Transcript Highlights:

• So, HCA oversees the funding, authorizations, and access to care.
• Thirty-six children are authorized by DDCS for PDN, and 234 children are authorized by the MCOs.
• More than 3,050 hours a month of private duty nursing is authorized.
• These are things home health aides are not authorized to do.
• These are things home health aids are not authorized to do.

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:

• between, uh, Senator Murphy and Senator Johnson and the governor included the Senate Republicans authoring
• , uh, and providing the vast authoring, uh, and providing the vast majority<00:02:36.480><c> of</c><00
• and energy guard rails um that<00:09:31.120><c> will</c><00:09:31.360><c> be</c><00:09:31.839><c> in
• They've been able to author bills. We've got next year that they can continue doing that work.
• They've been able to uh author<00:20:04.960><c> bills.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Valley, for example, last year, there was a large land purchase by some hedge funds out of the East Coast
• I oppose this SCM because it asks Congress to weaken the EPA's authority based on claims that ...because
• it asks Congress to weaken the EPA's authority based on claims that conflict with established science
• EPA has a clear role in protecting air quality and public health, and courts have acknowledged its authority

Summary: The Senate Natural Resources Committee approved its January 13, 2026 minutes and held over Senate Bills 1041 and 11676 for further review. The main substantive hearing was on SB 1197, which would let owners of irrigation grandfather rights in subsequent active management areas sell, lease, or transfer the associated water duty within the same AMA, including for non-irrigated acreage. The sponsor said the bill was intended to help wineries and other farmers in the Willcox and Douglas areas adjust field layouts and expand within existing water limits. Testimony was mixed: the Sierra Club and Rural Arizona Action opposed the bill, warning it could increase groundwater pumping without requiring reductions or tying transfers to AMA management goals, while the City of Willcox and ADWR were neutral but asked for clearer safeguards and statutory guardrails. The committee passed SB 1197 on a 4-3 vote, with one member not voting. The committee then heard and passed SB 1198, which continues the Arizona Beef Council for eight years until July 1, 2034, and SB 1199, which continues the Arizona State Veterinary Examining Board for eight years until July 1, 2034. Both measures received unanimous or near-unanimous support, with members noting the importance of the beef industry and concerns about the shortage of rural and large-animal veterinarians. Finally, the committee considered SCM 1004, a memorial urging Congress to clarify and limit the EPA’s powers and address what the sponsor described as regulatory overreach. Supporters framed it as a call for Congress to fix unclear federal law, while opponents argued it would weaken science-based environmental protections and ignore climate and air-quality concerns. The memorial was approved on a 4-3 vote, and the committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• He was tragically lost at sea while conducting a mission off the coast of Somalia on January 12, 2024
• Any questions right now for, uh, the bill author? Thank you again for bringing this forward.
• Members, any questions for the bill author? OK, so chair calls Greg De Grazia.
• Members, any questions for the bill author? Thank you again for being here today.

Transcript Highlights:

• There's no authority that's going to go and check to see if they're actually occupied, the truth and
• There's no authority that's going to go and check to see if they're actually occupied, the truth and
• There's no authority that's going to go and check to see if they're actually occupied, the truth and
• There's no authority that's going to go and check to see if they're actually occupied, the truth and
• It simply authorizes certain people to take action to stop it, but it does not say that them doing it

