Transcript Highlights:

• So you have to talk to the nursing homes. I go, what do you mean they changed a rule?
• And the rule was within the nursing homes.
• Whenever someone died in a nursing home previous to COVID, the physician in the nursing home was just
• I've been a respiratory therapy educator for 37 years before my retirement.
• And the cost of education, cost to prepare as a respiratory therapist, is high.

Committee: House Professional Registration and Licensing

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• home, personal care, private nursing facilities, and PACE.
• These include any sort of nursing home, any boarding care facility.
• These include any sort of nursing home, any boarding care facility.
• And are y'all responsible for educating these providers as to what they can or cannot do?
• I know there's also front-end education for providers provided by DHS.

Committee: All LEGISLATIVE JOINT AUDITING-MEDICAID SUBCOMMITTEE

Summary: The Medicaid Subcommittee of the Legislative Joint Auditing Committee met to adopt the November 2018 minutes and receive a primer on the subcommittee’s role and Medicaid oversight in Arkansas. Legislative audit staff reviewed the subcommittee’s history and explained that Medicaid is audited annually through the statewide single audit because it is a high-risk federal program. Staff summarized recent audit findings, including weaknesses in eligibility and data-matching controls, improper use of Medicaid funds for partially non-Medicaid work, issues with incarcerated juveniles’ coverage, the absence of a Medicaid recovery audit contractor program exception request, reporting problems involving MFCU recoveries, and provider eligibility documentation concerns. Staff also noted a DHS departmental audit finding involving employees who improperly received benefits, which was referred for further action. The Department of Human Services gave an overview of Medicaid’s structure, eligibility, delivery systems, and budget. DHS described Arkansas Medicaid as covering about 850,000 people through fee-for-service, managed care, and premium assistance for the expansion population, and outlined major spending categories such as institutional care, long-term services, pharmacy, capitated payments, and supplemental payments. DHS also explained the difference between state plan amendments and waivers, and said it has a beneficiary-fraud unit that refers cases to local prosecutors. The Office of Medicaid Inspector General described its role in detecting and preventing fraud, waste, and abuse, distinguishing between suspensions for credible allegations of fraud and recovery actions for mistakes or overpayments. OMIG said it works with DHS and law enforcement, issues quarterly and annual reports, and has increased recoveries in recent years. The Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit explained that it prosecutes provider fraud criminally and civilly, can also handle long-term care neglect, abuse, and exploitation cases, and works with local prosecutors as special deputies. Committee members asked about court venue, provider suspensions, beneficiary fraud, education of providers, and the status of Medicaid expansion work requirements; DHS said it is preparing to implement community engagement requirements under HR 1 and will begin with a soft launch before full enforcement. No formal votes were taken beyond adoption of the minutes, and the meeting adjourned after questions were answered.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm an interventional cardiology nurse practitioner.
• I'm an interventional cardiology nurse practitioner.
• This is nursing care. This is skilled care.
• I am Joey Rydenow, the Executive Director of the Board of Nursing.
• And people are definitely more educated, and I'm proud of that.

