Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:23:11.720><c> state</c> nursing homes all across the state nursing homes all across the state
• minimum wage increases that have been proposed by the Nursing Home Workforce Standards Board.
• And as a follow-up, is that in addition to the costs that you talked about from the Nursing Home Workforce
• Standards Board?
• We need an appropriation by current law on the Workforce Standards Board in order to implement any rule

Committees: Senate Health and Human Services , Senate Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The overall operations of the board to ensure a healthy and efficient nursing workforce in California
• Lastly, among other technical changes, this bill extends the operations of the Board of Registered Nursing
• Appreciate the amendments to modernize the nurse practitioner statute and continue the board.
• , to harden their home.
• , to harden their home.

Committee: Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development

Summary: The Senate Committee on Business, Professions and Economic Development met as a subcommittee due to the lack of a quorum, then later established quorum and took up a series of bills, mostly sunset extensions for licensing boards. SB 1302, SB 1303, SB 1304, SB 1363, and SB 1368 all dealt with extending board operations to January 1, 2031 and making related technical or policy changes. SB 1303 for the Board of Naturopathic Medicine added a fictitious name permit program and other administrative changes, while SB 1304 for the Respiratory Care Board drew significant testimony over whether licensed vocational nurses should be allowed to perform basic respiratory tasks in skilled nursing facilities and hospitals. SB 1363 updated barbering and cosmetology apprenticeship and licensing rules, and SB 1368 added a retired license category and strengthened continuing education oversight for speech-language pathology, audiology, and hearing aid dispensers. The committee also heard SB 865, which would create a California Music Festival Preservation Grant Program to support large independent multi-day music festivals. Supporters, including Visit Sacramento and festival promoters, said the bill would protect jobs, tourism, hotel nights, and local tax revenue; opponents raised concerns about using state funds during a deficit year and questioned whether profitable events should receive subsidies. The committee also heard SB 1297, which would create regional public-private partnerships and financing tools for wildfire mitigation projects; the author and supporters said it would help address the state’s large wildfire prevention funding gap by leveraging local and private investment, while members asked how the bonds would be repaid and whether the state would bear costs. SB 993, presented on behalf of Senator Ochoa-Bogue, would restore privacy protections for mental health professionals working in correctional and state hospital settings by limiting routine disclosure of identifying information while preserving a complaint process. Supporters described safety threats, stalking, and staffing concerns, and the bill passed unanimously. SB 1304 also passed after committee discussion, with members and the author noting ongoing negotiations over LVN scope and training in higher-acuity settings. SB 865 passed on a 9-1 vote, SB 1297 passed 10-0, and the sunset bills SB 1302, SB 1303, SB 1363, and SB 1368 all advanced unanimously to the Senate Appropriations Committee. SB 1333 was not heard, and SB 1445 was on the consent calendar.

Transcript Highlights:

• , layoffs of other personnel, or forcing nurses to violate the Nurse Practice Act to meet the ratio standards
• In the ICU, the standard is one nurse for two patients.
• And in rural Minnesota, the hospitals and nursing homes employ just about every nurse that lives in that
• And in rural Minnesota, the hospitals and nursing homes employ just about every nurse that lives in that
• on the floor was in the same dire situation. nursing homes employ just about every nursing homes employ

Committee: Senate Labor

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> we've seen increases across the board we've seen increases across the board for<00:08:16.039><c>
• </c><00:36:48.880><c> which</c> agency is our Advisory Board which agency is our Advisory Board which
• </c><00:37:23.079><c> is</c> administration The Advisory Board is administration The Advisory Board is
• associate degree in registered nurse students.
• associate degree in registered nurse students.

Committee: Senate Jobs and Economic Development

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• their own board that wants to set these standards?
• their own board that wants to set these standards?
• their own board that wants to set these standards?
• . board. board.
• As I said, my name is Mandy Huber and I am a certified nurse midwife, and I am on the board of the Minnesota

Committee: House Health Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And finally, I have a proposal related to the Nursing Home Workforce Standards Board, which is a relatively
• And finally, I have a proposal related to the Nursing Home Workforce Standards Board, which is a relatively
• Related to the Nursing Home Workforce Standards Board, which is a relatively new entity but is there
• One is on the nursing homes.
• And again, my nursing homes I've talked to in my area are stressed, so... nursing home I said have you

Committee: Senate Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Increases are primarily due to the standard statewide adjustments and board per diems and professional
• management boards.
• Some of these include, for the Board of Regents, each management board shall submit a budget to the Board
• So you have a management board, right? I have a coordinator board, a Board of Regents, yes.
• So I commend the board.

