Transcript Highlights:

• . >> So if you were to engage in riotous behavior just on the street, it would be a Class A misdemeanor
• But if you go into a church and engage in riotous behavior, that will become a felony. >> And what is
• We're not going to tolerate that type of behavior here. disagree with some of the things you disagree
• that type behavior here. that type behavior here.
• Thank you. and pig behavior, um, a a a female pig and pig behavior, um, a a a female pig of<01:04:08.720

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• $7.5 million for the construction of new purpose-built cottages for dozens of foster children with behavioral
• will provide temporary housing, case management, child care, vocational training, medical, dental, behavioral
• It also allows for the construction of specialized cottages for children with developmental and behavioral
• I think this body has seen a lot of bills this session addressing children's mental and behavioral health
• The most vulnerable people in our community need our help now. ...behavioral needs.

Keywords: 909, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Someone dies from their behavior.
• Someone dies from their behavior.
• Someone dies from their behavior.
• someone someone dies from their behavior someone someone dies from their behavior I<01:43:28.040
• else we want to limit that that behavior else we want to limit that that behavior and<01:44:43.000

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We will not accept disruptive behavior or behavior that incites or threatens violence.
• Disruptive behavior or behavior that incites or threatens violence.
• We arrive at that number by establishing a benchmark at $51 based on the pricing behavior of the four
• We arrive at that number by establishing a benchmark at $51 based on the pricing behavior of the four
• We arrive at that number by establishing a benchmark at $51 based on the pricing behavior of the four

Summary: The Assembly Communications and Conveyance Committee held an informational hearing on the state of broadband affordability in California. Chair Tasha Berner said the committee was examining how broadband prices, access, and affordability are affecting households, especially after the end of the federal Affordable Connectivity Program and amid concerns about federal resistance to state broadband regulation. She noted the committee’s continued interest in policy options for 2026 and referenced prior legislation, including AB 353, that would have required affordable home internet as a condition of doing business in California. Industry witnesses from U.S. Telecom and CTIA argued that broadband and wireless prices have generally fallen in real terms even as inflation and other household costs have risen, citing competition, infrastructure investment, and faster speeds as the main drivers. They said California’s higher costs are tied to permitting delays, taxes, copper theft, and legacy obligations such as COLR requirements, and they urged the Legislature to preserve market incentives, reduce fees and regulatory burdens, and support infrastructure deployment. They also discussed fixed wireless access, federal BEAD funding, and Universal Service Fund reform, arguing that more entities benefiting from networks, including tech platforms, should contribute to support programs. Consumer and public-interest witnesses presented a different view, saying California still has a serious affordability and adoption problem, especially for low-income households. Sunny McPhee of the California Emerging Technology Fund said broadband adoption has improved dramatically over time, but about 500,000 households remain offline or underconnected and many low-income households still pay above the FCC affordability benchmark. Ernesto Falcon of the CPUC Public Advocates Office said California’s market is losing its competitive edge, with prices higher than in other states and meaningful price pressure coming mainly from fiber competition at the gigabit tier. He said roughly 4.8 million Californians are limited to one gigabit option and estimated that more competition could save consumers more than $1 billion annually. Both witnesses emphasized the need for stronger transparency, targeted subsidies, and a permanent affordability solution, including extending and refining the CPUC broadband Lifeline pilot and advancing SB 716. Public commenters, including representatives from cable providers, nonprofits, and digital equity organizations, largely supported SB 716 and a permanent broadband affordability program. Several urged the committee to remove a cap on the Lifeline program, expand the CPUC pilot, and invest in digital navigators, outreach, and enrollment assistance. The hearing ended without a vote or formal action, after the chair thanked the witnesses and public commenters for their testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• Additionally, we've launched bachelor's degrees in public affairs and behavioral social data science.
• The challenges in South Texas such as diabetes, Alzheimer's, obesity, cancer, behavioral health They're
• Health that will allow us to further expand behavioral health. patient services to East Texas.
• We would like to do the same for behavioral. health sciences.
• Texas Epidemic Public Health Institute, the Behavioral Health Operation Funding. the Children Learning

