Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Chair, Rhonda, so as a school board...
• Madam Chair, Rhonda, so as a school board, like school board members or candidates that have really shared
• Madam Chair and members, House Bill 2953, Pharmacy Board Civil Penalties, allows the board to investigate
• dentists on the State Board is to be an oral and maxillofacial surgeon.
• Madam Chair and members, HB 2830 requires the State Board of Education to adopt academic science standards

Summary: The caucus reviewed a large number of House bills, mostly on third-read consent or for floor strategy, covering education, health, water, land, energy, housing, taxation, and public safety. Topics included ESA administration funding, AI in schools and legal communications, towing and DUI changes, health facility licensing and nursing records, internationally trained physicians, nurse anesthetist reimbursement, childhood cancer research, cybersecurity encryption, school mental health instruction, superintendent pay and benefits, adoption disclosures in college health settings, anti-Semitism provisions, school safety firearms authorization, coerced abortion penalties, domestic violence testimony standards, border health and terrorism-related bills, and multiple water, land, and state trust land measures. Several members flagged concerns about unfunded mandates, local control, constitutional issues, and special legislation, while others supported bills as technical fixes, public safety measures, or ways to expand access and funding. A number of bills were pulled from consent for further discussion, including HB 2020, HB 2093, HB 2386, HB 2481, HB 2575, HB 2906, HB 2040, HB 2136, HB 2665, HB 2904, HB 2957, HB 2044, HB 2352, HB 2667, HB 2830, HB 2307, HB 2425, HB 2426, HB 2427, HB 2497, HB 2751, HB 2780, HB 2804, HB 2926, HB 4030, and HCR 2052, among others. Some bills were noted as unanimous or split votes, and several were described as party-line or having constitutional problems. The caucus also discussed committee amendments on multiple measures, including changes to water, land, health, and AI bills. The meeting ended with a series of remarks on the late Reverend Jesse Jackson and an “affordability award” presentation to Representatives Lorena Austin and Simacek for work on economic justice and working families. The caucus then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, committee members, HB 1095 provides for alternative power sources at nursing homes.
• This bill was brought to me by some nursing home operators who expressed the need to have flexibility
• This bill is a carbon copy of previous legislation related to backup power for nursing homes.
• The reason for this is nursing homes are regulated and can only install what is allowed by state or federal
• Under federal rules, pharmacies that serve nursing home and assisted living facilities, must deliver

Committee: Senate Health & Welfare

Keywords: 974, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on Health and Welfare met on May 13 with a quorum present and approved the prior meeting minutes. The committee first heard HB 971, which would equalize Medicaid reimbursement rates between independent clinics and hospital-owned rural health clinics; supporters said independent clinics are disadvantaged by a large payment disparity, and the bill was reported favorable without objection. The committee also recognized visiting Alpha Phi Alpha members and other guests during personal privilege remarks. Members then considered HB 414, which would bar hiring certain health care workers and direct support professionals with serious disqualifying convictions from other states and address background-check issues for therapeutic group homes. After adopting three amendment sets, the bill was reported as amended. HB 740, creating an independent review process for Medicaid behavioral health claim disputes in the coordinated system of care, was amended to clarify applicability and CSOC definitions and then reported as amended. HB 288, which would place the term “miscarriage” alongside “spontaneous abortion” in medical documentation, drew emotional testimony from affected parents and advocates; the committee reported it favorable. The committee also advanced several more bills: HB 405, updating the name of the national acupuncture certifying body, was reported favorable; HB 786, prohibiting extrapolation in certain managed-care claims recoupments, was reported favorable; HB 1095, allowing alternative backup power sources for nursing homes, was reported favorable; HB 403, raising the cottage food gross-sales cap, was amended from $50,000 to $150,000 and then reported favorable; HB 930, modernizing cosmetic-product regulation and creating a small-producer exemption, was reported favorable; HB 557, defining long-term pharmacies for policy purposes, was reported favorable; HB 779, on expedited partner therapy for sexually transmitted diseases, was reported favorable; HB 915, setting utilization-management timelines and standards, was reported favorable; HB 546, expanding criteria for peace officers to take someone into protective custody during a mental health crisis, was reported favorable; HB 796, creating a chiropractic preceptorship program, was reported favorable; and HB 933, authorizing commemorative birth certificates, was reported favorable. The final major item was HB 1041, a “no-mandate” bill barring discrimination based on medical intervention status. The sponsor and Surgeon General said it was aimed at healthy, asymptomatic individuals and not at public health quarantine powers, but Senator Boudreaux objected to exemptions for schools and hospitals and offered an amendment to restore broader coverage. That amendment failed on a roll-call vote, and the bill remained under discussion as the transcript ended, with no final committee disposition shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Land Bolting, Legislative Budget Board. Frank Valdavino, Legislative Budget Board. Okay, thanks.
• Our Board of Regents shares that respect.
• But same for nursing.
• basis to working from home.
• And that's one reason when I had come in and the board, the chairman and the board was very supportive