Committee: House Appropriations

Summary: The committee met on March 17 to review the FY27 budgets for the Department of Education and several special schools and commissions. Fiscal staff outlined the Department of Education’s roughly $6.4 billion budget, noting that most funding goes to the Minimum Foundation Program and subgrantee assistance. Major changes discussed included the removal of one-time teacher pay stipends, increases for the LA GATOR scholarship program, and projected adjustments in early childhood funding. Members also reviewed the constitutional amendment proposal tied to using about $2 billion to pay down teacher retirement obligations and provide future teacher pay raises. Dr. Cade Brumley testified that Louisiana’s education outcomes have improved and answered questions on math performance, charter school funding, the LA GATOR scholarship, and the special education Choice program. Members pressed the department on the sustainability and balance of funding between LA GATOR and Choice, the number of applicants and current recipients, and outreach efforts. Brumley said charter schools are funded through the MFP like other public schools, that LA GATOR currently serves about 5,500 students with applications recently reaching about 17,000, and that the Choice program serves about 500 students with a waiting list of about 700 applicants. He also said the department would implement whatever funding levels the legislature approves. The committee then heard the special schools and commissions budget, including the Special School District, Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts, Thrive Academy, École Pointe-au-Chien, Louisiana Public Broadcasting, and BESE. Testimony focused on facility needs, enrollment, and program outcomes. LSU? No—LSM leaders described urgent roof and ceiling repairs estimated at about $800,000, while Thrive Academy highlighted student achievement, community service requirements, and economic impact. LPB said it is facing a federal funding loss of about $2.5 million and is responding with higher Passport fees, underwriting, and private fundraising. BESE’s small staff and administrative role were also explained, with members asking about board operations and the use of statutory dedication funds.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have our amazing state veterans nursing homes, but we will never hit the right census number to serve
• nursing home in our district. And we tried to do the adult day care.
• I am so delighted that we have the RTECopus nursing home in our district.
• And then when they need that nursing home, they have friends there already.
• They're And then when they need that nursing home, they have friends there already.

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a series of introductions recognizing FSU Day at the Capitol, Catholic lay leaders, seniors advocates, Broward County school officials, and veterans-related guests. The chamber then moved through its special order calendar, beginning with several Florida Statutes revision bills. SB 36 adopted the 2025 Florida Statutes and prior session law; SB 38 conformed statutory terminology for the Division of Criminal Investigations; SB 40 removed repealed provisions; and SB 42 cleaned up obsolete language, cross-references, and typographical errors. Each passed unanimously or nearly unanimously after brief explanations and no substantive debate. The Senate also passed CS/SB 50 on nature-based coastal resilience, as amended to strengthen the Florida Flood Hub’s role under USF and clarify research and modeling responsibilities; CS/SB 116 on veterans, which expanded veteran awareness and coordination efforts, added mental health training, and authorized adult day health care; SB 118 on presidential libraries, which preempted local regulation to give a future Florida presidential library maximum flexibility; CS/SB 126 on prescription hearing aids, allowing mail distribution for adults after appropriate professional evaluation; SB 150 on abandoning restrained dogs during natural disasters, amended to conform to the House; SB 294 limiting collaborative pharmacy practice from being expanded to certain serious cardiac conditions; and SM 314 urging Congress to increase Florida National Guard force structure. Most of these measures passed with strong bipartisan support, though SB 118 drew questions about local zoning, parking, and safety and passed 36-3, with one senator later changing to a no vote over local control concerns. Later, the Senate approved CS/CS/SB 322 creating a nonjudicial process for removing unauthorized persons from commercial property, and CS/SB 348 on ethics, which would penalize false claims of military rank or honors for material gain and require paycheck withholding for delinquent ethics fines owed by public employees. The chamber also passed CS/CS/SB 7012 on child welfare, which included a CPI/case manager recruitment program, a treatment foster care pilot in two judicial circuits, and improved data collection and capacity analysis for commercially sexually exploited children. CS/SB 108 on administrative procedures was adopted after a detailed explanation of rule review, transparency, and rulemaking deadlines, and CS/SB 160 on public accountancy passed after an amendment clarifying contracted services and discussion of CPA licensure pathways. The longest and most celebratory debate centered on CS/SB 110 for rural communities. The bill created an Office of Rural Prosperity, a Renaissance grant program, housing and road funding, school and health care investments, and related rural support measures. Amendments refined transportation priorities in the Everglades agricultural area and clarified the FARM road program. Senators from across the chamber praised the bill as a long-awaited investment in rural Florida, agriculture, broadband, health care, and quality of life. After extensive debate and emotional closing remarks from the sponsor and leadership, the bill passed overwhelmingly.

