Video & Transcript Research : 'term limits'

Page 168 of 500
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Insurance Committee Apr 30th, 2025

Transcript Highlights:
  • Now, I want to thank you in this, as I learned late yesterday, that you've sort of taken the limits of
  • I'll be respectful and try to be quick, but ...the limits of speech and time of speech.
  • That's a southern term, by the way. Okay, everybody with me on that one? Yep. Okay, good.
  • It was a long-term commitment by state leaders and a great deal of grit and determination.
  • So my encouragement is for you to be prepared for this to be a long-term effort.
Summary: The Assembly Insurance Committee met to consider several bills focused on California’s insurance market, wildfire resilience, and consumer protections. AB 888, the California Safe Homes Act, was heard first. Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara and Alabama Insurance Commissioner Mark Fowler testified in support, describing state grant programs that help homeowners harden roofs and create defensible space, with the goal of reducing losses and improving insurance affordability and availability. Supporters from the insurance industry, local government, and the Rebuild Paradise Foundation also backed the bill, and committee members emphasized the need for more incentives for mitigation. The bill passed the committee on a do pass motion and was sent to Appropriations. AB 290, by Assemblymember Bauer-Kahan, would require the FAIR Plan to offer automatic payments and address non-renewal grace-period issues. The author described her own experience being forced onto the FAIR Plan and facing a large premium increase, while Consumer Federation of California called the bill common-sense consumer protection. The FAIR Plan opposed unless amended, saying it was already handling major wildfire claims and other operational demands and requested more time and changes to the non-renewal grace-period language. Members across the committee supported the bill as a needed modernization measure, and it passed as amended to Appropriations. AB 1339, by Assemblymember Gonzalez, would direct the Department of Insurance to study insurance availability and pricing for affordable housing providers and report policy recommendations. Supporters from affordable housing organizations said rising premiums were forcing providers to cut services, defer maintenance, and use reserves, threatening housing stability for low-income residents. The bill passed as amended to Appropriations. AB 646, by Assemblymember Wallace, also passed to Appropriations; it concerns disclosure related to motor vehicle protection products and catalytic converter theft deterrence, with support from auto dealers and industry groups. The committee also approved AB 1531 on consent. Members later added on to the record in support of the bills, and the hearing concluded without recorded opposition votes on the measures that advanced.
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
  • Right, I'm describing the colloquial term, yes. Thank you for coming in.
  • Right, I'm describing the colloquial term, yes. Thank you for coming in.
  • Yes, the numbers you just said are correct: $6,000 is the limit.
  • If we're allowed to explain votes, is there a time limit per member?
  • You guys have a time limit? Sometimes we eliminate it. We've not put time limits in the past.
Keywords: 1182, all
Summary: The joint House Ways and Means and Senate Finance committees met to hear identical conformity bills, HB 2153 and SB 1106, which would align Arizona tax law with the federal Internal Revenue Code as of Jan. 1, 2026, including some retroactive provisions for tax year 2025. Staff explained that the bills would exclude three federal provisions: the higher federal SALT deduction, the new senior deduction as written in H.R. 1, and the deduction for interest on new car loans. They would instead include a $6,000 retirement-income deduction for taxpayers age 60 and older, a $6,000 Roth IRA contribution deduction, a higher dependent tax credit, and a deduction for child and dependent care expenses above the federal credit. JLBC estimated the package would reduce general fund income tax revenue by about $441.3 million in FY 2026. Members also discussed that the Department of Revenue’s forms had been issued assuming full conformity, and staff and supporters argued the bills were needed quickly to avoid confusion and amended returns during filing season. Committee members and sponsors largely framed the bills as tax relief and a way to provide certainty for taxpayers and preparers. Supporters said the package would help families, seniors, and workers, and noted that the Arizona version was negotiated to keep the overall tax relief roughly comparable to full conformity while shifting benefits away from the SALT deduction and toward child credits, retirement income, and child care. The sponsors also criticized the governor’s executive action and urged prompt passage so taxpayers would know how to file. Opponents argued the bills would reduce state revenue, worsen the budget outlook, and disproportionately benefit higher-income taxpayers and corporations. Several witnesses and members also raised concerns about the child care deduction, the retirement-income deduction, and the business expensing provisions, while supporters responded that the bill was designed to help working families and encourage saving and investment. Public testimony was mixed. The Arizona Society of Certified Public Accountants and the Arizona Free Enterprise Club supported the bills, emphasizing early conformity, filing certainty, and reduced confusion for taxpayers and software providers. Opponents included Save Our Schools Arizona, the Arizona Center for Economic Progress, Opportunity Arizona, and several individuals, who argued the package would deepen budget problems and favor the wealthy. One witness objected to a federal school-choice-related provision she said was being tied to the bill, though committee members said the measure before them was a tax conformity bill and not a school finance bill. The hearing included extended debate over the fiscal impact, the governor’s prior requests for some of the same tax changes, and whether taxpayers would need to file amended returns if the legislature later changed course. The transcript ends during testimony from NFIB, with no final committee vote or action shown in the excerpt.
TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

