Transcript Highlights:

• certified elder law attorney and I practice primarily in the areas of exploitation as well as life care
• Foster care also known as professional foster care places the child in a family like setting.
• , relative placement license care, which could be a psychological residential facility.
• Juvenile just care to thank you. Yes. And so at line one, 59 it this is actually one. 57.
• of children that are returning from. take care of children that are returning from.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> take care of our constituents and us. take care of our constituents and us.
• </c> that cares about them. that cares about them.
• </c> Does anyone care to change their vote? Does anyone care to change their vote?
• They don't care. money is being spent. They don't care.
• </c> Does anyone care to change their vote? Does anyone care to change their vote?

Summary: The House met in Annapolis on February 27, 2026, with 128 members present. After a prayer, the chamber adopted the previous day’s journal and recognized a resolution honoring Brunswick High School’s first Tech Challenge team, Minerva’s Mechanics, for winning the FTC Regional Championships and qualifying for the World Championship in Houston. The resolution was read and adopted with applause. The main legislative item was House Bill 355, concerning the Education, Sexual Abuse and Assault Awareness and Prevention Program and human and sex trafficking; the House adopted the favorable committee report and ordered the bill printed for third reading. The next bill, House Bill 534 on nonpublic school transcripts and prohibiting punitive measures related to student debt, also received a favorable report. Debate then centered on an amendment offered to HB 534 that would have tied school funding to student choice for students in repeatedly one-star-rated schools and allowed parents of habitually violent or disruptive students to consider military boarding school options. The sponsor argued Maryland’s public schools, especially in Baltimore City, were failing students despite heavy spending, citing low literacy, violence, and the book Failure Factory; several members echoed concerns about school performance, bureaucracy, and the need for educational freedom. Opponents and procedural speakers said the amendment was not germane to HB 534, which they described as a narrow bill about transcript access for students leaving nonpublic schools with unpaid fees, often students with disabilities. The floor leader urged the body to resist the amendment and stick to the bill’s actual subject. Despite multiple members explaining their votes in support of school choice and criticizing the Blueprint and school outcomes, the House ultimately took a roll call on the amendment after a voice vote was challenged. The transcript cuts off during the roll call and does not show the final recorded result on the amendment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Ultimately, I want to say care has been delayed and not denied.
• In behavioral health, denial of care can be fatal.
• It ensures quality of care.
• It also It ensures quality of care.
• </c> including Medicaid managed care including Medicaid managed care programs,<00:32:49.800><c> to</c

Bills: SB2433 , SB2047 , SB2425 , SB3045 , SB2761 , SB3001 , SB2852 , SB2471

Committee: House Consumer Protection & Commerce

Summary: The committee heard testimony on SB 2433 SD1 relating to condominiums, which would direct the condominium education trust fund toward educational resources for unit owners and require the Real Estate Commission to ensure owners’ interests are represented in funded activities and related rulemaking. Supporters, including the Hawaii Real Estate Commission and a condominium owner advocate, said owners need a seat at the table in condo governance and education efforts. Committee discussion focused on whether the bill was necessary, with the Real Estate Commission indicating it could already use the trust fund for owner education and that owners are already considered stakeholders, though not through a specific commission seat. No vote was taken during the excerpted discussion. The committee then took up SB 2047 SD2 HD1 on pharmacy benefit managers, which would set requirements for maximum allowable cost reimbursement, allow reverse-and-rebill claims after successful appeals, and authorize fines for violations. The Insurance Division offered comments, the Hawaii Pharmacists Association supported the measure with amendments and suggested future PBM reform funding, and Kaiser Permanente requested a technical amendment. A committee question raised whether the staffing and resource request for implementation was too large for a bill focused only on MAC pricing, and the witness said he would provide more data to the next committee. No final action was shown. Next was SB 2425 SD2 HD1 on health insurance and substance use disorder treatment, requiring insurers to honor written assignments of benefits to SUD providers and prohibiting anti-assignment clauses. Supporters described patients being unable to access treatment because of high out-of-pocket costs and said direct payment would reduce harm for people in recovery. HMSA opposed the bill but said it would begin direct payments to non-participating SUD facilities effective March 27, while continuing to object to the assignment-of-benefits portion because of fraud and balance-billing concerns; the Hawaii Association of Health Plans also opposed. Members questioned HMSA about reimbursement mechanics and why the bill was needed if coverage policies were already changing. Finally, the committee heard SB 3045 SD1 HD1, which would require coverage of continuous glucose monitors and related supplies, including for Medicaid managed care, under certain conditions. DHS and the Insurance Division offered comments, while SHPDA, Hilo Benioff Medical Center Foundation, and others supported the bill, citing inconsistent access and a case in which a woman allegedly died after being denied a CGM. HMSA said it already covers medically necessary CGMs and had updated its policy in 2025 for type 1 and insulin-dependent patients, but it raised concerns about expanding mandated coverage to type 2 and gestational diabetes and about supply impacts. The committee also discussed whether the bill duplicated existing coverage standards and why it had been introduced repeatedly. No votes or final dispositions were included in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, the overall health care budget proposal totals $47.6 billion.
• The overall health care budget proposal totals $47.6 billion.
• for the elderly, and home care for the elderly?
• Those things are well taken care of.
• How are they going to take care of security? How are they going to take care of maintenance?

