Transcript Highlights:

• Teachers and nurses.
• Teachers and nurses.
• Teachers and nurses.
• Teachers and nurses.
• Teachers and nurses.

Transcript Highlights:

• They revised the standard assumption of roughly $20 million up to $125 million for the conference proposal
• There is also a phase-down of rate add-ons for Medicaid nursing home rates that was in the Senate budget
• For the Washington State Achievement Council and Workforce Training Board, it is... ...Washington State
• Achievement Council and Workforce Training Board, it is similar to the House but a little different

Summary: The conference committee on Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5998 met to review the operating budget conference report. House and Senate budget coordinators walked through comparison documents showing the Senate-passed budget, House-passed budget, and the conference proposal, including statewide totals, agency detail, revenue assumptions, transfers, and the four-year outlook. They said the conference budget uses the February 2026 ERFC forecast, includes an $880 million transfer from the budget stabilization account to the general fund, and reflects a four-year net near-general-fund impact of about $800 million, with an ending fund balance of $231 million in 2025-27 and $563 million in 2027-29. They also noted that future collective bargaining agreements are not included in the outlook beyond those already settled. The briefing highlighted major policy items across the budget, including Working Families Tax Credit expansion, a proposed city and county fiscal health account, changes to Working Connections child care attendance payments, behavioral health facility and staffing adjustments, long-term care funding for certain non-citizen residents affected by federal changes, Apple Health and other health-related responses to H.R. 1, K-12 changes such as free school meals contingent on related legislation, Running Start and transportation depreciation adjustments, higher education administrative reductions, corrections staffing and bed changes, wildfire response funding, and state employee compensation agreements. Members also discussed the budget’s reliance on revenue measures and transfers, including legislation referenced as 2487, 6228, 6231, and 6346. After the presentation, Senator Robinson moved adoption of the conference report and passage of the bill as recommended by the committee. In discussion, supporters said the budget protected core services and responded to federal H.R. 1 impacts, while opponents criticized the size of the budget, the use of reserves, future outlook assumptions, and reductions in some K-12 and other programs. The committee then voted 4-2 to recommend the conference report and ESSB 5998 to the legislature, with Representatives Gregerson and Ormsby and Senators Robinson and Stanford in favor, and Representative Couture and Senator Gildon opposed.

Transcript Highlights:

• The standard of SAF is a very high standard that ensures that anything that is produced and qualified
• </c> boards are in support of this exemption. boards are in support of this exemption.
• Most states only tax larger institutions like hospitals, nursing homes, and surgical centers.
• Most states only tax larger institutions like hospitals, nursing homes, and surgical centers.
• She's very much on board.

Bills: HF1669 , HF4709 , HF3531 , HF4048

Committee: House Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• It's going to be under regulations by the Board of Veterinary Medicine.
• So we make sure we have the proper workforce to make our system work.
• We're setting the standards, and we're going to require standards and architectural standards in addition
• We're setting the standards, and we're going to require standards and architectural standards in addition
• Home rule still matters in local government.

Bills: S0302 , S0394 , S0480 , S0546 , S0636 , S0774 , S0796 , S1028 , S1050 , S1066 , S1120 , S1230 , S1288 , S1682

