Transcript Highlights:

• <01:25:37.920> of positions that support the functions of positions that support the functions
• :45:05.679> drug particular, this service offers drug particular, this service offers drug testing
• ,<01:45:07.119> assessment<01:45:07.600> and<01:45:08.280> evaluation, testing,
• DES to see if we can't come up with something when you take a group and move them for a special function
• DES to see if we can't come up with something when you take a group and move them for a special function

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If you have technical issues, you can use the Zoom chat function to communicate with our excellent technical
• we didn't testify on it this our test we didn't testify on it this time<00:51:52.880> because
• Then, as I started to progressively go blind, I started realizing how difficult it was to function in
• Then, as I started to progressively go blind, I started realizing how difficult it was to function in
• Then, as I started to progressively go blind, I started realizing how difficult it was to function in

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs heard Senate Bill 1322, SD2, HD1, a comprehensive measure revising Hawaii’s mental health code. The bill would clarify emergency transportation, examination, and hospitalization procedures for people who may be mentally ill or suffering from substance abuse and deemed imminently dangerous, expand notice requirements, allow certain information-sharing for assisted community treatment petitions, and add liability protections for emergency responders and providers. The Department of the Attorney General supported the bill as a collaborative update to the law, while the Department of Health asked for a copy of provider-generated emergency transport documentation within five days for data and planning purposes. Testimony was sharply divided. Queen’s Health System, Hawaiʻi Pacific Health, HHSC, and the Institute for Human Services supported the measure or parts of it but requested amendments, including clarifying whether a second psychiatric exam is required, restoring a 72-hour rather than 48-hour stabilization window, and adjusting where patients are taken when an MEO cannot be reached. The ACLU of Hawaiʻi strongly opposed the bill, arguing it weakens due process and civil liberties, especially around involuntary commitment, assisted community treatment, emergency transport by police, and reduced procedural safeguards; it urged the committee to hold the bill and consider an interim working group. Louie E.K. of the Hawaiʻi Disability Rights Center also opposed the bill, focusing on immunity from negligence, the use of police for transport, and the reduction of a three-provider review to one in state-hospital treatment orders. Other testimony included support from an individual who said the bill could improve mental health care delivery amid provider shortages, and a comment from Hawaiʻi Health and Harm Reduction Center warning that the substance use portion of the bill lacks evidence of effectiveness and could be misused. In response to committee questions, the Attorney General’s office said the measure was developed with input from multiple stakeholders, including state agencies, hospitals, the ACLU, HHSC, and IHS, and that it aims to make assisted community treatment more accessible and effective by streamlining the legal process and improving consequences for noncompliance. No vote or final action was taken during the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• investment showed significant reductions in chronic absenteeism, reduced suspensions, and improved test
• , they still have the remaining four years of that seven-year accreditation period, essentially functioning
• So they're going to have lower than the state average test scores, attendance, et cetera.
• So they're going to have lower than the state average test scores, attendance, et cetera.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Budget Subcommittee on Education heard the Governor’s proposals for universal school meals, the Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELOP), and community schools, with the kitchen infrastructure grants, Tier 2 ELOP funding, and ongoing community schools funding as the main budget issues. For universal meals, the Department of Education and the Department of Finance supported continued investment in school meal infrastructure and explained that federal changes, inflation, and underreporting in meal counts could affect future funding. The LAO recommended rejecting a fourth round of kitchen infrastructure grants, arguing prior rounds are still being spent and that future funding should be tied to clearer goals and data. Several public commenters and school groups supported continued kitchen grants and universal meals, citing supply-chain delays, workforce needs, and benefits such as more freshly prepared meals and higher participation. For ELOP, the administration proposed $4.7 billion ongoing Proposition 98 funding and an additional $62.4 million to set a minimum Tier 2 rate of $1,800 per pupil. The LAO recommended fully fixing the Tier 2 rate at $1,579 and tying future changes to program requirements, while CDE supported the proposal and said the program is improving attendance and academic outcomes. Senators and witnesses discussed whether ELOP should remain a standalone program or be folded into LCFF, with concerns raised about accountability, flexibility, and whether the program should better serve older youth. CDE said new CalPADS reporting and the biennial report will provide more data soon, and public testimony largely supported stabilizing Tier 2 funding while also asking for more support for middle and high school students. For community schools, the Governor proposed $1 billion ongoing Proposition 98 funding to expand the model to thousands more schools and to support existing sites, along with new accountability through annual self-certification and future accreditation. The LAO recommended continuing the current one-time grant approach instead of creating a new ongoing categorical program, warning about reduced flexibility, administrative burden, and the state’s capacity to support a much larger number of grantees. CDE strongly supported the ongoing funding and asked for additional support for county offices and technical assistance. Committee members questioned how accreditation would work for a model meant to be locally tailored, and administration staff said technical assistance would come first, with schools losing eligibility only if they failed to meet standards after support. Public testimony was overwhelmingly supportive of community schools, with parents, students, county offices, and advocacy groups describing gains in attendance, graduation, mental health supports, family engagement, and student belonging, while some commenters urged clearer eligibility rules, stronger reporting, and continued support for related programs such as MTSS and homeless student services.

