Transcript Highlights:

• I support AB 1655. I'm from Santa Clara County. I'm a child care provider, too. I support AB 1655.
• I support this bill.
• In support today, I have Ms.
• , California Chapter, here in support.
• We respectfully ask for your support.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We will not accept disruptive behavior or behavior that incites or threatens violence.
• And so we would urge your support, and we appreciate the administration jumping on this so quickly, and
• Are there any other witnesses in support? This is in opposition. Hi, Indira McDonald.
• So I think that's fully supported.
• I fully support it, and I second the motion if that helps. Wonderful, thank you, Ms. Dixon.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I support AB 1655. I'm from Santa Clara County. I'm a child care provider, too. I support AB 1655.
• I support this bill.
• In support today, I have Ms.
• , California Chapter, here in support.
• We respectfully ask for your support.

Summary: The Assembly Human Services Committee heard a lengthy agenda focused largely on CalWORKs, child care access, early childhood supports, and family stability. Measures discussed included AB 1655, which would protect CalWORKs benefits for families when a child or family member is temporarily absent due to immigration detention; AB 1746, which would require counties to give CalWORKs applicants the actual child care request form and respond within 10 days; and AB 1755, which would repeal the CalWORKs 100-hour work penalty for two-parent families. Supporters across these bills emphasized reducing poverty, preventing administrative barriers, and avoiding punishments that can destabilize working families. No opposition witnesses appeared on these items. All three bills were moved forward on party-line or near-unanimous votes, with committee amendments accepted where noted. The committee also heard AB 2072, creating a state contingency fund to keep CalFresh and WIC benefits flowing during a federal shutdown, with support from the California Retailers Association and anti-poverty groups; AB 2429, which would make targeted changes to the early childhood mental health consultation model by making one screener optional and reducing required observations; AB 1969, the "It Takes a Village Act," establishing a grant program for cradle-to-career place-based partnerships; and AB 2092, giving the Department of Social Services lead authority over an early childhood integrated data system and creating an interagency governance structure. Testimony on these bills stressed the need for coordinated services, better data, and more flexible implementation. Each advanced out of committee, with AB 1969 receiving the most discussion and a split vote before later being finalized on the record. Two additional bills addressed county administration and emergency aid. AB 2278 would authorize a Contra Costa County pilot to test technology to speed IHSS eligibility and reassessments amid heavy caseloads and penalties, while AB 2567 would let counties issue emergency CalWORKs aid without first requiring applicants to apply for all other potentially available income sources. Both were presented as ways to reduce delays and help families in crisis faster. The committee also approved a consent calendar containing several other measures. At the end of the hearing, the committee returned to open votes and finalized the roll on all items before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are in support of this.
• Um, the bill would allow them to receive the child support payments, um, to support the child.
• Unpaid child support, as I understand in the bill, this is charged as additional child support.
• Child support is not the same thing as supporting a child.
• I am in support of this bill. I supported it last time.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> appropriations we we can't fully support appropriations we we can't fully support a<02:09:02.960
• </c> legislative leaison for behavioral legislative leaison for behavioral health<03:13:48.560><c> at
• I am very supportive of this bill.
• </c> on his behavior every 15 minutes. on his behavior every 15 minutes.
• </c> they might be able to support? they might be able to support?

