Transcript Highlights:

• The screening program in Texas, I believe it's around 7,000 women.
• That program is what sets the financial eligibility criteria for the Medicaid program.
• That way, dissimilar to any other Medicaid program that we have.
• But the bottom line is that The NBCC program is in statute. The BCCS program is in the budget.
• This is not an expansion program; it's not changing the standards.

Bills: HB321, HB 1027, HB 1295, HB1782, HB2295, HCR29, HCR56

Keywords: Medicaid, child health, express lane option, income verification, supplemental nutrition assistance, telepharmacy, healthcare access, remote dispensing, rural clinics, pharmacy regulations, health literacy, state health plan, health care, patient outcomes, public health, economic impact, healthcare, breast cancer, cervical cancer, insurance eligibility

Transcript Highlights:

• We educate 45% of all undergraduates in Kentucky.
• We educate 45% of all undergraduates in Kentucky.
• U education entity we educate educate educate 45%<00:03:13.640> of<00:03:13.920> all<00
• not just for kctcs but higher education not just for kctcs but higher education in<00:05:19.000>
• We'll relocate the building, expand the nursing programs that are offered there, and those programs are

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The House Budget Review Subcommittee on Postsecondary Education met for its first meeting and heard an update from KCTCS President Dr. Ryan Corral. He opened with a brief report on flood impacts across the state, noting damage at Big Sandy and Hazard, support for displaced faculty and staff, emergency student aid, and the use of campuses as shelters and Red Cross sites. He then outlined KCTCS’s role as the state’s largest postsecondary system, serving about 107,000 students across 16 colleges and 70 campuses, with strong enrollment growth, major dual credit and GED operations, and a large workforce-training mission. Corral emphasized student support needs such as food, housing, and mental health services, and said KCTCS wants to expand work with incarcerated populations and recovery communities. Corral also described system changes focused on compliance, stability, leadership development, property disposal, and curriculum review. He said KCTCS has addressed prior audit findings, is conducting additional audits, has sold or is selling several buildings, and has removed 400 underutilized credentials to better align programs with employer needs. He highlighted transfer agreements with the University of Kentucky, University of Louisville, and Western Kentucky University, and said KCTCS is working to align training with employers and local governments. He also discussed the system’s response to House Bill 6 and the $90 million appropriated for an efficient operations and innovation plan, including three proposed capital projects: a Somerset Community College facility for diesel, automotive, welding, HVAC, CAD, and 3D printing; replacement of an outdated Louisville building; and a South Central/Glasgow allied health facility to expand nursing and related programs. In response to questions, Corral said the Blue Oval SK training building in Glendale is open and operational, though workforce demand there has been slower than initially expected, and that KCTCS is working with the company and state officials to cover operating costs. Members praised KCTCS’s workforce role and flexibility in meeting employer needs statewide. Representative Moll also commented on the system’s progress and importance to Kentucky’s workforce development. No votes were taken, and the meeting ended with adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 497 creates the neurofibromatosis disease grant program.
• Representative Smith went briefly over the education, but our education also includes knowing when to
• So educational training is so very important on this matter.
• When providers are educated, sickle cell patients are safer.
• We're at continuing education. Like, this is awesome.

Summary: The Health Professions and Program Subcommittee met with a quorum and considered seven bills, all of which were reported favorably. HB 497 would create a neurofibromatosis research grant program within the Department of Health; an amendment removed automatic recurring funding and made the program subject to annual appropriations. Proponents described the disease burden and the need for Florida-based research support. The bill passed 14-0. The committee also approved HB 223, which creates a licensing and regulatory framework for naturopathic medicine, including a Board of Naturopathic Medicine under the Department of Health. Supporters argued licensure would improve patient safety, transparency, and access, while the Florida Osteopathic Medical Association and Florida Medical Association waived in opposition. The bill passed 15-0. HB 683 modernizes physician assistant and APRN prescribing rules by removing certain administrative notice and prescription-labeling requirements and allowing a 30-day course of psychotropic medication; an amendment removed language that would have allowed practice without physician supervision during declared emergencies. It passed 15-0. The committee then approved CS for HB 121, which updates Florida’s seizure action plan law by extending protections to charter school students, requiring schools to accept physician-submitted plans, clarifying training duration, expanding training to regular bus drivers, and requiring seizure-response posters in schools. HB 353 adds sickle cell disease education to existing pain-management continuing education for health professionals, prompted by extensive testimony from patients and advocates about bias, delayed treatment, and lack of provider knowledge; it passed 15-0. HB 1175 directs the Florida Building Commission and State Fire Marshal to develop updated safety design standards for office surgery suites, with an amendment delaying the effective date to January 1, 2027; it passed 14-0. Finally, HB 251 creates a public records exemption for current emergency physicians and their families, narrowed by amendment to current physicians and children up to age 26 and made subject to sunset review; it passed 15-0. The meeting adjourned after all agenda items were completed.

