Transcript Highlights:

• There's a conversation about services that the participant may want to support their quality of life.
• So, for example, in our adult disability program, we have a service called supported employment.
• So again, that drives a budget that is used to essentially support the services that they will need.
• It could impact services, even supporting child welfare. It's rather broad-reaching.
• And so child, youth, and family services includes child welfare, although we have no line item requests

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The House Health and Welfare Committee approved the February 5, 2026 minutes and then heard a lengthy budget presentation from Department of Health and Welfare Director Sharon and Medicaid Director Sasha O’Connell. The department reviewed a large number of supplemental and line-item requests across Medicaid, child and family services, welfare/self-reliance, and indirect support services, including funding for state hospital Medicaid billing authority, Medicaid caseload and cost growth, rural health transformation staffing and implementation, child care program integrity and capacity, kinship navigation, home visiting, and IT/procurement modernization. The committee also discussed ongoing litigation affecting Medicaid procurement timelines, the move to centralized IT services, and the department’s request for additional procurement staff to help manage complex Medicaid contracts. A major portion of the hearing focused on Medicaid spending growth and the department’s response to the governor’s 4% provider rate reduction. The director said growth is being driven largely by higher utilization and intensity of services in behavioral health and disability/home-and-community-based services, including residential habilitation and residential treatment, and noted the department has identified some provider behavior concerns and referred cases to program integrity. Members asked about safeguards, assessments, and whether the department could absorb the outside contractor used for disability assessments; the director said state staffing would be too costly and the contractor should remain in place. The committee also discussed the department’s request for an additional $22 million in general funds to balance Medicaid, with the director emphasizing that the department had already taken the reductions and rescissions available to it. Other discussion covered child welfare placements, including a request for transfer authority to pay for youth served at Southwest Idaho Treatment Center when no other safe placement exists, and a request to continue paused child care capacity funds while the department completes a 360-degree review of child care providers. In welfare/self-reliance, the department outlined new costs from federal changes to SNAP administration, Medicaid expansion work requirements, and more frequent eligibility redeterminations, along with a reduction in aged, blind, and disabled funding that the department said it has routinely been able to revert. The committee did not take action on the budget items during this hearing and adjourned to the floor after the presentation and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's to support families. It's to support food shelves.
• It's to support paid family medical leave. It's to support earned sick and safe time.
• It's to freedom is to support families.
• It's support paid family medical leave.
• We have children that need services and children and families.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And gentlemen, when the federal government chooses to pull back its support for families like this across
• We're giving strong support, Mr.
• I hope this body supports it. Supports HB 1 as written. Thank you, Madam Speaker and gentlemen.
• I would consider the closure of this and the loss of jobs and the supportive work services that they
• Services Committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• Family Justice Centers, or FJCs, provide collaborative, trauma-informed wraparound services...
• Through their collaborations, they provide a wide array of services like housing assistance, legal support
• and its 26 member centers, ensuring that survivors can access the necessary supports and services all
• By improving collaboration among agencies and service providers, family justice centers help communities
• The network is a powerful alliance that strengthens and supports family justice centers across our state

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and handled several procedural matters, including referral of AB 686 to Rules, approval of motions to advance Budget and Fiscal Review Committee measures and adopt authors’ amendments, and requests to move AB 28 and AB 2539 to the inactive file. The chamber also confirmed two gubernatorial appointments: Maggie Hallahan to the Bodina Waterways Commission and Kansasaki to the Building Standards Commission. On the floor, members took up two resolutions focused on public awareness and policy messaging. SCR 181 designated June 10 as Family Justice Center Day and highlighted the work of Family Justice Centers serving survivors of domestic violence, elder abuse, child abuse, and human trafficking; it passed 36-0. SR 112 declared June 14-20 as Familial Adenomatous Polyposis Awareness Week to encourage awareness, family health-history sharing, and early screening; it also passed unanimously. SJR 18, a resolution opposing the Citizens United decision and calling for limits on corporate influence and dark money in elections, generated extended debate over campaign finance, transparency, unions, nonprofits, and corporate political spending before passing 28-8. The consent calendar was then adopted on a 35-0 vote. The session concluded with multiple adjournment-in-memory tributes, including Larry Mazzola, Sr., Steve Zaley, and James J. McClain, Sr., followed by announcements that the Senate would recess and reconvene on Monday, June 15, 2026, at 2 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• during the transition to aftercare services.
• Crisis intervention services, assist individuals with connection to mental health services, and reduce
• Families.
• wrongful family separations.
• of my family.