Summary: The Senate Committee on Higher Education met to review interim charges on the Permanent University Fund (PUF), the Available University Fund (AUF), the Higher Education Fund (HEAF), and the Texas University Fund (TUF). Legislative Budget Board staff outlined how each fund works, including PUF’s constitutional role for UT and Texas A&M, HEAF’s capital support for institutions outside those systems, and TUF’s research funding for eligible universities. They also described TUF’s growing corpus and distribution changes, and noted which institutions are nearing eligibility. Committee members asked about distribution formulas, comparisons to other states, and how funds are allocated among system institutions.

Transcript Highlights:

• What it does is provide the Board of Supervisors flexibility to What it does is provide the Board of
• , and what did work from home mean?
• You talked about workforce shortages. Chair: Um, you talked about workforce shortages.
• There are still very high standards.
• Existing law allows school district boards and community college boards to employ, in lieu of traditional

Summary: The committee heard several bills related to public employment. AB 1601, by Assemblymember Rogers, would give Sonoma County flexibility to work with its retirement board and actuaries on a possible retiree cost-of-living adjustment; supporters said Sonoma is the only 1937 Act county system without an automatic COLA and that retirees have gone since 2008 without an increase, while no opposition testified. The bill passed on a do-pass vote and was placed on the floor. AB 1729, by Assemblymember Lee, would update state telework policy by requiring written telework plans, adding more structure before return-to-office decisions, and restoring public reporting on telework savings. Supporters, including SEIU Local 1000, the Association of California State Supervisors, and many state workers, argued telework improves productivity, reduces emissions and commute costs, and could save the state about $225 million annually; there was no opposition. The committee approved the bill 6-0 and re-referred it to Appropriations. AB 1630, by Assemblymember Colosa, would allow union representatives to invite bargaining-unit members to observe meet-and-confer sessions, including remotely, to increase transparency and engagement. UC and CSU opposed the measure, saying observer rules should be negotiated at the table and warning the bill lacked clear limits on the number of observers and could create logistical and security problems. The bill passed 5-0 with one member not voting and was sent to Appropriations. AB 1750, also by Assemblymember Colosa, would require school employees who exhaust sick leave and are absent due to illness or injury to receive full salary for an additional five months. CTA supported the bill as a needed safety net for teachers and classified staff, while school districts and administrators opposed it over cost, staffing, and student stability concerns, saying it could encourage longer absences and strain already tight budgets. The committee passed the bill 5-0 and sent it to Higher Education. AB 1896, by Assemblymember Gonzalez, would bar people who participated in immigration enforcement from holding California public employment, with supporters framing it as a response to ICE and Border Patrol actions and opponents warning it was overbroad and could exclude otherwise qualified applicants from law enforcement jobs; the bill passed 5-1 and was referred to Public Safety.

