Transcript Highlights:

• A triage intake is not the same as a medical screening exam.
• We are instead funded based on an assessment on utility revenues.
• So I think it's just related to the mill assessment in general and what you stated.
• So I think it's just related to the mill assessment in general and what you stated.
• So it would stay within that discrete category of assessment.

Bills: AB568, SB90, SB133, SB147, SB229, SB233, SB240, SB245, SB280, SB378, SB393, SB417, SB434, SB494, SB495

Keywords: higher education, Nevada System of Higher Education, operational expenses, instructional expenses, public funding, education funding, teacher grants, classroom supplies, instructional support, specialized personnel, civics education, Nevada Center for Civic Engagement, funding, youth programs, civic involvement, Southern Nevada, Clark County, Las Vegas Valley, regional planning, economic resiliency

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> requirements of pre-risk assessments. requirements of pre-risk assessments.
• If you want to actually use a screen, you can just move that forward along. >> Our technical moment.
• If you want to actually use a screen,<00:34:54.639><c> you</c><00:34:54.800><c> can</c><00:34:54.879>
• <c> just</c><00:34:55.040><c> move</c><00:34:55.200><c> that</c><00:34:55.359><c> forward</c> screen,
• you can just move that forward screen, you can just move that forward along.<00:34:56.079><c> Perfect

Bills: HF4862, HF4598

Keywords: apprenticeship, education, teacher training, grant program, labor and industry, workers' compensation, Minnesota workers' compensation, Workers' Compensation Advisory Council, reinsurance association, Workers' Compensation Reinsurance Association, WCRA, occupational disease, presumption, first responders, firefighter cancer, PTSD, post-traumatic stress disorder, police officer, paramedic, emergency medical technician

Transcript Highlights:

• It's got the well construction information, casing information, screening information.
• We also in 2015 we were charged by the legislature to specifically assess at a statewide level the volume
• We can generate data to assess, you know, if folks are meeting requirements, are meeting things, but
• So again, from a technical standpoint, the best we can do is get the data, assess that, interpret it,
• We'll conduct site assessments in some circumstances and we issue authorizations under that program.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This fund is used to conduct annual assessments for consistency with the school safety and security guidelines
• decrease in the FTP count for the agency associated specifically with what you're seeing on this screen
• I think, you know, there is research that shows that screen time is not great for brains.
• education, and we also have to be very careful about how we use that, because children sitting on screens

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and heard a series of budget presentations from the Legislative Services Office and agency leaders on higher education and health education programs. Kevin Campbell first reviewed the Office of the State Board of Education budget, noting staffing growth tied to added responsibilities, the end of federal COVID/ARPA funding, a governor-recommended supplemental reversion for the sunsetted Empowering Parents grant, and FY 2027 requests including a Canvas LMS renewal, a risk-manager transfer back to institutions, and a one-time federal AI grant. Jennifer White, OSBE executive director, defended the Canvas contract as a cost-saving centralized arrangement, discussed budget pressure on colleges and universities, and said the board is developing an outcomes-based funding model that would shift emphasis from enrollment to progression, completion, and workforce outcomes while phasing in changes to avoid destabilizing institutions. Members asked about cuts, tuition, private donations, rainy-day funds, the longitudinal data system, CETL Now usage, and whether programs should be evaluated or eliminated based on outcomes. White said the board is still gathering data and expects at least another year before a workable funding proposal is ready, and she emphasized that unearned funds under the new model would be returned to OSBE for targeted intervention rather than simply removed. The committee also discussed risk-management centralization, with White explaining that moving risk managers back to institutions would improve day-to-day efficiency while OSBE retains enterprise risk oversight. The committee then turned to health education programs, beginning with Family Medicine Residencies. Campbell outlined the program’s funding and recent growth, and residency leaders said the 3% holdback affected both ISU-based and hospital-affiliated programs but would not force immediate reductions. They stressed the importance of continued legislative support, noted that residency training helps retain physicians in Idaho, and said the programs rely on a mix of state, federal, and patient-care revenue. Members also raised concerns about clinical placement capacity, rural access, and whether federal rural health funds could help support expansion. Additional presentations covered the Eastern Idaho Medical Residencies and the University of Utah medical program. EIMR leaders said Idaho remains far short of needed psychiatrists, especially child psychiatrists, and that training residents in-state helps keep physicians in Idaho; they also described private hospital support as part of the funding model. For the University of Utah program, Campbell said the state supports both medical students and psychiatry residents, and the program requested funding for three additional child psychiatry residents. Dr. Beth Botz, the training director, attributed rising child psychiatry need to increased stress, social media, COVID-era effects, and broader awareness of mental health issues, and said placing residents in southeast Idaho has already improved access and reduced wait times.

