Transcript Highlights:

• Unfortunately, at this point, many licensed operators are saying the same thing: the most compliant operators
• Lynn Silver, Public Health Institute.
• and a public health institute.
• a public health institute.
• AB 2402 provides operators what they need to continue investing in California's health and wellness.

Summary: The Assembly Business and Professions Committee heard a long agenda of bills, with several cannabis-related measures drawing the most testimony. AB 1598 would extend and standardize licensing timelines for behavioral health professionals, AB 1850 would clarify that real estate wholesalers are subject to licensure and disclosure rules, AB 1794 would allow enteral formula to be shipped directly to patients’ homes, and AB 2402 would update an old cap on fees for multi-service health club studios. The committee also heard AB 1990 on compounded GLP-1 drugs, AB 2249 on cannabis packaging attractive to children, AB 2532 on cannabis beverage serving sizes, AB 2537 on prioritizing cannabis enforcement, and AB 1826 on due process protections for cannabis businesses facing embargoes or recalls. Testimony was generally split between public health or consumer-protection advocates and industry representatives. Supporters of the cannabis bills argued for clearer rules, better consumer safety, and more predictable enforcement, while opponents warned that some proposals could overreach, burden compliant businesses, or restrict legitimate branding and access. On AB 1990, supporters said compounded GLP-1 products need stronger testing and truthful advertising, while pharmacists and compounding advocates said existing law already covers much of the conduct and that the bill could create access problems. On AB 2249 and AB 2532, public health witnesses emphasized risks to children and accidental overconsumption, while industry groups sought narrower language and more implementation time. The committee took several roll-call votes after quorum was established. AB 2249, AB 1826, AB 2402, AB 1794, and AB 2532 were all approved and sent to Appropriations, and AB 1826 was sent to Judiciary. The chair and members repeatedly noted accepted committee amendments and, in several cases, said they were prepared to support the bills with those amendments. Some measures were left open or held pending further action as the hearing continued.

Transcript Highlights:

• DHHS operating budget. And then the teal DHHS operating budget.
• outreach programs surrounding Alzheimer's and dementia to promote brain health and reduce risk of cognitive
• </c> and other chronic health conditions. and other chronic health conditions.
• We also had Wendy present on the completed brain health awareness campaign that the legislature funded
• So those preventative steps that you can take regarding your brain health, getting sleep, eating a healthy

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first handled routine business, including roll call and approval of the prior meeting minutes, with one member abstaining because of absence and one member opposing. The main informational items were a Department of Health and Human Services update on the rural health transformation grant and a public health briefing on vaccines, followed by a quarterly budget and staffing update and an annual report from the Permanent Subcommittee on Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Related Dementias. Commissioner Lori Weaver reported that the department submitted the rural health transformation grant application on November 4, described it as reflecting input from communities and providers statewide, and said CMS review and budget negotiations would follow before final approval on December 31. She said the grant could support hiring as long as administrative costs stay within the 10% cap, and that the governor’s office will oversee administration with HHS. Ian Watt then testified that New Hampshire remains committed to vaccine access, including through the universal purchase program and annual respiratory virus guidance for flu, RSV, and COVID-19. He said the state continues to use evidence-based review for vaccine policy, noted the CDC’s change regarding the combined MMRV vaccine for the first dose in young children, and said New Hampshire’s school vaccine mandates remain at nine for schoolchildren and 10 for child care, with statutory exemptions still in place. Department staff also said there have been no supply or funding problems affecting childhood vaccine access. Nathan White, the department’s CFO, reviewed the DHHS budget and vacancy trends. He said DHHS makes up a large share of the state budget, that about 31% of its budget is general funds subject to lapse, and that lapse projections are difficult because much of the budget is driven by utilization rather than personnel. He reported current projected general fund lapse of just under $20 million, compared with about $39 million in the statewide surplus statement, and explained that only about a third of DHHS general funds can actually lapse because of statutory restrictions. He also said the department has about 400 unfunded positions, contributing to roughly a $30 million general fund reduction across the biennium, and that the hiring freeze has pushed vacancy trends upward while critical direct-care positions are being prioritized. The Alzheimer’s subcommittee reported six meetings this year, presentations on state services, silver alerts, brain health awareness, and palliative/hospice care, and work toward a new state Alzheimer’s plan. The subcommittee is developing a needs-assessment survey for people living with dementia, caregivers, and service providers, with the goal of using the results and other data sources to inform the plan. Its recommendations focus on integrating Alzheimer’s and dementia materials into chronic disease and aging outreach, embedding brain health into systems of care, adding cognitive health measures to BRFSS, and continuing partnerships with statewide organizations. Members also discussed recent research and prevention efforts, and the committee noted that a separate bill is being pursued to include Alzheimer’s and dementia in existing public health awareness campaigns.

