Transcript Highlights:

• Speaker, I rise today to recognize nurse Heather Daniels, a perinatal services nurse at Liberty Regional
• Speaker, I rise today to recognize nurse Heather Daniels, a perinatal services nurse at Liberty Regional
• :32.000><c> to</c> These aren't government programs to These aren't government programs to them.<00:17
• </c> our anti-hunger programs and end hunger. our anti-hunger programs and end hunger.
• registered nurse credential, and critical care registered nurse certifications.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• While going through nursing school, she was avid in Concordia's music program throughout her undergraduate
• Graduated with a 4.0 when she got her master's in nursing education.
• Additionally, NDMEA has been working with ESPB to create a music-specific mentorship program.
• We are currently in our second year of running this program and are hoping to expand the support from
• We are currently in our second year of running this program, and are hoping to expand the support from

Committee: House Education

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The meeting began with a student performance from Horizon Middle School Show Choir, including songs from an eighth grade concert and the show choir piece “The Body Electric.” After the performance, Deputy Superintendent Donna Fishbeck spoke on behalf of State Superintendent Kirsten Baesler in support of music education, emphasizing its benefits for creativity, collaboration, school climate, and student development, and noting the department’s support for music grants and professional development. She also highlighted the North Dakota Music Educators Association’s role in expanding access and quality in music education. The committee then heard a presentation from Vital Network, introduced as a DPI-funded effort focused on teacher retention. Nate Eklund and Dr. Aaron Rob described the organization’s work with schools and districts to reduce educator burnout by improving workplace conditions, especially around time management, voice in decision-making, and care/support. They said the program uses surveys, dashboards, advisory support, and facilitated school and district processes to identify local friction points and help educators and leaders solve them, with examples ranging from simplifying material requests to improving PLC time and communication. They stressed that retention is driven more by workplace conditions than pay alone, and that solutions must be local rather than one-size-fits-all. Members asked about rural teacher overload, sustainability after grant funding ends, and whether the model could inform broader policy or continuing education reforms. Vital representatives said the work is designed to be embedded in district systems and strategic plans so it can continue beyond their direct involvement, and that the approach aligns with the state’s teacher retention and recruitment task force recommendations. They reported serving about half of North Dakota educators across roughly 50 districts, with partnerships through regional education associations to reach rural areas. No formal votes or legislative actions were taken during the discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• mological program.
• mological program.
• mological program.
• mological program.
• mological program.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first considered an amendment to add a new “Lakes” license plate to HB 2, with proceeds directed to the cyanobacteria fund for lake cleanup. Representative McGuire said the bill had already passed on consent and asked that it be included in HB 2; members discussed that it had also gone to the Senate. The motion to adopt the amendment failed on a 7-8 vote. The committee then took up an amendment imposing a 5% administrative fee on certain dedicated funds, with several exemptions for funds that could not legally or appropriately be charged, such as those involving federal money or bequests. Supporters said it would make the treatment of dedicated funds more consistent and raise roughly $31 million over the biennium for the general fund, while opponents questioned the number of carve-outs and who currently pays the administrative costs. The amendment failed on a 4-5 vote. Next, the committee reconsidered and then adopted an amendment changing the distribution of business profits tax and business enterprise tax revenue, reducing the share going to the Education Trust Fund from 41% to 30% and increasing the General Fund share. Supporters argued the Senate had overfunded the Education Trust Fund and that the change would help balance the budget without changing education spending levels; opponents said they could not support taking money from the Education Trust Fund. The amendment passed 5-3. The committee also adopted, by the same 5-3 margin, an amendment incorporating HB 741 language on open enrollment and student attendance in public schools, with supporters calling it House policy and opponents noting it had been a close, partly partisan vote in the House. Finally, the committee considered a change to the University System of New Hampshire budget that would reduce general fund appropriations by $40 million per year, offset in part by $15 million in previously approved unique dollars for a net reduction of $25 million per year. Supporters said the cut was necessary to balance the budget and that other options had been exhausted; opponents called it harmful to the university system and argued the committee should instead look to other areas, including education freedom accounts, for savings. The discussion continued, but the transcript excerpt ends before a final vote on the UNH item.