Transcript Highlights:

• Bill 297 that Senator Lopez was part of, uh, to see if there's a chance we can get into the market assessment
• Uh, and Xandra has pointed out it was available on that screen.
• So in my case, for example, if I were to be relying on the screens because of my hearing impairment,
• To the bottom of the screen that allows for bigger print.

Transcript Highlights:

• organizations when vetting individuals seeking to adopt vulnerable animals in their care, helping them screen
• organizations when vetting individuals seeking to adopt vulnerable animals in their care, helping them screen
• The access will empower them to thoroughly screen potential adopters and prevent animals from being placed
• have a wrongful death suit in the death of a one-day-old child, and somehow the juries are able to assess

Summary: The committee heard and voted on a long agenda of criminal justice, public safety, victims’ rights, and related bills. SB 984 on aggravating factors in capital cases was reported favorably after debate over its focus on religious, school, and government gatherings; the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops opposed expanding the death penalty, while supporters said it was about accountability rather than deterrence. CS for SB 1140 creating a Hillsborough County substance abuse pilot program for offenders, CS for SB 1180 broadening child sexual image protections, CS for SB 10 compensating Sidney Holmes for a wrongful conviction, CS for SB 500 creating a Spectrum Alert system for missing children with autism, and SB 1054 on tampering with electronic monitoring devices all passed favorably, with the substance abuse bill drawing supportive testimony about treatment and recovery and the Holmes bill receiving emotional support from Holmes himself. The committee also approved SB 1072 on expedited DNA testing grants, CS for SB 240 on domestic and dating violence victims, CS for SB 494 creating a statewide animal abuse database, and CS for SB 1422 on unmanned aircraft over critical infrastructure and weaponized drones. SB 240 drew extensive testimony from advocates describing a feasibility study for a discreet emergency alert system and the need to align domestic and dating violence protections; SB 494 drew strong support from animal welfare groups and county officials who described local registries and the link between animal abuse and violence toward people, while members discussed whether the bill should also bar known abusers from adopting animals. SB 1422 passed after questions about “reasonable force” against drones and concerns about firearms use, with the sponsor saying the bill was meant to protect privacy and property rights. Additional measures reported favorably included SB 1268 updating Department of Law Enforcement statutes and increasing reimbursement for retired police dogs, CS for SB 1344 revising juvenile status-offender procedures, CS for SB 1252 creating a feasibility study for a statewide pawn data database, CS for SB 1386 increasing penalties for assault and battery on utility workers, CS for SB 1084 strengthening sexual cyber harassment laws for intimate and digitally forged images, CS for SB 1654 revising sex offender/predator registration and reporting rules, CS for SB 1650 expanding the vexatious litigant law, and CS for SB 1652 creating a public records exemption for stricken court filings. The final and most heavily debated bill, CS for SB 1284 on wrongful death of an unborn child, drew extensive testimony from supporters who framed it as recognizing unborn life and opponents who warned it could be used to harass abortion patients, providers, and supporters and could increase malpractice exposure; the sponsor said the bill would allow parents to recover damages while protecting mothers and lawful medical care. The transcript ends before the roll call on SB 1284 is completed, but the committee had already reported the other measures favorably by recorded votes, generally along party lines with broad support from members present.

