Transcript Highlights:

• Accordingly, Senate Bill 1534 would create a study to help prevent workforce shortages in this critical
• This nation has a long history of corporate abuse of neighbors and relations improving.
• my ask today is for this committee and the Texas Legislature to support common-sense solutions to prevent
• consistently opposed to gun safety bills, even measures that would promote secure gun storage to prevent
• To prevent unintentional shootings, school violence, and suicides, and push for harmful policies that

Bills: SB913 , SB1086 , SB1087 , SB1143 , SB1534 , SB1553 , SB1718 , SB1754 , SB2004 , SB2322 , SB2448

Committee: Senate Economic Development

Summary: The Senate Economic Development Committee met to hear a series of bills and informational primers, with several resource witnesses from the Governor’s Office, the Texas Workforce Commission, and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. The chair opened by noting the death of Senator King’s son and asking members to keep the family in their prayers. Most bills were laid out and left pending subject to the call of the chair after brief author presentations and public testimony. The committee heard several local hotel occupancy tax bills: SB 1553 for Kerr County, SB 1086 for Childress County, SB 1087 for Mason County, and SB 913 for Alpine. Supporters, including the Texas Hotel and Lodging Association and local officials, said the measures would allow counties or the city to use hotel tax revenue for tourism-related projects and local development. The committee also heard SB 1534, which would direct a study on health physics education and workforce needs in Texas; resource witnesses from TWC and THECB testified on the bill. All of these measures were left pending. A major portion of the hearing focused on SB 1754, which would prohibit local tax abatements for renewable energy facilities selling power at wholesale, with an exception for certain battery storage tied to dispatchable generation. The bill drew strong support from witnesses who argued counties should not subsidize wind and solar projects that can harm neighboring landowners and that renewables already receive substantial federal support. Opponents from the solar and storage industry argued the bill would remove a voluntary local economic development tool, raise power prices, and discourage investment. Senators also debated landowner impacts, grid reliability, and whether the bill was the right policy tool; the bill was left pending. The committee also heard SB 2322, a committee substitute related to the Jobs, Energy, Technology, and Innovation Act, which would exempt electric generation facilities from the program’s compelling-factor test so they can qualify for school tax limitation agreements. Supporters said the change would correct an unintended barrier for dispatchable generation, while Senator Johnson argued it would weaken the program’s purpose by subsidizing projects that would locate in Texas anyway. SB 1718 would add the NRA annual meeting to the major events reimbursement program; the NRA supported it, while gun violence prevention advocates opposed using state incentives for the organization. SB 2004 would add the Arlington Grand Prix to the major events program, and SB 2448 would create a rural workforce development grant program; both drew supportive testimony and were left pending. The committee also heard SB 1143, a substitute bill aimed at improving transparency and coordination in programs serving opportunity youth ages 14 to 24, with witnesses supporting better reporting and workforce alignment. At the end of the meeting, Senator Johnson moved that the committee stand in recess subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> rooting out out waste Fraud and Abuse rooting out out waste Fraud and Abuse and<00:29:59.640><c>
• Go look at fraud, waste, and abuse of the Pentagon.
• </c><02:13:19.520><c> of</c><02:13:19.639><c> the</c> go look at fraud waste and abuse of the go look
• During the shootout, white mobs prevented the ambulances from treating wounded Black men and let them
• I think most people will agree that we all want to do away with waste, fraud, and abuse.

Bills: HJR20

Keywords: energy conservation, gas-fired water heaters, Department of Energy, regulatory disapproval, energy standards

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:34:48.399><c> final</c><00:34:48.720><c> relief</c><00:34:49.119><c> from</c><00:34:49.359><c> abuse
• I do believe very strongly that there are places where guns create more danger than they prevent.
• the kind of gun truly about preventing the kind of gun violence<01:02:09.520><c> and</c><01:02:10.079
• </c> preventing chronic absenteeism. preventing chronic absenteeism. recognize<01:20:27.760><c> the</
• of chronic absenteeism on the prevention of chronic absenteeism and<01:25:51.120><c> truency</c><01:

Transcript Highlights:

• The BCC has already abused this way.
• The BBC has already abused this way.
• It's already used by lawyers and by opposition on both sides. abused this way.
• Here you're asking them to act on behalf of the state, and I 100% can guarantee this will be abused,
• The initiative process is an important tool for voters, but has been abused.

