Transcript Highlights:

• of clinical preventive services such as screenings and preventive medications.
• It's about preserving affordability to preventive services and vaccines.
• , that they were going to pull a service from either immunization coverage or preventive services coverage
• We also own and operate our own ambulance service. House Bill 2110...
• We also own and operate our own ambulance service.

Summary: The Senate Health and Long-Term Care Committee held public hearings on several House bills and later took executive action on two others. The committee heard testimony on House Bill 2242, which would let the Department of Health issue immunization recommendations and tie preventive-service coverage to federal recommendations as of June 30, 2025, while preserving access to vaccines and other preventive services. Supporters, including the Governor’s office and the Insurance Commissioner, said the bill would protect access, affordability, and stable vaccine purchasing; opponents argued it politicizes vaccine policy and gives too much influence to state agencies and outside groups. The committee also heard testimony on House Bill 2152, allowing terminally ill patients in hospitals, nursing homes, and hospice facilities to use medical cannabis under facility policies, with supporters emphasizing dignity, symptom relief, and safeguards, and House Bill 2088, joining the dietitian licensure compact, which supporters said would help military spouses, telehealth, and workforce shortages. House Bill 2110, on ambulance inter-facility specialty care transports, drew support from rural hospitals seeking more staffing flexibility and opposition from nurses and EMS personnel concerned about training, accountability, and patient safety. House Bill 2247, on veterinarian-client-patient relationships and telemedicine, drew support from the sponsor and some stakeholders as a workforce and access measure, but also criticism from the state veterinarian and others who said it could conflict with federal VCPR requirements and public health protections. House Bill 2340, expanding substance use disorder monitoring program eligibility to nursing assistants and stipend support, was presented as a way to help low-wage health workers stay in the workforce; there were no in-person testifiers against it. In executive session, the committee considered House Bill 2155, concerning the use of nursing titles, and House Bill 2531, aligning the ambulance transport fund quality assurance fee with federal regulations. Both bills received do-pass recommendations and were sent to the Rules Committee. For the public hearings, no final committee votes were taken on the other bills in this transcript, and testimony concluded on each measure after the committee heard from sponsors, agency officials, advocates, and opponents.

Transcript Highlights:

• What type of services are you doing? Are you doing legal advocacy? Are you doing crisis services?
• And then after that, 12% is other services. like legal advocacy, crisis services, other human trafficking
• Protect and financially reward first responders and emergency services personnel for years of service
• It was over 750,000 services with counseling representing the number one service across victims.
• Thank you all for your service.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• with those services.
• </c> emergency medical services. emergency medical services.
• </c> you for your public service. you for your public service.
• These services work.
• . services. services.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> rather than fee for service dollars. rather than fee for service dollars.
• </c> and peer support services 80038. and peer support services 80038.
• </c> fee for service. fee for service.
• </c><01:01:05.200><c> are</c> services to determine if services are services to determine if services
• </c> medically necessary services. medically necessary services.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board reconvened and heard a presentation from the Attorney General’s Office Medicaid Fraud and Abuse Control unit. AG staff described the unit’s structure and work: it investigates and prosecutes Medicaid provider fraud, and also handles abuse, neglect, and exploitation cases involving vulnerable adults in facility settings when asked to assist. They said the office has prosecutors, detectives, auditors, and support staff, works with federal partners, Commonwealth’s attorneys, CHFS, DMS, OIG, and MCOs, and uses a hotline and referral line for complaints. They also explained the MCO referral process, including monthly meetings, stand-down lists, and review of referrals for a “credible allegation of fraud” before the AG office decides whether to open a criminal or civil investigation. The presentation focused heavily on current fraud trends. Staff said behavioral health is a major concern, along with participant-directed waiver services, medically assisted treatment, cash billing for services, controlled-substance billing, and vision and dental fraud. They gave examples such as duplicate time sheets for family caregivers, questionable Suboxone counseling and urine drug screening practices, and a prior optometry case involving false claims for children’s glasses. They also discussed CMS’s estimate that about 5% of Medicaid payments are improper, noted that most improper payments are at the fee-for-service level, and said there is no reliable overall fraud-rate estimate. They highlighted a sharp shift in behavioral health billing after the cabinet’s November 1, 2024 policy changes, saying individual psychotherapy spending dropped while group billing increased, suggesting providers may have moved billing to different codes. Members asked about the scale and timing of cases, how MCO referrals are screened, and whether the data reflected more people being served or just higher spending. The AG office said investigations can take years, with some federal cases still awaiting sentencing from 2018 and 2019 matters, and that they currently had nine individuals awaiting sentencing in federal court. They also reported 58 hotline reports during the referenced period, six cases opened from MCO referrals, and four additional MCO referrals not accepted for active cases. Several members raised concerns about home-based services and the risk of abuse or fraud when family members are reimbursed, and asked whether the process could be streamlined; the AG office said it had no immediate recommendations but would be willing to return with suggestions after further review.

