Transcript Highlights:

• by the provider, or the state will be compensated and the surety seeks repayment from the provider.
• ; and then provider investigations.
• service providers comply with required statutes and rules that often involve site visits to providers
• Provide payments to providers, and that seems to be where the bulk of the fraud is—at the state level
• Medicaid providers in this state.

Transcript Highlights:

• They did market salary research, a cost report from providers, and a time study from providers.
• But I don't, um, and, and those are for direct, um, provider, the direct provider workforce, right?
• Um, and to our provider network.
• of these providers are nonprofits.
• Um, so I have to have a provider.

Transcript Highlights:

• The product that they did provide to us was an 8- to 10-page report, and it was provided to legislative
• Providers did face a lot of difficulty in completing their provider surveys.
• And so if providers are not willing to provide the best service, because now, guess what, providers,
• But we also know that providers do need help. We want to provide them with that help.
• provider by creating an integrated employment services system and a dual provider process.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Human Services heard testimony on Department of Developmental Services (DDS) and related budget and trailer bill proposals, with a major focus on the impacts of H.R. 1 on people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). DDS and the Department of Social Services (DSS) said H.R. 1 could affect Medi-Cal and CalFresh access, but that people with disabilities and caregivers are exempt from the work requirements; the administration is working on data matching and automation through the statewide eligibility system to identify exemptions, with June 1, 2026 as the implementation date for CalFresh changes. Witnesses and advocates warned that any loss of Medi-Cal could create fiscal pressure on regional centers and households, while public commenters described the real-life consequences of losing services. Committee members repeatedly expressed concern about cost shifts to counties and asked for harm-mitigation strategies before the May Revision. The committee also reviewed the governor’s IHSS-related proposals. DSS said the budget would set a baseline for authorized hours, align IHSS disenrollment/reinstatement with Medi-Cal eligibility processes, and eliminate the IHSS backup provider system, while emphasizing that individual service hours would still be based on assessed need. DDS said if a person loses IHSS or Medi-Cal, regional centers may have to step in as payer of last resort for some services, potentially at higher state cost. Members and the Legislative Analyst’s Office questioned whether counties could absorb the proposed shifts without reducing services, and asked for more detail on implementation, data quality controls, and how regional centers could help families navigate disruptions. A separate trailer bill on DDS rate reform and the Quality Incentive Program drew mixed reactions. DDS proposed extending a contract exemption and delaying final rate reform regulations to 2030, saying the changes are budget-neutral and needed for implementation. DDS reported that about 81% of providers had completed the current Quality Incentive Program requirements, but providers and advocates argued the 90-10 structure can function like a penalty and may destabilize services if providers lose 10% of funding. Committee members asked for clearer assistance to providers, possible flexibility for good-faith efforts, and a redlined version of the language before the May Revision. The committee also heard DDS’s proposed trailer bill on regional center governance and provider capacity. DDS said the language would consolidate regional center contracts and performance measures, strengthen board training and oversight, require consumer advisory committees, expand independent legal support, raise the threshold for board approval of contracts, and remove barriers such as physical-office requirements and duplicate vendorization. DDS said the goal is to improve accountability and efficiency while preserving person-centered services, and members indicated they wanted further refinement and stakeholder input before moving forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• provider.
• learning provider.
• They’re really providing supports to our licensed child care providers, sometimes around operating a
• the providers themselves?
• That is for the providers. That is for the providers themselves.

