Transcript Highlights:

• They are nurses, doctors, pastors, teachers, small business owners, and caregivers.
• Soon after becoming a registered nurse, she entered the Navy Nurse Corps during World War II and treated
• </c> Hospital School of Nursing in 1941. Hospital School of Nursing in 1941.
• ,</c> Soon after becoming a registered nurse, Soon after becoming a registered nurse, she<08:10:03.520
• </c> was appointed director of the Navy Nurse was appointed director of the Navy Nurse Corps.<08:10:24.240

Transcript Highlights:

• I have about 18 years of health care experience in as a neonatal intensive care and flight nurse for
• c> in as a neonatal intensive care and in as a neonatal intensive care and flight<00:04:49.480><c> nurse
• 50.200><c> of</c><00:04:50.320><c> years</c><00:04:51.120><c> and</c><00:04:51.320><c> then</c> flight nurse
• for a lot of years and then flight nurse for a lot of years and then a<00:04:52.320><c> number</c><00
• >> Um, no, I don't have any comments about the letter, but, you know, there are federal regulations that

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:

• government, and we are here to stand up for doctors and patients instead of insurance companies and big regulators
• Iris, a mom in Buffalo who is worried about how they'll keep her kids' health insurance, or Andy, a nursing
• in, the Republicans with their big ugly bill, and make cuts to Medicaid and cuts to hospitals and nursing
• in, the Republicans with their big ugly bill, and make cuts to Medicaid and cuts to hospitals and nursing
• Hospitals, nursing homes, and community-based health centers are closing all across America, including

Transcript Highlights:

• You have the floor, sir. status of the state nursing homes. That's a bunch.
• So Florida is the national leader in occupancy going up in our nursing homes.
• home or have the opportunity to live in a nursing home.
• or have the opportunity to live a nursing home.
• So, again, we know who they are because they're in our state veteran nursing homes.

Committee: Senate Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security

Summary: The committee took up SB 116 by Senator Burgess, a veterans bill aimed at several FDVA-related changes. The bill would reduce annual nominations to the Florida Veterans Hall of Fame from 20 to 5, expand FDVA’s survey work to assess veterans’ awareness of available programs and their health literacy, add mental health training to the veterans suicide prevention pilot, strengthen coordination and reporting between Veterans Florida and FDVA, direct FDVA to develop a plan for adult day health care facilities statewide, and allow the Florida Veterans Foundation to use a portion of Gadsden flag plate proceeds for administrative costs. Senator Burgess said the measure builds on prior “Forward March” efforts and helps close service gaps for aging veterans and others who may not know about available benefits. Testimony on SB 116 was uniformly supportive. FDVA leadership said adult day health care could be added at existing facilities such as Port St. Lucie and Lake City, and that the state would need authority and funding to move forward. A veterans legal collaborative, AARP Florida, and Endeavors all voiced support, with speakers emphasizing the importance of better outreach, mental health awareness, and care options that allow veterans to remain at home. The committee then voted favorably on SB 116. The remainder of the meeting was devoted to agency and stakeholder presentations. Florida National Guard officials described a high operational tempo, deployments at home and abroad, hurricane response efforts, and the need to grow the force and infrastructure. FDVA’s adjutant general reported Florida now has the nation’s second-largest veteran population, rising in-migration of younger veterans, a large and aging Vietnam-era population, strong claims and outreach activity, declining veteran homelessness, and improved suicide prevention outcomes. The Florida Veterans Foundation outlined its emergency relief, dental, transportation, and license-plate-funded programs, while Veterans Florida and CareerSource Florida detailed workforce, apprenticeship, SkillBridge, entrepreneurship, and job-fair programs for veterans and spouses, along with efforts to expand recurring funding and better protect customer information.

Transcript Highlights:

• I also represent the Nursing Home Association.
• Nursing home associations always advocated for nursing homes, whether you're for-profit, not-for-profit
• , or licensed practical nurse, or a person who holds a multi-state privilege to practice such nursing
• under the Nurse Licensure Compact. ...who holds a multi-state privilege to practice such nursing under
• the Nurse Licensure Compact.

Committee: House Courts of Justice

Transcript Highlights:

• Introduction of Doctor and or Nurse of the Day. Correction of previous day's journal.
• Please recognize Representative Kane to present the Nurse of the Day.
• It is my distinct honor to recognize our Nurse of the Day, Mary Utsler.
• of roles, from bedside care and surgical nursing to public health leadership.
• There, she teaches introduction to nursing and community nursing while also leading students in SMART

Bills: HB1411 , HB3143 , HB3144 , HB3901 , HCR1019 , HB3981 , HB4248 , HB3194 , HB3849 , HB4095 , HB4302 , HB3342 , HB3344 , HB3287 , HB3645 , HB3647 , HB3930 , HB3931 , HB1818 , HB4454 , HB4336