Transcript Highlights:

• Assembly Bill 2172 allows counties, on a temporary basis, to utilize a single-member assessment appeals
• Existing law requires property tax assessment appeals to be heard by a multi-member board, which can
• The data from the past three fiscal years show that many assessment appeals take longer than six months
• board to hear property assessment disputes.
• Assessment Appeals Board members are part-time... ...appointees.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Chishi, we have you on the screen. Welcome to the committee.
• </c> jurisdiction on it on its own assessment jurisdiction on it on its own assessment of<00:38:03.680
• </c><00:38:36.560><c> of</c> makes depend on its own assessment of makes depend on its own assessment
• Weeks later, she still struggles to look at the screens and was referred to a concussion center.
• and was referred to a at the screens and was referred to a concussion<02:17:00.399><c> center.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• loss in children, and those were required under the federal EPSDT benefit, or Early and Periodic Screening
• </c><00:10:37.839><c> diagnostic</c><00:10:38.399><c> and</c> early periodic screening diagnostic and
• early periodic screening diagnostic and treatment<00:10:38.880><c> benefit</c><00:10:39.600><c> which
• independent entity that does a deep analysis on the cost effectiveness of medications they choose to assess
• independent entity that does a deep analysis on the cost effectiveness of medications they choose to assess

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board met on February 23, 2026, approved the January 12 minutes, and then focused primarily on Kentucky Medicaid’s coverage and potential expansion of GLP-1 drugs, especially for weight loss. Department for Medicaid Services Commissioner Lisa Lee explained that Medicaid currently does not cover drugs for weight loss, anorexia, or weight gain, but the department had filed a regulation to remove that blanket exclusion so GLP-1s could be covered when used for an underlying health condition. She said the administrative regulation review subcommittee found the regulation deficient, and the co-chairs wanted the board to discuss the policy and financing implications before any change. DMS also said it would be open to adding caveats to ensure coverage would not extend to cosmetic weight loss alone. The department provided several data points on current utilization and spending. In 2025, Kentucky Medicaid paid for appetite-stimulating drugs such as Megestrol, Dronabinol, and Marinol, but did not pay for weight-loss drugs. For GLP-1s, DMS said coverage began in 2025 and is limited to FDA-approved medical conditions, with prior authorization requiring a type 2 diabetes diagnosis code and A1C documentation. DMS reported $234.6 million in GLP-1 spending in 2025 before rebates, about 240,931 prescriptions, and said GLP-1s accounted for 7.3% of pharmacy spend in 2024 and 8.3% in 2025. It also said there were 24,844 expansion members and 13,638 non-expansion members using GLP-1s, with spending of about $156 million and $78.5 million respectively, and that 10 pediatric weight-loss prescriptions were covered under EPSDT. The department said outcome analyses, including whether GLP-1 use reduces insulin or other diabetes treatment, are underway and should be completed in a couple of months. Members asked about cost, rebates, and whether the state should wait for more outcomes data before expanding coverage. DMS said average reimbursement to pharmacies was $975 per prescription and the average dispensing fee was $109; it also said 2025 rebate invoices totaled $90.8 million, with $7.6 million collected so far. Several members expressed concern about the high cost and the need to evaluate whether the drugs improve health outcomes before expanding access, while others noted the potential benefits for obesity and diabetes treatment. Some members also discussed whether GLP-1s are effectively being used for weight loss in diabetic patients and whether broader data collection should be used to assess long-term value. After the Medicaid discussion, Eli Lilly executive Tracy Sims presented on obesity as a chronic disease and the economic burden it creates in Kentucky. She said Kentucky’s adult obesity rate is a little over 37%, that obesity is linked to about 200 diseases, and that untreated obesity costs the state billions in GDP and hundreds of millions in state budget impact. She highlighted recent federal access programs for GLP-1s, including a Medicaid-related program that she said could lower the state share of a Zepbound prescription to about $71 per month after federal matching. No votes were taken on the GLP-1 policy question during the meeting, and the main action was the receipt of testimony and discussion of the department’s proposed regulatory change.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> your community health assessment. Yes. your community health assessment. Yes.
• ,</c><00:43:00.079><c> community</c> community health assessment, community community health assessment
• . first in in in assessing the public first in in in assessing the public health,<00:46:09.520><c> I<
• Does that is a health uh assessment.
• </c> to do that community health assessment to do that community health assessment every<00:59:50.720

