Video & Transcript : 'uncompensated care' :
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NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Finance Division III (01/27/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- Thank you. members to be careful to to not ask any members to be careful to to not ask any questions<
- </c> we do have some car outs for direct care we do have some car outs for direct care but<00:14:09.079
- So we have two systems of care.
- </c> Care organizations our our Managed Care Care organizations our our Managed Care Program<00:59:18.680
- primary care doctor and have a health physical checkup with their primary care doctor.
Summary:
The committee convened an informational Division 3 Finance hearing focused on DHHS programmatic issues rather than budget line items. The chair emphasized that members should avoid questions requiring dollar figures and noted that the coming budget cycle would likely be difficult because revenues are expected to be tighter. Commissioner Lori Weaver said the department wanted to use the session to explain its functions at a high level, with more detailed presentations to follow, and to collect questions for later responses.
Weaver outlined DHHS’s mission of supporting optimal health for state residents and described the department’s three main responsibilities: protection and prevention, client service delivery, and regulatory oversight. She said DHHS has eight divisions, a $3.6 billion total budget, about $1.217 billion in general funds, roughly a quarter of state positions, and personnel costs that are less than 11% of the budget. She also noted a recent hiring freeze, explained that the department did not request new positions except where required by law, and said vacancy rates had improved from 22% to 14% over the last two years but could rise again because of attrition and the hiring freeze.
Weaver and CFO Nathan White then discussed why the DHHS budget is complex, explaining that it is built from multiple funding sources and is shaped by assumptions made months before the fiscal year begins, actual service demand, and cost allocation rules used to draw down federal funds. White highlighted maintenance-of-effort requirements, including TANF, where state spending is needed to secure federal matching funds and shortfalls can trigger penalties. At the committee’s request, DHHS agreed to provide a simplified historical accounting of TANF contributions to show how the match is assembled across positions, contracts, and other factors.
The department also reviewed its roadmap, which Weaver described as a framework developed with staff and stakeholders around three themes: culture, community, and customer service. She highlighted priorities such as Mission Zero to end emergency department boarding, expanding access to community-based and residential behavioral health services, reducing reliance on institutional care, improving contract management with nonprofit and provider partners, using data dashboards to guide decisions, and investing in workforce stability and culture. No votes were taken; the main action was DHHS’s commitment to provide additional follow-up materials, including the TANF contribution breakdown.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Rep. Nolan West Press Conference 3/3/26
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> cameras in child care started. cameras in child care started.
- But a key difference between centers and family child care is when it's a family child care setting where
- </c> and not family child care? and not family child care?
- </c> access to this data in the child care access to this data in the child care setting<00:14:07.040
- </c> and there's a lot of people who care and there's a lot of people who care about<00:22:55.160><c>
Summary:
State Representative Nolan West announced “Harvey’s Law,” a proposal to require child care centers that receive state funding through CCAP, early learning scholarships, or Great Start compensation to install cameras in infant and toddler rooms and retain footage for 28 days. West said the bill is an expansion of portions of House File 1915 passed last year, arguing that cameras are needed for transparency, accountability, and child safety, and that waiting for a maltreatment violation before requiring cameras is too late. He also said the measure is aimed at centers rather than family child care, and that he would like to see cameras more broadly but is focusing this bill on state-funded centers.
West and Harvey’s parents, Catherine and Hunter Mucklebust, described Harvey’s death at daycare and said cameras could have revealed earlier abuse, prevented later harm, and led to stronger accountability. They said they believe Harvey would still be alive if cameras had been installed, and that even if the bill does not pass in full, any step toward cameras would be meaningful. A statement from Blaine Police Captain Mark Borboom was read, saying a 2024 child care abuse investigation showed how a 7-day retention period can cause critical evidence to be lost and that cameras are about transparency and protection, not surveillance.
During questions, West addressed privacy and cybersecurity concerns, saying the bill uses closed-circuit systems, access controls, and audit logs, and that cybersecurity experts would testify at the committee hearing. He said the main opposition is the risk of hacking, but he believes child safety outweighs that concern. West also clarified that the bill discussed at a separate 3:00 hearing was a different measure related to CCAP fraud and attendance verification, not Harvey’s Law. The Mucklebusts said they expect a long legislative process but remain committed to pushing the bill forward.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Cameras required in child care centers, HF4277 3/26/26
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Especially when they are the very person who is also to care for them.