Summary: The committee held a work session on form-based codes, child care facility siting, and street standards/frontage improvements. On form-based codes, Commerce’s Dave Anderson explained that these codes emphasize building form, orientation, and the public realm more than traditional use and density tables, and that they are typically applied in specific districts rather than citywide or statewide. Lacey’s Vanessa Dolby described the city’s Woodland District code, developed through community charrettes, fiscal and market analysis, and subdistrict-specific standards to create a walkable downtown. She said the approach has helped produce a more desirable built environment and more flexibility in permitted uses, but also noted it can be less user-friendly for applicants and still requires some use restrictions; both presenters said a hybrid approach is often best. The committee then heard from DCYF and multiple providers about barriers to opening child care facilities. DCYF officials said Washington has more than 6,500 licensed providers and that a new pre-licensing support team is helping applicants navigate licensing, but local zoning, building, fire, parking, utility, and occupancy requirements still create delays and confusion. Testifiers described long permitting timelines, inconsistent local interpretations, costly upgrades, and utility hookup delays; one Yakima provider said county requirements, a floodplain-related elevation certificate, and a private well issue stopped her in-home child care proposal, while others described traffic impact fees, parking mandates, and zoning barriers that made projects infeasible. Enterprise Community Partners highlighted examples of successful local reforms, including fee waivers, expedited permitting, and zoning changes in several cities, and DCYF said it is working toward a 2026 action plan and a resource guide for providers. In the final section, planners and developers discussed how street standards and frontage improvement requirements can undermine infill and middle housing. Poulsbo’s planning manager said current standards were designed for greenfield subdivisions and often force costly curb, gutter, sidewalk, stormwater, and utility upgrades on small infill sites, sometimes adding tens of thousands of dollars and causing projects to be abandoned. A Seattle-based developer made similar points about small middle-housing projects being burdened by frontage work, curb ramps, buried standards, and EV-ready parking requirements that can trigger expensive undergrounding. Committee members asked about possible state-level changes, including whether child care should be treated as an essential public facility and whether parking requirements had already been reduced; one senator noted that minimum parking requirements for child care facilities were eliminated in prior legislation, with implementation phased in over the next few years.

Transcript Highlights:

• If founding ideals provided the framework, frontier conditions provided the testing ground.
• enforcement, providing severability and declaring emergency and providing an effective date.
• , providing applicability and providing an effective date.
• and providing an effective date.
• and to provide for penalties, and declaring an emergency and providing an effective date.

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, approved the March 4, 2026 journal, and received notice of a substitute appointment for Legislative District 32. Much of the day was devoted to Idaho Day ceremonies, including prayers, the Pledge of Allegiance, a performance of the national anthem, and remarks honoring Idaho history and former Representative Lyndon Bateman, who was remembered as the founder of Idaho Day and a longtime advocate for cursive, history, and civic education. Guest speakers included historian Justin Vipperman, who spoke about liberty, self-government, and Idaho’s frontier development, and former Attorney General David Leroy, who praised Bateman’s public service and legacy. Members also shared personal tributes before the chamber considered a memorial resolution in Bateman’s honor. The House suspended the rules by a two-thirds vote and adopted House Concurrent Resolution 31, recognizing and commending the lifetime achievements of Lyndon Bateman. The resolution passed 68-0 with two absent and excused, and was sent to the Senate. The chamber also received and referred several Senate messages and committee reports, including bills and resolutions on transportation, agriculture, commerce, state affairs, resources, and other topics. New measures were introduced on issues such as minors and library protections, tax exemptions, stable coins, parental rights and child custody, county fair boards, vehicle license plates, honey industry regulation, and Idaho Digital Learning Academy governance. Several bills and resolutions were placed on the second reading calendar, including measures on elections, environmental quality, hazardous waste, transportation, vehicle titles, industrial hemp, Medicaid managed care, Medicare, and appropriations. House Bill 750 was moved to general orders, and the remaining third-reading bills were held one legislative day. The House also announced committee schedule changes, upcoming events tied to Idaho Day and other advocacy groups, and a reminder about project submissions. The chamber adjourned until 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 5, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, medication-assisted treatment (MAT) provides a service provided by the state, which is an effective
• Provided to youth.
• don't have any issue at all finding them a provider who can provide MAT services, who can provide methadone
• The number of people we've provided services to, what services they provided, for how long they provided
• That, for sure, we will collect data and provide.

