Transcript Highlights:

• If you require assistance in registering or testifying, please see one of our committee clerks.
• the hospital that fateful night and then later, with the Dallas County Deputy Chief Prosecutor and Assistant
• The prosecutor, an assistant district attorney, even went so far as to say... ...say he would never offer
• I drove all the way up from Dallas, where our transitional house is for guys coming out of prison, and
• This is our transitional house that has housed over 300 men in the last 14 years.

Bills: HB153 , HB1410 , HB1461 , HB1760 , HB1762 , HB3261 , HB3773 , HB153

Committee: House Corrections

Transcript Highlights:

• themselves, recognizing the signs of human trafficking, and supporting efforts to prevent exploitation and assist
• genetic research; HB 2083, health coverage diabetes; HB 2084, special plate diabetes; HB 2085, gender transition
• assured water supply; SCR 2096, assured water supply well depth; HB 2097, forgivable financial assistance

Summary: The House convened with prayer by Deacon Ernesto Ramirez and the Pledge of Allegiance led by Representative Rachel Keshel. The journal from January 12 was approved, and Dr. Andrew Carroll was introduced as Doctor of the Day. Members also heard a proclamation recognizing January 13 as Arizona Human Trafficking Awareness Day, with remarks highlighting the work of the Arizona Human Trafficking Survivor Coalition and the importance of survivor-led prevention and awareness efforts. The chamber then handled routine business, including messages from the Senate and two motions related to adjournment. The House agreed to grant the Senate consent to adjourn after Thursday, January 15, 2026, until Tuesday, January 20, 2026, and also requested the Senate’s consent for the House to do the same. Members observed personal remarks for former Senator Barbara Left and Representative Kyle Powell. A long list of bills and resolutions was introduced and read for first and second reading, covering topics such as elections, water policy, education, public safety, health care, agriculture, taxation, and several memorials and resolutions. No substantive debate or votes on those measures occurred in this transcript. Committee announcements were made for several meetings, and the House adjourned until 1:15 p.m. on Wednesday, January 14, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• So it's just other assistance programs.
• </c><00:32:19.440><c> So</c> assistance and Minnesota care. So assistance and Minnesota care.
• /c> medical assistance provides healthcare medical assistance provides healthcare to<00:32:21.760><c>
• Chair and thank you for that assistant<01:05:23.760><c> commissioner.
• One of the other assistant commissioner.

Committee: House Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• occurring on Kawaii as Steve transition occurring on Kawaii as Steve case<00:39:39.839><c> has</c><00
• It took me five months to get to see her because we have so many of us aging and needing the assistance
• but I am troubled this assistance but I am troubled this morning<00:42:07.560><c> because</c><00:42:
• Taniguchi, Clerk; Ioana Naniʻole, Assistant Clerk; Bian Venito C.
• </c> taniguchi clerk ioa a Nani Ole assistant taniguchi clerk ioa a Nani Ole assistant clerk<01:12:50.400

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, and then as they make the transition again, those numbers will transition again.
• Um, and then as they make the transition again, those numbers will transition again.
• Um, and then as they make the transition again, those numbers will transition again.
• Um, and then as they make the transition again, those numbers will transition again.
• :15.360><c> numbers</c><00:29:15.600><c> will</c> transition again, those numbers will transition again