Transcript Highlights:

• It requires certified nursing assistant serving in a nursing home to receive training on recognizing
• So the seeing as in the nursing homes that you need to the nursing homes, not the ALS, because again,
• They'll capture the patient's age, zip codes, sex residency with the nursing home facility.
• To your point, yes, there is standard home insurance which does cover this.
• from being it protects our boats, which are our homes from being boarded without probable cause.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It requires certified nursing assistants serving in a nursing home to receive training on recognizing
• guess, nursing home to receive the training and that type of thing.
• So the CNAs in the nursing homes, that's unique to the nursing homes, not the ALFs, because again, we
• home facility, and et cetera.
• So there needs to be standards that are really appropriate for children, and the workforce needs to be

Summary: The committee met and first reported favorably CS for SB 1782, which creates a new offense for dangerous excessive speeding, with support noted from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida PBA. It also reported favorably CS for SB 306, which addresses Medicaid managed care provider network access by requiring after-hours and holiday appointment availability and a minimum level of primary care participation. CS for SB 716, imposing mandatory minimum sentences for certain sexual offenses committed by registered sex offenders or predators, and CS for SB 1084, expanding protections against non-consensual dissemination of intimate images and digitally forged intimate images, were also approved. The committee then approved CS for CS for SB 1604, a corrections package that would require prepayment of court costs for certain inmate lawsuits, shorten the limitations period for confinement-condition claims, allow consecutive sentencing in some cases, and revise mental health treatment procedures in correctional settings. Members discussed constitutional concerns and access-to-courts issues, but the bill was reported favorably. CS for CS for SB 1804, which creates a capital offense for trafficking a child 12 or younger or a mentally incapacitated person for sexual exploitation, drew extensive debate and opposition from the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and Floridaans for Alternatives to the Death Penalty; despite objections about constitutionality and ethics, it was reported favorably. The committee also approved CS for SB 1838, expanding protections for court officials against tampering, harassment, and retaliation, and CS for CS for SB 890, the Emily Adkins Family Protection Act, which creates a statewide VTE registry and requires blood clot screening and training in hospitals and care facilities. Members and public witnesses spoke in strong support of the blood clot bill, including family members and survivors. Finally, the committee reported favorably CS for SB 1252, directing FDLE to study a statewide pawn data database, CS for SB 468, increasing penalties for fleeing or eluding law enforcement and allowing vehicle impoundment, CS for SB 490, expanding off-duty concealed carry eligibility for correctional officers and correctional probation officers, and CS for SB 572, the Pam Rock Act on dangerous dogs, which was amended to refine enclosure, confiscation, euthanasia, and insurance requirements.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is delivered by licensed home health nursing agencies.
• medically fragile group home where the skilled nursing is available 24/7.
• attracted more nurses into home care.
• supports, home- and community-based services, hospice, home health, and nursing facility.
• We met with our state Board of Registration of Nursing to talk about this program.

Summary: The House Health Care and Wellness Committee met at policy cutoff and first took up executive session on four bills. It considered a proposed substitute for HB 1589 on health carrier contracting practices, which would require carriers to provide providers advance notice and clean copies of contract changes and payment methodologies, and would also add notice requirements for significant payer contract modifications. The committee also considered HB 2402 on phthalates in IV solution containers and tubing, with a substitute delaying implementation dates and creating shortage and FDA-related exemptions. HB 2555, concerning Medicaid coverage of traditional health care practices, and HB 2685, concerning tribal data and disease reporting to tribal health jurisdictions, were also before the committee. HB 2599 was deferred. The committee reported HB 1589, HB 2402, HB 2555, and HB 2685 out of committee with do pass recommendations, with recorded votes showing some members voting no or no without recommendation on the more contested bills. The committee then held a work session on private duty nursing in the Medically Intensive Children’s Program. Health Care Authority and DSHS staff described how the program serves children with complex medical needs through managed care and fee-for-service pathways, the role of prior authorization and medical necessity review, and the ongoing shortage of nursing staff. They said many approved hours are not filled, especially in rural areas, and that family members often provide unpaid care to fill gaps. Committee members asked about the structure of the children’s and adult PDN programs and about how many authorized hours are actually being served. The committee also heard testimony from a home care agency representative and a parent caregiver, both of whom described severe staffing shortages and the burden on families when nursing shifts go unfilled. They supported models that would allow trusted family caregivers to be paid for some of the skilled care they already provide. The committee then heard examples from Montana and Massachusetts of similar family caregiver or complex care assistant programs. Montana described its pediatric complex care assistant model as a gap-filling service with prior authorization and a set hourly rate, while Massachusetts outlined its complex care assistant program, including training, supervision, wage pass-through requirements, and early growth in participation. The meeting concluded after the work session.