Committee: Senate Senate Health and Human Services COR

Summary: The committee heard a series of bills and public testimony, beginning with introductions and then taking up several health and human services measures. A major focus was SB 1120 and SB 1121, which address radiation protection in cardiac catheterization and other ionizing-radiation procedure rooms. SB 1120 would require health care facilities to equip at least 50% of procedure rooms with radiation protection systems by July 1, 2027, while SB 1121 would prohibit requiring lead aprons in rooms with such systems and instead require real-time dosimeters for staff who opt out of lead aprons. Physicians, nurses, and a hospital executive testified that enhanced radiation protection systems can dramatically reduce occupational exposure, lower cancer and orthopedic risks, and help with workforce recruitment and retention; a hospital alliance remained neutral pending further stakeholder discussions. Both bills were amended and passed out of committee on 7-0 votes, and SB 1118, which appropriates state funds for a rural hospital grant program to install radiation protection systems, also passed 7-0. The committee also approved SB 1001, which appropriates $1 million to the Department of Economic Security for the Older Individuals Who Are Blind program, after testimony from blind and low-vision Arizonans and advocates describing long waitlists, the need for independent living training, and the program’s role in preventing unnecessary dependence. SB 1072, a major funding bill for home- and community-based services and room-and-board rate increases for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, drew testimony from providers about severe staffing shortages, overtime, turnover, and underfunding; it passed 6-0 with one not voting. SB 1125, requiring DCS to pursue MOUs with tribes and improve tribal communication and access to licensing and enforcement information, also passed 6-0 with one not voting. The committee then considered SB 1123, which removes a board-certification requirement so trained forensic pathologists can supervise autopsy training for residents and fellows; Maricopa County supported it as a workforce and training fix, and it passed 6-0 with one not voting. SB 1052, allowing mild hyperbaric oxygen therapy in assisted living facilities under physician order and DHS rules, generated mixed testimony: supporters argued it could improve health and independence for residents, while opponents raised concerns about off-label treatment in nonmedical settings. The bill passed 5-2. SB 1112, which reduces the number of acquaintance witnesses required in court-ordered treatment proceedings from two to one and allows the court to waive the witness requirement under certain conditions, drew strong testimony from families and mental health advocates on both sides; it passed 5-2. The committee also began hearing SB 1113, which would allow certain service of process in court-ordered evaluation and treatment cases by evaluation-agency employees or other court-authorized persons, but the transcript cuts off before final action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> nation for overall educational nation for overall educational attainment<00:15:10.759><c> um</c>
• There's a lot of nursing program, like summer nursing type programs.
• Nursing program, like summer nursing type programs.
• They are our future nurses, entrepreneurs, diplomats, public school educators, architects, and mechanical
• Education?

Committee: House Higher Education Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• On Workforce Education by Senator Simon. Good afternoon.
• My passion for education is deeply personal.
• I've also had a passion for education.
• I started off as an educator, educating our youth in our public school system.
• We're so proud of what we do in the nursing, not only in the nothing population, adding nurses, too,

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c> &gt;&gt; Senate Bill 119, Chair Education, &gt;&gt; Senate Bill 119, Chair Education, Energy,<00
• Each nursing home assistant renewed.
• ><c> nurse</c><00:37:17.359><c> midwife</c><00:37:17.839><c> that</c> living program and nurse midwife
• Board of Education Transparency Act.
• </c> Maryland State Department of Education Maryland State Department of Education to<00:48:20.640><c

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Tuesday, February 17, 2026, 960, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> included in the House, including nursing included in the House, including nursing and<00:10:28.320
• </c> are included uh related to nursing are included uh related to nursing facility<00:10:39.680><c>
• Line 701 is a nursing provisions.
• </c> related to CADBI nursing level of care. related to CADBI nursing level of care.
• </c><00:19:26.320><c> facility</c> certain time limited nursing facility certain time limited nursing

Bills: HF2434

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Keywords: healthcare, personal care assistance, worker retention, disability services, state funding, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I've been a nurse for 17 years.
• I've been a nurse for 17 years.
• My name is Tammy Spanth, and I have been a forensic nurse for over 16 years.
• But forensic nurses understand.
• Nurses frequently had to pay for their SANE education and continuing education at their own cost and

