Transcript Highlights:

• IS HOUSE BILL 13 I WOULD SUGGEST IT IS A LUCKY NUMBER 13 BUT THIS IS ONCE AGAIN THE SOCIAL WORKER COMPACT
• FLORIDA IS NOT ONE OF THE COMPACT MEMBER STATES.
• THE COMPACT WOULD ALLOW SOCIAL WORKERS TO JOIN FLORIDA IS NOT ONE OF THE COMPACT MEMBER STATES.
• THE COMPACT WOULD ALLOW SOCIAL WORKERS TO JOIN THE COMPACT IN FLORIDA AND THEY COULD PROVIDE SERVICES

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill would enact the interstate cosmetology licensure compact.
• Additionally, legislation to enact the compact is currently pending in nine other states.
• This compact is similar to other occupational licensing compacts that West Virginia has already enacted
• license to legally practice in every other state that has enacted the compact.
• is a common database among the members who have compact privileges.

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The Committee on Government Organization met to approve minutes and then considered a series of House bills, most of which were reported to the full Senate with recommendations that they do pass. House Bill 5063 would let county commissions appoint county commissioners as voting members of convention and visitors bureau boards, including for multi-county CVBs. House Bill 5087 would enact the interstate cosmetology licensure compact, allowing multi-state practice for licensed cosmetologists in member states and authorizing criminal history checks. House Bill 5638 would clarify the State Chief Information Security Officer’s duties, shift cybersecurity oversight to annual program reviews, and add software licensing protections; it was amended and reported. House Bill 4483, concerning funeral directors and funeral establishments, was amended only to change an effective date and make technical corrections before being reported. House Bill 5653 would expand confidentiality for Department of Revenue audit-related materials to prevent taxpayers from gaming audit selection, and House Bill 4452 would repeal church acreage limits in state code after discussion of constitutional concerns and current practice. House Bill 4801 would expand permissible uses of hotel occupancy tax revenues for demolition of unsafe structures and property planning or improvements, and House Bill 5622 would create an expedited process for municipalities to conform election terms and charter provisions to the requirement that local elections coincide with state elections. The committee also adopted a strike-and-insert amendment for House Bill 4546, which allows business entities to file reports biennially instead of annually, extends the correction period for deficient reports, and adjusts fees and enforcement provisions; the amendment removed a conflicting section and made technical corrections. House Bill 5613 would define and expand the use of telematics in fleet management, require related reporting and rulemaking, and include a cost-benefit analysis in the division’s annual report. House Bill 5323 would let the Division of Natural Resources adjust license and stamp fees for inflation by removing a prior CPI-based prohibition. House Bill 4819 would revise how criminal records are considered for certain non-Chapter 30 licenses, shifting to a “directly related” standard while preserving existing exclusions for violent sexual offenses; members discussed that point before reporting the bill. The committee adopted all amendments presented, reported the bills, and then adjourned after closing remarks from the chair and vice chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• The chamber also supports funding for the compact study.
• In this budget, Page it says to study interstate compacts.
• It doesn't say to implement interstate compacts.
• And I haven't seen a bill to implement the compacts. Did I miss a bill?
• Intention to join health care compacts.

Transcript Highlights:

• Texas is not paying for this water, and we are getting no credit on the river compacts.
• He understands that if New Mexico can satisfy the compact requirements with Texas with produced water
• if treated produced water can be used for economic development in southern New Mexico and meet the compact
• river and fill the compact, then we wouldn't be cut.
• But certainly, and the compact I'm much more familiar with, is the Texas v. New Mexico Compact.

