Transcript Highlights:

• school, the dental school, the medical school, and the pharmacy school, three of those four schools
• Examples include Ryan Middle School and Rusk Middle School in Houston.
• There are five medical schools and nursing schools.
• Or a medical school?
• School districts struggle for school bus drivers.

Bills: SB1, SB 1

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Charter schools is another one. Water is another one. On and on and on.
• Part of schools they now have. Over 10,000 students in those charter schools.
• school in Albuquerque—I would have gone there and gotten my PhD.
• Women are outpacing men in law school, medical school, etc.
• We have both four-year and two-year schools involved.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> applied doctoral program high school applied doctoral program high school students<00:04:35.840>
• </c> Workforce initiatives and uh High School Workforce initiatives and uh High School partnership<00
• and the two-year colleges and schools and the high schools.
• Its six Health Sciences schools, including medicine, nursing, pharmacy, dentistry, public health, and
• medicine Nursing schools including medicine Nursing Pharmacy<01:48:46.840><c> Dentistry</c><01:48:47.639

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> facilities, nursing, EMT, pharmacy. facilities, nursing, EMT, pharmacy.
• Happy to answer any questions. schools and our public school grounds schools and our public school grounds
• </c> our school facilities and our school our school facilities and our school grounds<04:07:26.960><
• and use public school facilities schools and use public school facilities and<04:12:25.439><c> have<
• </c> public schools. public schools.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Carly Bruder, and I am a law student at the University of Texas School of Law.
• I had to find an online pharmacy that would honor my doctor's prescription.
• I am in my final year of law school at the University of Texas School of Law, and I'm here today to oppose
• I currently live in Austin and attend law school at UT.
• And is also at the top of our law school class at UT.

Bills: SB31, SB33, SB510, SB871, SB1868, SB2024, SB2166, SB2309, SB2880, SJR27, SJR39, SJR40, SB 31, SB 33

Keywords: SB 31, Life of the Mother Act, Texas abortion law, medical emergency, reasonable medical judgment, pregnancy complications, maternal health, life-threatening condition, ectopic pregnancy, spontaneous abortion, miscarriage, unborn child, abortion exception, abortion ban, physician liability, health care liability claim, aiding and abetting, Texas Medical Board, State Bar of Texas, continuing medical education

Transcript Highlights:

• What we have to think about is the access to grocery stores and pharmacies to people across the state
• in my community on 72nd and Pacific, and with it, quick access to affordable, quality food and a pharmacy

Bills: HB2713, HB2730, HB2297, HB2487, HB2382, HB2089, HB2431, HB2451, HB2590, HB2325, HB2278, HB2224, HB2322

Keywords: private detention facilities, business tax, occupation tax, financial impact, state revenue, aerospace, tax preferences, effectiveness, economic impact, grocery stores, underserved communities, food access, incentives, economic development, insurance tax, state regulation, insurers, taxation, budget impact, excise tax

Transcript Highlights:

• or a school location?
• </c> schools or a school location? schools or a school location?
• They are not attending school. cases. They are not attending school.
• </c> school uh last week. school uh last week.
• </c><00:12:32.160><c> Um,</c> their home schools. Um, their home schools.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved the May 12 minutes, then deferred item 285 on the routine personal service contract green list for Western Kentucky University to the July 2026 meeting. It also noted that several deferred university contracts had been withdrawn by the institutions, and then approved the remaining agenda items without objection, including personal service contracts, amendments, memoranda of agreement, Kentucky Entertainment incentive agreements, deferred items, and corrections, except for items pulled for further review. The main pulled item was a Kentucky Administrative Office of the Courts contract supporting Fayette District Court’s juvenile treatment court through Fayette County Public Schools. Court officials explained that the program, created under Supreme Court rules in 2022, serves court-connected juveniles with mental health and related needs, operates at the courthouse, and uses a school-employed program manager funded through a pass-through arrangement with Fayette County Public Schools and the Urban County Government. They said the program has had over 100 referrals, accepted about half, and had at least 25 successful graduates, with 11 high school graduates among participants. Members asked about who pays for drug screens, family involvement, and what counts as successful completion; the officials said the Urban County Government’s Division of Youth Services pays for drug screens and services, and that parents must participate in classes and support services. The committee then approved the contract review, with some members explaining their votes in support and one member emphasizing the committee’s role in reviewing contracts in the public interest. The committee also reviewed two Auditor of Public Accounts contracts. The auditor’s representative said contract 11, with Vantage Point Solutions, will examine the Kentucky Communications Network Authority/Kentucky Wired network for $700,000, well below the $1.5 million appropriated, and that a report is expected before the 2027 regular session. Contract 12 funds a special examination of investment managers used by Kentucky’s retirement systems, prompted by a Legislative Oversight and Investigations request to assess whether investments tied to ESG factors are consistent with fiduciary duties; the representative said the retirement systems have been cooperative and that findings are expected on a similar timeline, with some flexibility built into the deadline. After questions about the Texas litigation referenced in the explanation, the committee approved both auditor contracts without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• We provide school-based, school-linked...
• And our school systems are saying our teachers and our schools are not designed to support the mental
• :19:13.000><c> school</c><01:19:13.239><c> systems</c> to be in school and our school systems to be in
• school and our school systems are<01:19:13.760><c> saying</c><01:19:14.360><c> our</c><01:19:14.560>
• our teachers and our schools are saying our teachers and our schools are<01:19:16.080><c> not</c><01

