Transcript Highlights:

• I've got, um, gosh, close to 40 years of health care experience, long-term care industry, and population
• I've got um gosh,<00:06:13.720><c> close</c><00:06:14.000><c> to</c><00:06:14.400><c> 40</c><00:06:14.680
• ><c> years</c><00:06:15.040><c> of</c><00:06:15.160><c> health</c><00:06:15.400><c> care</c> gosh, close
• to 40 years of health care gosh, close to 40 years of health care experience,<00:06:16.840><c> long-term
• care providers we have out primary care providers we have out through<00:18:23.160><c> all</c><00:18

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The subcommittee held its first meeting to discuss creating a Healthcare Transparency Dashboard focused largely on Kentucky Medicaid. Members introduced themselves and described their interest in using data transparency to improve policy, access to care, and program efficiency. The co-chairs said the dashboard should begin with a basic framework and expand over time, with a mission centered on collaboratively designing and maintaining a secure, data-driven dashboard housed with the Legislative Research Commission. Discussion focused on what should be measured and how data should be organized. Members agreed the dashboard should segment Medicaid populations rather than aggregate them, with separate attention to aged and disabled enrollees, expansion adults, and children. Suggested measures included emergency department utilization and follow-up, cancer screenings, child and adolescent well visits, adult well visits, postpartum care, newborn screenings and follow-ups, hospitalization and readmission rates, pharmacy, behavioral health, and claims data. Several members emphasized the need to include demographic and geographic information, while noting some items such as education may not be readily available in Medicaid data and that HIPAA and access issues will affect how detailed the public-facing dashboard can be. Members also discussed existing data sources and warned against duplicating work already being done by the cabinet, the Office of Data Analytics, CMS scorecards, and university Medicaid directed payment reporting. The group was encouraged to review the Medicaid and CHIP scorecard, which includes quality, administrative, and program characteristic measures, as a possible model. No formal votes were taken, but the subcommittee agreed to continue refining the mission statement, identify priority metrics, and consider benchmarking, outcomes, data-sharing, and technical platform issues before the next meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• VA-accredited CVSOs, claims agents, and attorneys are the primary means for veterans to receive assistance
• means for veterans to receive primary means for veterans to receive assistance<00:25:20.000><c> when
• Many are underemployed or unemployed, and they are dependent upon SSDI as their primary source of income
• advocates, we also included another provision which configures the disclosure requirements at the close
• </c> requirements at the close of the bill. requirements at the close of the bill.

Committee: Senate Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development - Subcommittee on Veterans

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It was on the primary ballot as it passed the House. Single subject as it passed the Senate.
• It was on the primary ballot as it passed the House. It was moved to the general ballot.
• We changed it from primary to general because of the percentage of voters.
• To the primary election. But I'm certainly open to discussing.
• Change the primary to the general deal? I remember there being conversation about it.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The conference committee on House Concurrent Resolution 4007 met to discuss whether the proposed constitutional amendment on single-subject ballot measures should appear on the primary or general election ballot. House members explained the change to the general ballot as a way to reach more voters and improve turnout, while others noted the prime sponsor preferred the primary ballot to avoid placing too many measures on one ballot and creating voter fatigue or a blanket “no” response. Members expressed mixed views. Some favored the general election because constitutional amendments should be decided by the largest possible electorate; others worried that multiple ballot measures could affect how voters evaluate each proposal, especially with other measures such as the 60% amendment and term-limit-related changes also pending. The committee also discussed prior sessions’ experience with combining multiple resolutions and the decision this year to separate them so each could stand on its own merits. No vote was taken. Representative Steiner asked for more time to consider the issue, and the committee agreed to continue the discussion at a later meeting. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> One of the things though I want to ask specifically, and I probably would have kept my mouth closed
• and I probably would have kept<00:23:26.159><c> my</c><00:23:26.320><c> mouth</c><00:23:26.640><c> closed
• if</c><00:23:27.039><c> it</c><00:23:27.200><c> hadn't</c><00:23:27.360><c> been</c> kept my mouth closed
• if it hadn't been kept my mouth closed if it hadn't been for<00:23:27.679><c> this,</c><00:23:29.039
• the bill and such, and that is that, uh, so this goes beyond, although sexual risk avoidance is a primary

Committee: House Education Policy

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Hearing none, public testimony is closed.
• Hearing none, public testimony is now closed.
• Hearing none, public testimony is closed.
• It's a long way across 15th Street, especially when it's closed.
• Hearing none, public testimony is closed.