Transcript Highlights:

• This program has been This program has been an incredible experience; however, this journey has also
• Our RISE program is a first-of-its-kind high-dosage tutoring program aimed at improving early literacy
• Our My First Place program is a housing-first wraparound program tailored to supporting 18- to 22-year-olds
• And that includes the tuition and fee waiver program.
• Students are already getting tuition and textbook stipends through the MassReconnect program and programs

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Higher Education

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:

• place-based program throughout the shelter system.
• and the home-based rehousing program.
• I'm a PhD-prepared practicing developmental disabilities nurse, and I have an active program of research
• In my nursing practice, I have In my nursing practice, I've witnessed several individuals with a history
• Thank you. functioning people on the GED program.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee held a hybrid hearing on a range of bills affecting children, families, disability rights, homelessness, and social services. Early testimony focused on H.215, which would support children experiencing homelessness by speeding access to child care vouchers and early intervention screenings. Boston officials, Horizons for Homeless Children, Head Start, pediatric and early education advocates, and families described delays in child care and early intervention, the developmental risks of homelessness, and the need for automatic referrals and faster access to services. Testimony also supported H.216, which would improve emergency housing assistance by restoring presumptive eligibility, reducing documentation barriers, extending shelter stays from six to nine months, and creating an ombudsperson; providers and legal advocates said current rules leave families sleeping in cars or outside and create unnecessary administrative hurdles. The committee also heard strong support for H.210, which would repeal the “Learn Fair” school attendance sanction that cuts cash assistance to families when children miss school. Advocates from legal aid, education, and anti-poverty organizations argued the policy is punitive, burdensome, and ineffective, disproportionately affecting low-income, disabled, and Hispanic/Latino families. Several speakers said chronic absenteeism should be addressed through supports such as family outreach, wraparound services, and school engagement rather than benefit cuts. Legislators and school officials from Salem also testified that their districts reduced absenteeism through supportive strategies, not sanctions. Additional testimony addressed children’s vision bills H.202 and H.166, with optometrists and researchers urging better screening, data systems, and treatment access to close achievement gaps caused by untreated vision problems. Senator Lovely also presented S.2714, proposing a study of discrimination in public accommodations for people with service animals. Later, testimony on H.279 supported changing social work licensure rules to remove exam requirements that speakers said disproportionately exclude multilingual candidates and candidates of color. The hearing also included testimony on bills related to the Judge Rotenberg Center and electric shock devices, with disability rights advocates opposing continued use of the devices and urging the committee to reject licensing or authorization for them. No votes or committee actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• The amendment revises the scope of programs and resources that the secretary is required to coordinate
• </c><00:09:41.440><c> of</c> practicable should represent programs of practicable should represent programs
• </c> Program, Heat and Eat Program. Program, Heat and Eat Program.
• and eat program within the supplemental<00:14:38.079><c> nutrition</c><00:14:38.639><c> assistance</
• Um, always like to hear who people are when programs are named after folks.

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Tuesday, February 24, 2026, 960, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened with an invocation by Reverend Jod Gun, whose prayer was journalized by unanimous consent. The chamber then recognized several guests, including representatives from the National Alliance on Mental Illness, who were present for a resolution honoring Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness Week, as well as former Delegate and physician Dan Moheim, Towson University students, a veteran guest, and parents and young children visiting for Maryland Family Network’s Day in Annapolis. The Senate adopted a resolution recognizing the National Alliance on Mental Illness for its advocacy on tardive dyskinesia screening, early detection, and treatment, and designated May 5–9 as Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness Week. The resolution was read and adopted without objection. The chamber also unanimously welcomed the guest groups and thanked them for their service and advocacy. In second-reader action, the Senate advanced several bills with committee amendments adopted without objection. Senate Bill 113, the Longevity Ready Maryland Act, was amended to refine aging-related planning, website reporting, and Commission on Aging membership, then ordered to third reading. Senate Bill 123 updated the membership of the Oversight Committee on Quality of Care in nursing homes and assisted living facilities and was also sent to third reading. Senate Bill 336 extended the Task Force on the Responsible Use of Natural Psychedelic Substances for one year and added an HBCU representative. Senate Bill 394 expanded expedited partner therapy to bacterial vaginosis and added licensed certified midwives as authorized practitioners. Senate Bill 444 changed certificate-of-need requirements for certain intermediate care facilities, and Senate Bill 461 conformed the SNAP Heat and Eat Program to federal eligibility rules; both were advanced to third reading. The Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee then took up Senate Bill 108, which would authorize the Maryland Department of the Environment to impose administrative penalties for certain water, wetlands, dam, and riparian-rights violations and expand administrative enforcement tools. Several senators raised concerns about the scope of the bill, its effect on shoreline restoration, dams, stormwater and wetlands enforcement, and whether it could allow penalties without adequate process or encourage payment instead of correction. The floor leader responded that the amendment requires notice, an informal meeting, and consideration of good-faith efforts before penalties are imposed in certain cases, and said the bill does not change permit requirements. The debate continued as members sought clarification on how the bill would apply to private dams, HOAs, farmers, and shoreline projects.

