Transcript Highlights:

• So other health impaired encompassed any diagnosis that you might have gotten from a medical doctor,
• </c><00:20:34.919><c> is</c><00:20:35.159><c> now</c> used to be in speech impairment is now used to
• impaired encompassed any other health impaired encompassed any diagnosis<00:20:46.480><c> that</c><00
• But there's also a broad spectrum of students with speech impairments.
• ADHD would fall under disabilities, so ADHD would fall under the other health impairment category.

Summary: The work session focused on special education, especially the differentiated aid component and special education aid, which members noted is still often called “catastrophic aid.” The chair said the committee was trying to better understand how special education costs are growing, how districts are delivering services through SAUs or internally, and how reimbursement formulas affect local costs. Members also discussed the need for better data before making decisions on several education funding bills, and Representative Brown was tasked with capturing questions for follow-up information from the department or elsewhere. Testimony from the state special education director, Becky Fad, centered on why student counts in various disability categories have shifted over time. She said the categories themselves have not changed much, but autism has increased because of greater understanding and identification, developmental delay has grown because it applies to children under age 10 who may not yet have a clear diagnosis, and some students previously classified under speech/language or other health impairment are now identified in more specific categories such as autism. She emphasized that the IEP is based on a child’s individual needs, so a change in category would not necessarily change services, though it may help educators support the student differently. Members asked about whether the shifts reflect better diagnostic capability, whether the department should gather more data on the reasons for the changes, and whether autism-spectrum data could be broken down further. Fad said the department does not currently have data on the causes of the shifts or on where students fall within the autism spectrum, but that collecting and analyzing such data is on its list of priorities and a new data manager had recently been hired. She also explained that each child is counted only once on the chart by primary disability, that the IEP or eligibility team determines the primary category based on evaluations, and that any child can be referred for special education by a parent, teacher, or doctor, after which the district must meet within 15 days to decide whether to evaluate. No votes or formal actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, I think you're going to have a defense of impairment.
• So, would that not automatically make that person impaired?
• automatically make that person impaired if they were involved in that?

Bills: SB210 , SB176 , SB167 , SB244 , SB218 , SB9 , SB153 , SB9

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: hospital liens, medical billing, government healthcare, insurance claims, patient rights, controlled substances, unlawful distribution, marijuana, violent offense, sentencing guidelines, criminal justice, DUI, driving under the influence, drunk driving, fatal crash, vehicular homicide, child support, survivor benefits, orphaned child, guardian death

Transcript Highlights:

• amend Title 13 and 32 in the Code of Criminal Procedure relative to driving while intoxicated or impaired

Bills: SCR12 , HB221 , HB509 , HCR58 , SB78 , SB25 , SB80 , SB132 , SB155 , SB157 , SB202 , SB228 , SB250 , SB414 , SB433 , SB479 , SB513 , SCR9 , SCR58 , SB65 , SB215 , SB249 , SB269 , SB282 , SB296 , SB323 , SB363 , SB369 , SB474 , SB490 , SB492 , SB500 , SB514 , HCR32 , HB17 , HB41 , HB73 , HB223 , HB244 , HB759 , HB906 , HB966 , HB1006 , HB1009 , HB1086 , HB1107 , HB1112 , HB1215 , HB1242 , SB217 , SB283 , SB469 , HB36 , HB42 , HB74 , HB119 , HB159 , HB259 , HB302 , HB414 , HB459 , HB776 , HB848 , HB956 , HB1017 , HB1028 , HB1095 , SB208 , SB312 , SB382 , SB389 , HB210 , HB258 , HB359 , HB368 , HB468 , HB552 , HB732 , HB784 , HB870 , HB953 , HB1117 , HB1236

Keywords: logging, recognition, John Keith, environment, safety, Mississippi River bridge, Trump Expressway, transportation, federal funding, Louisiana highways, injection wells, public hearing, geologic sequestration, environmental impact, public comment, Ascension Parish, state capitol, economic development, community partnership, celebration day

Transcript Highlights:

• Now if you have a handicapped placard in your car, you can get a handicap, mobility-impaired, identification
• folks had reached out to me after I had gotten through committee and let me know that the mobility-impaired
• Now if you have a handicapped placard in your car, you can get a handicap, mobility impaired rather,
• folks had reached out to me after I had gotten through committee and let me know that the mobility impaired
• And they asked to be included because oftentimes it's not everybody who looks necessarily mobility impaired

