Transcript Highlights:

• The intent is that we aren't saying—I'm not saying that organizations can't invest.
• So my intent—and if I'm, you know, we're going to be working on this—so come join me, because the intent
• Sometimes we pass laws here, whether on a state or federal level, that are well-intentioned.
• I'll move House File 1885 before the committee with the intent to lay it over for possible inclusion
• Representative, I will move your bill, House File 1675, before the committee with the intent to lay it

Bills: HF2779, HF1645, HF1885, HF1289, HF1534, HF2707, HF1675, HF3046

Keywords: health care transparency, ownership disclosure, control reporting, health care consolidation, private equity, management services organization, MSO, provider organization, health insurer, pharmacy benefit manager, hospital system, affiliate reporting, financial disclosure, public reporting, market concentration, horizontal consolidation, vertical consolidation, health care ownership, corporate practice, health care regulation

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Cortez, 38th Legislative District. Awesome.
• I'm representing the Third Legislative District, which is in Spokane. Thank you.
• I'm Representative Ortiz-Self from the 21st Legislative District. Awesome.
• So I know that all of you know I've spoken to this committee during the legislative session that there
• So the intention is not to put them into detention.

Summary: The committee began with a work session on juvenile rehabilitation institution capacity, services, and staffing. DCYF Assistant Secretary Jennifer Redmond described overcrowding at Green Hill School and Echo Glen, driven by longer adult-style sentences extending past age 25, limited community placements, and small facility sizes. She said Green Hill remains above safe operating capacity, but staffing, injuries, large-scale aggression, and use-of-force incidents have improved over the past year. She also discussed Harbor Heights, a new 46-bed flex facility that had opened with 22 youth and would expand once a medical trailer arrives, as well as community transition services, vocational programming, behavior management reforms, and a request for more resources for mental health-focused facilities and staffing. Members asked about success metrics, developmental disability screening and supports, college access at Echo Glen, Mission Creek planning, and gender-responsive programming; Redmond said JR uses assessments, family involvement, and specialized living units, and that some requested funding had already been secured for returning a girls’ program at Echo Glen. The committee then heard from Team Child and the Youth Action Coalition. Greta Schultz said youth perspectives should guide system reforms and identified key concerns: overuse of sentence extensions, underuse of community transition services, continued criminal referrals from Green Hill to Lewis County, limited family contact, inadequate mental health access, and unequal education opportunities, especially for young women at Echo Glen. Justella Gonzalez, a former system-involved youth, said her time in county and state facilities was harmful, with staff mistreatment, poor education, limited therapy access, and humiliating restraint practices; she also said girls at Echo Glen lacked the same college opportunities as boys at Green Hill. Committee members asked for follow-up on county versus state experiences and on telehealth mental health services. The next presentation covered county-level services for youth involved or at risk of involvement with the justice system, led by juvenile court administrators Christine Simon-Smeyer and Judge Rachel Anderson. They outlined the juvenile court continuum from prevention and truancy work through diversion, detention alternatives, community supervision, and disposition alternatives, emphasizing evidence-based, trauma-informed, and restorative practices. Clark County was used as an example of a court that partners closely with schools and community providers, uses risk assessments and wraparound behavioral health probation, and offers detention alternatives without electronic home monitoring. They said most courts do not use detention for status offenses, but instead use court involvement to connect youth to services. They also described funding, noting that courts rely on a mix of state block grant and local dollars, and that recent cuts to early intervention funding reduced programming and staff hours. Members asked about detention for truancy, developmental disability identification, restorative justice practices, and the juvenile block grant. Finally, DCYF Assistant Secretary Nicole Rose and Katie Warren of the Washington State Association of Head Start and ECAP discussed child care and early learning impacts from recent policy and budget changes. Rose said Fair Start for Kids investments had increased child care access, provider participation, and kindergarten readiness, with more than 60,000 children in Working Connections care and rising ECAP enrollment and provider capacity. She said recent reductions will raise most family copays in 2026, delay eligibility expansions, eliminate some expanded eligibility categories, reduce ECAP slots by about 3,000, delay entitlement timelines, and cut provider supports such as rate increases for centers, complex-needs grants, trauma-informed and dual-language incentives, and infant/early childhood mental health consultation. Warren emphasized ECAP’s role in family stability, workforce participation, and reducing poverty, and noted its two-generation approach to supporting both children and parents.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think there's legislative intent here as far as how much do you want to put back into this.
• Lena Conklin with the Legislative Budget Board.
• I am KJ Curtis with the Legislative Budget Board.
• John Posey with the Legislative Budget Board.
• This was established by legislation in 2013.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our fundamental legislative power.
• general court's supreme legislative general court's supreme legislative authority<02:02:19.920><
• That's what this legislation does.
• That's what this legislation does.
• And I this this legislation does.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I don't need legislation for that.
• I don't need legislation for that.
• This legislation is modeled after the existing SunRail legislation, which was... a little bit.
• This legislation is modeled after the existing Sunrail legislation, which was ...corridor.
• This legislation is modeled after the existing SunRail legislation, which was passed in 2009 and authorized