Summary: The House met on the final day of session, swore in Representatives Boyles and Hodgers, and observed a moment of silence for the Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, as well as for Representative Rosenwald’s father. The chamber then moved into final budget work, with leaders outlining the plan to take up H.J.R. 5019, HB 7031, HB 5017, HB 5015, and then the general appropriations act once the Senate transmitted it. H.J.R. 5019, a proposed constitutional amendment to expand the budget stabilization fund, was explained and amended to raise the rainy day fund cap, require annual deposits, and allow withdrawals for critical state needs by a two-thirds vote; it passed 100-1. The House then adopted the conference report on HB 7031, the tax package. The bill repeals the business rent tax and aviation fuel tax, delays the natural gas fuel tax, creates or expands several sales tax holidays and exemptions, including permanent exemptions for disaster-preparedness items, hunting/fishing/camping items, and ammunition and firearms-related purchases, and makes changes to property, corporate income, local tax, and economic development provisions. Members debated the removal of recurring housing trust fund and transit-related revenue streams, the new ammunition exemption, and the data center tax changes; supporters argued the package reduces taxes and preserves annual budget flexibility, while opponents raised concerns about housing, transportation, and gun violence. The conference report passed 93-7. HB 5017, creating a debt reduction program funded by a recurring transfer to retire state bonds early, passed unanimously. HB 5015, the state group insurance conforming bill, which directs DMS to develop a formulary management plan and codifies the administrative health insurance assessment, also passed. The House then began explanation and questions on the fiscal year 2025-26 general appropriations act, described as a $115.1 billion budget that is down $3.8 billion from the current year and includes more than $12 billion in reserves. Subcommittee chairs summarized major spending areas, including pre-K-12 funding increases, health care funding for Medicaid, KidCare, nursing homes, opioid treatment, and mental health, transportation and economic development funding, environmental and water projects, higher education, state administration, justice, and information technology. Questions focused on school vouchers, inflationary pressures on school districts, and the adequacy of funding for housing, transportation, and other priorities.

Transcript Highlights:

• Child care is not our core function. Child care is not the Department of Health's core function.
• Uh, what the program does is it provides 27 hours of respite care to caregivers who are caring for a
• </c><01:16:16.960><c> assistance,</c> essentially child care assistance, essentially child care assistance
• on quality for child care.
• </c> required in our current child care required in our current child care program<01:20:33.120><c> to

Committee: Joint Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• The reason I'm here today is because we care about the health and welfare of our children.
• , but are medically fragile and need ongoing specialized care, such as the care of enteral nutrition.
• The author Such as the care of enteral nutrition.
• We are trained in a philosophy that emphasizes patient-centered, health-focused care.
• At the same time, access to veterinary care has declined.

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:

• I'm president and CEO of USA Cares. >> My name is Jim Lock.
• I am the program manager at USA Cares. >> So, Mr.
• </c><00:30:24.399><c> about</c> them know that somebody cares about them know that somebody cares about
• </c> care of a situation less than 48 hours. care of a situation less than 48 hours.
• And uh we that we're taking care of.