Transcript Highlights:

• as protective services, victim services, foster care and adoptions, foster workforce development and
• Please welcome Peggy Price. ...and in-home supportive services. Please welcome Peggy Price.
• Please welcome Maria Solorio. ...well-being through regional leadership and public service.
• . ...a Buddhist mission through which she has devoted decades of humanitarian service.
• A proud Filipina and mother, she empowers communities through leadership and service.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Programming to help people become aware of and to access services.
• They provide a pretty important service.
• Section 16, the funding from the Human Service Finance Fund, $242 million, is what funds the human service
• You know, we're reluctant to add FTEs, so we contract out services.
• They have to monitor and manage bad evidence of service providers.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 1012, the Department of Health and Human Services budget. Senator Dever walked through the amended budget, highlighting a roughly $5.85 billion all-funds total, major one-time items for IT, child care, housing, behavioral health, juvenile justice, rural EMS, and supportive housing, along with funding for Medicaid expansion, CCBHCs, opioid settlement uses, and several studies and reporting requirements. Members discussed the provider inflation increase, with Senator Mathern urging a 2%/2% rate instead of 2%/1.5%, but the committee adopted the subcommittee amendment and then passed the amended bill 15-0 with a do-pass recommendation. Senator Dever was named as carrier. The committee then considered House Bill 1540, a school choice/education savings account-style bill. Senator Shibley explained the subcommittee amendments, including clarifying the Bank of North Dakota as administrator, adding a means test at 400% of the federal poverty guideline, and adjusting the fiscal note to about $21.7 million for the second year. In debate, members raised concerns about the bank being assigned duties outside its normal role, the lack of DPI involvement, and whether the means test should be tiered rather than a hard cutoff. The committee rejected a do-not-pass motion 5-10-1, then approved a do-pass motion on the amended bill 9-6-1, with Senator Wobama noted as the likely carrier. The meeting ended with the chair announcing the committee would adjourn and reconvene the next morning.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> management services for families. management services for families.
• </c> identifying gaps in any services. identifying gaps in any services.
• </c> incorporated into um our service array. incorporated into um our service array.
• pro um, service to our other service pro um, service areas<02:13:52.079><c> within</c><02:13:52.400>
• </c> services to our residents. services to our residents.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> within the internal service fund itself. within the internal service fund itself. um<00:02:20.720
• </c> that are uh in the internal service that are uh in the internal service fund.<00:02:45.840><c> one
• </c> purchased out of the internal service purchased out of the internal service fund.<00:10:32.079><
• </c> our swap out of the internal service our swap out of the internal service fund.<00:12:12.399><c>
• </c> service balance or revert them? service balance or revert them?

