Transcript Highlights:

• Is it because of the funding mechanism rather than through behavioral health developmental disabilities
• Uh, the next items on the pulled list are with behavioral health and developmental, the behavioral health
• <00:14:23.360> health<00:14:23.680> and Are with behavioral health and development,
• the behavioral health development and intellectual disabilities.
• <00:14:49.519> health, the department for behavioral health, the department for behavioral

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved contracts 98, 99, and 100 on a roll call vote, with Chairman Douglas voting no but the items still passing. It then took up a Kentucky Department of Tourism contract involving the United Kingdom, France, and Germany/Austria/Switzerland markets. Tourism officials said the state has had similar contracts since 2013, that international visitors spend about six times more per day than domestic travelers, and that the effort supports marketing, public relations, and familiarization trips. The committee approved that contract as well, with Chairman Douglas voting yes after expressing support for tourism promotion. Next, the committee reviewed two Finance Cabinet facilities and support services items involving engineering and architectural services for a specialized lab expansion project. Members discussed why the design work was expensive, and the cabinet explained that the project’s pathogen-related complexity required specialized firms. Chairman Douglas said he believed some architectural and engineering reimbursement rates were too high and should be reexamined, but the committee still approved the items by roll call. The committee then heard from the Attorney General’s office and the Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission on an MOA related to substance use disorder funding. Senator Meredith asked how the commission’s work coordinated with behavioral health programs, and staff explained that the commission allocates funds based on applications and includes relevant state officials. The contract was approved. After that, the committee considered behavioral health items: one new 988 chat-and-text contract to expand Kentucky-based crisis response coverage, and a Voices of Hope amendment that doubled funding to continue services into the next fiscal year. Officials said the 988 contract would move more chats and texts in-state, and that the Voices of Hope increase reflected continuation of SAMHSA-funded services; both were approved. Finally, the committee reviewed DCBS contracts, including a food insecurity survey contract with a Kentucky nonprofit and a Building Bridges Initiative training contract. Members questioned whether the food survey group’s advocacy role created a conflict, but DCBS said the organization was chosen for its statewide network and that the cabinet would receive the raw data. For Building Bridges, DCBS said the program began in the fall and provides training and peer mentorship for residential child care providers, with results still too early to assess. Both items were approved. The last set of contracts, under the State Treasurer for the Kentucky Council on Developmental Disabilities, prompted questions about why the funding flowed through the treasurer’s office and about a sexuality-related capacity-building initiative. Staff explained the treasurer serves as the designated state agency for federal DD Act funds, and that the sexuality initiative is part of a broader five-year plan focused on self-advocacy, system change, and capacity building; the committee then moved to approve those contracts as well.

Transcript Highlights:

• So there'll be cognitive behavior, there'll be education, there's everything that goes along with that
• Part of their curriculum is using a nationally recognized cognitive behavioral change program furnished
• So there'll be cognitive<00:11:49.440> behavior,<00:11:49.920> there'll<00:11:50.160>
• > be cognitive behavior, there'll be cognitive behavior, there'll be education,<00:11:50.959>
• <00:49:49.760> change u recognized cognitive behavioral change u recognized cognitive behavioral

Keywords: 924, joint, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They've shown that their behavior has been above standard and they've basically earned the right to work
• a long time. they've shown<00:20:01.440> that<00:20:01.600> their<00:20:02.160> behavior
• Is that related to what they did or is it related to their behavior inside?
• Is that related to what they did or is it related to their behavior inside?
• Is that related to what they did or is it related to their behavior inside?

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• that I was found to have questioned the competency in the decision-making of the leadership in the Behavioral
• that I was found to have questioned the competency in the decision-making of the leadership in the Behavioral
• that I was found to have questioned the competency in the decision-making of the leadership in the Behavioral
• that I was found to have questioned the competency in the decision-making of the leadership in the Behavioral
• that I was found to have questioned the competency in the decision-making of the leadership in the Behavioral

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: Faye Bernstein, a 20-year employee of the Department of Human Services, testified that she had experienced retaliation after raising concerns about contract irregularities and compliance problems years earlier. She said she was walked out of the building, banned from DHS property, and subjected to a lengthy investigation, which she described as professionally and personally harmful. Bernstein stated that the investigation ultimately found she had questioned leadership’s decision-making and held up contracts with compliance issues, and she said she stood by those actions. Her broader testimony focused on what she described as a culture of retaliation and a lack of fraud-prevention mindset at DHS. She criticized department leadership, including Commissioner Gandhi, and said internal auditors and others failed to adequately address the problems she raised. Bernstein argued that the department’s failures had serious consequences for vulnerable people, including homeless individuals affected by a program shutdown during winter, and said the agency needed major leadership changes and firings. The chair thanked Bernstein for her testimony at the end of her remarks. No committee vote or formal action was taken during this exchange.

