Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, these systems, these platforms, they're using behavioral psychology.
• I mean, behavioral scientists have looked at this.
• <00:37:47.120> I they're using behavioral psychology.
• I they're using behavioral psychology.
• > have<00:38:04.760> looked I mean behavioral scientists have looked I mean behavioral

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Such behavior may be grounds for removal from the hearing without the ability to continue.
• Such behavior may be grounds for removal from the hearing without the ability to continue.
• Such behavior may be grounds for removal from the hearing without the ability to continue. well in the
• <00:19:50.320> such profanity or in civil Behavior such profanity or in civil Behavior such
• Behavior<00:19:50.919> may<00:19:51.039> be<00:19:51.200> grounds<00:19:51.559>

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce met on March 12, 2025, and heard testimony on several bills, with most measures drawing support from state boards, agencies, and industry groups. SB 102 (restaurants) had one supportive testifier and no questions. SB 1367 SD1 (installment loans) drew support from DCCA and other boards, but the chair raised concerns about a proposed $5 debit-card convenience fee, saying it seemed high and suggesting it might be amended downward; DCCA said it would check with industry on the likely impact. SB 1373 SD2 (administrative licensure action against sex offenders) received broad support from DCCA and multiple professional licensing boards, including psychology, physical therapy, naturopathic medicine, chiropractic, dentistry, massage therapy, nursing, optometry, barbering and cosmetology, the Hawaii Medical Board, and HPD. The committee then heard SB 1142 SD1 (insurance proceeds), which was supported by DCCA, the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, AARP, Hawaiʻi Realtors, and the Hawaiʻi Insurers Council, while State Farm offered comments and the Hawaii Bankers Association opposed. Testimony focused on insurance access after the Lahaina wildfires and the need to address underinsured homeowners. The committee also discussed SB 144 SD2 (stabilization of property insurance), with support from the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority, AARP, Hawaiʻi Realtors, and the Hawaiʻi Insurers Council, and comments from the Attorney General and DCCA Insurance Division about revising the financing structure and correcting bill language. Opponents and reservationed supporters argued the bill may not help if applicants can still obtain coverage at very high prices, while supporters said it would expand market capacity and provide a safety net as climate-related losses continue. Finally, SB 253 SD2 (condominium reserves) received support from Hawaiʻi Realtors, CI, and several individual testifiers. Supporters said it would enforce existing disclosure requirements under Act 199 and improve reserve funding transparency, while one individual argued stronger enforcement and an ombudsman-style office would be more effective. The chair reminded testifiers to stay on the bill at hand. No votes or final committee actions were taken during the portion of the meeting reflected in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• It has $6.5 million annually for applied behavioral analysis services to increase provider rates and
• <00:49:47.000> analysis<00:49:47.520> services for Applied behavioral analysis services
• for Applied behavioral analysis services to<00:49:48.520> increase<00:49:49.000> provider<
• 26 and $3.3 million in addition to 21 positions for ongoing certification in certified community behavioral
• behavioral behavioral clinics<01:00:31.920> and clinics and clinics and 5.5<01:00:34.280>

