Transcript Highlights:

• >> DITTO ON ALL OF THE ABOVE, AND CERTAINLY WANT TO UNDERLINE THAT AS FAR AS MEDICAL INDEMNITY
• We know the population they serve, and they are critical across the state, especially in areas where
• there is great need in urban and especially rural areas.
• We know the population they serve, and they are critical across the state, especially in areas where
• there is great need in urban and especially rural areas.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Joint Budget Subcommittee on Health convened as part of the 2026 Annual Budget Committee, with Senate and Assembly co-chairs introducing members, alternates, and the meeting rules. The chairs reviewed subcommittee procedures, including limits on alternates’ voting rights, no proxy participation, germane-topic restrictions, and the requirement that any report receive an affirmative majority vote from each house’s delegation. The co-chairs outlined the main health budget issues under discussion: the global cap, capital funding, hospital and safety-net hospital funding, early intervention, reproductive health, the Medical Indemnity Fund, aging issues, insurance prior authorization, EMS biomarkers, and nursing home funding. The chair emphasized the state’s responsibility to families affected by the Medical Indemnity Fund. Minority members raised support for restoring the full 15 percent capital Medicaid reimbursement for nursing homes, increasing aid for financially distressed hospitals, and addressing home care funding shortfalls. They also urged stronger measures against Medicaid waste, fraud, and abuse, warning against budget gimmicks and emphasizing long-term fiscal sustainability, including careful use of any Medicaid savings tied to the federal 1331 health program. The meeting ended with members saying they would continue consultations with each other and staff to work toward a final, on-time budget.

Transcript Highlights:

• I heard mention of the Bay Area Transit Loans.
• There are other financing mechanisms to help support Bay Area transit.
• We talk about underserved communities all the time.
• Good afternoon, Angela Hill, California Medical Association.
• Mark Fenstermaker here on behalf of the Bay Area Air Quality Management District.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The next one is our medical school.
• have three large destination medical have three large destination medical centers<00:01:59.000><
• of graduate medical of graduate medical education<00:02:24.239> we<00:02:24.400> have<
• areas.
• ><01:35:30.159> wanted<01:35:30.440> to underserved areas and we also wanted to underserved

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• been working to try to do some outreach in those areas through those rounds.
• populations, and rural areas.
• areas, including eastern Washington.
• Land's rural and underserved communities.
• It'll be hard to get to some of those far-flung areas.