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Nearly $47 million in the grants have supported housing programs downtown.
• And to the point that was being made there a moment ago, I support Housing First.
• And to the point that it was being made there a moment ago, I support housing first.
• So that means, by that I mean that they have the evidence to support that.
• And by that, I mean that they have the evidence to support that.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Accountability and Oversight held a hearing on California’s homelessness funding, focusing on the Homeless Housing Assistance and Prevention (HAP) Grant and the Encampment Resolution Grant Program. HCD described new accountability requirements, including regional action plans, stronger reporting and expenditure conditions, housing-element compliance, encampment response plans, and public dashboards that track fiscal spending, service outcomes, and encampment resolution status. Officials said the goal is to use the data to identify underperforming grantees, provide technical assistance, and, if needed, withhold or reallocate funds. Local officials from San Diego, Fresno, and Santa Cruz said the programs have helped expand shelter, outreach, and permanent housing, and that state dollars have leveraged local and federal resources. Mayor Todd Gloria said San Diego has used HAP to expand shelter and safe sleeping options, reduce downtown encampments, and increase housing production, but argued the state’s new accountability website is too high-level and does not fully reflect countywide conditions, behavioral health outcomes, or the role of continuum-of-care partners. Fresno officials said HAP and other state funds helped the city add shelter beds and reduce homelessness, while Santa Cruz emphasized that state funding helped build local coordination and draw in federal vouchers. Members pressed the panel on whether HAP is actually reducing homelessness, what the best success metrics should be, and whether the state is getting full, usable data from grantees and subcontractors. Several members asked for more granular jurisdiction-level reporting, better tracking of nonprofit spending, and clearer measures beyond point-in-time counts and “people served.” HCD said it is still improving HMIS participation and data quality, but can already show outcomes such as exits to permanent housing and returns to homelessness. The hearing ended with broad agreement that transparency is important, but disagreement remained over the best measures of success and how much emphasis should be placed on housing, prevention, shelter, and treatment.

Transcript Highlights:

• We'd ask for your support. Thank you. Thank you. Do we have additional comments in support?
• We'd ask for your support. Thank you. Anyone else in the room in support, please step up.
• We are supporting this bill, like we supported a number of bills last year, because the powerful incentive
• We support this bill. Thank you. Do we have additional witnesses in support?
• , support.

Summary: The Assembly Labor and Employment Committee heard several workplace-related bills. AB 1803 would require anti-hate speech training as part of existing harassment prevention training for employers with five or more employees; supporters said it would help workers recognize and report workplace hate, while opponents raised First Amendment and definitional concerns. The bill passed on a do pass motion and was re-referred to Judiciary, with the roll left open for absent members. AB 1940 would add perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause to FEHA’s sex protections and clarify related workplace protections; supporters emphasized workplace equity and retention, while business groups said existing accommodation laws already cover many issues and raised concerns about expanding protected classifications. It also passed and was re-referred to Judiciary with the roll open. AB 1838 would require bidders on public works projects to disclose recent wage-and-hour violations and how they were addressed; labor groups supported the transparency measure, while contractors and business groups questioned definitions and disclosure scope. It passed and was re-referred to Judiciary. AB 1859 would give joint labor-management committees access to public works job sites to help identify labor-law violations; supporters said it would improve enforcement of wage theft laws, while opponents raised due process, property access, and constitutional concerns. It passed and was re-referred to Judiciary. The committee also considered two workplace AI and surveillance bills. AB 1883 would prohibit certain invasive surveillance technologies in the workplace, including facial, gait, and emotion recognition, while placing limits on some facial recognition uses; supporters argued these tools are discriminatory and unreliable, and opponents said a ban was too broad and could eliminate useful safety and operational tools. The bill passed and was re-referred to Privacy and Consumer Protection. AB 1898 would require employers to give workers advance notice before using AI tools to surveil or manage workers, including disclosure of the tool’s purpose, data collected, and affected decisions; supporters framed it as a basic transparency measure, while opponents objected to the breadth of notice requirements, possible veto power over deployment, and enforcement language. It also passed and was re-referred to Privacy and Consumer Protection. The committee additionally took up AB 1707, which passed and was re-referred to Appropriations with a consent-calendar recommendation, though the transcript does not provide the bill’s subject matter.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is real math for them, and it's very concerning, especially when you see other areas of support
• George Cruz, on behalf of the California Behavioral Health Association.
• George Cruz, on behalf of the California Behavioral Health Association.
• Behavioral health providers will save closures and will face cuts or closures.
• We recommend expanding workforce development supports and creating clarity around student eligibility