Delivery of Government Efficiency Apr 30th, 2025

Delivery of Government Efficiency

Transcript Highlights:
  • Um, so I limited, we limited our analysis to what it would take us to implement the bill, uh, with, with
  • As you've heard a bit, level 4 means a vehicle can drive itself within some set limitations.
  • Um, and in terms of efficiency, a question becomes how do you even define it?
  • They, they don't, they don't have any advantage in terms of staff or anything else.
  • But as that money is pulled from other places, then it limits the other pieces I can do.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee 4/16/26

Higher Education Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • <00:53:07.240> and it and think about this long-term and it and think about this long-term
  • It's not the long-term issue.
  • It's not the long-term issue.
  • It's not the long-term issue.
  • It's not the long-term issue.
Bills: HF4252
MA

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm

Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:
  • Testimony is limited to three minutes per person and eight minutes for panels of three or more people
  • Investing in trees is a long-term commitment...
  • by special forest restrictions that serve a limited purpose.
  • It depends on the scope of limitations that are placed on those reserves.
  • They have limited the increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere by about 30%.
Keywords: 995, all
Summary: The hearing covered several environment and natural resources bills focused on natural and working lands, forest protection, municipal reforestation, trail accessibility, and a park naming bill. Representative Moschino and Senator Comerford described the natural and working lands bill as part of the state’s climate roadmap, arguing that protecting these lands supports carbon sequestration, resilience, biodiversity, and helps prevent development pressure on the least expensive land. Senator Comerford also testified on a separate bill to expand access to trails for people of all abilities, saying it would build on the administration’s Trails for All initiative and create a permanent advisory structure and trust fund. Representative Consolvo and family members testified in support of H. 4259 to name the tennis courts at Wether Park in Roslindale after Kim O’Connell, describing her long community service and activism. A large portion of the hearing focused on H. 952 and H. 953, bills to protect watershed and state forest lands as parks or reserves. Supporters, including environmental advocates, scientists, and organizations such as Standing Trees, Sierra Club, The Nature Conservancy, and the Massachusetts Forest Alliance’s opponents, debated whether state forests and watershed lands should be permanently reserved from logging and other active management. Supporters said the bills would improve carbon storage, water quality, biodiversity, flood and drought resilience, and would protect large acreages of public land at no cost. Opponents, including the Massachusetts Forest Alliance, argued that sustainable forest management and a mix of reserves and managed forests are needed for climate, water quality, wildfire prevention, rural jobs, and carbon outcomes, and urged the committee to allow the administration’s existing reserve process to continue. The committee also heard extensive testimony on the municipal reforestation bill, H. 1013/S. 553, which would create a statewide program, advisory council, and trust fund to support urban tree planting and maintenance. Municipal officials and advocates from Wellesley, Cambridge, Boston, the Mystic River watershed, and other communities said urban trees are critical for cooling, stormwater control, air quality, public health, and equity, especially in environmental justice neighborhoods with low canopy cover and high heat. Several witnesses emphasized that consistent funding is needed because trees take years to mature and many municipalities lack staff or watering capacity. Some witnesses asked that the bill be funded at $100 million and tied to the Mass Ready Act or environmental bond funding. No votes or final committee actions were taken during the hearing.
MA

