Transcript Highlights:

• <00:15:05.440> I'm<00:15:05.519> the<00:15:05.680> internal<00:15:06.000>
• I'm the internal auditor Teresa Narrow.
• I'm the internal auditor for<00:15:06.560> Health<00:15:06.800> and<00:15:06.959> Human
• questions of developing rules questions of developing rules implementing<00:49:33.119> the
• utilizing what rules they're following and<00:51:32.000> and<00:51:32.400> that<00:51:

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The Legislative Performance Audit and Oversight Committee approved the November 7 minutes with three abstentions and then received status updates on several ongoing audits. Audit staff reported that the special education oversight audit was in report-writing, with 34 of 71 observations completed and a draft expected in the second quarter and a final report in the summer. The education freedom accounts audit had 22 of 41 observations completed, with a draft also expected in the second quarter and a final report in the summer. The Doorway program audit had 5 of 13 observations completed, with a draft expected by the end of February and a final report by April or May. The committee then discussed possible new oversight topics, prompted by concerns about fraud in other states and the need to ensure New Hampshire programs are not vulnerable. Members suggested hearing from DHS officials, contract administrators, and possibly the Department of Justice Medicaid fraud unit about SNAP and other programs, as well as reviewing staffing levels in HHS contract management. There was also discussion of whether to revisit the Bureau of Elderly and Adult Services, though members noted that prior work on that area had been suspended because of litigation. A representative from HHS, Teresa Narrow, briefed the committee on the Bureau of Developmental Services. She said the state had been in compliance with CMS since July 1, 2023 after resolving issues tied to a system redesign and billing changes, and that provider-side billing problems had also been fixed. She also described three existing bodies involved in developmental disability housing oversight, including the Council on Housing Stability, the ABLE Housing Task Force, and a legislative study committee created by HB 168 in 2024. Committee members asked for her notes to be shared. The committee spent substantial time debating whether to pursue a new special education audit at the school-district level. Members discussed the need to examine why some districts have much higher special education rates and costs than others, and whether a statistically selected sample of schools could be used. Audit staff said no new audits could begin until about May or June and that only a couple of auditors would then be available. Members also noted that a legislative study committee is already working on special education and may issue a report later this year, and the committee appeared to leave the school-level audit idea as a potential future item rather than taking immediate action.

Transcript Highlights:

• We've performed an internal evaluation of the enforcement processes through the Department of Consumer
• We also, one of the best ways, is to make sure that our licensing processing timeframes internally are
• So we're very familiar with what was on the books before, which were rules and regulations that really
• They have even ignored a judge's ruling multiple times, and they are not even following their own rules
• They were making up rules as they went along.

Summary: The joint sunset oversight hearing reviewed five regulatory entities: the Board of Behavioral Sciences, the Board of Psychology, the Physician Assistant Board, the Podiatric Medical Board, and the California Massage Therapy Council. Across the hearing, each entity described recent accomplishments, licensing and enforcement workload, workforce shortages, and efforts to modernize processes. Common themes included streamlining licensure, expanding access to care, addressing telehealth or emerging technology, and balancing consumer protection with workforce needs. For the Board of Behavioral Sciences, members discussed workforce shortages in mental health, supervision barriers, telehealth confidentiality, AI in therapy, interstate compacts, school-based services, and military spouse licensure. The board said it has expanded outreach, improved licensing processes, and created temporary practice authority tracking, while also expressing concern about counseling compacts and emphasizing California-specific law, ethics, and cultural competency. Public commenters supported the board’s work and the possible move to a national MFT exam, while also urging more resources. The Board of Psychology highlighted fee adjustments, streamlined licensure pathways, enforcement process improvements, new CPD requirements, and proposed changes including a psychotherapist-client privilege exception for investigations. Committee members and public witnesses focused heavily on that privilege proposal, with some members opposing it as too broad and privacy-invasive, while the board argued it is needed to obtain records in bias and sexual misconduct cases. The board also discussed workforce shortages, processing improvements, and the use of inactive status for psychological associates. The Physician Assistant Board reported growth in the PA workforce and education programs, SB 697 implementation, and financial pressure from rising enforcement costs. The main policy debate centered on physician-to-PA ratios and practice agreements, with board representatives and many public commenters arguing that current restrictions limit access to care, especially in rural areas, while the California Medical Association defended the need for explicit ratios and agreements. The board also discussed AI, fee increases, and tracking temporary practice authority. The Podiatric Medical Board described licensing and renewal reforms, residency expansion, enforcement support, and budget constraints, while public testimony raised concerns about a proposed fee increase and about reimbursement parity and practice recognition for podiatrists. Finally, the California Massage Therapy Council defended the certification model over licensure, citing lower costs, local government collaboration, anti-trafficking work, and its role in vetting applications and disciplining bad actors; no formal votes or final actions were taken during this portion of the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• They do so through the rule others.
• <01:05:17.359> They set rules, people make choices. They set rules, people make choices.
• hour and change all the rules. hour and change all the rules.
• After reading the rules and talking through the rules, the point of order is well taken. >> Mr.
• the rules and talking through the rules. the rules and talking through the rules.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I was a lowly intern.
• Let's utilize this new 72-hour rule.
• Let's utilize this new 72-hour rule in hospitals that allow hospitals to give people three days' worth
• I am a primary care doctor, trained in internal medicine.
• There's actually an International Street Medicine Institute.