Bills: HM45, HB276, HB300

Keywords: Taos County, Questa, produced water, treated produced water, water reuse, water quality control commission, freshwater conservation, rural communities, acequias, Indian nations, tribes, pueblos, water rights, industrial water use, data centers, artificial intelligence, AI, quantum computing, economic development, renewable energy

Transcript Highlights:

• Deferring compact funding presents significant challenges as campuses have already enrolled students
• based on the compacts requirements.
• The administration is fully committed to funding the compact deferral.
• So right now we are planning on fully meeting the compact enrollment for 25-26.
• I have just a couple questions around the compact repayment.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We are a member of the Compact Commission, and there are 222 physical therapists through the Compact.
• There are 222 physical therapists through the Compact and 82 physical therapist assistants who currently
• hold compact privileges in Arkansas.
• As stated previously, we’ve been a member of the Compact for nearly five years now.
• And within that compact, we all have to meet the same requirements as well, and we all have comparable

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We are a member of the Compact Commission, and there are 222 physical therapists through the Compact.
• There are 222 physical therapists through the compact and 82 physical therapist assistants who currently
• hold compact privileges in Arkansas.
• As stated previously, we’ve been a member of the Compact for nearly five years now.
• And within that compact, we all have to meet the same requirements as well, and we all have comparable

Summary: The committee met and first recognized a visiting student cohort from Arkansas State University’s Medical Laboratory and Radiation Sciences program. It then suspended the rules and approved a supplemental report, which was reviewed without objection. Members reviewed the Arkansas Fire Protection and Licensing Board’s occupational report. Department of Labor and Licensing counsel Lacey Kirchner answered questions and confirmed there were no fee increases. The report was then accepted as reviewed. The committee next heard from the Arkansas Department of Health’s Radiation Control Section. Officials Craig Smith, Charles Thompson, and Shane David explained the radiologic technologist licensing program, including full and limited-scope licensure, unchanged fees since 1999, and a current deficit covered through cost allocation from other programs. They also noted compliance with automatic licensure provisions for service members and said apprenticeship provisions already exist in the rules if such programs become available. The report was accepted as reviewed. Finally, the Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy presented its report. Staff described the board’s structure, licensing and complaint functions, compact participation, and growth in licensees. Members asked about the board’s $200,000 scholarship program, which provides awards to 10 recipients per year, and about low fees and a $1.1 million balance. Officials said recent fee reductions and the scholarship program are intended to return funds to licensees. The report was also accepted as reviewed, and the committee moved to other business.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are a member of the Compact Commission, and there are 222 physical therapists through the Compact.
• There are 222 physical therapists through the compact and 82 physical therapist assistants who currently
• hold compact privileges in Arkansas.
• As stated previously, we have been a member of the Compact for nearly five years now.
• And within that compact, we all have to meet the same requirements as well, and we all have comparable

Summary: The committee met and first welcomed a visiting group from Arkansas State University’s Medical Laboratory and Radiation Sciences program. It then suspended the rules to take up a supplemental report, which was approved and noted as reviewed without objection. Members reviewed the Arkansas Fire Protection and Licensing Board’s occupational report. Counsel for the Department of Labor and Licensing said there had been no fee increases, and the report was accepted without objection. The committee then heard from the Arkansas Department of Health’s Radiation Control Section, which described its radiologic technologist licensing program, including full and limited-scope licensure, unchanged fees since 1999, and a recent operating deficit covered through cost allocation. Members asked about the deficit, possible future fee changes, and whether apprenticeship pathways might be added; the agency said it was not currently planning fee increases and would accommodate apprenticeship if such programs are created. That report also stood as reviewed. Finally, the Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy presented its report, outlining its licensing and disciplinary role, current licensee counts, compact participation, and recent growth in licensees. The board highlighted lower fees, a $200,000 scholarship program for 10 recipients per year, and a large fund balance that is being reduced through fee cuts and scholarships. Members asked about the scholarship details and the effect on reserves. The report was accepted without objection, and the meeting concluded with no further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• This slide lists the compacts of which Minnesota is a member, and it shows whether they’re in effect
• or, some of them, are active, meaning the requisite number of states have joined the compact but they
• This slide lists the compacts of which Minnesota is a member, and it shows whether they’re in effect
• or, some of them, are active, meaning the requisite number of states have joined the compact but they
• This slide lists the compacts of which Minnesota is a member, and it shows whether they’re in effect