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Health Services right ask for Behavioral Health Services right but<00:08:57.279> that's<00:08
• And I think the bill language is careful to allow officers to describe behavior, right?
• <00:38:00.760> right ow officers to describe Behavior right ow officers to describe Behavior
• behaviors.
• behaviors.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: On the deferred agenda, the Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs took up SB 1364, which makes emergency appropriations for law enforcement personnel costs, and SB 1452, which relates to the Uniform Controlled Substances Act. The chair recommended both measures pass with amendments, including technical corrections and a committee-report effective date of July 1, 2077. For SB 1364, the amendments included specified general fund and transfer fund amounts for DAGS, the Judiciary, and the Department of Law. For SB 1452, the chair said the bill was being corrected to fix a drug-name error that had been replicated from a federal mistake. Both recommendations were adopted by vote, with Senator Dort excused. The committee then discussed SB 1612, a joint measure on fitness to proceed that would require and appropriate funds for a five-year pilot program involving the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and the Department of Health, with interim and final reports to the Legislature. Testimony was mixed: the Judiciary and Department of Health were supportive, while the Office of the Public Defender and the Disability Rights Center opposed it, arguing it conflicted with best practices and the Clark consent order, and that people found not fit to proceed must be sent to the state hospital. DCR said its main concern was that the bill would still require patients to be housed in its facilities, which it said are not rehabilitative and are already strained by staffing shortages and limited access. The bill’s author argued the proposal was meant to create joint custody and reduce the high cost of state-hospital placement, but the committee did not take final action in the portion provided. In the joint hearing with Health and Human Services, the committees heard SB 1322, a broad rewrite of the state mental health code. The Attorney General supported the measure as a comprehensive cleanup and modernization effort, but many testifiers raised concerns. Queen’s Health System and Hawaii Health Systems Corporation supported the concept but warned about emergency-room impacts and asked for amendments; IHS supported the bill with a caveat about assisted community treatment procedures; and the Public Defender, Disability Rights Center, and others opposed parts of it, citing due process, privacy, HIPAA, counsel rights, liability immunity, and the reduction of an involuntary-treatment panel from three clinicians to one psychiatrist. The hearing also covered SB 951 on child protection, where the Department of Defense supported the bill and proposed technical amendments and MOUs with military components to clarify reporting and coordination procedures; DHS and the Attorney General said they were still working through possible changes. Finally, SB 228 on excited delirium was heard, with the Public Defender and Disability Rights Center supporting the bill and arguing the term has been misused and that better police de-escalation training is the real solution.

Transcript Highlights:

• But you oversee and license behavioral health facilities, and those facilities have been in the news
• But if there is a Medicaid beneficiary and that person has been harmed in a behavioral health residential
• That would fall under the Board of Behavioral Health Examiners.
• I’m not a behavioral health practitioner, and I just don’t. Okay.
• Giving the governor the benefit of the doubt that she would not promote illegal behavior, what if she

Summary: The Committee on Director Nominations met with four members present and approved the prior minutes without objection. Chair Jay Kaufman outlined the committee’s role in reviewing executive nominations and explained the hearing process for three nominees: Mary Foote for the Office of Economic Opportunity, Debbie Johnston for the Department of Health Services, and Chuck Bassett. Foote did not appear for her hearing, and members discussed her absence and alleged omissions in her disclosure materials, including prior service with Planned Parenthood-related organizations. The committee then moved to reject her nomination, and the motion passed 3-2, recommending that the full Senate reject Mary Foote. Debbie Johnston, nominee to lead the Department of Health Services, appeared and gave an opening statement describing her Arizona background, prior Senate staff work, and more than 20 years with the Arizona Hospital and Health Care Association. She said her priorities at ADHS include rebuilding trust in public health licensing, improving stakeholder engagement, standardizing rulemaking communication, addressing alleged religious discrimination and retaliation concerns in licensing, and using technology and AI to improve efficiency. In questioning, senators pressed her on her management style, conflict-of-interest safeguards given her prior industry role, enforcement priorities, budget pressures, behavioral health and assisted living oversight, and the department’s response to COVID-19. Johnston said she would follow statutes, recuse herself from enforcement matters involving former contacts, and resign if directed to carry out an unlawful policy. She also said the department does not regulate therapy itself, only facilities, and that it would rely on legal counsel regarding the governor’s conversion-therapy executive order and related federal civil-rights allegations. Several senators focused on public health trust and the department’s pandemic response, with Johnston acknowledging concerns about closures, data collection, and communication during COVID-19 while saying she would review past after-action materials and be better prepared in the future. Public testimony from stakeholders in aging services and health care strongly supported her confirmation, praising her accessibility, responsiveness, and collaborative approach. After testimony, the vice chair moved to recommend Johnston’s confirmation to the full Senate. The roll call was underway when the transcript ended, with several members voting aye and one member expressing reservations about her not reviewing the pandemic after-action report before another crisis occurs.