Summary: The committee held a work session focused on technology in government, AI, broadband, and digital equity. Seattle CTO Rob Lloyd described the city’s AI strategy, emphasizing responsible use, privacy, security, community input, and data strategy. He said Seattle is using small pilots and partnerships to test AI for tasks such as public records processing, infrastructure inspection, and permitting, while keeping humans as the final decision-makers. Members asked about bias, liability, training on best practices, labor involvement, and public records; Lloyd said AI should remain an assistant tool, not a replacement for human judgment, and that Seattle is still testing solutions for records requests and permitting. WATech CTO Nick Stow and Deputy Director Mark Quimby discussed the state’s broader AI policy, the generative AI executive order, a sandbox with more than 15 agencies, and use cases including a resident portal, cybersecurity, and wildfire detection. They stressed consent, closed systems, human-centered design, and the need to govern all forms of AI, not just generative AI. Committee members raised concerns about federal data access, labor issues, and wildfire detection effectiveness. Spokane County IT staff described a more restrictive approach to AI, citing privacy, bias, and cyber risks. The county standardized on Microsoft Copilot as its only approved chat-style AI tool, blocked other AI chat platforms, and requires human review of all AI-generated content. They said AI is also being used by criminals for phishing and deepfakes, underscoring the need for strong policy and security controls. The committee also received an update from the Attorney General’s AI Task Force. Yuki Ishizuka said the task force has 19 members and eight subcommittees covering ethics, consumer protection, labor, health care, public safety, education, government efficiency, cybersecurity, and industry/energy. The task force is working toward an interim report due December 1, 2025 and a final report due July 1, 2026, and is reviewing recommendations through public forums and advisory committees. Ishizuka warned that a federal budget reconciliation provision could bar states from enforcing AI regulations for 10 years, and several members voiced support for state authority and asked about possible 2026 legislation. The committee then heard updates on broadband and digital equity. Commerce’s Dave Pringle said the BEAD broadband program is being reshaped by new NTIA guidance, which removed or reduced emphasis on several prior priorities, and Washington is now working under an expedited process to submit its state application by September 4. He noted that no projects have been built yet, that four counties did not receive applications in round two, and that the state is trying to keep applicants engaged through office hours and a shortened review window. The Office of Equity and the Digital Equity Forum reported increased participation, new members, and ongoing outreach to tribal, rural, and underserved communities, while previewing recommendations such as creating an interdepartmental digital equity team and improving data use. Finally, Lumen’s Robert Thoms described private-sector broadband deployment challenges, including permitting, regulation, and the economics of extending fiber, while noting continued investment in overbuild projects, a $30 low-cost service option tied to the former ACP, and work with the state, tribes, and libraries. No votes were taken; the meeting consisted of presentations and member questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:05:07.400> and institution may consider medical and institution may consider medical and
• Medical Association just a few months Medical Association just a few months ago<01:41:35.880> stated
• opportunities for over 300 medical opportunities for over 300 medical professionals<01:42:51.360
• <01:43:00.119> units state-of-the-art Mobile Medical units state-of-the-art Mobile Medical
• <01:47:04.480> care clients had not set sought medical care clients had not set sought medical

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• One area where there's a lot of data is actually in.
• Are they different in rural areas compared to more populated areas?
• areas.
• Connect the medical and the medical waiver for this issue.
• , and Contra Costa County Medical Residency.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• because the Bay Area will continue to figure out how to fund transit operations.
• And we talk about underserved communities all the time.
• Angela Hill, California Medical Association.
• Mark Fenster-Maker here on behalf of the Bay Area Air Quality Management District.
• On behalf of Aurora, high-risk areas to mitigate ignition.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Committee held an informational hearing on the September budget package, which included SB 105 and a series of trailer bills covering health, human services, education, resources, child care, transportation, labor, public safety, housing, revenue, background checks, collective bargaining, and a special election. The Department of Finance described the package as largely technical and clarifying, but also responsive to state and federal changes, especially H.R. 1. Key items included roughly $3.3 billion in Proposition 4 climate and environmental spending, $540 million in discretionary greenhouse gas reduction funds, and major responses to H.R. 1 such as CalFresh error-rate mitigation, food bank support, and Medicaid-related changes. Other notable provisions included vaccine policy flexibility, an Abortion Access Fund, a gender-affirming care program, community college basic-needs and aid changes, CEQA and coastal permit exemptions tied to the 2028 Olympics, invasive mussel prevention funding, a civic media program, labor and pension-related provisions, and special election administration changes. Members raised questions and concerns about several parts of the package. There was support for climate, water, transit, offshore wind, food security, and health investments, but also significant criticism of the lack of cleanup language for SB 131 and its advanced manufacturing exemptions, with multiple members saying promised fixes had not materialized and expressing concerns about tribal consultation, labor standards, and environmental protections. Members also questioned the scale and timing of some Proposition 4 allocations, including fairground upgrades, regional conveyance, and a UC Davis alternative protein research center. The Department of Finance said some programs would roll out over time and that certain funding levels reflected current implementation capacity. The hearing also featured discussion of Bay Area transit financing, with Finance saying SB 105 directs the department and CalSTA to examine loan or other financing options rather than immediately providing loans. Members and public commenters also discussed the state’s response to H.R. 1, with advocates supporting food bank, health care, and immunization provisions while warning of ongoing harm to immigrants, foster youth, and other vulnerable groups. Public testimony broadly supported the health, food, water, offshore wind, and golden mussel provisions, while many speakers echoed legislative concerns about SB 131 and urged cleanup action in the next session. No votes were taken because the hearing was informational only, though the chair noted votes on the bills were expected later that night or the next morning.