Transcript Highlights:

• This resulted in retaining and building staff capacity, meeting the growing demand for behavioral health
• The funding that was allocated to us in the last biennium has also allowed us to expand our behavioral
• The funding that was allocated to us in the last biennium has also allowed us to expand our behavioral
• director for the division for Behavioral director for the division for Behavioral Health<01:03:43.680
• Health for Concord Hospital, testified on behalf of the Community Behavioral Health Association.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Like, we already serve some of the sexualized behavior work in the local Bismarck.
• I apologize for hesitating, but problematic sexual behavior—so I think you said there's 26, and is it
• So there's navigators within behavioral health. We have work that's being done within CHINS.
• The max is three years, but the actual range could vary based on behavior.
• But human behavior, no matter what, behavior change takes time.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The point of punitive damages is to change behavior.
• You never have to change behavior again. Representative, Mr.
• The punitive damages are meant to curb behavior and to change behavior and to create better outcomes.
• We have taken away the tool that exists to change behavior when we've capped those fees.
• They are not going to change that behavior unless their bottom line is impacted.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 909 is seeking for commercial payers to cover behavioral health crisis services.
• health crisis and behavioral health framework for the state of Louisiana.
• When we talk about behavioral... You're in this space. You know it. Thank you for the bill.
• When we talk about behavioral and we talk about health crisis and everything, I think it is important
• So hopefully... ...behavioral crisis, it is a savings to the state.

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

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, provider agreements, contracting actions, participating facilities, network status, survivors benefits

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 909 is seeking for commercial payers to cover behavioral health crisis services.
• health crisis and behavioral health framework for the state of Louisiana.
• Cost offset, as I just mentioned, possibly by individuals accessing lower-cost behavioral health crisis
• When we talk about behavioral... You're in this space. You know it. Thank you for the bill.
• Behavioral crisis, it is a savings to the state.

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee met on May 18, 2026, with eight members present and began by noting the state’s projected REC budget deficit and the need to consider fiscal impacts carefully. The committee first advanced HB 12, which extends the $250,000 surviving spouse benefit to reserve officers killed in the line of duty. Members noted the bill is prospective and that it draws from the same capped fund as other related bills, but it was reported favorable without opposition. The committee also adopted an amendment and reported HB 874 favorable as amended; the bill allows colleges, technical schools, the Louisiana Bar Association, and additional credentials to be added to LA Wallet, with the amendment changing mandatory language to permissive language. HB 951 was then reported favorable, creating an employer-facing workforce unit within Louisiana Works, to be funded through repurposed state and federal funds and existing staff, with a floor amendment expected to rename the unit. The committee also reported HB 979 favorable with amendments after reducing the proposed increase in survivor benefits because members learned several bills were drawing from the same $5 million fund, and HB 1193 favorable as amended, after striking a section that would have extended IDIQ authority to supply contracts for CPR. The committee then heard HB 909, which would require commercial payers to cover behavioral health crisis services. Representative Spell and LDH officials said the measure is intended to support crisis response centers and steer patients away from emergency rooms when appropriate, and they testified that it should be cost-neutral or absorbed within existing funding. Despite concerns raised by Senator Andrews about premiums, the bill was reported favorable after discussion of its potential savings and a possible pilot in Acadiana. HB 222, requiring Medicaid to cover dental procedures when needed to complete another medically covered procedure, was also reported favorable; LDH said it would absorb the cost within its existing budget and draw down federal matching funds. HB 291, which prevents health plans from penalizing hospitals when an out-of-network physician is involved in an otherwise covered hospital service, generated extensive debate over a disputed fiscal note and the No Surprises Act. OGB officials said any network “leakage” could cost the plan money, while supporters argued the policy is preventative and that the fiscal estimates were speculative. The committee adopted amendment 3941 to exempt OGB from the bill, then reported HB 291 favorable as amended. Later, the committee took up HB 145, which expands the authority of the law enforcement and firefighter survivor benefit board to cover extraordinary medical and dental expenses. Because members learned it also draws from the same fund as HB 12 and HB 979, an amendment reduced the amount from $50,000 to $25,000, and the bill was reported favorable as amended. HB 430, a local bill for Lafayette to continue paying health insurance costs for surviving families of fallen officers until Medicare eligibility, was reported favorable. Finally, HB 821, which establishes the Louisiana Center for Safe Schools within the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement Administration and transfers related duties from the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security, was introduced and discussed as a move with a one-time general fund expenditure already included in HB 1. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• With serious behavioral health needs. My steps are ordered.
• Improving our behavioral health system of care has been a passion of mine.
• We've put together a strong vision for the future through a Medicaid behavioral health redesign effort
• Medicaid is a primary payer in the behavioral health space.
• But oftentimes, if you’re on Medicaid and you have a serious behavioral health issue, you get care up