Transcript Highlights:

• But we found a willing partner in the legislature to grant us the opportunity to test this longer period
• And that's the primary function of the CHIP program: to support local governments that do that.
• Infrastructure capacity is going to be tested with some of these higher-density opportunities for development
• The last couple of months, we've been deploying this to city staff to pilot and test, and we're moving

Summary: The Senate Housing Committee heard presentations on a range of housing finance, permitting, and affordability tools. Chattanooga described its affordable housing PILOT program, which uses a per-unit property tax abatement tied to the rent loss from providing affordable units, with a 15-year term and annual compliance monitoring. Committee members asked about the program’s structure, whether it had been used elsewhere, and who was participating; the presenter said the first mixed-income project would bring 278 units with 42 affordable units and that the model was attracting private market-rate developers. Shoreline then described its MFTE and inclusionary zoning approach, emphasizing that longer tax exemption periods and station-area zoning changes had helped spur development, with most current pipeline projects concentrated near light rail stations. The committee also heard from the Municipal Research Services Center and the Department of Commerce on tax increment financing, proportional impact fees, and permit timelines. Commerce explained that TIF can fund public improvements such as roads, utilities, broadband, and some affordable housing or child care facilities, while proportional impact fee guidance is intended to help jurisdictions charge fees more closely aligned with actual project impacts. On permit timelines, Commerce presented its first annual report under recent law changes, using 2024 as a baseline year and noting that reported timelines were generally longer than statutory goals; members asked about outliers, paper versus electronic processing, and whether back-and-forth between applicants and staff was driving delays. Commerce said it would follow up with more data, including on CHIP funding and permit reform practices. Several local governments then shared permitting process improvements. Auburn reported relatively short review cycles and described its move to fully electronic permitting, internal performance standards, and a stock plan program that speeds review for repeated home designs. Bellevue described an AI permitting pilot with a local startup to help with pre-application questions, document triage, and plan review, aiming to reduce incomplete applications and revision cycles. Seattle presented a pilot for accessory dwelling unit co-development in which a mission-driven partner would help homeowners split lots, finance, build, and manage ADUs, with the homeowner eventually buying out the partner and retaining ownership; committee members asked about rent setting, management fees, and default risk, and staff said they would follow up. The committee also heard brief overviews of community land trusts and limited equity cooperatives as permanent affordability models, with presenters urging continued state and local funding support and policy recognition for these approaches.

Transcript Highlights:

• Once the grant was established, it functioned quite well, and they issued grants to.
• We're currently testing, and we just put up on appeal, there's a statute that treats immunity from quantity
• We're testing whether or not that applies to land grants for political subdivisions.
• is probably running around $10,000 to $15,000 an audit, but the agreed-upon procedures, because it tests

Transcript Highlights:

• This is not a test. It is just a practical question. Is there somebody here to present AB 541?
• They have to go get drug tested.
• They have to go get drug tested.
• AB 320 is a valuable reminder that access to court and access to the legal system is vital for a functioning

Keywords: 909, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Tests, testing, and retesting.
• There are really bright people who can take a test and pass it well, but they really don't have a good
• from DEI within our. state, anything that receives state money, it was determined that these LMHAs function

Bills: SB128, SB640, SB672, SB904, SB1141, SB1263, SB1525, SB1528, SB2041, SB2306, SB2308, SB2357, SB2446, SB2695, SB2857, SB2891, SB2583

Keywords: hospital reporting, child abuse, neglect, administrative penalty, medical ethics, child protection, SB 640, Texas Family Code, Department of Family and Protective Services, DFPS, child welfare, foster care, managing conservatorship, suicide attempt, youth suicide, mental health, child protective services, state custody, annual report, reporting requirements

Transcript Highlights:

• That funding is provided for healthcare services such as birth control, cancer screening, and STI testing
• They were testing the system. They're learning.
• And so they've submitted test claims. They've been paid.
• in the areas of budget, program policy, advocacy, and legislation, and we expect those to start functioning