Summary: The committee first took up SB 1272 on guardianship, which would limit a guardian’s ability to isolate an adult ward from family and require notice to family or other named persons about major events such as a ward’s death or medical relocation. Senator Jones said the bill was intended to curb abuse by bad actors while not affecting good-faith guardians. Fortuna Smuggler and Phyllis Smith spoke in support, describing the need for family notification and closure. The bill passed unanimously, 8-0, and was reported favorably. The committee then considered CS/SB 1284 on wrongful death for an unborn child. Senator Graal explained that the bill would expand Florida’s Wrongful Death Act to allow parents to recover economic and non-economic damages for the death of an unborn child. An amendment was adopted to define “unborn child” as a member of the species Homo sapiens carried in the womb and to state that the act does not authorize a wrongful death action against the mother or a health care provider acting within the applicable standard of care. The amendment drew questions about abortion, medical emergencies, and whether fathers could sue; the sponsor said the bill was not intended to create claims against mothers or lawful medical care. Public testimony was sharply divided, with supporters arguing it gives families parity and accountability, and opponents warning it could be used to target abortion care, increase malpractice pressure, and worsen physician shortages. The committee approved the bill as amended by a 6-4 vote. Finally, the committee heard a strike-all amendment to SB 1288 on parental rights. The amendment would strengthen parental consent requirements for minors’ medical care, with exceptions for emergencies, court orders, certain legal categories of minors, and other existing statutory exceptions. It also would require parental consent for treatment related to STD screening, give parents more control over school or health surveys, and address use of biofeedback devices. Supporters said the measure restores parents’ authority and protects children from inappropriate questioning or treatment, while opponents argued it could block needed care for minors in unsafe homes, reduce access to STI treatment and mental health services, and create unintended consequences. The amendment was adopted, and the committee continued hearing testimony on the bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're going to hear today largely on legislation related to student financial aid assistance.
• Seven additional states, including the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have legislation pending.
• But this was in response to feedback we've received over several legislative sessions now.
• I am MASSPIRG's, sorry, I am MASSPIRG's legislative director.
• This simple legislation This simple legislation clarifies the intentions of Massachusetts law to provide

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Higher Education heard testimony on a broad set of bills focused on making public higher education more affordable and accessible, protecting student information, and changing social work licensure rules. Chair Rogers and Senator Comerford opened by emphasizing the committee’s focus on financial aid, tuition and fee waivers, scholarships, admissions, and institutional changes, and they reminded witnesses about the three-minute testimony limit. No votes were taken during the hearing. A large portion of the hearing centered on the “Super Act” (H. 1423/S. 218), which would eliminate the master’s-level social work licensing exam and create grant support for social work internships. Supporters—including students, practitioners, educators, and advocates—argued that unpaid internships and the exam create financial barriers, worsen workforce shortages, and disproportionately affect Black, brown, older, ESL, and other marginalized candidates. Opponents from the Association of Social Work Boards argued the exam is a necessary public-protection standard, helps maintain uniform licensure, and is important to the social work licensure compact; they said workforce shortages should be addressed through pay, working conditions, and caseloads instead. Committee members asked detailed questions about compact participation, exam accommodations, and how other states such as Rhode Island and Connecticut have handled similar changes. The committee also heard extensive testimony in favor of debt-free public higher education bills (H. 1436/S. 929). Witnesses, including students, faculty, advocates, and Senator Eldridge, said Massachusetts should expand on free community college by covering tuition and mandatory fees at public colleges and universities, with additional aid for living costs for lower-income students. Supporters said student debt delays homeownership, family formation, and career entry, and that the state should use Fair Share revenue to invest in public higher education. Some committee members voiced support but also raised concerns about prioritizing K-12 funding and the cost of expanding free college further. Several witnesses also supported bills to extend tuition and fee waivers to young adults raised by grandparents or other kinship guardians outside the DCF system, arguing that these students face the same trauma and financial barriers as foster youth but do not receive the same benefits. Representative Donato, Joseph O’Leary, Shauna Manning, Sandra Vecchio, Karen Gardner, Judy Walter, Elaine Arsenault, and others described the financial strain on grandparents raising grandchildren and urged parity with DCF-related waivers. In addition, Senator Jake Oliveira testified for a bill to protect public higher education student directory information from data mining and unauthorized sharing, and Deirdre Cummings testified for an open educational resources bill to reduce textbook costs. The hearing concluded with continued testimony on kinship care and college access, with committee members thanking witnesses and indicating follow-up on some bill language issues.