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Joint Committee on the Judiciary Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm

Joint Committee on the Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:
  • So to ensure that everyone who's registered has a chance to speak, we're going to be limiting testimony
  • Panels of three will have seven minutes per panel, and that's the limit of individuals we allow at a
  • We are going to enforce that time limit.
  • In terms of your I had a question for Dr. Cohen and Dr. Feingold, but Dr. Cohen first.
  • Criminalization of ill mothers has long-term mental health... ...not punishment.
Keywords: 995, all
Summary: The Joint Committee on the Judiciary heard testimony on a wide range of bills, with much of the discussion focused on housing stability and maternal mental health. On H. 1924/S. 1171, supporters including Sen. Joan Lovely, Rep. Jim O’Day, physicians, advocates, and people with lived experience urged the committee to create legal protections and treatment pathways for defendants who experienced postpartum psychosis or other perinatal mood disorders within 12 months of giving birth. Testimony emphasized that these conditions are rare but severe, often treatable, and can lead to tragic outcomes if criminalized rather than addressed through screening, expert evaluation, treatment, and, in some cases, resentencing or mitigation. Committee members asked about diagnosis years after the fact and how the Illinois law has worked; witnesses said retrospective diagnosis is possible and that the Illinois model has led to some successful resentencing petitions and broader awareness. Housing-related bills drew substantial testimony. On H. 1983/S. 1071, witnesses described “zombie” subordinate mortgages that were sold years after borrowers believed they had been resolved, then resurfaced with large balances and foreclosure threats. Supporters said the bill would require disclosures and court review to prevent unlawful servicing and foreclosure practices. On H. 1952, advocates from the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute, tenants, and legal services providers backed a permanent statewide right to counsel in eviction cases, citing data showing strong tenant outcomes and the importance of quality control, multilingual outreach, and full representation. On H. 1895/S. 1184, testimony supported codifying a two-tier summary process in eviction court and prohibiting defaults at the initial case-management stage. On H. 1883, a small property owner supported rent escrow as a way to protect landlords from bad-faith nonpayment while preserving tenant rights. The committee also heard testimony on bills addressing discriminatory housing covenants, tenant oversight, and homelessness. On H. 1762/S. 1080, a housing advocate supported removing void restrictive covenants from deeds, describing the Dirty Deeds Project and the lingering harm of racist language in property records. On H. 1814, tenants and advocates described harassment, retaliation, security problems, and lack of accountability in subsidized housing, arguing for an Office of the Tenant Advocate within the Attorney General’s Office. On S. 1120, multiple witnesses supported a bill of rights for people experiencing homelessness, saying it would affirm the right to rest and seek shelter, reduce criminalization, and extend anti-discrimination protections. No votes or final actions were taken during the hearing; the committee primarily received testimony and questions on the bills.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Delivery of Government Efficiency Apr 9th, 2025

Delivery of Government Efficiency

Transcript Highlights:
  • There will be a time limit of two minutes per witness during the public testimony period.
  • House Bill 1545 removes the limited review of the state's soil and water conservation board scheduled
  • I mean, it's much easier for me to search through my emails by using key terms.
  • Is there something that someone said in terms of that Supreme Court ruling in terms of whether or not
  • I'm just, I'm curious in terms of where did charter schools or voucher stuff come in?
NH

New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session

House Environment and Agriculture (02/11/2026)