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Collective bargaining is one of the most important functions of a union.
• Minnesota and I'm here University of Minnesota and I'm here today<00:15:48.079> to<00:15:48.360> test
• > to<00:15:48.800> testify<00:15:49.240> in<00:15:49.519> strong today to test
• to testify in strong today to test to testify in strong support<00:15:49.920> of<00:15:50.079

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• However, genetic DNA testing, which is critical and identify a pre-existing conditions can take 3 to
• 6 months to process and many cases, multiple siblings, but also undergo testing which further delays
• Senator Osgood I've had when this bill hit the first time we're talking about test texting while driving
• Zoned for single-family residential use under this bill in Atu is a smaller independent fully-functioning

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Lastly, the Board of Governors is established by the Constitution as a 17-member board whose function
• And finally, the test score requirement, which are set at the 75th national percentile for the Florida
• And finally, the test score requirement, which are set at the 75th national percentile for the Florida
• also take a look at the performance of the students as they take the NCLEX, which is the licensure test

Summary: The Higher Education Budget Subcommittee met for an introductory overview of the higher education programs under its jurisdiction. After roll call and member introductions, Chair Busatta outlined that the subcommittee oversees programs in the Department of Education and the State University System, including vocational rehabilitation, blind services, private postsecondary licensure, student financial aid, career and adult education, the Florida College System, and the Board of Governors. The chair and staff also noted that these areas represent roughly $9 billion in current-year funding. Officials from the Department of Education presented on several programs. Vocational Rehabilitation Director Kelly Rogers described services for adults and youth with disabilities, including pre-employment transition services, job coaching, assistive technology, and employer support; she said the program served more than 55,000 people last year, has no wait list, and reported a return of $7.61 to the economy for every $1 invested. Division of Blind Services Director Robert Doyle explained services from birth through older adulthood, including early intervention, school-age support, vocational rehabilitation, independent living, the Business Enterprise Program for blind vendors, and the Braille and Talking Book Library; he said the division serves about 12,000 people annually and also has no wait list, though some community rehab providers may have one. Tiffany Hurst of the Commission for Independent Education described licensure and consumer protection for independent postsecondary institutions, reporting oversight of about 1,100 institutions and 721 non-degree schools, along with enforcement actions against unlicensed operators. Sean Haskin of Student Financial Assistance reviewed 22 scholarship and grant programs totaling about $1 billion for more than 200,000 students, including Bright Futures, Benacquisto, need-based grants, EASE, EASE Plus, veterans’ scholarships, dual enrollment reimbursement, first responder scholarships, and the Ocoee and Rosewood scholarships. Members asked about surplus funds, marketing, Bright Futures eligibility requirements, and whether EASE awards had changed; Haskin said any unused funds are reverted to the Legislature, that the department markets through schools and the Florida Lottery, and that EASE remained at $3,500 per FTE for the last two fiscal years. Several members raised concerns that students and parents may not learn about aid programs early enough, especially in economically disadvantaged communities. Chancellor Kevin O’Farrell then presented on Career and Adult Education, highlighting record participation in career and technical education, adult education, and apprenticeship. He said about 800,000 secondary students and 480,000 postsecondary students are in CTE, adult education serves about 183,000 learners, and apprenticeship/pre-apprenticeship programs include more than 22,000 participants. He also described the workforce development fund, Perkins, WIOA Title II, the Pathways to Career Opportunities Grant, workforce capitalization grants, CAPE performance funding, and the Pipeline nursing initiative, noting strong NCLEX outcomes and expanded outreach through the Get There, Your Way, Future of Work Florida, and Zello platforms. Kathy Hebda began the Florida College System presentation by emphasizing open access, workforce preparation, statewide reach, and strong enrollment and completion growth, including more than 672,000 students, over 131,000 degrees and certificates, and significant dual enrollment savings for students and families.

Transcript Highlights:

• resounding, demonstrated remarkable improvement in reduced TBI, PTSD symptoms, better TBI PTSD cognitive function
• > Um, House Bill 1 was passed in 2024, and this body provided us $1.5 million in treatment funds, testing
• House Bill 1 was passed in 2024, and this body provided us $1.5 million in treatment funds, testing and
• > Um, House Bill 1 was passed in 2024, and this body provided us $1.5 million in treatment funds, testing
• > Um, House Bill 1 was passed in 2024, and this body provided us $1.5 million in treatment funds, testing