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Make America Healthy Again task force held its first meeting to set interim priorities rather than take formal action. Co-chairs and members said the group’s goal is to identify practical policy ideas to improve Kentucky’s poor health outcomes, with an emphasis on prevention, and to gather input from members and outside stakeholders. Roll was called, several members were present, and the co-chairs noted the meeting would be limited in length and would not include a lunch break. Members identified a wide range of possible focus areas, including childhood and adult obesity, nutrition in schools, food deserts, agriculture and support for local farms, health responsibility, physical activity, mental health, and provider education on nutrition. Several speakers stressed that Kentucky’s health care costs are rising unsustainably and that prevention is cheaper than treatment. Others emphasized that the task force should work with agencies, hospitals, universities, and experts, and should narrow its work to a few actionable areas rather than “chase every rabbit.” There was also discussion of food as medicine, improving the quality of food in schools and hospitals, and making healthier choices more accessible and affordable. Members referenced conversations already underway with industries, the Kentucky Department of Education, the Kentucky Hospital Association, and agricultural leaders. No votes or formal motions were taken during the portion of the meeting provided; the main action was the exchange of priorities and direction for future task force work.

Transcript Highlights:

• The PRO must submit an initial statewide needs assessment by March 1, 2027.
• By the end of May, State Parks will finalize a formal, comprehensive damage assessment.
• This detailed assessment will provide a better estimate of recovery costs.
• One of the other things we have to do is assess our hazard trees.
• In the mill assessment.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• we—we didn't know exactly how the technology might work in this room, but the slides are here on the screen
• able to do that and take a look at, oh, this is where the numbers play out, and then make some assessments
• about... ...look at, oh, this is where the numbers play out, and then make some assessments about, is

Summary: The Joint Committee on Education met to hear an informational presentation from the Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development on Missouri’s higher education funding model and related workforce trends. Commissioner Bennett Boggs described the department’s mission, its data and workforce partnerships, and the need to better align postsecondary education with Missouri’s labor market, noting projections that 65% of jobs in the 2030s will require education beyond high school. He emphasized that the current “base-plus” funding approach dates to 1992 and no longer reflects demographic, technological, or economic changes, and said the department wants every institution to remain healthy and serve its region. Deputy Commissioner Leroye Wade outlined a proposed cost-based, performance-informed funding framework with four main parts: fixed costs, variable program costs, performance measures, and a mechanism for targeted legislative investment. He said the model is intended to be data-driven, transparent, and more responsive to enrollment changes, program mix, completion outcomes, workforce needs, and collaboration among institutions. He also reviewed the history of the effort, including a 2022 legislative appropriation for a study, a 2023 report, and subsequent interim and bill activity. Committee members asked about educational attainment goals, the P20W longitudinal data system, persistence and completion rates, and how the model would account for mission differences and student outcomes. Representative John Black, sponsor of the bill discussed, said the legislation is meant to move Missouri toward a 21st-century higher education funding system by tying appropriations more closely to state goals and institutional performance rather than continuing automatic across-the-board increases. He said the department’s work and the bill are intended to prompt continued refinement of the model, and he warned that declining enrollments and tight state finances make reform urgent. No votes were taken; the committee heard the presentation, allowed brief public comment, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• And Diane, we'll pull that up on screen for you. Thank you, Diane.
• They pay the assessment for us to show up and fight their fires, as well as small landowners that have
• firefighters and our partners a safer place to engage fire in that fuel type because I know the assessment