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And in the realm of behavioral health, the department accelerated provider development efforts for the
• newly created behavioral qualified residential treatment program, BQRTP.
• Also within the behavioral health space is the intended focus on expanding the peer support network through
• So that family preservation... ...developmentally, whether that's academically or behaviorally.
• utilize working directly with our managing... developmentally, whether that's academically or behaviorally

Summary: The Committee on Children, Families, and Elder Affairs considered three bills and a confirmation. On SB 1600, as amended, the sponsor explained that the original child welfare language was replaced with a strike-all requiring the Office of Insurance Regulation to work with DCF and community-based care lead agencies to study liability insurance coverage and availability, report findings to the Legislature by January 1, 2027, and allow penalties for failure to provide requested information. The committee adopted the amendment and amendment to the amendment, heard supportive testimony from child welfare advocates, and reported the committee substitute favorably. The committee also heard CS/SB 556, which would allow students with disabilities to satisfy a physical education graduation requirement through participation in Special Olympics, and clarify that two years of marching band participation can satisfy PE and fine arts credit. Special Olympics Florida, parents, and other supporters testified in favor, and the bill was reported favorably. On SB 794, the sponsor described requirements for background screening of employees in residential facilities and day training programs for people with developmental disabilities, plus a review of waiver support coordination quality, workforce needs, geographic service gaps, and related recommendations due in 2027. The committee adopted a conforming amendment and reported the bill. The committee then took up the confirmation of Taylor Hatch as Secretary of the Department of Children and Families. Hatch outlined DCF’s recent work on child welfare, behavioral health, peer support, and technology improvements, and answered questions about child welfare system challenges, funding formulas, opioid settlement dollars, and interoperability of agency systems. After public comment, the committee voted to recommend her confirmation favorably, with Chair Graal voting no. The meeting ended with a request to record one senator’s vote on SB 1600 and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• disorder, a disease that's scientifically defined as a disease that impacts your brain and your behavior
• This training helps officers distinguish ASD-related behaviors from defiance or non-compliance and provides
• And if this behavior is deemed as noncompliant to an officer, the officer might use force, which will
• And if this behavior is deemed as noncompliant to an officer, the officer might use force, which will
• and increase the likelihood that the state of Florida achieves satisfied judgments for criminal behavior

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice met and reported several bills favorably. SB 646, by President Gates, would allow the use of drug testing tools such as test strips and reagent kits to detect dangerous adulterants like fentanyl and xylazine; it was supported by Senator Osgood and others who said it could help prevent overdose deaths, and it passed unanimously. SB 418, by Senator Jones, creates autism-focused law enforcement training and a voluntary Blue Envelope Program for drivers with autism; it drew strong support from Disability Rights Florida, parents, advocates, and committee members, who emphasized safety, communication, and de-escalation, and it also passed unanimously after extensive testimony.\n\nThe committee then considered SB 132, by Senator Polsky, which would require the Florida Commission on Offender Review to maintain a public database to help people determine whether they have completed the requirements for restoration of voting rights. An amendment making the database subject to legislative appropriation was adopted, and the bill was reported favorably. SB 1734, by Senator Martin, would recognize juvenile probation and detention officers as officers under state law, extend training and certification standards, and provide officer-level benefits and protections; it passed without opposition.\n\nFinally, the committee took up SB 820, by Senator Bradley, on problem-solving court reports. A strike-all amendment expanded annual reporting requirements for specialty courts, set a January 31 reporting deadline, and phased in the new data collection. After support from the State Courts Administrator and others, the amendment and the bill as amended were adopted and reported favorably. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• It is for past behavior. This is not a forward, marginal moving-forward cost.
• The reason is because it's for past behavior, and companies book past behavior liabilities differently
• Book past behavior liabilities differently than forward-moving costs.
• behavioral health system entirely.
• Afraid of behavioral health providers and refusing to engage with the behavioral health system entirely