Summary: The committee met to consider a large slate of appointments, with the main discussion centered on the confirmation of Chavon Harris as Secretary of the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA). Harris testified about her background in state service and outlined agency priorities including Medicaid financial accountability, transparency, managed care oversight, behavioral health redesign, rural health access, workforce recruitment, and use of technology and AI. Senators questioned her extensively about the Hope Florida/Medicaid settlement controversy, opioid settlement-funded advertising campaigns tied to marijuana prevention and the 2024 Amendment 3 election, public records compliance, abortion reporting and enforcement under the Heartbeat Protection Act, managed care denials, value-based purchasing, and Medicaid funding pressures. After debate, the committee voted to recommend her confirmation, with Senator Polsky voting no. The committee then considered Anna Ortega and Robert Payne for the Florida Public Service Commission. Ortega, a current PSC commissioner and former staff advisor, discussed utility regulation, data center load issues, ratepayer protections, transparency in PSC decisions, and lessons from other states. Payne, a former legislator and longtime utility co-op employee, emphasized his technical background and the need to balance utility returns with consumer affordability. Both nominees were confirmed by unanimous or near-unanimous votes and recommended favorably to the full Senate. Next, the committee heard from Jeffrey Aaron for reappointment to the Public Employees Relations Commission. Aaron described PERC’s role in public-sector labor disputes and said his work had been upheld in appellate courts without reversal. Senators questioned him about his law firm’s state contracts, his role as chairman of Attorney General James Uthmeier’s PAC, and his connection to the Hope Florida Foundation matter; he declined to discuss the pending investigation. Public testimony included opposition from Florida Voice for the Unborn. The committee nevertheless recommended his confirmation, with several no votes. Finally, the committee approved the remaining appointees on tabs 5 through 46 in a single vote, postponing Dr. John Littell and DCF Secretary Hatch, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• While you're in custody, while you're waiting for the adjudication process, we connect you to behavioral
• We're talking about new criminal behavior. We've lowered that. We're not talking about that.
• We're talking about new criminal behavior. We've lowered that from 39% to 18%.
• And they look at all our data and they confirm that our recidivism rate for new criminal behavior in
• health home, for instance, for That they have been treated at a behavioral health home, for instance

Bills: HB2043, HB2044, HB2108, HB2131, HB2132

Keywords: felony murder, unborn child, homicide, Arizona Revised Statutes, life imprisonment, death penalty, abandonment, concealment, dead body, class 5 felony, criminal offense, unlawful flight, eluding police, fleeing law enforcement, police pursuit, vehicle pursuit, reckless endangerment, felony enhancement, class 4 felony, class 2 felony

Transcript Highlights:

• our school districts must collect data annually, measuring the impact of this policy on student behavior
• Senate Bill 2354 has the potential to reduce our children's behavioral health issues, positively impact
• Let's get those behavioral problems down. Let's keep working on those scores.
• Let's get those behaviors... ...ban across the state. Let's get our kids back on track.
• Let's get those behavioral problems down. Let's keep working on those scores.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The North Dakota House convened with prayer, roll call, and recognition of guests and student visitors, then moved through a long calendar of resolutions and bills. Early in the session, members honored Mandan High School’s e-sports team for state championships and recognized House Minority Leader Zachary Ista’s birthday. The House then passed HCR 3037 unanimously, urging mandatory reporting requirements for public officials, after committee support and remarks emphasizing accountability in public office. The chamber then considered numerous Senate amendments and final-passage votes on bills covering ambulance service grants (HB 1597), Public Service Commission records and open meetings (HB 1110 and HB 1063), squatter/trespass law (HB 1305), nonconforming structures in local governments (HB 1500), academic tenure policy (HB 1437), retirement eligibility for correctional officers and state radio dispatchers (HB 1274 and HB 1419), a Medicaid dental study (HB 1567), above-ground fuel storage tank regulation (HB 1058), gaming site authorization procedures (HB 1615), an oil extraction tax incentive outside the Bakken and Three Forks formations (HB 1483), and simple assault protections for hospital workers (HB 1341). Most of these measures passed, though HB 1231, which would have created a study on early discontinuation of sex offender registration, failed on final passage. A major point of debate was Senate Bill 2354, which would restrict student use of personal electronic devices during the school day in public and nonpublic schools, with exceptions for medical and special education needs and annual reporting on impacts. Supporters argued it would improve focus, behavior, and mental health, while opponents raised concerns about private-school regulation, logistics, liability, and duplication with a similar bill. The House passed SB 2354, and also passed SB 2112, which temporarily authorizes the Life Skills and Transition Center to serve certain non-eligible youth in crisis, despite objections that the facility should remain focused on developmental disabilities and concerns about repeating past institutional problems. The House also debated and rejected HB 1300 on legislative term limits after extensive discussion about whether the Senate’s date change altered the effect of the voter-approved measure. The session ended with announcements, committee notices, and adjournment until April 8, 2025.