Summary: The committee took up several claims bills first and reported both favorably without debate. SB 20, relating to relief of J.N., a minor, would pay the remaining $400,000 of a $600,000 settlement after an 11-year-old was injured on a Hillsborough County sidewalk with a known defect; SB 14, relating to the estate of Pineal Januier, would authorize payment of the remaining $1.7 million of a $2 million settlement after a drowning at a Miami Beach youth center pool. Both bills were supported by the sponsors and the Senate Special Master’s favorable recommendations, and both passed on roll call votes. The committee then considered SJR 1510 and its implementing bill, SB 1512, both by Senator Avila, which would create a new property tax benefit for owners who lease a non-homestead residential property for more than six months in order to encourage more affordable rental housing. Local governments, the Florida League of Cities, and the Florida Association of Counties opposed the proposal, warning of major revenue losses, impacts on public safety and services, and uncertainty for local budgets; several senators also questioned whether landlords would pass savings on to renters and whether the measure would worsen density and parking issues. Despite the opposition, both measures were reported favorably after the sponsor said the bills would be refined and revised. SB 674, by Senator Wright, was reported favorably with support from property appraisers who said it would let them budget and pay hiring or retention bonuses, similar to authority already given to tax collectors, to help compete for specialized staff. CS for CS SB 268, by Senator Jones, also passed after an amendment adding congressional members; the bill would create a public-records exemption for certain home-address information for elected officials, and debate centered on balancing transparency with safety after members described death threats and harassment. The committee then approved SB 100, by Senator Fine, which would bar government buildings from displaying flags representing political viewpoints and allow active or retired military or National Guard members to use reasonable force to stop desecration of the U.S. flag; the bill drew extensive opposition from transparency, civil rights, and LGBTQ advocates who argued it was vague, unconstitutional, and aimed at pride flags, while supporters said government should not endorse political messages. Finally, CS for SB 1664, by Senator Trumbull, was reported favorably after a strike-all amendment. The bill would require voter reapproval every eight years for certain local discretionary taxes, including tourist development taxes and some local option taxes, unless pledged to revenue bonds. Cities, counties, tourism groups, and the lodging industry opposed it, saying the measure would create uncertainty, threaten tourism marketing and beach restoration funding, and make long-term infrastructure and debt planning difficult. Senator Trumbull argued the proposal simply gives voters a recurring chance to decide whether they still support the taxes and the projects they fund.

Transcript Highlights:

• Yes, I want to thank my co-author, the chair of our health committee, and my colleague from San Diego
• The National Guard extended their presence helping in the Palisades for a lot longer than I think had
• David proudly served nine years in the Army National Guard, and that experience reflected his strong
• His commitment to education, his service in the National Guard, and his devotion to family leave a legacy

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, approved the journals, referred AB 1457 to Rules, and moved SB 1241 and SB 1422 to the inactive file. The chamber then considered two gubernatorial appointments: Tanya Pacheco Werner to the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District Board and Dr. Paulette Brown-Hines to the California Transportation Commission. Both nominees were presented by Senator Grove, received unanimous support, and were confirmed by roll call votes of 34-0 and 36-0, respectively. The Senate also took up SR 104 by Senator Becker, a resolution recognizing healthy aging and longevity research as a public health and economic priority for California. Supporters argued that aging drives chronic disease, that California’s growing older population will increase health care needs, and that the state should lead in prevention, early intervention, and research partnerships. Senator Weber Pearson emphasized health equity concerns, including disparities affecting Black Californians and underrepresented communities in clinical research. SR 104 passed unanimously, 35-0. After adoption, Senator Becker introduced guests from USC, UC Berkeley, the Buck Institute, and other longevity and health organizations. Committee announcements followed, including upcoming meetings of Energy, Utilities and Communications; Military and Veterans Affairs; and Privacy, Digital Technologies and Consumer Protection. The Senate then heard adjournment-in-memory tributes for Larry Vane, a Pacific Palisades community volunteer who helped with wildfire recovery, and David Sandell, an educator, coach, National Guard veteran, and school administrator. The session concluded after completion of the daily file, with the Senate set to reconvene on June 11, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• There's guard rails we need to at least have some guard rails.
• There's guard rails we need to at least have some guard rails.
• ><03:05:48.080><c> I</c> have some guard rails and while I have some guard rails and while I understand
• </c> bringing guns to the polls the authors bringing guns to the polls the authors of<03:26:05.960><c
• </c><03:35:36.279><c> to</c> federal government's authority to federal government's authority to regulate

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:57:21.280><c> to</c><00:57:21.440><c> get</c> but as a courtesy to the author to get but as a
• courtesy to the author to get the<00:57:21.680><c> bill</c><00:57:21.839><c> in</c><00:57:22.000><c>
• </c> the bill in the shape that the author the bill in the shape that the author wishes.<00:57:23.839
• Um yes, the A1 amendment is language that was worked on in the Senate with the Senate author and other
• </c><01:32:25.360><c> and</c> Senate with uh the Senate author and Senate with uh the Senate author and

Bills: HF2634, HF2241, HF2649, HF2520, HF2610

Keywords: North Star Promise, scholarship, higher education, Minnesota Office of Higher Education, in-demand jobs, workforce development, career training, job market, high-demand occupations, high-demand industries, college aid, state financial aid, FAFSA, student eligibility, program of study, degree program, certificate program, community college, university, labor market data

Transcript Highlights:

• removing<00:06:35.000><c> some</c><00:06:35.160><c> of</c><00:06:35.280><c> the</c><00:06:35.400><c> guard
• </c><00:06:35.639><c> rails</c><00:06:36.479><c> related</c> removing some of the guard rails related
• removing some of the guard rails related to<00:06:37.000><c> the</c><00:06:37.120><c> restructuring<
• So, I mean, the entire statement is: the department shall have the authority to investigate any matter
• </c><00:14:58.279><c> to</c> department shall have the authority to department shall have the authority

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Augustine and home of First Coast Technical College.
• We met with probably about 20 manufacturers up and down the coast, and it turned out they had the same
• And we met with probably about 20 manufacturers up and down the coast.