Transcript Highlights:

• How we do public comment in the Education Committee.
• We in the Department of Education took it over.
• to the state's educational mission.
• Parents and caregivers are essential partners in a child's education, and educators are deeply committed
• That is how educators are going to view it.

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The committee first heard Superintendent Tom Horn’s State of Education address, which focused on school safety, academic outcomes, teacher pay, school choice, and opposition to DEI/CRT in schools. Horn argued that students cannot learn unless schools are safe, cited increased funding for school police officers and a recent Tucson charter school incident as evidence for more officers, and said the department’s academic efforts have centered on Project Momentum, tutoring, cell phone restrictions, career and technical education partnerships, and support for Native American districts. He also urged direct teacher pay increases through Proposition 123 and said the state board should revise teaching standards and school grading practices. Members questioned him about DEI compliance, cell phone enforcement, ESA accountability, teacher preparation programs, school safety funding, and literacy outcomes; Horn said the department’s role is largely advisory in a local-control state, that it tracks school practices on a website, and that it lacks academic outcome data for ESA students because private schools are not tested by the state. The committee then took up House Bill 2008, which would prohibit public school libraries from using public funds to pay dues or memberships to professional library associations that advocate for libraries and information services. Representative Cooper, the sponsor, said the bill was intended to keep school libraries politically neutral and prevent taxpayer money from supporting ideological advocacy, while arguing that membership could still be paid privately and that free professional development options exist. Opponents, including former librarian Judy Schweber, Marana board member Hunter Holt, and the ACLU of Arizona, argued the bill would undermine professional development, local control, and constitutional rights of association and petition, and that there was little evidence public funds were actually being used this way. Supporters, including Adrienne Johnson, said some library materials and associations promote political viewpoints and should not be funded with public dollars. After public comment and debate, the committee voted 7-5 to give HB 2008 a do pass recommendation. Members who explained no votes said the bill targeted a non-issue, lacked data showing a problem, and would divert attention from funding and literacy needs. Members supporting the bill said it was a reasonable restriction on public spending and a way to keep school libraries ideologically neutral. The committee then announced it would move on to House Bill 2249, the Parents’ Bill of Rights and Remedies.

Transcript Highlights:

• And this is now a good time that you've been able to lead and educate us because it is about education
• And then I'm also having to not educate the parents, the community, but also our educators on it.
• We can grow with getting programs.
• I mean, this is so educational. And educate us, but you did that.
• So we talk about how law enforcement needs the education, but we all need that education.

Summary: The Select Committee on Native American Affairs opened its 2025 hearing with a traditional song and remarks about the importance of Native visibility and land acknowledgment. The hearing focused on missing and murdered Indigenous people (MMIP), exploitation and trafficking in a Public Law 280 (PL 280) state, and California’s response. Members and tribal leaders emphasized that MMIP is tied to historical trauma, forced removal, undercounting, and ongoing inequities in law enforcement response, media attention, and access to resources. Several panelists urged stronger tribal consultation, better data collection, more funding, and culturally informed education and victim services. In the first panel, tribal chairpersons described personal and community impacts. Chairperson Antonet Del Rio spoke about the need to include federally and non-federally recognized tribes and to educate schools and communities, while naming long-unsolved cases from her tribe. Chairperson Cheyenne Stone connected MMIP to the history of violence in Owens Valley and to the disturbance of Indigenous remains during infrastructure projects, calling for forensic resources, mandatory consultation, and accountability. Chairperson Charles Martin described the death of Morongo citizen Amy Porter and said the Feather Alert failed her family because law enforcement did not act quickly enough; he called for reforms and better coordination, especially in PL 280 jurisdictions. Chairwoman Nelson and committee members echoed the need for equity, urgency, and government-to-government respect. The second panel examined how PL 280 complicates MMIP and trafficking cases. Professor Carol Goldberg explained that PL 280 created an unfunded mandate, reduced federal jurisdiction and funding, and contributed to under-resourced policing and mistrust; she recommended mandatory training, community-oriented policing, formal tribal-county collaboration, and possible retrocession in some cases. Yurok Chairman Joe James tied MMIP to boarding schools, trafficking, and the need to advance bills such as AB 31, SB 4, ACR 39, AB 285, and AB 1378, along with increased budget funding. Morning Star Gali argued that PL 280 enables traffickers and violent offenders to exploit jurisdictional gaps and called for tribally led public safety, housing, victim services, and stronger consultation. Dustin Contreras, a human trafficking investigator, described the overlap between trafficking and MMIP, stressed partnerships and task forces, and supported more education for law enforcement, schools, and families. In the final panel, state and county officials described current efforts and acknowledged remaining gaps. The Attorney General’s Office said it is working on MICIC outreach, tribal response planning, PL 280 training through an advisory council, and improved data systems, while supporting bills and the Feather Alert. Humboldt County Sheriff Hansel described the case of a missing woman, Emily, as an example of how people with mental illness or justice involvement can become invisible, and said counties need more consistent training and clearer jurisdictional protocols. He and other officials supported the Feather Alert, tribal police authority, and a pilot program for POST status for tribal police, which they said had been vetoed previously. Across the hearing, speakers repeatedly called for better coordination, more funding, stronger tribal authority, and sustained action rather than symbolic recognition.