Committee: Senate Judiciary B

Keywords: 974, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• First and foremost, educator wages are abysmal.
• I'm a nurse at the Brigham and Women's Hospital and the President of the Massachusetts Nurses Association
• I could see why you lead the MNA, the Nurses Association.
• assistant in a nursing home, in spite of working 60 to 65 hours a week, In a nursing home, in spite
• First, the core goals of fighting educator unions.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The hearing focused on employment rights legislation, especially the Protect Labor Act (H. 2086/S. 1327), which would create state-level labor protections if federal private-sector labor law is weakened or struck down, and would also add protections such as bans on captive audience meetings, virtual elections, stronger misclassification rules, and protections for health care workers and immigrant workers. Supporters from the AFL-CIO, nurses, SEIU, UAW, building trades, teachers, graduate workers, and policy groups argued that the bill is needed because of Trump administration actions, Project 2025, and threats to the NLRA and NLRB. They described the bill as a “trigger” law meant to preserve organizing and bargaining rights in Massachusetts if federal protections disappear or if the NLRB declines jurisdiction over certain workers. The committee also heard testimony on bills to restore a limited right to strike for certain public employees (H. 2078/S. 1311 or related filings). Supporters, including a representative, educators, and labor advocates, said the current ban on public employee strikes weakens good-faith bargaining and leaves workers without leverage to secure wages, staffing, and student supports. They argued that strikes are used as a last resort and that legalizing them under defined conditions would improve negotiations and better reflect the realities of recent teacher strikes in Massachusetts. The Massachusetts Municipal Association opposed the strike bills, warning that public employee strikes are already prohibited by state law, that strikes disrupt students and communities, and that local governments face budget constraints under Proposition 2 1/2. The committee also took testimony on paid family and medical leave bills (S. 1351/H. 2110 and S. 1352), which would improve notice to workers, expand public reporting on claim denials and demographics, and fix a technical definition issue that has limited access for some covered contract workers. Witnesses from legal aid, policy organizations, and a small business owner said the changes would improve transparency, equity, and access to benefits without imposing major burdens on employers. Additional testimony supported a railroad sick leave bill and a private construction transparency bill, with Senator Keenan urging favorable action on both. No votes were taken during the hearing; members asked questions, and several witnesses and legislators requested favorable reports on the bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's from the Department of Education, Division of Higher Education. B8 has two requests.
• This is a letter from the Department of Education, Division of Higher Education.
• K-5 is the Education Adequacy Fund Report.
• It was not just for the nursing homes.
• It was not just for the nursing homes.

Committee: All ALC-PEER

Summary: The committee considered a series of appropriation, fund transfer, and reserve requests across multiple agencies. Section B temporary appropriations included funding for state technology upgrades, personnel management staffing and IT skills assessment, court reporters and interpreters, crime victim claims, juvenile sex offender assessments, radiation lab testing, and higher education workforce grants and credentialing pathways. Additional items covered an ARPA grant for the University of Arkansas Fort Smith LPN program, an IIJA grant for the Oil and Gas Commission’s critical minerals work, a restricted reserve transfer for State Police vehicle purchases, a transfer to the Arkansas Heroes Program, and cash fund requests for the Real Estate Commission’s AV system and HVAC work. Most of these items were approved by voice vote. One budget classification transfer request from the Commissioner of State Lands drew extended questioning and was ultimately not approved. Members questioned the $250,000 transfer to operating expenses tied to the purchase of a West Little Rock office building, the ongoing lease costs at the prior location, and whether the agency had adequately planned for building-related expenses. After discussion, the motion failed, and members told the agency to tighten spending and return if needed. The committee then took up 15 pay plan appropriation requests totaling $25.7 million and approved them after discussion with DFA, DHS, Corrections, and the State Board of Election Commissioners. Members focused heavily on DHS staffing shortages at human development centers, where officials said vacancies and turnover were driven by overtime and burnout rather than pay alone; one member asked DHS to submit a written plan to address the issue. Corrections reported the pay plan had improved hiring and retention. The committee also approved overtime appropriations for Emergency Management and Military. Reports on reserve funds, the Budget Stabilization Trust Fund, tobacco settlement, State Central Services, Education Adequacy, Medicaid Trust, IIJA, and revenue transfer activity were received. The Medicaid Trust Fund report prompted significant concern about February’s $90 million draw; DHS said the month was unusually high because of cash-flow timing and that the fund should end the year with a balance between $150 million and $200 million, while lawmakers noted a second $100 million set-aside is planned for FY27. The final discussion centered on DHS’s state hospital damage claim and reconstruction funding, where members expressed disappointment that insurance reimbursement would likely return only about $1.8 million now and possibly about $97,000 more later, far less than the roughly $5 million initially expected. DHS explained the policy was based on actual cash value and depreciation for old buildings, and said the work would proceed on Unit 3 for secured restoration because it was the most cost-effective option.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um and in nursing and I think it's indicative to look at nursing like we look at the rest of our economy
• So, you're a nurse and you there.
• You were a nurse you ever received.
• indicative to look at nursing think it's indicative to look at nursing like<00:05:02.880><c> we</c><00
• She started working as a nurse at a skilled nursing facility, and when she did so she was assigned 20