Bills: HF1005

Keywords: health insurance, medical assistance, behavioral health, reimbursement rates, primary care services, physician fee schedule, managed care, residential services, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Patients risk the potential for discriminatory encounters with pharmacy staff on a monthly basis simply
• questions or comments I have a question for your witness we met you Palo Alto where did you go to school
• yes sir I went to fair meadow elementary school my kindergarten teacher was mrs.
• Ao we celebrated Chinese New Year I went to jail middle school and I went to Henry and Gunn high school
• Matt Pack representing California Association of Private Post-Secondary Schools opposed to the bill.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our children miss school days wheezing. Our parents... Our children miss school days wheezing.
• in pharmacy whatsoever.
• back in our school doors.
• So when it does roll out eventually statewide, it is a resource that our school counselors, our school
• It is a resource that our school counselors, our school nurses, our educators, all will value and get

Keywords: 1146, all

Transcript Highlights:

• He earned his PhD in public health from Johns Hopkins University, the top school of public health in
• He earned his PhD in public health from Johns Hopkins University, the top school of public health in
• He earned his PhD in public health from Johns Hopkins University, the top school of public health in
• I'm also an instructor at Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth.
• </c><03:53:26.279><c> or</c> required for attendance at school or required for attendance at school or

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• When it comes to expenses for schools, a traditional public school, a charter school, and a private school
• , charter schools, and private schools.
• schools.
• and a public school and who they permit to come into their school, the private schools.
• , I mean out of public school to private school, as those that are coming out of private school, I mean

Summary: The Arkansas Legislative Council meeting began with approval of the December 2025 minutes and a presentation from the Bureau of Legislative Research on the December revenue report. Dr. Carlos Silva said gross collections were about $4.02 billion, up slightly from the prior year, and net available for distribution was also above last year but down modestly from the previous month because of higher-than-expected corporate income tax refunds. Members asked about corporate tax trends, tariffs, and inflation, and Silva said it was too early to call the corporate decline a trend and that tariff effects would likely show up mainly in sales tax collections. The council then adopted several subcommittee reports, including the Executive Committee Subcommittee, Administrative Rules, Hospital/Medicaid/Developmental Disabilities, Occupational Licensing Review, PEER, Review, State Insurance Program Oversight, and Personnel. The PEER report drew the most debate because of a Department of Agriculture grant tied to Perry County and Central Arkansas Water; members discussed whether removing the Perry County portion would affect the grant’s competitiveness, and the report was ultimately adopted with the item included. The Review Subcommittee also heard questions about a BDO contract for the rural health transformation program, with DFA explaining that the contractor would manage the program while state agencies would make funding decisions consistent with the state’s application. A major portion of the meeting focused on the Education Freedom Account appropriation tied to LEARNS. Senators and representatives debated whether the program helps families or diverts money from public schools, with supporters arguing it funds students and choice and opponents arguing it is costly, vulnerable to fraud, and harms public school funding. Department of Education officials said roughly 28,000 private school students and 17,500 homeschool students were participating, that EFA students must submit standardized tests annually, and that the requested $32 million was to cover existing participants. After multiple substitute motions and extended debate, the body rejected a motion to strip out the $32 million and then adopted the report and related motions. The meeting ended after routine approvals of additional agency items and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Additionally, the committee substitute exempts pharmacies to ensure that the state cannot control the