- care and centers who choose not to accept public funds.
- </c> This mandate only applies in child care This mandate only applies in child care centers centers
- </c> should be put in all child care should be put in all child care situations,<00:10:44.040><c> including
- family child care situations, including family child care and<00:10:46.480><c> centers</c><00:10:47.320
MO
Transcript Highlights:
- And just Impact on Missourians and their access to health care.
- Typically, the reimbursement that we get is based on who is providing the care.
- I don't know that it'll have much effect on providing additional access to care.
- that's where the form should be taking, should be taken care of by the doctor.
- That's where the form should be taken care of by the doctor.
Committee:
House General Laws
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Human Services Finance and Policy Committee 3/25/26
Human Services Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- Again, hospice care is end-of-life care, and she was able to graduate off of that care.
- is is end of life Again, hospice care is is end of life care<00:43:16.079><c> and</c><00:43:16.480><
- and she was able to graduate off of care and she was able to graduate off of that<00:43:18.800><c> care
- </c> who is um overseeing a a person's care who is um overseeing a a person's care in<00:44:29.359><c
- </c> restraint and appropriate hospice care restraint and appropriate hospice care for<00:45:28.079><
Committee:
House Human Services Finance and Policy
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Democrats Budget Rollout Feb 23rd, 2026 at 10:00 am
Transcript Highlights:
- this state, people with disabilities who rely on the state and federal government for their health care
- Believes really destabilizes the child care workforce.
- With child care, every one of them? I mean, there will be discussions about child care.
- That's certainly true for child care. That's true for health care.
- That's certainly true for child care. That's true for health care.
Summary:
Senate budget writers, led by Sen. June Robinson, rolled out the Senate operating budget and described it as a difficult supplemental budget shaped by flat revenue growth, rising maintenance costs, and uncertainty from federal actions, including H.R. 1 and tariffs. They said the proposal aims to preserve core services such as K-12 education, health care, food assistance, long-term care, housing stability, and child care while mitigating federal cuts, and they emphasized that it does not include broad-based tax increases like sales, property, or B&O tax hikes.
A major focus of the discussion was how to pay for the Working Families Tax Credit and how to reduce the budget gap. Robinson said the Senate proposal uses about $750 million from the rainy day fund because additional cuts would be too severe, and she noted the statute allows that use in a slow-growth economy. Senators also discussed the Climate Commitment Act as a possible funding source for the tax credit, but said they would negotiate with the House on that issue. On child care, they said the Senate avoided the governor’s approach of capping Working Connections Child Care enrollment and creating a waitlist, instead relying more on attendance-based payment changes to reduce costs while trying to avoid destabilizing the provider network.
The senators also responded to criticism from educators and Republicans. They acknowledged concerns from the Washington Education Association that schools and special education remain underfunded, but argued the state has made major progress and that Washington’s tax structure limits school funding growth because of the 1% property tax cap. They said a future “millionaires tax” could help stabilize revenue and support education and other services. In response to Republican claims of a “spending addiction,” Robinson said critics should identify specific cuts they would support, and noted Republicans had offered little support for prior budget-cutting measures.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Health and Human Services - 04/02/25
Health and Human Services
Transcript Highlights:
- Teachers, child care workers, health care workers, law enforcement, and social service professionals
- Urgent care or emergency room care visits for simple spinal pain conditions.
- , the package of care, is less.
- , the package of care, is less.
- , the package of care, is less.
Committee:
Senate Health and Human Services
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Press Conference: Reproductive Freedom Caucus Present 2025 Priorities - 02/17/25
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> disparities in reproductive health care disparities in reproductive health care just<00:10:17.040
- When we take care of our most vulnerable, we help all of us.
- </c><00:13:55.279><c> like</c> instead of providing Comfort Care like instead of providing Comfort Care
- in abortion care.