Summary: The Careers and Workforce Subcommittee met for its first meeting of the year, took roll, and heard member introductions centered on the importance of workforce pathways beyond the traditional four-year college route. Members repeatedly emphasized manufacturing, trades, rural workforce needs, apprenticeships, and helping students and adults find multiple paths to good jobs. The chair outlined the subcommittee’s focus on policies that build a skilled workforce and announced the day’s theme would be manufacturing, with presentations from the Florida Department of Commerce, the Florida Semiconductor Institute, and Fleet Force CDL training. Secretary Alex Kelly presented Florida’s manufacturing report, saying manufacturing is a major economic driver and that Florida has become the 10th largest state in manufacturing employment. He highlighted strong job multipliers, rapid growth in manufacturing GDP and establishments, the importance of logistics and ports, and the state’s small-business-heavy manufacturing base. He also stressed the aging manufacturing workforce, the need for modern skills such as robotics, cybersecurity, and data analytics, and the role of public-private partnerships, apprenticeships, and workforce education investments in supporting reshoring and industry growth. Dr. David Arnold described Florida’s semiconductor sector and the Florida Semiconductor Institute’s mission to grow research, workforce, and ecosystem development. He said semiconductors are strategically important, Florida ranks fifth nationally in semiconductor workforce, and the main bottleneck is mid-level technician talent rather than engineers or entry-level workers. He pointed to NeoCity, Valencia College, and other regional partnerships as models, and said the state needs more proactive planning, better instructor capacity, and stronger pathways from K-12 through postsecondary. Evan Agiloff of Fleet Force discussed Florida’s CDL shortage, saying trucking is essential to the supply chain, Florida has about 18,000 open CDL positions, and Fleet Force’s college-based model can quickly move students into middle-class jobs. Members asked about apprenticeships, CTE pathways, semiconductor training, infrastructure needs, and how to expand and better fund workforce programs; no votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• to issue bonds, providing authority to impose assessments.
• The TCEQ and the PUC are authorized to permit a public utility agency to serve as a temporary manager
• The governor shall designate a member of the board as the president of the authority.
• So House Bill 5559 makes real clear that they have that authority.
• Groundwater districts don't have administrative penalty authority like the TCEQ or the PUC.

Bills: HB 4530, HB 4931, HB 5559, HB 5560

Keywords: water rights, Texas Water Trust, water bank, environmental conservation, water quality, instream flows, aquifer, water injection, Edwards Aquifer, environmental regulation, groundwater, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, water conservation, drought, utility regulation, water use restrictions, Public Utility Commission, civil penalties, drought contingency, environmental protection

Transcript Highlights:

• This is not the time for the fox to be guarding the hen house.
• This is not the time for the fox to be guarding the hen house.
• This is not the time for the fox to be guarding the hen house.
• </c> STR65 SR50 urging the stadium authority STR65 SR50 urging the stadium authority to<00:21:13.520>
• Of the city authority testimony in support. Thank you.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard several resolutions focused on economic development, tourism, agriculture, and gaming. It first took up a measure to support advanced manufacturing and cybersecurity through the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation, with testimony from DBEDT, HTDC, and APE Hawaii in support. Witnesses said the proposal aligns with federal and university partnerships, could help small and medium-sized businesses, and could support use of industrial sites such as the Mililani Technology Park. The committee then considered a resolution asking DBEDT to sponsor a Michelin Guide for restaurants statewide; testimony was mixed, with support for culinary recognition but concerns about cost and uncertainty over the return on investment. The committee amended that measure to require review and evaluation of the cost and benefit before sponsorship. The committee also heard a resolution directing the Agribusiness Development Corporation to assume routine maintenance and repair of the Kohala ditch. ADC testified that it would need to meet with stakeholders, assess the damage, and likely spend the first year determining needed repairs before seeking additional capital funding; members noted a prior $10 million appropriation and asked that the committee report reflect a transfer of those funds to ADC. The measure was moved forward as is, with that comment for the report. The most extensive discussion centered on a resolution to establish a tourism and gaming working group within DBEDT. Supporters included DBEDT, Aloha Halawa District Partners, labor representatives, the stadium authority, and Boyd Gaming, who described it as a first step to gather data and recommendations before any gaming policy decisions. Opponents argued the gaming industry should not help write the rules, warned about problem gambling and outside corporate influence, and urged the committee to reject the measure. The committee ultimately passed the resolution with an SD1 and technical amendments, and members said they would keep the issue open for further discussion, including possible inclusion of AHDP in the working group. The committee also heard and advanced a separate resolution urging the stadium authority to finalize the new Aloha Stadium contract and continue work on the entertainment district, with testimony both supporting the project and opposing it in favor of more housing. The committee voted to pass the stadium resolution as well.