Summary: The committee of conference on HB 1 and HB 2 met to review revenue estimates and begin working through a side-by-side of the budget. New Hampshire Lottery Director Charlie McIntyre testified that lottery revenues are outperforming prior estimates, projecting a $27 million return to the state this year, up $7 million, and $200 million per year in the next biennium, up $6.5 million per year. He attributed the increase to stronger scratch ticket sales, no negative impact from Massachusetts sports betting, and overall better performance. Members questioned the assumptions behind the higher numbers, including the proposed $50 scratch tickets, the effect of inflation, and whether the projections were conservative enough. McIntyre said the $50 ticket could produce modest growth and that the estimates were intentionally cautious. The discussion also covered gaming revenue assumptions for historical horse racing and video lottery terminals, with McIntyre saying the state market is not yet saturated and that future conversions from HHR to VLTs should be net positive for the state. Members also discussed differences between House and Senate revenue numbers for gaming, including machine counts, daily revenue assumptions, and the tax split. The Senate version used higher machine counts and a 31.25% tax rate, with a quarter-point reserved for responsible gaming and the remainder split between charities and the state. The House had used a 30% rate with a different distribution. McIntyre and committee members also reviewed House Bill 2 items affecting Kino hours and local option games of chance, with McIntyre explaining that the bill would expand playing hours and shift towns to an opt-out model. No votes were taken during the lottery discussion, but the committee indicated it would continue refining the revenue model and circulate the spreadsheet used for the estimates. The committee then moved through the HB 1 detail change sheet, accepting several Senate positions and holding others for later. It agreed to a zero-cost realignment in the Department of Safety moving the international fuel tax agreement function from administration to motor vehicles, and it restored eight passenger motor vehicle inspection positions for later discussion in HB 2. The Department of Corrections reorganization was set aside for a later, more detailed discussion. The committee also accepted no-change positions for the Department of Employment Security and agreed to a technical footnote fix in the Judicial Council section. It discussed a new HB 2 item moving contract counsel for involuntary mental health admissions from the judicial branch to the Judicial Council, funded at $100,000 per year, and noted that the public defender funding issue would be revisited when the overall budget picture is clearer. The meeting ended with the committee continuing its review of the remaining pages of the detail change sheet.

Transcript Highlights:

• All those homes have been transitioned to assisted living licenses as of now.
• The individuals living in these homes rely on 24/7 structured care. assistance with ADLs.
• And for many of assistance with ADLs.
• </c><00:09:54.880><c> living</c> homes, private pay, assisted living homes, private pay, assisted living
• /c><00:10:01.040><c> assisted</c> have been transitioned to assisted have been transitioned to assisted

Summary: The Budget Review Subcommittee on Health and Family Services heard a presentation on Kentucky personal care homes from representatives of the Kentucky Association of Healthcare Facilities, Management Systems of Kentucky, and Elder Care Partners. Witnesses described personal care homes as a lower-cost, 24/7 residential option for adults with serious mental illness who do not qualify for nursing home care but need structured support, medication assistance, meals, housekeeping, transportation, and supervision. They said the homes are regulated by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, are not Medicaid-funded, and rely on a state supplementation rate of about $50.70 per day, which they argued no longer covers operating costs because of rising food, labor, insurance, and maintenance expenses. The presenters said the sector has shrunk significantly over time, citing a drop from 64 homes in 2002 to 34 today among the homes serving this population, with 30 closures over 23 years and two more closures since August. They argued that the closures have contributed to homelessness, hospital overcrowding, and longer stays in psychiatric hospitals, and they gave examples of residents who had spent many months in hospitals before stabilizing in a personal care home. One provider also described spending more than $800,000 on capital improvements after acquiring Kentucky facilities and said reimbursement is too low to sustain safe operations. They asked for an incremental reimbursement increase over two years and said they have also proposed an assisted-living model for people with mental illness. Members asked about staffing, reimbursement, and the number of people still needing placement. The presenters said there is no requirement for licensed or certified staff in these facilities, though some homes use medication technicians and occasional LPNs. They estimated they are currently serving about 2,000 residents and said they receive roughly 30 referrals for every one person admitted, with many referrals involving people whose needs exceed the personal care home level. Senator Meredith and Representative Fleming said any funding request would need documentation of savings and corresponding budget offsets, while Representative Duval expressed support and asked about possible staffing and program improvements. The witnesses also compared Kentucky’s flat-rate reimbursement to a more individualized reimbursement model in Minnesota, saying a needs-based system would better match staffing and reduce hospitalizations.

Transcript Highlights:

• people who are facing eviction or housing instability are able to get into homeless shelters or transitional
• You know, we don't believe in doing transitioning behind parents' backs, especially since many students
• This is a total ban on all kinds of gender transition care for minors.
• It's about making it harder for doctors to get malpractice insurance to cover the transition-related
• The state has already banned gender transition surgery for minors. But this bill goes farther.