- </c><00:22:48.400><c> the</c> status should have health care the status should have health care the ability
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy Committee 3/2/26
Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> medical appointments for the care that medical appointments for the care that they<00:02:46.240>
- That includes rides over 30 miles for primary care, rides over 60 miles for specialty care, and modes
- That includes rides over 30 miles for primary care, rides over 60 miles for specialty care, and modes
- That includes rides over 30 miles for primary care, rides over 60 miles for specialty care, and modes
- </c> 80% of NEMT spending is in managed care. 80% of NEMT spending is in managed care.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> in our quick analysis that healthc care in our quick analysis that healthc care isn't<00:02:52.920
- </c> assisted living and skilled nursing care assisted living and skilled nursing care as<00:27:04.159
- </c> I'm to encourage people to that we care I'm to encourage people to that we care a<00:38:00.640><
- The intent was to reward PCAs who provide care to service recipients who have the highest care needs
- High needs is care directed particularly High needs is care directed by<00:47:44.760><c> the</c><00:
Committee:
Senate Human Services
ND
North Dakota 2026 1st Special Session
Tribal and State Relations Committee May 13th, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Tribal and State Relations Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- care, onto the federal government.
- First, it forces an inefficient, fragmented system of care.
- that's the normal continuum of care.
- I've been in health care for 20 years.
- to set up an Indian managed care entity to provide care for Indian patients and then be recognized by
Committee:
Joint Tribal and State Relations Committee
ID
Transcript Highlights:
- , take care of your own kids.
- So my deepest concern here now, I know we all care about kids and we care about foster families.
- And child care is expensive.
- It's the Idaho Child Care Program.
- care of their babies.
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Senate Legislative Session Mar 25th, 2026
Oklahoma Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Senator Thompson, you care to vote. Senator Woods, you care to vote. Senator Pew, you care to vote.
- Senator Thompson, you care to vote. Senator Woods, you care to vote. Senator Pew, you care to vote.
- Senator Thompson, you care to vote. Senator Woods, you care to vote. Senator Pew, you care to vote.
- Gillespie, do you care to vote. Boren, do you care to vote. Bergstrom, do you care to vote.
- Peterson, do you care to vote? Burns, do you care to vote? Wingard, do you care to vote?
Bills:
SB1778 , SB1570 , SB134 , SB1966 , SB1636 , SB1725 , SB1726 , SB259 , SB504 , SB592 , SB2030 , SB1572 , SB843 , SB1242 , SB1255 , SB1262 , SB1264 , SB1286 , SB1581 , SB1290 , SB1316 , SB1319 , SB1369 , SB1379 , SB1381 , SB1400 , SB1427 , SB1436 , SB1461 , SB1496 , SB1509 , SB1534 , SB1553 , SB904 , SB1592 , SB1645 , SB1684 , SB1767 , SB1772 , SB1813 , SB1894 , SB1928 , SB1946 , SB1980 , SB2040 , SB2060 , SB2061
Summary:
The Senate first handled several gallery introductions recognizing visiting groups, including Muskogee Day, domestic violence advocates, Wagner High School leadership students, the Bixby Chamber and football team, and the Heartland Home Educators co-op. The chamber also adopted a motion to suspend debate rules for the remainder of the day so third-reading bills could be debated under shortened time limits.
Senate Bill 134, which shortens the waiting period for Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System retirees to return to public employment from one year to six months, drew questions about “double dipping,” actuarial impact, and workforce shortages. The author said the bill was requested by the Association of County Commissioners to help counties retain experienced workers, noted an actuarial estimate that the system would drop from 107% to 105% funded, and explained there were no special safeguards beyond existing limits. The bill advanced and then passed 47-0.
Senate Bill 196, a measure naming multiple bridges, highways, and interchanges for veterans, law enforcement officers, and other honorees, was presented as a personal bill by the author, including a bridge named for his grandfather. After brief questions, it advanced and passed 47-0. Senate Bill 1636, which allows immediate family members or similar individuals to request OSBI review of cold homicide cases after a local law enforcement case-file review, also advanced after questions about eligibility, timing, and workload; supporters said it would give families a path to seek answers in long-unsolved cases. It passed 47-0.