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The meeting was an informational walkthrough for the Health Finance and Policy Working Group, focused on committee structure, budget basics, and major health-related accounts and programs. Staff explained the roles of House Research and House Fiscal, then reviewed key funds used by the committee, including the general fund, government special revenue fund, federal funds, the health care access fund, remediation account, and drinking water revolving fund. They also outlined the committee’s main budget areas, noting that medical assistance is the largest general fund item and that the Department of Health is a substantial agency funded by a mix of federal, general fund, and special revenue dollars. A major portion of the presentation covered subsidized health coverage programs. Staff described Medical Assistance (Minnesota’s Medicaid program) as an entitlement for eligible Minnesotans, with no premiums or cost sharing, and explained its managed care and fee-for-service delivery systems. MinnesotaCare was presented as a separate federal-state basic health program for people who are not eligible for MA, with income limits, premiums for adults age 21 and older, and cost-sharing requirements; staff noted that federal premium tax credit changes affect MinnesotaCare premium ranges. The presentation also summarized MNsure’s role in the individual market and in determining eligibility for premium tax credits, cost-sharing reductions, MinnesotaCare, and MA. The committee also received an overview of health-related licensing boards and occupational regulation. Staff said Minnesota has 16 health-related licensing boards, funded mainly through the state government special revenue fund and subject to legislative appropriation, and explained that health occupations may be regulated by the Department of Health, the Office of Emergency Medical Services, or the boards under chapter 214. Interstate licensure compacts were briefly noted as a way to ease practice across states. No bills were debated and no votes or formal actions were taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• bill as well, like we're trying to say also, if, you know, we also are going to look at potential compacts
• So in the bill, it allows us to study to go into a compact. So right now, they don't know.
• This bill allows us to figure that out and enter into a compact with states that could take it on.
• So in the bill, it allows us to study um So in the bill, it allows us to study to go into a compact.
• This bill allows us to figure that out and enter into a compact with states that could take it on.

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The caucus briefly reviewed House Bill 2307, which addresses the placement and treatment of dangerous, incompetent defendants when no secure mental health beds are available in Arizona. Staff explained the Senate amendments would allow one such defendant to be housed temporarily at the Arizona State Hospital in a secure setting, require DHS to study the cost of building or converting a secure facility on ASH grounds, create a study committee on long-term secure mental health facility options, and include an emergency clause. The sponsor said the bill is intended as a temporary fix while the state works toward a permanent secure facility, and noted the individual would receive mental health treatment aimed at restoring competency to stand trial. Members asked about where the person would be housed, whether treatment would be provided, and whether out-of-state compacts might be used if needed. The group then discussed House Bill 272, which as passed the House would have created an optional state certification program for lactation care providers and a related advisory committee under the Arizona Department of Health Services. Staff reported that the Senate adopted a strike-everything amendment turning the bill into an emergency measure repealing Dr. Cesar Estrada Chavez Day. The sponsor, Representative Fink, was reported to concur with the Senate amendments. No votes were taken during the caucus discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• A bill enacting the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, providing for the appointment of New Mexico
• Compact Commissioners, requiring the public posting of Interstate Commission bonds, laws, rules, and
• the Medical Practice Act, and providing for a contingent repeal of the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact
• An act relating to licensure, enacting the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact. of New Mexico Compact
• of the Medical Practice Act, providing for a contingent repeal of the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• A bill enacting the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, providing for the appointment of New Mexico
• Compact Commissioners, requiring the public posting of Interstate Commission bylaws, rules, and minutes
• the Medical Practice Act, and providing for a contingent repeal of the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact
• An act relating to licensure, enacting the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact. of New Mexico Compact
• bylaws, rules, and minutes, providing for a contingent repeal of the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact

Transcript Highlights:

• relative to intermunicipal compacts. relative to intermunicipal compacts.
• the compact and get voters to buy in on the compact, all of those guidelines as to how the compact would
• So, I mean, as they develop the compact and get voters to buy in on the compact, all of those guidelines
• What does that mean that it compact.
• uh compact, what what does housing mean? uh compact, what what does housing mean?

