Transcript Highlights:

• Today I’m presenting AB 308, which directs the Department of Developmental Services to conduct a statewide
• So when we talk about child care, we are not just talking about service.
• By pairing direct services with whole-family support—food, transportation, child care—we've cut chronic
• AB 2765 directs the California Department of Social Services to seek a waiver for the able-bodied adult
• AB 2765 directs the California Department of Social Services to use every tool available to protect foster

Committee: Senate Human Services

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's different than the services that I described that are the continuing care.
• The services that DMH is reducing are specialty services separate from those services.
• services to Actually having a state plan that says: Where do we need different health care services
• , especially maternal health care services.
• , pediatric health care, and oncology care.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee heard budget testimony from Department of Mental Health Commissioner Brooke Doyle, who said DMH serves about 29,000 people and is facing rising demand, higher operating costs, and uncertainty about federal funding. She explained that the FY26 budget prioritizes fully funding the state-operated inpatient system, which is at 100% occupancy and often serves people transferred from Bridgewater State Hospital, while making reductions in other areas to balance the budget. Those reductions include a 50% cut to case managers, a pause on closing the Pocasset unit pending a working group on Cape access, and changes to youth and contracted services such as right-sizing IRTP and CIRT, reducing Youth PACT from seven teams to three, scaling back flex and jail diversion grants as ARPA funds wind down, and preserving the behavioral health helpline and community-based crisis services. Members from Western Massachusetts and the Cape raised concerns about access, staffing, and the impact of cuts, and Doyle said the department would continue operating IRTP services, improve the referral process, and work with stakeholders on the Pocasset review and other access issues. The committee also discussed school-based mental health, 988, loan forgiveness for workforce recruitment, and the role of co-response programs for law enforcement. Secretary Robin Lipson then testified for the Executive Office of Aging and Independence, describing a proposed FY26 budget increase of about 21% to support councils on aging, home care, elder abuse investigations, caregiver support, care transitions, and nutrition programs. She said the agency is managing rising demand, especially from the growing 80-plus population, and noted uncertainty around federal Older Americans Act funding after the federal disbursement agency was disbanded. To control costs, the office will manage intake and caseload growth in a fully state-funded home care program, but current clients will not lose services. Lipson also highlighted a new $1 million line item for local mini-grants to support age-friendly initiatives. In questions, members focused on elder scams, and Lipson said scams are increasing and the agency is working with banks, district attorneys, and public awareness campaigns. The Health Policy Commission’s Executive Director David Seltz presented the agency’s FY26 request and said the biggest challenge is health care affordability, with family premiums near $29,000 annually and many residents delaying care because of cost. He emphasized that recent legislation significantly expands HPC’s role through a new Office of Pharmaceutical Policy and Analysis, which will examine the drug supply chain and pricing, and a new Office of Health Resource Planning, which will support statewide planning around closures and access gaps. The new law also creates task forces on maternal health access and primary care, and adds transparency and oversight for private equity in health care. Members asked about pharmaceutical costs, GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, 340B, and maternal health closures; Seltz said the data show rapid growth in GLP-1 spending and that the new offices will help the state better understand cost drivers and access problems. The Center for Health Information and Analysis then began its testimony, describing its role as the state’s data hub for health care spending, utilization, quality, and affordability analysis.

Transcript Highlights:

• How many people are actually engaged in delivering the services now versus if we had a system of care
• Our family was referred to Child Protective Services. Foster care was presented as the next step.
• House Bill 2314 concerns dental care services at residential habilitation centers.
• They also refer out to other providers for certain services, including specialty care.
• direction of best practices and developmental disability services.