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government

Summary: The committee heard and advanced several bills, beginning with CS/SB 796, which would create Veterinary Professional Associates as a new supervised veterinary role, expand telehealth prescription timeframes, and set training and scope limits. Supporters said it would improve access to care, lower costs, and create a career path, while opponents argued the proposal lacked a clear regulatory framework, could create liability and federal-law conflicts, and would not address the real shortage in rural large-animal practice. After debate, the committee reported the bill favorably. Members also heard and favorably reported SB 1682 on local authority over derelict and abandoned vessels, CS/SB 1028 on a commercial Citizens clearinghouse for property insurance, SB 394 on exempting certain reinsurance underwriting managers from licensing, SB 636 on beach management and erosion designations, CS/SB 546 on public notice for conservation land sales or exchanges, CS/SB 302 on Biscayne Bay nature-based solutions and related coastal resiliency provisions, SB 1050 on pharmacy choice for pet medications, and SB 774 extending workers’ compensation benefits to 911 public safety telecommunicators for mental and nervous injuries. Testimony on these bills generally focused on access, regulatory clarity, environmental protection, or workforce support, with some concerns raised on insurance consumer protections and beach-management language. Senator Harrell’s bills were also taken up and reported favorably: CS/SB 480, a major overhaul of state IT governance creating DIGIT and new procurement, reporting, and workforce structures; CS/SB 1230, restricting PFAS-containing firefighting foam and adding testing, inventory, and disposal requirements; and CS/SB 1288, a naming bill designating the Andrew Red Harris Shoal and requiring markers. Finally, the committee heard extensive testimony on SB 1066 regarding restoration of the Oklawaha/Rodman system, with supporters emphasizing ecological restoration, flood-risk reduction, and economic benefits, and opponents warning about local impacts, water quality, and the loss of a world-class fishery. The transcript ends during testimony on that bill, before final action is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• Mass Ready adds representatives to the Board of Building Regulations and Standards with expertise in
• homes, and public housing.
• We need the workforce of tomorrow to be ready today.
• I think the Affordable Homes Act is a perfect example to look at.
• So if you are a low-income person selling your home to a first-time home buyer, you waive the entire

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets

Summary: The Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets held a hearing on S. 2542, the Mass Ready Act, the Healey-Driscoll administration’s environmental bond bill. Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Rebecca Tepper and Undersecretary Jen Sullivan described the bill as a $3 billion resilience package to protect drinking water, farms, fisheries, roads, bridges, parks, and communities from flooding, heat, drought, wildfires, and other climate impacts. They highlighted major authorizations for flood and coastal resilience, DCR infrastructure, drinking water and wastewater upgrades, PFAS remediation, open space and land protection, food security infrastructure, and a new Resilience Revolving Fund for low-cost loans to municipalities, tribes, and water districts. Committee members asked about project lifespans, flood and salt marsh permitting, wastewater and combined sewer overflow funding, parkway maintenance, land acquisition priorities, Quabbin stewardship, and how the revolving fund would be capitalized and administered. The administration said the fund would be modeled on the Clean Water Trust, use existing trust resources rather than new fees, and could later support special obligation bonds; they also said the bill would streamline certain permitting and improve flood-risk disclosure and climate-related building standards. Many witnesses urged the committee to strengthen the bill’s funding levels or add related policy provisions. Labor, contractor, and plumbing groups supported creating a water reuse and graywater recycling commission, saying it could conserve water, reduce stormwater and sewer burdens, and create skilled jobs. Boston Harbor Now asked for higher authorizations for the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness program and resilient coast work, plus permitting reforms for nature-based and waterfront projects. The Massachusetts Rivers Alliance backed the bill but also urged inclusion of drought-management legislation, a water reuse commission, a statewide flood buyout program, and more support for community resiliency. Environmental justice advocates from Green Roots called for dedicated funding for outdoor and indoor air quality monitoring and indoor air quality improvements in schools and public housing, while conservation and tree advocates sought larger investments in urban forestry, local nurseries, and workforce training, along with clearer language to ensure municipal reforestation funds go to cities and towns. Agricultural and food system witnesses emphasized the importance of the bill’s food security and farmland provisions. The Southeastern Massachusetts Agricultural Partnership and the Mass Food System Collaborative supported the $125 million food security infrastructure grant program, saying it has funded critical facilities and equipment for farmers, fishers, processors, and food access organizations, but warned that without the bill there could be a funding gap in fiscal year 2027. They also supported farmland protection and asked for more funding for agricultural capital programs, used-equipment eligibility in grant programs, and a next-generation farmer fund. Water utility representatives said the bill still falls short of the state’s long-term drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater needs, citing EPA estimates of nearly $37 billion in needed investments over 20 years and urging dedicated recurring funding and broader eligibility for climate resilience grants. No votes were taken at the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Lock the board and record to vote. Lock the board and record to vote. 36 yayes, zero nays, Mr.
• Unfortunately, it didn't include nurses who are currently in nursing school.
• Unfortunately, it didn't include nurses who are currently in nursing school.
• Secretary will unlock the board. Senators will proceed to vote. Secretary will unlock the board.
• And now the victims and the families, every time they go home, if Palm Beach County is their home, they