Summary: The task force meeting opened with new leadership announcements, including Senator Nick Schroer thanking outgoing chair Representative John Black and naming Representative Del Taylor as vice chair. After some initial technical difficulties with audio and Zoom, members reviewed the task force’s statutory charge under Missouri law: to hold hearings on substance use, explore solutions, draft or modify legislation, and produce recommendations for prevention and treatment. The chair said the goal for this year is to develop concrete legislative ideas for the next session, with hearings focused first on field experts and later on alternative therapies and the Department of Mental Health. Dr. Rachel Winograd gave the first major presentation, describing Missouri’s overdose crisis as increasingly complex and driven primarily by fentanyl, now compounded by xylazine and metatomidine. She said overdose deaths have declined for a third straight year, with preliminary 2025 data around 1,200 deaths, and attributed the decline to a smaller fentanyl supply, wider naloxone availability, and fewer young people entering use. Her main recommendations were to focus on reducing harm rather than trying to eliminate drug use, expand evidence-based medications for opioid use disorder—especially methadone and buprenorphine—improve access to naloxone, and loosen methadone regulations, including take-home doses, the federal 72-hour rule, and broader methadone units. She also emphasized that peer support, housing, transportation, and other practical supports matter, and noted that naloxone can still reverse fentanyl overdoses even when tranquilizers are present. Dr. Heidi Miller, the state medical director, followed with two recommendations: integrate substance use disorder care into whole-person health care and follow the science when considering substance-related legislation. She argued that primary care, maternal health, workforce training, EMS, public health, and methadone access should all be part of a coordinated model, and said reimbursement should support teams rather than isolated providers. She also urged stronger enforcement of parity between behavioral health/SUD and physical health coverage, and highlighted tobacco and alcohol as major, under-addressed causes of death in Missouri. Dr. Doug Burgess then reinforced the need for a coordinated continuum of care, comparing substance use treatment to the seamless system used for heart attacks, and said patients should have standardized assessment, discharge planning from day one, transition coordinators, peer recovery coaches, and better information-sharing between levels of care. Members asked questions about relapse, treatment court, EMS referral barriers, reimbursement, and whether buprenorphine can be started in the field; no votes were taken, and the meeting ended with plans to continue hearing testimony and use it to shape future policy recommendations.

Transcript Highlights:

• I remember there is a census equity fund grantee gathering in early 2019 before the Supreme Court ruling
• And I would remind everyone that in 2019, the Supreme Court ruled against the inclusion of the citizenship
• That's kind of some of our internal plans here as I'm mapping out what get-out-the-count efforts for
• Some of our teenage interns who previously used their iTunes to receive stipends from us are no longer
• Did you do all that internally within Mira?