Committee: House Veterans, Military Affairs, & Public Protection

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 991 Menjavar, residential care facilities for the elderly.
• SB 526, Perez, primary care clinics affiliate licenses, due pass.
• SB 535, Richardson, obesity care, holding committee.
• SB 28, Umberg, CARE Court, holding committee.
• SB 1049, Weber-Person, health care claims reimbursement.

Summary: The Assembly Appropriations Committee held its August 13, 2026 suspense-file hearing on Senate bills, with the chair opening by thanking staff and recognizing consultant Jennifer Swenson’s retirement after 30 years in the Legislature. The committee explained that it was weighing the fiscal impact of 293 bills and that some would move forward while others would be held because of cost, duplication, or competing budget priorities. The committee then took up the suspense file in alphabetical order and acted on a large number of measures, sending many to the Assembly floor as due pass or due pass with amendments. Examples included bills on battery recycling, wildfire resilience loans, mobile home park disaster assistance, price gouging, veterans’ property tax exemptions, housing and insurance issues, energy and utility regulation, election procedures, criminal justice, health care, education, housing, environmental protection, and artificial intelligence. Many bills were amended to narrow scope, delay implementation, add reporting requirements, clarify definitions, or reduce costs; others were held in committee. Among the notable actions, several bills were advanced on roll calls while others were held, including measures related to water quality, utility rate information, juvenile detention, CARE Court, and various housing and energy proposals. The committee also moved a number of sunset and technical cleanup bills, and several members requested to be added as principal or joint authors on amended measures. At the end of the hearing, the chair noted that the committee had moved a large number of bills to the Assembly floor, usually with amended language, and that the amended versions would be posted online. The hearing then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Kentucky Healthc Care Workforce Kentucky Healthc Care Workforce Investment<00:02:38.480><c> Fund</c><
• Uh, I remember essential health care providers that do essential health care providers that do deliver
• </c><00:03:56.959><c> Um</c> shortages in terms of health care.
• Um shortages in terms of health care.
• </c> of the definition of a healthc care of the definition of a healthc care credential. credential.

Committee: House Postsecondary Education

Transcript Highlights:

• that they need by people who are able to provide that care.
• So we have state workers taking care of our vets here in the state.
• And particularly to take care of our veterans in the veterans' homes.
• We did not take care of our veterans here. We cannot continue to allow this.
• , that we haven't taken care of our veterans the way we should have.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:04:13.280><c> staff</c> providers from direct care staff providers from direct care staff compensation
• They add direct care and treatment and the direct care and treatment executive board, or chief executive
• </c><00:08:50.800><c> treatment</c> amended of the direct care treatment amended of the direct care treatment
• ,</c><00:46:38.560><c> or</c> symptoms, job loss, inpatient care, or symptoms, job loss, inpatient care
• </c> most in need at this level of care. most in need at this level of care.

Bills: HF2115 , HF2276 , HF1644 , HF99 , HF2068 , HF2707 , HF2704 , HF2406 , HF1674 , HF1579

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c> For young people in state care, For young people in state care, opportunities<00:07:57.360><c>
• </c> school care cost me over $26,000. school care cost me over $26,000.
• </c> &gt;&gt; Um, this bill deals with afterchool care &gt;&gt; Um, this bill deals with afterchool care
• Um, the bill and before school care.
• Um, and when licensed foster care mom.

Bills: HF3714 , HF4399 , HF4176 , HF2544 , HF60 , HF4231 , HF4232

Committee: House Education Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• which provides medical care to children who have very debilitating conditions, to a managed care program
• The care component, this component of Children's Medical Services, was transferred into managed care
• Health care patient protection by Senator Harrell.
• of health care expense.
• Yes. first care. I would appreciate your support.