Transcript Highlights:

• So in my area it's medically and psychiatrically underserved.
• So I work in an urban area. We were talking about underserved needs.
• areas where I work, so there's a major underserved population there as well, too, and a need for providers
• areas where I work, so there's a major underserved population there as well, too, and a need for providers
• And that is hard to find medication.

Summary: The committee took up a large health and human services agenda and first approved HB 711, the Spectrum Alert bill, which would create a statewide alert system for missing autistic children and require FDLE to coordinate training with state and local agencies. The measure drew a supportive waiver from the Florida Smart Justice Alliance and passed unanimously, 24-0, reported favorably. Members then considered CS for HB 229 on health facilities, which modernizes the Health Facilities Authority Act to allow additional nonprofit health system structures to use tax-exempt financing. Two amendments were adopted: one requiring advance notice, public hearings, and stakeholder notifications before a nonprofit hospital closure, and another removing a property tax exemption for a nonprofit hospital that closes and fails to maintain emergency services for 120 days, applied retroactively to January 1, 2025. The Florida Hospital Association opposed the amendments, citing workforce and nonprofit-status concerns, but the bill as amended passed 24-0. The committee also approved CS for HB 1405 on juvenile justice status offenders, expanding early truancy intervention, parent involvement, and shelter placement review timelines; it passed 24-0. CS for HB 27, joining the Social Work Licensure Interstate Compact, and its linked public records bill CS for HB 29 both passed unanimously after supportive testimony from several advocacy and business groups. The committee then debated HB 111 on out-of-network referrals and HB 1083 on patient access to records. HB 111 would require referring practitioners to inform patients in writing when a referral is out of network and to apply out-of-network payments to deductibles; it drew opposition from medical groups over administrative burden and patient-care concerns, but passed 17-8. HB 1083 would shorten the time for producing medical records to 14 working days and standardize access rules, with amendments clarifying portal access and delaying the effective date to January 1, 2026; despite opposition from some health information and provider groups over HIPAA and access concerns, it passed 19-7 as amended. Later, the committee approved HB 883, allowing autonomous practice for psychiatric nurse practitioners with the required credentials, after strong support from nurse practitioner groups and opposition from psychiatric and medical associations; it passed 23-3. HB 1297, which aligns Florida’s electronic prescribing exceptions with federal law and removes several state exemptions, passed 19-7 despite opposition from hospice, emergency physician, rheumatology, and medical groups concerned about paper prescriptions in emergencies and hard-to-find medications. HB 1353 on home health care services and CS for HB 989 on foster home licensure transfers both passed unanimously after supportive amendments. The committee also heard HB 1505 on parental rights, which would require written parental consent for many health care services, surveys, and biofeedback devices for minors and expand parental access to records; the bill drew extensive support testimony but also questions and concerns about confidentiality, abuse reporting, and existing exceptions, and the transcript ended before a final vote on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh Hawaii Medical Not present.
• Uh, Work Injury Medical Association of Hawaii in person.
• member of WEIMA Work Injury Medical member of WEIMA Work Injury Medical Association<00:20:40.320
• Hawaii Medical Foundation with comments.
• Uh, Hawaii Medical Association in support. That's all I have.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Health met on April 11, 2025, and heard testimony on a series of Senate concurrent and Senate resolution measures focused on health system oversight, workforce standards, and access to care. Topics included an auditor study on mandated insurance coverage for intravenous ketamine therapy for depression (SCR 8 SD1), a working group on prior authorization reform (STR 10 SD2), a task force on minimum professional standards for community health worker training (STR 16 SD1), a pharmacy benefit manager reform working group (SCR 69 SD1), a pharmacy reimbursement working group (STR 70 SD1), an aeromedical services working group (STR 86 SD1), a catchment-water feasibility study for business use (STR 118 SD1), an auditor study on mandatory coverage for continuous glucose monitors (STR 120 SD1), and a resolution encouraging reduced use of disposable surgical equipment and more sustainable health care practices (STR 194 SD1). Testimony was generally supportive across the measures, with several agencies and organizations noting the need to address complex health policy issues and improve access, transparency, and sustainability. For STR 16 SD1, community health worker advocates strongly supported the resolution but asked for amendments to include the Hawaii Community Health Worker Association on the task force and to require that at least half of the task force members be community health workers. For the PBM-related measures, SHPDA said it was willing to convene the work group and described the issue as complex, while the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association asked that PBMs be included in the working group. For STR 10 SD2, SHPDA supported the effort to reduce prior authorization burdens and said the process is a "black box" that needs reform; the chair later noted the administration’s commitment to the issue. For STR 86 SD1, the Department of Health supported the aeromed working group, and the chair proposed a House Draft 1 with technical changes and added representation from independent provider operators. In decision making, the committee adopted the chair’s recommendations on all measures considered. SCR 8 SD1 was passed as is. STR 10 SD2 was deferred. STR 16 SD1, STR 70 SD1, STR 118 SD1, STR 120 SD1, and STR 194 SD1 were passed as is. SCR 69 SD1 was passed with amendments, and STR 86 SD1 was passed with amendments. The meeting concluded with adjournment after all votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• By having enough emergency medical personnel.
• We have shortages in every area.
• I'm the acting Chief Medical Officer for Medicaid.
• The medical society is in full support of the process.
• and those who are underserved.