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The committee began with a brief introduction of new Senate page Antoine Taylor, who spoke about his interest in the legislative process, plans to serve a mission in Paris, and future studies in business at BYU-Idaho. The committee then approved a gubernatorial appointment of James Keating to the Parks and Recreation Board and approved several sets of prior meeting minutes without opposition. The main rulemaking item was the Department of Environmental Quality’s groundwater quality rule docket 58-01-1-211. DEQ explained the zero-based regulation cleanup and noted substantive changes tied to updated drinking water standards, including lower arsenic and lead thresholds and added uranium and PFAS references. Because of ongoing federal litigation and uncertainty around PFAS standards, the committee adopted a motion to approve the docket except for Section 003 and Section 200(01A), rejecting those provisions while the rest of the rule moved forward. The committee also heard testimony on a gubernatorial appointment of Michael Linden of Post Falls, a longtime Alaska oil and gas consultant, but deferred confirmation until a later meeting. House Bill 587, which would create continuous spending authority for Idaho Rangeland Improvement Act funds so grants and other revenues can be spent without delay, was advanced to the floor on a 6-2 vote despite concerns from several senators about ceding appropriation authority. Finally, Idaho Department of Lands Director Dustin Miller delivered the agency’s annual update, highlighting timber revenue, fire suppression performance, shared stewardship and Good Neighbor Authority work, and a proposed bill to raise the structure surcharge cap on improved private forest parcels from $40 to $100 to support wildfire preparedness and suppression. He also warned that proposed budget holdbacks could reduce staffing, treatment acres, and fire response capacity, especially in eastern Idaho.

Transcript Highlights:

• Online and on the screens at your desk is an almost 200-page report that shows colored maps of the provisionally
• management, portfolio management, and centralized change management, consolidating IT tools and assessing
• changes that we've discussed to help make this trust fund more solid, you know, as far as hospital assessments

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You can see a snapshot of that on the screen.
• curriculum, we have multiple ways that students are presented concepts, multiple ways that they're assessed
• We have a rubric that they assess teacher performance on.

Summary: The Senate Education Committee first approved the January 26 and January 27, 2026 minutes by voice vote. The committee then heard a presentation from Idaho Digital Learning Alliance (IDLA) Superintendent Jeff Simmons, joined by Cambridge Superintendent Anthony Butler, on IDLA’s role as Idaho’s statewide supplemental online learning program. Simmons described IDLA’s funding model, course offerings, growth in enrollment, quality controls, teacher certification and oversight, use of Idaho teachers and curriculum, free open-content resources, and efforts to support families through lower course fees and waived dual-credit fees. He also said IDLA is preparing for a proposed $10 million budget cut, which he said would significantly reduce enrollments and course offerings. Butler testified that IDLA is especially valuable for small rural districts like Cambridge for credit recovery, dual credit, scheduling flexibility, and keeping students on track to graduate. Senators asked about teacher certification, costs, evaluation in a virtual setting, AI use, statutory naming, and how IDLA would be affected by budget reductions. The committee then took up Senate Bill 1234, sponsored by Senator Carlson, which would change Lewis-Clark State College’s name to Lewis-Clark State University. President Cynthia Pemberton testified that the change would not alter the institution’s mission, programs, or focus, but would reduce confusion about the school’s offerings, better reflect its four-year and graduate programs, and help recruitment and partnerships. She said the proposal has broad support from the State Board of Education, K-12 partners, local chambers, and campus stakeholders, and estimated a one-time rebranding cost of about $50,000. Senators asked about the cost and intent language, and the committee voted to send the bill to the Senate floor with a do-pass recommendation. The meeting adjourned afterward, with notice that there would be no Education Committee meeting the following day.

Transcript Highlights:

• You can see a snapshot of that on the screen.
• curriculum, we have multiple ways that students are presented concepts, multiple ways that they're assessed
• We have a rubric that they assess teacher performance on.