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on the Census held an early planning hearing on how Massachusetts can maximize participation in the 2030 census, with Chair Will Brownsberger and Vice Chair Rebecca Rausch emphasizing the need to start well in advance. The first panel, made up of leaders from the Massachusetts Voter Table, MassVOTE, MIRA, and MESA, stressed that grassroots community organizations are trusted messengers and should be funded early to do multilingual outreach, training, and direct assistance in hard-to-count communities. They described lessons from 2020, including the shift to internet response, reduced federal census infrastructure, the importance of coordinated statewide networks, and the need to begin messaging several years before Census Day because building trust and staffing outreach takes time. Panelists repeatedly warned that immigrant communities are facing heightened fear because of federal immigration enforcement and the possibility of a citizenship question or other federal changes, making census participation more difficult. They said 2020 funding arrived too late to fully staff and train outreach teams before the pandemic, and argued that future resources should be deployed earlier and more flexibly. In response to committee questions, they estimated Massachusetts should invest roughly $8 million to $10 million or more in state census outreach, with one proposed model of about $3 million to $5 million at the start, additional funding in the middle years, and a larger final push closer to 2030. They also suggested that funding should support communications infrastructure, translation, social media and ethnic media outreach, and possibly a permanent complete count structure or trust fund to preserve institutional knowledge. A second panel from Common Cause Massachusetts and the ACLU of Massachusetts echoed the call for stronger, earlier investment and stronger privacy protections. They urged the legislature to expand existing census line items, consider a trust fund or other dedicated funding stream, and coordinate census outreach with other state programs that already work through trusted community messengers. The ACLU testimony focused on racial inequities in census counts and warned that federal efforts to exclude non-citizens or add a citizenship question would deepen distrust and undercount immigrant communities. Committee members asked about the 2020 overcount/undercount results, funding levels, timing of grant distribution, and whether census outreach should be routed through the Secretary of the Commonwealth or other state mechanisms; no votes were taken, and the hearing moved on to a later panel on immigrant-community outreach.

Transcript Highlights:

• The committee will come to order, and the coat rule is relaxed except for Senator Bridges.
• The committee will come to order, and the coat rule is relaxed.
• committee will come to order and the The committee will come to order and the court<00:50:51.760> rule
• comprehensive strategies and procedures, risk assessment, employee training, operational controls, internal
• operational controls, internal operational controls, internal inspections<01:03:32.880> and

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So you have to be more specific in some of the rules that are outlined within the bill.
• I rise to make sure that we're following the rules. We're absolutely following the rules.
• And Representative Miller moves to suspend the rules to add H.G.R. 76 to that agenda.
• And Representative Bowie moves to suspend the rules to add House Bills 398, 196...
• Senate of Bowie moves to spend the rules to add House bills 380, 398, 906, and 1201 to that agenda.

Bills: HR188, HR189, HR190, HR191, HR179, HR180, HR181, HR182, HR183, HR185, HR186, HR187, HCR75, HCR76, HCR77, HCR78, HCR79, SCR24, SCR36, SCR39, SB64, SB107, SB152, SB185, SB217, SB232, SB278, SB290, SB294, SB320, SB321, SB419, SB424, SB436, SB440, SB468, SB470, SB476, SB482, SB489, HCR32, SCR11, HB12, HB42, HB205, HB222, HB267, HB324, HB325, HB350, HB478, HB610, HB617, HB679, HB745, HB749, HB797, HB807, HB821, HB896, HB979, HB992, HB1000, HB1024, HB1050, HB1166, HB1172, HB1173, HB1193, HB1207, HB1218, HB1223, SB256, SB180, HR1, HR17, HCR5, HCR4, HCR47, HB59, HB74, HB159, HB330, HB364, HB414, HB458, HB525, HB568, HB786, HB1008, HB1033, HB1034, HB1041, HB1062, HB1070, HB1079, HB1112, HB1118, HB1139, HB1151, HB1176, HB1182, HB1196, HB1214, HB1241, HB87, HB115, HB162, HB368, HB433, HB441, HB447, HB466, HB481, HB741, HB1242, HB362, HB893, HB990, HB1007, HB1153, HB1243, SB162, SB349, SB350, SB382, SB383, SB127, SB244, HB615, HB864, HB1103, HB1175, HB31, HB225, HB608, HB664, HB897, HB977, HB1003, HB1160, HB1180, HB911, HB306, HB366, HB1161, HB1230, HB181, HB901, HR20, HR74, HB284, HB393, HB459, HB577, HB582, HB605, HB614, HB682, HB733, HB772, HB773, HB996, HB1035, HB1058, HB1082, HB1113, HB1189, HB1234, HB1240