Bills: HJR4209 , HB2260 , HB2259

Committee: House State Government & Tribal Relations

Keywords: redistricting, congressional representation, census, state law, legislative boundaries, ballot measures, petitioners, signature gatherers, voting rights, election integrity, initiative process, referendum, signature gathering, ballot measure, citizen actions, support demonstration

Transcript Highlights:

• The Clerks Association is focused on finding where we have mischief in filing records and the abuses
• that come from that, and how we can mitigate those abuses.
• The final checkout, or when they face restrictions that prevent them from freely transferring or reselling
• bill, the legislature will strengthen consumer rights, encourage healthy competition, curb crime and abuse
• The required disclosures would also help prevent blind reliance on these recommendations by...

Bills: HB2226 , HB2269 , HB2343 , HB2760 , HB3621 , HB4079 , HB4204 , HB4518 , HB4531 , HB4555 , HB4850 , HB4876 , HB4903 , HB4996 , HB5122

Committee: House Trade, Workforce & Economic Development

Keywords: construction trust funds, Property Code, Chapter 162, construction payments, mechanics lien, contractors, subcontractors, laborers, material suppliers, materialmen, real property improvement, assignment of payment rights, unpaid trust funds, trust fund beneficiaries, construction industry, payment protection, Texas construction law, property owners association, landscaping, grass maintenance

Transcript Highlights:

• that fraud is always going to be a consideration and we want to make sure that we are taking fraud prevention
• So, I think we can all agree. that we want to prevent fraud, criminal activity, et cetera, right?
• but we received a number of complaints as well from law enforcement during that time. about misuse, abuse
• abuse versus private abuse. Representative LaHood, let me answer that question.
• We did shut down over 200 dealers that were licensed. since by our operation that we're abusing temp

Committee: House Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• Inclusive Action is a plaintiff in a lawsuit to try to prevent the Department of Homeland Security from
• But we are really doing our due diligence to document the human rights abuses coming out of places like
• The other thing that we're also hearing about, obviously, is also not only physical abuse, so it could
• And it later came out at a hearing that he said that he was sexually abused.
• And how do we continue to document these abuses and provide these wraparound services?

Summary: The hearing opened the Select Committee on Latina Inequities, hosted in Assembly District 43 at Los Angeles Mission College. Chair Celeste Rodriguez and Assembly Member Mia Bonta framed the committee’s purpose as examining Latina economic status and policy barriers, with this hearing focused on the federal administration’s effects on Latinas, the economy, immigration enforcement, and the social safety net. The chair also highlighted California’s equal pay efforts, including SB 642, and described the hearing as a forum to identify legislative solutions. The first panel, led by HOPE, presented findings from its National Economic Status of Latinas report. Speakers said Latinas are a major economic force in California but face persistent inequities, including the state’s largest wage gap, higher unemployment, high uninsured rates, student debt, and affordability pressures around child care, housing, and education. Testimony emphasized that many Latinas are weighing whether degrees or certificates are worth the cost, that entrepreneurship can be a path to mobility but is limited by lack of capital and technical support, and that policy changes such as SB 642, dual enrollment, financial literacy, mentorship, and access to retirement tools could help. The second panel focused on immigration enforcement and Latina safety in the workforce. Advocates and researchers described ICE raids, racial profiling, detention conditions, and the chilling effect on work, school attendance, health care access, and daily life. Speakers from the ACLU, UCLA LPPI, SEIU Local 99, worker centers, Inclusive Action, and CHIRLA said Latinas and immigrant workers are concentrated in essential sectors such as child care, agriculture, construction, domestic work, and street vending, and that enforcement is causing lost wages, family separation, and trauma. They urged stronger state oversight of detention, more legal services, protections for worker centers and street vendors, cash assistance and rental relief, and continued support for rapid response networks and community-based organizing.