Summary: The Senate convened with an opening prayer, pledge, and a series of gallery introductions recognizing visitors, local officials, students, and public safety personnel. The chamber first took up a report from the Ethics and Elections Committee on 42 executive appointments; after Senator Gaetz explained that the committee had reviewed the appointees’ qualifications and suitability, the Senate adopted the report and confirmed the appointments by a 36-0 vote. The Senate then moved through a long special-order calendar focused largely on open-government sunset reviews and other policy bills. It passed measures to continue or consolidate public records and meeting exemptions for aquaculture records, agency-held trade secrets, and cybersecurity information, with one technical amendment adopted on the cybersecurity bill. The chamber also approved bills extending the statute of limitations for failure to report child abuse, strengthening regulation of commercial driving schools, requiring human trafficking education for nursing graduates, creating a new injunction for protection against serious violence by a known person, and making the related public-records exemption. Additional bills passed included a nature-based coastal resiliency measure with an amendment restricting dredge-and-fill in Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve, a chiropractic trust-funds bill, specialty license plates, a one-time waiver of late financial disclosure fines, public school personnel compensation changes, the annual Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services “Farm Bill,” homestead exemption clarification for long-term leaseholders, disability-presumption clarifications for first responders, reinsurance intermediary manager changes, patriotic displays in public schools, ADS-B fee restrictions, autism-related law enforcement training and a Blue Envelope program, campus safety policy transparency at public colleges and universities, and veterinary prescription disclosure. Several bills were temporarily postponed, including local vessel restrictions, temporary certificates for practice, and domestic animals. The Senate also debated and passed a bill allowing licensed insurance agents to market health care sharing ministries, despite concerns raised by Senator Polsky about consumer confusion, commissions, and the sale of non-insurance products; supporters argued it restored free speech, religious liberty, and consumer choice. The chamber approved the bill 32-5 after debate. Most other measures passed with strong bipartisan support, often by unanimous or near-unanimous votes, and several companion House bills were substituted in place of Senate bills before final passage.

Transcript Highlights:

• Today we are meeting for the Workforce Support Subcommittee.
• Getting a home up. That's outrageous.
• So this is workforce power ranks as well as workforce opportunities for people with disabilities.
• But how about workforce from other states?
• And there were some, so they were going back to the drawing board.

Summary: The Workforce Support Subcommittee of the Status of Persons with Disabilities met, approved the prior November minutes, and heard a presentation from the Association of Developmental Disabilities Providers (ADDP) on its 2025 workforce metrics survey. ADDP described its membership and the survey’s scope, noting 102 of 132 members responded. The report showed continued improvement in staffing: overall vacancy rates fell from 19% in 2024 to 15% in 2025, with declines across programs such as adult long-term residential, community-based day supports, supported employment, and day rehabilitation. However, vacancies remain high, especially for licensed practical nurses and clinicians, and nearly 4,000 positions were still unfilled. Providers also reported that almost 1,800 people remain waiting for day services. A major new focus in the survey was health insurance costs. Nearly 90% of respondents reported premium increases averaging 11%, and providers said those increases make it harder to offer competitive wages and benefits and hurt recruitment and retention. ADDP said the survey will be repeated in the fall and emphasized that while Chapter 257 investments appear to have helped reduce vacancies, rising insurance costs, immigration-related workforce pressures, and other affordability issues could threaten progress. Commissioners and presenters discussed the need to maintain gains, the importance of keeping the survey manageable while preserving historical comparisons, and the role of immigration and workforce policy in staffing stability. The subcommittee then elected new co-chairs, unanimously approving Rachel Caprillion and Leo Sarkisian. Members discussed possible topics and speakers for the next meeting, including training and turnover, direct support professional pipelines, apprenticeships, PCA training, and workforce models from other states. Several names and organizations were suggested for outreach, including Josh Cutler, Juan Vega, JVS, HSRI, and NASDDDS. The meeting ended with a motion to adjourn, which was seconded and approved.