Summary: The Human Services Subcommittee considered three bills and reported all of them favorably. HB 1013, relating to crisis care coordination, would create a pilot program in Polk and Volusia counties to connect people who have had Baker Act-related crises with follow-up counseling, assessments, and outpatient services through partnerships between law enforcement and community providers. The sponsor said the program has reduced repeat Baker Act commitments in Polk County, and the committee adopted a strike-all amendment moving the pilot to a different statute, formalizing partnerships, and requiring an independent DCF evaluation due in January 2029. The bill drew support from mental health and justice advocates and passed unanimously. The committee then heard PCS for HB 511, which addresses child protective investigations involving specific medical diagnoses. Sponsors and several parents, attorneys, and advocates described cases in which children were removed after injuries were initially treated as abuse but later linked to conditions such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, metabolic bone disease, or other medical fragility. They argued the bill would require notice of the right to a second medical opinion, better consideration of preexisting conditions and medical records, and more coordination before reports are sent to law enforcement, while still preserving protections for abused children. Members expressed sympathy for the families and emphasized the need for fairness and accurate medical review; the bill passed 17-0. Finally, HB 1439, based on recommendations from the 2025 Commission on Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder, was presented as a broader mental health and substance use disorder measure focused on crisis response, access to care, and workforce development. An amendment aligned the bill more closely with commission recommendations, including assessment tools, trauma-informed practices, school-based behavioral health access, telehealth, discharge planning, and long-acting injectable treatment access. The commission chair testified that the bill reflected a vetted set of recommendations from subject matter experts and commissioners, and the committee adopted the amendment and then reported the bill favorably by unanimous vote. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• , support, and advocacy to Delawareans, their families, and our broader community.
• </c><00:14:32.839><c> support</c><00:14:33.279><c> and</c> direct programs Services support and direct
• programs Services support and advocacy<00:14:34.279><c> to</c><00:14:34.639><c> delawarians</c><00:14
• her or to support their family.
• . support her or to support their family support her or to support their family now<08:25:22.680><c>

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, February 12, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> research for HCAN in support on Zoom. research for HCAN in support on Zoom.
• I'm also strongly in support of this, as I ultimately believe that Hawaiʻi deserves paid family leave
• </c> have a paid family leave program, right? have a paid family leave program, right?
• I stand in support. Thanks Elevator. I stand in support.
• </c> support of this resolution. Thank you. support of this resolution. Thank you.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Right now, 1,100 young people between the ages of 18 and 21 are receiving supportive services, mentorship
• So those included supportive services for teens.
• How do we make sure they get the services within the community, within their families?
• agencies, child support, Medicaid, disability services, mental health facilities, as well as departments
• We support them in that.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We strongly support House Bill 2261.
• The administrative costs support essential services and investments that directly benefit consumers.
• support patient care.
• Regent strongly supports affordability, transparency, and ensuring that premium dollars are used to support
• While we support Washington taking action to rein in this through regulation like 2280, While we support