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It addresses physician assistant interstate licensure compact.
• ,<00:25:42.320> where program where they cross compact, where program where they cross compact
• I'm pleased to voice our support for HB 1566 and Alabama's adoption of the PA compact.
• I'm pleased to voice our support for HB 1566 and Alabama's adoption of the PA compact.
• I'm pleased to voice our support for HB 1566 and Alabama's adoption of the PA compact.

Bills: HB139, HB172, HB156

Keywords: HB139, Alabama discrimination, civil rights, public accommodations, employment discrimination, equal access, protected classes, race discrimination, sex discrimination, religious discrimination, age discrimination, disability discrimination, national origin discrimination, school board discrimination, labor organization, employment agency, retaliation, private right of action, punitive damages, attorney fees

Transcript Highlights:

• I don't believe I'm granting compact license currently.
• I don't believe I'm granting compact license currently.
• I don't believe I'm granting compact license currently.
• I don't believe I'm granting compact license currently.
• I don't believe I'm granting compact license currently.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The meeting focused on the Legislative Budget Assistant audit of the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification’s response to 12 findings, especially those tied to mental health workforce licensure. The executive director said 10 findings were substantially resolved, one fully resolved, and one partially resolved, with most issues tied to ongoing rulemaking. He explained that the office regulates 61 professions, has limited rules-drafting staff, and is working through a long rulemaking process while also adapting to frequent statutory changes. The committee discussed the first finding on license portability/endorsement, which the director said was the office’s highest priority and had been implemented through universal recognition rules adopted in 2023. Members asked detailed questions about how the office reviews other states’ licensing standards, whether it evaluates jurisdictions case-by-case or maintains a database, and how many jurisdictions qualify for endorsement in various professions. The director said the office initially reviewed all states and professions at once, now maintains and updates a list of substantially similar jurisdictions, and sometimes evaluates narrower jurisdictions such as counties, cities, or foreign countries. He noted that some professions, like nursing, have broad reciprocity, while others, including some mental health-related fields, vary widely and may have only a limited number of qualifying jurisdictions. He also said the office is exploring whether AI could help with research and tracking, though not with final verification. The committee then turned to expedited licensure processing. The director said the office now handles examination, review, and issuance or denial based on board-set criteria, rather than requiring every board to review every application, which has sped up processing. He said delays still occur with criminal background checks and FBI fingerprint processing because of paper forms, federal involvement, and back-and-forth with the Department of Safety when releases are incomplete or incorrect. Members raised concerns about broader state process bottlenecks and asked whether legislation could help streamline the system. A legislator said he was already working on related background-check language for another agency and believed the current draft may satisfy FBI requirements.

Transcript Highlights:

• Whereas New Mexico may enter into an interstate medical licensing compact during the next legislative
• Appropriating funds to study and prepare for the implementation of any Interstate Medical Licensing Compact
• Medical compacts, we've all received loads of emails and inputs, and I appreciate that happening.
• We understand the need to pass the medical compact.
• We also know that we have to deal with our medical compacts.

Transcript Highlights:

• that is also part of the compact.
• that is also part of the compact.
• The compacts, and I'll speak about the Counseling Compact, but most of the other compacts that were passed
• The compacts, and I'll speak about the Counseling Compact, but most of the other compacts that were passed
• I'll speak about the Counseling Compact, but most of the other compacts that were passed last year I