Environment and Agriculture

Transcript Highlights:
  • I don't know where that limitation comes in, but I would like to see something to limit the spills from
  • professionals except in limited professionals except in limited circumstances.<01:30:28.000>
  • would support limiting it to inside use. would support limiting it to inside use.
  • . limited. limited.
  • exists today that kind of limits exists today that kind of limits um<04:26:57.600> the<04
Keywords: 1189, house, all
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • Invited testimony will be limited to five minutes, public testimony too.
  • Well, we're about ready to redefine that term.
  • It does not limit the ability of the appraisal districts to defend their values.
  • In terms of what we've seen across the state of Texas.
  • In simple terms, I'm the numbers guy.
NH

New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session

House Finance Division II (03/05/2025)

Transcript Highlights:
  • limited role with the overall um limited limited role with the overall Dam<01:14:18.320> maintenance
  • <01:18:19.760> of know where they come from in terms of know where they come from in terms
  • And I believe if we had the $5,000 limit versus the $1,000 limit, it would really eliminate a lot of
  • And I believe if we had the $5,000 limit versus the $1,000 limit, it would really eliminate a lot of
  • What is next in terms of the book?
Keywords: 928, house, all
Summary: The committee met with New Hampshire DOT Commissioner Bill Cass and Finance Director Danielle Shandra to review the agency’s FY 2026 budget. Cass gave a high-level overview of DOT’s mission, organization, funding structure, and staffing trends, noting the agency has about 650 employees across five divisions. He said the Governor’s recommended FY 2026 budget totals $95.99 million, essentially flat from FY 2025, with funding primarily from Turnpike funds, Highway funds, federal sources, and a small General Fund share for non-highway units. Members asked about how Turnpike and Highway funds are treated in state accounting, and DOT explained that while they are enterprise funds restricted to their purposes, they are considered unrestricted from the statewide perspective and are appropriated through the budget process. A major topic was staffing and budget targets. DOT said its full-time staffing level has remained relatively flat since 2014 even as vehicle miles traveled increased and vacancies rose. To meet budget targets, the department unfunded seven permanent positions and nine temporary full-time positions, and later noted additional reductions in Finance, including the elimination of two full-time positions, reduced print shop equipment purchases, and deeper cuts to overtime, temporary help, equipment, and supplies in FY 2027. DOT also explained that it shifted funding for one unmanned aerial system position from General Funds to Highway Funds, saying the change was workable because the position supports highway-related work and federal-aid-eligible activities. Members asked for clarification on the state transit operating match, and DOT explained that the Legislature had previously provided about $1.8 million annually in General Funds to help local transit agencies meet federal match requirements, but that funding was not included in this budget. DOT said that could reduce the ability to draw down some federal transit funds, though the impact may not be immediate because those funds can be used over several years. The department also described its unmanned aerial system program, saying it has been used for about five years for mapping, survey work, construction oversight, and storm damage assessment, and that it now has about five drones and two full-time positions supporting the program. DOT said it is expanding cross-training so more employees can operate drones without adding positions. No votes or formal actions were taken in the portion provided.
NM

New Mexico 2025 Regular Session

IC - Legislative Health and Human Services Sep 10th, 2025

Legislative Health & Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:
  • But what is Pre-K's effect long-term?
  • Staffing and limited access to food vendors.
  • So what's the long-term answer to that? That.
  • Limiting?
  • Also, the process to get peer support workers trained has become more limiting.
AR