Transcript Highlights:

• Certainly the intent here is noble.
• It is legislative intent that the amendments to subsection 12-31-8 be read to clearly remove the Arizona
• It is legislative intent that the amendments to subsection 12-31-8 be read to clearly remove the Arizona
• Arizona NORML does support this piece of legislation.
• Arizona NORML does support this piece of legislation.

Bills: SB1176, SB1186, SB1235, SB1286, SB1446, SB1458, SB1515, SB1616, SB1641, SB1668, SB1670, SB1678, SB1747, SB1787

Keywords: stormwater, water storage, replenishment credits, groundwater, aquifer, Arizona Revised Statutes, disclosure, state contracts, procurement records, donations, transparency, EMS, reciprocity, interstate compact, paramedics, emergency medical technicians, licensure, public safety, military personnel, veterinary telemedicine

Transcript Highlights:

• And we stand in strong support of this legislation.
• And I'm just strongly in support of this legislation. Thank you. Okay.
• They had legislative authority to do what we were asking them to do.
• And should not be blurred in legislative findings.
• Whether it's a request for a report from an individual legislator or multiple legislators or a memorial

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, Simon Suzuki, staff attorney with legislative counsel.
• About six of our programs stem from that piece of legislation.
• We'll then discuss legislative appropriations.
• I will touch on each of the items included in the legislative language.
• Do we have enough money through legislative appropriation?

Transcript Highlights:

• hopefully, they are working with this body to actually do what we want them to do in the original intent
• do<00:11:20.320> in<00:11:20.440> the<00:11:20.520> original<00:11:20.880> intent
• intent of the language<00:11:21.920> of<00:11:22.040> the<00:11:22.120> bills<00
• <00:14:49.000> that<00:14:49.120> we<00:14:49.240> passed um the legislation
• that we passed um the legislation that we passed several<00:14:50.280> uh<00:14:50.360> 3<

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Alan Anderson, Legislative District 18. Representative Gutierrez and Mathis. Thank you, Mr.
• State of Arizona legislative proclamation, celebrating the legacy and future of the USS Arizona.
• Dated the 17th day of March 2026, Representative Quang Nguyen, Legislative District No. 1.
• While I understand that the intent of the bill is good, it is just not.
• So what this does, I agree with the intent of the bill.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm not going to lie to you: I have no intention to come back and sit and watch your feist every day.
• to come back and sit and watch intention to come back and sit and watch your<00:05:10.919> Feist<
• As legislators negotiated a response in 2020 consistent with our state constitution, we knew a vital
• As legislators negotiated a response in 2020 consistent with our state constitution, we knew a vital
• as legislators negotiated a response<00:07:45.720> in<00:07:45.919> 2020<00:07:46.720>