Bills: HB12 , HB145 , HB222 , HB291 , HB430 , HB821 , HB874 , HB909 , HB951 , HB979 , HB1193

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: survivor benefits, law enforcement, reserve officer, auxiliary officer, public safety, firefighters, medical expenses, dental expenses, disability benefits, Medicaid, dental coverage, healthcare access, medical necessity, Louisiana Department of Health, health insurance, survivors benefits, Lafayette, school security, nonprofit security, emergency preparedness

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 492 seeks to put the Governor's Impaired Driving Task Force into statute.
• Under Governor Landry, the name of the task force was changed to its current name, the Governor's Impaired
• Under Governor Landry, the name of the task force was changed to its current name, the Governor's Impaired
• H.B. 492 seeks to put the Governor's Impair Driving Task Force into statute.
• Governor Landry, the name of the task force was changed through its current name, the governor's impaired

Committee: Senate Judiciary B

Summary: The Senate Committee on Judiciary B met on May 14, established a quorum, approved the May 5 minutes, and then took up a long agenda of bills and resolutions. The committee first heard House Bill 1252, which would expand and modernize local court jurisdiction in Avoyelles Parish by enlarging the Marksville and Bunkie city courts, adding small claims, misdemeanor, juvenile, and civil jurisdiction, and allowing online payments and virtual appearances. Supporters said it would keep justice local and reduce pressure on district court, while opponents urged more study and warned about impacts on existing courts and funding. The committee adopted Amendment Set 3835 and reported HB 1252 with amendments. It also reported HB 167, requiring state prisons to provide release documentation to inmates; HB 1038, after amendments and continued negotiation with marshals and constables; HB 1077, allowing microbreweries to sell at certain special events; HB 1204, changing administration of the Back on Track Youth Pilot Program to the Office of Juvenile Justice; HB 492, placing the Governor’s Impaired Driving Task Force into statute; HB 175, dedicating $500,000 in lottery proceeds annually to a veterans service grant fund; HCR 41, directing ATC to allow electronic beer rebates; HB 833, creating a Sexual Assault Survivor Empowerment Task Force; HB 656, creating a pilot program for inmate-administered services; HB 978, raising the population threshold for mayor’s courts to remit indigent defender fees; and HB 969, updating and expanding the crime victim compensation program. The committee also approved HB 985, which adds QR codes to sex offender identification cards, after adopting Amendment Set 3861, and HB 579, updating the Sexual Assault Survivors’ Rights Act, after adopting Amendment Set 3830. Several bills drew notable opposition or requests for further work. HB 968, which creates a framework for electronic monitoring providers to notify courts before removing ankle monitors for nonpayment, drew objections from the ACLU and a vendor representative who argued it would turn criminal courts into debt-collection forums and could lead to jail for inability to pay; the author said the bill was intended as a public-safety framework, not debt collection. Despite those concerns, the committee reported HB 968 favorably and agreed to move a 10-day-to-15-day notice change on the floor. HB 525, requiring DOC to publish more incarceration data, especially from local facilities, was opposed by the Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association, which said the bill would impose substantial new reporting burdens; DOC said it was already posting most of the data and would continue updating it. The committee ultimately deferred HB 525, with members encouraging further work. HB 1005, a cleanup-and-restructuring bill for the Office of the State Public Defender, was reported favorably after the Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers raised concerns about substantive changes, including removal of board approval for the state public defender and changes to district defender protections; Vice Chair Harris said he would work with stakeholders on those issues. HB 1029, a local alcohol-permit moratorium bill for House District 3, was voluntarily deferred to next week so the author could address concerns about the length of the moratorium. The meeting ended after all scheduled business was completed, with the committee agreeing to revisit the deferred items later.