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c><00:29:57.840><c> this</c><00:29:58.080><c> program</c> Modernization Program, this program Modernization
• </c> the program. the program.
• program.
• program.
• So, but programs.

Bills: HF1338

Committee: House State Government Finance and Policy

Keywords: Inspector General, Office of the Inspector General, state oversight, government accountability, fraud, waste, abuse, audit, investigation, subpoena, whistleblower, public integrity, transparency, state agencies, executive branch, public funds, taxpayer funds, law enforcement oversight, public safety programs, advisory council

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a nurse practitioner.
• Like, the only person I can get in that's a constant with me now is my nurse practitioner. is my nurse
• Program is the retiree health care distributions from the personal income tax program.
• Domestic programs.
• Now, it's going to be $30 million on a program, an overall program that's $200 million.

Transcript Highlights:

• school, my mother sent me with a three-inch binder full of instructions for my teacher and school nurse
• And if there was even a single nurse, a single administrator at the front desk, you know, who was not
• Child care programs for infants and young children, whose immune systems are still developing and who
• Practices get direct bonuses and enhanced reimbursement rates from insurers and programs, often based
• Practices get direct bonuses and enhanced reimbursement rates from insurers and programs, often based

Bills: HB2086 , HB2248 , HB2688

Committee: House Regulatory Oversight

Keywords: vaccination mandates, mask requirements, public health, government entities, COVID-19, medical freedom, healthcare mandates, employment requirements, government regulation, vacant positions, state budget, government efficiency, employment, full-time equivalent positions, 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:20:47.040><c> spanning</c> Sciences schools and programs spanning Sciences schools and programs
• </c> of children youth and families program of children youth and families program transfer<01:40:16.840
• </c><01:40:21.520><c> either</c> everything in green are programs either everything in green are programs
• </c> 2024 um and so all of these programs 2024 um and so all of these programs have<01:40:39.960><c>
• </c><01:40:52.159><c> that</c> the economic Assistance programs that the economic Assistance programs

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That's the Arkansas Linking Industry to Grow Nurses Program.
• The ALIGN program—that's the Arkansas Linking Industry to Grow Nurses program—is requesting to move $18,000
• or the crime victims program.
• It's a once-a-year grant program.
• And then we manage that program.

Committee: All ALC-PEER

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senators and guests, we have with us today a junior senator program participant.
• I was a registered nurse, worked in intensive care before I went to dentistry.
• I was a registered nurse, worked in intensive care before I went to dentistry, practiced in active patient
• significant reductions in disability across all program types.
• And if they don't return to work, we do see a reduction in nursing home placement and other long-term

Bills: SB83 , SB135 , SB143 , SB155 , SB157 , SB202 , SB237 , SB261 , SB276 , SB295 , SB450 , SB465 , SB506 , HB1070

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: human trafficking, trafficking prevention, school safety, public schools, elementary and secondary education, charter schools, mandatory reporting, victim identification, victim services, child trafficking, sex trafficking, labor trafficking, commercial sexual activity, DCFS, Department of Children and Family Services, Louisiana State Police, governor's office of human trafficking prevention, counselor training, mental health professional, administrator training

Transcript Highlights:

• She asked them, and it was a brand new doctor and a traveling nurse.
• They're suffering from a shortage of both doctors, nurses, and professional medical personnel.
• Two years ago this month, Taylor was run at a red light, rushed to the closest hospital where nurses
• When she was finally rushed for CT scanning stat, several hours after the nurses had been notified of
• I'm a registered nurse.