Transcript Highlights:

• committed to making certain that the necessary VA workforce is preserved.
• nursing home care.
• Last week, a judge in my home state called these firings illegal.
• What about black veterans who were unable to access VA home loans due to redlining?
• The SCID system of care has been short hundreds of nurses for years.

Committee: Senate Senate Veterans' Affairs

Keywords: veteran services, Secretary Collins, healthcare provisions, contract cancellations, transparency, accountability, committee meeting, legislation

Summary: During this committee meeting, various bills were discussed with a specific focus on veteran services and healthcare provisions. Notably, the cancellation of critical contracts under Secretary Collins sparked significant debate, with representatives emphasizing the adverse impact on veteran care. The meeting featured testimonies from veterans and stakeholders who expressed their concerns regarding the potential fallout of these cancellations, demonstrating the urgency of transparency and accountability in management decisions. Discussions also delved into various legislative proposals aimed at improving services for veterans amidst these challenges.

Transcript Highlights:

• You've got covered entities, which are the providers, the hospitals, doctors, clinics, nursing homes.
• And then you... ...the hospitals, doctors, clinics, nursing homes.
• I've worked in nursing facilities. I've worked in nursing facilities.
• In terms of the nursing homes, in the nursing home issue, this change would actually align Florida law
• Under federal law, any crime in a nursing home must be reported.

Summary: The committee first took up CS/SB 1606 on patient access to records. The sponsor explained that the bill, as amended, would align Florida law more closely with HIPAA by defining “designated record set,” requiring providers to furnish requested records within set timeframes, allowing a limited extension with notice, and requiring records to be produced in the requested form if readily producible. Several members asked about patient portals, legal representatives, and whether the bill affected meaningful-use rules or post-mortem access. Multiple witnesses opposed the bill, arguing it could create cybersecurity risks, conflict with existing privacy rules, and burden providers; supporters said it would improve patient access and consistency. The committee adopted the amendment and then reported the bill favorably. The committee then considered CS/SB 712 on construction regulations. The bill would direct DEP to establish rules for synthetic turf and limit local governments from banning it if state rules are followed, while also addressing change orders, public works bidding, elevator rails, alarm contractor work, building code updates, spaceport exemptions, permit document limits, and single-trade inspections. Amendments removed the pool and spa contractor provisions and the tall mass timber language. Testimony on the bill centered heavily on the pool industry, with contractors and the Florida Swimming Pool Association opposing expansion of scope to general and building contractors, while some speakers supported other parts of the bill. After adopting the amendments, the committee reported the bill favorably. Finally, the committee heard CS/SB 1288 on parental rights. The bill would allow minors to be tested for STDs without parental consent but require parental consent for treatment, expand parents’ rights to access records and control certain health decisions, and restrict health care services, medical procedures, and biofeedback devices for minors absent consent or an exception. An amendment moved survey and questionnaire provisions into the education code, added an explicit court-order exception, clarified DNA and biofeedback provisions, and added emergency behavioral health exceptions. The committee heard extensive public testimony both for and against the bill, with supporters emphasizing parental authority and opponents warning it could delay STI treatment, mental health care, and other services for vulnerable minors. The transcript ends during public testimony on the bill, before any final committee action is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• . - It amends nursing home reimbursement to increase the quality incentive program. - It creates the
• It puts the camel's nose under the tent, creating a separate board of naturopathy.
• This board will, over time, regulate its own standards, define its own scope, and return to this legislature
• In a home with several bedrooms in a group home, it's a home; it's got bedrooms and common living space
• And I do realize that there's workforce shortages, but we can't have a workforce that might be a danger

Transcript Highlights:

• An example of this that the Board of Nursing oversees over 400 license for registered nurses alone.
• board.
• If you've got a nurse who's doing something that's endangering the public, only the nursing board can
• If there is no power from one board to the other, because I, I was wondering, you know, could the nursing
• I can certainly ask, you know, I mean, my understanding is that it's like the Board of Nursing, the Medical

