Transcript Highlights:

• But under current law, plans and pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs, can make changes to formularies
• But under current law, plans and pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs, can make changes to formularies
• I go to, I'm with ICUC, I go to San Bernardino High School, and I'm in strong support with this.
• schools.
• Schools should be safe havens, not sources of chronic disease.

Summary: The committee heard several health-related bills. AB 1825 by Krell would clarify California’s offenders with mental health disorders program by tightening the standard for determining “substantial danger of physical harm,” improving exit planning, and expanding Medi-Cal access for people released after a successful challenge. Supporters, including psychiatrists, prosecutors, and medical groups, said the bill would close gaps in care and protect public safety; county behavioral health directors and Disability Rights California registered concerns. AB 1696 by Stephanie would state that nurse midwives do not need physician supervision when providing care within their existing scope, including EMTALA-related evaluation in labor and delivery settings. Nurse midwives and nursing groups supported the bill, while emergency physicians opposed it unless amended, arguing emergency department screening should remain under physician supervision; the author said she would keep working on the issue. AB 1949 by Lee would make acupuncture a separate Medi-Cal benefit and allow up to 24 visits per year. The author and supporters from acupuncture, health access, and integrative medicine groups said the current monthly cap is too restrictive and that acupuncture is an effective, cost-saving alternative for pain management and other conditions. There was no opposition. AB 2330 by Patterson would create a distinct regulatory category for cold spas, with standards for construction, operation, and disinfection. Fitness and wellness groups supported the bill, environmental health administrators had no formal position but thanked the author for amendments, and a committee member raised concerns about local officials interpreting the bill to require separate enclosures from saunas; the author said she would continue working on the language. AB 2000 by Aguirre-Curry would limit mid-year changes to prescription drug formularies and add notice, exceptions, reporting, and enforcement provisions. Family physicians, chronic care advocates, nurses, pharmacists, and patient groups supported the bill, citing non-medical switching and treatment disruptions; health plans and insurers opposed it, warning of higher costs, reduced flexibility, and premium increases. AB 1929 by Ortega would require health plans to disclose investments, including in private prisons and immigrant detention centers. Supporters framed it as a transparency measure tied to patient premiums and public values, while opponents argued the bill was duplicative, burdensome, and potentially harmful to investment confidentiality. AB 2746 by Schiavo would classify medical credit card debt as medical debt so it would not appear on credit reports. Consumer advocates and legal aid groups supported the bill, describing abusive marketing and housing harms; banks, debt collectors, and industry groups opposed it as unworkable and privacy-invasive. The committee took roll on AB 2746 and passed it on a due pass motion to Banking and Finance, with several members voting aye and a few no votes recorded.

Transcript Highlights:

• Then you have the Board of Pharmacy, the Rare Disease Advisory Council, and more, all totaling under
• The Health Committee has MDH, DCT, EMSRB, the Board of Pharmacy, Rare Disease, and the remaining portions
• /c><00:07:38.840><c> the</c><00:07:38.919><c> Board</c><00:07:39.120><c> of</c><00:07:39.280><c> Pharmacy
• </c><00:07:39.639><c> rare</c> emsrb uh the Board of Pharmacy rare emsrb uh the Board of Pharmacy rare
• linked Behavioral Health Grants School linked Behavioral Health Grants<00:36:37.640><c> um</c><00:36

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a law school, a very prominent law school that's on the campus. Texas Southern.
• Is there a pharmacy program at Texas Southern?
• Thurgood Marshall has one. of the finest pharmacy schools in the state of Texas in the country producing
• We have Nathaniel Belville and Willard Joyner from Dobie High School and from South Houston High School
• . of Arkansas Law School under conditions of complete segregation.

Bills: SJR3, SB5, SJR36, SJR3, SB616, SB565, SB384, SB5, SB21, SB72, SB140, SB262, SB370, SB372, SB495, SB627, SB703, SB764, SB842, SB971, SB790, SB767, SB480, SB1066

Keywords: dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, research funding, state budget, prevention, healthcare, medical research, Dementia Prevention and Research Institute, research institute, funding, grants, state health initiatives, aquifer, water management, Edwards Aquifer, sustainability, regulatory framework, SB 565, Texas Water Code

Transcript Highlights:

• Donors still cannot designate specific students, and existing accountability measures that are tied to school
• Housing instability impacts school performance.
• Housing instability impacts school performance, physical and mental health outcomes for children.
• Including schools. Constitution does not say pandemic-free world. I'm sorry.
• So if we have the pharmacy open or that liquor store, right, whatever, but if the pharmacy is allowed