Committee: Senate Administration

Transcript Highlights:

• health system which we can, you know, we can adjust appropriately—who needs social workers, who needs primary
• health system which we can, you know, we can adjust appropriately—who needs social workers, who needs primary
• have our social health system which we can adjust appropriately—who needs social workers, who needs primary
• Matt works very closely with all of the supervisors and goes through the whole process with them.
• And I also wanted to say that enir fantastic human traffic for has been working closely with all of the

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Unfortunately, this past year, we had to close our doors during the day.
• Fortunately, this past year, we had to close our doors during the daytime.
• But we can't make just the funding the primary concern that we have.
• And we had a survey that was open for a month that just closed last Friday.
• It was close there. I almost said thank you, Kay. I know. He's looking at it.

Committee: Joint Human Services

Keywords: 908, all

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

Transcript Highlights:

• Close vote, clear the vote. Member, we'll send that as a do pass. Close vote, clear vote.
• Close vote, clear the vote. Nine ayes. Aye. Waldron, aye. Close vote, clear vote. Nine aye, zero.
• Close vote, declare the vote. Thank you. Close vote, declare the vote.
• Close the vote, clear the vote. Nine aye, zero nay.
• Close vote, clear the vote. Close vote, clear vote. Pro Tem will send that out as a do pass.

Bills: SB710 , SB843 , SB1317 , SB1338 , SB1410 , SB1477 , SB1489 , SB1593 , SB1614 , SB1630 , SB1632 , SB1633 , SB1670 , SB1726 , SB1734 , SB1725 , SB1735 , SB1894 , SB1975 , SB346 , SB2045

Committee: House Education Oversight

Keywords: teacher preparation, teacher education, teacher shortage, teacher workforce, educator pipeline, alternative certification, apprenticeship, residency program, paraprofessional pathway, high school to teacher pathway, nontraditional teacher candidates, Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability, TeachForwardOK, higher education, public school districts, workforce development, grant program, technical assistance provider, mastery-based assessment, emergency clause

Transcript Highlights:

• We have closely tracked integration efforts in other states where early studies show meaningful cost
• For example, in North Carolina, where they have a pilot closely aligned with our vision for Minnesota
• As families exhaust their financial resources, the state of Minnesota ultimately becomes the primary
• aligned with our have a pilot closely aligned with our vision<00:24:55.399><c> for</c><00:24:55.640>
• becomes the primary payer for many<00:27:08.919><c> individuals</c><00:27:09.840><c> placing</c><00:

Committee: Senate Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Small solar is the only energy that is locally produced, and for many people electricity is the primary
• is the primary source of power<00:28:27.919><c> for</c><00:28:28.120><c> for</c><00:28:28.320><c> both
• My primary opposition is due to the unbelievable lack of information and data justifying such a sweeping
• </c><01:04:50.440><c> friends</c><01:04:51.440><c> caregivers</c><01:04:52.440><c> uh</c> they're close
• remarks but they would go his closing remarks but they would go something<01:47:09.040><c> like</c><

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• With permission of the primary sponsor, I move to be added as co-sponsor of Senate Bills 13, 26, 42,
• &gt;&gt; With permission of the primary sponsor, &gt;&gt; With permission of the primary sponsor, I<00
• &gt;&gt; With<00:19:19.280><c> permission,</c><00:19:19.600><c> the</c><00:19:19.760><c> primary</c><
• With permission of the primary sponsor, I'd move to be added as a co-sponsor to Senate Bill 101.
• </c> &gt;&gt; With the permission of the primary &gt;&gt; With the permission of the primary sponsor,

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Any closing comments, Representative Powell? No, thank you.
• Closing statement.
• Representative Kolodin, closing comments? Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair.
• Representative Carter, any closing comments? No, sir. Perfect.
• Representative Carter, any closing comments? No, sir. Perfect.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> I was complaining about Alina closing I was complaining about Alina closing pediatric<00:15:24.560
• We provide significant out-of-specialty care and primary care through telehealth.
• </c> access to care one of the primary access to care one of the primary drivers<00:20:02.320><c> of<
• to each other, such as where there is a Fairview Clinic very close to an Essentia Clinic.
• Our third objective, which is for $8 million, is to improve health care quality close to home.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill closes loopholes that previously allowed... ...and easily exploited environments.
• In closing, I’d like to say that I’m fully vaccinated.
• States like New Hampshire, Maine, four-year close-in-age exemption when deemed consensual.
• In closing, let's not wait another 100 years. Our children and our conscience deserve better.
• My primary purpose today was to speak in support of H. 2011, H. 721, and S. 227.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on the Judiciary