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , Disabled Student Programs and Services, apprenticeship programs, CalWORKs student services, the mandates
• We're excited to be of service.
• We're excited to be of service.
• It's called an ITS2 in state service.
• , referrals services for homeless children and youth, tutoring services, referrals services for homeless

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> &gt;&gt; Um it came via guardianship services. &gt;&gt; Um it came via guardianship services.
• </c> Medicaid Services. Medicaid Services.
• for 25% of our budget on services.
• </c> is spent in that setting on services. is spent in that setting on services.
• </c> for Medicaid services. for Medicaid services.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Health and Family Services committee heard an informational presentation on Kentucky personal care homes from representatives of the Kentucky Association of Healthcare Facilities, Management Systems of Kentucky, and Elder Care Partners. Witnesses described personal care homes as a lower-cost, 24/7 residential option for adults, often with serious mental illness, who do not meet nursing home criteria but need structured supervision, medication assistance, meals, and daily support. They said the homes are regulated by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, are not Medicaid-funded, and are supported largely through state supplementation payments and residents’ SSI income. The presenters argued that the current reimbursement rate of about $50.70 per day is no longer sufficient to cover staffing, food, insurance, utilities, maintenance, and other costs, and said the sector has shrunk significantly over time. They cited figures showing a decline from 64 to 34 homes serving the seriously mentally ill since 2002, with 30 closures over 23 years, and said the loss of beds contributes to homelessness, hospital overcrowding, and longer psychiatric stays. They also gave examples of residents who had spent many months in hospitals before being successfully placed in personal care homes, which they said can prevent more costly institutional care. Committee members asked about staffing credentials, fraud controls, referral processes, and how reimbursement works in other states. The presenters said Kentucky does not require licensed or certified staff in these facilities, though some homes use certified medication technicians or an LPN, and they described a county case-manager-based assessment process used to set individualized rates in other states such as Minnesota. Members expressed support for the work but emphasized the need for documentation of savings and budget offsets. The presenters said they are seeking an incremental reimbursement increase over two years, roughly 25% to 50% in the first year and another 50% after that, and urged the committee to support the homes to prevent further closures.

Transcript Highlights:

• They provide our water and wastewater certification exam services.
• They service about 1,100 to about 1,300 applicants per year.
• It’s engineering services related to the... It’s engineering services related to the Clotilda.
• Senior Services. >> Good afternoon. I'm Ashley Penhall with the Department of Senior Services.
• Youth Services. >> Good afternoon. I'm Dudley Perry from the Department of Youth Services. Mr.

Keywords: 924, joint, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 23, by Joint Budget, an act for the Department of Human Services Division of Youth Services
• Disability Services reappropriation.
• Health Services reappropriation.
• Senate Bill 20 by Joint Budget, an act for the Department of Human Services Division of Medical Services
• and Behavioral Health Services supplemental appropriation.

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, this bill that is before the committee today allows service dog trainers to house service dogs in
• c> dog,</c> service dog and you use a service dog, service dog and you use a service dog, they<00:07:
• Services. And we'll move to your next Services.
• Managerial services.
• Managerial services.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You talked about service—military service men and women—which I know a lot of private institutions target
• service payments.
• service payments.
• and that we deliver a high-quality service.
• the services helped them stay in school. 74% of students who used basic needs services said the services

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to talk about human services fraud.
• </c><00:01:52.560><c> committee</c> meeting of our human services committee meeting of our human services
• </c><00:04:41.199><c> It</c> Services or DHS. What did you find? It Services or DHS.
• </c> a co-chair of the Senate Human Services a co-chair of the Senate Human Services Committee<00:04:
• of human services to talk about<00:05:00.080><c> human</c><00:05:00.400><c> services</c><00:05:00.800

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome to the subcommittee, the Appropriations Subcommittee for Health and Human Services.
• for claims, benefits, and other services linked to veterans in the state.
• So they're migrating services.
• We run all of the state's outpatient services, all of those community-based services.
• But again, we looked at all those services.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Veterans rely on SH 130 for transportation for vital VA services such as specialized medical care Like
• An important point to make is that CapMetro does not deliver transportation services in Lago Vista.
• CapMetro subcontracts out to Lago Vista services to carts.
• Lago Vista and they promised to study and result and yet half our citizens still have no service from
• any way to even negotiate for better service because. every election time when it comes up.