Transcript Highlights:

• Department of Education supporting higher education programs, as well as with the U.S.
• programs.
• Interestingly, education was one of the more negative views in terms of use of AI in education.
• Interestingly education was one of the more negative views in terms of use of AI and education people
• it goes almost without saying that a good AI program a good privacy program a good cybersecurity program

Keywords: 907, all

Summary: The committee held a series of informational briefings on information management and technology issues. It first heard from ACLU representatives on data privacy, who argued that Oregon should strengthen protections against private data brokers, government purchases of personal data, reverse warrants, automatic license plate readers, and local police surveillance. They urged data minimization, limits on data sales and retention, and broader transparency and accountability measures. Members asked about practical uses of license plate readers, state sales of data, and how Oregon’s approach compares with other states; the presenters said similar proposals have been adopted elsewhere, including data minimization in Maryland and a state version of the Fourth Amendment Is Not for Sale Act in Montana. The committee then received a detailed update from the Department of Administrative Services and Enterprise Information Services on licensing system modernization for 14 boards and commissions with the most immediate need. DAS said it is seeking a shared procurement approach through an RFP that would create either one scalable system or two tiers of systems, depending on agency needs and security requirements, with contracts expected by September. Committee members emphasized the need for a more unified, user-friendly statewide login and service experience for businesses and residents, and raised concerns about small agencies “figuring it out on their own” without sufficient cybersecurity or technical expertise. EIS said it is overseeing the investment review, security and architecture review, and future implementation planning, and noted that multiple agency requests may still come back to the legislature in the next session. The committee also discussed a revised cybersecurity incident notification concept. Staff explained that the earlier bill had raised stakeholder concerns, so the co-chairs directed further interim work with the Oregon Cybersecurity Advisory Council and other local government and K-12 stakeholders. The goal is a narrower, voluntary “911-style” notification process that would let public bodies alert peers and potentially receive assistance after cyber incidents; a temporary voluntary process is being tested now, with a work group developing language for possible 2027 consideration. Finally, the committee heard updates from the new state chief data officer on data governance, data sharing, geospatial work, and the state transparency website, followed by a briefing on data centers from NCSL and the Technology Association of Oregon. The data officer described efforts to expand data inventories, data governance plans, data literacy, and interagency sharing, along with statewide aerial imagery, geospatial standards, and the open data portal. The data center discussion focused on national and state trends, including rapid growth in data centers, rising electricity and water demand, and legislative responses such as new rate classes, reporting requirements, and cost-allocation rules to protect ratepayers. No votes were taken; the meeting was informational only.

Transcript Highlights:

• education committee. education committee.
• education standards. education standards.
• It replaces dental school or schools with dental and allied dental education programs to align with code
• > with dental education programs to align with dental education programs to align with uh uh uh code
• choices and education I might add. choices and education I might add.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And I remind you again, our program.
• At least 5 a foreign residency program.
• by the educational certification by the educational commission<00:21:00.640> for<00:21:00.880
• We have quality<00:26:36.960> programs.
• We have peerreview quality programs.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 173 from Senator David Givens, which would create a legislative review process for the state health plan and state plan amendments, modeled after the administrative regulations process. Givens argued the legislature should have a stronger policy role in reviewing the plan, saying the bill would allow lawmakers to find components deficient rather than approve them outright. He tied the proposal to Medicaid spending growth and projected enrollment changes, saying the state needs a new oversight tool. Committee members generally supported the concept, though Senator Berg expressed concern that the legislature lacks the executive branch’s healthcare expertise. The bill was reported favorably on a unanimous roll call vote. The committee then took up Senate Bill 137, sponsored by Chairman Meredith, which would create a pathway for certain internationally trained physicians to practice in Kentucky without repeating residency in the United States. Supporters said the bill is aimed at addressing Kentucky’s physician shortage, especially in rural areas, and cited projections of a statewide shortage of about 3,000 physicians by 2030 and a shortage of primary care doctors in particular. Testimony from Cicero Action and Baptist Health emphasized that many foreign-trained physicians are already fully trained, that residency slots are limited, and that the bill could help fill shortages in underserved counties while preserving quality through existing exams, ECFMG certification, English proficiency requirements, primary source verification, and mentoring/oversight. Several members raised questions and concerns. Senator Berg asked about verification, required exams, and oversight, and Senator Tishner raised concerns about fraudulent credentials in some countries and whether the bill could admit underqualified physicians. Witnesses responded that applicants would still have to pass the same exams, obtain ECFMG certification, and undergo primary-source credentialing and employer oversight. Supporters also argued the bill would not displace U.S.-trained physicians because it would use otherwise limited residency capacity more efficiently. After discussion, the committee adopted the bill and reported it favorably by unanimous vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• completed an impaired driver education completed an impaired driver education program<00:04:00.560
• <00:04:09.120> program their impaired driver education program their impaired driver education
• Survivor programs. There are also education programs for survivors.
• And the education programs, they're definitely effective.
• school program to educate the buyers. school program to educate the buyers.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have the public assistance program, which is FEMA's infrastructure program.
• We also managed the A program and the seed program that came through Oklahoma.
• This provides them an opportunity to get continuing job education. It's a great program.
• But great program, really assisting us along with your education support.
• So, I have there's in the program grew out of a federal program that was called GAP.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Higher education is not generations.
• <00:42:40.560> the that we can continue uh to educate the that we can continue uh to educate
• going to affect the state grant program. going to affect the state grant program.
• consistency for a higher education consistency for a higher education institution.<01:25:44.800>
• He said, "Education is remarks.

Bills: HF3432, HF3411

Keywords: resident tuition, employment, higher education, Minnesota, tuition rates, state universities, immigration status, immigration, postsecondary education, privacy, data access, federal officers, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• This space will feature local artist, cultural performance, cooking demonstration, and education programs
• Community education programs that share Community education programs that share Community diverse
• in the program can only engage the program through their cities.
• <01:35:38.520> mentorship<01:35:39.320> education grander programming mentorship education
• grander programming mentorship education and<01:35:40.000> Workforce and Workforce and Workforce

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• and some of their other community-based programs.
• for shared and inclusive Details about the program.
• So what is this program? What does it do?
• They can have that and still be a participant in this program, but it's not a requirement of the program
• not required for access to this program.

Keywords: 962, all

Summary: The meeting opened with approval of the April minutes and brief administrative updates, including notice that House Bill 5447 had passed both chambers of the General Assembly. Speakers reflected on the bill’s key provisions, which include eating-disorder working groups, an evidence-based screening requirement for school-based health centers beginning July 1, 2027, and a DSS-led feasibility process to explore an inpatient psychiatric facility for young adults ages 14 to 21. New staff introductions were also made for the Behavioral Health Advocate’s office and the TCB team. A major portion of the meeting focused on marketing and outreach for urgent crisis centers (UCCs) and the broader youth crisis continuum. Daydream Communications presented research showing low public awareness of UCCs but strong interest once families learn about them, with parents wanting specialized, compassionate care, clear expectations, insurance clarity, and bilingual support. United Way described its parallel work on a statewide crisis continuum marketing toolkit, using the SAMHSA framework of “someone to talk to, someone to respond, and somewhere safe to go,” and outlined plans to distribute consistent messaging through websites, social media, flyers, and community venues. Members emphasized coordinating with existing platforms and ensuring the marketing reflects the actual experience at UCC sites. DCF then presented on adolescent substance use services, citing data showing high need and low treatment access among Connecticut youth. The department reviewed its ASAM-based continuum, SBIRT efforts in outpatient psychiatric clinics, medication-assisted treatment access, and statewide services such as MST, MST emerging adults, STRIDE, multidimensional family therapy, youth recovery supports, and the AIM matching tool. A new young people peer support program was highlighted, with referrals accepted from families, hospitals, community providers, DCF, youth diversion, and the judicial branch. Questions addressed parent consent, peer matching, and whether the AIM tool could be linked through 211. The meeting concluded with an update from the Connecticut Suicide Advisory Board and its regional boards and grant-funded initiatives. Presenters reviewed the state suicide prevention plan, regional coalition work, postvention response, lethal means safety efforts, and the 988 capacity improvement grant that supports Connecticut’s centralized 988 contact center at United Way. They also shared youth suicide risk data from the Connecticut Youth Risk Behavior Survey, noting recent declines in reported suicidal ideation and attempts, and provided resources for training and materials. No formal votes were taken beyond the approval of the April minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• included in the 2023, um, education budget.
• appropriated uh uh for the uh program appropriated uh uh for the uh program coming<00:05:59.440>
• Most serve students through some type of program, whether it's special education, vocational education
• 09:49.279> uh<00:09:49.760> uh it's special education uh uh uh it's special education uh
• <00:13:50.560> at um some current effective programs at um some current effective programs