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Accountability and Oversight held its fifth hearing of the year to examine the newly enacted federal H.R. 1 and its effects on California. Members and the chair described the law as a major threat to state health, food, education, and climate programs, and emphasized that California would not be able to fully backfill the federal cuts. Several members also highlighted the bill’s tax provisions, including temporary deductions for tips, overtime, seniors, and auto loan interest, while warning that the largest benefits flow to higher-income taxpayers and that major cuts to Medi-Cal, CalFresh, and clean-energy incentives are delayed or phased in over time. The Legislative Analyst’s Office and the Department of Finance presented detailed overviews of the bill’s likely impacts and implementation timelines. They identified the main affected areas as health care coverage and financing, food assistance, higher education, personal income taxes, and clean-energy/electric-vehicle credits. They explained that H.R. 1 limits provider taxes used to finance Medi-Cal, adds work and redetermination requirements, restricts CalFresh eligibility and increases state costs, changes student loan and Pell Grant rules, extends and modifies federal tax provisions, and phases out many clean-energy credits. Finance also noted major rescissions of Inflation Reduction Act funds, new border and immigration enforcement spending, and the possibility of PAYGO sequestration if Congress does not act to offset the deficit increase. During member questions, the committee focused on likely enrollment losses, administrative burdens, and fiscal exposure for the state and counties. Witnesses said many details still depend on federal guidance, but they estimated significant impacts on Medi-Cal, CalFresh, and graduate/professional student borrowing, and noted that California’s high CalFresh error rate could increase state costs. UC testified that the elimination of Graduate PLUS loans would affect thousands of professional students, especially in health, law, and other high-cost programs. Members asked for follow-up data on county, health, and tax impacts, and staff agreed to provide additional tables and estimates as implementation guidance becomes clearer. Public commenters from counties, early childhood advocates, health coalitions, disability rights groups, immigrant-rights organizations, and other stakeholders urged the Legislature to mitigate the law’s effects. They warned of higher county costs, reduced access to health care and food assistance, increased administrative burdens, and harm to children, immigrants, people with disabilities, and low-income families. Several urged new state revenue solutions and stronger protections for Medi-Cal, CalFresh, child care, and home- and community-based services. No votes were taken; the hearing was informational and ended with a commitment to continue monitoring federal guidance and to work on state responses in the budget process.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> carriers to cover perinatal behavioral carriers to cover perinatal behavioral health<01:31:58.000
• </c> behavioral and uh behavioral health behavioral and uh behavioral health system<01:35:52.080><c>
• </c> House Bill 922, Behavioral Health Administration Behavioral Health Program Relocation Regulations
• </c><01:56:35.120><c> member,</c> membership educational support member, membership educational support
• </c> supported us on this bill. supported us on this bill.

Keywords: House streaming session for Thursday, March 19, 2026, 957, house, all

Summary: The House convened with 122 members present, opened with prayer, and approved the previous day’s journal. The chamber then took up two congratulatory resolutions: one honoring Layla Wishard of Hagerstown for winning gold with Team USA at the Junior Roller Derby Association World Cup in Australia, and another recognizing Delores Millhouse as the 2026 Maryland Mother of the Year. Both resolutions were read and adopted with applause. The House then considered a series of committee reports, primarily from the Committee on Economic Matters, and advanced multiple bills to third reading after adopting committee amendments and favorable reports. Measures included consumer contract protections in House Bill 103, workers’ compensation presumptions for hypertension in House Bill 347, broadband access and affordability in House Bill 382, housing and land-use changes in House Bills 548 and 894, data privacy in House Bill 711, franchise law changes in House Bill 730, a blockchain-based real property title pilot program in House Bill 810, bankruptcy exemptions in House Bill 1098, and telecommunications infrastructure protections in House Bill 1100. Several bills drew questions and were special ordered for further review. House Bill 711, the Data Privacy Act, prompted extended discussion about whether its geolocation provisions could affect stadium and venue security tracking; the sponsor said the bill was intended to close loopholes around cell phone and vehicle location data and would not change existing permission-based rules, but the bill was still special ordered until the next day. House Bill 894, the transit-oriented development bill, also drew questions about local government concerns and was special ordered, with the floor leader saying county and municipal groups were generally satisfied with the amendments. House Bill 1100 was also taken up after the amendments were adopted, and the title amendment process began as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• in support.
• Mur in support. support. support.
• Um, up next in support, Mr. &gt;&gt; Thank you. Um, up next in support, Mr.
• Testimony and support. A kohulu Allison. Testimony and support.
• We are in support of um HP 2044. TAR. We are in support of um HP 2044.