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The Senate Education Committee first approved the minutes from its January 26 and January 27 meetings. The committee then heard a presentation from Idaho Digital Learning Alliance (IDLA) Superintendent Jeff Simmons and Cambridge School District Superintendent Anthony Butler about IDLA’s role as Idaho’s statewide supplemental online learning provider. Simmons described IDLA’s funding model, course fees, statewide access, Idaho-certified teachers, quality controls, and growth in enrollment and pass rates, while Butler explained how a small rural district uses IDLA for electives, dual credit, and credit recovery. Senators asked about teacher certification, cost savings for families, evaluation of virtual instruction, AI use, and the impact of a proposed $10 million budget cut; Simmons said the reduction would significantly shrink course offerings and enrollments, especially affecting rural schools. The committee also discussed Lewis-Clark State College’s proposal in Senate Bill 1234 to change its name to Lewis-Clark State University. Senator Cindy Carlson and President Cynthia Pemberton said the change would better reflect the institution’s existing mix of two-year, four-year, and some graduate programs, reduce confusion among students and counselors, and support recruitment and community identity without changing the school’s mission. Pemberton said the rebrand would cost about $50,000 and had broad support from the State Board, local schools, chambers, and campus stakeholders. Senators asked about the cost, mission, and implications for the institution’s status; Carlson said the bill includes intent language to prevent salary or mission changes. After discussion, the committee voted to send Senate Bill 1234 to the Senate floor with a due pass recommendation. The meeting adjourned after the motion carried, and the chair noted there would be no Education Committee meeting the following day.

Transcript Highlights:

• It adds a definition of personal information, as well as definitions of pre-deployment impact assessment
• or correct the way your vote is reflected on the standing committee report form displayed on the screen
• I think that's a fair assessment, but I would say I concur with what Lieutenant Colonel Beck said, that

Bills: HB2397, HB2417, HB2157, HB2186, HB2225, HB2351

Keywords: fire services, reimbursement, state agencies, local jurisdictions, mobilization plan, military justice, victims' rights, militia, Washington code, legal protections, artificial intelligence, AI regulation, algorithmic discrimination, high-risk AI, machine learning, generative AI, synthetic content, impact assessment, risk management policy, consumer protection

Transcript Highlights:

• As you can see from the summary of the proposed substitute on the screen, the underlying bill and new
• I assessed him and thought he had bursitis, so I sent him to a sports medicine physician the next day
• I assessed him and thought he had bursitis, so I sent him to a sports medicine physician the next day

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

Transcript Highlights:

• campuses to ensure safety when it comes to buildings and locking buildings, campus security, and assessing
• Campus security, how threats that come into campus are assessed, and ways they communicate with one another
• And we've seen really good success, and I'm on slide 28—sorry, the screen keeps going in and out—but