Keywords: 1146, all

Transcript Highlights:

• happens and, through treatment opportunities, addressing criminal thinking and trying to change behaviors
• happens and, through treatment opportunities, addressing criminal thinking and trying to change behaviors
• happens and, through treatment opportunities, addressing criminal thinking and trying to change behaviors
• happens and, through treatment opportunities, addressing criminal thinking and trying to change behaviors
• happens and, through treatment opportunities, addressing criminal thinking and trying to change behaviors

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committees met on February 19, 2025, to hear advice-and-consent nominations, beginning with GM 645/GM 650 for Mike Lambert as Director of the Department of Law Enforcement. Testimony was overwhelmingly in support from state officials, community leaders, nonprofit representatives, and others, who praised Lambert’s collaboration with communities, communication skills, and practical approach to public safety. Several speakers highlighted his work on homelessness, game rooms, community policing, and his ability to work across public health and law enforcement lines. Lambert told the committee he has 22 years of law enforcement experience, including patrol, community policing, training, narcotics/vice, and work on fentanyl, internet crimes against children, and ghost guns, and said his priorities would include building community trust, improving training and discipline, and addressing fireworks and firearms enforcement. Senators asked about fireworks, federal collaboration, ports and airport screening, recruitment, pay parity, and whether the department should expand into a more formal state police force; Lambert said he would need time to learn the new port/shipping environment and would support a state police class and expanded enforcement capacity. The committee did not take a final vote in the portion of the transcript provided. The committee then heard GM 567 for Jean Dello Jr. as chairperson of the Hawaii Paroling Authority. Supporters, including Hawaii Friends of Restorative Justice and Hawaii Paroling Authority staff, described him as honest, ethical, fair, and experienced in balancing public safety with rehabilitation and re-entry. Dello said he came out of retirement in 2021 to serve on the board, and that his background in federal probation and state corrections led him to favor evidence-based practices over simple compliance monitoring. He emphasized the need to weigh public safety with giving inmates a real opportunity to transition successfully back into the community. No final action or vote was announced in the excerpt provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Patterns of behavior that would show someone might not have the high standard of nursing that we expect
• can be assigned, I'm saying. ...for the patients in Arizona, and patterns of behavior can be assigned
• and the... ...which it seems more likely than not, that there's been a problem with your behavior and
• So it's another problem with looking for those patterns of behavior. Thank you.
• So it's another problem with looking for those patterns of behavior. Thank you. Other questions?

Bills: HB2408, HB2434, HB2725, HB2728, HB2729, HB2730, HB2731, HB2732, HB2733

Keywords: nursing board, regulatory actions, disciplinary actions, expungement, healthcare professionalism, controlled substances, prescription monitoring, opioid crisis, healthcare regulations, patient safety, prescription drugs, opioids, healthcare, pain management, utilization controls, AHCCCS, Department of Economic Security, social services, welfare programs, vocational rehabilitation

Transcript Highlights:

• However, this abhorrent behavior was not documented or recorded as a statistic because the possession
• Such behavior must not be tolerated, as any device or visual material that normalizes pedophilic behaviors
• Or can it be that any bad behavior can be brought forward?
• It's any bad sexual behavior, so sexual offenses.
• I mean, that's the type of behavior.

Bills: HB207, HB235, HB324, HB449, HB463, HB502, HB 1121, HB1445, HB1465, HB1778, HB1977, HB2000, HB2066, HB2596, HB207, HB235

Keywords: child protection, sexual offenses, obscenity laws, visual material, anatomically correct dolls, mannequins, robots, criminal offenses, sexually explicit material, minors, artificial intelligence, sexually explicit, doll, mannequin, robot, law enforcement, healthcare, insurance, affordable care, access

Transcript Highlights:

• Regulatory and merely behavioral remedies require ongoing oversight, very often with mixed results or
• Congress should impose structural and behavioral remedies across all the markets in which these firms
• We are working to undo more than a decade of illegal behavior. On March 7th, the U.S.
• It should not take more than a decade of illegal behavior before action is taken.
• There's none of that behavioral targeting based on the person that goes.