Bills: HB1531

Keywords: emergency announcements, American Sign Language, accessibility, public safety, broadcast media, 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on House Bill 1913, which would create a mental health coordinator position within the Office of Veteran Services for the Daniel K. Akaka State Veterans Home and appropriate funds for it. Supporters said veterans, especially on the neighbor islands, need more mental health access and coordination. Several witnesses, including Sean Sonatada and Tom Driscoll, supported the intent but urged amendments to broaden the position beyond one facility and make it a statewide resource. Committee members questioned whether the bill would duplicate existing services at the veterans home and whether the position would be reimbursable through federal VA funding; testimony indicated the state would appropriate the money, while existing home services are already covered through current staff and federal reimbursement structures. The committee also heard testimony on House Bill 9, which would designate Hawaii as a Purple Heart state. Testifiers generally supported the measure as a way to honor wounded veterans and their families, though one member asked what benefits the designation would confer. Witnesses clarified that the bill was mainly symbolic and did not appear to create new benefits, and one testifier noted Honolulu County had already adopted a similar Purple Heart designation. The committee then took up House Bill 1628, which would establish a compassionate release protocol for certain seriously ill or debilitated incarcerated persons. The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and the Hawaii Paroling Authority opposed the bill, arguing that an existing administrative process already works, that the bill could improperly extend eligibility to people serving life without parole or mandatory minimum sentences, and that it lacked victim and family input and sufficient resources. In contrast, the Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission strongly supported the bill, saying it would reduce the high cost of incarcerating people with complex medical needs, ease burdens on staff and the prison population, and better reflect human dignity. The commission described having seen severe suffering and deaths in custody and said compassionate release is warranted in some cases. No votes or final actions were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• health</c><00:02:14.320><c> care</c> And it would support health care And it would support health care
• </c><00:02:56.920><c> health</c> this school-linked behavioral health this school-linked behavioral health
• </c> in terms of school linked behavioral in terms of school linked behavioral health<00:10:54.360><c
• </c><01:19:52.280><c> the</c><01:19:52.400><c> bill,</c> for supporting the bill, for supporting the
• , but importantly in gambling issues, support from both supporters and opponents of sports betting.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• When this bill came up, I had a big concern about the regional behavioral health boards.
• So thank you so much for the committee's feedback, and we look forward to your support in this.
• And with that, I would ask for your support. Further motions? Further debate on the motion?
• And with that, I would ask for your support for House Bill 717 as amended.
• And with that, we ask for your support. For debate on the motion, the gentleman from 3.

Summary: The House convened, approved the journal, and received messages from the Senate, including enrolled Senate bills sent for the Speaker’s signature and Senate Bill 1326 filed for first reading. Committee reports advanced several bills, including House Bill 850 to Health and Welfare and multiple business, health, and state affairs measures to second reading. House Resolution 26, reviewing certain administrative rules, was sent to Judiciary, Rules and Administration for printing. On the floor, the House passed Senate Bill 1314, a budget rescission measure cutting regional behavioral health director positions and regional behavioral health boards; one member opposed it, warning of a disconnect between local communities and the state council. The House also passed House Bills 716, 648, 846, 825, 815, 717 as amended, 668 as amended, 750 as amended, 847, 848, 849, and 681. These bills addressed highway and local road funding, chemotherapy parity coverage, license plate fee changes tied to the Idaho Heritage Trust, school transportation reimbursement for a charter school, vehicle registration penalties, child custody interference enforcement, programmable money protections, judicial and legislative branch maintenance budgets, career ladder movement for CTE and pupil services staff, and elimination of the statute of limitations for certain child sexual abuse crimes. The House also adopted House Joint Memorial 17, which urges the U.S. Supreme Court to reconsider Obergefell v. Hodges; the memorial drew sharp debate over marriage, federalism, and LGBTQ rights and passed 44-26. House Concurrent Resolution 33, creating an interim effort involving education, the attorney general, and the 988 line to address sex torsion and youth protection, also passed by recorded vote. Several bills were held on the third reading calendar, and the House recessed and later reconvened to continue floor action and committee scheduling announcements.