Transcript Highlights:

• of the brave. and the home and the home of<00:13:32.000><c> the</c> of the of the brave.
• </c> and out of home placements. and out of home placements.
• The board would have enormous board.
• </c> school boards. school boards.
• It would put homes out of business that are operating under the national standard and that are not operating

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> they opened their hearts and their home they opened their hearts and their home to<00:30:06.320>
• </c> Penny's last year serving as board Penny's last year serving as board president,<00:48:34.079><c
• c> bearer</c><02:10:30.960><c> for</c> has been a standard bearer for has been a standard bearer for
• Too many of our home districts have witnessed tragedies in our own home districts in May of 2022.
• </c> back at home. back at home.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:35:37.359><c> uh</c><00:35:37.480><c> that</c> board and on both of the boards uh that board
• </c><00:35:39.839><c> I</c> I serve on both of those two boards I I serve on both of those two boards
• , and I want to bring the talent home and the stories home.
• :58:43.760><c> so</c> talent's home and the story's home so talent's home and the story's home so thank
• uh standards and with the uh standard uh standards and best<04:07:21.960><c> practices</c><04:07:23.439

Committee: House Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• In nursing, traps have been more closely studied, with studies finding that up to 45% of new nurses are
• This includes nursing, people of color.
• </c> of workplace management and workforce of workplace management and workforce development<00:15:09.120
• And so, it says Labor Standards Act.
• So, almost anybody that is an entry-level nurse or a new nurse at a hospital, even if they've practiced

Committee: Senate Labor

Transcript Highlights:

• Too many students leave college woefully unprepared for the workforce.
• of Education and the Sacred Heart University Board. that since 2004.
• standards are upheld.
• I'm all for workforce development in the last two years of high school.
• Well, I certainly would like to see workforce Pell Grants.

Committee: Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

Keywords: educational reform, federal grants, bureaucracy, wealth disparity, public testimony

Summary: The committee meeting engaged in discussions focused primarily on educational reform, the influence of federal grants on local education systems, and the growing disparities in wealth and access to quality education. Members expressed concerns about the bureaucracy surrounding federal funding that hampers schools' ability to obtain necessary resources for improvement. Several members highlighted personal anecdotes from constituents, emphasizing the urgent need for reform to help students succeed in both K-12 and higher education environments. The meeting included public testimonies that provided insights into various community perspectives on these pressing issues.

Transcript Highlights:

• She's called Arizona home for the past 35 years.
• She's called Arizona home for the past 35 years.
• Certified registered nurse anesthetist, and continue serving others through her career.
• Outside of books, Aurora found a home at the Boys and Girls Club.
• Senate Bill 1503, amending Section 30-1171, A.R.S., relating to civilian review boards.