Summary: The committee began with a work session on recommendations from the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Work Group. Tisha Kirshbaum of the Health Care Authority described the Washington Thriving Strategic Plan, a prenatal-to-25 system-of-care framework meant to reduce fragmentation, improve coordination across multiple state agencies, and expand early, community-based behavioral health supports. Members asked about duplication among agencies, simplification of the system, and upstream services such as community health workers, school-based supports, and crisis access. The committee then heard House Bill 2429, which would direct the governor and state agencies to align with the Washington Thriving plan, create an executive coordination officer and leadership council, extend the work group, and require broader alignment by state, tribal, local, and nonprofit entities. The bill received strong support from the governor’s office, the Health Care Authority, parents, youth, providers, and advocates, while a few testifiers raised concerns about government overreach, cost, or the need to address non-psychiatric causes of distress. No vote was taken during the hearing. The committee then heard House Bill 2364, which renames and expands the Legislative Executive Work First Poverty Reduction Oversight Task Force into the Legislative Executive Economic Justice and Well-Being Task Force and updates the related advisory council to align with the state’s 10-year plan to dismantle poverty. Staff and the prime sponsor said the bill reflects the evolution of the poverty-reduction effort and adds agencies such as the Department of Revenue, Health Care Authority, and Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board. Testimony from DSHS and advocates was uniformly supportive, emphasizing bipartisan collaboration and the need to update statute to match current work. Next, the committee heard House Bill 2171 on supporting foster youth. The bill would create an endangered foster youth alert system, require county rapid-response protocols, establish a foster youth empowerment account, create an oversight board through the Ombuds office, and expand training for foster parents and child welfare workers. The prime sponsor and several advocates described the bill as a response to lived experience and a way to improve accountability and long-term support. DCYF said it supports the intent but raised legal and cost concerns, and some youth advocates warned that public alerts could increase risk or trauma for youth who run away from unsafe placements. The hearing then moved to House Bill 2314, which would create a pilot allowing certain community-based clients with developmental disabilities to receive dental care at residential habilitation centers. Supporters said the bill would use existing dental capacity to address severe access gaps and long waits in the community, while opponents from disability advocacy groups argued it would pull people back into institutional settings instead of building community-based dental capacity. Testimony on the bill was mixed, and no final committee action was taken in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• Of course, yes, and on the services because I know, you know that the pilot is offering services. >>
• I don't want city to be subject to telephone care, you know, barriers to care.
• services service providers as well.
• Current need to support the it that individual during the transition to after care services through these
• Post Baker Act direct contact services.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 1110 authorizes Medicaid to cover specified orthotics and prosthetics services and directs
• the Agency for Health Care Administration to seek federal approval and update managed care and fee-for-service
• This bill will direct ACA to seek federal waivers to provide home and community-based services for these
• services.
• It is indeed the right direction to get the services, the essential services, to keep people and help

Committee: Senate Appropriations

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The governor's plan also includes $19 million for direct care and treatment in St.
• c> in</c> million for direct care and treatment in million for direct care and treatment in St.<00:15
• </c> operations, direct care, and treatment. operations, direct care, and treatment.
• </c><00:30:52.799><c> care</c><00:30:52.960><c> and</c><00:30:53.120><c> treatment,</c> affairs, direct
• care and treatment, affairs, direct care and treatment, statemies<00:30:54.399><c> and</c><00:30:54.559

Committee: House Capital Investment

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• CRNAs are an essential part of health care. service solely based on provider classification.
• The structure of the care services is dependent on the facility.
• So some facilities might implement a medically directed care model where you have physicians and then
• All the facilities, our services we provide to acute care facilities, Our services we provide to acute
• patient care. fees, pharmacy boards can put on entities that aren't providing direct patient care.

Committee: House House Health & Human Services Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several health-related bills. HB 2726 would require coverage for diagnosis and treatment of mild obstructive sleep apnea, including a tongue-muscle stimulation device. The sponsor and medical witnesses said the device is a less burdensome alternative to CPAP and could improve adherence and reduce long-term complications, while Access said it already covers medically necessary sleep apnea treatment but was neutral and concerned the bill could narrow review and limit cost-effectiveness analysis. The committee adopted the Bliss amendment and then gave HB 2726 a due-pass recommendation by an 8-4 vote. HB 2435, as amended, would create a provisional licensing pathway for internationally trained physicians who meet specified ECFMG-related criteria, with supervision, fees set by the Medical Board, and automatic conversion to a full license after four years if conditions are met. Supporters argued Arizona faces severe physician shortages, especially in rural and tribal areas, and that the bill would bring in experienced doctors while preserving oversight. Opponents, including the Arizona Medical Board, said current law already allows case-by-case licensure review and warned the bill could weaken safeguards and bypass existing scrutiny. After adopting the amendment, the committee approved HB 2435 on a due-pass recommendation. HB 2958 would require Access coverage for comprehensive dental care for pregnant women age 21 and older, with a $500,000 general fund appropriation for a pilot program. The sponsor and public health witnesses said dental care during pregnancy is linked to better maternal and infant outcomes and could reduce emergency room use and complications. The committee adopted the bill and sent it out with an 11-1 due-pass recommendation. HB 2176, which sets timelines and standards for health care institution complaint investigations and dispute resolution, also received broad support from hospitals and was approved unanimously on a 12-0 due-pass recommendation. The committee then heard HB 2447, which would bar insurers from reimbursing certified registered nurse anesthetists at a lower rate than anesthesiologists for the same service. Opponents argued the bill would interfere with private contracting, ignore differences in training and liability, and likely raise costs for the state and taxpayers; supporters said anesthesia demand has outpaced reimbursement and that parity is needed to protect access, especially in rural areas. The transcript ends during testimony on HB 2447, before any vote is taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• Happy to see you all back in Human Services Subcommittee.
• Administration administers services and payments for Medicaid.
• subsidies for child care services.
• With the continued support of transitional child care services, Ricardo's success...
• With the continued support of transitional child care services, Ricardo successfully transitioned out