Summary: The Senate met in multiple Committee of the Whole sessions and later took third-reading votes on several measures, with the day dominated by election administration bills, immigration-related bills, public safety measures, and a series of bills affecting transgender youth and health care. The chamber also heard ceremonial remarks recognizing Lutheran Day at the Capitol, introduced the Doctor of the Day, and handled routine appointments, messages, and committee reports. Several bills were retained on the calendar, including SB 1431 and SCR 1005. Among the major policy items, senators debated and advanced SB 1049 on spousal maintenance, SB 1053 on concealed weapons permits, SB 1415 on insurance adjuster license eligibility, SB 1015 on health care actions related to gender transition procedures and provider liability, SB 1095 on gender transition care for minors, and SCR 1006 on school-related sex and privacy requirements. Members opposing the transgender-related bills argued they were discriminatory, harmful to youth, and an intrusion into family and medical decisions; supporters said the measures protected children, parental rights, privacy, and medical judgment. The chamber also considered election and campaign finance measures including SB 1003, SB 1006, SB 1037, SB 1040, SB 1057, SB 1168, SB 1237, SCR 1002, SCR 1010, SCR 1013, and SCR 1014, with debate centering on transparency, ballot procedures, voter registration, and disclosure thresholds. Additional bills addressed immigration enforcement and foreign influence concerns, including SB 1055, SB 1058, SB 1093, SB 1152, SB 1289, and SB 1308. Supporters framed these as public safety, election integrity, or enforcement measures, while opponents warned they would chill reporting to police, harm asylum seekers and immigrants, or expand punitive government power. The Senate adopted Committee of the Whole reports and assigned bills accordingly throughout the day, and several measures later received third-reading passage votes, including SB 1049, SB 1053, SB 1415, SB 1015, and SB 1095, with recorded roll-call outcomes and transmission of passed bills to the House.

Transcript Highlights:

• On construction disruption assistance by your own Senator Smith Center.
• in covering operational costs as a result loans to assist in covering operational costs as a result
• We go to tab number 11 Cs for Senate Bill 1714, on local housing assistance plans by Senator Burton.
• We hear we hear from them trying to pay for their lot fees in Osceola County rental assistance.
• And that is and so lower the impact on giving assistance to.

Transcript Highlights:

• it requires that the developmental disabilities administration develop and implement a plan to transition
• This bill establishes a statewide low-income energy assistance program to assist utilities without low-income
• energy assistance programs currently to be able to provide this help to individuals and families who
• Without low-income energy assistance programs currently to be able to provide this help to individuals
• House Bill 2211 ensures that medically tailored meals provided to individuals in the medical assistance

Summary: The Rules Committee considered a long series of House bills and substitute House bills, moving nearly all of them from the white sheet to the floor calendar. Topics included health care transaction notice requirements (HB 2548), waste-to-energy compliance and utility rates (HB 2416), language access for state programs (HB 2475), repeal and transition away from the Community Protection Program for developmental disabilities services (HB 1390), nursing regulation and ARNP standards (HB 2339), lump-sum payment increases for small monthly payments (HB 2124), roadway fatality risk data collection by the Traffic Safety Commission (HB 2192), statewide low-income energy assistance (HB 1903), local government tax resources and flexibility (HB 2442), permanent property tax exemption for multipurpose senior citizen centers (HB 2133), retirement benefit bargaining for Department of Corrections employees (HB 1069), collective bargaining rights for non-academic employees at Western Washington University (HB 1570), medically tailored meals in Medicaid (HB 2211), aviation funding for wildland fire response (HB 2104), port worker retirement and wage/benefit authority (HB 2179), overdose data sharing (HB 2168), real estate transaction exemptions for public-benefit acquisitions by public entities, tribes, and conservation groups (HB 2624), security measures for legislators and other elected officials (HB 2333), voter registration challenge procedures (HB 1916), limits on restraint and isolation in schools (HB 1795), jail search policies for transgender and intersex individuals (HB 1604), Attorney General investigators for wage theft and fraud (HB 2156), Transportation Improvement Board updates (HB 1823), tax treatment for land transferred to government entities (HB 2140), expanded shared leave uses for hate crime and immigration enforcement-related situations (HB 2411), collective bargaining protections if federal enforcement changes (HB 2471), labor standards for clean energy/urban area property tax exemption projects (HB 1210), employer notice and enforcement rights during I-9/immigration audits (HB 2105), tax increment financing dispute resolution for special purpose and junior taxing districts (HB 2451), AI-generated content disclosure and enforcement (HB 1170), tourism marketing assessment authority (HB 2325), defective license plate replacement fees (HB 2114), the Blue Envelope Program for neurodiverse drivers during traffic stops (HB 2323), and pre-clearance provisions under the Washington State Voting Rights Act (HB 1710). Most motions passed on voice votes with little or no opposition; one notable dissent came on HB 2105, where Senator King raised concerns about the bill’s private right of action. The committee also noted Senator Conway’s likely final Rules Committee meeting and thanked him for his service before adjourning with no further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• are asking, however, for a clarifying amendment to this legislation to help us in that process of transition
• spent after appropriation and may only be used for higher education programs, health care, cash assistance
• expertise in the intersection of federal and state funding in higher education, health care, cash assistance
• The Office of Financial Management has detailed how HR1 will ransack Medicaid, cash assistance programs
• representing over 8,500 academic employees at the University of Washington, including teaching assistants