Transcript Highlights:

• But programs like school-based health, behavioral health, youth diversion, gang reduction strategies,
• Is to ensure the utmost health for themselves and loved ones, as well as the safety of health professionals
• Microplastics to serious health risks.
• More specifically the bill requires that the operating system so Google or Apple or the operating system
• So the operating system knows her.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And actually, Visit California operates with a mission.
• Visit California operates with a mission to develop global programs that inspire travel to and within
• So when we talk about visitation and spending and operational expenses, these are really smaller operations
• It is a public health emergency for San Diego County.
• In 2023, it was declared a public health emergency by the county, 18 mayors in our entire community.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism held an informational hearing on the state of California tourism amid declining international visitation and broader economic and political headwinds. Visit California CEO Caroline Betetta said the industry remains a major economic driver, with 2024 visitor spending of $157 billion, 1.2 million jobs supported, and $12.7 billion in state and local tax revenue, but warned that 2025 forecasts show the first post-pandemic decline in visitation, driven largely by a projected 9.2% drop in international travel. She cited concerns about the strong dollar, visa wait times, border and immigration rhetoric, and a proposed federal visa integrity fee, while emphasizing Visit California’s marketing campaigns and the importance of upcoming mega-events like the World Cup and 2028 Olympics. A second panel of destination leaders described local impacts and strategies. Visit Sacramento’s Mike Testa said the city has diversified beyond conventions into music festivals, sports, and food events, but noted that international apprehension is affecting events like Terra Madre Americas and that California should do more to incentivize major festivals to stay in-state. Santa Monica Travel and Tourism’s Lauren Salisbury said the city is seeing lower international visitation, especially from Canada, Australia, and Europe, and that wildfire coverage and later federal troop presence in Los Angeles hurt local sentiment and caused cancellations. Yosemite Sierra Visitors Bureau’s Rhonda Salisbury reported steep drops in international visitation to the gateway region, ongoing concerns about wildfire, reservations, insurance costs, and park access, and praised a new federal requirement for quarterly meetings between national parks and gateway communities. San Diego Tourism Authority COO Carrie Verbeck-Cappich said tourism is the region’s second-largest sector, but 2025 is softer than 2024, with spending down despite modest visitation growth. She pointed to weaker Canadian and Asian travel, government-related meeting cancellations, and the need for more support to bid on and host major events; she also highlighted border-crossing delays, insufficient federal staffing at ports of entry, and the Tijuana River sewage crisis as major regional issues. Committee members discussed the effects of federal rhetoric, infrastructure, and cross-border conditions on tourism, and several witnesses urged continued support for Visit California, Brand USA, event incentives, and efforts to present California as welcoming and open. Public comment then opened, beginning with testimony from the California Attractions and Parks Association.