Transcript Highlights:

• And if there are places of waste, fraud, and abuse... ...let's fix it.
• case recently, it was wildly inflated, but they're all relatively small numbers of actual carbon prevented
• case recently it was wildly inflated, but they're all relatively small numbers of actual carbon prevented
• And then, finally, how about we invest it in forest fire response and prevention, where we have a much
• Why don't we take some of that money to cover the cost of forest fire prevention and forest fire fighting

Summary: House and Senate Republican leaders held a media availability on the second day of the 60-day legislative session, reacting to Governor Ferguson’s State of the State address and outlining their priorities. They said the top issue is affordability, and argued the governor and Democratic majority are responding with more taxes, regulation, and government spending rather than restraint. They criticized the prospect of a state income tax, calling it unconstitutional, politically unpopular, and likely to expand beyond high earners over time. They also said the state should avoid raiding the rainy day fund and instead look for savings through tighter budget management, reduced middle management, and a focus on core services. The leaders also discussed public safety, immigration enforcement, child care oversight, transportation, housing, and the Climate Commitment Act. On immigration, they said law enforcement coordination is essential and criticized mixed messages from state leaders about federal enforcement and sheriffs. On child care, they said allegations of fraud in subsidy programs should be investigated through audits and oversight, and rejected the idea that looking for fraud is offensive to honest providers. They said there is some bipartisan agreement on using Climate Commitment Act revenue for the Working Families Tax Credit, transportation, and wildfire prevention, but argued the tax itself is regressive and should be redirected to better uses. On the budget, Republicans said the current deficit will not be solved by a future income tax and that the state will likely need spending cuts or savings. They said there is some limited agreement with moderate Democrats against further tax increases and against using the rainy day fund as a first step. On housing and transportation, they said the real solutions are permitting reform, changes to the Growth Management Act and energy code, and more stable transportation funding, rather than more state spending on affordable housing or piecemeal fees. No votes were taken, and the event ended as a press availability with questions from reporters.

Transcript Highlights:

• Are you concerned at all that this has the potential to be abused by some hospital administration?
• House Bill 1322 by Ford of the House and Gillespie of the Senate, an act relating to domestic abuse.
• House Bill 1322 by Ford of the House and Gillespie of the Senate, an act relating to domestic abuse.
• House Bill 1322 by Ford of the House and Gillespie of the Senate, an act relating to domestic abuse.
• House Bill 1322 by Ford of the House and Gillespie of the Senate, an act relating to domestic abuse.

Bills: HB4104 , HB3722 , HB3787 , HB3700 , HB3701 , HB3310 , HB3404 , HB2964 , HB2398 , HB3024 , HB3499 , HB3278 , HB3279 , HB3645 , HB3649 , HB2293 , HB3260 , HB3176 , HB3177 , HB3114 , HB3172 , HB3322 , HB3323 , HB4248 , HB3720 , HB2210 , HB1322 , HB1937 , HB3301 , HB4107