Summary: The committee held public hearings on House Bill 2261, which would require health care providers to wear badges showing name, credential, and relevant degrees, require similar disclosure in advertising, and restrict use of the title “physician surgeon” to certain physicians and osteopathic physicians. Supporters, including the Washington State Medical Association and patient advocates, said the bill would improve transparency and informed consent. Opponents from nurse, naturopathic, and adult family home groups argued it was overly broad, burdensome, confusing, and could harm access to care or residential home settings; several also said existing disciplinary laws already address misrepresentation. No vote was taken on HB 2261 during the hearing. The committee also heard House Bill 2283, which would raise the medical loss ratio for fully insured individual, small group, and large group health plans to 90 percent. Supporters, including small business, patient, and physician groups, said the bill would push more premium dollars toward patient care and lower costs or increase rebates. Insurers and the Office of the Insurance Commissioner warned it could destabilize the market, reduce flexibility for administrative services, and lead to carrier exits, though OIC said it was working on amendments. The bill was not voted on in the hearing. House Bill 2425, an agency-request bill on nurse delegation, would broaden what tasks registered nurses may delegate, remove some setting and training restrictions, expand emergency medication authority, and adjust liability and retaliation protections. The Board of Nursing, long-term care providers, and skilled nursing/assisted living representatives supported the bill as a modernization that could ease workforce shortages and improve care access, while the Washington State Association for Justice opposed the immunity provisions and raised patient safety concerns. The hearing ended without a vote on HB 2425. In executive session, the committee advanced several bills. HB 2110, with an amendment clarifying ambulance staffing and RN scope, passed 18-0 with one excused. HB 2113 passed 18-0 with one excused. HB 2122, as amended to require hospitals to offer flu vaccines with several flexibility and critical-access-hospital exemptions, passed 15-3 with one excused. HB 2152, as amended to require certain facilities to allow medical cannabis use for qualifying terminal patients and to add related exemptions and protections, passed 17-1 with one excused. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• the bill and, most importantly, for supporting 9/11 families.
• the bill and, most importantly, for supporting 9/11 families.
• Supporting this bill means standing with the families of the fallen, with our first responders and with
• THE BILL AND MOST IMPORTANTLY FOR SUPPORTING 9/11 FAMILIES.
• These are critical services that support the livelihoods of some of the most vulnerable Alaska Natives

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• system and to better support low-income children and their families, and to reduce child poverty in
• and support your family.
• Over the years, I talked to child support workers and family law facilitators about my arrears, but no
• In a moment of crisis, families need support and stability, not added insecurity.
• that unlawful detention is treated as a temporary absence so families don't lose basic support while

Summary: The committee heard several bills, with testimony largely focused on transparency, public health, labor enforcement, health privacy, high-speed rail oversight, and antitrust policy. AB 1544, by Assemblymember Crowell, would strengthen transparency and access to courthouses; the author said it was aimed at protecting press and public access, and the bill was pulled pending quorum. AB 1604, by Assemblymember Stephanie, would ban BPA and other bisphenols in thermal receipt paper by 2027-2028; supporters from Breast Cancer Prevention Partners, Californians Against Waste, and a broad coalition argued receipts are a major source of toxic exposure and recycling contamination, while the author said she would continue working with opposition. AB 1859, by Assemblymember Jackson, would let Joint Labor Management Committees visit public works sites to help identify wage and safety violations; labor groups supported it as a low-cost enforcement tool amid a large wage-theft backlog, while contractors and local government groups opposed it as creating private enforcement, liability, and safety concerns. The committee later took up AB 1930, by Assemblymember Burr and sponsored by Attorney General Bonta and Equality California, which would require notice to the Attorney General before certain entities respond to subpoenas or inquiries involving legally protected reproductive or gender-affirming care; supporters framed it as a patient privacy and anti-intimidation measure, while opponents said it would shield providers from scrutiny and interfere with lawful investigations. The bill was approved on a 6-2 vote and placed on call. The consent calendar, including several unrelated bills, was also approved. The committee also heard AB 1584, by Assemblymember Jackson, which would create an Office of Civil Rights within the California Air Resources Board to provide training, language access, and compliance oversight. Supporters said CARB needs a stronger legal framework and dedicated office to enforce civil rights commitments, while an opponent argued CARB already has a civil rights office and should expand existing structures instead of creating a new one. The bill was moved to Appropriations after a roll call vote. AB 1608, by Assemblymember Wilson, would expand the powers and staffing tools of the High-Speed Rail Office of the Inspector General, including public reporting requirements and authority over classifications and purchasing; supporters said stronger independent oversight is needed for the costly project, while opponents criticized the project itself and raised concerns about confidentiality and who should receive reports. The bill was also passed to Appropriations after extended discussion. Finally, AB 1776, by Assemblymember Aguiar-Curry, would revise California antitrust law to address single-firm conduct under the Cartwright Act. Supporters, including small business and labor advocates, argued dominant firms can harm competition and that the bill would protect small businesses and workers; opponents from business, biotech, retail, housing, and other sectors warned it would create legal uncertainty, expand litigation, and chill investment. The transcript ended during that bill’s testimony and debate, before a final vote was taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• Services, and Steven A.
• Services, and Steven A.
• Services, and Steven A.
• </c> management program Child and Family management program Child and Family Services<00:19:34.440><c
• </c> Services Steven A Cohen military family Services Steven A Cohen military family clinic<00:19:36.960