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

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c><01:12:44.239><c> particularly</c><01:12:44.560><c> in</c> the schools, particularly in the schools
• While it's true that we haven't looked at the pharmacy co-pays in a number of years, taken in total with
• While it's true that we haven't looked at the pharmacy co-pays in a number of years, taken in total with
• </c><01:45:34.080><c> It</c><01:45:34.239><c> would</c><01:45:34.400><c> be</c> sharing um for pharmacy
• It would be sharing um for pharmacy.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Then Rider 28 was modified to provide unexpended balance authority for the Rosenwald School Preservation
• So if you look at the paragraph below the graph, the last sentence, the pharmacy cost trend is actually
• Blaise Duran, I'll call up as our representative on the Texas Pharmacy Initiative.
• I'll say that pharmacy costs in general, excluding these GLP-1s, are still increasing faster than the
• But maybe if we're seeing an 11% to 12% pharmacy trend, maybe it would be 8% or something if we didn't

Bills: SB 1

Keywords: campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards

Summary: The committee heard budget presentations from the Legislative Budget Board and agency officials on several agencies, starting with the Texas Historical Commission. LBB described a large biennial reduction driven mainly by the removal of one-time funding and discussed capital projects, rider changes, and exceptional items including Presidio La Bahia and the National Museum of the Pacific War. Senators asked about heritage trails, courthouse grants, unexpended balance authority, and the status of historical-site funding. Historical Commission leadership emphasized preservation, courthouse restoration, heritage tourism, coordination with the Alamo and other Texas Revolution sites, and requested additional IT, staffing, and vehicle funding. No votes were taken. The committee then reviewed the Pension Review Board and the Employees Retirement System. The Pension Review Board’s budget was largely unchanged aside from IT maintenance and salary adjustments, with an exceptional item for additional IT enhancements. Members discussed the Dallas Police and Fire Pension System’s funding dispute and the need for a workable restoration plan. ERS presented a much larger budget, including funding for the retirement system, the group benefits plan, and the legacy payment intended to reduce unfunded liability. Senators focused heavily on pension investment returns, benchmark comparisons, and rising health-care costs, especially pharmacy spending driven by GLP-1 drugs; ERS said the plan covers about 540,000 lives and that premiums would rise 8% while benefits remain unchanged. ERS also said it had no exceptional items, and committee members requested more detailed benchmark information. The committee also heard from the Texas Emergency Services Retirement System and the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas. TESSORS reported an unfunded liability, an infinite amortization period, and requested additional state support, staffing, and IT funding, including a statutory change to allow a higher contribution level; the agency warned that without more funding it may have to cut benefits. CEPRIT’s presentation covered its bond-funded cancer research and prevention portfolio, revenue-sharing from funded projects, and a request to increase salary limits for its CEO and chief scientific officer. Senators questioned CEPRIT’s accomplishments and return on investment, while CEPRIT cited screening, prevention, and research outcomes, including tens of thousands of detected cancers and precursors and hundreds of thousands of first-time screenings. The meeting ended after these presentations and questions, with no recorded committee action or vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• Burns School of Medicine.
• Burns School of Medicine.
• Burns School of Medicine.
• The law school is a professional school, so usually they have other employment.
• Burns School of Medicine.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Committee on Higher Education met on February 6 and began with decision-making items. SB 663, concerning additional positions for the University of Hawaiʻi College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, was deferred again after the chair said the university’s response did not include the requested details on vacant positions, recruitment status, and fill dates. The chair said the committee needed the full information before considering new positions, and the university apologized for treating the request as informal rather than a formal committee inquiry. The committee then discussed SB 672, relating to capital improvement projects for the Y. Manalo Research Station. University representatives said the project had been identified late because of timing and that they were still developing a broader plan for SEAR research facilities. The chair questioned how the project fit within the university’s existing Board of Regents-approved CIP priorities and whether any current priorities should be displaced. The university said it could not unilaterally reprioritize the budget, and the measure was deferred pending better direction on how it fits into the overall plan. For SB 557, which would require the John A. Burns School of Medicine to direct a study on physician and dentist recruitment and retention for Maui, the committee heard strong testimony in support from Maui health care providers and community representatives. Supporters described severe shortages of physicians and dentists, long waits for care, and the need for housing, loan repayment, scholarships, transportation, and telehealth support to retain providers. The university said it was willing to help and suggested the work could be done through existing rural health and AHEC efforts. The bill was kept alive for further work, with the chair encouraging the parties to develop a plan. The committee also heard SB 1107, establishing a medical education position at JABSOM to support ECHO-style mentorship and guidance programs. The university opposed the bill, saying it did not believe the measure addressed a problem that needed fixing and that Hawaiʻi already has five ECHO clinics administered through the Hawaiʻi State Rural Health Association, not JABSOM. The committee then took up SB 1204, concerning integration of the Kakaʻako medical school and cancer center. University leadership asked for time to develop a plan and timeline, possibly with an external consultant, and requested the bill be withdrawn. The chair expressed skepticism, citing long-standing concerns about the cancer center’s finances and planning. Testimony included support from the American Cancer Society and a patient who warned that integration could jeopardize the cancer center’s NCI designation and clinical trials, while a university vice president said the NIH P30 grant does not require the cancer center and medical school to remain separate and that many NCI centers are integrated. No final votes were taken on the measures discussed in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have kids who are in school who can't afford to pay for school.
• For example, if a school district refused to allow ICE into a school to detain a child ...
• if a school district refused to allow ICE into a school to detain a child, would perhaps the school law
• They were in my office yesterday, talking to me and telling me about the ones that are in pharmacy school
• They were in my office yesterday, talking to me and telling me about the ones that are in pharmacy school