Summary: The Human Services Subcommittee met to receive implementation briefings on House Bill 1267, which was enacted to address benefit cliffs and help public assistance recipients move toward economic self-sufficiency. The Department of Children and Families reviewed SNAP, Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA), and Medicaid-related eligibility and work requirements, including who must participate in work activities, the role of Florida Commerce and CareerSource Florida, and the new standardized intake and exit surveys required by the law. Members also discussed the TCA program’s household-based structure, the 48-month adult limit, and how work requirements differ for SNAP and TCA participants. Florida Commerce and CareerSource Florida then reported on implementation of HB 1267, including the CLIFF financial forecasting tool, case management changes, and survey data collected from welfare transition participants. They said intake surveys showed common barriers such as child care, transportation, and flexible work schedules, while exit surveys showed many participants were employed or had gained credentials, though response rates were low because the surveys are voluntary. A local workforce board, CareerSource Tampa Bay, described using CLIFF in case management and shared a success story about a participant who completed training, earned certifications, and moved into employment. The committee also heard a separate DCF briefing on the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act and its impact on SNAP. DCF said the law expands able-bodied adult without dependents requirements, changes non-citizen eligibility, ends future SNAP-Ed funding, increases state administrative cost sharing, and may require states to share in benefit costs if payment error rates remain above federal thresholds. Members focused heavily on Florida’s SNAP payment error rate, which DCF said was 15.13% for federal fiscal year 2024 and 12.60% for 2023, with the state currently on a corrective action plan. DCF described steps to reduce errors, including more verification of rent and utility expenses, improved income matching, staff training, and system modernization. No votes were taken, and the meeting adjourned after questions concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• are in managed care today, including mental health and substance addiction services.
• And the third bucket is crisis response services. The first bucket is inpatient care.
• Our highest levels of care are LOC 3 and 4, which are intensive services.
• And services provided through the Texas Children’s Mental Health Care Consortium.
• care service.

Committee: Senate Health & Human Services

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• in a setting that best fits their needs, and state-contracted direct service programs for child care
• services. ...moving toward payment rates that are informed by the actual cost to deliver care services
• That is capturing the direct service cost, so it's not inclusive of admin cost to contractors.
• The child care services must be... we must be...
• The child care services must be, our, we must be Well, the child care services must be, we must be included

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , Gary, for all of your service.
• We do care about fraud.
• of what they need to take care of.
• I just feel that this process, They're going to take care of what they need to take care of.
• Thank you for your service. Thank you for your service. Thank you, Mr. President.

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a series of member introductions recognizing interns, pages, volunteers, and the retirement of Pastor Gary Austin from the sergeant’s office. Leadership also announced that budget talks with the House were continuing and that senators would not need to plan on being in next week, suggesting progress toward a budget framework. After routine floor business, the chamber took up a major third-reading measure on citizen initiatives and several education bills, followed later by returning messages from the House on health and school-safety measures. The most extensive debate centered on the citizen initiative bill, which sponsors said was intended to protect the constitutional amendment process from fraud and abuse based on election-crime investigations and a large state report on petition fraud. Supporters argued the bill would add reasonable guardrails, prevent misuse of public funds, and preserve integrity while still allowing grassroots participation. Opponents from both parties argued it would make citizen-led amendments much harder by adding costs, deadlines, criminal penalties, and administrative burdens that would chill participation and favor wealthy or corporate interests. After lengthy debate, the Senate voted 28-10 to pass the bill. The chamber then passed several education measures with little or no opposition, including bills tied to Bright Futures, dual enrollment, Florida ABLE, teacher preparation, and other education policy updates, all by 38-0. Later, the Senate concurred in House amendments on a stem cell therapy bill, an EKG requirement for student athletes, and a cardiac emergency bill, each passing 37-0. The House also sent back a school safety bill with amendments affecting child care facility partnerships with law enforcement, temporary door locks during active assailant incidents, supervision windows, and funding for panic alarm systems; the transcript ends as that bill is being explained.