Bills: HB483, HB3345, HB3643, HB3821, HB3849, HB4472, HB4523, HB4524, HB5346, HB5347, HB5376

Keywords: high-speed rail, Texas Department of Transportation, TxDOT, public-private partnership, comprehensive development agreement, CDA, Interstate 35, I-35 corridor, Dallas, Waco, Austin, San Antonio, intercity passenger rail, rail infrastructure, private entity, transportation infrastructure, rail corridor, passenger rail, infrastructure finance, vehicle registration

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 877 relating to human services appropriates funds to increase Medicaid in-home services, conditioned
• SB 877 relating to human services appropriates funds to increase Medicaid in-home services, conditioned
• of Human Services.
• </c><00:22:56.400><c> it</c> um how this uh duplicate services it um how this uh duplicate services it
• And I get someone hooked up to services.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Committee on Health and Human Services opened its first hearing of the 2026 session and heard testimony on several bills, with the chair emphasizing one-minute testimony, written submissions, and live streaming. For SB 768, relating to an alternative water source income tax credit, the Department of Taxation said a drafting issue needed clarification on the $500 cap and estimated a revenue loss of $6.8 million per year beginning in fiscal year 2028. The Tax Foundation of Hawaii and the Libertarian Party opposed the bill as an unnecessary subsidy and tax-code complication, while one supporter was noted. A member questioned the size of the projected loss and suggested future analysis of net fiscal impacts and methodology. The committee then heard SB 389, which expands a general excise tax exemption to additional health-related providers and purchases. The Department of Taxation said the change would be a minimal code adjustment but would require public education; the Tax Foundation said the bill should be framed in light of the original physician-shortage rationale for the exemption. The Hawaii National Guard and Aloha Care supported the measure, along with several other organizations and individuals, while the Libertarian Party opposed it as favoritism and tax-code complexity. A member asked about administrative burden and potential tax impact, and the department said it did not yet have a calculation but was working on one. The committee also heard SB 877, which would appropriate funds to increase Medicaid in-home services if federal matching funds are maximized, and SB 1139, which would direct DHS to expand Medicaid eligibility for children from birth to age five regardless of household income. DHS stood on written testimony for both bills, and Aloha Care, the Hawaii Medical Association, disability advocates, children’s advocates, and CARES testified in support, arguing the measures would improve access and family stability. The Libertarian Party opposed both bills, warning of higher long-term costs, entitlement growth, and reduced private-sector options. Members questioned the fiscal and programmatic differences between crisis and warm-line services during discussion of SB 787, a bill to fund a Department of Health warm line; the department said the warm line would serve noncrisis callers more cheaply than crisis staffing, and that about 34.7% of 2024 Hawaii CARES contacts were mild issues that could have been routed to a warm line. Supporters cited mental health needs after the Lahaina wildfire and the affordability crisis, while opponents argued the service duplicated existing resources and expanded government involvement.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:09:59.000><c> hearing</c><00:09:59.600><c> of</c> services hearing of services hearing of 2025<00
• </c> nonprofit organizations service nonprofit organizations service providers<00:15:26.360><c> and</
• </c><00:26:23.320><c> regain</c> with social services to help them regain with social services to help
• ><c> legal</c><00:45:51.079><c> services</c><00:45:51.520><c> for</c> working group for legal services
• </c> medications they must take what services medications they must take what services they<00:47:36.839