Summary: The House convened, heard the prayer and Pledge of Allegiance, recognized the Doctor of the Day, and held several special presentations, including the Bethany Youth Council and a centennial recognition for Ascension St. John. The chamber then took up a long series of bills on second and third reading, with members asking questions on hospice care, broadband, funeral director continuing education, economic development, court reporters, DUI-related GPS monitoring, banking discrimination, statutory interpretation, electronic filings, intoxicating hemp beverages, homemade food production, youth apprenticeships, domestic violence, school communications with minors, firearms definitions, and outdoor warning sirens. Among the measures considered, House Bill 3645 on hospice referrals for patients without next of kin or a durable power of attorney passed 16-0. House Bill 3649, allowing proceeds from certain state property sales to remain in the mental health real estate trust, passed 15-0. House Bill 2293 extending the Oklahoma Broadband Office sunset to 2030 passed 84-10. House Bill 3216 adding the Oklahoma Funeral Directors Association to approved continuing education providers passed 94-0, and House Bill 3176 directing Commerce to pursue national lab and innovation opportunities passed 51-37 after extensive debate about its aspirational nature and cost. Other bills approved included HB 3177 on Corporation Commission court reporter pay and retention, HB 3114 removing DUI with great bodily harm from DOC GPS monitoring eligibility, HB 3172 restricting adverse banking actions by large financial institutions against lawful activity, HB 3322 on statutory interpretation, HB 3323 removing notarization requirements for electronic Service Oklahoma submissions, HB 4248 restricting certain intoxicating beverages to those 21 and older, HB 3720 expanding the Homemade Food Freedom Act, HB 2210 modernizing youth apprenticeships, HB 1322 creating a domestic violence offender registry, HB 1937 revising school communications with minors and receiving emergency passage, HB 3301 aligning state firearms definitions with federal law, and HB 4107 criminalizing hacking or unauthorized activation of outdoor warning sirens. Most bills passed with broad support, though some drew significant questioning over fiscal impact, public safety, and implementation details.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> to their well-being and their preventing to their well-being and their preventing them<01:10:20.360
• vaccine-preventable diseases.
• </c><03:06:12.040><c> vaccine</c><03:06:12.520><c> preventable</c> help prevent vaccine preventable help
• prevent vaccine preventable diseases<03:06:15.359><c> now</c><03:06:15.520><c> can</c><03:06:15.680>
• </c><03:11:10.319><c> deaths</c> biggest cost vaccine preventable deaths biggest cost vaccine preventable

Committee: House Health, Human Services & Elderly Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill now clarifies and prevents a licensee from seeking reinstatement.
• This bill would expand human trafficking prevention on college campuses.
• AB 282 seeks to prevent threats to our elections by preventing any attempts to seize ballots, election
• Assembly bill 2344 by Senator Member Haney and equinate to animal abuse.
• It prevents a developer or employer from avoiding liability by... ...use is.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:04:37.680><c> the</c> us and call us to action to prevent the us and call us to action to prevent
• </c> laws failed to prevent this tragedy. laws failed to prevent this tragedy.
• </c> we aiming it towards suicide prevention? we aiming it towards suicide prevention?
• </c> prevention we create. prevention we create.
• </c> violence prevention guidelines. violence prevention guidelines.

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• on potential... ...to affect July 1, 2026, anticipated cost savings based on potentially, you know, abuse
• think we have... to affect July 1, 2026, anticipated cost savings based on potentially, you know, abuse
• In addition to the cap on state-directed payment levels, H.R. 1 also prevents growth that we had been
• Here to tell you that a toothache is one of the leading causes of preventable school absences.
• Preventative care keeps children healthy in school and able to focus on learning.

