and those sectors would be dairy, genetics
• or her designee, and that board identify agriculture sectors, and those sectors would be dairy, genetics
• ,</c><00:09:29.600><c> hay</c> sectors would be dairy genetics, hay sectors would be dairy genetics,

Bills: HB431 , HB466 , HB523 , HB521 , SB182 , SB300 , HB431 , HB466 , HB523 , HB521 , SB182 , SB300

Committee: House Ways and Means General Fund

Keywords: Monroe County, sheriff, sheriff compensation, county salary, expense allowance, local act, county general fund, retirement contributions, law enforcement pay, public official salary, county budget, Alabama local legislation, service contracts, consumer protection, advertising disclosure, insurance, contract cancellation, parole procedures, advocacy, parole board

Transcript Highlights:

• We have genetic improvement of livestock.
• We have stayed as current as possible to bring technology to the forefront and gain even more genetic
• So, it's a combination of genetics and using the data that's generated at the test.
• To wrap their arms around what is causing this: Is it genetic? Is it conditional?
• Measurements to contribute towards this genetic measure.

Committee: House Science, Technology & Telecommunications Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, we're also covering people who have like a terrible genetic disorder that will pass their disorder
• Um, we're also covering people who have like a terrible genetic disorder that will pass their disorder
• Um, we're also covering people who have like a terrible genetic disorder that will pass their disorder
• It's basically, I'll read it: disease, disorder, syndrome, symptoms, genetic predisposition, or family
• Um, we're also covering people who have like a terrible genetic disorder that will pass their disorder

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• Genetic testing takes months and months, and the system is moving swiftly to terminate rights.
• All the child's blood work lines up with bone brittleness, and she was referred for genetic testing for
• genetics for metabolic bone disease at her first pediatric visit long before DCF got involved.
• The Child Protection Team will do a basic bone fragility genetic test that does not come anywhere close
• to covering the full scope of the possible genetic conditions that could be tested for and that can

Transcript Highlights:

• agriculture sector is important to our state, and the economic operating conditions are challenging the viability
• by the WSU Impact Center, and just last week we published the initial baseline assessment of ag viability
• opportunities, and threats to Washington agriculture, and establishes a baseline for a comprehensive ag viability
• that, I will say thank you, and I'll welcome any questions. is a baseline for a comprehensive ag viability
• Part of the work that we are doing right now with finalizing the ag viability set of stakeholder and

Summary: The Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee reviewed several House bills in executive session. Staff briefed bills on aviation assurances for wildland fire response (HB 2104), derelict vessels (HB 2199), irrigation district director spouse employment conflicts (HB 2223), statewide food security strategy (HB 2238), water quality and game farms (HB 2343), timber sales efficiencies (HB 2348), treaty reserve fishing rights and repeal of Initiative 456 (HB 2554), and a task force on reducing regulatory stress in agriculture (HB 2619). Members noted that HB 2238 had been heard previously as a striker but was now being considered as the engrossed substitute. Several bills had no amendments and little or no fiscal impact, while others carried modest fiscal notes. The committee took action on most bills: HB 2104, HB 2199, HB 2238, HB 2348, HB 2554, and HB 2619 all received due pass recommendations and were sent either to Ways and Means or Rules, with votes recorded by voice and no opposition noted. The committee took no action on HB 2223 or HB 2343. Members also thanked staff and acknowledged departing senators for their service. In the work session, the Washington State Department of Agriculture presented an overview of the 2024 local farms, workers, and food overtime reimbursement grant. WSDA described how it used targeted outreach, cross-agency coordination, and a streamlined application to administer the one-time program, which reimbursed qualifying overtime wages for hand-harvest vegetable farms selling to local markets and schools. The agency reported that 24 farms received about $213,000 total, and members asked about lessons learned, including how the experience might inform future grant design and broader agricultural support programs.