Transcript Highlights:

• Hopefully, I can still support it. I'm going to be supporting it today.
• Excuse me, in support. I haven't gotten to opposition yet—in support.
• We support this as the adaptation of classic antitrust law to the same old price-fixing behavior in new
• We were support-if-amended; we're moving our position to support.
• We were support-if-amended, removing our opposition and moving to support.

Summary: The committee heard several AI- and consumer-protection-related bills, with extensive testimony from authors, supporters, and industry opponents. SB 53 by Senator Wiener would create transparency requirements for large AI developers, including disclosure of safety and security protocols, reporting of critical safety incidents, whistleblower protections, and the CalCompute public cloud. Supporters said it is a narrower, transparency-based follow-up to last year’s vetoed AI safety bill, while opponents argued it still relies too much on company size, could expose trade secrets, and should be narrowed further. The committee approved SB 53 on a do-pass-as-amended vote to Appropriations, with the roll held open for absent members. SB 766 by Senator Allen would codify the FTC’s Cars Rule and create a three-day cooling-off period for certain used-car purchases, along with stronger disclosure rules on pricing, add-ons, and government affiliation claims. Supporters said it would save consumers money and time and help buyers avoid bad deals, while dealer and industry groups said amendments addressed many of their concerns. Several former opponents moved to neutral, and the committee passed SB 766 unanimously as amended to Appropriations. SB 7 by Senator McNerney would regulate automated decision-making systems in employment by requiring notice, human review for discipline and termination, and limits on predictive behavior analysis. Labor and consumer advocates supported the bill as a safeguard against biased or overly automated workplace decisions, while employer and industry groups raised concerns about scope, notice burdens, and the predictive-analysis ban. The committee passed SB 7 to Appropriations on a 4-2 vote, with the roll held open. SB 833, also by Senator McNerney, would require human oversight of AI used in critical infrastructure, along with training and system assessments; it drew limited opposition focused on scope, and the committee passed it as amended to Appropriations on a 5-0 vote, also holding the roll open. Later, the committee took up SB 11, which would address AI-generated voice, image, and video cloning and deepfakes by clarifying likeness protections, requiring consumer warnings, and addressing misuse and evidence tampering. Supporters framed it as a targeted response to nonconsensual deepfakes, while industry groups said recent amendments improved the bill but still had concerns about penalties and warning language. The committee also heard SB 720, the Safer Streets Act, which would let cities opt into a revised red-light camera system that shifts from driver to owner liability, removes facial identification, makes violations civil rather than criminal, and directs revenue toward transportation safety projects; the author presented the bill, but the transcript ends before any final action on SB 720.

Transcript Highlights:

• We will not accept disruptive behavior or behavior that incites or threatens violence.
• With me to testify in support— With me to testify in support of the bill today is Angela Pontes on behalf
• Craig Pulse, on behalf of Equality California, in support.
• Women deserve full support, not filtered information.
• Any members who would like to give support? Thank you. Any members who would like to give support?

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to first begin by stating that I do support... ...to House Bill 711.
• I want to first begin by stating that I do support the grow-your-own pathway.
• I will support the motion.
• I would support the amendment.
• I would support the amendment, and I will support the motion, but I would just like to express my concern