Committee: Senate Rules

Summary: The Committee on Rules met with a quorum and heard extensive debate on SB 734, which would repeal Florida’s wrongful-death medical malpractice exception that bars certain adult children and parents from recovering noneconomic damages. Senator Yarborough presented the bill as a fairness and accountability measure, while many family members testified in support, describing deaths they believed were caused by medical negligence and arguing the current law denies equal justice. Opponents, including physician and insurer representatives, warned the bill could increase malpractice exposure, premiums, defensive medicine, and physician shortages. The committee also considered two late-filed amendments: Senator Burton’s amendment would make Department of Health investigative findings admissible in court, and Senator Martin’s amendment to that amendment would broaden admissibility/discoverability to additional disciplinary and prior-adverse-incident records and insurance coverage facts. After debate, the Martin amendment was adopted, but the Burton amendment as amended failed on a roll call vote. The committee then reported SB 734 favorably without the amendment. The committee next unanimously reported CS for SB 86 favorably. That bill, by Senator Burgess, expands peer support protections for first responders to include support personnel; there was little debate and several law-enforcement-related organizations indicated support. The committee also took up SB 316 on series limited liability companies. Senator Berman explained that the bill creates rules for series LLCs in Florida, and a late-filed amendment, requested by the Secretary of State, delayed implementation by one year. The amendment was adopted and the bill was reported favorably. Finally, the committee considered CS for CS for SB 384, which requires municipalities seeking to annex state-owned land to notify the relevant county legislative delegation when the first public hearing is advertised. Senator Burton presented the bill briefly, there was no opposition or debate, and the committee proceeded to vote on the measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• Oregon's team includes investigators, auditors, attorneys, data analysts, and a nurse investigator.
• Corvallis and the company she owns, Gateway of Willamette Valley, with billing Medicaid for day support program
• Mabrat was a registered nurse and collected more than $14,000 worth of Medicaid reimbursements for directing
• nurse services that he did not provide.

Summary: Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield held a press event marking National Health Care Fraud Takedown Day to highlight the state’s Medicaid fraud enforcement work and announce four new criminal filings. He said the Oregon Department of Justice’s Medicaid Fraud Unit, which includes investigators, auditors, attorneys, data analysts, and a nurse investigator, has secured hundreds of convictions and settlements since 2010 and recently received additional staffing from the legislature. He framed the work as bipartisan and aimed at protecting vulnerable Oregonians, recovering taxpayer dollars, and deterring fraud. The announced cases involved alleged provider or vendor fraud rather than Medicaid recipients: Ed Morgan of Beaverton was charged in connection with housing assistance funds tied to a health-related social needs program; Linda Thomas and her company, Gateway of Willamette Valley, were charged with billing Medicaid for day support services not provided; and Amanda Thorne, a former Lane County employee, was charged with using a government credit card for personal purchases. Rayfield also noted recent progress in other cases, including a nurse who pleaded no contest to false billing and theft and was sentenced to jail, probation, and restitution, and a medical transportation company owner recently charged with billing for services not provided. In response to questions, Rayfield said Oregon staff attended a federal meeting on Medicaid fraud despite late notice and political tensions, emphasizing that fraud enforcement should remain bipartisan. He said the federal landscape is complicated by cuts to enforcement staff even as there is talk of increased enforcement, and that states have had to step up. He also said Oregon’s managed care system has not been a major barrier to investigations, which typically begin with complaints and are developed with partner agencies. No votes or formal legislative actions were taken at the event.

Transcript Highlights:

• There are two Program Advisory Board.
• on-site nurse training duty nursing on-site nurse training programs,<00:40:45.960><c> favorable.
• </c> programs, favorable. programs, favorable.
• </c> training to a specified licensed nurse training to a specified licensed nurse after<00:41:00.080
• . program. program.

