Transcript Highlights:

• Currently, only 55% of that revenue is being directed toward health care.
• foster care and treatment foster care cannot provide.
• care.
• with treatment foster care.
• Family foster care or in-home settings with treatment foster care.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And look at health care.
• How this impacts every single one of our health care systems, decimating our ability to provide care
• that they need, whether that be abortion care or basic health care, that is the world that this majority
• Oh, what about the health care?
• Over children that are going to lose health care and food.

Summary: The Assembly met after a quorum call, recess, prayer, and the Pledge of Allegiance, then moved into a highly procedural and contentious floor session centered on redistricting measures. Members debated a point of order raised by Assembly Member DeMaio challenging the constitutionality of SB 280, ACA 8, and AB 604; the Speaker ruled the point not well taken, and the Assembly sustained that ruling on appeal. The body also took up consent-calendar and procedural motions, including suspending rules to adopt late amendments on ACA 8 and to bring the measure up without reference to file. Several motions to re-refer or suspend rules on related measures failed, while the motion to adopt the late amendments on ACA 8 carried. The main substantive item was ACA 8, the Assembly Constitutional Amendment related to redistricting, presented by Assembly Member Berman as a response to mid-decade redistricting efforts in other states, especially Texas. Supporters argued the measure was a temporary, voter-driven response to protect democracy, counter partisan gerrymandering, and address broader threats tied to the Trump administration, including immigration enforcement and health care cuts. Opponents argued ACA 8 would undermine California’s independent citizens redistricting commission, violate the state Constitution, and amount to partisan gerrymandering or a power grab. Members on both sides framed the issue as a defense of democracy, but disagreed sharply over whether the Legislature should act or leave redistricting to voters and the existing commission. No final vote on ACA 8 is shown in the transcript excerpt, but the Assembly did vote on several procedural matters: the appeal of the Speaker’s ruling was sustained 58-18; the motion to adopt late amendments on ACA 8 passed 58-19; a motion to re-refer ACA 8 and SB 280 to Judiciary failed 19-58; and a motion to take up A.J.R. 21 without reference to file failed 19-58. The session remained focused on ACA 8 and related redistricting questions, with extensive floor speeches from both supporters and opponents.

Transcript Highlights:

• c><00:21:10.960><c> correctional</c> like direct care um at the correctional like direct care um at the
• Services and the Minnesota Direct Care Services and the Minnesota Direct Care and<00:25:34.400><c> Treatment
• >> And uh we have uh direct care and treatment. Was that you?
• [clears throat] &gt;&gt; And uh we have uh direct care and &gt;&gt; And uh we have uh direct care and
• and</c><00:35:41.760><c> not</c> when direct care is involved and not when direct care is involved and

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• A technical direction for the rural...
• It just gives that flexibility to that child care to move some of it to the child care exchange.
• of the child care.
• children in foster care.
• They're offering foster care services from Columbia all the way to We're offering foster care services

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It moves in the exact opposite direction.
• One budget year, it was raided to pay for charity care of hospitals.
• It is an important step in the right direction.
• And Dennis Marco, Care Plus, in favor, no need to testify.
• trade association representing long-term care facilities.

Keywords: 1146, all

Transcript Highlights:

• that basically said they don't need to segregate this for abortion care.
• care, which cannot be. dollar per month for abortion care which cannot be covered by federal dollars
• , including abortion care.
• It's not perfect, but it's a baby step in the right direction. I'm going to vote yes.
• are child care deserts and/or don't have a whole lot of child care or ECEAP slots.

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• not be budgeting to take care of less and fewer and fewer and fewer of our people.
• I wasn't looking that direction.
• I wasn't looking that direction.
• Chairman, it's right in the name: Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System.
• The extraordinary care assessment tool. Thank you very much.