Keywords: hunting dogs, field trials, working dogs, dog training, greyhound protection, Farm Bill, federal overreach, sportsmen, sportswomen, wildlife management, conservation, rural communities, Louisiana hunting, hunting tradition, animal welfare, dog breeders, dog owners, outdoor recreation, Kathy Taylor, musical achievements

Transcript Highlights:

• report from the Legislative Auditor that suggested that the lottery was not even following its own rules
• international markets. international markets.
• climate experts to be the international climate experts to be the SAF<00:31:51.680> most<00:31
• <00:32:49.240> and will need and international and will need and international and international
• International. International.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the same way with DOT, the same thing with... but your, I guess, more of what your policy or your rule
• That's a non-reverting fund, but the EDB is still working on ruling for that fund.
• The agency is still working on rules for that as well. Excellent. And we'll pause there.
• A lot of it is from Senate Bill 3, waiting for those rules to be established.
• I'm under the impression that the rules and the application process for the SEED program are somewhat

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• With the new rules, we've had other ethical issues pop up regarding the provision of collateral documents
• The current administration, we believe, is testing something dangerous: will the rule of law hold?
• But our consistent advice internally has been that an ICE detainer is not of any legal consequence.
• discretionary enforcement power to file civil actions in district court when the commission has a Rule
• On the Rule 11, I think it's very important that we have the resources to do so.

Transcript Highlights:

• Before we begin with today's agenda I would like to once again remind everyone that the Assembly has rules
• We apply these rules consistently to all people who participate in our proceedings regardless of the
• many of our members have spent their... life savings coming into compliance with these environmental rules
• Just here in Sacramento at the International Airport where most of the members travel in and out of,
• We just have to have the rules be the same for everybody. I apologize, sir. Thank you very much.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Also, we have some interns in here observing the proceedings: Jack Delea, Alex Jervais, Ali Tarek, and
• First, if the NLRA is no longer in effect, either from repeal or court ruling, or if the NLRB decides
• reason we had to have Question 3 pass this past fall is because a National Labor Relations Board ruling
• Our union, like all other private sector graduate unions, relies on a 2016 NLRB ruling that recognized
• We were told to put our trust in the university's internal processes, which many of you may have read

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The hearing focused on employment rights legislation, especially the Protect Labor Act (H. 2086/S. 1327), which would create state-level labor protections if federal private-sector labor law is weakened or struck down, and would also add protections such as bans on captive audience meetings, virtual elections, stronger misclassification rules, and protections for health care workers and immigrant workers. Supporters from the AFL-CIO, nurses, SEIU, UAW, building trades, teachers, graduate workers, and policy groups argued that the bill is needed because of Trump administration actions, Project 2025, and threats to the NLRA and NLRB. They described the bill as a “trigger” law meant to preserve organizing and bargaining rights in Massachusetts if federal protections disappear or if the NLRB declines jurisdiction over certain workers. The committee also heard testimony on bills to restore a limited right to strike for certain public employees (H. 2078/S. 1311 or related filings). Supporters, including a representative, educators, and labor advocates, said the current ban on public employee strikes weakens good-faith bargaining and leaves workers without leverage to secure wages, staffing, and student supports. They argued that strikes are used as a last resort and that legalizing them under defined conditions would improve negotiations and better reflect the realities of recent teacher strikes in Massachusetts. The Massachusetts Municipal Association opposed the strike bills, warning that public employee strikes are already prohibited by state law, that strikes disrupt students and communities, and that local governments face budget constraints under Proposition 2 1/2. The committee also took testimony on paid family and medical leave bills (S. 1351/H. 2110 and S. 1352), which would improve notice to workers, expand public reporting on claim denials and demographics, and fix a technical definition issue that has limited access for some covered contract workers. Witnesses from legal aid, policy organizations, and a small business owner said the changes would improve transparency, equity, and access to benefits without imposing major burdens on employers. Additional testimony supported a railroad sick leave bill and a private construction transparency bill, with Senator Keenan urging favorable action on both. No votes were taken during the hearing; members asked questions, and several witnesses and legislators requested favorable reports on the bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• So what that means is this unfunded rule coming from the New Mexico Supreme Court is going to result
• The rule has very few limited opportunities for extension of deadline.
• So we have high school interns.
• Also, I'd like to, with the AOC in mind, I'd like to Um, not just look at the, the or the rule change
• that there that was testified to today, but maybe all the rule changes that are coming in January 2026