Keywords: antitrust, competition policy, digital advertising, monopoly, America Act, big tech, consumer rights

Summary: The meeting, titled 'Big Fixes, Big Tech', marked the first hearing of the Senate antitrust competition policy and consumer rights subcommittee in the 119th Congress. Chairman Lee opened the session focusing on the urgent need for effective solutions regarding anti-competitive behavior among major tech firms like Google and Facebook, highlighting several ongoing court cases regarding monopolistic practices in the digital advertising and search markets. Key discussions included the limitations imposed on small businesses and innovation due to the dominance of these tech giants, with many testimonies advocating for stronger legislative measures, including the America Act. The act aims to disrupt the monopolistic capabilities of these firms and restore competitive integrity in the marketplace, which has suffered under their oppressive market control.

Transcript Highlights:

• There is a trend with a lot of concern on Behavioral Health Services, so we work closely with our Behavioral
• There is a trend with a lot of concern on Behavioral Health Services, so we work closely with our Behavioral
• There is a trend with a lot of concern on Behavioral Health Services, so we work closely with our Behavioral
• closely with our Behavioral Health team closely with our Behavioral Health team as<00:21:16.960>
• We have been particular when it comes to behavioral health.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The subcommittee met to review the Department for Medicaid Services’ program integrity work. Commissioner Lisa Lee and Program Integrity Director Jennifer Dudinsky outlined Kentucky Medicaid’s structure, funding, enrollment, and spending, including FMAP rates, the size of the Medicaid and KCHIP populations, the number of providers, and 2024 expenditures. They also described the managed care and fee-for-service populations, noting that managed care serves most members while fee-for-service is concentrated in long-term care and waiver populations. Most of the discussion focused on fraud, waste, abuse prevention, and provider oversight. The department described its provider enrollment and certification checks, revalidation requirements, site reviews, fingerprinting for some high-risk providers, and termination grounds such as false application information, Medicare actions, unreported ownership changes, and abandonment of a provider number. Members asked about nonprofit ownership reporting, MCO fraud oversight, and how the department tracks unusual CPT code utilization, especially in behavioral health. The department said it uses data analytics, audits, policy review, and collaboration with behavioral health staff to monitor those trends. Dudinsky explained the division’s four branches: provider licensing and certification, audits and compliance, recovery, and third-party liability/estate recovery. She described prepayment and postpayment audits, referrals of credible fraud allegations to the Attorney General, monthly meetings with the AG’s office, and coordination with the Office of Inspector General, CMS, HHS OIG, MCOs, and other partners. She also explained payment suspensions, stand-downs during law enforcement investigations, and recovery efforts for overpayments, provider/member fraud, and third-party liability. The department said its recovery and avoidance efforts produced more than $251 million in savings so far in 2025. No votes or formal actions beyond approving the minutes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• group under the Children's Cabinet to study out-of-home placement and treatment of children with behavioral
• group under the Children's Cabinet to study out-of-home placement or treatment of children with behavioral
• about the roles and relationships between juvenile court, juvenile services, child welfare, and behavioral
• health issues. and to provide. or treatment and treatment of children with behavioral health issues,
• health issues, but do not Children who have criminal charges, behavioral health issues, but do not need

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the pledge, and a quorum call, then took up House amendments to Senate Bills 2009, 2147, and 2113. On motion, the Senate refused to concur in the House amendments and appointed conference committees for each bill. The chamber then considered several House bills, adopting amendments and passing House Bill 1556, which creates a Children's Cabinet work group to study out-of-home placement and treatment for children with behavioral health issues, and House Bill 1363, which directs development of a customizable cardiac emergency response plan template for schools and athletic events. House Bill 1533, requiring students to complete a half-unit of financial literacy for graduation, also passed after amendment. House Bill 1226, dealing with masks in public places and protest-related identification concerns, passed after the Judiciary Committee removed language about complying with law enforcement requests to unmask.