Transcript Highlights:

• don't know, fifth or fourth—you know, we always seem to ensure that the demand is still there, the viability
• The viability of the market is retained.
• Unfortunately, today in California, a bad actor can order online the genetic sequence of a dangerous
• Modern tools have democratized people's ability to genetically engineer organisms to be more infectious

Summary: The committee heard several bills, with most of the discussion focused on public safety, consumer protection, and youth harms. AB 1557 by Assemblymember Papin would clarify e-bike motor power limits and set lower speed-related standards for Class 1 and 2 e-bikes. Supporters, including the California Police Chiefs Association, cities, the California Medical Association, and the American Academy of Pediatrics, argued the bill would reduce severe injuries and deaths among young riders. Opponents from People for Bikes warned it could conflict with federal law, create legal uncertainty, and disrupt the bicycle market. The author and committee members acknowledged industry concerns and urged continued work on the bill. AB 1770 by Assemblymember Garcia would place large health care service plan arbitration under California Department of Justice oversight and require compliance with the California Arbitration Act. Supporters described cases where patients were forced into private arbitration with little transparency or accountability, arguing the bill would make the process fairer and more neutral. Kaiser Permanente and the Civil Justice Association of California said they were still reviewing amendments and had not settled on a final position. Committee members expressed sympathy for the personal stories shared and encouraged continued negotiations. The committee also heard AB 2075, which would require fire suppression equipment to be kept closer at hand during brush work, and AB 1864, which would require screening of gene synthesis orders to prevent misuse for bioterrorism. AB 2075 was presented as a response to a Ventura County wildfire, with support from the Ventura County District Attorney’s office and no opposition heard. AB 1864 was backed by the author, Stanford biosecurity expert Dr. Milana Trout, and Encode AI, while Biocom opposed unless amended and California Life Sciences remained neutral. Members discussed implementation details and the role of the Department of Public Health. A major portion of the hearing was devoted to AB 1709, which would set a minimum age of 16 for social media accounts on platforms with harmful features and create an e-safety advisory commission. Supporters, including youth advocates, parents, medical groups, and Common Sense Media, said addictive design features are harming children’s mental health and safety. Opponents, including EFF, the ACLU, TechNet, and other civil liberties and industry groups, argued the bill is overbroad, raises First Amendment and privacy concerns, and could limit access to important online communities. Despite those objections, the bill was moved forward after committee discussion, with members emphasizing the need to protect children while continuing to work on carveouts and implementation details.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:22:10.320><c> engineered</c> production of genetically engineered production of genetically engineered
• So how many farms that are growing food in Hawaii are genetically engineered?
• </c><01:26:40.800><c> engineered</c> In production of genetically engineered products?
• So how many farms that are growing food in Hawaii are genetically engineered?
• </c><01:27:53.560><c> modified</c> Hawaii that is genetically modified Hawaii that is genetically modified

Summary: The Agriculture and Environment hearing on January 27, 2025, took up multiple measures, beginning with a proposed constitutional amendment, HB 559, to recognize a right to clean water and air, a healthful environment, climate, native ecosystems, and beaches. The Attorney General’s Office testified with concerns that the amendment’s broad language could create challenges for future legislatures and environmental enforcement, while the Climate Commission and DLNR supported it. Environmental and advocacy groups, including Climate Protectors Hawaii, 350 Hawaii, Greenpeace Hawaii, and others, strongly supported the measure, arguing it would strengthen decision-making and protect Hawaii’s natural resources. Committee members raised questions about how the amendment would interact with existing constitutional protections and recent litigation, and the AG’s office said the proposal could lead to broad judicial interpretation and possible liability issues. The hearing then moved on without a recorded vote on this bill. The committee next heard SB 552, which would establish a healthy soils program in the Department of Agriculture and require annual reporting and funding. The Climate Change Commission supported the bill, and the Department of Agriculture said it stood on its submitted testimony but noted existing commissions and the greenhouse gas sequestration task force already address similar objectives, suggesting SB 552 may duplicate current efforts. Agricultural and environmental advocates, including the Hawaii Farmers Union, Hawaii Farm Bureau, and others, supported the concept of a consolidated healthy soils program, saying it would better organize existing efforts, improve access for producers, and support conservation practices. The Agribusiness Development Corporation said it would support either DOA or ADC administering the program, and committee discussion focused on implementation, program overlap, and whether the bill should better integrate existing compost reimbursement and related efforts. The final measure discussed in the excerpt was SB 678, which would create an Agricultural Development Food Security Special Fund, dedicate a portion of the environmental response, energy, and food security tax to it, and appropriate funds equal to 3% of the state budget for agriculture. The Department of Agriculture strongly supported the bill, saying the funding would align with its goals and help support farmers and ranchers. The Tax Foundation of Hawaii and the Department of Budget and Finance raised concerns that the proposed special fund may not meet statutory criteria. Farm and industry groups generally supported the measure but suggested changes, including adding uses related to local food sourcing, distribution, and biosecurity. Committee members questioned the scale of the appropriation, noting it could amount to roughly $250 million and a major increase in DOA’s budget, and discussed whether the department could realistically implement such a large program. The hearing ended with testimony counts noted for the measures heard, and the chair indicated the committee would reconvene later for any unfinished business.