Transcript Highlights:

• With me, I have Gabriel Suazo, our intern, and Jarrett Fleetwood.
• They can get a, you know, if they're making progress, and three strikes is kind of the general rule.
• There's one minor modification to the rule. That would put a date, a time window.
• The Commission will be working with the Department of Public Education to see if we can make that rule
• We conduct one memorial ceremony and an internment for them once a year, usually in the September time

Transcript Highlights:

• Internally, we need your help to meet that need.
• I'm very worried about the rule of law in this country.
• And our civil rules of procedure, our criminal rules of procedure, and our UJI.
• Reifstach's internal number indicated.
• Internally, our own districts administer our employees, and that makes the most sense.

Transcript Highlights:

• This rule will be reviewed and approved. This rule will be reviewed and approved.
• The third rule I have for you is a follow-up permanent rule to a previously approved rule through emergency
• The first rule I have today is the rule concerning adverse decisions. This rule is pursuant to...
• The first rule I have today is the rule concerning adverse decisions. This rule is pursuant to.
• Thank you. ...on which to base some rules, we will indeed promulgate rules.

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• House rule states that once the February forecast has been released, Ways and Means Committee has 25
• Sa. would be a violation of the house rules would be a violation of the house rules and<00:38:14.280>
• The first fundamental rule is that the internal management and governance of the university is committed
• Fundamental rule is that the internal Fundamental rule is that the internal management<01:17:07.880
• general lawmaking power so general rules general lawmaking power so general rules that<01:18:34.120

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The Higher Ed Finance and Policy Committee met to begin a budget overview for higher education. The chair noted quorum, committee member introductions, and that Democratic members were absent. The chair also said the Office of Higher Education would not be appearing for the planned budget deep dive, so nonpartisan fiscal staff would present instead. Ken Savory, the committee’s nonpartisan fiscal analyst, introduced a presentation on the higher education finance structure and timeline. Savory explained the state budget cycle, the difference between direct appropriations, statutory appropriations, open appropriations, base funding, tails, and one-time appropriations, and how those concepts apply to higher education. He described the committee’s usual budget areas: the Office of Higher Education, Minnesota State, the University of Minnesota, and the Mayo Foundation. He also reviewed historical spending charts showing higher education’s share of the general fund over time, the 2/3-1/3 funding policy in statute, and how tuition and general fund support have shifted. He noted that the FY 26-27 base for the Office of Higher Education area is about $725 million, including roughly $450 million for the State Grant program and about $99 million for North Star Promise. Members asked about comparing the current budget to earlier biennia, and staff responded that they would need to calculate the percentage difference. The chair then summarized prior budget growth, saying the previous budget was about $650 million over base and the current budget/tail was about $450 million over base. Staff also reviewed the 2024 omnibus higher education bill, including a roughly $5 million reduction to North Star Promise that was redirected to the Fostering Independence Grant program and a $500,000 appropriation for Minnesota State’s Kids on Campus program. The committee did not take any formal votes or actions during this portion of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, we sailed out into international<00:46:46.400> waters.
• international waters. international waters. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Okay.
• And I guess into international waters.
• what eventually becomes international what eventually becomes international waters. waters. waters
• And Alabama Rules of Civil Procedure tells you to do what?

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, bill was military rules of evidence.
• Um it would military rules of evidence.
• uh do any international with the border uh do any international with the border issues?
• If the federal international stage.
• It may be a long rule on the merits.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Committee rules are also in your packet.
• The rules were emailed to all House members and staff last Friday.
• I should just say that these staff rules, or the committee rules, were the same rules that Chair Moller
• > were<00:08:12.080> the rules or the committee rules were the rules or the committee rules
• County we have have an international County we have have an international pipeline<00:32:59.120>

Keywords: 1183, house