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The committee met to review the governor’s fiscal 2027 budget presentation, with the chair repeatedly asking members to keep questions brief and avoid speeches. The discussion focused first on the overall revenue and spending outlook, including concerns from members that the executive forecast was more optimistic than the JLBC baseline and that the budget appeared to front-load revenue and expenditure growth. The governor’s budget team said the forecast was close to JLBC’s, that the budget was structurally balanced, and that differences were roughly $100 million per year on ongoing revenue. Members asked for follow-up calculations in writing, including the total multi-year gap and the amount of revenue enhancements above base revenues. A major portion of the meeting centered on tax and fee proposals tied to data centers, water use, and sports betting. The governor’s team defended eliminating the existing data center tax incentive as the removal of a loophole rather than a new tax, arguing the incentive had already succeeded in attracting major investment. They also described a proposed Department of Water Resources fee-setting authority for data centers to support a new Colorado River Protection Fund, and said the proposal would apply to existing and future facilities without a grandfather clause. Members raised concerns about fairness, competitiveness, and whether the changes would require a supermajority vote. The team also discussed increased sports betting fees, saying the revenue forecast did not include dynamic behavioral effects. The committee then moved through major spending areas, including corrections, public safety, border security, cybersecurity, K-12 education, Medicaid, and developmental disabilities. The governor’s budget includes ongoing funding to prevent correctional officer pay cuts, money to comply with prison health care court orders, probation funding, body-worn cameras, law enforcement staffing, fentanyl task forces, and cyber readiness grants. Members questioned the lack of funding for a prison oversight committee and asked for corrections spending totals over the administration. On border security, the executive said it was seeking about $759.7 million in federal reimbursement for border-related costs and that the governor had met with federal officials, including Secretary Noem and Tom Homan, about the request. In education, the budget proposes renewing Prop. 123, adding K-12 base funding, and issuing $1.5 billion in school facilities bonds over three years; members debated whether the proposal was appropriate and whether Prop. 123 revenues could support the debt service. The meeting also covered AHCCCS cost growth and federal HR1 impacts, with the executive warning of major coverage losses and hospital funding reductions, and DDD funding, where the governor’s team said the budget fully funds services and includes about $120 million in supplemental needs. No votes were taken; the meeting was a presentation and question-and-answer session only.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um we're so care. They're amazing.
• And so I really a kid in foster care.
• PAR direct distribution.
• Para direct distribution.
• Paragraph direct distribution.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is not something I want if that's the direction we're going.
• What processes have already gone and been in place prior to moving in this direction?
• What processes have already gone and been in place prior to moving in this direction?
• They had medical care there.
• I think those are some pretty serious people that care quite a bit about their kids.

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The committee first considered Senate Bill 1439, which would extend the reporting deadline for a school construction and resource allocation study committee from July 1, 2026 to July 1, 2027. Rep. Handy said the change had no fiscal impact and simply gave the nine-member committee more time to finish its work. A motion to send the bill to the floor with a do-pass recommendation passed unanimously. The main item of discussion was Senate Concurrent Resolution 126 on community schools. Rep. Galaviz, Sen. Lent, and several testifiers, including United Way’s Katie Marshall and American Falls Superintendent Randy Jensen, described community schools as locally driven partnerships that connect schools with families and community organizations to address barriers to learning. They cited examples such as tutoring, after-school programs, food support, GED and job assistance, early learning, mentoring, and limited health-related access such as mobile clinics, all with parental consent and local control. Supporters argued the model strengthens families and helps students succeed, especially in rural communities. Several members raised concerns that the resolution and the community schools model could expand schools into health, social services, and other roles better left to families or outside agencies. Questions focused on whether the approach could become too centralized or resemble a broader “wraparound” model. Superintendent Debbie Critchfield said Idaho was the only state of 19 to have its federal community schools grant reinstated after review, and emphasized that Idaho’s approach is parent-empowering and community-based rather than the school replacing the family. After debate, a substitute motion to hold SCR 126 in committee failed, and the motion to send SCR 126 to the floor with a do-pass recommendation passed on a roll call vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of care.
• The direction California is taking.
• This is not something that can happen by direction.
• This is not something that can happen by direction.
• It will mean in some places that they care.

Summary: The joint Senate hearing focused on California wildfire resilience funding, the SB 254 report on natural catastrophe resilience, and how the state should better prioritize community hardening, recovery, and financing. Senators emphasized that catastrophic wildfires have driven major property losses, insurance cancellations, and affordability problems, and several members argued that prevention and home/community hardening should receive far more attention than they have to date. Members also raised concerns about CEQA and other permitting delays, the need for ongoing rather than one-time funding, and whether the state should rely more on the General Fund, utilities, or other sources such as polluter-pays approaches. The Legislative Analyst’s Office said the state has appropriated about $4.7 billion for wildfire resilience since 2018-19, with most funding going to forest health, fuels reduction, and related landscape work, while only about $65 million has been specifically targeted to community hardening. LAO also noted that future one-time funding is likely to decline, that GGRF revenues may be limited under the new cap-and-invest structure, and that maintenance costs for treated areas could be substantial over time. Senators pressed LAO on why wildfire resilience is not more often funded through the General Fund and on whether current spending matches the scale of the risk. Cal Fire’s State Fire Marshal described the state’s community wildfire preparedness strategy, centered on home hardening, defensible space, and neighborhood-scale mitigation, and said the SB 254 report aligns with Cal Fire’s direction. He said California has roughly 4 million homes in the wildland-urban interface, most built before modern wildfire-resistant standards, and highlighted recent streamlining that approved 383 fuels-reduction projects in under 30 days during an emergency proclamation. Cal OES described the AB 38 pilot and FEMA hazard mitigation work, saying federal approval delays have been a major barrier and that the state has hardened 155 properties so far through the pilot, with many more in process. The Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force said the state has coordinated more than $6 billion in state and federal investments, treated over 700,000 acres annually, and is shifting toward more regional, data-driven planning and block grants. Task force staff and Cal Fire both said they are moving beyond simple acreage metrics toward models that estimate avoided loss and community risk reduction, but acknowledged major data gaps on parcel-level home hardening and defensible space. No formal votes were taken; the hearing was informational, with members discussing possible future legislation and budget changes, including home inspection reforms and continued CEQA streamlining.