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House was called to order with 47 members present. After the journal reading was deferred and there were no messages from the Governor or Senate communications, members offered several introductions recognizing visiting guests, including tourism and hospitality representatives, Kahakai Elementary School students and staff from Kona, a Portuguese delegation from the Luso American Development Foundation, and other constituents and aides. The chamber then moved to floor presentations. House Resolution No. 84 was presented, commending the United States Air Force Reserve Command 624th Aeromedical Staging Squadron Medical Operations Flight for humanitarian service providing mental health support after the Maui wildfires. Representative Perck moved adoption, Representative Cochran seconded, and the resolution was read into the record describing the unit’s work with state and nonprofit partners to distribute supplies and support survivors’ emotional recovery. The House adopted the resolution by voice vote, and the motion carried. Following the presentation, the House recessed briefly so members could congratulate the honorees. When the House returned, there were no resolutions for action, and announcements included the Women’s Legislative Caucus Easter basket drive, recognition of Hawaii Iron Workers Stabilization Fund visitors, birthday greetings, and a reminder that substantive resolutions were due by 6:00 p.m. The House then voted to keep the journal open until 6:00 p.m. for resolution introductions and adjourned into recess until 12:00 noon Monday.

Transcript Highlights:

• I applaud the players, coaches, and staff, and families who supported this team every step of the way
• family through every military deployment and every move and who supported military spouses and children
• </c><02:10:08.239><c> His</c><02:10:08.400><c> service</c> his nation, and his family.
• His service his nation, and his family.
• c> support of this rule and in support of support of this rule and in support of the<02:21:42.479><c>

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• care management, community supports, behavioral health care, and essential health services.
• , like in-home supportive services and adult day health care.
• Trevor Nelson with the California Alliance of Child and Family Services.
• as well as immigration services and accessible resource support.
• These cuts ultimately hurt Black and brown as well as working families who need your support now.

Summary: The Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee held an oversight hearing on the impacts of H.R. 1 on California’s safety net, focusing on Medi-Cal and CalFresh. The chair and vice chair framed the issue as a major federal disruption that would reduce benefits and shift costs to the state, counties, hospitals, and other local systems. The first panel included the Legislative Analyst’s Office, the Department of Finance, the UC Berkeley Labor Center, and the Food Research and Action Center, each describing projected enrollment losses, higher state and county costs, and implementation challenges. The LAO outlined H.R. 1’s main changes: new and expanded work requirements, more frequent eligibility redeterminations, restrictions on certain non-citizen eligibility, and financing changes affecting provider taxes and federal matching rates. The LAO estimated that 1 to 2 million people could be disenrolled from Medi-Cal and more than 600,000 could lose CalFresh, with additional costs from reduced federal support and possible state and county administrative burdens. The Department of Finance said the Governor’s budget includes about $1.4 billion General Fund in 2026-27 to respond to H.R. 1, with larger out-year reductions in federal funds and projected Medi-Cal caseload losses of up to 2 million by 2029-30. The UC Berkeley Labor Center projected up to 3 million Californians could lose full-scope Medi-Cal by 2028 when H.R. 1 is combined with state budget changes, while noting the state could choose policies that would reduce some of those losses. The Food Research and Action Center warned that CalFresh cuts and time limits would increase hunger, worsen health outcomes, and strain local economies and emergency systems. Members questioned the witnesses about procedural disenrollments, regional variation, the overall growth in Medi-Cal spending, the future of the MCO tax, the CalFresh error rate, and the downstream effects on hospitals and county indigent care. Several senators argued that the federal law was driven by tax cuts for high-income earners and would disproportionately harm low-income Californians, immigrants, and communities of color. Administration witnesses said some impacts are still being analyzed, that counties and departments are working on implementation, and that the Legislature may need to use statute, reporting, and oversight tools as federal guidance develops. No votes or formal actions were taken during this portion of the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• he needs that are provided through home and community-based services and, more importantly, supported
• And more importantly, supported living.
• It is time to fund supported living.
• Military service, civil service, public service like yours, all of which demand substantive and significant
• And for the gentleman who said relief for families, please consider relief for everyone in every family