Transcript Highlights:

• area.
• And if they went to an underserved area to try to get people to apply for a particular position and they
• chose to go to an underserved area versus an area that is less of a minority focus.
• I do a let's move on to the medical schools. >> Can you explain the nexus between medical school admissions
• This impacts just about every area of my Life.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• areas, and respond during times of crisis.
• Another key area of our work is animal rescue and shelter relief.
• So, we try to prioritize underserved areas or places of veterinary deserts where the closest veterinarian
• <00:17:34.720> areas we try to prioritize underserved areas we try to prioritize underserved
• volume spay and neuter or medical care. volume spay and neuter or medical care.

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Attendance Roll Call 00:00:20 Kentucky Humane Society 00:01:20, 958, all

Summary: The committee heard a presentation from Alyssa Gray, president and CEO of the Kentucky Humane Society, on the organization’s statewide animal welfare work and its request for a $5 million matching contribution from the General Assembly for a new Kentucky Animal and Community Campus in Louisville. Gray said KHS, an independent nonprofit founded in 1884, serves cats, dogs, and horses, reaches 96 counties, provides shelter relief, spay-neuter services, low-cost veterinary care, and disaster response, and has supported communities during recent tornadoes and floods. She described the new campus as a hub for disaster housing, shelter transfers, veterinary training, and expanded services to reduce overpopulation and relieve pressure on county shelters and local governments. Members asked about the campus’s location, staffing, veterinary student involvement, and the scope of KHS’s services. Gray said the new site would be next to KHS’s current spay-neuter clinic on Preston Highway, that the facility would include shelter medicine, high-volume spay-neuter, and a low-cost clinic, and that it could host veterinary students and interns for hands-on training. She also explained that KHS works with county officials and shelters to move animals during crises or cruelty cases, can connect counties with partner organizations when KHS is full, and provides mobile clinic services and occasional grant support for rural shelters. Committee members praised the presentation and discussed how KHS could fit into disaster recovery planning. One member suggested the organization could be folded into long-term recovery efforts because of its role in post-disaster animal care. The presenter said KHS wants to be a formal disaster response resource and already works with the Kentucky Veterinary Medical Association and other partners. No vote on the funding request was taken during the meeting. At the end of the meeting, the committee noted it still lacked a quorum, so approval of the minutes was postponed to the next meeting, tentatively scheduled for October 15. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Medical professionals respect each other and know the areas where they can work within their scope, and
• knowledge; practiced for two years in a rural or underserved area under the supervision of a licensed
• It will increase the number of doctors available, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
• underserved area under the supervision underserved area under the supervision of<01:24:14.719>
• It will also and underserved areas.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• in this critical area.
• These programs are modeled on the UC Medical School's PRIME framework, programs in medical education,
• These programs are modeled on the UC Medical School's prime framework, programs in medical education,
• areas.
• underserved.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance heard testimony and took up three main budget areas: the Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELOP), differentiated assistance and the statewide system of support, and universal school meals with kitchen infrastructure grants. Public commenters and agency witnesses generally supported continued or increased funding for ELOP, with several groups urging stabilization of Tier 2 rates, more support for older youth, and preservation of equity guardrails and local flexibility. On school meals and kitchen infrastructure, testimony broadly supported universal meals and additional kitchen funding, while the LAO questioned the need for a fourth round of kitchen grants and