Transcript Highlights:

• These include authority for Commerce to continue hurricane recovery and mitigation programs across the
• We continue funding the State Guard for another year for a total of $33.9 million.
• In the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, DACS is still authorized to issue licenses to
• The House has $36 million in general revenue, and then they give some matching trust fund authority.
• And the Senate also includes for the state attorneys an additional 300,000 in trust fund authority to

Summary: The Senate took up the 2026-2027 budget package, beginning with an overview of the $115 billion General Appropriations Bill (SB 2500). Appropriations Chair Hooper said the budget reduces overall spending from the prior year, preserves reserves, and includes a 3% pay raise for state employees and 5% raises for law enforcement, firefighters, correctional officers, and park rangers. Committee chairs then highlighted major spending in their areas, including K-12 education, higher education, health and human services, criminal and civil justice, transportation/economic development, and environmental/agricultural programs. Major items discussed included school funding increases, workforce and university investments, Medicaid and child welfare funding, corrections operating deficits, housing and hurricane recovery, Everglades and water quality projects, and state employee compensation. Members asked detailed questions about several budget items. In education, senators discussed teacher salaries, declining enrollment supplements, scholarship funding growth, and charter school capital outlay. In higher education, they asked about Bright Futures, New College funding, and the EASE grant program. In health and human services, senators focused on the iBudget waiver, Medicaid hospital rate reductions, the ADAP HIV drug program, and the use of opioid settlement funds. In criminal justice, questions centered on DOC deficits, inmate health care and food service costs, public defender and state attorney funding, and whether the budget would prevent the need for National Guard support. In environmental and state agency budgets, senators discussed Florida Forever land acquisition, conservation easements, cultural grants, the Emergency Management Trust Fund, and election security funding. After the budget presentations and questions, the Senate substituted House bills for the Senate budget bills and adopted amendments to place Senate language onto the House vehicles for conference. The chamber passed HB 5001, the appropriations bill, by a 36-0 vote and agreed to conference. It also passed the implementing bill, collective bargaining and state employee bills, retirement legislation, fuel tax and SLERS bills, the court trust fund bill, judicial certification bill, K-12 and higher education conforming bills, and other related measures, generally by unanimous votes. Several motions were adopted to request the House to pass the Senate versions or include them in budget conference.

Transcript Highlights:

• These include authority for Commerce to continue hurricane recovery and mitigation programs across the
• We continue funding the State Guard for another year for a total of $33.9 million.
• The House has $36 million in general revenue, and then they give some matching trust fund authority.
• The House has $36 million in general revenue, and then they give some matching trust fund authority.
• And the Senate also includes, for the state attorneys, an additional $300,000 in trust fund authority

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Pea and Yellow Rivers Watershed Management Authority.
• Alabama cards, but most of those funds were being stolen out of New York, out of the Northeast, the West Coast
• They help provide clinical criteria for the agency to use when we're doing prior authorizations.

Keywords: 924, joint, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We may have to pause until we get authors to come in.
• And since we don't—oh, we have an author now. And since we don't—oh, we have an author now.
• We do look forward to working with the authors and sponsors on the bill.
• Thank you to the author for bringing this bill forward.
• Good afternoon, Chair and committee, and to the author and proponents.