Transcript Highlights:

• You oversee and license behavioral health facilities, and those facilities have been in the news somewhat
• But if there is a Medicaid beneficiary and that person has been harmed in a behavioral health residential
• That would fall under the Board of Behavioral Health Examiners.
• I'm not a behavioral health practitioner, and I just don't. Okay.
• Giving the governor the benefit of the doubt that she would not promote illegal behavior, what if she

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And I think I could probably speak for everybody in saying that that type of behavior is not what we're
• And I think I could probably speak for everybody in saying that that type of behavior is not what we're
• And yet that has become an all too common defense for folks who are engaged in behavior that, if you
• for folks who are engaged in behavior for folks who are engaged in behavior that,<00:10:25.760><
• Representative Watson, can I may just say that behavior you described is completely unacceptable, of

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: House File 2809 was taken up, and Representative Hudson moved the bill with a recommendation to the General Register. The committee adopted the author’s amendment A1, which changed the effective date from 2025 to 2026. Hudson described the bill as a narrow prohibition on protests at or around a person’s dwelling, arguing that homes deserve special protection from coercive or intimidating conduct and citing Supreme Court precedent on focused residential picketing. He said the bill would not apply to residences that also function as businesses or public meeting places and emphasized that it would apply equally to private citizens and public officials. Several members raised constitutional and drafting concerns. Representative Curran said the bill appeared too broad and could sweep in lawful expressive activity, including people standing on their own property with signs, and questioned whether it would survive constitutional scrutiny. Representative Pinto argued the bill either duplicates existing criminal laws or goes beyond the conduct Hudson described, stressing that the law should focus on conduct rather than the label of protest. Representative Bentele and Representative Hollins asked for clearer definitions of “protest,” “residence,” and whether the bill would reach sidewalks, streets, Airbnbs, and other public or mixed-use spaces. Representative Watson noted existing laws on targeted residential picketing, harassment, and stalking and asked what gap the bill was meant to fill. Hudson responded that the bill was intended to address coercive, disruptive activity and said he was open to amendments to clarify that constitutionally protected activity in places where a person has a right to be would not be affected. He argued that current laws are not always enforced consistently and that the bill would clarify legislative intent for law enforcement and prosecutors. The discussion ended without a final vote on the bill itself, after members and the author indicated a willingness to continue working on the language.

Transcript Highlights:

• your point, we do see a need as it relates to some of those specialty services, like an intensive behavior
• We also received funding from the legislature last year and have an LBR ask for behavioral qualified
• residential treatment programs, specifically serving youth with severe behavioral needs.
• ABA stands for applied behavior analysis, and it is behavioral treatment for people with a range of issues
• And RBTs are registered behavioral techs that serve under them. So sorry for the acronyms.

Summary: The Health Care Budget Subcommittee met to organize the new term, take roll, and hear introductory presentations from the six agencies under its jurisdiction: the Agency for Health Care Administration, Agency for Persons with Disabilities, Department of Children and Families, Department of Elder Affairs, Department of Health, and Department of Veterans’ Affairs. The chair outlined the committee process, including assigning members to review agencies and make budget recommendations. Each agency head gave a high-level overview of their budget, staffing, major programs, and priorities, with recurring themes including Medicaid, long-term care, disability services, child welfare, mental health, aging services, public health, and veterans’ health care. Several agency leaders highlighted recent initiatives and funding priorities. AHCA emphasized Medicaid managed care, provider regulation, Hope Florida, hospital-at-home, and cancer-related efforts; APD discussed iBudget services, Hope Florida, a managed-care pilot, online applications, and forensic care costs; DCF focused on child protection, foster care, adult protective services, food/cash/medical assistance, mental health, and opioid treatment; Elder Affairs highlighted Alzheimer’s services, community-based senior care, guardianship, ombudsman services, and disaster outreach; DOH covered cancer innovation, maternal telehealth, cybersecurity, HIV/hepatitis/syphilis screening, and school nursing; and Veterans Affairs described benefits and health care access for veterans, long-term care, and federal reimbursement. Several speakers also raised concerns about rising costs, provider rates, disaster response, and access to services. The committee heard two public comments from disability advocates about Medicaid redeterminations affecting iBudget waiver recipients and provider payment delays. In response, AHCA and APD said they were coordinating on data sharing, early outreach, escalation processes, and efforts to reduce disenrollments and make recertification smoother. Members then asked questions about provider rates, opioid settlement spending, managed care quality measures, pediatric rare disease grants, group home transparency, senior outreach, ABA services moving into managed care, annual Medicaid recertification, veterans’ service utilization, waiting lists for elder services, and prevention spending. No formal votes were taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the executive director of the Mass Association of Behavioral Health Systems, and I Executive Director
• of the Mass Association of Behavioral Health Systems, and I'll just give a summary of what our group
• But I represent 50 behavioral health facilities throughout Massachusetts.
• As I say, we're the only group in Massachusetts that represents entirely inpatient behavioral health,
• She said the association represents 13 health plans and one behavioral health organization that provide