Transcript Highlights:

• Title 17, relative to school bus operators to provide for a probationary term for employment, to provide
• , to provide for applicability, to provide for a limitation of liability, and to provide for information
• to provide for applicability.
• to provide for related matters.
• provided by the Department of Children and Family Services, and to provide for related matters. provided

Keywords: 974, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• for certain limitations, providing severability, and declaring an emergency and providing an effective
• a short title, define terms, provide for administration of portable benefit plans, and provide for tax
• provisions regarding chapter violations, and provide for chapter applicability, providing severability
• and providing an effective date.
• exemptions, to provide certain applicability regarding class actions, to provide for certain joint and

Summary: The House convened with 68 members present, approved the February 12, 2026 journal, and received messages from the Senate, including referral of House Joint Memorial 10 for enrolling and return of Senate Joint Memorial 107 signed by the Speaker. Standing committee reports advanced several bills: House Bills 607, 528, 530, 519, and 599 were sent to second reading, while House Bills 522 and 570 were placed on general orders. House Concurrent Resolution 27, honoring Idaho civilians who served on Wake Island during World War II, was referred for printing. The House also introduced a large group of new bills, including measures on gold and silver coin, elections and presidential primaries, midwifery, foreign adversary investments, retirement and public safety death benefits, building codes, travel insurance, portable benefits, litigation financing, manufactured homes, anti-cancer medications, interest rates, state sovereignty, big game depredation claims, hunting as the state sport, police dogs, preceptor prior authorization exemptions, student data collection, and charter school admissions; all were referred for printing. On third reading, Senate Bill 1225 was moved to the top of the calendar and passed the House 67-1 after debate describing it as a public records and university presidential search bill that changes the disclosure rule from five finalists to a sole finalist and requires public updates and a 10-day public review period before final selection. House Bill 561 was sent to general orders after discussion of flag displays, including allowing the Basque flag and limiting certain city flagpole displays. House Bill 520, an Office of Administrative Hearings measure standardizing notice requirements in contested cases, passed 66-2 after concerns were raised about proving receipt of mailed notice. House Bill 579, updating justifiable homicide language to broaden who may be defended, passed 68-1. House Bill 580, repealing antiquated or unused criminal statutes, passed 68-1. House Bill 581, creating a formal process for legislative review of Supreme Court rules, passed 65-5. House Bill 583, the short-term rental bill, drew the most extensive debate. Supporters argued it protects private property rights and prevents local governments from effectively banning short-term rentals through restrictive ordinances, while opponents warned it weakens protections for residential neighborhoods and shifts enforcement burdens onto neighbors and local complaints. Several members declared Rule 80 conflicts, including ownership of short-term rentals or related businesses. After debate, the bill passed 54-16 and was sent to the Senate. The House then held the remaining third-reading bills for one legislative day, received the enrolled House Joint Memorial 10 back for the Senate President’s signature, made announcements about committee meetings and events, and adjourned until 11 a.m. on Friday, February 13, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• It also amends Section 54-510, Idaho Code, to provide correct code references, provides that certain
• It also establishes provisions requiring certain investments, provides for certain limitations, provides
• It provides legislative intent and amends Section 59-1352B, Idaho Code, to provide for public safety
• , provide for administration of portable benefit plans, and provide for tax implications, and declares
• , provide for administration of portable benefit plans, and provide for tax implications, and declares

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So those are all Medicaid waiver providers that are providing those services.
• providing these services.
• is that it goes to providers.
• This tab would provide additional details about the specific providers for the top five.
• It could be provider surveys through the rate-setting process—not provider, but plan surveys of provider