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several measures related to housing, homelessness, caregiving, and tax relief. On HB 431, which appropriates funds for the CAL initiative and HHFDC, the Department of Human Services supported the bill and noted the Governor’s request for $50 million per year for HMS, the need for more permanent supportive housing, and a technical issue with establishing a special fund in session law. The Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions strongly supported the measure, describing it as unprecedented funding for CAL projects and linking it to goals of reducing homelessness and expanding housing inventory. Catholic Charities Hawaii, the ACLU of Hawaii, and the Reimagining Public Safety in Hawaii Coalition also supported the bill, emphasizing permanent supportive housing, diversion from jail, and public safety benefits. The chair redirected one testifier to stay on the measure when testimony drifted to another program. Written support was also noted from several organizations and agencies. The committee then heard HB 225 on squatting. DHS said it appreciated the intent and deferred to the Attorney General and task force members, while noting that outreach on public lands differs from private land, where owner consent is required. The Office of the Public Defender supported the bill and wanted a voice in finding a solution. The Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions also said it supported the intent, while opposition from the Kingdom of the Hawaiian Islands and support from one individual were noted. For HB 280, which would make the community outreach court permanent and appropriate funds, the Judiciary strongly supported the bill, describing the court as a mobile, community-based program serving vulnerable populations and connecting participants to services. The Office of the Public Defender also supported the measure, saying the program has helped people move off the streets and into stable housing and that permanent funding would allow expansion. Written support from the Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition was noted. The committee then moved to HB 71, creating a refundable family caregiver tax credit, where the Department of Taxation provided comments, the Executive Office on Aging and AARP Hawaii supported the measure, and the Tax Foundation of Hawaii raised concerns about duplication with an existing dependent care credit and the lack of incentives for cost control. The committee next heard HB 753, which would increase the applicable percentage for the household and dependent care services tax credit. Support came from the Executive Office on Aging, Catholic Charities Hawaii, AARP Hawaii, and Hawaii Children’s Action Network, while the Tax Foundation again raised technical concerns about complexity and administration but noted the bill adds guardrails against abuse. No votes were taken during the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Garson, for your service. Thank you very much, Dr. Garson, for your service.
• Garson, thank you so much for your service, your continued service, and after today continuing your service
• Garson, thank you so much for your service, your continued service, and after today continuing your service
• And for behavioral health services... So how do we prevent?
• And those services are almost non-existent.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Rules established quorum and approved several routine items on the agenda, including governor’s appointments not required to appear: Courtney Welsh to the California Housing Partnership Corporation Board, Janessa Goldbeck to the California Veterans Board, and Tom Huntington to the State Parks and Recreation Commission, each by 3-0 vote. The committee also approved reference of bills to committees, the 2026 committee chair/member assignments, the 2026 session schedule, the 2026 holiday schedule, and floor acknowledgments, all by unanimous votes. The committee noted that some 2026 committee changes would take effect February 1, 2026, and that new committees would depend on adoption of a Senate resolution. The committee then heard from Dr. Hernando Garson, nominated as chief medical officer of the Emergency Medical Services Authority. He described his background in emergency medicine, disaster response, and EMS leadership, and members questioned him about EMSA’s strategic plan, data integration, statewide standards versus local flexibility, ambulance patient offload time regulations, stakeholder engagement, and emergency response coordination. Dr. Garson emphasized data-driven decision-making, technical assistance to local agencies, collaboration with hospitals and EMS stakeholders, and the need for safer alternatives to routine ambulance transport such as community paramedicine, telehealth, and nurse triage. He also discussed disaster preparedness for vulnerable and rural communities and the use of regional and state assets, including ambulance strike teams, during fires and floods. The committee approved his appointment 4-0. The final item was Stephanie Weldon’s nomination as Deputy Director of the Office of Health Equity at the Department of Public Health. Weldon, who identified as Yurok-Tolowa and Karuk, spoke about her tribal, county, nonprofit, and state experience, her role as the first Native American woman in the position, and her commitment to health equity, rural communities, and culturally responsive public health work. Senators asked about how the office sets priorities, measures outcomes, addresses behavioral health, tribal consultation, youth mental health, and how it responds to political pressure around DEI language; Weldon said the office focuses on community-driven, data-informed work and transparency. Public commenters strongly supported her confirmation, citing her leadership on the California Reducing Disparities Project and related equity efforts. The committee approved her appointment 4-0, sending it to the full Senate for confirmation.