Arkansas 2026 Regular Session

ALC-PEER Jan 13th, 2026

ALC-PEER

Transcript Highlights:
  • We do have limited funds.
  • There'll be, you know, in terms of the category fundings as well. It will change.
  • And so that's what we're concerned about: long-term nutrient loading and sediments into Lake Maumelle
  • But what we're talking about here is what's the appropriate use and what's the long-term benefit.
  • Part of my background is forestry, and so we do a longer-term rotation.
Summary: The committee met to consider a series of temporary appropriation requests, reserve fund transfers, federal grant appropriations, and review items. Early items included a $32 million appropriation and matching reserve transfer for the Department of Education’s educational freedom account program, a $476,000 request for the State Crime Lab, and a $90,000 assessment coordination request from DFA. Members asked questions about the assessment contract costs, and the item was approved. The committee also approved a $1 ARPA return to the CDC and a Department of Human Services reallocation package that moved general revenue and positions among divisions to meet client needs. The most extensive discussion centered on a $32 million restricted reserve transfer for the educational freedom account program. Members questioned the growing number of participating students, the program’s long-term funding needs, and safeguards against improper purchases. Agency representatives said about 44,000 students were being funded, that reimbursements and marketplace purchases are reviewed, and that reporting and audit controls are in place, though not every instance of fraud can be prevented. The committee approved the transfer after discussion. Members also approved smaller cash and federal grant items, including funding for a teacher shortage data dashboard, All Kids Bike grants, crime lab outsourcing, veterans cemetery operations, and a podiatric medicine licensing investigation fund. The most contentious item was a $7 million federal Forest Legacy grant request for Central Arkansas Water and the Department of Agriculture to acquire land in the Maumelle watershed, including acreage in Perry County and Pulaski County. Members debated water quality, development pressure, property tax impacts, local support, and whether Perry County had been adequately consulted. Agency and company representatives argued the acquisition would protect drinking water, preserve forested watershed land, and support recreation, while some legislators emphasized the county’s tax and development concerns. Senator Davis moved to defer the item to the full Legislative Council and to request removal of the Perry County portion; that motion passed. The committee then reviewed the remaining items, including a Veterans Affairs pay plan request, and adjourned.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Taxing digital ads 3/25/26

Minnesota House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • And that growth has come in both absolute and relative terms.
  • <00:14:33.600> economic strengthen the long-term economic strengthen the long-term economic
  • Some have medical assistance which limits who will see them.
  • Some have medical assistance which<00:17:11.760> limit<00:17:12.240> limits<00:17:12.720
  • limits them who will see which limit limits them who will see them.<00:17:15.039> Some<00:17:
Keywords: 1183, house
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • more we will limit the growth. of Texas vineyards.
  • At that time, we were the same size as Oregon in terms of growth.
  • I'm strictly enforcing the time limits because we have ...
  • That is not a reasonable limitation on what is happening. There are many good parts of this bill.
  • We helped that community heal, move forward, and come to terms with what had happened.
Bills: HB223
MA

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Session (Full Formal with Calendar) Jun 21st, 2026 at 11:00 am

Massachusetts Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • deferred maintenance and faces well-documented infrastructure challenges that disrupt operations and limit
  • So Mass Maritime is off the charts in terms of value, which has led to its hitting its third year in
  • And if that limit was exceeded, then it would result in a refund mechanism, either a tax credit or a
  • President, that requirement or that limit was actually reached in 1987 and again in 2022.
  • And so it is a very busy legislative season and legislative cycle throughout the term.
Keywords: 995, all
Summary: The Senate took up a higher education capital bond bill, House 4769, and considered a long series of amendments focused largely on campus facilities, housing, and related policy issues. Many amendments were adopted, including funding or project language for MassBay Community College HVAC and window replacement, Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Springfield Technical Community College, Cape Cod Community College nursing/allied health expansion and housing-related land use, Worcester State University and Quinsigamond Community College, Middlesex Community College, Salem State’s Sullivan Building, Roxbury Community College’s Center for Economic and Social Justice, UMass Boston’s Manning College of Nursing and Health Sciences, and several Massachusetts State College Building Authority updates. Some amendments were rejected, including proposals on a sustainable hand hygiene incentive program, unlocking housing on surplus land, a Senator Bill Owen Center designation, Urban College of Boston, and a board membership change. A number of amendments were held or withdrawn during the process. A major debate centered on an amendment by Senator Tarr to dedicate $300 million of surtax revenue to K-12 education, framed as a response to Chapter 70 funding concerns and the need to modernize school aid. Supporters argued that local districts face rising costs and that the state should set aside fair share revenue for school funding and future school building investments. Opponents said the bill was the wrong vehicle and noted the Commonwealth already dedicates substantial surtax revenue to K-12 programs. The amendment was defeated by roll call. Tarr also offered amendments on a safety valve for surtax revenue declines, equity analysis of surtax allocations, bond covenant requirements, and Chapter 62F taxpayer protections; those were not adopted. The Senate also adopted a separate amendment on AP credit policies at public higher education institutions, though the transcript reflects some procedural confusion around that vote. After completing amendments, the Senate ordered the bill to a third reading and then passed it to be engrossed by a recorded vote of 38-0. Senators then adopted several extension orders giving committees additional time to report on pending bills, including Environment and Natural Resources and Municipalities and Regional Government. The chamber also adopted an order to meet again the following Monday at 11 a.m. The session concluded with a unanimous memorial adjournment in honor of Bolton Police Chief Luke Hamburger, followed by a brief statement recognizing Rare Disease Day and the challenges faced by patients seeking diagnosis and treatment.
NM