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The committee first approved minutes from March 9, 10, and 11, 2026. It then heard Senate Bill 1336 from Senator Anthon, which would update civics and American history education standards in light of the America 250 celebration. The sponsor said the bill needed more work to preserve local control and flexibility, and asked that it be sent to the 14th order for amendment. Testimony was generally supportive of stronger civics instruction, but several school representatives raised concerns about codifying standards in statute, the timing and staffing impacts of a Western civilization requirement, and the need for clearer language. The committee voted to send SB 1336 to the 14th order. The committee next considered Senate Bill 1412 from Senator Nichols, a school employee hiring and reporting bill combining earlier measures and incorporating feedback from education and legal agencies. The bill would require more uniform disclosure, employer verification, mandatory reporting to law enforcement, reporting to the Professional Standards Commission, and whistleblower protections, including for private school employees. Testimony from educators and advocates described cases where abuse reports were allegedly mishandled or retaliation occurred, and supporters said the bill would create consistent statewide safeguards. The committee passed SB 1412 with a due pass recommendation. House Bill 832, dealing with career technical education instructor recruitment, would replace a fixed 6,000-hour industry experience requirement with a more flexible standard set by the State Board of Career Technical Education by content area. It received little opposition and was sent to the floor with a due pass recommendation. The committee then took up House Bill 711, an alternative administrator certification bill creating grow-your-own and executive leadership pathways for principals and superintendents. Supporters said it would help districts, especially rural ones, recruit leaders and provide local flexibility; opponents argued it lowered standards and that the real problem was retention, not recruitment. After extensive testimony, the committee sent HB 711 to the floor with a due pass recommendation. Finally, the committee returned to House Bill 516, which would restrict classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity and expand parent-rights provisions. The sponsor proposed amendment language clarifying that incidental references in subjects like literature, history, biology, health sciences, and CTE would not be prohibited. Testimony split sharply: supporters said the bill would strengthen parental control and prevent inappropriate instruction, while opponents warned it could suppress discussion of LGBTQ history and related topics. The committee was still discussing the amendment language when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• We will not accept disruptive behavior or behavior that incites or threatens violence.
• Annual reporting to the CPUC plays a key role in supporting this goal.
• Third, the reporting supports compliance oversight.
• And so we support continued innovation and continued growth.
• And so we support continued innovation and continued growth.

Summary: The hearing focused on transportation network companies in California, with the chair framing it as an informational hearing on the history, regulation, safety, climate, accessibility, and data issues surrounding Uber, Lyft, and smaller or autonomous TNC services. The CPUC described its decade-long regulatory role, including safety rules, background checks, insurance requirements, reporting obligations, and two major legislative programs from 2018: the Clean Miles Standard and the Access for All program. Members asked about complaint trends, data collection and disclosure, program implementation, and how the CPUC uses annual reports for policymaking, compliance, and program oversight. Uber and Lyft said the statewide framework has supported growth while providing safety and access benefits, but both companies emphasized that insurance is a major cost driver and argued that California’s UM/UIM requirement is unusually high compared with other vehicles. They said the Clean Miles Standard is pushing electrification but faces headwinds from EV affordability and charging infrastructure, while Access for All has expanded wheelchair-accessible service but still needs continued support. They also discussed transit partnerships, wildfire response, and the potential role of autonomous vehicles, with both companies saying human drivers will remain important and that future regulation should account for new technology. The final panel, including the San Francisco County Transportation Authority and UC Berkeley researchers, presented evidence that TNCs have increased congestion and reduced transit ridership, especially in dense urban areas. They described prior research showing TNCs contributed to congestion growth in San Francisco and noted that this work helped spur local taxes on ride-hailing trips to fund safety and transit improvements. The panel also discussed the CPUC’s evolving data-disclosure decisions, arguing that public access to TNC trip data is important for understanding transportation impacts and informing local policy.

Transcript Highlights:

• We support the pilot as it prioritizes home-like placements and stabilization supports for youth with
• And we stand in support of HB 65.
• We support the pilot as it prioritizes home-like placements and stabilization supports for youth with
• urge your support.
• I strongly support this bill.