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee heard House File 3492, which would create a $25 million grant program for school safety and security improvements, funded by a reduction in a prior appropriation for the Northern Lights Express rail project. The bill would allow grants of up to $500,000 through the Department of Education for school districts, charter schools, cooperative units, tribal contract schools, and nonpublic schools. Staff explained that the bill uses the language of clause 7 of the safe schools revenue statute, focusing on facility security enhancements such as laminated glass, public announcement systems, emergency communication devices, and related equipment and modifications. Testifiers and members generally supported the goal of improving school safety, but there was disagreement about the bill’s scope. Supporters, including a superintendent and a nonpublic school principal, said the bill would help pay for one-time hardening costs like secure entrances, door locks, redesigned offices, and other physical security upgrades, and argued that all schools and students should be eligible. Several members raised concerns that the bill is too narrow and too competitive, could disadvantage districts without grant writers, and should also allow broader uses such as counselors, social workers, SROs, or mental health supports. Others said the bill should prioritize physical security and that one-time dollars are best used for one-time facility improvements. No vote was taken. The chair indicated the bill would be laid over, and the discussion ended with the author saying the proposal is not a fix-all but a starting point for school safety investments.

Transcript Highlights:

• program.
• program.
• program.
• County program aid county program aid.
• so that their students in those schools that do not have industrial education programs but need to get

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• He has no business being in education.
• He has no business being in education.
• Within the graduation alternative to traditional education, GATE program, offers a unique opportunity
• Changes the name of the Florida Educational Equity Act to the Florida Educational Equality Act, reinforcing
• Changes the name of the Florida Educational Equity Act to the Florida Educational Equality Act, reinforcing

Summary: The Committee on Education Postsecondary heard two bills. First, it considered Senate Bill 312 relating to the Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition. The committee took up a strike-all amendment and then a secondary amendment offered by Senator Fine to clarify that the current University of West Florida Board of Trustees chair would have no role in the organization. Members described the changes as friendly, and both amendments were adopted. The bill, as amended, was then reported favorably by roll call vote. The committee then heard Senate Bill 1624 on higher education, which was presented as a broad higher-education package. The bill would set market-rate out-of-state fees for nonresident online students, revise financial aid and support program language, provide tuition and fee waivers for Florida State Guard members, change rules for adult and career education programs, redirect certain workforce-related funds, rename Hillsborough Community College as Hillsborough State College, rename the Florida Educational Equity Act as the Florida Educational Equality Act, adjust appointments to certain boards and councils, update admissions and scholarship references to include the classical learning test, broaden the definition of opioid antagonist, repeal a grandparent-based out-of-state fee waiver, and strengthen FIU’s Office of Ocean Economy. There was no public testimony or debate, and the bill was reported favorably by roll call vote. The meeting concluded after both measures were approved and no further business was raised.