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee held an informational opening hearing for the Financial Services Committee, with Chair Murphy and Senator Feeney introducing new and returning members and explaining that no bills were being heard that day beyond brief introductory testimony. Commissioner of Banks Mary Gallagher thanked the committee for last session’s money transmission modernization law, and several members echoed appreciation for her office’s work. The hearing then featured a long series of stakeholder introductions and overviews of their priorities for the session. Testimony covered a wide range of financial, insurance, housing, health care, and consumer issues. Banking and mortgage groups discussed housing affordability, foreclosure delinquencies, flood insurance, regulatory changes, and the impact of federal policy shifts. Insurance representatives raised concerns about auto and homeowners market pressures, labor rates, tariffs, rebates, e-titling, third-party litigation funding, and public adjuster restrictions. Consumer and advocacy groups highlighted debt collection reform, earned wage access, retirement savings access, public banking, and consumer protections in financial services. Several speakers also emphasized the need for committee expertise and offered themselves as resources for future bills. Health-related organizations focused on insurance mandates, prior authorization, behavioral health access, pharmacy benefit manager reform, community health center funding, maternal health and midwifery reimbursement, and anesthesia reimbursement parity. Other groups, including credit unions, retailers, auto dealers, dental and medical associations, and behavioral health providers, described their roles in the Commonwealth and previewed legislation or policy areas they expect to follow this session. No votes were taken; the meeting was informational and ended after testimony from the sign-up list and a few late additions.

Transcript Highlights:

• health care. ...to assist veterans and their families in identifying and accessing behavioral health
• House Bill 87, introduced by Representative Ferrari, an act relating to behavioral health, making an
• House Bill 87, introduced by Representative Ferrari, an act relating to behavioral health, making an
• House Bill 87, introduced by Representative Ferrari, an act relating to behavioral health, making an
• and techniques. ...requiring training, requiring documentation of behaviors and techniques.

Bills: HB1

Keywords: feed bill, legislative appropriations, legislative branch, New Mexico Legislature, general fund, legislative council service, legislative finance committee, legislative education study committee, house chief clerk, senate chief clerk, per diem, mileage, session expenses, interim committees, district staff, capitol complex, capital outlay data system, legislative processing system, redistricting, census redistricting

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative, uh, first on the list, we have Anne Krampitz, behavioral interventionist from Oana.
• I am a behavioral interventionist and deal with heartbreaking stories on a daily basis and work hard
• 00:02:34.519> have<00:02:34.720> an<00:02:35.200> krampitz<00:02:35.760> behavioral
• we have an krampitz behavioral we have an krampitz behavioral interventionist<00:02:36.920> from
• <00:03:39.640> interventionist weeks I am a behavioral interventionist weeks I am a behavioral

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, chair calls Brittany Dick, uh, CEO of Signature Healthcare, Georgetown Behavioral Health.
• you registered as Brittany Dick, CEO, testifying on behalf of Signature Healthcare, Georgetown Behavioral
• I'm the CEO of Georgetown Behavioral Health Hospital, and I'm testing, testifying on behalf of Signature
• Health Services, who not only owns Georgetown Behavioral Health, but also owns private freestanding
• behavioral health hospitals located in every major metroplex in Texas.

Transcript Highlights:

• And providing a visible deterrent to dangerous driving behavior around school buses.
• On the district, the type of driving behavior, population density, what I can say, and I want to make
• It absolutely depends on the driving behavior in the community. Well, it's not impossible, okay?
• It's about changing driver behavior and preventing the unthinkable.
• Anything that can be done to deter the bad behaviors of our motorists should be embraced to protect our

Bills: HB767, HB 1242, HB1373, HB1404, HB1708, HB1936, HB2041, HB2198, HB2270, HB2315, HB2415, HB2427, HB2455, HB2457, HB2522, HB2523, HB2686, HB2763, HB2775, HB2944, HB3034, HB1683, HB1695

Keywords: highway designation, memorial, Montgomery County, Paul P. Mendes, transportation, HB 1242, Texas Transportation Code, U.S. Highway 281, Brooks County, Ernesto Soliz Cantu, memorial highway, road naming, TxDOT, road signage, commemorative resolution, memorial markers, county road 304, Huppergate Road, Los Robles Trail, Farm-to-Market Road