New Mexico 2026 Regular Session

House - Health and Human Services Feb 16th, 2026 at 09:04 am

House Health & Human Services

Transcript Highlights:
  • Madam Chair, members of the committee, I'm Emily Kultenbach, I'm the Secretary of Aging and Long Term
  • And then the second thing is, once they change, there's no limitation, is there, on when plans can go
  • So it's not limited to this list, but these are examples of what that would... Be.
  • You know, you cannot get, in most cases, a long-term prescription.
  • But what I didn't have was how Determination was made in terms of who got how much.
Bills: SB101, SB21, HM52, HB132, SB14, SB20
NM

New Mexico 2025 Regular Session

IC - New Mexico Finance Authority Oversight Aug 11th, 2025

New Mexico Finance Authority Oversight Committee

Transcript Highlights:
  • That unnecessarily limits access to the PPRF.
  • So the policies right now get to the feasibility in terms of its ability to repay.
  • Most of the really good deals won't agree to those kinds of terms. Kind of terms.
  • They have not had to let people go in terms of that case.
  • Outlay is limited, I understand, for an incubator.
NM

New Mexico 2026 Regular Session

Senate - Tax, Business and Transportation Jan 27th, 2026 at 01:42 pm

Senate Tax, Business & Transportation

Transcript Highlights:
  • To be clear, this bill does not change the structure of basic terms of an MRA district.
  • And we've seen this also in Las Cruces in terms of MRA.
  • So it's limited to $5,000 a mile.
  • I don't think there's any limitations on what, for clothing, right?
  • I do want to go ahead and just give you a time limit until about 4:20. Here we go. Right on.
KY
Transcript Highlights:
  • uh because just a lot system limitations uh because just a lot has<00:10:40.800> changed<00:10
  • time, we've included that very limited time, we've included that as<00:14:30.800> well.
  • In terms of kind of the timeline, in terms of kind of what you're looking at, how is the cabinet going
  • > the<00:26:29.760> timeline<00:26:30.400> in<00:26:30.559> terms terms of kind
  • of the timeline in terms terms of kind of the timeline in terms of<00:26:30.880> kind<00:26:31.039
Summary: The House Budget Review Subcommittee on Personnel, Public Retirement, and Finance held its first meeting and heard a presentation from personnel cabinet officials on a major request to replace the Kentucky Human Resources Information System, known as CHRIS, which currently handles HR, payroll, tax compliance, and health plan administration for state government and several local offices. Officials said the system supports payroll for about 48,000 employees, covers all three branches of government and 24 sheriff and county clerk offices, and stores records for nearly 475,000 current and former users. They explained that SAP has said the system will reach end of life and lose support by 2030, creating risks around security, maintenance, and tax compliance if it is not replaced. Commissioners and staff emphasized that the replacement is needed not just as an upgrade but as a full system replacement, especially because the current platform no longer receives meaningful HR enhancements and will eventually lose security updates and tax tables. They also described the Kentucky Employees Health Plan as a major driver of the project, noting it serves nearly 300,000 covered lives, many school boards, pre-65 retirees, and more than 700 entities, with significant complexity in billing, premium collection, and regulatory compliance. Officials said the new system would help address current manual workarounds, support changing insurance rules, and better protect personally identifiable and health information. Members asked detailed questions about the $151 million request, including why the estimate had risen by more than $50 million, what would happen if the project missed the 2030 deadline, how progress would be tracked, how vendor costs were estimated, and what the largest cost components would cover. Officials said the increase was mainly due to inflation and changing requirements, and that there was no real backup plan if the replacement was not completed before support ends. They said the project would be managed through an RFP process expected in July 2026, with kickoff in January 2027 and go-live by July 2030, and that oversight would include an enterprise steering committee, monthly updates, and existing quarterly COT reporting to LRC. They also explained that the largest share of the request is for implementation and integrator services, with additional amounts for software licensing and hosting, independent verification and validation, dependent verification, FSA administration, and limited contract support, and that payments would be tied to deliverables and acceptance testing.
DE