Transcript Highlights:

• Line 15, their behavioral health facility grant, $5 million.
• They came to us to the House with a $16 million project for 24 additional behavioral health beds.
• They're in those facilities for behavioral health. Section 37 is basic care.
• Section 51, behavioral health facility grants. And that's about...
• Well, that was for the behavioral health and jails.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 1012, the Department of Health and Human Services budget. Senator Dever walked through the amended budget, highlighting a roughly $5.85 billion all-funds total, major one-time items for IT, child care, housing, behavioral health, juvenile justice, rural EMS, and supportive housing, along with funding for Medicaid expansion, CCBHCs, opioid settlement uses, and several studies and reporting requirements. Members discussed the provider inflation increase, with Senator Mathern urging a 2%/2% rate instead of 2%/1.5%, but the committee adopted the subcommittee amendment and then passed the amended bill 15-0 with a do-pass recommendation. Senator Dever was named as carrier. The committee then considered House Bill 1540, a school choice/education savings account-style bill. Senator Shibley explained the subcommittee amendments, including clarifying the Bank of North Dakota as administrator, adding a means test at 400% of the federal poverty guideline, and adjusting the fiscal note to about $21.7 million for the second year. In debate, members raised concerns about the bank being assigned duties outside its normal role, the lack of DPI involvement, and whether the means test should be tiered rather than a hard cutoff. The committee rejected a do-not-pass motion 5-10-1, then approved a do-pass motion on the amended bill 9-6-1, with Senator Wobama noted as the likely carrier. The meeting ended with the chair announcing the committee would adjourn and reconvene the next morning.

Transcript Highlights:

• Please refrain from any profanity or uncivil behavior.
• Such behavior may be grounds for removal from the hearing without the ability to rejoin.
• <00:12:23.120> Such profanity or univil behavior. Such profanity or univil behavior.
• Such behavior<00:12:23.920> may<00:12:24.079> be<00:12:24.240> grounds<00:12:24.560
• > for<00:12:24.720> removal<00:12:25.120> from behavior may be grounds for removal

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• what I think we most of us can agree on is that there is sort of a, you know, ambiguous zone of behavior
• Today we are looking specifically at, you know, violating the accepted norms of Senate behavior.
• ambiguous<00:01:18.360> zone<00:01:19.360> of<00:01:19.759> of<00:01:20.360> behavior
• <00:01:21.360> Today<00:01:21.759> we ambiguous zone of of behavior.
• Today we ambiguous zone of of behavior.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• physicians, dentists, um behavioral physicians, dentists, um behavioral health,<00:15:13.519>
• behavioral health will be collaborating. behavioral health will be collaborating.
• So the behavioral health component.
• transporters and even that behavioral transporters and even that behavioral health<00:38:26.240>
• to put recovery with behavioral health. to put recovery with behavioral health.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• behavior is not repeated.
• behavior is not repeated.
• behavior is not repeated.
• behavior is not repeated.
• behavior is not repeated.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee held a work session on a bill arising from the Lee case involving animal seizures and humane society involvement. Members and the commissioner discussed concerns about due process, lack of clear notice to animal owners, the need for owners to understand when they are surrendering ownership, and whether humane agents should have additional training or certification. Several members also questioned the role of the NH SPCA and humane societies, the absence of oversight, and whether there was any financial or policy conflict in their involvement. The commissioner said the Department of Agriculture does not have a direct relationship with humane societies, but does coordinate with police on seizures, and noted that problems tend to arise when agencies do not consult the department first. Testimony and discussion focused on possible fixes to the bill, including clearer written notice of rights, requiring a third-party qualified veterinarian or other neutral evaluator, establishing the condition of animals at the time of seizure for later court proceedings, and possibly using teleconferencing with a veterinarian in limited circumstances. Some members suggested the bill may need a broader study committee, while others said it should be amended now rather than delayed. The chair said the bill would be worked on further and sent to the subcommittee for more detailed review. The committee then opened a hearing on HB 250, which would allow local governing bodies to regulate dog muzzling. Representative Jodi Newell testified that the bill was intended to let municipalities respond to dangerous dogs, citing Keene’s attempt to require muzzling after a serious incident but lack of clear authority under current law. Deborah LeBlanc also testified about a dog attack that seriously injured her dog and said a muzzle requirement could have prevented the attack. Committee members asked about the incident, existing dog-control laws, and whether the dog had been leashed; the discussion suggested the bill was meant to clarify local authority over muzzling as a public safety measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:06:51.120> health hospital costs and the behavioral health hospital costs and the behavioral
• Counties have behavioral health fund.
• <00:07:12.720> health the transition of the behavioral health the transition of the behavioral
• The behavioral changing in this bill. The behavioral health<00:16:00.160> fund.
• the behavioral health fund? the behavioral health fund?