Committee: House Public Health

Transcript Highlights:

• efforts of the workforce standards board and the parts that the governor does fund, it just exacerbates
• homes and the using to fund our nursing homes and the 20%<01:46:09.920><c> reduction</c><01:46:10.440
• homes are still time when the nursing homes are still struggling<01:46:16.320><c> with</c><01:46:16.440
• <01:46:22.480><c> standards</c><01:46:23.080><c> board</c><01:46:23.920><c> and</c><01:46:24.320><c>
• the</c><01:46:24.679><c> parts</c> workforce standards board and the parts workforce standards board

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• home lots.
• They do have standards.
• Doing so strengthens our system, protects our standards, and keeps opportunity rooted right here at home
• If you choose to be a nurse, then be a nurse.
• Well, a group home is just that. It's a home.

Summary: The House opened with prayer, a moment of silence for former member Chester Clem, the Pledge of Allegiance, and quorum confirmation. Members then adopted the special order report for the day and approved a Rules and Ethics Committee report amending House Rule 15.3 to allow fundraising under certain circumstances during extended or special sessions. The chamber then took up several bills. HB 1405 on a statewide project for missing persons with special needs passed unanimously. CS/CS/CS/SB 290, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services bill, passed 94-10 after debate focused on conservation land surplus procedures and agricultural use of state lands. CS/CS/CS/HB 905, the “Fire Act” on foreign influence, foreign gifts, critical infrastructure, sister city agreements, and related restrictions, passed 80-20 after the House adopted an amendment adding a prohibition on certain surrogacy contracts involving citizens or residents of foreign countries of concern. CS/CS/HB 1197, dealing with information technology procurement and contracting, passed 109-0. HB 1103 on local administration of vessel restrictions passed unanimously. The House also debated CS/CS/CS/HB 399 on land use and development regulations. Supporters said it would limit development fees, standardize compatibility rules, allow manufactured homes in RV parks, and lower voting thresholds for comprehensive plan changes to address housing affordability; opponents argued it would preempt local control, weaken voter-approved urban boundary protections, and risk conservation lands. An amendment to preserve Orange County’s boundary rules failed, while a technical amendment on manufactured homes passed. The bill then passed 71-38. The House also passed several local bills, including measures for the Pace Fire Rescue District, Avalon Beach/Mulat Fire Protection District, East Point Water and Sewer District, Fellsmere Water Control District, and Headwaters Water Control District, with votes ranging from 83-27 to unanimous approval. The transcript also included farewell remarks from Representative Angie Nixon before the House returned to remaining business.

Transcript Highlights:

• Sean Stafford, board of a youth soccer association, waiving in support. Mr.
• I'm a lifelong public servant with experience in both law enforcement and nursing.
• Pietro, Board of Family Voice, waving in support.
• function, if you will, no standardized license for that.
• But there's no standardized function, if you will, no standardized license for that.

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We are the statewide member organization for California's local workforce development boards.
• Closing that gap is what the local workforce development boards exist to do.
• Federal law requires that a majority of members of every local workforce board come from the private
• The regional strategy there was led by the Merced County Workforce Development Board, with their workforce
• Workforce Development Board have been steady and constructive partners for all our local boards.