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Health and Human Services Committee met on January 28, 2025, to review Governor’s budget proposals for several health-related licensing boards. The chair said no formal action would be taken and noted that final budget language was not yet available. The committee began with an overview from Bridget Anderson of the health-related licensing boards, who explained that the boards are fee-funded, operate as independent executive agencies, and handle licensing, complaints, rulemaking, and disciplinary matters. She also noted that the Board of Dentistry’s budget includes the Administrative Services Unit and criminal background check program, which can make the budget graphs appear larger than the dentistry board’s own operations. The Board of Dentistry requested funding for a new administrative staff position, estimating about $100,000 in salary, insurance, and fringe costs, to replace support lost when an administrative position was reclassified. Anderson said the board handled more than 300 complaints last year, with cases becoming more complex, especially involving surgical and implant procedures and imaging. Members asked about dental Medicaid access, but Anderson said that issue would be better directed to DHS’s Medicaid oral health division. The Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy requested a full-time position due to rapid growth in the number of regulated professionals, from about 4,000 in 2014 to nearly 10,000 now, and also sought authority to set a fee for out-of-state applicants under the Counseling Compact, with a cap of up to $100 though the board expects to charge much less. The Board of Podiatric Medicine asked to raise its fee ceiling, saying fees had not been increased since 1999 and that the board now faces a structural deficit of about $40,000 per year and declining reserves. Several senators expressed concern about “not-to-exceed” fee authority, calling it too open-ended and suggesting the legislature should scrutinize specific fee needs rather than approve broad ceilings. Similar concerns were raised during the Board of Chiropractic Examiners presentation, where the board sought $100,000 in additional spending authority and a fee increase after 32 years without an adjustment; members questioned the proposed ceiling approach and asked for more historical information before deciding. The Board of Dietetics and Nutrition Practice also discussed fee-setting authority, with the executive director explaining that the board had previously lowered fees without clear authority and later faced audit questions; she requested funding for a vacant administrative position, saying applications and revenues have increased sharply and no fee increase would be needed. The final presentation began with the Board of Pharmacy, which said it serves more than 26,000 licensees and oversees the Prescription Monitoring Program and opioid product registration. The board requested an extension of previously appropriated general fund dollars through fiscal year 2027 to continue paying legal costs tied to the insulin safety net lawsuit, emphasizing that this was not a new funding request but an extension of existing authority. No votes or formal actions were taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• The compact is vital for cross-state practice, patient access, and workforce mobility.
• Sure affects compact. It affects any number of other things.
• And then the compact and the insurance billing, things have been brought up repeatedly. Absolutely.
• Compacts, et cetera.
• in the compact.

Keywords: 985, all

Transcript Highlights:

• rare situation that we do not have the space, we as a state need to figure out how to get into a compact
• study process and we look into it, the legislature has to come from us, but we have to agree on a compact
• So if you go into a compact with other states that can provide services, you obviously have to go through
• study process and we look into it, the legislature has to come from us, but we have to agree on a compact
• So if you go into a compact with other states that can provide services, you obviously have to, you know

Bills: HB2050, HB2082, HB2176, HB2195, HB2202, HB2307, HB2584

Keywords: radiologic technologist, radiologist assistant, radiology, imaging, x-ray, diagnostic x-ray, fluoroscopy, mammography, computed tomography, CT technologist, nuclear medicine technologist, bone densitometry, radiation safety, radiation licensing, scope of practice, health workforce, rural health care, critical access hospital, supervision, telehealth