Summary: The House convened, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, approved the journal, and recognized the Doctor of the Day, Dr. May Modi. A series of personal privilege introductions followed, including the Chief of Security, members of the Junior League of Phoenix, several Boys and Girls Club Youth of the Year candidates, and a student guest. Members also read a proclamation honoring the Junior League of Phoenix for civic engagement and volunteer service. The chamber then handled several procedural matters, including a motion to not concur in Senate amendments to HB 2010 and appoint a conference committee. The House moved through multiple Committee of the Whole calendars and adopted recommendations on a number of Senate bills. On the first calendar, SB 1009, SB 1046, SB 1143, SB 1221 as amended, and SB 1613 were advanced, with SB 1221 receiving an Olson floor amendment. On the second calendar, SB 1013, SB 1338, SB 1540 as amended, and later SB 1121 as amended, SB 1318, SB 1549, and SB 1786 as amended were all reported do pass, while SB 1270, SB 1400, and SB 1582 were retained on the calendar. Several bills drew debate. SB 1013 prompted discussion over merit-based hiring and whether the bill’s exclusions of sexual orientation and gender identity were appropriate. SB 1540 drew criticism as special legislation favoring the fuel industry, while supporters said it was a fairer approach to theft penalties. SB 1121 was described as a bipartisan health-care worker safety measure addressing radiation exposure, though opponents called it a vendor-driven mandate. SB 1318 was presented as a cleanup bill to align breast cancer notification language with federal standards, and SB 1786 received a technical amendment. The House also passed SB 1113, SB 1193, SB 1448, and SB 1503 on third reading, with SB 1503 receiving the required three-quarters vote and emergency clause. The House appointed a conference committee on HB 2003, and adjourned until 10 a.m. on Tuesday, April 14, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• No one wants to see their loved ones in nursing homes suffer from neglect, but a recent Senate vote blocked
• </c> meet those standards. Staffing is care. meet those standards. Staffing is care.
• However, a bipartisan group of senators said the one-size-fits-all approach threatens nursing homes already
• And if we move forward with staffing mandates that don't work for our rural nursing home and assisted
• living facilities, I worry about the challenges that will face many of the nursing home and assisted

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair and members, Madi Lopez with the California Nurses Association, in support.
• My name is Otto Lee, current board supervisor in Santa Clara County. Thank you.
• My name is Otto Lee, current board supervisor in Santa Clara County.
• My name is Otto Lee, still serving as the board president of the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors
• , my name is Otto Leisdell, serving as the board president of the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors

Committee: Senate Health

Summary: The Senate Health Committee heard several bills focused on health care access, research funding, consumer protection, and insurance administration. SB 895 by Sen. Wiener would create the California Foundation for Science and Health Research and place a bond measure on the November 2026 ballot to support scientific and health research in California; supporters from UC, labor, and patient groups said it would protect jobs, public health, and the state’s research leadership amid federal funding cuts, while the committee later voted 6-0 to pass it as amended and re-refer it to Natural Resources and Water. SB 944 would make acupuncture a permanent Medi-Cal benefit regardless of federal matching funds; acupuncture providers, patients, health systems, and API community advocates testified in strong support, and the committee voted 6-0 to pass it as amended and re-refer it to Appropriations. The committee also considered SB 987, which would create a California Health Access Fund to capture state savings if federal Medicaid changes under H.R. 1 reduce Medi-Cal enrollment and redirect those funds to care for people who lose coverage and to reimburse safety-net providers. Support came from disability, consumer, family physician, emergency physician, hospital, and reproductive health groups; members discussed prioritizing indigent care, prevention, and safety-net needs, and the bill was moved on a unanimous vote to Appropriations. SB 964 would let a licensed provider adjust the dose or frequency of an already covered medication up to two times without prior authorization when clinically appropriate, with Crohn’s and Colitis advocates describing delays that harmed patients and insurers warning about safety and cost concerns; after committee discussion about off-label use and clinical safeguards, the bill passed 11-0 and was sent to Appropriations. Later, SB 1099 clarified local governments’ authority to provide state or local public benefits to all residents under PRWORA, with city and county counsel and local officials saying it would preserve flexibility for homeless outreach, street medicine, crisis lines, and other low-barrier services; it passed 11-0 and was re-referred to Human Services. SB 1033 would require protein product manufacturers to test for heavy metals and disclose results, prompted by Consumer Reports findings and supported by consumer, health, and women’s health groups; industry witnesses asked for narrower scope and source-level testing, and the committee voted 11-0 to pass it as amended and send it to Environmental Quality. The committee then began SB 1049, which would give providers a 90-day window after a plan’s latest action to correct certain claim errors and prevent denials based solely on missed filing deadlines; the author said it would address honest billing mistakes and recoupments, and the bill was introduced with support from medical groups and ongoing discussions with health plans.