Transcript Highlights:

• But this bill creates and codifies a new prohibition on directing care or in any way inducing a worker
• to see... ...on directing care or in any way inducing a worker to see a provider, and then it includes
• I'm going to read a direct quote from this.
• There's a whole review process and a whole standard of care and a whole quality of care.
• There's a whole review process and a whole standard of care and a whole quality of care that physicians

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 2091, a collective bargaining measure that would require state agencies and other employers covered by the Personnel System Reform Act to provide unions with employee contact and job information similar to what other public employers already must share. The sponsor and union witnesses said the bill would close a gap left by prior legislation and improve communication with represented employees; no one testified in opposition during the hearing portion shown. Action on the bill was deferred. The committee then moved to House Bill 2264, which would allow workers who voluntarily participate in an employer-initiated layoff or reduction-in-force plan to qualify for unemployment insurance if the separation results from that plan. The sponsor and a member described it as a narrow fix to clarify eligibility and reduce disputes. After brief supportive testimony, the committee voted 9-0 to report the bill out with a due pass recommendation. A lengthy hearing followed on House Bill 2218, a workers’ compensation bill that would expand provider choice, require notice to injured workers of their right to choose a provider, limit employer steering, speed utilization review, allow more flexibility from treatment guidelines, and change rules for reopening or continuing treatment on certain claims. Supporters, including injured workers, unions, attorneys, firefighters, and a psychiatrist, argued the current system delays care and over-relies on rigid guidelines; opponents from business groups and the Department of Labor and Industries said the bill would weaken evidence-based standards, raise costs, and create uncertainty. No final action was taken in the portion shown. The committee also heard House Bill 2105, as a proposed substitute, which would require employers to notify workers after an ICE Form I-9 inspection notice or results, limit voluntary access to certain records without a subpoena or warrant, require workplace postings, and create enforcement by the Attorney General and private lawsuits. Supporters said the bill would provide due process, transparency, and protection for immigrant workers; opponents, especially small business and agricultural groups, warned of conflicts with federal law, burdensome notice requirements, and severe penalties. The hearing continued with additional testimony, and no vote was taken in the excerpt provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> can still get the services they need. can still get the services they need.
• </c> service without a replacement ready. service without a replacement ready.
• . service. service.
• </c> fragmenting care. fragmenting care.
• services versus just scattered services services versus just um<00:21:14.000><c> you</c><00:21:14.080

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• , as well as community care licensing and the Department of Child Support Services.
• other services outside of RAP, like family finding, for example, or respite care or specialty mental
• I think that's partly a question for my colleagues at the Department of Health Care Services.
• Adult and senior care, children's residential, child care, and home care services programs have each
• For home care services, that's a specific target of mine.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It combines the child care services division from the Department of Education and the Early Learning
• It combines the child care services division from the Department of Education and the Early Learning
• It combines the child care services division from the Department of Education and the Early Learning
• It combines the child care services division from the Department of Education and the Early Learning
• , while services are provided via local school districts and have local control over services.

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our home care services are not the same as I think other people think about home care.
• Our direct care team delivers 6.11 hours of care per resident day, including 0.93 RN hours, 0.8 LPN hours
• Holyoke continues to exceed national long-term care benchmarks and direct care staffing.
• Over 2,500 individuals currently self-direct their services with $70 million in approved service budgets
• The direct support certificate program partners with community colleges to equip direct care staff with