Transcript Highlights:

• Nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives, and physician assistants, also known as advanced practice
• Nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives, and physician assistants, also known as advanced practiced
• of clinical experience, and I train and work alongside nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives
• They do not feel safe leaving home.
• on their own time and in their own homes.

Committee: House Health

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><05:52:52.160><c> home</c><05:52:52.400><c> providers,</c> includes nursing home providers, includes
• nursing home providers, assisted<05:52:53.680><c> living</c><05:52:54.638><c> and</c><05:52:55.120><
• We do have Hillsboro County Nursing Home and other places like that, like have a heavy burden on the
• </c><05:59:57.760><c> Home</c> We do have Hillsboro County Nursing Home We do have Hillsboro County Nursing
• To be clear, we would close all of our facilities outright, directly displacing about 500 nursing home

Committee: House Housing

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So this is really great that we have this universal home visiting program where nurses can come into
• As I mentioned, we have records University School of nursing, which will lead our workforce development
• I think the program is universal home visit where a nurse actually visit the whole.
• And also on the other end of the spectrum, we cover approximately 62% of nursing home care nursing days
• See, health plans are for the prenatal period are required to provide home visits by a nurse or aide.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• homes.
• That would cost the state much more, and it would be terrible to live in a nursing home or hospital.
• IHSS costs $30,000 per year compared to $137,000 for nursing homes, and that's a saving of more than
• That if we're keeping people out of nursing homes and institutions, we are actually saving the state
• They will go to nursing homes.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ON THE FIRST DAY THE GUEST IS VISITED BY THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OR LICENSED NURSING HOME ADMINISTRATOR
• THE FLORIDA HEALTH INFORMATION EXCHANGE SP 2514 REQUIRES NURSING HOMES TO MAINTAIN ELECTRONIC HEALTH
• FOR THE FLORIDA NURSING HOME UNIFORM RECORDING SYSTEM RIVER GARDEN HAS SUBMITTED THE REQUIRED FINANCIAL
• FLORIDA IS HOME TO OVER MORE THAN 700 NURSING CENTERS AND FLORIDA HEALTH CARE ASSOCIATION IS PROUD TO
• WE HAVE FIVE SEPARATE NURSING UNITS IN THE HOME AND THEY HAVE A COMPETITION GOING OF WHO CAN HAVE THE

Transcript Highlights:

• I also talked to nurses who were at home waiting to be called and didn't get called in to help in other
• I also talked to nurses who were at home waiting to be called and didn't get called in to help in other
• I also talked to nurses who were at home waiting to be called and didn't get called in to help in other
• The board would then budget will be taken to our board in May for public discussion.
• Board pronouncements.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The new timeliness standards in this bill would be a big shift from our current standards and statute
• practice nurses, prescribe.
• And it was expanded to nursing home settings as well.
• They make up about half of the workforce there.
• They make of about half of the workforce there.