Transcript Highlights:

• I've also worked with victims of impaired drivers. Yes, VOID. Thank you. For follow-up.
• Members, in the gallery, the North Gallery up here, we are joined by VOID, Victims of Impaired Drivers
• I'm joined by VOID, Victims of Impaired Drivers, a group made up of Oklahomans who have suffered injury
• or have lost family members and friends to the epidemic of impaired driving, and though I am deeply
• of VOID is to support families, ...support families, honor and remember the victims, and prevent impaired

Bills: SB1543 , HB1933 , HJR1088 , HJR1090 , HJR1091 , HJR1092 , HJR1093 , HJR1095 , SB1859 , HB2988 , HB3016 , SB237 , SB2065 , HB3418 , HCR1027 , SB1641 , SB1589 , SB44 , SB563 , SB1403 , HB1979 , HB3075 , SB2045 , SB1653 , SB1655 , SB2030 , HB2951 , SB2028 , SB2071 , SB206 , SB1849 , HB3755 , SB1509 , SB1314 , SB1561 , SB1217 , SB1618 , HJR1096 , HJR1099 , HJR1100

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several recognitions, including Veteran of the Week Colonel Stanley L. Evans, Oklahoma City Young Professionals, state contest winners for America’s 250th anniversary, and a long series of page introductions. The chamber then moved into floor action on a large number of measures, many of them Senate bills and House joint resolutions dealing with administrative rules and agency oversight, public safety, education, health, agriculture, business, and tax policy. Among the major bills discussed were SB 1543 on aggregating multiple DUI charges within one year into a single felony case, HB 1933 on nitrous oxide violations, SB 1859 creating an OSBI Cybercrimes and Fraud Unit, SB 237 on ad valorem tax NAICS code changes, SB 2065 designating pollinator-related state symbols, SB 44 extending nonprofit sales tax exemptions to contractors, SB 2030 updating automated expungement procedures, SB 2045 expanding the Grow Your Own education program, and several water and agriculture measures including SB 1509, SB 1314, and SB 2071. Members also considered multiple joint resolutions approving permanent administrative rules for education, energy and agriculture, business and commerce, health agencies, and building code rules, with Kendricks explaining that some major rules were separated out for transparency and, in one case, a cost mitigation agreement had been reached. Testimony and debate were generally brief and focused on clarifying amendments. Several authors explained that amendments were added to address constitutionality, remove outdated or incorrect language, or reflect negotiated changes with agencies and stakeholders. Notable discussion included concerns about forum shopping in SB 1543, questions about the scope of the Grow Your Own program in SB 2045, and clarification that SB 1618’s pretrial report language had been changed to a public safety report agreed to by sheriffs and district attorneys. The House adopted numerous amendments without objection and passed the bills by wide margins, including some unanimous or near-unanimous votes, while a few measures drew more opposition, such as SB 1403, SB 1509, SB 2071, and SB 1618. The House also adopted HCR 1027 setting sine die adjournment for Thursday, May 14, and adjourned until the next day, May 5, 2026, at 9:30 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Literature indicates that interlock devices effectively reduce impaired driving while installed.
• Lieutenant Jeff Leonard, Washington State Patrol Impaired Driving Section, for the record.
• it's mostly a deterrent, and also recognizing that's actually close to where people are actually impaired
• First, when we talk about impaired driving enforcement, the biggest part is deterrence in the first place
• Public awareness of the devices and then ultimately lowering the incidence of impaired driving should