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee hearing began with opening remarks from the House and Senate chairs outlining procedures for a large public hearing with more than 100 witnesses on 64 legislative proposals. They explained time limits, rules for in-person and virtual testimony, written testimony procedures, and the committee’s reporting deadline. Testimony then moved through a series of juvenile justice, child protection, and civil liberties bills, with witnesses generally urging favorable reports or, in one case, opposing expanded juvenile court transparency and child advocate access to records. Several witnesses supported bills aimed at juvenile justice reform. Representative Hendricks backed H. 1744 to prevent child labor exploitation and trafficking, citing federal findings of child labor in seafood processing and calling for stronger penalties and a ban on minors working in such facilities. Senator Gomez supported S. 1131 and S. 1121 to reduce juvenile fees, fines, restitution burdens, and bail-related costs, arguing they worsen racial and economic disparities. Senator Crean and other advocates supported S. 1051/H. 1695 to expand juvenile diversion eligibility, while multiple witnesses from juvenile justice and immigrant advocacy groups supported H. 1657/S. 1058 to expand juvenile expungement and to limit sharing juvenile fingerprints with federal authorities, describing recent ICE detentions of Chelsea students and the resulting fear in immigrant communities. Witnesses also supported H. 1918/S. 1240 to narrow the youthful offender statute, raising the minimum age and reducing mandatory adult-style penalties for youth. The committee also heard testimony on child safety and bodily autonomy bills. Middlesex District Attorney Marion Ryan supported H. 1752 to protect children left in extreme temperatures, explaining it would create civil penalties, allow emergency responders to remove children from cars without liability, and add criminal penalties when serious injury results. Representative Thurber and Senator O’Connor testified for H. 2011/S. 1227, a bill prohibiting coercion or mandates for health-related interventions, including vaccinations, and allowing legal remedies for violations. Senator Jalen supported S. 1136/H. 1847 to prevent false confessions by requiring recording of interrogations and banning deceptive tactics, and several innocence-project and legal-services witnesses described wrongful convictions tied to false confessions and coercive interrogations. Another major topic was H. 1626, which would require age verification for pornographic content and launch an education campaign about online sexual exploitation; Representative Cruz and survivor Udoz Wallace testified in support, describing nonconsensual image sharing and deepfake harms. Not all testimony was supportive. The Committee for Public Counsel Services opposed S. 1035, which would increase transparency in juvenile court proceedings, and H. 1689, which would expand the child advocate’s access to confidential juvenile records, arguing both would undermine privacy and trauma-informed protections for children and families. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the portion of the hearing provided; the session consisted of opening remarks and public testimony on the listed bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• We focus on research and best practices and legislation and close agency partnerships at all levels of
• But we're also working closely with the medical director to make sure that the primary care providers
• ><00:42:13.839><c> medical</c> working closely with the medical working closely with the medical director
• </c> director to make sure that the primary director to make sure that the primary care<00:42:16.000>
• Repoto, did you want to make any closing remarks?

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Public Safety held an informational briefing on best practices for medical or compassionate release programs used by correctional systems nationwide and how Hawaii’s current approach compares. Kristen Johnson of the Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission introduced Molly Crane of Families for Justice Reform, noting that the commission, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and the Hawaii Paroling Authority have all been involved in developing proposed legislation, though the bill itself was written by community advocate Bob Merse. Crane described FAM’s work on justice reform and said the group has studied compassionate release programs across the country, including federal reforms, to help Hawaii align with best practices. Crane argued that compassionate release is intended for people who are too ill or cognitively impaired to pose a public-safety risk and who are often the most expensive and resource-intensive people to incarcerate. She said Hawaii is the only state without a compassionate release statute and currently relies on an agency policy, which she described as complex and slow. She cited examples of severe medical cases in custody, including people with advanced dementia, multiple sclerosis, kidney failure, and hospice needs, and said the burden on correctional medical staff, overtime, off-site transport, and specialized care can consume a disproportionate share of staff time and state resources. She also said the recidivism rate for this population is under 1 percent, citing Vera Institute research. Members asked about the source of the recidivism figure, how a statute would streamline the process, and why the issue had not advanced in the past. Crane said the proposed bill would reduce layers in the process by moving cases from the medical director to the director and then to the Hawaii Paroling Authority, with a target timeline of about 30 business days from petition to hearing. Johnson said prior efforts failed in part because the agencies most affected were not included early in drafting and revision, and she said one attempt was vetoed, another was removed in conference committee, and another passed one chamber but did not advance. Johnson also explained that incarcerated people’s medical care is paid entirely by the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, with no private insurance or Medicaid/Medicare coverage while incarcerated, making severe cases a direct burden on state funds. No votes or formal actions were taken because the briefing was informational only.