Summary: The committee heard House Bill 1001, sponsored by Representative Les Eaves, which would lower Arkansas’s personal income tax rate to 3.7% retroactive to the current year and reduce the corporate income tax rate to 4.1% beginning in 2027. Eaves argued the bill continued a decade-long strategy of broad-based tax relief, would help working families, and would keep Arkansas competitive with other states. He said the measure would reduce future surpluses rather than cut current services, and noted the average taxpayer could see roughly $800 to $1,000 in annual savings from recent tax changes. Several witnesses testified against the bill. Arkansas Appleseed’s Anna Morchetti, Missy Wyatt Joyce, Pastor Preston Clegg, Michelle Pedro of the Arkansas Coalition of Marshallese, and Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families’ Pete Guest all argued the state should prioritize funding for public schools, health care, supported living services, food assistance, rural hospitals, and early childhood education instead of further tax cuts. They said Arkansas faces significant unmet needs, including underfunded schools, food insecurity, and shortages in disability and community-based services, and warned the tax cut would mainly benefit higher earners while reducing resources for essential programs. After testimony, the committee limited debate time for witnesses to five minutes. Representative Eaves closed by saying the state had been responsible in prior tax cuts and that the bill would return money to taxpayers without reducing services. Representative Bray also spoke in support, saying the legislature has continued to fund major priorities while still providing tax relief to working families. The committee then voted to pass the bill, and HB 1001 was approved.

Transcript Highlights:

• that support LGBT plus youth mental health services.
• We have appropriate mental health support services for our students, appropriately promoted, but this
• So, Assembly Bill 1324 makes sure that support is there when families need it the most.
• Assembly Bill 346 by Assemblymember Nguyen, an act relating to Supportive Services.
• So again, I'm glad to hear the support for single-family zoned units.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and their families during their period of active state duty, lease termination, enabling service members
• The Missouri National Guard Association represents service members, retirees, and families across the
• The Missouri National Guard Association represents service members, retirees, and families across the
• They maintain civil careers, support their families, and contribute to their communities, while also
• Measures like these support stability for family members, strengthen readiness, and reflect Missouri's

Summary: The committee first heard House Bills 1993 and 2771, both sponsored by Reps. Irwin and Boykin, which would extend Servicemembers Civil Relief Act-style protections to Missouri National Guard members when they are called to state emergency duty. The sponsors and supporting witnesses said the bills would help Guard members with issues like eviction, lease termination, debt collection, and civil court proceedings while they are serving, and would align state law with federal protections already available to active-duty service members. Committee members generally expressed support, noting the financial strain on Guard members and their civilian employers, and witnesses from the Missouri National Guard Association and the Guard itself said the bills would provide clarity and stability. No opposition was presented, and the hearing ended without a vote in the transcript. The committee then heard House Bill 1869, which would create a grant program administered by the Missouri Veterans Commission to help repair and reset damaged veteran grave markers in private and public cemeteries when the damage is caused by natural events. Rep. Roberts explained the bill was prompted by a constituent’s experience with a deteriorated headstone, and members asked about eligibility, whether the money would go to families or cemeteries, and whether vandalism or non-cemetery graves would be covered. The sponsor said the bill was aimed at natural causes and family-member applications, though he was open to suggestions for expansion. The Veterans Commission director supported the concept but warned the agency lacked funding and staffing to take on another program without additional appropriations; members also raised broader concerns about underfunding the commission. No formal action or vote was taken in the transcript. After the bill hearings, the committee received informational testimony from Retrieving Freedom, a Missouri-based service dog organization, and from Compass Health on firearm suicide prevention. Retrieving Freedom described its training of service dogs for veterans and children with autism, including demonstrations of tasks such as grounding, retrieving items, and helping with mobility, and said it had a waiting list but was expanding its work in Missouri. Compass Health discussed its firearm suicide prevention grant work, emphasizing community-based education and conversations about safe access to lethal means rather than confiscation. These presentations were informational only and did not involve committee action.