Summary: The Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee heard several measures focused on health and child welfare. House Bill 65 would codify and fund CYFD’s foster care plus short-term stabilization pilot for children in state custody with behavioral health needs, using clinical experts and specialized foster parent training to reduce office stays, hotel placements, and multiple placements. CYFD and child welfare advocates supported the bill, while senators raised concerns about cultural competency, ICWA/IFPA compliance, LGBTQ youth placement, and the need to spell out protections in statute. The bill passed 9-0 to the next committee. The committee then considered House Bill 13 and House Bill 14, joining the occupational therapy compact and the dentist/dental hygienist compact. Both bills drew support from health agencies, chambers of commerce, and professional groups as workforce tools to improve licensure portability and recruitment. Members, however, were uneasy about late-arriving amendments, venue provisions, commission authority, and how much control New Mexico would retain over compact rules and enforcement. After debate, HB 13 advanced 6-3 and HB 14 advanced 7-3, both to Judiciary. House Bill 256, which would require school emergency response plans to include cardiac emergencies during athletic activities, received support from the American Heart Association and nursing advocates, who cited survival benefits from rapid AED use and CPR. Questions centered on travel across state lines, private and religious schools, homeschool athletics, and enforcement, but the bill passed 10-0. House Bill 66, which updates the health care professional loan repayment program to increase physician awards and broaden recruitment incentives, was backed by provider groups and business organizations; dentists noted concerns about equity, but the bill passed 5-0.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are in strong support of HB 2599.
• and mental health and therapy support from them.
• So I urge your support for this bill.
• Please support the bill. Thank you.”
• Please support the bill. Thank you.”

Summary: The House Health Care & Wellness Committee held public hearings on HB 2564 and HB 2599, then moved into executive session on several bills. HB 2599, which would restrict the use of AI in therapy and psychotherapy services, drew strong support from the prime sponsor, mental health professional groups, a privacy advocate, and an AI ethics researcher, all of whom warned that chatbots can mislead users, encourage delusions or self-harm, and lack licensure, accountability, and confidentiality protections. Several witnesses from health systems and telehealth organizations supported the bill’s intent but asked for narrower definitions and amendments to avoid unintended impacts on clinician-supervised tools, screening questionnaires, scribes, and other legitimate uses of AI. No vote was taken on HB 2599 during the hearing. HB 2564, which would give the Health Benefit Exchange authority to adopt market-factor certification criteria for exchange plans, was presented as a way to address affordability, bare counties, and plan duplication. Supporters included the Exchange, consumer advocates, rural and tribal representatives, navigators, and some individual consumers, who said the bill could improve access, preserve bronze plan availability, and help stabilize the market in counties with too few carriers. Opponents from health plans, Regence, Premier, and insurance producer groups argued the bill would expand exchange authority without clear standards, could reduce competition and carrier participation, and might conflict with existing OIC filing and confidentiality processes; the OIC supported the bill but requested an amendment on rate disclosure timing. The committee then moved to executive session and later reported out HB 1784, HB 2242, HB 2384, and HB 2505 with due pass recommendations, while deferring action on HB 1809 and HB 2261. In executive session, the committee adopted a substitute for HB 1784 on certified medical assistants by an 18-0 vote, adopted one amendment and passed a substitute for HB 2242 on preventive services and immunization recommendations by an 11-7 vote, and passed a substitute for HB 2384 on actuarial reviews for continuing care retirement communities by a 16-2 vote. It also adopted an amendment and passed a substitute for HB 2505 on limited adult family home licensure exemptions for certain foster family situations by an 18-0 vote. The meeting adjourned after those actions.

Transcript Highlights:

• All right, waives in support.
• I just haven't found myself this week supporting very many bills, and I'm proud to support this.
• All right, Bonnie Bishop waives in support.
• Crime Survivors Speak waives in support.
• Barbara Devane, Florida NOW waives in support.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> healthy and thriving supporting healthy and thriving supporting hardworking<00:12:18.600><c> families
• </c> the Palestinians who support the Palestinians who support them<00:26:21.480><c> civilians</c><00
• I yield back. strong strong bipartisan support sends a strong strong bipartisan support sends a clear
• </c><01:06:15.440><c> or</c> construed as having quote supported or construed as having quote supported
• </c><05:19:48.120><c> was</c> America and that their behavior was America and that their behavior was

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Thursday, January 9, 2025, 1012, house, all