Summary: The committee approved the minutes and then heard House Bill 2050, which updates Department of Health Services rules for radiologic technologists and radiologic assistants. The bill changes school accreditation and training requirements, reduces clinical hours, revises supervision and scope-of-practice rules, adjusts fees, and removes radiologic technologists from the telehealth health care provider definition. Testimony from a radiologic technologist supported the bill as an update to outdated standards and a response to workforce shortages, while a nurse practitioner supported the section allowing NPs to use diagnostic x-ray machines under nursing board standards. HB 2050 passed 7-0 with a do-pass recommendation. The committee then considered House Bill 2082, which creates a Childhood Cancer and Rare Childhood Disease Research Commission and expands the research fund to include appropriations, gifts, donations, and federal grants. An amendment shifted grant-awarding authority to the DHS director, required the commission to set criteria and review applications, and added public meeting requirements; it also tied funding to at least $5 million in available resources and removed the return-on-investment reporting requirement. Supporters said the bill would strengthen pediatric cancer research and leverage an underused funding source, though members raised concerns about oversight. The bill was amended and then passed 7-0. House Bill 2176 and House Bill 2195 both dealt with DHS licensing and complaint-investigation procedures for health care institutions and nursing care institutions. HB 2176 allows DHS to deny licenses or ownership changes based on serious prior licensing problems or safety risks, and it sets notice, investigation, and deficiency-statement rules; speakers from public health and hospital groups supported it as improving transparency and preventing bad actors from cycling through ownership. HB 2195 limits DHS access to certain personnel records, requires deficiency statements within 10 business days, and bars investigations of incidents older than 12 months; an amendment delayed implementation to July 1, 2027 and added corrective-plan and off-site review provisions. Both bills passed 7-0 as amended. The committee also approved House Bill 2202, which appropriates $300,000 annually for a dementia care tele-mentoring program to train providers statewide, especially in rural and underserved areas. The Alzheimer’s Association and a patient with younger-onset Alzheimer’s testified that the program would improve early diagnosis and care, though one senator opposed state funding on the view that medical schools should teach the material. HB 2202 passed 6-1. Finally, House Bill 2307, addressing placement for dangerous, incompetent, non-restorable defendants when secure state hospital beds are unavailable, drew the most debate. An amendment replaced out-of-state placement with a temporary, limited-use solution involving up to three beds at the Arizona State Hospital forensic campus, created a study committee, and shifted some non-psychiatric costs to counties; counties and hospital stakeholders opposed the county-cost language, while sponsors and DHS said the measure was an emergency stopgap. The amended bill passed 4-3. The committee then passed House Bill 2584 4-3, which prohibits public funds from being used for genetic sequencing equipment from foreign adversary countries or entities; supporters framed it as a national security measure, and opponents voted no. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• the compact.
• The administration is fully committed to funding the compact deferral.
• So right now, we are planning on fully meeting the compact enrollment for 2025–26.
• I have just a couple of questions around the compact repayment.
• So I’m just looking at the compact and the payments for that.

Summary: The committee heard the May Revision presentation for the Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance, with public comment focused heavily on K-12 priorities such as universal school meals, kitchen infrastructure, food service and custodial support, youth leadership grants, Special Olympics funding, English learner support, universal pre-K, literacy investments, and concerns about community college funding shifts. Speakers also urged support for expanded learning, teacher recruitment and training, and maintaining or increasing funding for community colleges and student support programs. Finance and the LAO then reviewed the Proposition 98 outlook. Finance said the May Revision lowers the 2025-26 Prop. 98 guarantee to $114.6 billion, about $4.3 billion below January, due mainly to lower revenue estimates, with smaller effects from attendance and property tax changes. The administration also described rebenching for universal transitional kindergarten and a one-time rebench tied to Los Angeles fire-related property tax losses, along with changes to the Public School System Stabilization Account, deferrals, and updated COLA assumptions. The LAO said the budget relies too much on deferrals and one-time funds, creates a structural shortfall, and should instead align ongoing spending with the guarantee and preserve a reserve buffer. Members questioned the TK rebench and the shift of funding from community colleges to K-12, asking why it was being applied retroactively and how colleges would be held harmless. Finance said the changes align funding with where TK costs are being incurred and that reappropriation funding and other adjustments would offset impacts on community colleges. The LAO argued the historical split formula is outdated and should be abandoned in favor of budgeting around current priorities rather than fixed percentages. Members also raised concerns about draining the rainy day reserve and using deferrals, while the LAO said preserving reserves would better protect against future volatility. The committee then moved to specific K-12 and education proposals. Finance outlined May Revision changes including state operations adjustments for the Department of Education, technical trailer bill changes, a $100 million student teacher stipend program administered by Kern County, and updates to the charter school facility grant program. The LAO recommended rejecting the proposed increases for expanded learning, literacy coaches, and the student teacher stipend as currently structured, while supporting the minimum grant increase for expanded learning. Members expressed support for teacher recruitment efforts but questioned whether one-time funding can sustain ongoing programs and whether the student teacher stipend should be targeted to shortage areas or low-income communities.