Transcript Highlights:

• Cruise, I first off want to thank you for your willingness to serve on this, being one of the primary
• this might be a conversation I need to have with Director Flynn a little bit about this also, but close
• So if we were only going forward in the future, pay very close attention to the application process,
• So if we could look at, with a close attention to detail, the application process on this and continue
• attention to detail the um with a close attention to detail the application<00:04:48.320><c> process

Committee: Joint Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks

Keywords: Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks - Room 210, 25 March, 2026; 1:00 PM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> overview of dcf's primary overview of dcf's primary mandates<00:09:07.680><c> you'll</c><00:09:07.880
• When a child first comes into out-of-home care, reunification is the primary goal.
• How long are those records kept if you're able to close a case? I'm going to correct myself.
• On average, how long does it take to close a case?
• A quick question: of the cases you close, how many do you have to reopen?

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The Division 3 House Finance Committee opened a work session and announced scheduling updates, including a second Medicaid work session on March 5 at 9:00 a.m. and a reminder that recommendations or budget amendments must be moved to the full finance committee by the end of March. Members were told no motions, roll calls, or votes would be taken, and the chair also reviewed upcoming meeting dates and weather-related cancellation procedures. The day’s presentation was a budget work session on the Division for Children, Youth and Families (DCYF), with officials Marie Nunan and Nathan White introducing the agency’s budget materials and mission. DCYF’s presentation focused on its core mandates and recent operational changes. Officials described child protective services, juvenile justice services, and the Sununu Youth Services Center, then highlighted workforce improvements, including reduced vacancy rates for assessment caseworkers, juvenile justice officers, and youth counselors. They attributed the staffing gains to legislative pay raises, mass recruitment posting changes, a more stable and trauma-informed model at SYC, and broader flexibility after prior budget cuts and hiring freezes. Members asked about full-time versus part-time staffing, and DCYF said most positions discussed were full-time, with some harder-to-fill part-time youth counselor roles at SYC. The committee also discussed DCYF’s emphasis on serving families earlier through its Community Navigator hotline referrals and community-based voluntary services, which are intended to connect families to supports before abuse or neglect escalates. Officials said the Community Navigator program had received 807 referrals since August 2023. On juvenile justice, DCYF described its assessment and diversion process and said it had reduced juvenile probation involvement by 30% from 2019 to 2023; members were directed to slide 17 for 2024 data, and officials said the trend continued toward fewer in-home juvenile justice cases. The agency also reported progress in kinship care, saying initial out-of-home placements with kin now occur 74% of the time and that kinship placements are associated with more reunification. Officials said kinship caregivers are being licensed and paid similarly to foster parents, and that the legislature’s kinship law has helped. Finally, DCYF outlined transition-age youth supports, including the HOPE program, Youth Villages LifeSet, and housing vouchers. No votes or formal actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• provisions for the There is still a great deal of work to be done in this area, but we are in the closing
• Hello, my name is Wanda Calvin, a physician with primary care.
• Lindsey Cox, current emergency room nurse. physician with uh primary care. physician with uh primary
• I'm a primary care physician in Louisville, Kentucky. My roots in Kentucky are deep.
• And patients tell me then also they can't get into their primary care within a reasonable amount of time