Transcript Highlights:

• care workers what was allocated in the old rate.
• Sure, you might have one baby sleeping, but group child care allows you to have seven children.
• I'm a big fan of child care in the home. Representative Redmond, asking for it to go to business?
• Sure, you might have one baby sleeping, but group child care allows you to have seven children.
• I'm a big fan of child care in the home.

Summary: The House Health and Welfare Committee approved the minutes from February 26 and March 2, then considered RS 33677, a revised version of a prior bill dealing with Medicaid/provider rate-setting and cost surveys. Representative John Vanderrata said the new draft clarified the intended spending reduction, identified the affected line items and state match, narrowed the services to be cost-surveyed, pushed the implementation date to December of the following year, and added language stating rates are subject to legislative appropriation. Department of Health and Welfare Medicaid administrator Sasha O’Connell explained the department would conduct annual cost surveys similar to current practice, audit a random 15% of responses, and likely continue using its existing auditor, Myers and Stauffer. The committee voted to introduce RS 33677 and send it to the second reading calendar. The committee then introduced RS 33626, which would create a legislative oversight committee for Idaho’s rural health transformation funds, awarded through a federal rural health program. Representative Jordan Redmond said the bill was intended to provide legislative oversight of the nearly $1 billion in funds over five years. Members asked about minority-party representation and rural membership on the committee, and Redmond said leadership had discussed those issues and he expected minority-party participation, while noting the House and Senate versions differed on committee size and rurality requirements. The motion to introduce RS 33626 passed. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 758, a cleanup bill for child care licensing rules. Representative Barbara Ehardt said the bill clarified that providers may use monitors rather than remain physically in the nap room so long as they are within reasonable hearing distance, and it also clarified how providers’ own school-age children are counted in group size. A member of the public, Elizabeth Nune, testified in opposition, arguing the changes would weaken supervision and professionalism in child care. Ehardt responded that without the clarifications, many home daycare providers could be forced out of business. The committee voted to send HB 758 to the floor with a due pass recommendation, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Tarleton State is uniquely positioned to respond to the primary care and rural health care shortages
• Our focus is on primary care practitioners.
• Access to health care, particularly access to a primary care physician, should not be aspirational.
• Claudia, in patient encounters, it's the need for perpetual care.
• Of not having health care is much greater.

Bills: HB42, HB 125, HB 1233, HB2853, HB3148, HB3326, HB3701, HB4066, HB4361, HB4762, HB4909, HB4912, HB42, HB125

Keywords: higher education, funding, financial allocation, state budget, Texas A&M University, University of Houston, education funding, medical education, osteopathic medicine, healthcare workforce, Tarleton State University, industry-recognized credentials, workforce development, career opportunities, feasibility study, student fees, university funding, student union, education, UT El Paso

Transcript Highlights:

• CS for SB 714 on non-opioid advanced directives by Senator Burton.
• On child care and early learning providers by Senator Burton.
• industry working together to update and streamline the regulation of child care.
• the use of technical assistance offered by DCF to child care providers.
• We're framing this program so all the direct investments go into students.