Bills: HF4421, HF1937, HF4675, HF4715, HF4684

Keywords: county cost share, economically distressed county, human services finance, substance use disorder treatment, SUD services, civil commitment, state aid, county levy, poverty threshold, tax-exempt acreage, property tax exemption, Minnesota human services, county fiscal relief, local government finance, chemical dependency, behavioral health, PACE, elderly, Medicaid, health services

Transcript Highlights:

• They would become available to be in provider offices, behavioral health multidisciplinary groups, and
• behavioral health services organizations.
• They would become available to be in provider offices, behavioral health multidisciplinary groups, and
• behavioral health services organizations.
• > Behavioral<00:16:14.000> Health specialy groups and Behavioral Health specialy groups

Keywords: 00:00 Call to Order/Roll Call 00:16 Consideration of Referred Administrative Regulations 25:49 Discussion of Hospital Rate Improvement Plan 58:50 Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The committee began by reviewing a large slate of administrative regulations and explaining that it does not approve regulations but can find them deficient and send them back for further work. Members then asked questions on several items, including EMS reciprocity, dental hygienist licensure, and interpreter licensure. The EMS board explained that reciprocity would extend to applicants from any state, not just contiguous states, because the underlying statute had been amended. On the dental regulation, staff said the changes mainly clarified licensure requirements, reinstatement fees, and that dental hygienists administering local anesthetic must do so under direct dentist supervision. The most extended discussion involved the Board of Interpreters for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. The board chair said the main concern was that the EIPA is an educational specialty assessment, not a nationally recognized certification, yet the regulation would allow it to support full licensure. Members discussed whether that could let educational interpreters work outside their intended scope and whether a separate educational license or statutory change would be more appropriate. The board said it did not think the regulation could be fixed further at this point and suggested a statute could create a narrower educational interpreter license. After discussion, the committee voted to defer both related interpreter regulations, 201 KAR 39:030 and the companion regulation, for further work. The committee then took up two community mental health regulations, 907 KAR 1:044 and 907 KAR 5:005, which had been found deficient in Administrative Regulations. Department for Medicaid Services staff said the rules would expand and rename the mental health associate role as a behavioral health associate, making the role available in many more facilities, but would also require additional coursework or progress toward licensure. Some members and providers raised access-to-care concerns, especially for rural areas and unlicensed staff already working in the field. Staff said the proposal had been revised through work with CMHCs and licensing boards, but the committee ultimately voted to defer both regulations as well. After finishing the regulation review, the committee heard a presentation from the Kentucky Hospital Association on the ATRIP hospital rate improvement program. Hospital representatives said ATRIP is a Medicaid state-directed payment program funded through a provider tax and federal matching dollars, allowing hospitals to receive payments tied to quality measures. They reported improvements including lower Medicaid readmissions, high sepsis screening rates, reduced infections and opioid prescribing, expanded postpartum depression and suicide screening, and training for more than 1,000 people. They said the program has helped hospitals invest in staffing and quality improvement and warned that without it, many hospitals would face severe financial strain.

Transcript Highlights:

• However, this abhorrent behavior was not documented or nor recorded as a statistic because the possession
• Because if, if we identify something specifically, then we presume that's the bad behavior and it doesn't
• Legislators believe that sexual predators who target children often display repeated behavior, making
• It's any bad sexual behavior, so sexual offense, but it already applies to children.
• And so I'm just saying that's, that's the type of behavior.

Bills: HB207, HB235

Keywords: HB 207, Texas Government Code, Section 411.201, license to carry, LTC, handgun license, concealed carry, federal judge, immigration judge, immigration court, U.S. immigration court, judicial security, firearm carry permit, Texas handgun license, federal judiciary, HB235, Texas, sales tax exemption, use tax exemption, disabled veteran