recommended rejecting it until clearer unmet-need data are available. For ELOP, the Department of Finance described the Governor’s proposal to provide $4.7 billion ongoing for the program and $62.4 million ongoing to set a minimum Tier 2 rate of $1,800 per pupil. The LAO recommended instead fixing the Tier 2 rate at $1,579 and tying future changes to program requirements. CDE said the program is showing positive results in attendance and math, but data on enrollment patterns, TK participation, and some overlap with other programs are still being collected. Members raised concerns about possible double-funding with ACEs and 21st Century programs, the lack of site-specific data, and whether the current structure best targets students most in need; the issue was left open. For differentiated assistance, CCEE outlined the current statewide system of support and the Governor’s proposal to shift to universal and targeted assistance with a three-year cycle. Finance said the proposal would provide more stable county office funding, broaden universal supports, and give the State Board more flexibility to revise eligibility criteria; it also proposed $131.9 million ongoing for universal and targeted assistance. The LAO objected to changing the system before the State Board finalizes the new performance criteria and recommended revisiting the proposal later, while several members worried that a three-year entry window and broader board authority could weaken subgroup-based equity protections. The committee also discussed school meal funding, with Finance proposing $1.8 billion for universal meals and $100 million ongoing plus $100 million one-time for kitchen infrastructure, while CDE emphasized ongoing needs, deferred maintenance, and the importance of flexibility for innovative strategies such as food pantries. The committee held the issues open and invited additional public comment before moving on.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, Jeff. leadership in the area of diversity leadership in the area of diversity equity<00:23
• with, um, well, our medical school and our academic medical education is critical, and figuring out
• improvement I think um our medical improvement I think um our medical school<01:05:13.039> and
• school and our academic our medical school and our academic medical<01:05:20.480> education<01
• communities that have been underserved communities that have been underserved by<01:21:00.480>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The forum focused on the University of Minnesota system’s future, with candidates largely agreeing that the five campuses should remain distinct while working more closely together. Speakers emphasized the land-grant mission, the importance of serving Greater Minnesota, and the need for each campus to have a clear value proposition tied to local communities. Several suggested stronger cross-campus partnerships, more use of technology, and more seamless student pathways between campuses, while also noting enrollment declines and the need to preserve campus identities. A second major topic was public trust in higher education and the perceived value of a college degree. Candidates pointed to rising tuition, student debt, and concerns about post-graduation job prospects as key challenges. Proposed responses included better storytelling about university outcomes, stronger partnerships with schools, legislators, and communities, more targeted fundraising and commercialization of research, and clearer evidence of return on investment for students and families. The discussion then turned to athletics, where most candidates described sports as the university’s “front door” but said academics must remain the priority. They raised NIL, revenue sharing, and the need to keep athletics funding separate from core university funding, while also recognizing athletics’ role in campus culture and student recruitment. In later questions, candidates discussed why they sought regent service and how to support diversity, equity, and inclusion, with responses stressing access, belonging, open debate, and meeting students where they are. No formal votes or actions were taken in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• Nationally, 57 percent of medical residents stay in practice in the geographic area where they trained
• Permanently repeal the gross receipts tax on medical services.
• Dan Otero, I am the CEO of Hidalgo Medical.
• The people who need the medications—who can't afford their medications—and the clinics and hospitals
• I get prescribed the medication.