Transcript Highlights:

• They offend because they have behavioral mental health problems that create violent and disturbing behavior
• They offend because they have behavioral mental health problems that create violent and disturbing behavior
• one. problems that create violent and problems that create violent and Disturbing<00:08:38.800> Behavior
• c> so<00:08:41.159> they<00:08:42.159> um<00:08:42.599> have Disturbing Behavior
• so they um have Disturbing Behavior so they um have disproportionate<00:08:44.200> effects<00

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs heard several bills on January 27, 2025. SB 24, relating to identification, would require the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to help inmates obtain civil ID cards and other vital documents for reentry. Testimony was overwhelmingly in support from DCR, the Hawaiʻi Correctional System Oversight Commission, DHS, the Hawaiʻi Disability Rights Center, health and youth advocates, and others, with comments emphasizing that reentry should begin on day one and that lack of identification is a major barrier to housing and employment. A senator asked about the low number of IDs issued in 2022 and DCR said it already has a satellite ID card machine at Hālawa and plans to procure more for other facilities. The committee recommended passage of SB 24 as is. SB 474, relating to psychologists, would require DCR clinical psychologists to obtain licensure within 10 years of employment and would sunset in 2035. DCR strongly supported the bill, citing a severe staffing shortage, low exam passage rates, and many vacant positions, while the Hawaiʻi Psychological Association expressed concerns and one testifier argued psychologists serving incarcerated people should be licensed before employment. Committee members questioned whether the 10-year period was too long and discussed alternative solutions such as pay incentives and shortage differentials. The committee ultimately recommended passage with amendments, shortening the licensure period to 5 years, moving the sunset to July 1, 2030, and making other technical changes. SB 353, relating to emergency management, would clarify emergency authority, bar suspension of public records or vital statistics requests during emergencies, define “severe warning,” and allow the legislature or city councils to terminate a state of emergency. DHS and HMA opposed the bill, arguing it could limit executive flexibility and cut off access to the major disaster fund, while supporters included public-interest and good-government groups. The committee discussed whether legislative termination authority could interfere with ongoing emergency response and recovery, with the bill’s sponsor explaining it was aimed more at situations where emergency conditions have ended, such as prolonged COVID-era proclamations. The committee recommended passage with amendments, including a delayed effective date and committee report notes referencing DHS request data and HMA’s opposition. The committee also heard SB 259, relating to recordkeeping for secondhand dealers and pawn brokers, and SB 37, relating to recordings of law enforcement activities. SB 259 was set for amendment and deferred decision-making to January 29, 2025, so the committee could seek input from HPD. SB 37 drew support from the Legal Clinic and other advocates, with a clarifying question about civil enforcement actions, and the committee recommended passage with amendments and a delayed effective date. The meeting concluded with the committee adopting its recommendations and adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• EIDBI, the A8 amendment, which is technical assistance, the A10 amendment, the A9 amendment for behavioral
• Marshall Smith and I'm the health system CEO for Direct Care and Treatment, the state-operated behavioral
• This is the behavioral health section that we heard the other day.
• This is the behavioral health A9.
• This is the behavioral health section<00:19:55.480> that<00:19:55.600> we<00:19:55.680>

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee took up House File 729, an omnibus policy bill, and walked through a series of amendments before moving the bill forward. Early amendments addressed adult maltreatment accountability, senior nutrition flexibility, MA provider enrollment and fraud prevention, Direct Care and Treatment data and staffing provisions, disability and aging policy changes, technical corrections from DHS, behavioral health language, and MDH policy updates. Most amendments were adopted without public opposition, and several members and testifiers described them as clarifications or technical fixes to existing policy. Testimony focused on the practical effects of the bill’s provisions. Direct Care and Treatment representatives said the changes would help with data sharing, governance, staffing, patient care, and longer return stays for certain patients. Several witnesses from the substance use disorder and health care provider community supported changes to discharge summary deadlines and claims recoupment rules, arguing that business-day timelines and limits on late clawbacks would reduce administrative burden and financial uncertainty. A disability advocate also urged passage of the bill, saying services for people with disabilities were at risk if it did not advance. After public testimony and member discussion, the committee adopted the DE2 amendment as amended and then approved the bill as amended. Chair Noor renewed the motion to re-refer House File 729 to the Committee on Ways and Means, and that motion passed.