Summary: The committee met and first reported favorably CS for SB 1782, which creates a new offense for dangerous excessive speeding, with support noted from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida PBA. It also reported favorably CS for SB 306, which addresses Medicaid managed care provider network access by requiring after-hours and holiday appointment availability and a minimum level of primary care participation. CS for SB 716, imposing mandatory minimum sentences for certain sexual offenses committed by registered sex offenders or predators, and CS for SB 1084, expanding protections against non-consensual dissemination of intimate images and digitally forged intimate images, were also approved. The committee then approved CS for CS for SB 1604, a corrections package that would require prepayment of court costs for certain inmate lawsuits, shorten the limitations period for confinement-condition claims, allow consecutive sentencing in some cases, and revise mental health treatment procedures in correctional settings. Members discussed constitutional concerns and access-to-courts issues, but the bill was reported favorably. CS for CS for SB 1804, which creates a capital offense for trafficking a child 12 or younger or a mentally incapacitated person for sexual exploitation, drew extensive debate and opposition from the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and Floridaans for Alternatives to the Death Penalty; despite objections about constitutionality and ethics, it was reported favorably. The committee also approved CS for SB 1838, expanding protections for court officials against tampering, harassment, and retaliation, and CS for CS for SB 890, the Emily Adkins Family Protection Act, which creates a statewide VTE registry and requires blood clot screening and training in hospitals and care facilities. Members and public witnesses spoke in strong support of the blood clot bill, including family members and survivors. Finally, the committee reported favorably CS for SB 1252, directing FDLE to study a statewide pawn data database, CS for SB 468, increasing penalties for fleeing or eluding law enforcement and allowing vehicle impoundment, CS for SB 490, expanding off-duty concealed carry eligibility for correctional officers and correctional probation officers, and CS for SB 572, the Pam Rock Act on dangerous dogs, which was amended to refine enclosure, confiscation, euthanasia, and insurance requirements.

Transcript Highlights:

• Open our senses to your presence that we may care for you in all things. Amen.
• Importantly, the care itself was never questioned.
• This is by design and threatens the health care of Californians and the stability of our health care
• Income and background that determines whether or not you get care.
• It's a health care system that we need to address.

Transcript Highlights:

• Crisis pregnancy centers are for patient care by staff or volunteers who are not licensed health care
• Speaker, patient care is incredibly important.
• The health care system in our state, Mr.
• Patient care should come first. Remember, Mr.
• Speaker, we need to protect health care providers in this state.

Bills: HB2720 , HB2073 , HB2487 , SB5816 , SB5919 , SB5995 , SB5831 , SB6134 , SB6136 , SB6137 , HB2689 , SB5922 , SB5944 , SB5957 , SB5988 , SB5994 , SB6011 , SB6065 , SB6103 , SB6151 , SB6244 , SB5420 , SB5868 , SB6044 , SB6132 , SJM8002

Summary: The House took up a series of Senate bills and moved most of them quickly to third reading and final passage, often suspending the rules and adopting committee amendments without objection. Early action included Senate Bill 5944, which addresses compensation for interpreters working for L&I when appointments are canceled or missed; it passed 86-10. Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5837, dealing with guardianship and supported decision-making, drew debate over a new right to counsel in guardianship cases and concerns about expanding civil legal obligations, but it passed 73-23. Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6197, a plumbers enforcement/discipline measure tied to task force work on wages and the underground economy, passed unanimously. Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6019, fixing a loophole in home care worker parity law, also passed unanimously, as did Senate Bill 6011, which extends authority for Court of Appeals bailiffs to assess threats against judges and staff, though members noted concerns about access to non-conviction data. Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6058, aimed at improving Labor and Industries’ ability to address wage theft complaints and backlog, passed 96-0 after House amendments. Substitute Senate Bill 5923, allowing an island hospital in Skagit County to become a critical access hospital, passed 96-0 amid support for rural health care. Senate Bill 5994, which changes how timber tax revenue is distributed so school districts are not penalized when levies fail, also passed 96-0. Substitute Senate Bill 6076, streamlining public utility district procurement and raising spending thresholds, passed 95-1 after a capital budget amendment. The House then moved to second reading of Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5925, a major bill expanding the Attorney General’s authority to issue civil investigative demands in constitutional and discrimination-related matters. The bill prompted extensive debate over civil liberties, due process, and the potential for government overreach. Amendment 2160, which would have required clear and convincing evidence before a CID could issue, was rejected 38-48. Amendment 2149, creating a right to cure before a CID, was also rejected. Amendment 2150, requiring assistant attorney general approval and a reasonable suspicion standard, failed 38-48. Amendment 2151, requiring the Attorney General personally to approve CIDs in writing, failed as well. However, several narrowing amendments were adopted, including limits on scope and relevance (2288), a prohibition on CIDs to federal agencies (2289), a ban on sharing CID-derived information for criminal law enforcement purposes (2290), and a requirement that the Attorney General’s office consult with other agencies in certain overlapping investigations (2154 was rejected, but later amendments continued). Other proposed protections, such as fee-shifting for successful CID challenges and reimbursement when a CID produces no action, were debated at length but not adopted in the portion of the transcript provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• What is reasonable care?
• So that would be their reasonable care. That is the threshold of reasonable care.
• Reasonable, reasonable care. This to a level that's unnecessary. Reasonable, reasonable care.
• That would be extraordinary care, actually. Extraordinary care.
• That would be extraordinary care, actually. Extraordinary care.