Transcript Highlights:

• PA education is medical model-based.
• PA education is medical-model based.
• <00:14:28.639> areas definitely practice in underserved areas definitely practice in underserved
• prescribe medication.
• makes all of those medical decisions. makes all of those medical decisions.

Bills: HB31, HB31

Keywords: absentee voting, disabled, blind, voter assistance, voting rights, SNAP, public assistance, nutritional standards, waiver, food regulation, 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• underserved areas across the United States.
• underserved areas.
• underserved areas across the United States.
• underserved areas.
• underserved areas.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Many FQHCs serve large geographic areas, and many of their patients live in pharmacy deserts, an area
• I will give a shout-out to Boston Medical Center.
• And for providers to expand access to medications and services for low-income and underserved patients
• To combat barriers to medication adherence, we have filed these two bills that would allow for medication
• That's the medical cost only.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee held a lengthy hearing on a large docket of pharmacy and drug-pricing bills, with most testimony focused on PBM reform, 340B drug discount program protections, specialty medication access, and medication adherence. Chair James Murphy and Senator Paul Feeney opened the hearing and took testimony from legislators, patient advocates, pharmacists, health center leaders, industry representatives, and policy groups. Several speakers described delays, denials, high out-of-pocket costs, and pharmacy closures tied to PBM practices, while others emphasized the importance of community health centers and independent pharmacies in serving patients. On the 340B program, supporters including Senator Eldridge, Senator Payano, Community Care Cooperative, Fenway Health, the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers, and several community health center leaders argued that bills such as H. 1107 and S. 819 would stop discriminatory PBM and manufacturer practices, preserve contract pharmacy access, and protect safety-net providers that say they reinvest savings into care, pharmacy expansion, interpreter services, behavioral health, and other services. Opponents including PhRMA, the Community Liver Alliance, and a public policy analyst argued the program lacks transparency and accountability, has grown beyond its original purpose, and may benefit large hospitals and for-profit entities more than low-income patients. They urged more reporting and oversight rather than expanding protections. On PBM reform, testimony supported bills including H. 1157, H. 1234, S. 724, S. 831, and related measures that would require rebate pass-through, ban spread pricing, limit steering to PBM-owned pharmacies, and improve reimbursement for community pharmacies. Independent pharmacists and patients said current PBM practices raise costs, create administrative burdens, and threaten access to local pharmacies. PCMA, representing PBMs, opposed the reforms, arguing PBMs lower costs, that plan sponsors choose to contract with them, and that the Health Policy Commission and CHIA should complete their ongoing study before new mandates are adopted. The committee also heard support for H. 1322 and S. 734 on specialty medications, and for H. 781 and H. 1305 on medication synchronization to improve adherence. No votes or formal actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• , and the unincorporated areas.
• area, medical facility.
• It needs to happen in that area, in that general regional area, to help our other friends too from other
• My guess is U&M Medical School is turning out a similar amount. guess is UNM Medical School is turning
• And maybe we could do more in rural areas. that maybe we could do more in rural areas but and and also

Bills: SB211, SB131, SB183, SB222, SB246, SB254

Keywords: appropriation, local government, Las Vegas, Rodriguez Park, public facilities, zoning reform, building regulations, residential apartments, commercial use, multigenerational housing, local government authority, healthcare, urgent care, emergency services, feasibility study, medical facilities, physician training, medical residency, New Mexico, massage therapy