Summary: The Health Care Budget Subcommittee took up two bills and then continued oversight discussions with APD and AHCA. CS/HB 27, the Social Work Licensure Interstate Compact, was presented as a way to let Florida social workers practice in other compact states and vice versa; AARP, the Florida Chamber, and NASW Florida supported it, and the bill passed favorably. HB 1127, a child welfare bill, would create a treatment foster care pilot for children with high behavioral needs, improve DCF data collection on commercially sexually exploited children, and expand recruitment for protective investigators and case managers; the bill also passed favorably after brief supportive testimony. The committee then questioned APD at length about the iBudget waiver waitlist, enrollment pace, spending projections, and provider capacity. APD said it had sent more than 1,100 interest letters in categories 3, 4, and 5, enrolled 1,124 people so far this year, and expects to spend about 96.4% of its waiver appropriation, leaving roughly $82 million unspent. Members pressed APD on why prior discussions suggested more reserve was needed, how long the SANS process takes, whether category 6 could be expanded, and whether the agency has enough waiver support coordinators and direct support providers. APD said it has about 1,061 waiver support coordinators statewide, adequate capacity for current enrollees, but would need further analysis if the legislature directed a much larger enrollment increase. Members also asked about outreach, annual maintenance of the waitlist, portability for military families, and whether communication efforts should be privatized. Finally, AHCA walked the committee through the 2023 Achieved Savings Rebate (ASR) report for Aetna and explained how the report is used for financial monitoring, rebate calculations, and transparency. AHCA said the ASR is separate from the medical loss ratio (MLR) calculation, though both are reviewed, and that Florida uses the ASR mechanism rather than an MLR remittance requirement to recover funds from plans. Members asked about related-party disclosures, CVS/Caremark relationships, expanded benefits, encounter data, network adequacy penalties, denials and appeals reporting, interest earned on capitation payments, and whether rate increases were reaching providers. AHCA and the outside auditors said they review the plans’ reported data, reconcile it to underlying records, and can assess liquidated damages for network adequacy violations; several members requested follow-up data on rebates, interest, provider capacity, and related-party reporting.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:01:50.920><c> provide</c><00:01:51.479><c> opioid</c> appropriation to provid provide opioid
• versus less providers.
• versus less providers.
• versus less providers.
• versus less providers.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , to provide for payment of dental insurance claims to a provider, to provide for applicability, to provide
• , to provide for payment of dental insurance claims to a provider, to provide for applicability, to provide
• registered nurse anesthetist, to provide for reimbursement of services provided by a CRNA, to provide
• for violations, to provide for audits of reporting entities, to provide for an annual report, to provide
• , to provide for an annual report, to provide for the authority of the Attorney General, to provide for

Keywords: 965, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Those providers get hit.
• “Our affiliates are the largest provider in the Family PACT program and the largest provider of abortion
• We are providing life-saving care.
• Once you stop providing primary preventive care and you move into Once you stop providing primary preventive
• support to public hospitals, supporting newly insured and uninsured Californians, by providing ...providing