Bills: HB2334 , HB2140 , HB2326 , HB2100

Committee: House Finance

Keywords: cash transactions, pennies, currency adjustment, economic impact, consumer protection, tax exemption, governmental transfer, agriculture, land use, property tax, emergency medical services, levies, healthcare funding, local government, taxation, excise tax, large companies, payroll expenses, minimum wage, Well Washington fund

Transcript Highlights:

• Also, I have Ashley Rink, my executive assistant, here, who has put most of this information together
• for 11, which is salary assistance for those career tech instructors that are non-tech center.
• Nick Hathaway, the new Vice Chancellor for Budget and Finance, along with the Assistant Vice Chancellor
• They're here to assist as needed. We also have key... Staff watching today's hearing on livestream.
• The National Guard Education Assistance Program offers life-changing opportunities for...

Transcript Highlights:

• And lastly, we will assist a young adult that is transitioning from out of home care within the past
• And lastly, we will assist a young adult that is transitioning from out of home care within the past
• that is assist um a young adult that is transitioning<00:37:04.160><c> from</c><00:37:04.560><c> out<
• </c><00:41:00.319><c> additional</c><00:41:00.800><c> assistance</c> feel need assist additional assistance
• </c> assistance with the medical piece of it. assistance with the medical piece of it.

Summary: The committee’s first interim meeting opened with roll call and a reminder that Kentucky had 8,641 children in out-of-home care with active placements as of June 1, 2025. The first presentation was from the Center for Courageous Kids (CCK), a donor-funded camp in Scottsville that serves children with lifelong illnesses and disabilities at no charge. Representatives described the camp’s history, its year-round family retreats and summer sessions, its medical and accessibility supports, and its impact on campers’ confidence and independence. They said CCK has served more than 43,000 campers from 46 states and 13 countries, including 22,000 from Kentucky, and noted plans to reach all 120 Kentucky counties. CCK also outlined future capital needs: a new art barn and a medical lodge. The organization said the art barn project would cost $2.5 million, with a legislative request of $1.5 million, and the medical lodge would cost $2.875 million, with a legislative request of $1.75 million. Members responded very positively, with several praising the camp’s work and one member asking about operational challenges. CCK said its main challenges are awareness, staff and volunteer recruitment, and expanding medical and housing capacity; it also said it is accredited by the American Camp Association and receives health and safety visits and audits. The committee then moved to a presentation on adult protective services and state guardianship programs from Jessica Wayne and Cliff Bryant of DCBS. They explained the legal framework for guardianship, the difference between full and limited guardianship/conservatorship, emergency appointments, and the state’s role as a last-resort guardian when no family member or private entity is available. They reported 4,464 individuals under state guardianship as of June 1, with most cases involving dementia, developmental disability, intellectual disability, nursing home or long-term care placement, severe mental illness, or brain injury. They also said the division has 89 field workers across 14 regional offices, with an average caseload of 52 and a goal of reducing that into the mid-40s through additional hiring.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, the Senate has hired additional staff with extensive security experience who are trained to assist
• c><00:04:36.800><c> are</c><00:04:36.960><c> trained</c><00:04:37.199><c> to</c><00:04:37.440><c> assist
• </c><00:04:37.680><c> in</c> experience who are trained to assist in experience who are trained to assist
• So, as is typical with AAST meetings, we will now transition to a closed session for committee members