Transcript Highlights:

• She's lived away from us for the past 11 years and is currently in an intensive behavioral group home
• Currently in an intensive behavioral group home, but she has made great progress in all areas of her
• When she was eight years old, she started exhibiting some different behaviors.
• When she was redirected, she would mumble... ...exhibiting some different behaviors.
• Needless to say, this caused more outbursts and behaviors.

Summary: The Pre-K Through 12 Budget Subcommittee met with a quorum and considered four bills. CS/HB 1403, by Rep. Yeager, would allow child care facilities to participate in the school guardian program and clarify school perimeter and door security requirements. An amendment clarifying that private security companies would pay for training was adopted, and the bill was reported favorably 11-0. CS/HB 447, the Evan B. Hartzell Act by Rep. Salzman, would provide guidance for schools that choose to teach disability history and awareness during the first two weeks of October, including age-appropriate instruction by grade band. The bill received supportive testimony from advocates and was reported favorably 11-0. CS/HB 257, by Reps. Chambliss and Tramont, would expand on a prior pilot program to allow video cameras in certain self-contained classrooms serving nonverbal students and others with significant disabilities, as a safeguard against abuse and to improve accountability. The bill drew strong support from parents and disability advocates describing abuse concerns, and it was reported favorably 13-0. CS/HB 1255, by Vice Chair Trabulsy, was a broad education bill addressing teacher shortages, scholarship program screening, health and math instruction, corporal punishment policy, and restrictions on spending public funds on organizations tied to discrimination or political/social activism. A major focus of debate was the bill’s human embryologic development instruction and related video language, with supporters calling it science-based and opponents warning it could be medically inaccurate or ideological. After the sponsor said she would amend some language, including removing ABCTE-related text and clarifying the video language, the bill was reported favorably 12-1. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• falls outside of our scope, which is limited to compliance oversight rather than assessing market behavior
• oversight rather than<00:02:22.040> assessing<00:02:22.520> market<00:02:22.800> behavior
• <00:02:23.560> or than assessing market behavior or than assessing market behavior or operational
• Next, we have Department of Health Behavioral Health Administration providing comments.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Health and Human Services Committee met on April 17, 2026, and heard testimony on several concurrent resolutions. HCR 18 would request the Department of Health to convene a hospice working group; the Department testified in opposition, saying its enforcement role created a conflict of interest and that the work exceeded its compliance-focused scope. The measure’s introducer proposed amendments to have a legislator, rather than DOH, chair the group and to remove a date restriction on hospices. The committee later recommended HCR 18 be passed with amendments. HCR 32 sought a plan to increase access to the Hawaii State Hospital for certain mentally ill criminal defendants. The Department of Health Behavioral Health Administration and the governor’s office indicated support or willingness to work on the issue, while the ACLU provided comments and OHA supported the measure. The committee recommended passage with technical amendments. HCR 35, on an audit of the social and financial effects of mandatory insurance coverage for biomarker testing, drew broad support from medical, patient advocacy, and professional organizations, and a surgical oncologist testified in favor, emphasizing the importance of biomarker testing for cancer treatment. The committee recommended passage as is. HCR 105 asked the Hawaii State Center for Nursing to compile recommended safe patient staffing ratios and maintain a repository; the Center said it had already begun the work and was happy to continue, and the committee adopted an amendment changing the focus from “ratios” to “strategies and ratios” before recommending passage. HCR 173 urged Maui Health to work with stakeholders to establish a full-time medical residency program on Maui; testimony supported the idea as a way to formalize and expand an existing informal program and improve local health care access, including maternity care. The committee recommended HCR 173 pass with technical amendments. All recommendations were adopted without objection, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• because I know Megan has lived experiences as a peer and is less likely to judge or shame me for my behaviors
• much-needed peer support for decreasing loneliness, increasing meaningful connections, preventing unsafe behaviors
• preventing<00:13:03.040> unsafe connections, preventing unsafe connections, preventing unsafe behaviors
• c> and<00:13:04.360> reducing<00:13:04.839> stigma<00:13:05.240> around behaviors
• , and reducing stigma around behaviors, and reducing stigma around mental<00:13:05.720> health