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: House File 1257, which would eliminate the Public Safety Advisory Committee to the POST Board, was the final bill heard. The bill’s sponsor argued the committee was created in 2020 in response to post-Floyd criminal justice reforms but had since become obsolete because local agencies and communities had created their own oversight bodies and the main POST Board still includes citizen members and public participation. The sponsor said the advisory committee had run out of issues to address and was effectively meeting just to justify its existence. Former Representative Carlos Mariani testified in opposition, saying the committee was a bipartisan part of the 2020 Minnesota Police Accountability Act and was intended to preserve citizen involvement in policing policy and protect civil and human rights after George Floyd’s murder. He argued that eliminating it would weaken a state-level structure created to rebuild public trust and ensure consistent oversight, while still allowing local efforts to continue. Another member asked about compensation and noted the committee has a $20,000 ongoing appropriation through the POST Board; the sponsor clarified members are not individually compensated beyond per diem and travel. After discussion, the sponsor renewed the motion to recommend re-referral to the General Register. The committee voted, and the motion carried, sending House File 1257 to the General Register.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, do you think that is the intent of this, to make sure that we're doing that with our cabins when
• So we are bringing it back for a second bite at the Apple. 2008, the legislator said their statewide
• But I encourage you all to vote in favor of this really good piece of legislation.
• So I understand what your intention is about the bill and why you do want to provide affirmative defense
• So as I understand it, the intent is to demonstrate that if mining never occurred, that the radiation

Summary: The Natural Resources and Disaster Subcommittee met for its first meeting of session and heard four bills. HB 209, the State Parks Preservation Act, would limit development in state parks and require stronger public notice and participation for land management plan changes. Members discussed protections for cabins and existing lodging, and an amendment aligned the bill with the Senate and clarified conservation-based recreational uses. Support came from Audubon Florida, Nature Conservancy, and others, and the bill was reported favorably with committee substitute after a unanimous roll call. HB 143 would create a Florida Resilient Buildings Tax Credit for new construction and retrofits that meet LEED-based resiliency standards, with a new advisory committee under DBPR to help administer the program. An amendment moved the process under DBPR, added UCF and FIU to the advisory council, and made technical conforming changes. The bill drew supportive testimony from a Boca Raton city council member and was reported favorably with committee substitute, with one no vote. HB 295 would direct DEP to develop a comprehensive waste reduction and recycling plan based on its 2020 recycling report, including education, market development, and recommendations for statutory changes. Testimony emphasized that the plan would be voluntary and would not impose costs or mandates on homeowners or businesses. The bill passed without amendments and was reported favorably. HB 585 would let owners of former phosphate mining lands record notice and obtain a Department of Health radiation survey to support a narrow defense against strict liability claims; an amendment clarified the notice content and limited the definition to mined lands, not gyp stacks. The bill drew extensive questions about notice, radiation thresholds, disclosure to buyers, and liability scope, but supporters from Mosaic, the Florida Chamber, and a health physicist argued it would improve transparency and help redevelop lands. It was reported favorably with committee substitute, with one soft yes and one no vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• intentions to do business in our state. intentions to do business in our state.
• This is a proactive legislation.
• This is a proactive legislation.
• This is a proactive legislation.
• This is a proactive legislation.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up SB 297 and a new amendment, 2462, which combined the original Senate bill with the Carson amendment and added a proposed alternative regulatory system, RSA 420R. The chair and members discussed that the amendment was intended to give the Senate what it had asked for while also creating a dual system for public entity risk pools. Members asked whether the new structure would affect ownership or governance of health trusts, and the chair explained that 420R would be a separate regulatory statute while existing 420J-style arrangements could remain in place. The committee also noted that a paragraph had been accidentally deleted from the amendment and that another amendment would be prepared to correct it, with the subcommittee recessed while that was done. Public testimony focused on School Care, represented by Executive Director Lisa Ducette, who opposed the shift to Department of Insurance oversight under 420R. She argued that public entity risk pools are not insurance companies, that they are accountable to member entities and taxpayers, and that the proposed dual regulation would add unnecessary costs through examinations, higher reserves, and additional accounting requirements. She said the change could threaten tax-exempt status and create an uneven playing field, and she urged the committee to support SB 297 with the Carson amendment instead of moving to 420R. Committee members questioned whether the amendment would actually affect pools that stayed under the Secretary of State model, and one member cited support from the New Hampshire Municipal Association for the dual system. The discussion then shifted to amendment 245 on ambulance reimbursement and contracting timelines. Members reviewed a provision giving insurers 45 days and ambulance providers 60 days in the contracting process, and one member suggested making both periods 60 days. The chair and others said the current language was intentional and part of a broader compromise aimed at ending balance billing and forcing insurers to establish reimbursement rates. Members noted that the measure was unusual and that its effects would be reviewed over the next two years, with one member saying the bill would likely be difficult to roll back later. No final vote was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• lands, but these require legislative lands, but these require legislative authorization<00:04:34.480
• Wigginis, legislative director at Sierra Wigginis, legislative director at Sierra Club<00:50:51.400><
• > to<00:53:54.320> me This legislation is important to me This legislation is important
• The proposed legislation Yes, yep.
• what this proposed legislation does. what this proposed legislation does.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so my intention wasn't to have it apply to state agencies.
• signed our petition asking legislators signed our petition asking legislators to<00:54:47.680>
• But this legislation would silence that viewpoint. Thank you.
• But this legislation would silence that viewpoint. Thank you.
• But this legislation would silence that viewpoint.