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee heard House Bill 369, which would add post-traumatic stress disorder to an existing 2018 hyperbaric oxygen therapy-related law for veterans. Representative Scott Sharp and HBOT for KY Vets representatives testified that PTSD and traumatic brain injury often overlap, that veterans are frequently misdiagnosed, and that hyperbaric oxygen therapy has shown benefits in clinical trials and in Kentucky’s own funded program. Members asked whether the bill would require insurance coverage; the sponsors said it would not, and noted they are seeking broader approval through medical and congressional channels. The committee voted favorably on HB 369, with members expressing support based on personal experience and the needs of veterans and their families. The committee then considered House Bill 419, for which a committee substitute was adopted before testimony. Representative Suzanne Miles and Kentucky Fire Commission/KCTCS representatives explained that the bill would expand the fire commission board from 14 to 18 members, clarify that KCTCS’s 5% administrative fee applies collectively to all funds rather than separately to each fund, and allow excess funds to help cover out-of-pocket cancer screening costs for volunteer and paid firefighters. A question about board staggering was answered by explaining that staggered terms were originally used to avoid all terms ending at once and were expected to continue. The committee passed HB 419 with favorable expression. Later, USA Cares presented an update on how it has used prior state funding. The organization described its grant-based assistance for veterans and military families facing housing, vehicle, and utility crises, as well as career transition and housing-related support programs. Testimony emphasized that the aid helps prevent homelessness and reduce suicide risk, and the group reported it had used nearly all of the $2 million awarded in the last budget cycle to assist 364 families and more than 500 dependents. No vote was taken on the USA Cares presentation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Fun fact, I did a DNA test. It sounds like a song, right? I did a DNA test.
• for testing in that area.
• We also have high demand for digital evidence. testing services in Minnesota. testing services in Minnesota
• for testing in continue to see demands for testing in that<00:09:38.160> area.
• We're pursuing accreditation for our law enforcement functions at the BCA.

Bills: HF3599, HF3761, HF3523, HF3515, HF573

Keywords: water treatment, infrastructure, municipal funding, bond issuance, Becker, sewer improvements, sanitation, Hibbing, state bonds, infrastructure funding, capital investment, safety improvements, mobility, U.S. Highway 12, bonds, transportation funding, trails, Prior Lake, bond funding, recreational improvements

Transcript Highlights:

• of additional training content testing of additional training content testing and<01:47:56.080><
• A lot of staff conduct grants management functions, and so requiring training for those folks in some
• That we have a list of required functions like closing out the grant before final payment is made.
• the functions. that we have<02:15:29.440> a<02:15:29.679> list<02:15:30.000> of
• required functions like have a list of required functions like closing<02:15:32.560> out<02:15

Bills: HF3043, HF2891

Keywords: public safety, illegal remunerations, healthcare fraud, grants, criminal penalties, state law, grants management, state employees training, certification, monitoring grants, accountability, grant fraud, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• by by the way is extremely functional by by the way is extremely functional she's<01:16:02.080><
• Care management is usually an insurance company function or an MCO function, and while it may involve
• function.
• prior to any administrative functions prior to any case<01:55:15.719> management<01:55:16.280
• so again it administrative functions so again it could<01:56:12.840> be<01:56:12.960> a

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Removing that function from TASB and eliminating even the possibility of politicization would be a positive
• Self-test fund for the bill, is that correct? That is correct.
• We made sure I had to describe in a testing closet, with a physical therapist, a way to ride the school
• Most districts are not in compliance with the law, and HB900 is not functioning as intended.
• SB 13 addresses this by incorporating court-tested standards for indecency and profanity.

Bills: SB 13, SB 27, SB 57, HB1325, HB1655, HB3312, HB5526, SB13, SB57, SB207, HB441, HB591, HB5019, SB27, SB843

Keywords: lobbying, public funds, political subdivision, local government, county association, municipal lobbying, registered lobbyist, Texas Legislature, taxpayer lawsuit, injunctive relief, attorney's fees, government finance, county dues, state association of counties, sheriffs association, law enforcement officers, legislative advocacy, bill tracking, legislative alerts, Government Code Chapter 556

Transcript Highlights:

• $275,000 More than $275,000 but less than $500,000 have to have their accounts examined by a CPA using 17 tests
• Chairman, uh, Senator McKeown, all of it, I believe, is withheld. >> So, how do these entities function
• Would you say that that's a function the state should coordinate, or that maybe WAM should coordinate
• tasked with looking at the legislation that has been put forth in the past and statutes and the function
• We're just going to let the audit function, the auditors, identify the adjustments that need to be made

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Plus, then they have to pay for a test.
• And I don't think there's a control function. I don't think there's an oversight.
• And I don't think there's a<00:28:28.960> control<00:28:29.360> function.
• <00:28:29.840> I<00:28:30.000> don't<00:28:30.159> think a control function.
• I don't think a control function.