Transcript Highlights:

• These are resources and supports that families simply cannot provide on their own when caring for a high-needs
• 00:58:47.280><c> families</c> resources and supports that families resources and supports that families
• Um, and was very diligent in working with us and patient, and just a huge support. know, insurance service
• and from the um and from their families and from the support<01:07:16.160><c> systems</c><01:07:16.559
• Carmen Hancock, Division Director for Long-Term Services and Supports.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee approved the October 22, 2025 minutes and then heard a presentation from the Child Fatality and Near Fatality External Review Panel on accidental ingestion of illegal drug products by children. Panel members said pediatric ingestions have become the most common case type they review, with the highest-risk children ages one to four, and that fatal cases have increased in recent years. They reported that the substances most often involved are fentanyl, cannabinoids including THC products, methamphetamine, and increasingly xylazine; they also noted a decline in buprenorphine-related ingestions, which they viewed as a positive trend. The panel used several case examples to highlight recurring problems in investigations and medical response, including delayed DCBS involvement, failure to administer Narcan, inadequate drug testing, lack of child abuse team involvement, and limited or absent law enforcement investigation. They said law enforcement issues are especially common in pediatric ingestion cases and are concentrated in Jefferson County and the Bluegrass/KIPA regions. One example involved a one-year-old who died from fentanyl and Benadryl intoxication; another involved a two-year-old who died after ingesting multiple substances; and a third involved a four-year-old with near-fatal THC gummy ingestion where delayed treatment worsened the child’s condition. They also described a 10-month-old THC ingestion case that resulted in a criminal abuse conviction, which they presented as an example without missed investigative opportunities. Committee members discussed possible policy responses, including creating a more specific criminal child abuse offense or clarifying existing abuse and neglect definitions to cover unsafe access to illegal drugs, while preserving room for true accidents and prescribed medications. Members also raised the need for statewide standardization in reporting, investigation, and medical response, and suggested the panel should be able to call in agencies such as law enforcement, DCBS, judges, and hospitals for closed-session review of selected cases. The panel chair said they were already pursuing meetings with LMPD and would provide Jefferson County-specific breakdowns, and members expressed interest in additional data and agency follow-up before considering legislation.

Transcript Highlights:

• , so we are supportive of this bill.
• For students with strong counselor and family support, this process may feel manageable.
• Please support Senate Bill 6052 to support Washington State students. Thank you. Thank you.
• In Pierce County, we support the Joint Base, and we enroll many families currently who are military.
• care access, and limited extended family support.

Bills: SB6052, SB6051, SB5907, SB5860, SB5574

Keywords: digital transcript, transcript sharing, student records, education data exchange, K-12, higher education, community colleges, universities, school districts, charter schools, state-tribal education compact schools, educational service districts, data interoperability, secure platform, student consent, FERPA, privacy, education technology, records management, transcript standard

Transcript Highlights:

• But to support this bill is to support our families.
• So when we're thinking about this bill, we're thinking about how it supports ...supports our family,
• Loss of contact visits, loss of family contact, loss of community support, fines, fees, etc.
• They felt alienated from their social networks and their family, unsure of how to support them after
• The opportunity to build a family, advance my music career, build organizations, and provide support

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The hearing before the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security focused on several correction-related bills, including visitation reform, elder and medical parole, incarcerated persons’ human rights, and creation of an independent correctional oversight office. Vice Chair Christopher Worrell chaired the hearing in place of Chair Dan Cahill for much of the session and explained that the committee would first hear from incarcerated individuals remotely, then move to public testimony. The committee repeatedly enforced three-minute limits and accepted written testimony as well. Much of the testimony from incarcerated people emphasized that visitation is central to rehabilitation, family stability, and reentry, and that current DOC policies—visitor caps, pre-approval requirements, scheduling rules, dress-code enforcement, and restrictions on contact—have reduced family contact and caused harm. Several speakers argued that elderly and medically frail prisoners should be released through parole because incarceration is costly, ineffective, and inhumane for people who pose little public-safety risk. Others described poor prison conditions, limited programming, inadequate healthcare, segregation-like housing, and the impact of K2 use, suicides, and self-harm. Supporters of the oversight bill said an independent office is needed to address racial disparities, grievance failures, and lack of accountability within the DOC. A number of speakers tied their support to personal experiences, including alleged racial discrimination, denial of programs, and barriers to family visits. Some testified that rehabilitative programming, education, and restorative justice reduce violence and improve outcomes, while others said the DOC spends too little on programming and too much on punishment. Committee members asked a few follow-up questions, including about K2 contraband and how to reduce drugs in facilities, and one member asked about typical visitation lengths. No votes were taken during the hearing; the committee heard testimony on the bills and several witnesses urged favorable reports.