Summary: The committee took up a series of bills and amendments, reporting several measures favorably. Early in the meeting, CS for CS for SB 344 modernizing the Telecommunications Access System Act was approved without opposition. The committee then adopted amendments and passed CS for SB 714 on non-opioid advanced directives, CS for SB 738 updating child care and early learning provider regulation, CS for SB 756 revising health insurance coverage for individuals with developmental disabilities, and CS for CS for SB 1356 creating a Florida Institute for Pediatric Rare Diseases at FSU and a newborn genetic testing pilot. Later, the committee also approved CS for SB 1624 on higher education, CS for SB 1626 on child welfare, SB 178 on an agronomic study for emerging crops, SB 1162 on water access facilities and boat ramp parking, CS for CS for SB 958 creating a type 1 diabetes early detection program, CS for CS for SB 1402 expanding dropout retrieval eligibility, SB 774 requiring electronic transmission of certain court orders, SB 1516 creating an international aerospace innovation fund, and SB 994 revising driver education requirements. Most of these bills were reported favorably by roll call votes after brief explanations and, in several cases, amendments. Several measures drew substantive discussion and public testimony. CS for CS for SB 1624 prompted questions about replacing “minority” with “underrepresented,” the role of the Florida Department of Education’s Commission for Independent Education in overseeing private religious postsecondary institutions, and whether the changes could affect access for students at institutions such as FAMU and FIU. CS for CS for SB 1070 on ECGs for student athletes received extensive emotional testimony from parents and advocates describing children lost to sudden cardiac arrest and urging mandatory screenings; the sponsor said the bill would be cost-neutral for districts by encouraging partnerships with screening groups. SB 994 on driver education was discussed as a vehicle to add distracted driving instruction, and the sponsor agreed to work on that issue. SB 774 was presented as a response to a fatal delay in transmitting an ex parte order, with support from clerks and sheriffs. The most extended debate centered on SB 810 on stormwater management systems. The sponsor said the bill, as amended, would narrow annual inspections to infrastructure identified as vulnerable by MS4 entities, but the Florida League of Cities, Florida Association of Counties, and Florida Stormwater Association warned the proposal could impose major costs and duplicate existing MS4 permit requirements. Committee members questioned the fiscal impact, whether the bill would apply to FDOT or other entities, and whether annual inspections were feasible for large and small jurisdictions alike. Despite those concerns, the sponsor and several members emphasized flood prevention and public safety, and the bill remained under discussion with the sponsor indicating continued willingness to work with stakeholders.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> County cap or for the long-term care County cap or for the long-term care costs<00:27:44.840><c>
• direct care and services used toward the direct care and services for<01:09:36.040><c> that</c> for
• anything to their care?
• foster care like me.
• care of that woman.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: Division 3 Finance held a work session to move through five bills before noon, noting one member’s early departure and adjusting the order of bills accordingly. The first item, HB 54, would allow some alternative treatment centers in the medical cannabis system to operate for profit. Members discussed a fiscal note showing a one-time $133,000 cost, which was described as a Division 1 budget item to be handled through HB 2 rather than directly in Division 3. After discussion about keeping Division 1 informed and the distinction between retaining a bill versus funding it, the committee voted unanimously to retain HB 54 for further finance work and conversion into HB 2. The committee then took up HB 547, concerning reimbursement to counties for enhanced FMAP funds during the COVID period. The chair summarized the issue as federal enhanced Medicaid matching funds that were received by the state before authority existed to pass them through to counties, creating a disputed amount owed to counties. County representatives said the money should have gone to counties and clarified the relevant time period, while the department did not take a position. The chair proposed retaining the bill and moving it into HB 2, with discussion of a possible four-year repayment structure in equal annual installments. The committee agreed to retain the bill for continued work in the budget process. During the HB 547 discussion, members also clarified the fiscal and accounting details, including that the fiscal note had not been widely available and that some figures in the note should be treated as county revenue rather than county expenditure. Testimony explained that the enhanced FMAP increased from 50 percent to 56.2 percent, and that the state’s and counties’ shares of claims were affected by the timing of the federal change and the later state authorization. The committee emphasized that the issue was complex and budget-dependent, and that retaining the bill would allow further negotiation and incorporation into HB 2 rather than immediate final action.

Transcript Highlights:

• health care only.
• care in many, many cases.
• In the safety net setting, one of the ways we primarily care for patients is primary care.
• It could potentially free up time for clinicians to spend more time on direct patient care.
• care decisions.