Transcript Highlights:

• We all care about behavioral health here in the House of Representatives, and this just helps reduce
• We need adequate placements for children with serious behavioral problems, and there...
• We will provide specialized care for children with high behavioral needs in family-like settings.
• They have different behavior services they may need or more, you know, respite or companion.
• He also needed some behavioral supports.

Summary: The Health Care Budget Subcommittee took up two bills and then continued oversight discussions with APD and AHCA. CS/HB 27, the Social Work Licensure Interstate Compact, was presented as a way to let Florida social workers practice in other compact states and vice versa; AARP, the Florida Chamber, and NASW Florida supported it, and the bill passed favorably. HB 1127, a child welfare bill, would create a treatment foster care pilot for children with high behavioral needs, improve DCF data collection on commercially sexually exploited children, and expand recruitment for protective investigators and case managers; the bill also passed favorably after brief supportive testimony. The committee then questioned APD at length about the iBudget waiver waitlist, enrollment pace, spending projections, and provider capacity. APD said it had sent more than 1,100 interest letters in categories 3, 4, and 5, enrolled 1,124 people so far this year, and expects to spend about 96.4% of its waiver appropriation, leaving roughly $82 million unspent. Members pressed APD on why prior discussions suggested more reserve was needed, how long the SANS process takes, whether category 6 could be expanded, and whether the agency has enough waiver support coordinators and direct support providers. APD said it has about 1,061 waiver support coordinators statewide, adequate capacity for current enrollees, but would need further analysis if the legislature directed a much larger enrollment increase. Members also asked about outreach, annual maintenance of the waitlist, portability for military families, and whether communication efforts should be privatized. Finally, AHCA walked the committee through the 2023 Achieved Savings Rebate (ASR) report for Aetna and explained how the report is used for financial monitoring, rebate calculations, and transparency. AHCA said the ASR is separate from the medical loss ratio (MLR) calculation, though both are reviewed, and that Florida uses the ASR mechanism rather than an MLR remittance requirement to recover funds from plans. Members asked about related-party disclosures, CVS/Caremark relationships, expanded benefits, encounter data, network adequacy penalties, denials and appeals reporting, interest earned on capitation payments, and whether rate increases were reaching providers. AHCA and the outside auditors said they review the plans’ reported data, reconcile it to underlying records, and can assess liquidated damages for network adequacy violations; several members requested follow-up data on rebates, interest, provider capacity, and related-party reporting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, please refrain from profanity or uncivil behavior.
• Such behavior may be grounds for removal from the hearing.
• Uh please refrain from profanity or<00:20:06.960> univil<00:20:07.600> behavior.
• > be or univil behavior.
• Such behavior may be or univil behavior.

Bills: HB2240, HB2272, HB2273, HB2274, HB2275

Keywords: appropriations, legislative expenses, auditor, legislative reference bureau, state ethics commission, ombudsman, government transparency, HB2272, Act 026, public employment cost items, emergency appropriations, collective bargaining, bargaining unit 11, BU-11, state employees, excluded employees, salary increases, cost adjustments, health premium payments, benefits

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, Senator Conley, various: behavioral health, mental health, substance use treatment, so any type
• of behavioral health issue that a person might have.
• Connect them to behavioral health and treatment services.
• partners to connect a person who has behavioral health needs with treatment and other services rather
• It says that if a local community does establish a deflection process, law enforcement and behavioral