The chamber then considered Senate Bill 1725, which addresses expressive activity on higher-education campuses by allowing content-neutral security fees, limiting discipline to narrowly defined harassment, and requiring free speech training for first-year students. Debate centered on campus free speech, university accountability, and whether the bill would add costs or sufficient enforcement; it passed 40-17 and was advanced as an emergency measure. Senate Bill 1726, a companion bill requiring training for graduate assistants who teach, emphasizing classroom management, academic integrity, and viewpoint neutrality, passed 41-7 and was also advanced as an emergency measure. Finally, Senate Bill 259, a long-debated water bill requiring metering or approved measuring devices for groundwater use, drew extensive discussion over costs, property rights, regional differences, and regulation of irrigators; the bill was advanced to final passage after a 34-8 vote, with debate continuing at the end of the transcript.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Business and Professions Committee Jun 30th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- and authorized care for patients.
- Qualified care and authorized care for patients. Okay, thank you. Any additional support?
- Our member facilities employ LVNs to care for an elderly and disabled population, and these health care
- , major care disruptions, and unanticipated cost increases in health care, social service, and educational
- CCRCs could have LVNs providing care to nursing home-level residents in all three levels of their care
Summary:
The Assembly Business and Professions Committee heard a long agenda of licensing, consumer protection, and sunset-review bills. Early items included SB 1148, which would let aspiring security guards complete all required training before a guard card is issued; SB 342, which would soften the penalty for contractors who were licensed during part of a project but had a brief lapse; and several sunset bills for boards and bureaus, including the Board of Registered Nursing (SB 1302), the Board of Naturopathic Medicine (SB 1303), the Respiratory Care Board (SB 1304), the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology (SB 1363), and the Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology and Hearing Aid Dispensers Board (SB 1368). The committee also heard SB 1311, which makes various updates to DCA boards and programs, and SB 1314, which restricts new tobacco retailers from locating within 600 feet of schools or daycare centers and bans nitrous oxide sales and related paraphernalia.
Testimony was generally supportive on the training, sunset, and licensing cleanup bills, though several measures drew “opposed unless amended” or neutral positions over scope and implementation details. On SB 1314, supporters including prosecutors and school administrators argued it would reduce youth exposure to tobacco, while gas station, convenience store, cigar lounge, pharmacy, and business groups raised concerns about impacts on existing businesses, transferability of tobacco licenses, and possible de facto limits on future stations; some public health groups shifted to neutral after amendments. On SB 1302, nursing groups supported the board sunset bill, while the California Medical Association objected to allowing out-of-state nurse practitioner transition-to-practice experience to count without a California attestation process. On SB 1304, health facilities and long-term care groups supported the board extension but sought broader clarification so LVNs could perform respiratory tasks consistently across settings.
After quorum was finally established, the committee voted to send the consent calendar bills SB 1376, SB 1391, SB 1416, and SB 1315 to Appropriations, and then approved SB 342, SB 1148, SB 1302, SB 1303, SB 1304, SB 1311, SB 1314, SB 1363, and SB 1368, all moving forward to the Committee on Appropriations. SB 1314 passed with some no votes, while the other measures advanced with broad support. The hearing ended after additional members were added on the record and the committee adjourned.
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
Interim Joint Committee on Families and Children.(6-17-26)
Families & Children
Transcript Highlights:
- ,</c><00:21:19.640><c> and</c> high-quality, evidence-based care, and high-quality, evidence-based care
- </c> learn how to communicate, how to care learn how to communicate, how to care for<00:25:28.000><c>
- We have levels of care here in Kentucky, such as nursing facility level of care, hospital level of care
- residential care facilities.
- </c> care facilities. care facilities.
Committee:
Joint Families & Children
AR
Arkansas 2026 Regular Session
ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE AND DEMENTIA ADVISORY COUNCIL Jul 9th, 2026
ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE AND DEMENTIA ADVISORY COUNCIL
Transcript Highlights:
- of the Arkansas Health Care School Nursing.
- country to have home care provider training mandated.