Summary: The subcommittee heard an overview of the Department of Health Care Services’ proposed budget, including a $229.1 billion total-funds budget and projected Medi-Cal enrollment decline as redeterminations continue. Members focused heavily on the fiscal and programmatic effects of prior budget solutions and federal changes, especially the elimination of General Fund-supported Prop. 56 dental supplemental payments beginning July 1, 2026, the hospice utilization-management change, and the impact of reduced caseloads alongside rising health care costs. DHCS said it is still completing required access and rate-reduction analyses for the dental cuts and has been engaging stakeholders, but could not yet quantify the real-world effect on utilization or provider participation. The committee also reviewed the November 2025 Medi-Cal local assistance estimate, which shows higher General Fund spending despite lower enrollment, driven by managed care rate growth, Medicare cost growth, state-only claiming, and federal policy changes. The hearing then turned to provider taxes and federal H.R. 1 constraints, with extensive discussion of the MCO tax, the hospital quality assurance fee, and other health care-related taxes. DHCS explained that H.R. 1 phases down allowable tax levels and tightens “generally redistributive” rules, making the current MCO tax structure and the proposed higher hospital fee levels difficult or impossible to renew as originally designed. Staff and the LAO described the tradeoff between preserving Medi-Cal funding and avoiding higher costs on private providers and consumers. Members asked about options for preserving revenue, including possible amendments to Prop. 35 or returning to voters, and were told the department is still evaluating approaches while federal guidance remains in flux. The committee also reviewed hospital payment increases already implemented through state-directed payments, with DHCS noting that H.R. 1 will force those payments down to Medicare levels over time. Several budget change proposals were discussed and left open, including requests tied to the managed care final rule, managed care operations, hospital value strategy, long-term care payment transparency, and interoperability requirements. The committee also heard about a one-year trailer bill extension for skilled nursing facility financing, including continuation of the SNF workforce standards program, the SNF quality assurance fee, and annual rate growth, while the department develops a longer-term financing redesign for 2027-28. Members expressed skepticism about repeated rate reform efforts and questioned whether a one-year extension of the eliminated workforce quality incentive program should be restored during the transition. Finally, Covered California presented its budget and enrollment update, reporting that the expiration of the federal enhanced premium tax credit is expected to reduce affordability significantly, with average premiums roughly doubling for many enrollees and as many as 400,000 Californians potentially losing marketplace coverage over time. The exchange said California’s $190 million subsidy program is helping lower-income enrollees, but not enough to offset the federal loss, and it is also implementing a new gender-affirming care benefit and awaiting federal action on benchmark plan changes.

Transcript Highlights:

• a family law proceeding almost always being labeled as an abuser.
• I mean that under this bill it constitutes abuse to be suicidal.
• It constitutes abuse to clean a firearm.
• It is abuse to threaten to make reports to law enforcement.
• That is abuse under this bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• It will also cut into substance abuse treatment and staff connections with those kids.
• It will also cut into substance abuse treatment and staff connections with those kids.
• Treatment and Prevention, Mental Health Services, Psychiatric Hospitalization, the Domestic Violence
• The second motion would eliminate those underlined portions that you see and would prevent funding from
• The second motion would eliminate those underlined portions that you see and would prevent funding from

Summary: The committee first received updates from LSO on the latest green sheet, including the revenue impact of House Bill 559, recent cash transfers, and the Idaho Budget Rescissions Act for FY 2026. Members then moved through a series of FY 2027 maintenance budgets, beginning with the legislative branch. The committee discussed the statewide 2% reduction layered on top of the governor’s recommendation, benefit-cost adjustments, and how those decisions were being built into the maintenance budgets. The legislative branch budget passed, followed by unanimous-consent adoption of related language. The committee next considered public safety, natural resources, health and human services, economic development, judicial branch, constitutional officers, and general government budgets. In each case, analysts explained how rescissions, ongoing base reductions, and statewide adjustments were incorporated. Several members objected to the across-the-board cuts, arguing they would reduce staffing or services in corrections, juvenile corrections, environmental quality, health and welfare, public defender services, crime victims compensation, tax administration, and treatment courts, while supporters said the committee needed a target and would revisit details in enhancement work groups. Most budget motions passed on divided votes and were forwarded with do-pass recommendations. The committee also adopted multiple sections of standard and nonstandard language, including cash transfers, reporting requirements, and agency-specific provisions. In Health and Human Services, members debated language requiring reporting on large acquisitions and transfers, and in Economic Development and General Government they adopted language affecting the State Public Defender, the Department of Insurance, and group insurance premiums. The meeting ended while the committee was still working through a disputed general government language item about funding employee health insurance premiums from reserve accounts, with members debating whether the language should reference specific reserve funds or broader reserve funding and whether the proposal was properly within JFAC’s scope.