Summary: The select committee on Community Economic Mobility and Investment heard testimony on how California can support inclusive economic development through coordinated workforce, education, nonprofit, and industry partnerships. Chair Arambula opened by emphasizing that rural, low-income, and historically underinvested communities often face the greatest barriers to accessing state resources, and that the hearing would focus on successful collaboration models, the role of training and higher education, and future opportunities tied to economic mobility and social determinants of health. Witnesses from the California Workforce Association, Fresno State, and NextGen Policy described local and regional workforce systems in the Central Valley and beyond. They highlighted examples such as apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs, employer-led partnerships, on-the-job training, support for women entering construction, programs for justice-involved and opportunity youth, and the need to braid federal, state, philanthropic, and private funding. Several speakers stressed that local workforce boards, community colleges, adult education, labor organizations, and community-based groups are best positioned to identify regional labor needs and that California should fund systems, not just individual grants, especially as federal workforce funding has declined and new work requirements tied to HR 1 and AI-related labor shifts create added pressure. A second panel focused on the Community Economic Mobility Initiative as a statewide model. Sierra Health Foundation and its partners said CME has helped community organizations build capacity, pursue more than $400 million in grants and contracts, and attract about $178 million back into California communities. Speakers from Siskiyou Economic Development Council, Fresno EDC, Edge Collaborative, and Líderes Campesinas gave examples of place-based projects in rural and urban regions, including business innovation centers, community-owned development, bioeconomy and restoration projects, subsidized employment, and farmworker-led cooperatives. They argued that long-term, locally driven investment produces stronger regional economies and better health outcomes, and urged the Legislature to provide durable funding and policy support rather than short-term extensions. No formal votes or committee actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• And the first one there is nursing homes.
• </c> And the first one there is nursing And the first one there is nursing homes.<01:08:46.480><c> And
• And I will just add that nursing homes.
• </c> buyout by a corporation and the nursing buyout by a corporation and the nursing homes<01:08:58.880
• So, nur nursing homes right now future.

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And they want to be home on Fridays by noon to get them out of traffic and get them back home because
• So you know that there's just a large number of volunteer boards or smaller boards out there that need—they're
• Are you still home to a center of excellence?
• However, the board of nursing has recommended that the limit on those cohorts should be no more than
• But those are workforce certificates. Some of them are stand-alone workforce.

Transcript Highlights:

• Doing so strengthens our system, protects our standards, and keeps opportunity rooted right here at home
• Doing so strengthens our system, protects our standards, and keeps opportunity rooted right here at home
• If you choose to be a nurse, then be a nurse.
• Well, a group home is just that. It's a home.
• Well, a group home is just that. It's a home.

Summary: The House opened with prayer, a moment of silence for former member Chester Clem, the Pledge of Allegiance, and quorum verification. Members then adopted the special order report and a Rules and Ethics Committee report amending House Rule 15.3 to allow fundraising under certain circumstances during extended or special sessions. The chamber also recognized Deputy First Class Stefano Gargano as law enforcement officer of the day and several visiting groups in the gallery. On the floor, HB 1405 on a statewide project for missing persons with special needs passed unanimously, 109-0. The House then took up CS/CS/CS/SB 290, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services bill, which drew questions about surplus conservation lands and oversight by the Acquisition and Restoration Council; it passed 94-10. CS/CS/CS/HB 905, the “Fire Act” on foreign influence, foreign-country-of-concern restrictions, critical infrastructure, gifts, contracts, sister city agreements, and related ethics and criminal provisions, passed 80-20 after debate and a germane amendment was adopted over objections. The House also passed CS/CS/HB 1197 on information technology procurement and contracting, aimed at modernizing oversight of major IT projects, by 109-0. CS/CS/CS/HB 399 on land use development and development regulations passed 71-38 after extensive debate over development fees, manufactured homes, and reducing local supermajority requirements for comprehensive plan changes; an amendment to preserve Orange County’s rural boundary vote failed, and a strike-all amendment was ruled out of order. Members then adopted a technical amendment clarifying manufactured homes language. Several local bills also advanced: HB 1103 on local administration of vessel restrictions passed 109-0; HB 4051 and HB 4053 on Santa Rosa County fire protection district assessments passed 84-25 and 83-27, respectively, after compromise amendments; HB 4081 on the East Point Water and Sewer District passed 110-0; and HB 4093 on the Felsmere Water Control District passed 109-0. The transcript ended as the House moved on to HB 4095, with no final action shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> of the AY's workforce. of the AY's workforce.
• </c> workforce. It was my understanding, Mr. workforce.
• I Workforce, America's Workforce Act.
• Joseph Schwarz ran a nationwide nursing home empire and stole $38 million through Medicaid and tax fraud
• </c><06:13:26.638><c> home</c> Schwarz ran a nationwide nursing home Schwarz ran a nationwide nursing