Summary: The joint informational hearing of the Assembly Health and Privacy Committees focused on generative AI in health care, with opening remarks emphasizing both its potential to improve care and its risks around privacy, bias, liability, workforce impacts, and unequal access. Chair Bauer-Kahan and Chair Bonta framed the discussion around how California can encourage beneficial innovation while protecting patients, especially given the sensitivity of health data and the possibility that AI could worsen existing disparities if not carefully governed. The first panel featured representatives from Cedars-Sinai, Kaiser Permanente, Penguin AI, and Google, who described current uses of AI such as ambient clinical scribes, nursing documentation tools, imaging triage, maternal-fetal risk prediction, and administrative automation. Speakers said these tools can reduce clinician burden, improve patient experience, speed treatment, and in some cases improve outcomes, including a reported mortality benefit from a Kaiser predictive model and faster thrombectomy times at Cedars-Sinai. Members raised concerns about accuracy with accents and multilingual visits, whether predictive tools could reinforce bias or lead to more interventions such as C-sections, and how to ensure a human remains in the loop for important decisions. The second panel, including representatives from the California Health Care Foundation, UC Berkeley, and Stanford, focused on policy and governance challenges. Testimony highlighted examples of AI supporting homelessness outreach and community health work, but also warned that biased algorithms can encode inequities, especially when trained on data that reflect under-treatment of Black, rural, or low-income patients. Witnesses urged clearer standards for trustworthy AI, stronger monitoring and governance structures, better data access for accountability, and attention to the safety net’s limited resources. Several speakers argued that states should require health systems to have AI governance processes, clarify liability between developers and deployers, and regulate downstream uses of AI while preserving access to data for lifesaving research and oversight.

Transcript Highlights:

• We want to know that You are the one that is directing us, also the future of Arizona, O Lord God, and
• We know that You are, that You are, that You are, that You're And we're moving in the wrong direction
• Lead us in the right direction, Lord Father, that we may prosper, that we may be a people that belong
• And whereas, Arizona's living with ALS benefit from coordinated clinical care, assistive technology,
• She did the same way; she did her work the same way mothers take care of their home.

Summary: The Arizona House convened with prayer, the pledge, approval of the March 18, 2026 journal, and the introduction of Doctor of the Day Dr. Bradley Butler. Members also welcomed several guest groups, including carpenters, local officials from Show Low, Down Syndrome Day advocates, and Giffords Courage Fellows. The House read and adopted a proclamation designating March 19, 2026 as ALS Awareness Day, with Representative Selina Bliss introducing ALS Society members and several Arizonans living with ALS to speak to the issue. The chamber then considered House Resolution 2007 honoring the life of Sheila Jean Mattox, also known as Ginger Mattox. The resolution was unanimously adopted, and members observed a moment of silence. Representative Marcus and others offered remarks about Mattox’s community service and her impact in Phoenix’s FQ Story neighborhood, and family and friends were recognized in the gallery and on the floor. The House moved into Committee of the Whole to consider House Bill 2680. The bill received a Commerce Committee amendment and a floor amendment, both adopted without recorded opposition, and the committee then recommended the bill do pass as amended. The House adopted the Committee of the Whole report and referred HB 2680 as amended to engrossing. Later, HB 1004 was withdrawn from the Education Committee and additionally referred to Judiciary. The House also received various Senate messages and committee reports, announced upcoming meetings and caucus events, and adjourned until 1:30 p.m. on Monday, March 23, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• And perhaps you don't care, but he said this: "I don't care what the judges think. I don't care."
• And perhaps you don't care, but he said this: "I don't care what the judges think. I don't care."
• And perhaps you don't care, but he said this: "I don't care what the judges think. I don't care."
• I don't care.
• It is a vote to direct our resources towards healing our own people, towards health care that saves lives

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> systems in place uh to care for folks. systems in place uh to care for folks.
• </c><00:42:53.200><c> $9</c> We are uh in this bill uh directing $9 We are uh in this bill uh directing
• </c> ensure that those uh continuum of care ensure that those uh continuum of care uh<00:43:00.880><c
• </c><00:43:41.760><c> in</c> providing a little more direction in providing a little more direction in
• I Central Minnesota Continuum of Care.

Bills: HF3425, HF3424, HF1385

Keywords: supportive housing, grants, housing assistance, funding, Minnesota Statutes, eviction, rent, nonpayment of rent, landlord-tenant, residential tenant, notice to quit, unlawful detainer, housing, lease violation, late fees, rental assistance, legal aid, tenant rights, Minnesota Statutes 504B.321, pre-eviction notice

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:11:34.079><c> to</c> very supportive of that direction to very supportive of that direction to
• and how that segment of our society is not well cared for.
• and how that segment of our society is not well cared for.
• and how that segment of our society is not well cared for.
• and how that segment of our society is not well cared for.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> lower care quality. lower care quality.
• So, the case studies presented here illustrate the obstacles faced by direct care nursing home workers
• </c> worse conditions of care. worse conditions of care.
• </c> illustrate the obstacles faced by direct illustrate the obstacles faced by direct care<00:18:52.520
• </c> provide proper care to their patients. provide proper care to their patients.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all