Keywords: 00:00 - Call to Order/Roll Call 01:27 - Discussion of 26RS HB 470 29:05 - Roll Call Vote on 26RS HB 470 32:06 - Discussion of 26RS HJR 25 34:49 - Roll Call Vote on 26RS HJR 25 37:08 - Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The House Standing Committee on Health Services met with a quorum and took up House Bill 470, which was presented as a cleanup and delay measure related to peer support specialists and Medicaid reimbursement. The bill would extend the deadline for registered alcohol and drug peer support specialists to be Medicaid reimbursable, address issues created by delayed regulations under House Bill 505, remove a limit on direct client care hours, and create a work group to examine oversight and possible future board structure for peer professionals. The committee adopted a committee substitute before hearing testimony. Bill sponsor Rep. Kim Moser and supporting witnesses said the change was needed because implementation problems and regulatory backlogs had created a peer support workforce shortage and confusion across multiple peer categories, including substance use, mental health, re-entry, and gambling peers. Elena Swezy argued the bill would stabilize the workforce, improve oversight, and allow time to develop a more effective credentialing framework. Frank Miller Jr. testified in opposition, arguing the bill lacked a proper enabling statute for Medicaid-related changes and would not be enforceable as written. Sarah Vaughn also raised concerns about the bill’s impact on mental health peer specialists, multispecialty behavioral health groups, and whether separate regulations would be needed for mental health and substance use services. Committee members questioned the bill’s structure, fiscal impact, training costs, and whether the work group would be appointed or informal. Sponsors responded that the bill does not require providers to hire anyone, only sets registration requirements if they do hire substance-use peer specialists, and said the work group was intended to help develop a more unified oversight model. Several members expressed concern about the complexity of the issue and the short testimony time, while others supported the bill as a way to improve oversight and reduce fraud risk. The committee approved House Bill 470 as amended by the committee substitute, and then adopted a title amendment; the bill passed with favorable expression.

Transcript Highlights:

• And in many ways, you have helped both our staff and the judicial branch function as an independent branch
• So, we now have a librarian not only to operate a courthouse; we operate probably the most functional
• question directly, that money would no longer be needed, and once we have full implementation of FTR to test
• Chair and Representative Silva, most of the courts we asked to close actually had been functionally closed
• As it goes through construction, we want to ensure we're getting a really functional courthouse out of

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll just align my comments with the previous speaker, as well as add, particularly on the asset test
• We deeply appreciate the Senate rejecting all cuts to IHSS, strengthening the Medi-Cal asset test.
• We deeply appreciate the Senate rejecting all cuts to IHSS, strengthening the medical acid test.
• We're particularly grateful for the maintenance of the current Medi-Cal asset test limit until July 1
• We're particularly grateful for the maintenance of the current Medi-Cal Asset test limit until July 1

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee heard AB 109, the Budget Act of 2026, and related discussion of the legislative budget agreement. Committee staff and the Department of Finance described a two-year balanced plan with about $253 billion in General Fund spending, roughly $5.5 billion in higher assumed revenues than the May Revision, and about $36.5 billion in combined reserves. They said the package preserves or expands funding for schools and community colleges, child care, IHSS, Medi-Cal-related county administration, housing and homelessness programs, public hospitals, courthouse construction, and some criminal justice and prison-closure savings, while delaying or modifying several prior health care reductions and some Medi-Cal changes. Much of the member discussion focused on Medi-Cal, H.R. 1, and the impact on low-income and immigrant Californians. Several Democrats argued the budget protects vulnerable residents by delaying some cuts, funding county eligibility work, indigent care, public hospitals, and food banks, and rejecting the Governor’s IHSS cuts and asset-limit proposal. Republicans criticized the budget for assuming future revenues, relying on new taxes, and not doing enough to address the structural deficit or improve accountability. Members also raised concerns and support around homelessness funding, Prop. 36, judgeships and courthouse funding, transit and GGRF allocations, local journalism, Caltrans fleet spending, and a proposed “fair share” revenue measure that was not yet before the committee. Public testimony was largely supportive of the budget’s health and human services provisions, especially the rejection of IHSS cuts and the asset-limit proposal, and the inclusion of funding for child care, sickle cell centers, domestic violence services, trauma recovery centers, distressed hospitals, county eligibility work, and transit programs. Some witnesses representing hospitals and health plans cautioned about the effects of moving certain Medi-Cal populations to fee-for-service and about proposed tax changes affecting health care providers. The chair said revenue trailer bills were still being finalized and would likely come back later in the week; the committee then moved to public comment, with the chair limiting speakers to about one minute each.