Transcript Highlights:

• So you are working with public education and higher education.
• programs.
• We provide funding to a program So it would depend on the program and what the parameters of the program
• It's this program.
• They want this program.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is the higher education budget bill.
• get at the problems facing higher educ get at the problems facing higher educ education<00:02:32.480
• . education. education.
• the value of education. the value of education.
• people to come into the education field. people to come into the education field.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll be on our 1245 presentation: Center for Distance Education. Center for Distance Education?
• So, Chairman Toman, Senator Hogan, and members of the committee, we don't have an educated—or, educated
• We have two people in our education department who provide education to all of us, and so we do rely
• or an expanded program.
• And if it's a pilot program, what's the cost to fully implement it, not just to implement the pilot program

Summary: The task force reviewed survey results from state agencies on potential statutory revisions, with Levi reporting 70 proposals from 20 agencies and noting that about 33 might become agency pre-file bills. Members discussed the need to share the survey more broadly within higher education and to better coordinate issues involving IT and other cross-agency functions. The task force then heard from the Office of Management and Budget on three topics: concessions, architect/engineering pre-qualification, and legal notices. OMB said the concessions law is outdated and inconsistent with current practice, and suggested a collaborative rewrite to allow best-value evaluation, raise the threshold, and standardize solicitation templates. On architect/engineering pre-qualification, OMB proposed expanding authority beyond current state-agency limits and creating uniform templates. On legal notices, OMB proposed modernizing publication requirements, exploring online and abbreviated notices, and working with newspapers and other stakeholders on technology and accessibility improvements. Members asked about where concession revenues go, whether political subdivisions must follow the same rules, and how to move from discussion to action. The task force agreed to have OMB work with Legislative Council and affected stakeholders to develop bill drafts, and the motion passed unanimously. The University of North Dakota then presented a series of proposed revisions focused on public buildings and procurement. UND asked to rework the definition of construction so routine maintenance and one-for-one replacements over $250,000 would not automatically trigger public-improvement requirements, suggested raising the threshold to $500,000, and asked for more flexibility based on project complexity and risk. UND also proposed changes to public bid advertisements to reflect electronic bidding, revisions to construction manager-at-risk selection criteria, changes to architect/engineer procurement rules, an increase in the direct-hire design threshold, and a higher legislative-consent threshold for privately funded projects. The task force supported having UND work with counsel and OMB to develop bill drafts, and that motion also passed. The Department of Public Instruction concluded with proposed cleanup to credentialing and education statutes. DPI recommended reviewing its credential categories for relevance, possibly transferring credentialing authority to the Education Standards and Practices Board, removing outdated school safety patrol language, clarifying waiver provisions, and updating dyslexia screening reporting requirements so the statute reflects current practice. Members focused mainly on whether the dyslexia reporting requirement should remain, and DPI said the screening itself would continue even if reporting language were revised. No votes were taken on DPI’s suggestions, and the task force recessed after the presentation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Florida's current swim lesson voucher program applies to kids age 0 to 4, so just as kids are able to
• We already require this in continuing education programs.
• But we have no requirement in our education programs of nurses.
• And some concerns were brought up about the core program and the nursing programs themselves and the
• Thinking of the bill concerning education for nursing students to receive education in human trafficking

Summary: The Senate Health Policy Committee met with a quorum and considered several health-related bills, most of them focused on drowning prevention and public safety. SB 428, by Senator Yarborough, would expand Florida’s swim lesson voucher program from children ages 0-4 to ages 1-7. The sponsor and supporting testimony from a pediatric emergency physician and YMCA representatives emphasized Florida’s high drowning rates, especially among very young children, and argued that swim lessons can significantly reduce risk. Senator Harrell noted the need to revisit the funding allocation as eligibility expands. The bill was reported favorably. The committee also heard SB 606, by Senator Smith, which adds drowning prevention and safe bathing practices to postpartum education provided by hospitals, birthing centers, and, after amendment, no longer requires home birth providers to maintain proof of compliance. A parent who lost a child to drowning and Senator Berman spoke in strong support, stressing that the bill would educate new parents at a critical time. The committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably as a committee substitute. SB 162, by Senator Davis, would require hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers to adopt policies using smoke evacuation systems during procedures that generate surgical smoke. The sponsor said the equipment is relatively low-cost and already used in many facilities, while several witnesses supported the bill as a worker-safety measure. Other senators raised concerns about the lack of data, possible rural hospital impacts, and whether the mandate could add costs without clear evidence of harm. Despite those concerns, the bill was reported favorably. The committee also passed SB 340, by Senator Harrell, requiring nursing students to complete a two-hour human trafficking course before licensure, after amending the bill to shift the requirement from nursing programs to the students themselves. Testimony from a trafficking survivor and nursing advocates supported the measure, and it was reported favorably as a committee substitute. Finally, SB 192, presented by Senator Trumbull on behalf of Senator Martin, removed the $1,500 cap on advances chiropractic physicians may collect for examinations or treatment; chiropractic industry representatives supported the change, and the bill was reported favorably.