Summary: The Advisory Committee on Capitol Area Security met on January 13, 2026, adopted the January 7 minutes, and reviewed the committee’s work on the annual AAST/ACAS security report. The chair emphasized that the committee’s purpose is advisory only, but that its recommendations could guide the governor and legislature on improving security at the Minnesota Capitol complex. She also highlighted prior testimony about security practices in other states and said the committee’s report would likely recommend stronger screening and weapon-ban policies as part of a broader effort to prevent violence in public government spaces. Department of Public Safety advisers reported that they are still reviewing the report in detail and determining internal next steps. They also said quarterly security meetings with building tenants have been held and that internal and external tabletop exercises with law enforcement and other security partners are scheduled for the end of January. The Senate Sergeant-at-Arms gave a brief update on operational security changes, including hiring additional staff with security experience, weekly security meetings with DFL and GOP chiefs of staff, installation of two security kiosks, rollout of encrypted keycard ID badges, updated emergency procedure QR-code stickers, and implementation of the State Patrol’s threat matrix and reporting protocol. The Senate also said it is continuing joint training with the House and LCC. The committee then moved into a closed session under Minnesota Statute 13D.05, subdivision 3D, to discuss sensitive security details and non-public findings from the capital security assessment. The chair stated that the closed session would cover confidential vulnerabilities and operational information, and that the committee would later reconvene in public to vote on whether certain provisions from the public executive summary should be included as recommendations in the final report.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's going to assist law enforcement that's coming in, trying to figure out who they're still looking
• .<00:38:33.359><c> that's</c><00:38:33.680><c> going</c><00:38:33.839><c> to</c><00:38:34.000><c> assist
• </c><00:38:34.320><c> law</c> are. that's going to assist law are. that's going to assist law enforcement
• So she will be making her transition down to the BCA to start building that team so we can specifically
• </c><00:43:01.839><c> down</c> she will be making her transition down she will be making her transition

Transcript Highlights:

• Executive Assistant Director Tim Dunham, 22 years of service; E.A.D.
• EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, TIM DUNHAM, 22 YEARS OF SERVICE, E.A.D.
• These include the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and federal housing benefits.
• THESE INCLUDE THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND FEDERAL HOUSING BENEFITS.
• VULNERABLE ALASKANS FROM RECEIVING ASSISTANCE.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Legislative Assistant will note the role. Is there a quorum? There is a quorum.
• </c><00:03:50.319><c> or</c> dramatically providing Assistance or dramatically providing Assistance or
• :52.319><c> to</c><00:03:52.519><c> a</c> assistance and providing access to a assistance and providing
• So a resident, for most of the waivers, must have Medical Assistance.
• </c> motans enrolled in medical assistance motans enrolled in medical assistance under<01:08:26.400><

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• sure that the climate emergency is addressed for our youth, for the next generation, so we can transition
• c><00:40:07.640><c> can</c> for the Next Generation so we can for the Next Generation so we can transition
• than 1,000 temporary housing units for survivors on Maui, in addition to providing direct rental assistance
• We're finishing the 1,044 units that have been approved through emergency services and the transitional
• </c> Emergency Services of the transitional Emergency Services of the transitional housing<00:44:43.559

Transcript Highlights:

• Ian Kim, who is a family physician at Davis Community Clinic, an assistant clinical professor at UC Davis
• And so I'm in that transition period.
• Tools that assist in summarizing complex medical information.
• The use of AI by California hospitals and health systems assists licensed professionals; it does not
• like an appropriate task for the panel to assist with.

Committee: House Health

Transcript Highlights:

• responsible for hiring that person must give the board certification at the end of the two-year transitional
• When I transitioned from the hospital to the school setting, it was an eye-opening experience.
• Thank you, Madam Assistant Chair, I appreciate it.
• Free diapers, free baby formula, free personal hygiene products for mothers, furniture, rent assistance
• Free diapers, free baby formula, free personal hygiene products, furniture, rent assistance.

Bills: SB237

Committees: Senate Health & Welfare , Senate Health and Welfare

Keywords: child welfare, Department of Children and Family Services, mandatory reporting, abuse prevention, investigative teams, child ombudsman, forensic interviews, confidentiality