Transcript Highlights:

• Do you care to close debate? She waves. Clerk, please call the roll.
• So, Rossino, would you care to debate on the amendment? Waives.
• Senator Woods, would you care to close debate? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
• Senator Weaver, Senator Pugh, do you care to vote? Senator Weaver, do you care to vote?
• Do you care to close the debate? He waves. Clerk, please call the roll.

Bills: HB2933 , HB3041 , HB3048 , HB3081 , HB3297 , HB3338 , HB3673 , HB3790 , HB3983 , HB4105 , HB4139 , HB4203 , HJR1023

Committee: Senate Business and Insurance

Keywords: insurance regulation, homeowner claims, premium discounts, catastrophe mitigation, civil penalties, credit card transactions, payment methods, service charge, consumer rights, financial regulation, insurance, nonadmitted insurers, surplus lines, Oklahoma, fire extinguisher, licensing, public safety, age qualification, State Fire Marshal, towing services

Transcript Highlights:

• It's health care. A health care authority, or? Health care authority. Okay.
• They could also, in October of 2022, try care without notice.
• If we want access to health care, the most accessible health care providers in Oklahoma and the country
• last health care providers in their communities, the communities die.
• Oklahoma. ...about losing health care professionals in rural Oklahoma.

Summary: The Public Health Committee heard several bills, beginning with HB 4336, which updates definitions of acute and chronic pain to align with the Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Act and adds certain violations as unprofessional conduct. The committee adopted a PCS as the working draft, took no questions, and passed the bill 7-0. HB 3194, which would prevent pregnancy centers from being singled out for discrimination or censorship based on pro-life principles, drew questions about oversight, medical staffing, ultrasound interpretation, and contraceptive counseling; after discussion, it passed 6-1. The committee then passed HB 3934, described as a measure to help rural Oklahoma children get dental care through dental hygienists, with a question confirming parents could opt in or out. HB 3762, dealing with chiropractic practice and defining “serum” to cover vitamins, minerals, and nutrients while excluding blood products, was amended in committee but did not receive a motion and remained in committee. HB 1818, clarifying licensed social workers as licensed bachelor social workers and aligning Oklahoma with neighboring states, passed 6-0. Later, HB 3538 on pharmacy benefit manager vertical integration and community pharmacy reimbursement passed 7-0 after extensive discussion about independent pharmacy closures, mail-order pharmacy issues, specialty drugs, and network access. HB 3682, the Oklahoma Clean Indoor Air Act, would prohibit smoking in most public gathering places while allowing certain exceptions and local governments to adopt stricter rules; it passed 7-0. The committee also heard HB 3793, a placeholder bill on nursing education and diploma programs intended to address workforce shortages, but no motion was made and it remained in committee. The meeting ended with a short recess for the swearing-in of a new representative-elect.

Transcript Highlights:

• Palliative care, comfort, a warm lamp.
• We owe it to it to give it care and save its life if possible. Mr.
• We could be focused on ensuring that mommy and baby are well taken care of in our health care fields
• So I am happy that the body is prioritizing life care, women's care, is prioritizing life care, women's
• care, and I'm excited to see this bill move forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• It now costs an average of $4,361 more per year for a family to care for a child with a mental health
• are enrolled in Medicaid, those with mental health conditions accounted for 55% of overall health care
• health care services that support mental health risks. caregivers receive mental health care services
• They're taxpayer costs across the system, Medi-Cal and publicly funded care.
• And the state, they come to the states and the counties to help us take care of these babies.

Committee: House Revenue and Taxation