Transcript Highlights:

• Texas utility companies are committed to emergency preparations and grid resiliency to prevent customers
• However, some transparency measures are being abused by government entities seeking to prevent the truth
• Thus, if you abuse it, you lose it. Revocation would be published on the OAG's website.
• You're going to end up with citizens not getting information, and those that abuse the exceptions are
• Partition of Heirs Property Act to protect heir owners' property rights and prevent the loss of homes

Bills: SB231 , SB584 , SB600 , SB668 , SB841 , SB986 , SB1003 , SB1244 , SB1625 , SB1960 , SB1963 , SB1964 , SB2026 , SB2056 , SB2368

Committee: Senate Business & Commerce

Transcript Highlights:

• Legal aid exists in our state because we save Florida millions of dollars annually by preventing costly
• On behalf of Florida is abused, abandoned and neglect. at the direct detriment to Florida's working poor
• You know, we've got fraud prevention software we're providing to the attorneys.
• Senate Bill 774 amends the laws on involuntary mental health examinations, involuntary substance abuse
• Senate Bill 774 amends the laws on involuntary mental health examinations, involuntary substance abuse

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Summary: The Judiciary Committee met with a quorum present and considered several bills. SB 106 on exploitation of vulnerable adults would allow service of process on scammers through the same nontraditional communication methods they use; it passed 8-0. CS/SB 280 on candidate qualification would create an enforceable party-affiliation requirement and a private right of action to disqualify noncompliant candidates; it passed unanimously. CS/SB 948 on flood disclosures was amended to extend disclosure requirements to residential leases, condo developer leases, and mobile homes, with tenant remedies if disclosures are not provided and flooding causes major losses; it passed 8-0. The committee also advanced CS/SB 498 on IOTA interest rates after a lengthy debate over legal aid funding and bank regulation. Supporters argued the bill would restore sustainability and fairness to the program by setting alternative interest-rate benchmarks, while opponents said it would cut funding for civil legal aid and that banks participate voluntarily. After testimony from legal aid leaders and bankers, the bill passed 7-2. SB 774, requiring clerks to electronically transmit certain mental health, substance abuse, and risk protection orders to sheriffs within six hours, was presented in response to a fatal Volusia County incident and passed 11-0. CS/SB 752 on defamation and online publication was amended to require removal from a website rather than the internet, then passed 8-2 after testimony from the media, a private attorney, and supporters who said it would help people harmed by false online reports. The committee also heard SB 832 on former phosphate mining lands, which would create a narrow defense against strict liability claims if notice and gamma radiation survey requirements are met. The bill was amended to clarify notice provisions and received support from industry and technical witnesses describing radiation surveys and reclamation practices. The transcript cuts off before the final vote on SB 832, so no committee action on that bill is shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• His work focuses on preventing avoidable harm, strengthening patient safety systems, His work focuses
• on preventing avoidable harm, strengthening patient safety systems, and ensuring that children undergoing
• She also said that with the mask prohibition, masks help prevent the spread of disease.
• These are if there’s allegations of criminal abuse, neglect, or failure by a person who has a duty to
• I feel like it borders on child abuse, in my opinion.