- We looked at access and quality of care.
- care partners and our HCBS providers, making sure access is there.
- How do we support quality of care? Workforce training would kind of fall under that.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Session Jun 21st, 2026 at 06:00 pm
Massachusetts Joint Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- We take care of our people. Thank you.
- It costs you money and it delays your care.
- We're the state with the best health care.
- We've also added 20,000 more child care seats.
- We care about our kids. We care about education.
Summary:
The joint convention of the Massachusetts Legislature convened to receive the Governor’s State of the Commonwealth address. The session began with procedural motions to appoint committees to notify the lieutenant governor, constitutional officers, Executive Council, and Governor, followed by an invocation from Archbishop Richard G. Henning, the posting and retiring of colors, the Pledge of Allegiance, and the national anthem. The Governor was then formally admitted to the chamber and delivered the address, with a benediction afterward by Rabbi Elaine Zacker.
Governor Maura Healey’s address focused on affordability and public services. She highlighted actions and proposals on housing, including faster permitting, use of state land for housing, accessory dwelling units, down payment assistance, and expanded programs to help first-time buyers. She also discussed energy affordability, saying she would oppose utility rate hikes, pursue an energy affordability bill, and temporarily reduce electric and gas bills. On health care, she described efforts to cap costs, prevent prior authorization for insulin, ban medical debt reporting to credit agencies, and form a health care affordability working group. She also proposed making subscription cancellations easier, improving transportation through bridge repairs and transit investments, and strengthening protections for children on social media.
The Governor also emphasized education, workforce development, and economic competitiveness, citing the state’s top national education ranking, expanded pre-K and child care, literacy and tutoring investments, early college opportunities, and a goal of 100,000 apprentices over 10 years. She praised Massachusetts’ response to federal actions, including support for vaccines, food assistance, abortion access, and research funding, and she criticized the Trump administration on tariffs, health care cuts, and immigration enforcement. She also noted public safety and veterans’ issues, including new assisted-living protections after the Gabriel House fire and the rebuilding of veterans’ homes. No substantive votes on legislation were taken beyond adoption of the ceremonial orders and the final adjournment motion.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- Many require 24-hour, around-the-clock care and hands-on support to manage...
- As a mother, I've spent 20 years plus caring for a child with a brain injury.
- I suggest that if somebody else is actually caring for the child and being compensated for that care,
- we cannot afford to be paying more than one person to be caring.
- necessarily providing the care themselves, but paying for the care—has the funds to do that forever.
Committee:
Senate Banking and Insurance
Summary:
The Committee on Banking and Insurance met with a quorum present and took up a series of bills, beginning with SB 1286 by Senator Wright. That bill expands the law enforcement recruitment bonus program to include firefighters, creates a DFS grant review panel for fire-related grants, and establishes an institute for PTSD and first-responder behavioral health. Testimony from fire chiefs and others supported the measure, and the committee reported it favorably.
The committee then considered several insurance and financial regulation bills. CS/SB 198 by Senator Rousan, as amended, regulates virtual currency kiosks with transaction limits, notice and receipt requirements, and OFR enforcement authority; witnesses described it as a needed anti-fraud measure, especially for seniors, and it was reported favorably. CS/SB 772 by Senator Burgess, as amended, allows limited licenses for portable electronics and eyewear insurance, and CS/SB 1504 by Senator Claudio, as amended, creates a pathway for high school students to qualify for insurance customer representative licensure; both were reported favorably.
The committee also approved two cryptocurrency reserve bills by Senator Gruters: CS/SB 1038 creates the Florida Strategic Cryptocurrency Reserve framework, and CS/SB 1040 creates the related trust fund; both received technical amendments and favorable reports. CS/SB 1440 by Senator Martin, as amended, creates public records exemptions and cybersecurity reporting provisions for financial institutions and related entities, and it was reported favorably. Finally, SB 1668 by Senator Burton, which updates the NICA program’s funding and benefit structure, and CS/SB 570 by Senator Polsky, which creates a task force on payment scams, were both heard with supportive testimony and reported favorably. Senators later recorded additional affirmative votes on selected bills before the committee adjourned.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Session Jan 22nd, 2026
Massachusetts Joint Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- We take care of our people. Thank you.