Summary: The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee met on January 7, 2026, approved the December minutes, and adopted an amended work plan. Staff proposed moving the drug takeback program sunset review up to 2026 and delaying the thermal energy network pilot review to 2028, which would free capacity for new studies. Members also noted bills that would eliminate two recurring JLARC reports, including one on unemployment insurance training benefits and one on lodging tax revenue reporting. The committee then discussed JLARC’s own performance measures and a pilot approach for evaluating tax preference performance statements in fiscal notes. Staff said JLARC will begin surveying members and the full legislature on satisfaction, track invitations to present to other committees, monitor recommendation resolution rates, staff retention, on-time report delivery, peer review results, and national recognition. For tax preference reviews, staff proposed a standard rubric to assess whether performance metrics match policy goals, are measurable, use reliable data, and allow enough time for evaluation; members generally supported the effort. Staff also outlined planned changes to public records reporting, including allowing agencies to opt out of tracking low-volume metrics, targeted outreach to nonreporting agencies, better data validation, clearer online guidance, and a survey of public records officers. The main audit presentation was a preliminary report on ignition interlock device compliance and monitoring. JLARC found that about 41% of drivers required to install devices had done so, with installation rates rising sharply with income; half of affected drivers earned less than $28,000 a year, and the typical annual device cost was about $2,700. Staff said the state’s financial assistance program has limited reach and lacks clear goals, performance measures, and coordination between the Department of Licensing and State Patrol. They recommended that the agencies formalize their roles and develop a coordinated strategy to improve installation rates. State Patrol and Licensing said they support the findings, described recent outreach pilots, and said they would work on a management plan and possible expansion of outreach efforts. JLARC also presented an expedited preliminary report on the drug take-back program’s fee setting and expenditures. Staff concluded that the current fee design limits the Department of Health’s ability to recover oversight costs and that public reporting of oversight expenditures would improve transparency. They recommended that DOH publicly report its oversight activities and that the legislature amend the fee structure to remove the cap tied to program operator expenditures. DOH agreed the current structure does not fully recover costs and said it would support a statutory change. The committee adjourned after noting its next regular meeting is scheduled for April 8, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• Some of that funding comes to us to target. grade students to do education to prevent impaired driving
• So, for our impaired driving section, those are some of the main highlights of the activities that we
• Additionally, within our impaired driving section, we provide training for law enforcement officers across
• Don't drive impaired, and here's some tips for that.
• So you'll see the ENDWI Zero Proof, which is aimed at underage drinking, ENDWI Plus for impaired driving

Transcript Highlights:

• also have Disability Determination Services. rehabilitation and services for the blind and visually impaired
• back in 23, as a reminder, for Vocational Rehabilitation and Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired
• and key performance metrics: number one is VR and SBVI, the services for the blind and visually impaired
• Our projects for 26 we do Under vocational rehabilitation and services for the blind and visually impaired
• So on the VR program, which encompasses again the and services for the blind and Visually impaired, we

Committee: House A&B Human Services Subcommittee

Transcript Highlights:

• This is physical impairment, not mental anguish, not wage loss.
• Anything I just said is a part of my physical impairment.
• Had this bill been in effect in 2022, my physical impairment would be worth nothing.
• So, I suggest this body would include a line to that end; in the absence of that, it's going to impair
• And suffering and mental anguish and impairment will be capped by a law that is unfair for people just

Bills: HB4806

Committee: House Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Keywords: civil action, damages, health care services, noneconomic damages, negligence, legal standards

Transcript Highlights:

• Cordell II, were traveling on Highway 30 in Burns Mill, Missouri, where they were rear-ended by an impaired
• Almost an entire family was killed by an impaired driver that day.
• Cody's mom, dad, and little brother were also killed by an impaired driver when he was three years old
• accidents and to help those victims who have already suffered from impaired-driving accidents.
• accidents and to help those victims who have already suffered from impaired-driving accidents.

Transcript Highlights:

• There are also issues with several rural areas, like the blind and visually impaired.
• </c><00:14:00.360><c> so</c> like the blind Enis ually impaired so like the blind Enis ually impaired
• license is in the 60s and impaired license is in the 60s and that's<00:14:08.040><c> because</c><00:
• </c><00:14:20.759><c> students</c> Blind and Visually Impaired students Blind and Visually Impaired students
• I've had multiple meetings with North Dakota to build out the blind visually impaired—I have one just

Bills: HF846 , HF1538 , HF1959

Committee: House Education Finance

Keywords: education, special education, apprenticeship, funding, grants, intermediate school districts, teacher apprenticeship, registered apprenticeship, teacher licensure, teacher shortage, workforce development, education finance, K-12 education, higher education, Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board, PELSB, Tier 3 license, teacher preparation, mentor teacher, school district

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill by Representative Alio, Title 14, additional fines imposed by driving while impaired.
• House Bill by Representative Green, operating a vehicle while impaired, detention release of certain
• persons arrested, to provide relatives... ...impaired.
• Governor's Task Force on Impaired Driving and Create the Task Force, Provide for Membership, Powers,
• House Bill by Representative Bryant: driving while intoxicated and impaired; add impaired to certain