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, attendance, guest introductions, and several ceremonial proclamations, including recognition of Dr. Joseph Torkelson for his service in pediatric oncology and military medicine. Members also introduced guests connected to Arizona Bleeding Disorders, charter schools, and a suicide-prevention effort tied to HB 2665 (“Cade’s Law”). The chamber then moved through multiple Committee of the Whole calendars, considering a large number of bills and resolutions. On the first calendar, the House gave do pass recommendations, mostly as amended, to HB 2117, 2744, 2751, 2917, 2939, 2957, 2970, and HCR 2038. The amendments addressed topics such as natural resource conservation district boundaries, manufacturing and jobs, Real ID/non-Real ID data privacy, and Colorado River conservation and tribal/community representation. The House then adopted the Committee of the Whole report and sent the measures for engrossing; a later motion to amend the report to include the defeated Villegas amendment on HB 2667 failed by roll call vote, 22-32 with 6 not voting. In the next calendars, the House advanced HB 2015, 2129, 2327, 2439, 2533, 2667, 2793, 2873, HCR 2044, and others, with several floor or committee amendments adopted. Debate focused on homelessness coordination in HB 2533, homebuyer assistance and corporate ownership concerns in HB 2667, annexation and local control in HB 2793, and a proposed constitutional referral in HCR 2044 aimed at closing loopholes for discrimination in public programs. The House also considered HB 2044 and HB 2076 in the Judiciary calendar, with debate over the scope of a homicide-disposal statute in HB 2044 and school safety/teacher firearms issues in HB 2076; both bills advanced as amended. The final calendar covered natural resources, energy, and water bills. The House advanced HB 2014, 2055, 2145, 2185, 2267, 2340, 2428, 2696, 2798, 2955, 2975, and 2986, with amendments on drought definitions, emissions permitting, mineral district mapping, and environmental enforcement authority. HB 2267 drew the sharpest debate, with opponents arguing it would hinder solar and wind development and supporters arguing for diversification toward coal, gas, and nuclear; after a division vote, the bill still received a do pass recommendation. The session concluded with the Committee of the Whole rising and reporting, and the House adopting the report and assigning the measures accordingly.

Transcript Highlights:

• They are preventative medicine.
• So in conclusion, HB 2034 is about fairness, responsibility, and smart preventative health care.
• It’s about prevention. It’s about dignity. Every child deserves the chance to run and play sports.
• Access to the correct prosthetic prevents future medical costs and protects my health.
• Would it be under the topic of preventative care cost savings?

Committee: House Health and Mental Health

Summary: The House Committee on Health and Mental Health met in executive session and advanced several bills. HB 1881 was voted do pass without discussion. HB 3010 was amended with a committee substitute that removed a subsection allowing payers to remove “gold carding” based on procedure volume changes, then passed 10-0. HB 2355, the “Food is Medicine” bill, received a committee amendment to align terminology with other partnerships and then passed 11-0. HB 1855, dealing with alpha-gal reporting, was substantially revised: the substitute narrowed the bill to alpha-gal, removed Lyme disease, changed a department duty from mandatory to discretionary in one section, and delayed reporting implementation; it then passed 14-0 after members discussed the need for better disease tracking and the department’s workload. The committee then heard testimony on HB 2034, which would require insurance coverage for activity-based prostheses, orthotics, and high-performance or mobility-supportive wheelchairs. Sponsor Representative Carolyn Caton said the bill is intended to cover devices that help people live, exercise, and avoid secondary health problems, while preserving prior authorization and medical-necessity review. Supporters included clinicians, parents, amputees, and athletes who described being denied running blades, water-safe prostheses, or durable wheelchairs and said the devices are essential for health, independence, mental well-being, and participation in school, work, and sports. Several witnesses said the bill would reduce long-term costs and reliance on charity. Opponents, including the Missouri Insurance Coalition and America’s Health Insurance Plans, argued the bill is an expansion of coverage with unclear definitions and potentially significant costs, especially for Medicaid and other state-regulated plans. They cited the fiscal note, warned about possible federal ACA rule changes that could shift costs to states, and questioned whether the bill’s language on Medicare supplemental coverage and “perceived disability” was workable or preempted. Committee members pressed both sides on cost savings, definitions of “normal” activity, and whether the bill could be narrowed or otherwise revised, and several said they were willing to keep working on the issue. The hearing on HB 2034 was left open and then recessed after testimony, with no vote taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Exemptions preventing any for-profit entities from benefiting from this exemption.
• buying apparatus, to prevent adding fire stations, and to prevent adding firefighters.
• Preventative maintenance might be one of those things.
• So I don't think we're abusing anything, right?
• I have an opportunity to prevent this from happening.

Bills: HB17 , HB23 , SB 10

Committee: House Ways & Means