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Higher Education heard a presentation on the State University System’s new strategic plan, SUS 30, and its legislative budget request. University officials described the plan’s five priorities: One SUS collaboration, elevating student success, operational excellence, world-class talent, and innovative research and economic development. They highlighted Florida’s continued status as the top higher education system in the nation, low tuition, strong graduation outcomes, rising median wages for graduates, and expanded use of the My Florida Future website to help students and families compare degree outcomes and earnings. Members asked for follow-up information on programs of strategic emphasis, mental health and social work workforce needs, wage data over time, and how the system supports innovation moving toward commercialization. The committee also discussed campus safety, prompted in part by recent events at FSU. System officials said universities and the Florida College System recently held a safety summit to share best practices on building security, threat assessment, and coordination with law enforcement, and they agreed to provide a report back to the committee after the Board of Governors reviews recommendations in November. Senators also raised questions about Pell student support, first-generation student success, and whether liberal arts graduates’ earnings catch up over time. Officials said Pell students are tracked through performance-based funding metrics and that the system’s accountability plans will continue to emphasize access and completion. A separate update covered line funding for nursing and health care partnerships. Officials said the $6 million appropriation was fully subscribed through 24 proposals from all 10 nursing programs, supporting scholarships, faculty recruitment, internships, simulation, and licensure preparation. They reported over 1,900 new nursing graduates, more than 200 new student slots, over 300 scholarships, and a 92% NCLEX pass rate. Senators asked about expanding eligibility for the program, and staff said that issue would be revisited this year. The Board of Governors’ legislative budget request totaled $634.5 million and included $295 million for performance-based funding institutional investment, a request to restore and increase the state investment portion to $400 million, $125 million for preeminence funding, $100 million for faculty recruitment and retention, $6.4 million for UF/IFAS extension workload, and $3.1 million for State Fire Marshal inspections. The chair noted that resources are limited and that difficult budget decisions lie ahead. No votes were taken, and the meeting adjourned after the presentations and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• During a physical exam, we veterinarians assess a tremendous amount of detail in In a physical exam,
• we veterinarians assess a tremendous amount of detail in each segment of the animal.
• Physical Exam, that I will invite you each to watch to understand the breadth of details we are assessing
• the title: VCPR, for relationship, a connection that cannot be efficiently made through a computer screen
• So I think from your testimony, I am hearing concerns around doing these tele-virtual assessments.

Bills: S3082, S3090, H5425, H5130, H5114

Keywords: animal telehealth, veterinary telemedicine, veterinary telehealth, veterinarian-client-patient relationship, VCPR, animal health, pet care, companion animal, livestock, remote veterinary care, synchronous audio-video, telemedicine, prescription drugs, antimicrobial drugs, controlled substances, xylazine, compounding pharmacy, veterinary practice, Massachusetts Controlled Substances Act, animal owner

Summary: The Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure held a hearing on late-filed bills, with testimony heard both in person and remotely. The committee reviewed several measures, including H. 355 and S. 3082 on veterinary telemedicine/telehealth, H. 5445 on additional liquor licenses for East Hampton, and S. 3090/H. 5114 on consumer-connected devices and software support disclosure. The chair outlined hearing logistics, including three-minute testimony limits and written testimony submission, and noted that Lawrence High School students were present to observe. On the veterinary bills, supporters of H. 355 argued that allowing veterinarians to establish a client-patient relationship remotely would improve access to care for pets whose owners face transportation, mobility, or anxiety-related barriers, and could help veterinarians continue practicing through telemedicine. Opponents of S. 3082, including the Massachusetts Veterinary Medical Association and several veterinarians, said the initial in-person exam is essential to detect conditions that cannot be seen on video, avoid misdiagnosis, and preserve the standard of care; they emphasized that teletriage and follow-up telemedicine are already used after an in-person relationship is established. Committee members pressed both sides on the distinction between teletriage and establishing the relationship, the timing of annual exams, and whether limited exceptions for sedatives or other pre-visit needs might be workable. Senator Lovely testified in support, citing a recent Lyme case where follow-up telemedicine would have been useful. On H. 5445, Representative Gomez and East Hampton Mayor Salem Derby urged approval of the bill to authorize eight additional liquor licenses, saying the city has reached its current cap, needs economic development, and wants to support downtown revitalization and new restaurant growth. Members asked about public safety and the number of licenses sought; the mayor said local public safety officials support the request and that the licenses would be for restaurants, not bars. On S. 3090 and H. 5114, consumer advocates and cybersecurity experts supported requiring manufacturers of connected devices to disclose software support timelines, arguing it would improve consumer transparency, cybersecurity, and reduce e-waste. Industry groups opposed the bills, saying fixed disclosure requirements could be impractical, create confusion, burden small businesses, conflict with federal efforts, and be difficult to apply to appliances, lighting, and other products with long lifecycles. The committee did not take a substantive vote on the bills during the hearing; at the end, staff announced a forthcoming poll for House members, and the committee voted to adjourn.