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and then received and processed multiple resignation notices and special-election proclamations for vacant seats. The chamber later recognized and swore in newly elected members Doyle Boudreaux, Reese Broussard, Chassity Verrett-Martinez, and Edwin Murray after no objections were raised to their qualifications. The House also appointed committees to notify the Senate and the governor that it was ready to conduct business for the 2026 regular session, and it adopted the proposed standing committee meeting schedule and referred prefiled bills to committee without objection. The bulk of the meeting was devoted to the introduction and reading of a very large number of House bills and resolutions across many subject areas. Measures included the annual appropriations bill, a proposed constitutional convention, carbon dioxide sequestration and pipeline permitting, retirement-system changes, criminal justice and public safety proposals, education and workforce measures, local government and district creation bills, insurance and liability reforms, and numerous commemorative resolutions. Several prefiled bills were withdrawn, and many introduced measures were assigned to committees or allowed to lie over under the rules. The House then entered a joint session with the Senate for the governor’s address. Governor Jeff Landry outlined his administration’s priorities and praised recent legislative actions on taxes, insurance reform, transportation, education, and fiscal discipline. He urged support for Amendment 3 on teacher pay and retirement, called for further workforce and health initiatives, defended insurance and transportation reforms, and pressed for judicial reform, especially in Orleans Parish, citing the death of Jacob Carter and failures in electronic monitoring as examples. He also promoted replacing the vehicle inspection sticker with a QR code system and highlighted economic growth, lower taxes, and infrastructure investments. The joint session also included a presentation of the colors by the Louisiana National Guard and a Distinguished Flying Cross ceremony for Technical Sergeant Adam W. Brister, recognizing his 2018 rescue mission in Alaska. After the governor’s remarks and the military honor presentation, the joint session concluded and the House resumed introducing additional bills, continuing to file measures on topics such as health care, education, ethics, elections, local districts, and constitutional amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• We know what significant impairment is intended to mean because we have had years of case law regarding
• In this situation, this would be a significant impairment, but not necessarily in the next situation.
• that are convincing to support the allegation that denying the relief sought would significantly impair
• The first version required serious bodily injury that resulted in physical impairment, physical or mental
• impairment, which is very dangerous. because think about mental impairment for a child.

Bills: HCR16 , HB782 , HB2159 , HB2288 , HB3281 , HB3819 , HB4656 , HB4696 , HB5494 , HCR16

Committee: House S/C on Family & Fiduciary Relationships

Keywords: fatherhood, family support, fatherlessness, community engagement, youth development, social policy, male role models, child development, policy reform, role models, mental health, parenting, single-parent homes, welfare reform, economic opportunity, mentorship, community initiatives, children, welfare programs, education

Transcript Highlights:

• six elements of non-economic damages: pain and suffering, mental anguish, disfigurement, physical impairment
• This also encompasses physical impairment for someone who is an amputee, which you may hear from today
• idea of the mental suffering of somebody who's a sexual assault survivor or someone who has an impairment
• That child's anguish is one aspect of the damages as it exists, but the impairment to the child's function
• The Court has stated that pain and anguish is separate from physical impairment.

Bills: SB30 , SB517 , SB1313 , SB1314 , SB1316 , SB1541 , SB1698 , SB1845 , SB1860 , SB2420 , SB2429 , SB 30

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• have enacted laws and policies only permitting them for violent crimes and sometimes reckless or impaired
• have enacted laws and policies only permitting them for violent crimes and sometimes reckless or impaired
• have enacted laws and policies only permitting them for violent crimes and sometimes reckless or impaired
• have enacted laws and policies only permitting them for violent crimes and sometimes reckless or impaired
• </c> some sometimes Reckless or impaired some sometimes Reckless or impaired driving<00:30:00.200><c>