Summary: The House convened with prayer, a moment of silence for the Parkland shooting victims, quorum call, and the Pledge of Allegiance. The Rules and Ethics Committee special order report for February 13, 2025 was adopted, setting the day’s special order calendar and debate times. The chamber then took up immigration-related special order items, beginning with Senate Memorial 6C, which urged the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to provide guidance and training for 287(g) agreements. Members debated federal immigration policy and state cooperation with DHS, and the memorial passed 85-27. The House next considered Senate Bill 4C, an immigration bill creating new state offenses related to unlawful entry and reentry into Florida and requiring a mandatory death sentence for an unauthorized alien convicted of a capital felony. Members questioned the bill’s constitutionality, including Supremacy Clause, due process, and Eighth Amendment concerns, and several speakers argued it would create separate classes of people and invite litigation. Multiple amendments were offered to narrow or expand exemptions, including protections for Venezuelans on TPS, certain Haitian TPS and humanitarian parole recipients, undocumented people brought to Florida as children working in critical professions, and a proposal to delay action pending court rulings; all of those amendments were rejected. The bill passed 85-29. The chamber then took up Senate Bill 2C, which would create a State Board of Immigration Enforcement led by the Governor and Cabinet, establish a local law enforcement immigration grant program and advisory council, repeal the undocumented-student fee waiver, and appropriate more than $300 million for immigration enforcement. The sponsor described it as supporting cooperation with federal immigration agencies and ending the in-state tuition incentive for undocumented students. Early questioning focused on the impact on “dreamers” and whether the bill would effectively raise their tuition costs; the sponsor said it removed the incentive of in-state tuition but did not bar attendance. The transcript cuts off during that exchange, before final action on SB 2C is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• In an independent school district.
• Law school, the College of Business, College of Education, and the pharmacy Program.
• school.
• school at that location.
• Can you tell me about the Hilton School hotel school?

Transcript Highlights:

• I serve as a chief pharmacy officer for Western Health Advantage. I am here to support SB 1094.
• But I will let the pharmacist talk about what happens when you go to a pharmacy and your medication is
• A pharmacy and your medication is not available.
• And these medications are not coming from your local pharmacy because they're expensive meds.
• They're dispensed by a specialty pharmacy.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And if I might explain, the reason behind the bill was originally to benefit pharmacies and patients
• there to encourage them to use in-person pharmacies as much as possible in place of telepharmacies.
• Thank you. bill was originally to benefit um bill was originally to benefit um pharmacies<02:20:15.520
• and um patients on the pharmacies and um patients on the islands<02:20:18.399><c> of</c><02:20:18.560
• there um to encourage them to pharmacies there um to encourage them to use use use in-personarmacies