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Baldwin High School on the island of Maui.
• School on the<00:04:03.920><c> island</c><00:04:04.080><c> of</c><00:04:04.239><c> Maui.
• middle school students said they have tried e-cigarettes.
• Christopher Fernandez, DCCA Board of Pharmacy, providing comments.
• I went to high school on the island. Um, and then I transferred and went to UC Berkeley.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several health-related measures, with most of the discussion focused on bills addressing tobacco/vape enforcement, psychology licensure, hospital price transparency, prior authorization, and medical cannabis. The chair opened by explaining the one-minute testimony limit and that written testimony had been reviewed. For SB 2175 on disposable electronic smoking devices, the Department of Health said the bill’s placement in litter-control law was not a good fit because disposable e-cigarettes contain hazardous materials like lithium and nicotine, but it supported the intent and pointed to a related measure. Public health and tobacco-control advocates strongly supported the bill, citing youth use, toxic waste, battery fires, and the need to tighten definitions and remove exemptions; a long list of organizations and individuals were noted in support, with no opposition mentioned. For SB 2410, which would create a state directory and enforcement tools for authorized e-cigarette products, the Attorney General’s office strongly supported the measure and said it would help enforce the FDA-authorized list of products through certification, inspections, and civil penalties. The Department of Health said thousands of illegal products remain on the market and cited youth usage rates, while public health groups also supported the bill. One tobacco industry-related witness was noted in opposition. SB 2080, the psychology interjurisdictional compact, drew support from the Department of Corrections, which said it had severe staffing shortages and that the compact would help fill gaps, especially for forensic psychology and neighbor island facilities. Some committee members raised concerns about whether the compact would loosen licensure standards and reduce licensing revenue, and the Board of Psychology was said to be meeting and had not taken a formal position; testimony also noted the need for resources if the compact were adopted. The committee also heard SB 2276 on surgical assistance, with DCCA in opposition and a supporter from the field, but little discussion followed. SB 2277 on hospital price transparency drew support from consumer and patient advocates, who argued that clearer pricing would reduce medical debt and help patients shop for care; DCCA and the Department of Health offered comments, with the department suggesting an alternative enforcement model using outside review entities and noting that implementation would require significant staffing and funding. The Healthcare Association of Hawaii opposed the bill, saying federal transparency rules already cover the issue and state law could create duplication. SB 2282 on prior authorization received comments from insurers and providers; HMSA asked that the bill be set aside pending the report of the prior authorization working group created by Act 151, while the Hawaii Medical Association said prior authorization is a major burden but deferred to regulators on resources. Finally, SB 2413 on medical cannabis was supported by the Office of Medical Cannabis and others, who said the bill would close a patient-access gap by allowing viable seed sales; one witness suggested clarifying jurisdictional language and allowing dispensaries to sell seeds to each other. The committee then began SB 2425 on health insurance, where an addiction treatment provider testified that insurers’ refusal to honor assignment-of-benefits payments can delay reimbursement and create relapse risk for patients, but the transcript cuts off before further action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• I know that again in pharmacy the cash customer got screwed on the pricing because the insurance weren't
• the cash customer got screwed pharmacy the cash customer got screwed on<00:51:00.520><c> the</c><00:
• benefit from required immunizations to do things like participate in normal life through going to school
• benefit from required immunizations to do things like participate in normal life through going to school
• benefit from required immunizations to do things like participate in normal life through going to school

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Like the New Mexico Academy for the Media Arts, a charter school that's focused on developing students
• The school was very interested. To our resources. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
• The school was very interested in working in that area and making sure that their ability is lifted up
• We have met with the Board of Pharmacy on licensing—what type of license do we need?
• So we're working through that with the Board of Pharmacy.

Summary: The committee first recognized Mark Roper of the Economic Development Department for his long service and retirement, with members and the secretary praising his work on economic development across the state. Secretary Rob Black then presented EDD’s budget and special appropriation requests, describing strong recent job and income growth and outlining the department’s strategy around science and technology, site readiness, workforce development, foreign direct investment, and rural/community programs. He highlighted wins in advanced energy, quantum, space and defense, and biosciences, and asked for funding for quantum/DARPA matching funds, additional site readiness work, LIDA closing funds, JTIP training support, New Mexico Partnership, and healthy foods and other community programs. Members asked detailed questions about the quantum proposal, site readiness, the new mapping tool for industrial sites, workforce participation, trade missions, foreign investment, tariffs, water and produced water, tribal site evaluation, and public engagement on major projects. Black said the quantum request was intended to match federal dollars and build a workforce pipeline, that the site-readiness software would be a set enterprise license, and that the department was working with tribes and local partners on future site evaluations. He also said tariffs have created uncertainty but New Mexico’s infrastructure and foreign trade zones could help attract manufacturing, and he acknowledged concerns about transparency and community input while noting that some projects, such as Pacific Fusion, had gone through extensive public processes. The committee also discussed specific projects and funding balances, including Mantis Space’s move to Albuquerque, the status of Virgin Galactic’s spaceport lease, and the current LIDA fund balance and encumbrances. Black and Deputy Secretary Isaac Romero said the department was trying to use State Investment Council-backed venture funds to attract companies and that the new investments were already producing deals and jobs. Members generally supported the department’s direction but pressed for more targeted expertise, faster deployment, and stronger community involvement in future economic development decisions. Later, Secretary de Blassie of the Department of Health presented the department’s budget request and progress report. He said DOH had improved revenue cycle management, reduced old Medicaid-pending cases, increased census at facilities, improved budget and contract timeliness, and responded effectively to the measles outbreak. The department requested additional base funding for epidemiology and response, the DOH helpline, the Vital Records Virtual Vault, state labs, and the veterans home, along with special requests for respiratory vaccinations and marketing and lab equipment replacement. He also noted progress on MOUD and the medical psilocybin program, and said the department was not seeking to launch new programs given the limited time left in the administration.