Committee: Senate Public Safety and Military Affairs

Summary: The joint committees heard testimony on House Bill 1064, which would implement recommendations from the Fire Safety Research Institute’s Maui wildfire report, clarify the role of the State Fire Marshal, and appropriate funds. Testimony was generally supportive from DLNR, the Climate Advisory Team, the State Fire Council, Hawaiʻi Electric, the Attorney General’s office, the Honu Fire Department, AARP, the Hawaiʻi Insurance Council, and others. Governor Green’s office said it supported the bill but wanted the office of the State Fire Marshal placed under the Department of Defense rather than the governor’s office, citing constitutional and administrative concerns. Members also questioned the State Fire Council about the selection process for the fire marshal and about defensible space and wildfire resilience in different communities. After discussion, the committees deferred decision-making on HB 1064 to Friday, March 14, at 3:00 p.m. in Room 225 for the Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs, with the same recommendation from the other committee. The hearing then moved to House Bill 697, which would expand who may review automated speed enforcement images. HDOT supported the bill but said it would prefer funding from the Highway Special Fund or the automated speed enforcement special fund rather than general revenues. Opposition testimony from the ACLU raised privacy concerns, argued the bill blurs the line between law enforcement and infrastructure management, and said DOT staff lack the mandate and expertise for the task. Judiciary said it would need additional capacity to process citations and hearings, and noted the program’s likely workload and costs were still uncertain. The committees then took up House Bill 277 on vehicular pursuit policy. The Attorney General and the Law Enforcement Standards Board urged the committees to defer the bill and let the board develop policy first, while Hawaii County Police opposed the measure as unnecessary, confusing, and too restrictive of officer discretion. Honolulu Police Department and the Policing Project supported the bill, arguing that clearer statewide standards and transparency are needed because pursuits can cause serious injuries or deaths and existing policies are inconsistent or not public. The Policing Project said the bill could be improved with amendments on serious crimes, but supported legislative action to set statewide standards while still involving the board. No final vote or action on HB 277 was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• pain point today, the reason we're here, is more than $300 million in projects that are going to be impaired
• An emergency clause is needed to get this done sooner rather than later to avoid contract impairment
• and cancellation. ...to get this done sooner rather than later to avoid contract impairment and cancellation

Committee: House Commerce

Transcript Highlights:

• whereas 29% of New Mexico adults have low literacy or educational attainment levels that severely impair
• more than 12% of New Mexico adults have low literacy or educational attainment levels that severely impair
• We've now biannually required them to have training on interactions with persons with mental impairment
• Interacting with persons with mental impairment every two years, and then we passed a law, 297-4, that
• . a biannual topic under 29-7-7.5, interactions with persons with mental impairments.

Transcript Highlights:

• AJ was born with level two autism, with severely impaired executive and intellectual impairments.
• Louis Society for the Blind and Visually Impaired. My name is Megan Connolly.
• Louis Society for the Blind and Visually Impaired. We are here this evening.
• One of our chaplains had a vision impairment. I had no idea.
• And one of our chaplains had vision impairment. I had no idea.

Committee: House Budget

Transcript Highlights:

• AJ was born with level two autism with severely impaired executive and intellectual impairments.
• Louis Society for the Blind and Visually Impaired.
• And one of our chaplains had vision impairment. I had no idea.
• And one of our chaplains had vision impairment. I had no idea.
• And one of our chaplains had vision impairment. I had no idea.

Committee: House Budget

Summary: The committee first heard the State Auditor’s fiscal year 2027 budget request. Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick described rebuilding the office after staffing had fallen to a historic low, explaining that the office has grown from 92.5 to 119 FTE but still needs several years to reach full staffing, especially at the manager level. He said most of the budget is payroll, noted the office’s use of lapsing general revenue while staffing is rebuilt, and outlined requests including core operating funds, a small sports betting audit NDI, and a $290,000 increase to the CPA stipend to address recruitment and retention problems. Members also discussed the auditor’s authority to audit state agencies and subrecipients, the office’s role in performance audits, and the meaning of “E” appropriations and the auditor’s recent general revenue conditions report. The committee then moved to public testimony on House Bill 10, focusing on Department of Health and Senior Services and Department of Mental Health issues. One witness from the American Heart Association supported continued funding for cardiac emergency response planning in schools, citing AEDs, CPR training, and about 480 schools served. Another witness from the Alzheimer’s Association urged rejection of a proposed $1 million reduction to the Missouri caregiver program, arguing it supports families caring for people with dementia and helps avoid more expensive institutional care. Most of the testimony concerned proposed cuts to developmental disability services, especially day habilitation and self-directed supports (SDS). Providers, family members, and workers said the proposed reductions would force service cuts, reduce wages, and threaten community-based care that keeps people at home and out of more costly facilities. They argued the cuts would shift costs to emergency, residential, or institutional settings and asked the committee to preserve current funding levels. Several members asked questions about provider rates, the share of services delivered by private providers, and the cost difference between SDS and institutional care. The hearing ended with the chair apologizing for earlier tension, explaining the schedule, and recessing the committee to return later because of House floor obligations.