Transcript Highlights:

• Number one, MLPs operate as nonprofits with no shareholders.
• As a parent, it is my job to protect my children's health.
• and their health, their school district and their health, their finances and their health.
• A basic human health right.
• has zero negative health effects.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on a range of energy, utility, broadband, and municipal infrastructure bills. Representative Powell supported H 3466, which would create a task force to study public ownership of utilities and alternatives to investor-owned electric and gas systems. Representative Therber supported H 3574, which would use RGGI funds to reimburse cities and towns affected by power plant decommissioning, citing lost jobs, tax revenue, and service cuts in communities such as Somerset, Plymouth, Salem, and Everett. Several witnesses from municipal light plants and related organizations testified in support of mutual aid bills, including H 3486/S 2252 and H 3330/S 2277, saying the measures would clarify protections and liability coverage for MLP workers assisting in emergencies and non-emergency work. Jim Leiden of EMWIC opposed H 3514/S 2295, saying the proposed board and governance changes would reduce local control, add burdens, and weaken confidentiality protections. A committee member asked whether the mutual aid bills had been reviewed for municipal impacts, and the witnesses said they had done due diligence. The committee also heard extensive testimony on H 3551/S 2306, the smart meter opt-out bills. Supporters argued that smart meters emit harmful wireless radiation, that some residents have developed health problems or electromagnetic sensitivity, and that opt-outs should be available without fees or penalties; several witnesses urged notification, consent, and non-transmitting analog meter options. The committee also heard testimony from municipal officials and the Massachusetts Municipal Association in support of H 3462/S 2250, which would strengthen municipal authority to enforce timely removal of double utility poles, citing safety, accessibility, and construction-delay concerns. Derek Leffert of Gateway Fiber opposed H 3450, saying it would improperly shift broadband deployment costs to competitors. At the end of testimony, the chair closed the hearing by motion and vote, with members voting aye and no opposition recorded.

Transcript Highlights:

• health care spending.
• We are living longer, but we are also spending more years in poor health, navigating serious health conditions
• and a complex health care system.
• outcomes, and shorter life and health spans.
• This makes healthy aging a public health and equity issue.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:07:19.240><c> injury</c> there's some people with a brain injury there's some people with a brain
• </c> completed on time navigating health completed on time navigating health insurance<00:14:42.959><
• outcomes the care is going to be Health outcomes the care is going to be there<00:15:19.199><c> all<
• to the Health and Human Services Services Services committee<00:15:47.160><c> this</c><00:15:47.279>
• </c> report feeling long-term mental health report feeling long-term mental health problems<00:16:09.360

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Their presence here today is a powerful reminder of the deep and enduring contributions that Chinese
• The Sam Yup Benevolent Association, like the broader Chinese six companies, has been a symbol of endurance
• We honor their enduring legacy of resilience, leadership, and community service, and thank them for joining
• not-so-young people throughout the years helped ignite the careers of many consultants, political operatives

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• there truly is spring fever members it there truly is spring fever members it kids<00:05:34.000><c> brains
• I think a child that endures something like that and returns to the classroom with the child sitting
• I think a child that endures jeopardy.
• I think a child that endures something<01:40:38.480><c> like</c><01:40:38.719><c> that</c><01:40:38.960
• Uh, Article 6 is our health and nutrition section. Um, which I really like this section.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• This legislation creates a new section of law governing the operation of UTVs on certain roadways and
• It clarifies that a UTV can only be operated on designated two-lane county roads or municipal streets
• It provides that a UTV may only operate on a state highway system for purposes of crossing a roadway
• and authorizes FDOT to prohibit the operation of UTVs on state roadways.
• They operate differently, and for that reason, we stand in opposition. Thank you. Thank you.