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• IN 2024 FLORIDA PRODUCED 19,673 NURSING GRADUATES.
• TRAFFICKED COMES IN FRONT OF A NURSE AND THE NURSE DOESN'T RECOGNIZE THAT BUT IT'S LATER ACKNOWLEDGED
• THIS PERSON WAS BEING TRAFFICKED AND SAW A NURSE.
• WE DON'T WITHOUT THIS BILL THAT STAYS THE SAME SCENARIO FOR ALL NURSES.
• ASSOCIATION, FLORIDA NURSES ASSOCIATION IS A VOICE FOR 440,000 NURSES IN FLORIDA READ WE APPRECIATE

Transcript Highlights:

• , special education program supervision, and some other targeted special education services.
• This is to now we're into the Department of Higher Education.
• This is to now we're into the Department of Higher Education.
• is use that to do a nursing home staffing campaign to help those nursing homes then attract more staff
• The second is the Early Childhood Development Education Care Fund.

Committee: House Budget

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And importantly, this bill supports our Commonwealth educators. Thank you.
• And importantly, this bill supports our Commonwealth educators.
• It will require payments for graduate medical education.
• In fact, nurse practitioners, physician assistants.
• physician assistants, nurses, and care coordinators.

Keywords: 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to educate the kids.
• I want to educate the kids.
• You know, we're looking at one for education, for certificates in education this year.
• That certainly has a part of that conversation as well, as is nursing graduate education that can fill
• If they're graduating as nurses, are they getting licensed as nurses?

Summary: The committee first heard the Office of State Treasurer’s FY27 budget presentation from Treasurer Vivek Malik. He highlighted record investment earnings, growth in MOBUCK$ linked deposits, record unclaimed property returns, expansion of the MOST 529 plan, and changes to the MoABLE disability savings program. Members then focused heavily on two budget requests: $750,000 for the Show Me My Retirement Savings program and additional spending authority for the Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (MOST Scholars) program, along with a staffing request for compliance and communications positions. Much of the discussion centered on MOST Scholars’ rapid growth, how applications are prioritized, whether income is reverified, how funds flow through educational assistance organizations, and concerns about marketing, geographic distribution, and the use of public dollars for private schools. The treasurer also answered questions about the 529 plan, the pending lawsuit over the ESA general-revenue transfer, and whether funds should be swept back to general revenue when unused. Several members raised policy objections to MOST Scholars, including concerns about discrimination by participating private schools, the lack of annual income requalification, and whether the program shifts money away from public education. Other members defended the program as a parent-driven choice option and asked about expanding access, improving outreach, and ensuring the program is fully funded. The treasurer said the office was following the statute as written, that the program’s demand could exceed available resources, and that the office would continue to seek more funding and better outreach. The committee then concluded the treasurer’s budget hearing. The committee next began the FY27 budget hearing for the Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development. Commissioner Bennett Boggs introduced the department’s leadership team and gave a brief overview of the department’s role in aligning postsecondary education with workforce needs through its coordinating board and strategic planning. The hearing had just started when the transcript ended, and no votes or final actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• We've had various meetings here talking about nursing education and they really the critical need we
• have in our in the nursing field.
• That includes funding for the linking industry to nursing education, the line funding as we call it,
• Simply to clarify, you wouldn't agree that that that the educational. >> Both the educational institution
• My other education focus Board membership has included the Education Market Association, which was founded