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Diaz, does the genetic testing, is that required in your amendment?
• Yeah, is it required for the mother to do genetic testing while she's pregnant?
• Thank you. ...for the mother to do genetic testing while she's pregnant? No, only when necessary.
• testing during pregnancy. ...any mother to undergo genetic testing during pregnancy.
• And if she does this genetic testing, then that father is responsible for the child care support.

Transcript Highlights:

• was designed to help our youngest and most vulnerable Floridians who suffer from rare diseases and genetic
• was designed to help our youngest and most vulnerable Floridians who suffer from rare diseases and genetic
• Eighty percent of those are genetic in origin and present themselves in early childhood or at birth,
• I am the Vice President of Market Access for GeneDx, and GeneDx is the leading lab provider of genetic
• I'm president of market access for GeneDX, and GeneDX is the leading lab provider of genetic testing

Summary: The subcommittee held its first meeting of the 2025-2026 term, took attendance, confirmed a quorum, and heard introductory remarks from members and staff. Chair Anderson outlined the subcommittee’s jurisdiction over access and affordability issues, including health facility regulation, insurance, Medicaid, CHIP, and state employee health coverage. The main agenda item was an update on implementation of HB 391, which created a family home health aide program for medically fragile children. Representative Tramont, the bill sponsor, explained that the law was intended to let trained family caregivers be paid through Medicaid to care for their children, reduce reliance on private duty nursing, and relieve families. He and several members expressed frustration that implementation had taken nearly two years and that families still faced barriers. Deputy Secretary Brian Meyer of AHCA and Bridget Royce of DCF said the program was implemented October 1, 2024, with billing available, but no home health agencies had yet launched the required 80-hour training program and no claims had been paid. They described the program’s requirements, including agency employment, background screening, training, a $25-per-hour Medicaid rate paid to the agency, and an annual assessment report. A major issue discussed was that income earned by family caregivers counts toward Medicaid eligibility and could cause families to lose coverage. AHCA and DCF outlined two possible fixes that would require CMS approval: disregarding the income for eligibility purposes or treating the child as a family of one. Members and public witnesses strongly urged changes to avoid forcing families to choose between income and coverage. Several providers said they had begun preparing training programs, but asked for clearer approval processes and more patient-specific training requirements. The committee then heard extensive public testimony from parents and caregivers of medically fragile children, who described the financial, emotional, and logistical strain of caring for children with severe disabilities and argued that the bill should be expanded to include Florida KidCare families and others in the coverage gap. They also raised concerns about the eight-hour-per-day limit, low pay, and the need for simpler rules and direct support. Home health providers and associations supported the concept but asked for modifications, including more targeted training and clearer implementation guidance. The meeting then shifted to a second agenda item on the Andrew John Anderson Rapid Whole Genome Sequencing Program, which was funded in the 2023 budget. Deputy Secretary Meyer said the program has been implemented since January 1, 2024, but utilization has been lower than expected, with only about 60 claims paid and many denials occurring through managed care. Public testimony from a lab, a hospital, and a pediatric rare disease expert said the program is clinically valuable and cost-saving, but managed care billing barriers, prior authorization issues, and DRG-related denials are limiting access; they urged direct billing to Medicaid and possible expansion to all newborns.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:08:56.720><c> of</c><00:08:56.839><c> many</c> provides the long-term viability of many provides
• the long-term viability of many services<00:08:58.040><c> is</c><00:08:58.360><c> is</c><00:08:58.480
• of ambulance coverage in rural viability of ambulance coverage in rural Minnesota<00:09:34.480><c> and
• </c><00:10:37.720><c> of</c><00:10:37.880><c> EMS</c><00:10:38.360><c> Services</c> continued viability
• of EMS Services continued viability of EMS Services across<00:10:39.320><c> the</c><00:10:39.600><c>