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Thursday, December 11, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I’ve lost a couple nursing homes in my district in the last couple years, and when I look at this, I
• Do you know the excess capacity in the nursing homes that are available?
• homes in my I've lost a couple nursing homes in my district<01:03:13.920><c> in</c><01:03:14.000><c>
• ><01:03:59.880><c> especially</c><01:04:00.240><c> in</c> nursing homes on the edge especially in nursing
• homes that are capacity in the nursing homes that are available<01:04:12.000><c> I</c><01:04:12.079>

Committee: Senate Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• that forward before the entire board to vote on.
• But our board at Oklahoma A&M is all workers.
• The OCC Regents Board.
• the OCC Regents Board.
• I went on to OU to nursing school.

Committee: Senate Education

Summary: The Extended Education Committee met to consider a long slate of gubernatorial nominations and reappointments to education-related boards and commissions. The committee heard brief introductions from sponsoring senators and remarks from nominees for the Oklahoma Lottery Commission, State Board of Career and Technology Education, Regional University System of Oklahoma, State Board of Education, Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, Board of Regents for the Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical Colleges, the Secretary of Education, several university and college boards, the Oklahoma Student Loan Authority, the State Textbook Committee, the Oklahoma Arts Council, and the Langston University board, among others. Many nominees emphasized their backgrounds in public education, higher education, business, agriculture, health care, or community service, and several acknowledged family members or institutional leaders present in the room. A few nominations drew questions or discussion. John Wesley Nofire was asked about working with the State Board of Education and about the social studies standards process, and he explained the board followed statutory public-comment procedures and made changes before final adoption. Secretary of Education Dan Hamlin received supportive comments from multiple senators, who praised his data-driven approach and urged that he be retained by future administrations. Michael McElroy, Brian Beller, Christopher Franklin, Dr. Michael Peck, and others also answered questions about the role of their boards and their experience with the institutions they would oversee. The committee voted on each nomination, with most receiving unanimous approval and a few passing with one or two dissenting votes. Notable vote totals included David McKenzie and Michael McElroy passing 9-2 and 10-1 respectively, while the rest of the nominees generally passed 8-0, 9-0, 10-0, or 11-0. At the end of the meeting, the chair thanked members for their work on the large number of executive nominations and announced that the committee was adjourned for the year.

Transcript Highlights:

• MEGAN MARONEY, FLORIDA NURSES ASSOCIATION. EXCUSE ME, IS IT MOODY OR MARONEY?
• DIRECTORS FOR THE FLORIDA NURSES ASSOCIATION.
• NURSES AND MITIGATE THE RELUCTANCE TO WORK IN THE OR.
• SINCE 1995 AND I TRANSITIONED TO QUALITY IMPROVEMENT NURSE.
• WITH THE BOARD OF MEDICINE.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• SO THAT THE GOAL OF ADULT GENERAL EDUCATION IS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND WORKFORCE EDUCATION BECAUSE
• WORKFORCE ENROLLMENT AND WE THINK OF NON WORKFORCE ENROLLMENT OF STUDENTS IN AN AA PROGRAM.
• I SPOKE ABOUT THE WEIGHT OF THE WORKFORCE FTE BEING ONE AND A HALF TIMES THAT OF THE NON WORKFORCE FTE
• THAT IS NOT WORKFORCE. OF LOOKING AT LOWER DIVISION ENROLLMENT. THAT IS NOT WORKFORCE.
• SO THE REASON FOR WAIVING THE WORKFORCE COMPONENT IN THE WORKFORCE 1.5 TIMES IS BECAUSE YOU HAVE MORE

Keywords: 999, senate, all