Summary: The Assembly Health Committee held an informational hearing on the impact of federal H.R. 1 and related state budget actions on California’s health care system. Opening remarks framed the federal changes as a major threat to Medi-Cal, Covered California, hospitals, clinics, and the broader safety net, with warnings that millions could lose coverage and that costs would shift to providers, counties, and consumers. Testimony from the California Health Care Foundation and the Legislative Analyst’s Office focused on implementation challenges, the administrative burden of work requirements and more frequent renewals, the loss of federal funding, and the need for California to consider long-term structural changes to Medi-Cal, county safety-net programs, and cost containment. A Covered California enrollee, Chas Franklin, described sharply rising premiums for his family after losing subsidies, illustrating the personal impact of federal policy changes. Committee members raised concerns about whether premium increases were driven by H.R. 1 or insurer pricing, the cost of rebuilding county-based indigent care systems, and the need to account for the cost of inaction. Dr. Hernandez pointed to pre-ACA models such as Healthy San Francisco as examples of coordinated local safety-net care, while also emphasizing the importance of primary care, data interoperability, and the Office of Health Care Affordability in reducing waste and improving access. Department of Health Care Services officials then outlined the state’s implementation plan for H.R. 1, including work requirements, six-month redeterminations, reduced retroactive coverage, cost-sharing, and immigration-related eligibility changes. They said the department would try to automate eligibility checks, expand outreach, and train counties and partners, but estimated up to 2 million Californians could lose coverage over time. Covered California reported that the expiration of enhanced federal premium tax credits and new federal marketplace rules are already raising costs and reducing enrollment, with an estimated 400,000 enrollees at risk of dropping coverage. County, hospital, and safety-net representatives warned that coverage losses will increase uncompensated care and strain local systems, while one coalition proposed a temporary state-funded coverage option as a bridge if full-scope Medi-Cal cannot be maintained. The hearing concluded with a policy analyst urging stakeholder engagement, immigrant protections, and new state revenue options to preserve coverage and offset federal cuts.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Changing providers uh is the next tool. Changing providers uh is the next tool.
• And that varies provider to provider as shown in the table.
• they have to provide service.
• </c> resources they have to provide service. resources they have to provide service.
• We have more provider flexibility in terms of when they provide that trip.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We are here to provide the case management. We can provide a roadmap for them.
• , that provides our staffing, that provides our administrative costs.
• Other than that, it's up to each of the service providers that receive the funding from HUD to provide
• At Ministry on the Margins, we provide reentry services, we provide behavioral health services, we provide
• provide the service.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Human Services Committee met in interim session and first approved the previous meeting minutes before receiving a series of presentations on homelessness and housing stability. Jennifer Henderson of the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency updated members on the new Interagency Council on Homelessness, describing its executive-order mandate to review resources, gather input from stakeholders, identify gaps, and develop recommendations. She said the council’s first work is building a statewide program matrix of existing homeless services and funding sources, with attention to youth, tribal communities, and other vulnerable populations. Members raised concerns about youth homelessness, homeless veterans, and how the council will stay focused on a practical framework rather than getting lost in details. The committee also discussed possible connections to the rural health transformation grant and agreed to continue the topic later in the spring. Beth Olson of Presentation Partners in Housing described the organization’s housing-first model in Cass County and Clay County, including homeless prevention/diversion, housing navigation, and Cooper House, a 42-unit permanent supportive housing building in Fargo. She said the organization focuses on people with long-term and chronic homelessness, many with mental health, addiction, health, domestic violence, and Indigenous identity-related barriers, and reported strong outcomes: 85 of 86 people housed in 2025, 91% still housed after one year, and major reductions in emergency room use, ambulance rides, jail stays, detox days, and shelter use. She also explained that state funding has grown from a small share of the budget to about $1.1 million in state-connected funding for fiscal 2026, largely through contracts tied to supportive services. Members asked about vouchers, rent contributions at Cooper House, length of stay, and whether similar projects could be expanded elsewhere. Andrea Olson of the Community Action Partnership of North Dakota outlined statewide homeless and housing-related services delivered through six community action agencies in all 53 counties. She explained the Community Services Block Grant structure, said housing was identified as the top need in the most recent statewide needs assessment, and described programs including Supportive Services for Veteran Families, North Dakota Homeless Grant services, and Home ARP supportive services. She emphasized that the end of North Dakota Rent Help has increased pressure on the system, that the current $2 million annual homeless grant is far smaller than prior rent-help assistance, and that community action is using case management and financial assistance to move households toward self-sufficiency. Members asked about funding formulas, rural service delivery, and coordination with Presentation Partners to avoid duplication. YouthWorks then began a presentation on youth homelessness, describing services for ages 12 to 24, the special needs of youth and former foster youth, and the organization’s use of federal and state funds to support transitional housing, emergency shelter, maternity housing, and diversion services.