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development met with a quorum present and considered two bills. The first, CS for SB 88 by Senator Wright, would create a framework for local governments to allow or prohibit utility terrain vehicles (UTVs) on certain low-speed roads, define UTV equipment and driver requirements, and make violations noncriminal traffic infractions. An amendment was adopted to correct the insurance requirement to match automobile-style minimums of $10,000 personal injury and $10,000 property damage liability. Testimony on SB 88 was divided. The Florida Justice Association and the Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association opposed the bill, arguing UTVs are designed for off-road use, do not meet federal safety standards, and could increase crash risk on public roads; Honda’s letter was cited as opposing road use. Supporters, including the sponsor and agencies waiving in support, argued the bill would address an existing loophole, provide insurance and licensing requirements, and help rural users and law enforcement by creating a clear legal pathway. Senators raised concerns about nighttime visibility, taillight spacing, speed limits, and whether the bill should be more restrictive, but the committee ultimately voted to report CS for SB 88 favorably. The committee then heard SB 274 by Senator Arrington, which designates a portion of International Drive in Orange County as Harris Rosen Way in honor of hotelier and philanthropist Harris Rosen. The sponsor and several senators praised Rosen’s business success, philanthropy, and support for education, cancer research, veterans, and the Central Florida community. There was no opposition, and the bill was reported favorably by roll call vote. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• call to action that can lead to increased park usage, stronger community connections, and better health
• Remain in effect for 10 years, underscoring the county's enduring connection to marriage and its special
• substitute for this concurrent resolution which changes the time frame of 70 years to 90 years of operation
• We were talking about some bills that we're working in in Health and Human Services.
• um, yeah, he's a great guy and has been a, a, a, a, a strong voice for a long time on, uh, mental health

Transcript Highlights:

• She said there was a group called Operation Hug the Block.
• Our current system too often operates under a gotcha mentality.
• </c><01:14:00.880><c> and</c> licensing should be about health and licensing should be about health and
• </c> we remember the fact that 80% of brain we remember the fact that 80% of brain development<01:30:
• </c> uh and have permanent brain damage. uh and have permanent brain damage. their their their uh<01:

Bills: HF1918, HF2305, HF897, HF2191, HF2617, HF2551, HF2137

Keywords: HF1918, Department of Children Youth and Families, DCYF, child welfare, foster care, out-of-home placement, permanency planning, relative search, noncustodial parent, kinship care, family preservation, African American Child and Family Well-Being, racial disproportionality, maltreatment reporting, educational neglect, truancy, school attendance, Great Start compensation, child care provider payments, TEACH early childhood program

Transcript Highlights:

• It directs Ecology to develop And health disparities among all state residents.
• health risks, but Health involvement depends entirely on whether an Ecology site manager knows to connect
• or local health departments.
• Part of it is if there's a health risk.
• of Health.

Summary: The I-900 Subcommittee held a public hearing on the State Auditor’s performance audit, Community Engagement During Contaminated Site Cleanups. Auditors said Ecology directly conducts or supervises cleanup at only about 8% of active contaminated sites, while most sites are handled by third parties or have no cleanup plan yet. The audit found that Ecology generally met legal requirements at the sites it oversees, but community engagement varied, was not consistently tailored to local needs, and lacked a systematic “lessons learned” process. Auditors also found inconsistent coordination between Ecology and the Department of Health, and limited guidance for staff on when to collaborate. Tribal feedback was mixed: some tribes said engagement met their needs, while others wanted earlier and more tailored outreach. Committee members pressed the auditors on why many third-party-managed sites appeared to have little or no public involvement, and whether Ecology has broader authority to require public engagement and oversight. The auditors responded that their review focused on community engagement requirements, not the full cleanup permitting process, and said the gap they identified was the lack of required oversight for third-party engagement. Members also asked about tribal engagement, exposure scenarios, and the meaning of “active” and “planless” sites. Ecology officials said they agreed with many of the findings, were already taking steps to improve community research, lessons-learned reviews, tribal guidance, and coordination with Health, and had recently launched a public email notification system for site status changes. They also said some recommendations would require additional funding or staff resources. Public testimony supported stronger community engagement and more resources for Ecology. Washington Conservation Action said contaminated sites disproportionately affect communities of color and low-income communities, praised the audit for highlighting the need for better site-specific engagement, and urged full funding for MTCA-related work. The hearing ended with the chair inviting written comments and adjourning the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:25:32.480><c> and</c> start taking a toll on your health and start taking a toll on your health
• And so for these SSA's operating funds.
• </c> F-16s, both training and operational. F-16s, both training and operational.
• This gives the 132nd operational runway.
• </c> board of trustees at UNCC Health Lenor. board of trustees at UNCC Health Lenor.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Thursday, July 23, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:24:06.000><c> by</c> nonprofit. 97% are operated by nonprofit. 97% are operated by corporations
• living with brain injury.
• </c><01:44:40.960><c> I'm</c> operating what that looks like. I'm operating what that looks like.
• Department of Health. This puts it in in Department of Health.
• </c><02:16:47.439><c> So,</c> with the Department of Health. So, with the Department of Health.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So it will start with middle school, where their brain is really forming and they have become addicted
• Pressure on our health system. Thank you very much. Thank you.
• Thank you. pressure on our health system. Thank you very much. Thank you.
• Several vertebrae fractured, a partially severed spinal cord, and a brain injury.
• Those districts move money out of operational in order to cover transportation. ...money out of operational