Keywords: 00:00:00 Call to Order/Roll Call 00:01:10 Discussion of 25RS HB 414 00:44:26 Roll Call Vote on 25RS HB 414 00:50:25 Discussion of 25RS SB 27 00:53:44 Roll Call Vote on 25RS SB 27 00:55:49 Discussion of 25RS SB 93 00:57:57 Roll Call Vote on 25RS SB 93 00:59:29 Discussion of 25RS SB 132 01:37:39 Roll Call Vote on 25RS SB 132 01:40:55 Discussion of 25RS SB 153 01:42:05 Roll Call Vote on 25RS SB 153 01:43:46 Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The Health Services Committee met with a quorum and took up House Bill 414 with a committee substitute. The bill, described by sponsors and supporters as a continuation of prior maternal-health legislation, was framed as a clarification of medical standards and an effort to improve care for women and families facing complicated pregnancies. Representative Tate, Representative Nemes, Adair Wushar of Kentucky Right to Life, and Dr. Jeff Goldberg of ACOG Kentucky all testified in support, saying the substitute was developed collaboratively to reduce confusion in the law and help physicians provide evidence-based care without fear of criminal penalties. Supporters said the committee substitute was intended to define what is not an abortion under Kentucky law and to spell out medical treatments for conditions such as miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, molar pregnancy, sepsis, hemorrhage, preeclampsia, premature rupture of membranes, and fetal demise. Dr. Goldberg said current statutes contain significant ambiguity and have created unintended barriers to treating pregnancy complications, including emergency situations, and he gave examples of patients who were delayed or harmed because physicians were uncertain about what the law allowed. Representative Nemes said the measure was the result of unusual cooperation among groups that do not usually agree and described it as a first step toward fixing a discrete problem. Representative Wilner raised concerns that the language could effectively require a patient to be in severe distress before treatment is clearly permitted and that it was too prescriptive about how physicians should manage miscarriages. In response, Dr. Goldberg and the sponsors said the substitute was not perfect, was meant as a short-term solution, and was designed to give doctors more confidence in providing routine, medically necessary care for pregnancy complications. The transcript indicates the committee substitute was adopted, but no final vote on the bill itself is shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• If not, this closes the hearing on Senate Bill 208.
• If not, this closes the hearing on Senate Bill 208.
• If not, this closes the hearing on Senate Bill 208.
• If not, that closes the hearing on S...
• I know we're close on time here.

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That product is for owner-occupied primary homes.
• That product is for owner-occupied primary homes.
• That product is for owner-occupied primary homes.
• That product is for owner-occupied primary homes.
• </c> 10 million mark or or close to it? 10 million mark or or close to it?

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The joint committees held an informational briefing on efforts to expand insurance capacity in Hawaii’s property market, especially for condominium and homeowners coverage. The Insurance Commissioner reviewed the background: a legislative task force, the governor’s emergency proclamation in August 2024, and Senate Bill 1044 in May 2025 led to new condo insurance products. He said the work over the past two and a half years was producing positive results and introduced representatives from HPIA and HHRF/HHR to provide updates. HPIA’s board chair and its administrator described the organization’s history, structure, and current products. HPIA said it was created in 1991 as a residual market for homeowners insurance, now writing four residential products: HO2 homeowners, renters, HO6 condo unit owners, and dwelling fire. They reported policy counts have grown again as admitted-market carriers tightened underwriting, and they discussed financial pressure from reinsurance costs, though those costs had declined in 2025 after different purchasing decisions. They also said the market has become more favorable overall, with some capacity returning and deductibles beginning to ease. Members focused much of their questioning on HPIA’s proposed higher dwelling limits. HPIA explained that the current $450,000 limit for homeowners and dwelling fire was set in 2023, but agents are now asking for a higher limit in the $650,000 to $750,000 range because construction costs have risen and many policies are not being submitted when the limit is too low. HPIA said it has the authority to raise the limit through a filing with the Insurance Division and expects more submissions if the cap increases. They also discussed the shift in the book of business from roughly 70% lava-zone coverage to closer to a 50/50 split between lava and non-lava risks. HPIA outlined strategic initiatives: a new policy administration system that went live October 1 and now allows online payments, online claims reporting, and electronic notices; a filed request to raise the homeowners and dwelling fire limit to $650,000 effective March 1 for new business and April 1 for renewals; an increase in the HO6 condo unit owners limit from $5,000 to $100,000; and a planned commercial property all-other-perils-excluding-hurricane condo product targeted for filing by January 31. No votes were taken, and the meeting was informational only.