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Summary: The Joint Committee on Ways and Means held an FY27 Health and Human Services budget hearing in Mattapan, hosted at the Boston Public Library branch. Chairs Lydia Edwards and Russell Holmes, along with Rep. Brandy Fluker-Reid, emphasized the significance of holding the first Ways and Means hearing ever in Mattapan and highlighted the importance of bringing state budget deliberations into a majority-Black neighborhood. Several legislators introduced themselves as they joined, and the committee noted that public testimony was not part of the format, though agencies were invited to discuss priorities and challenges. MassAbility opened the agency testimony. Leadership described the agency’s mission to support people with disabilities through employment, training, home and community life services, and disability determination. They said Governor Healey’s FY27 budget funds MassAbility at $93.3 million, a 1% reduction from FY26, and explained that the agency is responding to federal funding uncertainty and shifting program needs by redesigning services internally. Members questioned a proposed $1.3 million reduction to the Home Care Program, staffing changes, and whether services could be maintained with fewer resources. MassAbility said it was reviewing data on who uses the program, that it does not provide nursing or personal care, and that it is working with a transition plan and a working group. The agency also discussed federal uncertainty around vocational rehabilitation funding and said it had received delayed federal awards but remained in contact with national associations and federal partners. The testimony included a personal story from a participant, Joshua Corcoran, to illustrate the impact of services. The Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing testified next, requesting $11.27 million, about a 6% increase over FY26. The commission said it serves about 1.4 million residents and focuses on communication access in health care, courts, public safety, and other public systems. It highlighted interpreter and captioner workforce shortages, a mentorship program to expand the provider pool, and a modernized referral platform funded through capital contingency money. Members asked about interpreter availability, after-hours emergency coverage, ASL access for students and families, and training for police and emergency responders. The commission said staffing remains limited, especially for after-hours services, but that it is expanding training, school outreach, and partnerships with DCF and other agencies. The Massachusetts Commission for the Blind then presented its FY27 budget request of $30.8 million. The commissioner said the agency serves nearly 9,000 legally blind residents, provides training and peer support, and placed 190 consumers in competitive integrated employment this year. It also described services for older adults, vocational rehabilitation, and the Turning 22 program for young adults with additional disabilities. Members raised concerns about a 7% cut from the prior year and asked how the agency could maintain services; the commissioner said the agency had no waiting list, had trimmed overhead, and could manage the budget through internal efficiencies and strong partnerships. The Office for Refugees and Immigrants closed the session, describing expanded legal and support services for immigrants and refugees, including Know Your Rights trainings, the Massachusetts Access to Counsel Initiative, citizenship and financial literacy programs, and the Family Welcome Center in Mattapan. Members asked about federal funding losses and the structure of the new legal services program; ORI said FY26 funding is stable but FY27 federal cuts remain uncertain, and that the legal program uses a centralized intake system with priority for emergencies and first-come, first-served access.

Transcript Highlights:

• Care Coordination is Krista Luna.
• Veteran service organizations.
• We are requesting a million dollars to continue providing direct services through our small local public
• That, but we're adding additional elements to the services like audit prep services.
• Services request remains flat.

Transcript Highlights:

• So Section 5 directs the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to maximize federal financial participation.
• It opens the door to eligibility cuts, benefit reductions, or new barriers to care, all without direct
• It opens the door to eligibility cuts, benefits, reductions, or new barriers to care, all without direct
• He's worked in rural health care. He's worked in Indian health care.
• care.

Summary: The committee primarily considered House Bill 440, which would move Medicaid expansion language from the Oklahoma Constitution into state statute and send the change to voters in a special election. Supporters argued this would give the Legislature flexibility to manage the program, especially if federal Medicaid matching rates were reduced, and said it would help protect the state budget and allow future adjustments such as eligibility or work requirements. Opponents said the measure would weaken voter-approved constitutional protections, create uncertainty for more than 300,000 enrollees, rural hospitals, and providers, and could allow future cuts without another vote of the people. Members also discussed the possible fiscal impact of a federal match change from 90-10 to 60-40, with supporters saying the state could face roughly a billion-dollar annual cost and would need flexibility to avoid cuts to other services. Questions also focused on the choice of an August special election rather than the November general election, and on whether tribal governments and other stakeholders had been consulted. After debate, the committee tabled an amendment and passed House Bill 440 on a 14-2 vote. The committee then took up House Joint Resolution 1087, which would change the Avalon reimbursement program so the Legislature could manage funding levels and methodologies rather than being bound to the current structure. It passed 14-2. The committee also considered House Joint Resolution 1067, a trigger measure that would only appear on the November ballot if House Bill 440 failed in August; it would relieve the state of any obligation to fund Medicaid expansion for working adults if the federal match dropped below 90%. After adopting a committee substitute and tabling an amendment, the resolution also passed 14-2. The committee then laid over H.J.R. 1089 and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:45:47.040><c> care</c><00:45:47.200><c> and</c> article 7, that is the direct care and article
• You don't have any idea who needs services. The state statutes mandate person-centered care.
• And that is what's funding the care. have any idea who needs services.
• ,</c><02:40:38.880><c> the</c> direct care and treatment places, the direct care and treatment places
• </c><02:40:53.760><c> that's</c> direct care and treatment because that's direct care and treatment because

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We've been talking about the direct care workforce shortage for the last few years, and that what will
• crisis and so Direct Care uh uh shortage crisis and so the<00:07:27.759><c> input</c><00:07:28.120><
• </c><00:08:29.680><c> care</c> last few years regarding the direct care last few years regarding the
• direct care Workforce<00:08:30.639><c> shortage</c><00:08:31.639><c> and</c><00:08:31.840><c> that</c
• I just care about human services<00:08:48.399><c> stuff</c><00:08:48.600><c> so</c><00:08:48.800><c>

Committee: Senate State and Local Government

Keywords: 1187, senate, all