Bills: SB23, SB73, SB210, SB234, SB243, SB244, SM16

Keywords: student use, wireless devices, public schools, policy implementation, education technology funding, driver education, driver's ed, driving school, motorcycle safety, traffic safety, vulnerable road users, pedestrian safety, bicycle safety, cyclist, bike lane, micromobility, scooter, moped, motorcycle training, DWI prevention

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> that could lead to severe Health that could lead to severe Health complications<01:09:57.560><c>
• It'll improve health outcomes.
• And lastly, it will enhance health care efficiency.
• It'll improve health outcomes.
• </c> are diagnosed with a serious health are diagnosed with a serious health condition<01:13:29.760><

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Camacho, a little bit different this time, is our resident physician at UT Health Science Center, at
• Bob Fu of Midland has endured numerous acts of repression, hundreds of threats, chanting outside his
• Additional permitting operation requirements through the Railroad Commission and facility air quality
• In short, we're telling natural gas, which places tremendous... ...and wind to expand and operate in
• legislative solutions that improve Texas mental health.

Summary: The Senate opened with an invocation, messages from the House, and several recognitions, including county day delegations from Fayette, LaSalle, Jim Hogg, Austin, and others, as well as a recognition of Rob Keppel for his career with the Texas District and County Attorneys Association. The chamber also adopted several resolutions, including SR 429 designating October 2025 as RET Syndrome Awareness Month and SR 432 honoring Rob Keppel. A doctor-of-the-day introduction and a public announcement about free skin checks were also made. The Senate then took up and passed several bills. SB 1152, creating the offense of continuous manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance, passed after suspension of the rules. SB 1868, regulating kratom and related substances, was amended to prohibit smokeable kratom products and kratom pills and to clarify THC variants such as Delta-8 and Delta-10, then passed. SB 1349, creating offenses for transnational repression and unauthorized enforcement of foreign law, drew debate over a failed amendment that would have added election misinformation and foreign meddling; the bill ultimately passed unanimously. SB 2037, expediting review of LNG environmental permits, passed after amendments clarifying fees and deadlines, with opposition focused on its energy-policy implications. SB 1164, addressing emergency detention and court-ordered inpatient mental health treatment, passed after a drafting-error correction and discussion of the bill’s basis in recommendations from the Texas Judicial Commission on Mental Health. The Senate also advanced SB 2743 on prosecution of certain election offenses, which would allow a court process to disqualify a local prosecutor who repeatedly refuses to prosecute election cases and appoint the Attorney General; it passed to engrossment amid questions about evidence and local discretion. SB 1299, protecting nonprofit members, supporters, volunteers, and donors from disclosure by public agencies, passed unanimously. SB 2349, exempting certain short-term leases and temporary tenancies from floodplain notice requirements, passed unanimously. SB 2788, adding PSAT and pre-ACT scores for Texas Success Initiative exemptions and clarifying dual-credit eligibility, passed unanimously after amendment. SB 843, creating a TEA database of school district bonds, taxes, and bond-related projects and adding charter schools, passed after amendments on funding and scope. Finally, SB 1832, allowing parents to transfer a student who was victimized by a public school employee to another campus, passed to engrossment after extended debate over whether the bill should also cover private schools and how it would interact with school choice and ESA policy. SB 39, revising the admission rule in commercial motor vehicle collision cases, was laid out and debated over its effect on negligent entrustment and related evidence, with the author emphasizing that the bill preserves the bifurcated trial structure and does not alter other admissibility rules.