Summary: The Local Government Committee met on March 25, 2026, hearing eight bills, with several measures focused on housing, water, and local government administration. AB 1621 by Assemblymember Wilson sought to speed post-entitlement housing permits by setting clearer timelines, limiting repeated plan checks, and restricting field changes that conflict with approved plans. Supporters from the building, apartment, business, and housing sectors said the bill would reduce delays and costs, while county and city representatives opposed it unless amended, warning it could limit local enforcement of building and environmental codes and create problems for incomplete applications. The bill passed after a roll call vote, with the committee noting it would continue working with local government groups on amendments. The committee also heard AB 1712, which would help Santa Fe Springs sell its small, financially strained water system to a larger regulated provider without requiring a municipal election, using a protest process instead. The author and city officials said the system faces contamination, major deferred maintenance, and rate increases that could otherwise triple; water industry representatives supported the bill and no opposition was heard. AB 2080, sponsored by county treasurers, would make county delegations of investment authority to treasurers ongoing until revoked rather than requiring annual renewal, with supporters saying it would reduce administrative burden and avoid technical lapses. AB 2640 would allow local governments to offset reductions in reimbursement for disallowed state mandate claims against other unpaid mandate reimbursements; Shasta County testified in support, describing a large audit disallowance and long-delayed state payments. Both bills passed. The committee also approved consent items AB 1622 and AB 1834. AB 2180, which would codify a framework for proportional water rates under Proposition 218 based on the Dreher decision, drew broad support from water agencies and local government groups, but opposition from the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association and the California Association of Realtors, who argued the bill was premature while the Supreme Court reviews related case law. Despite that opposition, the bill passed on a 6-2 vote, and the remaining bills were advanced with roll calls left open for additional votes before adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• We may have to pause until we get the authors to come in.
• And since we don't—oh, we have an author now. And since we don't—oh, we have an author now.
• We do look forward to working with the authors and sponsors on the bill.
• Thank you to the author for bringing this bill forward.
• Good afternoon, Chair and committee, and to the author and proponents.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This designation authorizes the port to issue overweight permits along their approved routes, which includes
• -Mexico border and is the country's largest landowning port authority, encompassing 40,000...
• The recognized author, Senator Hughes, will explain the bill. Thank you, Mr. Chairman and members.
• The Mobility Authority also partnered with us.
• Narrowed to an entity I authorize under that chapter, that would be different, right?

Bills: SB 682, SB 1013, SB 1369, SB 1422, SB 2001, SB 2080, SB 2366, SB 2705, SB 2841

Keywords: memorial highway, Captain Kevin Williams, Firefighter Austin Cheek, Smith County, transportation, pedestrian right-of-way, sidewalk users, bicycle safety, micromobility, electric scooter, motor-assisted scooter, electric personal assistive mobility device, skateboard, roller skates, driveway crossing, alley crossing, traffic safety, yield law, Texas Transportation Code, vehicle-pedestrian collision

Summary: The meeting of the committee focused on several bills aimed at enhancing the operational efficiency of Texas transportation and port authorities. Key discussions included the implications of SB2080, which seeks to streamline operations for navigation districts by raising procurement authority, exempting security discussions from recording requirements, and aligning Texas ports with national standards to foster economic growth. Senator Alvarado advocated fervently for the bill, emphasizing its positive impact on competitiveness with ports in states like Virginia and New Jersey. Public testimony reflected mixed responses, with strong support from industry representatives but opposition from some municipal authorities concerned about the potential overreach of port authorities into local development.

Transcript Highlights:

• In 2003, she joined the Hawaii National Guard.
• Throughout her political career, she maintained her military service either in the National Guard or
• We've worn the same uniforms, serving in the Army National Guard and Army Reserves, leading Battalions
• I've done for almost 22 years now of wearing the uniform, both serving in the National Guard and the
• were other provisions within that legislation that granted very vague and serious... grandiose authorities

Transcript Highlights:

• The flies will be escorted to the rostrum by the Sergeant at Arms color guard, Abigail Simperich and
• We serve a God with all authority, love, and wisdom.
• Let your spirit guide minds toward thoughtful solutions and guard hearts from pride or haste.

Bills: HB2720, HB2073, HB2681, HB2720, HB2073, HB2681, SB5467, SB5820, SB5863, SB5892, SCR8406

Keywords: behavioral health, emergency services, health insurance, provider access, mental health funding, premium assistance, funding, healthcare, subsidies, cannabis, license fees, regulatory framework, revenue generation, legalization, SB 5467, water-sewer district, water sewer district, surplus property, public property sale, local government