Transcript Highlights:

• If the national board certification is as high quality as proponents suggest, I would expect that board-certified
• You mentioned that 80% of the money will be for an across-the-board teacher pay raise.
• staying home with young children or standing up for the children of Texas and our future workforce.
• I'm excited to see that this bill... includes teacher raises across the board.
• Science teachers work tirelessly to prepare our students for the workforce.

Bills: SB26 , SB 26

Committees: Senate Education , Senate Education K-16

Transcript Highlights:

• What this bill does, it is a housekeeping bill for the Department of Workforce, formerly Department of
• some changes throughout the code, changing the titles from Department of Labor to Department of Workforce
• 17.120><c> of</c> housekeeping bill for the Department of housekeeping bill for the Department of Workforce
• </c> Workforce, formerly Department of Labor. Workforce, formerly Department of Labor.
• </c> of Workforce. of Workforce.

Bills: HB568 , HB499 , HB433 , HB568 , HB499 , HB433

Committee: Senate County and Municipal Government

Keywords: voting rights, restoration, pardons, Parole Board, re-registration, conviction, states' voting laws, Lawrence County, Sheriff, credit card, debit card, government purchases, discretionary fund, financial accountability, tax distribution, Talladega County, economic development, public safety, rural infrastructure, child labor

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, board committee members. Excuse me. I'm here today. The board did consider this bill.
• And he’s asking to serve on some board, and he’s serving on the board.
• And then he’s appointed by the board, the governor or somebody for the serve on the board.
• This clears the board. We have present answering the This clears the board.
• The board is clear on your Thank you, Chairman Greene. The board is clear on your closing.

Bills: HB177 , HB210 , HB238 , HB258 , HB307 , HB359 , HB398 , HB661 , HB705 , HB752 , HB858

Committee: House House and Governmental Affairs

Keywords: court reporter, official court reporter, courts, judicial system, ethics, post-employment restrictions, cooling-off period, two-year waiting period, rehiring, reemployment, contractual services, former public employee, public employer, Louisiana ethics law, R.S. 42:1121, Act 532, lobbying, public service, statewide officials, compensation

Transcript Highlights:

• I proposed to the state board that they open the teaching standards to eliminate DEI requirements.
• This passed the State Board of Education with zero no votes.
• There might be personal issues at home. There might be, a child might be fostered.
• My name is Megan Gilbertson, and I'm with the Arizona Board of Regents.
• You said standards for academic achievement, for attendance, for behavior, actions, and words.

Bills: SB1074 , SB1327 , SB1475 , SB1582 , SB1583 , SB1598

Committees: Senate Education , Senate Senate Education Committee of Reference

Keywords: student discipline, classroom management, temporary removal, administrative action, education policy, foreign relations, university governance, research security, international agreements, Arizona Board of Regents, interscholastic activities, student eligibility, criminal offenses, school district, youth sports, academic participation, conduct, planned communities, homeowners association, HOA

Transcript Highlights:

• technical assistance to employers and jurisdictions to develop required CTR programs, staffs the CTR board
• work between the hours of 6 and 9 a.m. for an employer to be covered no longer reflects today's workforce
• Bakers, baristas, janitors, and nurses, to name a few professions, could be included in this change.
• It encourages employers to offer benefits that improve retention and workforce reliability.
• E-motos are giving e-bikes a bad name, and if we don't establish a statewide standard, we're going to

Bills: HB2307 , HB2374 , HB2379 , HB1823 , HB2111

Committee: House Transportation

Keywords: commute trip reduction, definitions, transportation, environmental impact, urban planning, electric bicycles, electric motorcycles, regulation, vehicle classification, tolling, emergency suspension, public access, state highways, transportation improvement board, TIB, transportation improvement account, motor vehicle fund, arterial streets, local match, private match