- It costs you money and it delays your care.
- We're the state with the best health care.
- We've also added 20,000 more child care seats.
- We care about our kids. We care about education.
Summary:
The joint convention convened to receive the Governor’s annual State of the Commonwealth address. Before the address, the chamber adopted orders appointing committees to escort the Lieutenant Governor, constitutional officers, Executive Council, and Governor into the chamber, and the Archbishop of Boston and Rabbi Elaine Zacker delivered the invocation and benediction. The proceedings also included the Pledge of Allegiance, the national anthem, and formal acknowledgments of guests and former officials.
In her address, Governor Maura Healey focused on affordability and the state’s response to federal policy changes. She criticized actions by the Trump administration on tariffs, health care, immigration enforcement, and food assistance, while emphasizing Massachusetts’ efforts to lower costs and protect residents. She highlighted housing production and conversion of state and office properties, energy affordability measures, health care reforms including ending prior authorization for insulin and banning medical debt reporting, transportation improvements, economic development, education investments, and workforce training. She also announced short-term relief for winter utility bills, expanded support for food banks, and new proposals to protect children from social media harms.
The Governor also discussed public safety and veterans’ services, citing reforms after the Gabriel House fire and improvements to the Chelsea and Holyoke veterans’ homes. She framed the speech around Massachusetts’ historical role in the nation’s founding and the upcoming 250th anniversary of American independence, urging continued unity and leadership. After the Governor’s remarks and the benediction, the joint convention adjourned without any legislative vote on policy matters during the session.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Ways and Means Jun 21st, 2026 at 11:00 am
Joint Committee on Ways and Means
Transcript Highlights:
- and personalized health care solutions.
- Our staff care for 231 veterans in both the long-term care and domiciliary program.
- with an average of 6.37 hours of direct patient care per day in our long-term care setting.
- , or congregate care setting.
- We assist people with health care, law enforcement, education, We assist people with health care, law
Committee:
Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means
Summary:
The hearing opened with remarks from Senate Chair Robyn Kennedy and House Chair Chynah Tyler, who emphasized that the fiscal year 2026 hearing was focused on the Health and Human Services budget, asked members to keep questions budget-related, and noted that no public testimony would be taken. They also highlighted the choice of Doherty Memorial High School as the venue to showcase Worcester’s investment in career and technical education. Committee members then introduced themselves before the first panel, the Executive Office of Veterans Services and the state veterans homes, began testimony.
Secretary John Santiago said the governor’s FY26 proposal would support implementation of the HERO Act, which he said is now about 95% implemented, including higher disabled veteran annuities, expanded behavioral health benefits, and other service expansions. He described efforts to reduce veteran homelessness, including nearly $20 million in ARPA-funded housing and outreach initiatives, and said the agency has delivered more than 100,000 supportive services to nearly 8,500 veterans. Leaders from the Chelsea and Holyoke veterans homes reported on staffing, quality measures, electronic medical records, and major construction projects at both facilities, including a new Chelsea campus and the new Holyoke home. Members asked about funding transfers, geographic equity in access to the homes, outreach to women veterans and veterans of color, suicide prevention, Gold Star family support, and the impact of federal uncertainty; Santiago said the homes are now licensed and certified, that the current budget is sufficient, and that the agency is expanding engagement and data collection.
The second panel, the Office of the Veteran Advocate, testified that its FY26 request is about $3.3 million, up from the current $2 million, to cover staffing, a larger office, and higher technology costs. Veteran Advocate Bob Notch said the office is a new independent oversight agency created in 2022 to examine systems, coordinate with local veteran service officers, and investigate fatalities or serious harm involving veterans in state care. He said the office’s work depends on research, data, and collaboration with other agencies, and that current funding is only enough for minimum operations. In response to questions, Notch and Deputy Commissioner David O’Callaghan discussed the difficulty of tracking veteran suicides, the need for better data across agencies, and the office’s role as an oversight body rather than a direct service provider. No votes or formal actions were taken during the hearing.