Committee: House House Health & Human Services Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee heard several bills related largely to Arizona’s behavioral health and Access system, plus a fertility coverage mandate, a state hospital admissions bill, and a naturopathic scope-of-practice bill. SB 1114 would appropriate $1 million to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office for investigations into behavioral health patient brokering; the sponsor described ongoing fraud involving vulnerable Native American patients, while some members questioned why the Attorney General was not handling the work. The bill passed 10-1 with one present. SB 1116 would require claim denials and appeal determinations for American Indian Health Program behavioral health services to be reviewed by someone with at least two years of relevant clinical experience; Access said it was neutral but raised concerns about vague language and added staffing needs, and the bill passed 7-4 with one present. SB 1346 would require Access to notify providers of claim deficiencies within 72 hours and approve or deny corrected claims within 10 business days; supporters said it would reduce long delays and unpaid claims, while Access said it would need more staff and system changes. The bill passed 7-5. The committee also approved SB 1347, which requires insurance coverage for fertility preservation services for cancer patients of reproductive age whose treatment is likely to cause infertility, with a religious-employer exemption. Supporters, including cancer survivors and an advocacy representative, said the bill protects patients who must make rapid decisions before treatment begins; insurers were neutral. The bill passed unanimously 12-0. SB 1813 would require the Arizona State Hospital to admit patients based on clinical need rather than county of residence, effectively ending the Maricopa County cap tied to the Arnold v. Sarn settlement. Supporters argued the cap leaves seriously ill patients waiting in other facilities for long periods, while ADHS warned of possible litigation and rural access concerns; the bill passed 9-2 with one present. Finally, the committee began hearing SB 1178, which would allow naturopathic physicians to administer certain antibiotics, antivirals, and antifungals intravenously. The sponsor argued naturopaths should be able to practice to the full scope of their training amid physician shortages, while the Arizona Medical Association and osteopathic representatives opposed the bill, saying IV antimicrobials are high-risk therapies that require hospital-level training, monitoring, and stewardship. Testimony focused on patient safety, appropriate setting, and whether the bill should be narrowed or amended; no vote on SB 1178 was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our NPs and nurse practitioners are even often expressing frustration with the limited access to nurse
• County and local officials recognize the need for nurse midwives, including Fresno County's Board of
• For nurse midwives, including Fresno County's Board of Supervisors, who submitted a letter recently in
• Now the family is on board. You are going.
• Both the CSU Board of Trustees and the governing board of the nonprofit law school must approve the pilot

Summary: The Assembly Higher Education Committee heard several Senate measures focused on student access, workforce needs, and institutional stability. Senator Laird presented SJR 4, which urges the federal government to restore NIH funding cuts and protect California’s research universities; UC testified in support and there was no opposition. Senator Ashby presented SB 761, the CalFresh for Students Act, to connect Cal Grant applicants with potential CalFresh eligibility and expand qualifying programs; the bill drew broad support from higher education, student, anti-hunger, and county groups, with members sharing personal experiences with food insecurity and no opposition. Senator Cabaldon presented SB 520 to create a California Nurse Midwifery Education Fund for a new master’s-level nurse midwifery program, citing maternal health disparities and provider shortages, especially in rural and Central Valley communities. Supporters from the California Nurse Midwives Association and the Black Wellness and Prosperity Center emphasized workforce shortages and maternal mortality; one member raised concerns about the bill’s use of inclusive language, but the bill was otherwise well received. Cabaldon also presented SB 640, which would create a statewide direct admissions process to CSU for eligible high school seniors using existing data systems; supporters said it would reduce barriers, improve equity, and help declining-enrollment campuses, while members raised questions about special education students, rural access, dual enrollment, and measuring effectiveness. The committee voted SB 640 out on a 6-0 roll call. Cabaldon’s SB 744 would preserve California students’ access to enrollment and financial aid if a federally recognized accrediting agency loses approval, by treating affected institutions as accredited for state purposes; the bill drew no public testimony and advanced on a 4-2 roll call. Senator Cortese’s SB 494 would require classified school employees’ disciplinary appeals to be heard by an administrative law judge, matching protections already available to teachers and community college faculty; labor groups supported the bill, while school districts and administrators opposed it over cost, local control, and implementation concerns. The committee also heard SB 550, a revised pilot to allow San Jose State and a nonprofit, state-accredited law school to jointly develop a public law school pathway; supporters argued it would expand affordable legal education and public-interest careers, while UC and independent colleges opposed it as inconsistent with the Master Plan. Members debated access, jurisdiction, funding, and bar pass rates, and the bill advanced on a 4-2 roll call to the Judiciary Committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm David Dawson, General Counsel for the Board of Nursing. Hi, I'm Ashley Davis.
• I'm the Director of the Board of Nursing. Matt Gillmore, Department of Health.
• Davis is the Director of the Board of Nursing. Matt Gillmore, Department of Health.
• So this change was made to add clinical nurse specialists among the nurse practitioners who can apply
• was made to add clinical nurse specialist among the nurse practitioners who can apply for independent

Keywords: 1204, all