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and adult education.
• and adult education.
• To understand the value of public education is to understand the full spectrum of education.
• education.
• So with that, I vote aye and fight another day for education, education funding, and all forms of our

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• /c><00:09:03.440><c> uh</c><00:09:03.839><c> uh</c> educated about educ uh about uh uh educated about
• But what's educational experience.
• </c> here you can see chatting with a nurse here you can see chatting with a nurse is<00:10:44.399><c
• </c><00:53:31.280><c> more</c> able to go online and get educated more able to go online and get educated
• </c> say we're sorry we don't have any nurses say we're sorry we don't have any nurses available<00:53

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: A presenter from Fast Health Corporation described a proposed Kentucky Health Command System tied to Senate Bill 175, which would create a state-sanctioned AI platform for rural hospitals and telehealth. The company said the system would help rural residents get health information remotely, triage minor issues, and escalate more serious cases to Kentucky providers, with use cases including blood pressure, diabetes, maternity care, smoking cessation, and other preventive-care topics. The presenter argued the system would help rural hospitals compete with out-of-state telehealth companies and keep patients connected to local care. The presentation also emphasized a commercial model the sponsor said would generate new revenue through ads and branded interactions, with the bill reportedly directing 80% of that revenue to rural hospitals and 20% to the state to maintain the system. The presenter said the technology would augment, not replace, doctors and nurses, and claimed it could improve access and convenience in underserved areas. Committee members raised concerns about liability, whether the AI could provide medical advice, and whether there was evidence it had reduced emergency room visits; the presenter said the system could not give medical advice and acknowledged the technology is still very new. The sponsor of the bill said the goal was to help transform rural health care, reduce unnecessary ER use, and capture revenue that would otherwise go to commercial search engines and out-of-state companies. No vote or final action was taken during the portion of the meeting provided, and the discussion ended with questions about branding, loyalty, and the legal limits of the AI system.

Transcript Highlights:

• nurse practitioners.
• ><c> or</c><00:10:46.959><c> nurse</c> for physician assistants or nurse for physician assistants or
• nurse practitioners.
• We're the experts on medicine and medical education, not us.
• And I will see you educational. Okay.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 538, a Liquor Commission cleanup bill. Chair Joseph Mica and CFO Tina Deir explained that the bill updates outdated statutory titles and positions after the commission’s 2014 restructuring, deleting references to the former commissioner and COO roles, adding a director of administration and a director of finance and audit, and keeping the new positions at the same labor grade pending review by the Joint Committee on Employee Classification (JCEC). Members discussed the proper sequence for JCEC review, but generally treated the bill as housekeeping. The committee then voted ought to pass, and the roll call was unanimous, 16-0. The committee next took up House Bill 493, which would require continuing education related to child abuse/ACE recognition for physicians and other providers. Testimony and committee discussion focused on whether the bill was too vague, whether it improperly intruded on the Board of Medicine’s authority to set professional education requirements, and whether it would effectively mandate a narrow training course that is currently voluntary and free. Supporters argued the bill addressed a real problem and cited testimony about missed abuse cases, while opponents said the board should handle the issue through its own rules and that the bill was poorly drafted. A motion of inexpedient to legislate passed 9-7, and the committee noted a minority report would be needed. The meeting ended with procedural and scheduling announcements, including that the committee would be dealing with budget hearings the following week and had a large number of Senate bills scheduled for later in the month.

Transcript Highlights:

• Minnesota Department of Education.
• </c> children are receiving an education children are receiving an education families<00:39:58.440><c
• </c> and dis how it affects her education and dis how it affects her education right<00:45:52.200><c>
• workload of our nursing staff current workload of our nursing staff makes<01:52:33.000><c> it</c><01
• </c> an elderly waiver program or a nursing an elderly waiver program or a nursing home<01:54:00.679>

Committee: Senate Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all