Delaware 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Health & Social Services Committee Meeting Jun 17th, 2026

Health & Social Services

Transcript Highlights:
  • One of the biggest barriers to expanding the workforce is the limited number of available preceptors
  • This bill will support hospitals, long-term care facilities, public health providers, ambulatory care
  • DHSS requested this approach due to limited internal capacity to administer the program directly.
  • The number of students who can enter the workforce is often limited by the availability of qualified
  • Cheryl Hikes, Executive Director for Delaware Healthcare Facilities Association, representing long-term
Bills: HB359, HB385, HB165
Summary: The Senate Health and Social Services Committee met with a quorum, approved the minutes from the prior two meetings, and briefly acknowledged the tragedy at Christiana Care before moving to legislation. The committee heard House Bill 385, which creates a statewide nurse preceptor grant program to expand clinical training placements for nursing students; testimony from nursing organizations, health care associations, and educators emphasized workforce shortages, the need for preceptor stipends and training, and the bill’s potential to help students complete programs and remain in Delaware. Members asked about eligibility and reporting, and several senators asked to be added as co-sponsors. Public comment was uniformly supportive, and the bill was advanced out of committee. The committee then considered House Bill 424, which repeals Delaware’s Autism Surveillance and Registration Program and requires DHSS to expunge protected health information collected through the registry. The sponsor and DHSS said the registry is no longer used for research or policy development and that repeal would reduce outdated reporting burdens; Autism Delaware, the Delaware Health Care Association, and the State Council for Persons with Disabilities support the change. A committee member raised the question of whether families would be notified before records are expunged, and DHSS said that process was not yet clear and would need further verification. Members discussed the issue, and the bill also moved forward. House Bill 419 was next, making children in foster care automatically eligible for the Purchase of Care child care subsidy and extending the same treatment to certain kinship and safety-plan placements through House Amendment 1. The Children’s Department and advocacy groups said the bill would provide immediate stability for children and caregivers, reduce delays from applications and income verification, and support working foster and kinship families. The committee also heard House Bill 359, which would allow cremation as an option for unclaimed and indigent remains when there is no family objection or next of kin cannot be found, addressing a shortage of burial plots and lowering costs; funeral industry testimony focused on preserving next-of-kin rights. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 475, creating a Delaware Nursing Advancement Fund financed by a $10 surcharge on nursing licenses and disciplinary fines to support workforce data collection and analysis through a nonprofit partner, and House Bill 165, authorizing physician associates, occupational therapists, and APRNs to perform dry needling under training and practice standards set by the Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline. All of the bills received supportive testimony, several members added their names as co-sponsors, and the committee adjourned after moving through the agenda.