Bills: HCR67, HCR102, HR61, HR94

Keywords: disability, communication access, healthcare, sign language interpreters, deaf, hard of hearing, deaf-blind, auxiliary aids, effective communication, peer counselor, youth mental health, social disconnection, Hawaii schools, wellness program, student support, cultural responsiveness, trauma-informed care, disability rights, peer counseling, education

Summary: The joint Committee on Human Services and Homelessness and Committee on Health heard two measures on April 7, 2026. HCR 67/HR 61 would request the Disability and Communication Access Board to study communication needs in health care settings for people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind and develop guidelines. Written testimony supported the measure from the State Health Planning and Development Agency, DCAB, Local Independent Living Hawaii, and one individual. A DCAB representative noted the proposal could serve as a backup if related measures do not move forward. No one testified in opposition, and both committees voted to pass the measure unamended. The second measure, HCR 102/HR 94, urged the Department of Education, in collaboration with the Department of Health and the Office of Wellness and Resilience, to establish a statewide peer counselor program to address youth loneliness and social disconnection in schools. Support came from the Department of Education, the Office of Wellness and Resilience, and individual testifiers Katie Smith and Ray Ward. Smith said peer support can reduce stigma, increase belonging, and improve school climate. Ward, speaking from lived experience, described the harms of loneliness and trauma and said a peer counselor program could provide culturally grounded support and safer pathways to help. No opposition was offered, and both committees voted to pass the measure unamended.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill also requires DHS and AHCCCS to review their rules and policies relating to behavioral health
• Finally, the bill defines behavioral health technicians and outlines qualifications and duties.
• The bill also requires DHS and AHCCCS to review their rules and policies relating to behavioral health
• Finally, the bill defines behavioral health technicians and outlines qualifications and duties.
• federal Medicaid standards, it was amended prior to coming to us in committee to clearly define behavioral

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The caucus reviewed a long list of Senate bills and memorials across several policy areas, with most items presented as consent or third-read measures and little debate. Topics included special license plates for the Arizona Space Commission, local land-use and housing restrictions, liquor regulation updates, limits on municipal delays in permitting and exactions, election equipment security and timekeeping requirements, precinct committeeman vacancy procedures, assisted living and deed-fraud measures, a Freedom of Speech Monument committee, renaming Wesley Bolin Plaza, and a ban on gender transition procedures for minors. Members also discussed health and human services bills on behavioral health technician standards, Medicaid billing during ownership changes, breast cancer screening cost-sharing, naturopathic IV administration authority, safe-haven newborn surrender at hospitals, and access claim-processing timelines. The Judiciary portion covered probation limits for dangerous crimes against children, a civil cause of action related to prohibited gender reassignment surgery on minors, elimination of the statute of limitations for failure to register as a sex offender, probation incentive calculations, victim-rights expense recovery, unlawful flight penalties, vulnerable adult theft definitions, motor fuel theft, unlawful alerting, and evidence rules in sexual-assault-related hearings. In discussion, members asked for clarifications on several bills, including the definitions of “malicious” delay, internet access on election equipment, the scope of the breast screening bill, and the meaning of unlawful alerting. Supporters repeatedly described bills as common-sense, fraud-prevention, patient-access, or public-safety measures, while one member noted a no vote on extending the Vulnerable Adult System Study Committee. Additional measures in land, agriculture, water, public safety, and transportation included foreign-entity restrictions on land transactions, limits on transporting Mexican gray wolf puppies, water reuse and groundwater fee extensions, a larger water supply revolving fund loan cap, congressional memorials on EPA authority and the San Carlos irrigation project, expanded traumatic event counseling coverage, reimbursement of legal costs for certain disciplined law enforcement officers, data sharing with the federal government on unauthorized aliens, roadable aircraft registration, motor vehicle booting rules, military-property sign placement, a towing and impound study committee, photo enforcement penalties, and highway renaming memorials. No roll-call votes were described in the transcript, and the meeting ended after the transportation items and memorials were completed.

Transcript Highlights:

• Arizona also partners with WICHE to ensure key behavioral health services are being delivered as intended
• here today, but the result is consistent higher-quality care and continuous improvement across the behavioral
• Arizona also partners with Wichy to ensure key behavioral health Arizona also partners with Wichy to
• ensure key behavioral health services that are being delivered as intended.
• here today but the result is consistent higher quality care and continuous improvement across the behavioral

Keywords: 1182, all