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Do we fund pharmacies?
• So, these are directly pharmacies?
• Help with pharmacy, help with dentists.
• Help with pharmacy, help with dentists.
• Help with pharmacy, hospitals need help.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We are finding it very difficult to pay for both city services and our schools.
• Turned out she was cutting her dose in half to save on pharmacy costs.
• Turned out she was cutting her dose in half to save on pharmacy costs.
• knots because they're trying to pay for schools, their share of the schools, at the same time trying
• Their share of the schools at the same time trying to keep all their services intact.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Health Care Financing held a public hearing on 16 bills, with the chairs noting a busy legislative day and asking speakers to keep testimony brief. The committee first heard testimony on Senate 860/House 1405, the Medicare for All bill, with Sen. Jamie Eldridge and many advocates, clinicians, municipal officials, and patients arguing that a single-payer system would make care a right, reduce administrative waste, lower costs, and protect residents from rising premiums, medical debt, and hospital closures. Several speakers cited the Steward hospital crisis, affordability problems, and polling or ballot questions showing public support for single-payer coverage. No vote was taken during the hearing. The committee then took testimony on S. 863, a bill on non-opioid options for chronic pain. Pain specialists, patients, and advocates said the bill would improve care coordination for MassHealth members, expand access to non-opioid medications, require provider education, and collect data on chronic pain. Testifiers described long delays in diagnosis and treatment, stigma toward pain patients, and the need for multidisciplinary care and transportation support. Again, the committee heard testimony only and took no action. A large portion of the hearing focused on H. 1360/S. 869, which would prevent discrimination against people with disabilities in health care. Disability advocates, clinicians, and patients described being denied or delayed care, pressured into DNR orders, or treated based on assumptions about quality of life rather than medical facts. Speakers referenced COVID-era crisis standards of care, discriminatory metrics, and personal stories involving canceled procedures, inadequate accommodations, and poor treatment in hospitals. Committee members thanked speakers for their testimony and said they would review the bill and its implications, but no vote was announced. The committee also heard testimony on H. 1399, an individual Medicare marketplace option for municipal retirees, where supporters said it would give cities and towns a lower-cost alternative for retiree health benefits through HRAs and individual Medicare plans. The hearing then returned to Medicare for All testimony, with additional supporters repeating arguments about cost, access, municipal budget pressure, and the need for global budgeting and universal coverage. The transcript ends with continued testimony and no recorded committee vote or final action on any bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• Associations of Medical School. And now we have the School of Veterinary Medicine in Amarillo.
• About 256 in the nursing school, about 221 in the dental school.
• We've had an accelerated course where they go directly from high school into nursing school.
• Many schools don't have any.
• in health. professions, Ryan Middle School and Russ Middle School in Houston, similar schools in the

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And if there is an emergency at school and you can't find the parent, would the school be able to provide
• I KEPT PUTTING THROUGH TO SITUATIONS&nbsp; THAT HAPPENED TO ME IN HIGH SCHOOL.
• For some, school is their only safe option. This bill stabilizes child risk.
• Then we have Alexander Serta, Safe Schools South Florida, waiving in opposition.
• AND SCHOOL PRINCIPALS&nbsp;&nbsp; 1320 And that is the bill, Madam Chair.

Summary: The committee first heard HB 245, which would replace references in Florida law to “child pornography” with “child sexual abuse material.” The sponsor said the change was overdue and more accurately reflects the criminal nature of the material. There was brief supportive public testimony, no debate, and the bill was reported favorably on a unanimous vote. The committee then took up HB 237 on the use of professional nursing titles. The sponsor said advanced practice registered nurses should be able to use earned academic titles such as DNP or PhD. Supporters testified in favor, there was no opposition or debate, and the bill passed unanimously and was reported favorably. The longest discussion centered on HB 173, which would expand parental consent and access requirements for minors’ medical care, medical records, certain school surveys, and biomedical devices. Supporters argued it restores parental rights and keeps parents involved in children’s health decisions, while opponents—many from medical, mental health, LGBTQ, and youth advocacy groups—warned it could block access to STI treatment, mental health care, crisis hotlines, and confidential services for vulnerable youth, including those in abusive homes. After extensive testimony and debate, the bill was reported favorably on a 19-7 vote. Finally, the committee began HB 327 on uterine fibroid research. The sponsor explained the bill would require health care providers to submit identified data so the Department of Health can build a usable de-identified research database, after prior implementation problems with duplicate or unverified data. A supportive local official testified, and members indicated support as the meeting moved toward a vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• We provide school-based, school-linked behavioral health services, day treatment programming, and outpatient
• </c><00:19:23.679><c> School</c><00:19:24.080><c> link</c> provide school-based School link provide school-based
• </c><00:25:59.240><c> with</c> they came out of school with they came out of school with $250,000<00:
• And our school systems are saying our teachers and our schools are not designed to support the mental
• And our school systems are saying our teachers and our schools are not designed to support the mental