Bills: HF4319, HF3295, HF3589, HF3587, HF3588, HF4295, HF3571, HF3895

Keywords: public utilities commission, Lake City, port authority, Red Wing, terms of appointment, local government, elections, open meeting law, transparency, public engagement, social media, government accountability, voter access, polling place, ballot, unexpected needs, election judge, public information, political parties, HF4295

Transcript Highlights:

• It is this inexpedient to legislate.
• could clarify if that was your intent could clarify if that was your intent there<02:53:33.760><
• passage or failure of this legislation. passage or failure of this legislation.
• profiting off a piece of legislation profiting off a piece of legislation then<03:32:43.680>
• . legislation. legislation.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill is sort of a legislative solution.
• real<00:43:47.520> estate The intent behind the real estate The intent behind the real estate
• The intent certainly is.
• It went straight to a legislator to write.
• <02:21:01.200> to It went straight to a legislator to It went straight to a legislator to

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee opened a hearing on Senate Bill 185, which would add timelines to Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) investigations. Senator Howard Pearl said the bill was prompted by concerns from the New Hampshire Association of Realtors about delays at the Real Estate Commission, and he explained that the proposal would require OPLC staff to make an initial determination within 30 days and, if misconduct is found, complete an investigation within 60 days. He said the goal is to improve transparency and give consumers and licensees more timely information, while preserving the board’s adjudicatory role. He also noted that the bill had been amended to delay implementation to give OPLC time to work through its backlog. Committee members questioned how the bill would work when an investigation is incomplete and whether the board could send a case back to OPLC without a firm deadline. Pearl said the board would have discretion to continue the investigation or make a final determination, and that the bill was intended to streamline OPLC’s process rather than impose a hard cap on complex cases. OPLC Executive Director Deanna Durus and General Counsel Nicholas Fry then testified that the agency has already changed its procedures under prior legislation, including a facial review of complaints and monthly board review of dismissal memos. They said the bill would substantially alter the current structure, could conflict with existing limitation periods and board duties, and would be difficult to implement without additional staff and funding. Durus said the agency’s backlog is large, that new complaints are being triaged and prioritized, and that some urgent matters are moved ahead based on risk and statutory deadlines. She said OPLC had completed a review of about 500 backlog cases that would now be dismissed under current screening standards, and that those cases are being turned into memos for board review. Board of Medicine public member Nina Gardner testified in favor of the bill but said the backlog is significant and that the agency needs more resources to make the process work effectively. She said the board is seeing progress, but not fast enough, and suggested the bill may not go far enough without additional staffing and funding. No vote was taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• That they would need to build their project given the timelines that are currently in the legislation
• I think the intention right now is both open meetings in April.
• And that question really was the reason we decided to hold this workshop, because my intention is...
• We see the intent of that very clearly in the filed bill.
• So we would have to statutorily pass legislation like this. megawatts off the grid, behind the meter.

Bills: SB 6, SB6, SB504, SB765, SB815, SB929

Keywords: hemp, consumable hemp, hemp-derived cannabinoids, CBD, cannabidiol, CBG, cannabigerol, delta-8, delta-9, intoxicating hemp, hemp gummies, hemp vape, edibles, cannabinoid regulation, hemp licensing, retailer registration, product registration, QR code labeling, child-resistant packaging, minor access

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:48:36.280> approval You don't need legislative approval on this anymore, right?
• Um, this is just a reference slide with the legislative language.
• reference slide with the legislative reference slide with the legislative language<01:15:28.679>
• <01:24:12.800> and that kind of outlines our intentions and that kind of outlines our intentions
• <01:45:37.920> and<01:45:38.080> policy legislative and policy legislative and policy priorities

Keywords: 1187, senate, all