Transcript Highlights:

• That affects our pharmacy line.
• That affects our pharmacy line.
• That affects our pharmacy line.
• </c> based crew uh program like high school based crew uh program like high school kids<01:49:02.239>
• </c> I said with private land owners schools I said with private land owners schools um<03:43:45.279>

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee reviewed the Department of Corrections budget, with the chair initially noting that the overall numbers looked close to fiscal year 2024 spending, except for federal funds. Department officials explained that prior ARPA expenditures and delayed revenue recognition had distorted the comparison, and that the corrected general fund spend was about $169.7 million. Members then focused on whether the budget’s staffing assumptions were realistic, especially the shift from overtime to full-time lines and the use of vacant positions to offset overtime costs. The department said it is leaning on vacancy savings, but would return for additional appropriations if unforeseen staffing problems arise. A major portion of the discussion centered on recruitment, retention, and staffing levels. Officials reported a 42% vacancy rate in enforcement ranks, down from 51% in January 2023, with 28 new officers headed to the next academy and 33 new hires already tracked. They said overtime is more expensive than regular staffing because of benefits and that it takes about 11 months for a new hire to break even. Members also asked about the split between incarcerated and supervised populations; the department said it oversees about 1,970 inmates in facilities and just over 4,000 people in the community, with 77 positions supervising the community population and the inmate population remaining the most expensive area. The committee also discussed how sentencing and statutory changes affect incarceration levels, including misdemeanor/felony thresholds and theft thresholds, with the department agreeing that such changes can significantly affect prison and jail populations. Members asked about education and recidivism, and the department said base education is the most important foundation, followed by vocational training, while noting that many incarcerated men lack a high school diploma. The department also described a $1.3 million reduction in contracted forensic evaluation services, explaining that these evaluations are court-ordered competency assessments and are not statutorily required to be provided by DOC. Finally, members reviewed victim services funding and staffing, including VOCA-supported positions, and the department explained that a new victim witness specialist would help support survivors at parole hearings and safety planning.

Transcript Highlights:

• , and Saint Philip's Episcopal School.
• I know that they do back to school drives.
• TTUHSC includes six distinguished schools, the School of Medicine, the School of Nursing, School of Health
• Hodge School of Pharmacy, the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.
• Westlake High School was where my 3 kids went, where I used to be on the school board, and we're so glad

Transcript Highlights:

• prohibits negative use restrictions on real property transactions regarding grocery stores and pharmacies

Bills: HB1269, HB2624

Keywords: pawnbroker, fees, interest rates, consumer protection, financial regulation, real estate transactions, nonprofit, land conservancies, unsolicited offers, property rights, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• prohibits negative use restrictions on real property transactions regarding grocery stores and pharmacies

Summary: The Washington State Senate Business, Trade & Economic Development Committee received a staff briefing on four bills before moving into executive action. Substitute House Bill 1078 on pet insurance would bar insurers from canceling or non-renewing policies based on a pet’s age or certain health conditions and set other policy rules; it had passed the House 95-0, but the committee took no action on it. House Bill 1269 on pawnbroker fees, interest rates, and loan terms also received no action; staff described two competing striking amendments, one from Senator Stanford that would restore a 90-day loan period, set a uniform 5% interest rate per three-day period, adjust fees, and require a statewide DFI database, and another from Senator Coffin with the same changes except for the database. The committee then acted on Engrossed House Bill 2294, which prohibits negative use restrictions in real property transactions involving grocery stores and pharmacies. It was moved, seconded, and approved unanimously for a do-pass recommendation to the Rules Committee. The committee also considered House Bill 2624, which expands exemptions for public entities, tribes, and conservation organizations acquiring property for public benefit; Senator Kaufman’s striking amendment C clarified that an appraisal must be conducted before acquisition, reflecting stakeholder testimony and language agreed to by the Washington Forest Forestry Association and The Trust for Public Land. The amendment was adopted, and the bill as amended was then approved unanimously and sent to Rules. The meeting then adjourned.