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> do</c><00:04:06.879><c> not</c> Our charter schools currently do not Our charter schools currently
• 04:13.680><c> Finance</c> Alabama Charter School Finance Alabama Charter School Finance Authority,<00
• </c><00:16:08.000><c> and</c> credit for doing good in school and credit for doing good in school and
• </c> from the School of Healthcare Sciences. from the School of Healthcare Sciences.
• School built like a small college.

Bills: SB62, HB361, HB244, HB377, HB411, HB422, HB423, HB425, SB16, HB452, HB354

Keywords: SB62, Alabama, conservation and natural resources, hunting license, fishing license, wildlife heritage license, license identification, government-issued ID, residency determination, in-state residency, student residency, tuition classification, public higher education, domicile, resident status, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, DCNR, Section 9-11-32, Section 9-11-33, Section 16-64-3

Transcript Highlights:

• And not only in school, but the overall well-being.
• But when this bill is signed into law, it does require every single school district, you know, large
• When this bill is signed into law, it does require every single school district, you know, large and
• If they get sick more, they miss more schooling.
• If they miss schooling, then already they're behind in class.

Keywords: 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• pay for in order for our kids that can't afford lunch at school that we provide.
• Then, transferring to a pharmacy in downtown San Francisco.
• While I was in the pharmacy— When that situation puts our safety at risk.
• One day, a woman entered the pharmacy behaving erratically.
• One day, a man walked into the pharmacy behaving erratically.

Summary: The committee met without a quorum and operated as a subcommittee while hearing a long agenda of public safety bills. The chair announced recess and return times, noted several consent items, and said SB 906 was pulled from the agenda. Testimony procedures were explained, including limits on principal witnesses and public comment. Several bills were heard out of file order with authors presenting and witnesses speaking in support and opposition. SB 1446 would expand discretion in en banc parole review, make votes public, and allow CDCR referrals for sexually violent predator evaluations in certain cases. Supporters, including the author and district attorneys, said it would improve transparency and public safety; opponents from Uncommon Law, the Ella Baker Center, and public defender groups argued it would add confusion, litigation risk, and unnecessary duplication. The bill was not voted on because the committee still lacked a quorum. SB 1278 would exclude certain sex offenses and habitual or serial sexual offenses from elderly parole eligibility; the author and district attorneys cited recent releases of serious sex offenders and the need to respect victims and sentences, while opponents said the elderly parole process is already rigorous and evidence-based and that the bill would reduce rehabilitation incentives. The chair and other members strongly supported the measure, but no vote was taken. The committee also heard SB 1354, which would bar out-of-state military or law enforcement forces from entering California without the governor’s permission; the author and supporters framed it as a state sovereignty and constitutional authority measure, and the committee discussed an amendment removing a criminal penalty and leaving enforcement to the Attorney General. SB 926 would provide funding for implementation of Proposition 36; supporters said counties need resources for treatment, probation, and related services, while opponents called it fiscally reckless and said the budget process was the proper place to address funding. The chair summarized amendments removing a specific appropriation and limiting eligible recipients, and members emphasized that the voters approved Prop. 36 but it remains underfunded. SB 874 would require background checks and clearer oversight for Medi-Cal behavioral health treatment providers, especially ABA providers serving children; it drew support from health plans and behavior analysis groups and no opposition. SB 1210 would extend CalGang oversight and due process protections to all gang databases, including local ones; supporters described privacy harms and racial disparities, while police chiefs opposed applying CalGang rules to informal local investigative files. SB 1019 would create a DOJ cargo theft task force; supporters from BNSF, trucking, shipping, and port interests described organized theft, rail sabotage, and supply-chain losses, and there was no opposition. SB 1217, on non-consensual intimate image removal, was introduced with privacy and public safety amendments and framed as a survivor-driven effort to create a DOJ clearinghouse for rapid takedown requests; the author said it would help end ongoing digital harm from exploitation.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we did require schools to cover 5%, 10%.
• And I would think the schools could do it.
• So these are like med students, pharmacy students, law students.
• But the med school, again, would be... ...coursework that they teach.
• But the med school, again, would be totally separate out.

Keywords: 908, all