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Friday, April 10, 2026, 960, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, they agreed with our position on the nursing homes. Great work for us.
• </c><01:16:14.000><c> homes</c> hold everything up for the nursing homes hold everything up for the nursing
• </c> bill that will protect their nursing bill that will protect their nursing homes,<01:16:23.120><c
• ,</c><01:39:29.360><c> language</c> sports teams, arts programs, language sports teams, arts programs
• </c><04:08:25.680><c> I</c> So, I went down to see nurse Jen. I So, I went down to see nurse Jen.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's been a very successful program.
• And the goal is to keep them out of nursing homes.
• for private duty nursing service category.
• And the goal is to keep them out of nursing homes.
• for private duty nursing service category.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and heard several member introductions before taking up the special order calendar. The chamber first postponed CS/SB 80 on state land management, then moved through a series of bills, often substituting House companions when identical or nearly identical. Early actions included unanimous passage of HB 295 on a comprehensive waste reduction and recycling plan, which directs DEP to develop a recycling and waste-diversion roadmap, and passage of CS/CS/SB 492 on land development and mitigation banking after amendments addressing out-of-service credits and former phosphate mine lands; that bill passed 35-3 after debate over possible constitutional concerns. The Senate also passed HB 255 on aggravated animal cruelty, adding a sentencing multiplier and a searchable FDLE database of convicted animal abusers, and HB 711 establishing the Spectrum Alert for missing children with autism, with $190,000 in nonrecurring implementation funds and a July 1, 2026 implementation date. The chamber then approved HB 1089 to add Duchenne muscular dystrophy to newborn screening, and HB 393 revising the My Safe Florida Condominium Pilot Program to expand eligible mitigation projects, lower the approval threshold, and clarify ownership and reimbursement issues. Members discussed funding levels and whether insurance premium credits would be required, but the bill passed unanimously. The Senate also passed HB 1145 on workforce education, HB 827 on a statewide study of automation and workforce impact, and HB 181 on parole guidelines, all without recorded opposition. CS/CS/SB 976 on court-appointed psychologists also passed unanimously, as did HB 1451 on sexual cyber harassment, which broadened protections against non-consensual and digitally forged intimate images. Later, the Senate approved HB 1156 creating the Home Health Aid for Medically Fragile Children Program, after clarifying training requirements and hearing support that the measure would help families keep medically fragile children at home while compensating trained parents. The chamber also passed HB 1091 on substance abuse and mental health care, with an amendment allowing designated facilities to retain stabilized patients who still meet involuntary examination criteria. Throughout the day, senators used questions and debate to probe charter school governance in CS/CS/SB 822, which was substituted with HB 443 and amended to expand charter autonomy over conduct codes, enrollment, reporting, and facility use while maintaining sponsor oversight; that bill was placed on the calendar for third reading rather than voted on in the excerpt. Several other measures, including SB 716, SB 76, and the final SB 1252 item, were postponed or not reached before the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• What's the program premise? What public problem does the program seek to address?
• Is there a program description?
• What specific Activities in the program will achieve these expected program outcomes.
• Thank you, but if it's a federal program, Perkins does lots of the welding programs, the HVAC programs
• A specific program was the Right to Succeed program.

Committee: House Federal Funding Stabilization Subcommittee

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Cabral, and Senator Miranda have all had an opportunity to come down to some of the programs
• Cynthia Al's Gray, she's a certified nurse midwife and nurse practitioner.
• She's a certified nurse midwife and nurse practitioner.
• She's also in Brockton, but representing the Cape Verdean nurses.
• When I talked about the Medical Society, the CVPA, there's some emerging folks coming out of the Nurses

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The meeting was the first organizational discussion of the newly created commission to study the feasibility of establishing a Massachusetts Cape Verdean Cultural Center in Boston. Senator Liz Miranda opened with background on the seven-year effort to create the commission, the seed funding included in the state budget, and the commission’s one-year mandate to produce a report on location, funding, and next steps. Members introduced themselves and described their Cape Verdean ties, with discussion emphasizing the historical importance of Cape Verdean communities in Boston, New Bedford, Falmouth/Cape Cod, Brockton, and other parts of the Commonwealth. A major topic was how to structure the commission’s leadership. Members discussed whether the co-chairs should be legislators, outside appointees, or a mix, and several noted the need to follow open meeting law and other public meeting requirements. Representative Cabral suggested Senator Miranda and Representative Diggs as co-chairs, with possible vice chairs drawn from other appointees. The group also discussed the need to keep the commission representative of the broader state, not just Boston, and to consider an advisory group of Cape Verdean association presidents and other community leaders outside the formal membership. The commission then reviewed a long list of potential additional members, focusing on people with experience in arts, culture, education, history, community building, philanthropy, construction, health, and related fields. Members were asked to review the list, suggest additions or gaps, and send feedback to staff. No final appointments were made at this meeting. The commission voted to reconvene in two weeks to organize itself, potentially elect co-chairs and vice chairs, and move forward with additional appointments; the motion passed, and the meeting was adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Loan program, Senate.
• Louis Community College Nursing Program. That's a compromise position of $400,000.
• Department operations contractual audits, Senate. 6.200 audit program offset. Audit program offset.
• Pertaining to MoHealthNet's prescription drug program and the costs associated with the 340B program
• I mean, it is a statutory program.

Committee: House Conference Committee on Budget

Keywords: 959, house, all