Transcript Highlights:

• The product that they did provide to us was an 8- to 10-page report, and it was provided to legislative
• As such, we're working with our community and our service providers and provider organizations to do
• Providers did face a lot of difficulty in completing their provider surveys.
• And so if providers are not willing to provide the best service, because now, guess what, providers,
• But we also know that providers do need help. We want to provide them with that help.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And if they want to provide increased rates, they have to provide justification for that.
• </c><00:03:13.920><c> This</c> provide justification for that. This provide justification for that.
• </c> the rent or services that are provided? the rent or services that are provided?
• Uh section four, as providers.
• ,</c><01:30:28.800><c> providing</c> residential service providers, providing residential service providers

Bills: HF2216, HF1978, HF2354, HF1963, HF1994, HF1995, HF1894

Keywords: assisted living, nursing home, long-term care, guardian, conservator, resident rights, arbitration, mandatory arbitration, consumer protection, fee increase, rate increase, price hike, private pay, public funds, Medicaid, waiver services, elderly, seniors, older adults, disability rights

Transcript Highlights:

• revenue that our providers are receiving today.
• Our affiliates are the largest provider in the Family PACT program and the largest provider of abortion
• As the largest provider of medical services and...
• For hospitals like Mark Twain, the provider fee is a lifeline, and we rely on the provider fee to remain
• We are providing life-saving care.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Here's what the requirements are, and really trying to provide that education upfront to providers so
• </c> observed um and then what the provider observed um and then what the provider um<00:29:30.880><c
• </c><00:29:48.720><c> would</c> and um and so that the provider would and um and so that the provider
• 70 different provider types that we perform studies for, with an active provider base of 72,000.
• </c> Child care providers.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Title 17, relative to school bus operators to provide for probationary term for employment, to provide
• , and services, to provide for applicability, to provide for a limitation of liability, and to provide
• to provide for related matters.
• to provide for related matters.
• provide for related matters.

Bills: SR119, SCR65, HCR47, HB196, HB218, HB256, HB325, HB352, HB434, HB448, HB476, HB608, HB624, HB626, HB632, HB749, HB818, HB1059, HB1112, HB1242, HB1249

Keywords: SR119, Senate Resolution 119, D-D Breaux, Sara Breaux, LSU gymnastics, LSU Gymnastics Training Center, LSU Board of Supervisors, facility naming, honorary resolution, public buildings and grounds, women's athletics, Title IX, college gymnastics, SEC gymnastics, Louisiana State University, Tiger Athletic Foundation, women in sports, coach recognition, sports legend, campus naming

Summary: The Senate Education Committee met with four members present and took up a long agenda of education-related bills. Early items included SCR 65, which would create a K-12 student success task force to study statewide career and academic pathway advising; the committee adopted a substantive amendment adding designees and then reported the resolution favorably. The committee also reported favorably on SCR 119, honoring Coach D.D. Breaux, after brief remarks about her LSU gymnastics legacy and the request that LSU study naming its gymnastics training facility in her honor. Several bills affecting school operations and student support were heard and reported favorably, including HB 434 on probationary school bus driver employment and superintendent authority over dismissal; HB 484 expanding scholarship benefits for children and spouses of fallen or disabled firefighters and police officers; HB 749 and HB 1059 on savings accounts and TOPS math eligibility alignment; HB 218 adding food insecurity questions to student questionnaires, which was amended and reported favorably; HB 325 expanding TOPS Tech eligibility through dual enrollment and part-time use; HB 476 requiring Safe Haven law postings in middle and high school restrooms; HB 1249 clarifying access to school-based health centers, with an amendment adopted; HB 1242 allowing more than one early learning center license at the same location under certain circumstances; HB 632 improving data protections and functionality for LA First; and HB 352 on behavioral health services for public school students, which was amended to address IEP and dispute-process concerns before being reported favorably. Two bills drew extended debate over transparency, privacy, and school autonomy. HB 608 would create confidentiality for intercollegiate athletics revenue-sharing documents; LSU representatives argued the bill was needed to protect student-athletes and competitive information, while PAR and the Louisiana Press Association opposed it as an improper secrecy carve-out for state-generated revenue. Despite the opposition, the committee reported HB 608 favorably. HB 1112, which would exempt BESE-approved non-public pre-K programs from certain licensure and safety requirements and adjust related definitions, was amended and then heard with testimony from the Pelican Institute in support, arguing it corrects overreach from prior law and protects private school autonomy and parental choice.