Summary: The committee took up House File 337, a bill addressing long-term funding for rural and Greater Minnesota EMS and ambulance services. The author offered the A2 amendment, moved to divide it, and the committee adopted lines 1.2 to 1.19 of the amendment. The bill, as amended, was described as creating a policy framework for identifying ambulance services with operating deficits, requiring financial audits, and setting up a future grant program, with the author emphasizing that the proposal was still being developed and was intended to be a long-term solution rather than a short-term fix. Testimony was largely supportive. Eric Simonson of the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities said the bill builds on last session’s one-time aid and would target grant dollars using state data, clarify eligible uses, allow audits, address uncompensated care and readiness costs, and require reporting back to the legislature. Mike Warner of the Red Wing Fire Department said his city’s ambulance service operates with a heavy government-funded payer mix and a persistent operating shortfall. Tim Meyer of Sanford Ambulance said low-volume rural services face widening revenue gaps, staffing pressures, and the loss of the volunteer model. Nathan Zacharias of the Association of Minnesota Counties and Kevin Lee of North Memorial Health also supported the bill, citing rising costs, staffing shortages, stagnant reimbursement, and the need for a sustainable statewide funding model. Members raised concerns about how the bill would work in practice, especially around communities that straddle metro and non-metro boundaries and around local control over grant dollars. Representative Pel asked how the eligibility language would apply to places like Northfield and New Prague; the author and a testifier said eligibility would depend on whether a service area is mostly outside the metro area, but acknowledged more review was needed. Representative Huitt argued the bill should give more local control and should address EMS as a statewide issue, not only a Greater Minnesota issue. Representative Ryer asked whether the bill would eventually include revenue recapture or another funding source, and the author said the proposal was still at an early stage and all options were being considered. The committee laid HF 337, as amended, over for possible inclusion in the omnibus bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• The first thing sometimes, especially when you have a genetic anomaly or a complication, is that the
• So if they should want genetic testing, that's one of the services that are offered.
• :14.800><c> that</c><00:14:14.920><c> occurs</c><00:14:15.880><c> or</c><00:14:16.120><c> a</c> a genetic
• anomaly that occurs or a a genetic anomaly that occurs or a complication<00:14:17.079><c> is</c><00:
• testing that's one of the want genetic testing that's one of the services<00:14:24.600><c> that</c><

Summary: The Health Services Committee met with a quorum and first considered House Bill 389, a cleanup measure related to the CASPER prescription monitoring program. Representative Duval and staff explained that the bill addresses implementation issues the Office of Inspector General encountered and aligns the definition of “practitioner” for in-state and out-of-state providers. The committee took no questions, then approved the bill unanimously and reported it favorably. The committee then heard House Bill 501, which would allow a pharmacist to fill a prescription for a limited period after the prescribing provider has died, so patients can maintain continuity of care. Sponsors and a pharmacist witness said the bill is intended to reduce uncertainty and liability for pharmacists, excludes controlled substances to comply with federal law, and leaves professional judgment with the pharmacist. Members asked about documentation and verification, and the sponsor said the bill applies when the pharmacist knows of the death and that pharmacies would document the situation as they normally do. The committee discussed the issue briefly and passed the bill unanimously with favorable expression. Finally, the committee took up House Bill 414 for discussion only. Representative Tate and Adia Wisher described it as “Love Them Both,” a perinatal palliative care proposal meant to provide wraparound support for women and families facing fatal fetal anomalies or other serious pregnancy complications. Testimony emphasized that the bill would encourage referrals to programs offering medical, emotional, spiritual, financial, and bereavement support, with examples such as Footprints at St. Elizabeth. Members discussed access, referrals, counseling, coverage language, and the role of fathers, and supporters stressed that the services would be optional and intended to broaden support rather than impose penalties. No vote was taken on House Bill 414.

Transcript Highlights:

• significant water supply challenges because adjustments to project design or challenges with project viability
• significant water supply challenges because adjustments to project design or challenges with project viability
• significant water supply challenges because adjustments to project design or challenges with project viability
• significant water supply challenges because adjustments to project design or challenges with project viability
• significant water supply challenges because adjustments to project design or challenges with project viability