Summary: The Senate Committee on Health and Welfare met on May 20, 2026, with eight members present and approved the prior meeting minutes. The committee first advanced SB 1224, which requires DCFS to look into cases where a child under 17 is involved in a pregnancy, with added oversight for children under 12; it was reported favorably. The committee also favorably reported SB 1100, described as repealing an outdated statute. White Coat Day remarks welcomed physicians to the Capitol and thanked them for their service, including efforts to improve Medicaid reimbursement. Several health-related bills were then heard and advanced. HB 1220, a continuation of prior work to codify provisions related to the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners and physician licensure, was reported favorably. HB 1231 clarified that Medicaid coverage for continuous glucose monitoring applies to insulin-dependent patients, including those with gestational diabetes, and was also reported favorably. HB 198, which sets reimbursement rates for ambulatory surgery centers for certain Medicaid procedures such as colonoscopies, eye, ENT, and gastroenterology services, passed favorably. HB 1160, creating a streamlined restricted license pathway for qualified international medical graduates, prompted a lengthy exchange about delayed rulemaking and whether the board had added requirements beyond statute; despite concerns, it was reported favorably. The committee also advanced several resolutions and oversight measures. HCR 67, prompted by a personal family experience with a special-needs child’s acute care needs, creates a task force to study gaps in acute care for special-needs adults and children; it was amended and reported favorably. HCR 27, calling for a statewide evaluation of autism services by LDH and the Department of Education, was reported favorably. HB 223, which recreates DCFS, was amended to shorten the sunset date and require law enforcement reporting through a secure web platform, then reported favorably. HCR 28, creating a task force on school nurse orientation and training for new graduates, was reported favorably after testimony from school nurses about the lack of standardized orientation and the risks of placing inexperienced nurses alone in schools. The committee also took up HB 469, which would allow pharmacy license renewal applicants to designate a portion of fees to eligible schools including Xavier University’s College of Pharmacy; after opposition from Senator Cloud and a roll call, the bill was deferred. HB 1182, a cleanup bill changing the occupational therapy certifying entity and adjusting fees, and HB 1076, eliminating one of two sunset provisions for the Louisiana Behavior Analyst Board, were both reported favorably. HB 1216, a major rewrite of clinical laboratory personnel rules, was deferred after concerns that it would restrict existing phlebotomy and lab functions in ways that could conflict with recent law. Finally, HB 457 and HB 616, both by Representative Knox and focused on homelessness, drew extensive testimony: HB 457 established minimum standards for shelters and similar facilities and was reported favorably as amended, while HB 616 would allow audits of homelessness-related funding and databases; after debate over privacy, federal funding oversight, and accountability, the committee adopted an amendment changing enforcement language from "may" to "shall" and continued hearing testimony from opponents and supporters.

Transcript Highlights:

• Today I’ll be focusing on the impacts of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as
• and outdated eligibility information divert limited resources away from those who truly need this assistance
• The other is a transit permit. I'm learning a lot about the death process.
• Members, I don't know about you all, but I've had so many people call my office asking for assistance
• suspect, I don't know if DCS is in the audience, if they would be able to speak to what they do to assist

Committee: House House Health & Human Services Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee heard a JLBC presentation on H.R. 1’s SNAP impacts, including expanded work requirements, higher state administrative costs, and a potential state share of benefits if Arizona’s payment error rate remains above 6%. JLBC estimated the administrative cost increase at about $33 million in FY 2027 and $44 million in FY 2028, and said a 2024 error rate of 8.8% could expose the state to about $139 million in benefit costs starting in FY 2028. The chair also opened the meeting by asking members and speakers to keep remarks shorter to improve efficiency. The committee then considered several SNAP-related bills. HB 2797, which requires DES to more frequently verify eligibility through data matching, post fraud/noncompliance data, and address out-of-state EBT purchases, passed 7-5. HB 2442, requiring certain able-bodied SNAP adults with school-age children to participate in employment and training unless exempt, also passed 7-5. HB 2448, which limits DES’s ability to seek work-requirement waivers or discretionary exemptions without legislative authorization, passed 7-5. HB 2206, which sets a goal of reducing the SNAP payment error rate to 3% by 2030 and adds reporting and corrective-action requirements, passed 7-5 after debate over staffing, technology, and whether the target was realistic. The committee also advanced HB 2180, appropriating $2.5 million to the University of Arizona for AZ REACH, a hospital transfer coordination program serving rural facilities. Supporters said it improves patient transfers and reduces burdens on rural hospitals; some health system representatives were neutral but asked for operational improvements. HB 2180 passed 11-1. HB 2184, as amended, passed 7-4-1; it would extend fetal death certificate filing and require patients to be informed of the option to transfer fetal remains to a funeral home, with supporters describing it as a matter of parental dignity and closure. HB 2188, as amended, creating a Language Acquisition Grant Program for deaf or hard-of-hearing infants and toddlers, passed unanimously after testimony about balancing spoken-language and ASL options. The committee then began hearing HB 2194, a bill requiring insurers to provide a contact for detailed explanations after claim or prior-authorization denials, but the transcript ends before action on that bill.