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee met to review fiscal aspects of House Bills 1417 and 1425, both part of a broader criminal justice reentry package. HB 1417 would eliminate the $35 public defender application fee and end court-ordered reimbursement of indigent defense costs, while also removing the $55 monthly community supervision fee. Testimony from the Commission on Legal Counsel for Indigents and the Department of Corrections said the bill would replace lost revenue with general fund appropriations of about $310,000 for indigent defense and $1.5 million for supervision fees, and that the fees are rarely collected and can hinder reentry. Representative Clemene said the bill is intended to reduce barriers to successful community reintegration and improve data and supervision practices. HB 1425 would create and fund front-end diversion, deflection, and pretrial services programs. Supporters described it as allowing prosecutors and local jurisdictions to divert appropriate low-level offenders from prosecution, establish deflection programs for people with behavioral health needs, and expand pretrial services. The bill includes a pilot program in three counties, a $1 million appropriation to DOCR for one FTE and contracts with local providers, $750,000 to DHS for treatment services, and $55,000 for a study of pretrial services cost savings. Committee members asked several questions about how the pilot counties would be chosen, how the consultant study would be procured, and what services the DHS funds would cover. The committee also heard House Bill 1603, which would provide a $500,000 matching grant for Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act compliance, with $100,000 available to each of North Dakota’s five tribes if matched. Sponsor testimony said the funds would support a Historical Society NAGPRA compliance committee and help catalog and repatriate human remains and cultural items in coordination with tribes. After questions about the federal mandate and the difficulty of identifying artifacts, the committee voted 4-0 to give HB 1603 a do-pass recommendation, with Senator Meyer assigned to carry it forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:06:37.039> mental unit specifically for behavioral mental unit specifically for behavioral
• <00:06:55.520> They're in behavioral health crisis. They're in behavioral health crisis.
• For behavioral mental health, we still have a horrible addiction problem with overdose.
• <00:35:59.839> We itself. for behavioral mental health.
• We itself. for behavioral mental health.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Health Services Committee heard a presentation from Dr. Steven Stack, Secretary of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, on Kentucky’s Rural Health Transformation Program. He said Kentucky received about $213 million in federal funding, among the highest awards nationally, after a fast application and negotiation process. He emphasized that the grant is time-limited, must be used for the specific goals in the state’s application, and cannot be treated as a general bailout or replacement for existing funding. He also noted the state will use a website, ruralhealthplan.ky.gov, to share the full application, award terms, and future opportunities. Dr. Stack outlined five focus areas: maternal health and prenatal/early childhood supports; EMS and trauma response workforce and transfer capacity; behavioral health crisis care through the EMPATH model and mobile crisis services; oral health access through more hygienists, telehealth, and hub-and-spoke models; and rural community hubs for chronic disease prevention and innovation, including food-as-medicine and healthier lifestyle interventions. He stressed that the program is meant to be transformative, not duplicative, and that it cannot pay clinician salaries, fund new construction, replace EMR systems broadly, or duplicate billable services. He said the state will work with community partners, hospitals, universities, and others, including the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky, to begin implementation. Members responded positively overall. Senator Berg praised the award and the goal of integrating care across the state, but raised concerns about access to prenatal care and about possible future changes to water fluoridation, warning both could harm children and rural families. The chair and other members thanked Dr. Stack for the update and congratulated him on the award. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during this portion of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• And a way to address behavior is behavior change, and that's why we're looking at these specific roadway
• And a way to address behavior is behavior change, and that's why we're looking at these specific roadway
• And a way to address behavior is behavior change, and that's why we're looking at these specific roadway
• And a way to address behavior is behavior change, and that's why we're looking at these specific roadway
• or uh driver Behavior to County Roads<01:04:34.799> um<01:04:35.440> I<01:04:35.640>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• require uh essentially complete would require uh essentially complete manual<04:36:59.840> intervention
• for us to do it so manual intervention for us to do it so someone<04:37:02.240> would<04:37:02.520
• more<04:37:22.920> manual concern that the more manual concern that the more manual intervention
• 23.920> that<04:37:24.080> we<04:37:24.320> have<04:37:24.719> the intervention
• that we have the intervention that we have the possibility<04:37:26.080> for<04:37:26.400>

Keywords: 1189, house, all