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 716 relating to health. First up, we have Baron Health in support. Dr.
• health.
• </c> public health or environmental health. public health or environmental health. you<00:35:05.359><
• Department of Health. Okay. not support. Department of Health.
• YT Health providing comments. comments. YT Health providing comments.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee opened its Health and Human Services calendar, noted quorum, and first took up HB 194. The chair explained amendments to add an exemption for a person invited by a patient to attend a birth outside an accredited birth facility when no compensation is involved, remove a date reference in section 9, and accept Department of Health amendments. Members raised no objections, and the committee voted to pass HB 194 with amendments. The committee then heard HB 139 on insurance, with the Attorney General flagging possible unlawful delegation issues and suggesting clarifying language, while the Insurance Division stood on written testimony. A number of health organizations and advocates, including HMSA, Hawaii Association of Health Plans, oncology and fertility groups, testified in support. HB 613 on homeless youth drew broad support from state agencies, counties, youth advocates, and community groups; testimony emphasized the need for permanent safe spaces and more attention to unaccompanied minors, with one witness asking for clarity on funding and shelter capacity. HB 71 on a tax credit for family caregivers drew support from AARP, Alzheimer’s and children’s advocates, and several individuals, while the Tax Foundation raised concerns about blank provisions and the cost-effectiveness of administering a small credit. The Department of Taxation said a prior version with a $5,000 nonrefundable credit would have cost the general fund about $397.4 million. HB 716 on health care technology support received strong support from SHPDA, OHIN, and many provider groups, who described it as a one-time investment of roughly $20–25 million to connect rural and neighbor island providers to electronic health records; members questioned how the grant program would be allocated. HB 799 on physician hospital privileges also drew mixed testimony: supporters said it would align Hawaii with updated CMS rules and improve access, especially on Maui, while Maui Health and some members worried it could reduce on-call coverage and hospital safety, leading to discussion of a possible report and sunset date.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'd like to call the Senate Health and Welfare Committee to order at this time.
• The purpose of this legislation is to safeguard the health of Idaho's most vulnerable.
• I want to begin with the risks to reproductive health.
• It is a necessary public health safeguard. Thank you. Thanks for listening.
• The Southwest District Health was the first health agency in the world to defund the jab and its promotion

Summary: The Senate Health and Welfare Committee approved the February 10, 2026 minutes and then took up Senate Bill 1346, a measure proposing a two-year pause on mRNA-based COVID-19 products for pregnant women and children. Senator Shippey presented the bill as a targeted safety pause to allow more long-term review, saying it was not a blanket ban and that amendments were likely needed to clarify the bill’s language and the process for reviewing safety data. He also said the committee should send the bill to the 14th order for possible amendments. The committee heard extensive testimony both for and against the bill. Supporters, including Nicholas Holster, Christina Parks, James Thorpe, Laura Dembray, Xavier Figueroa, and several others, argued that mRNA products are unsafe, described them as gene therapy, and cited alleged harms to fertility, pregnancy, children, and broader health outcomes. Opponents, including physician Stephen Montemot, Primo Castro of the Biotechnology Innovation Organization, and parent Stephanie Neymour, argued that mRNA vaccines are not gene therapy, that the bill would restrict parental choice and access to medical care, and that decisions should remain with patients and doctors. Committee members also questioned the bill’s definitions, the legislature’s ability to review scientific data, the scope of the exemption for cancer and genetic disorder therapies, and whether the measure would affect other vaccines. After debate, members expressed mixed views: some supported further work on the bill, while others raised concerns about government overreach, the breadth of the definitions, and whether the legislature had the expertise or mechanism to evaluate safety data. Senator Lenny moved to send SB 1346 to the 14th order for possible amendments, and the motion passed by roll call vote, 5-4. The committee then adjourned.