Summary: The House convened, completed the roll call, prayer, and Pledge of Allegiance, and then took up several second- and third-reading items. Senate Bill 392 was assigned to Administrative Rules. Members also heard personal privileges and introductions, including a remembrance request for Oakland Ray Domer, recognition of a long-serving House staff member, and introductions of guests from Eastern Oklahoma State College, Associated Builders and Contractors of Oklahoma, the Doctor of the Day, and the Nurse of the Day. The chamber passed several measures. House Bill 1411 created a True Grit Trail for tourism, with supporters saying signage would be privately funded and installed at no cost to the state; it passed 92-0. House Bill 3143 extended the moratorium on new medical marijuana grow licensing to August 1, 2028, with supporters arguing it would help curb oversupply and black market activity; it passed 82-8. House Bill 3144, also related to medical marijuana, set a cap framework for when the moratorium ends so the industry would not return to rapid expansion; it passed 82-15. House Bill 3901 established a five-year pilot project for psychological autopsies within the State Department of Health to improve suicide prevention, but members raised concerns about privacy, rulemaking, and the bill’s breadth; it passed 73-24. House Concurrent Resolution 1019 supported naming a planned turnpike segment the Toby Keith Expressway in honor of the late singer’s music career, patriotism, charity work, and support for Oklahoma communities. House Bill 3981 created a locality incentive program for assistant district attorneys in areas of need and passed 83-11. The House then adjourned until February 26, 2026, at 9:30 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• . force training, and welding, process technology, and truck driving to high-value credentials in nursing
• We plan to develop a doctorate of nurse practice specializing in nursing anesthesia to meet the increasing
• demand for certified registered nurse anesthetists.
• programs and allied health programs, and to increase the capacity of the Bachelors of Nursing.
• We have been able to. expand our allied health programs including our nursing and new EMT programs.

Committee: House Appropriations - S/C on Article III

Transcript Highlights:

• this proposal could mean the Bureau charges higher fees to the private postsecondary schools it regulates
• this proposal could mean the Bureau charges higher fees to the private postsecondary schools it regulates
• program, a 13-week automotive repair program, and essential worker pathways such as those for certified nursing
• alone is proposed to take up to 90 days, on top of the need for the Commission to adopt emergency regulations
• In addition, the federal regulations for Workforce Pell were finally released on Monday of this week.

Summary: The subcommittee heard May Revision proposals for higher education, beginning with the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education. Finance proposed a one-time $10 million General Fund backfill to repay a special fund loan used to cover litigation costs, plus provisional language to allow budget flexibility for a remaining legal expense and to repay the loan without interest. The LAO opposed shifting the litigation costs to the General Fund and raised legal concerns about waiving interest on the loan, noting that special fund loans have historically been repaid with interest. Members asked about the litigation amount and the estimated interest savings, which Finance said would be about $245,000. The committee then discussed University of California funding, including the Governor’s proposed compact funding and a $1.5 million one-time increase for the First Star foster youth program at UC campuses. UC said the program has strong outcomes at UCLA, including a 100% college-going rate and high college completion rates, and that the new funding would expand the program to additional campuses and eventually be self-supporting through fundraising. The LAO recommended rejecting the proposal, arguing that UC already has overlapping outreach programs, including the Early Academic Outreach Program, and that the new initiative would duplicate existing services. Several senators questioned whether the state should expand a new program instead of strengthening existing ones, while UC and Finance emphasized the program’s focus on foster youth and its high success rates. For the California Community Colleges, Finance outlined the May Revision’s increase to the Student-Centered Funding Formula COLA from 2.41% to 4.31%, along with enrollment growth funding, categorical COLAs, deferred maintenance, and other ongoing and one-time investments. The Chancellor’s Office supported the flexible “super COLA” approach and asked for more enrollment growth funding, arguing that many districts are already above current targets and that unfunded growth restricts access. The LAO recommended funding at least the statutory COLA, redirecting some ongoing funds to enrollment growth or one-time priorities, and rejecting the $9.7 million Adult Learner Demonstration Project because districts already have incentives to do similar work. Senators pressed Finance and the Chancellor’s Office on the use of COLA funds to cover the new paid pregnancy disability leave requirement, the impact on hold-harmless and basic-aid districts, and whether the state should fund actual enrollment growth rather than a flat COLA. The committee also reviewed California Student Aid Commission proposals, including adjustments to Cal Grant and Middle Class Scholarship funding, continued Golden State Teacher Grant funding, and implementation of the federal Workforce Pell program. Finance said the Middle Class Scholarship changes reflected updated caseload estimates and that the higher 35% unmet-need level had been one-time funding, while CSAC urged continued support and noted the importance of financial aid for student success. The LAO recommended rejecting additional Golden State Teacher Grant funding as not well-targeted and urged caution on Workforce Pell trailer bill language, citing uncertainty about federal rules, ongoing administrative workload, and the need for clearer implementation planning. Members also raised concerns about declining CADAA applications and the need to better promote state aid for undocumented and mixed-status students. No votes were taken during the transcripted portion, and the committee moved through the agenda items with questions and testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• We strongly agree that regulation regulators and stakeholders need more clarity.
• But then there's a supplement every 30 days so that they show in the regulators.
• As we work to strengthen poll infrastructure throughout the state, it gives our regulators the opportunity
• Regulators have an opportunity to review to ensure best practices are being implemented and our customers
• The people in the nursing homes were having to leave.

Bills: HB 13 , HB143 , HB144 , HB145 , HB366 , HB470 , HB805 , HB912 , HB13 , HB143 , HB144 , HB145

Committee: House State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• And she said, "Rest of them is in nursing homes."
• And she said, "Rest of them is in nursing<00:15:07.199><c> homes."
• </c><00:15:07.840><c> [laughter]</c> nursing homes." [laughter] nursing homes."
• It's a very heavy regulatory office in terms of the statutes and regulations that we follow and some
• We're believers that if it's easier for our regulated industries to follow, it's easier for us to regulate

Summary: The committee heard first from Kentucky Farm Bureau leaders, who outlined the organization’s current priorities and recent work on farmland transition. Eddie Melton said Farm Bureau is working through 983 county and advisory committee resolutions and highlighted support for the updated selling farmer tax credit, now law through House Bill 775, as well as Senate Bill 28’s agriculture economic development provisions. He said Farm Bureau’s likely priorities include maintaining the 50% share of the tobacco settlement fund for agriculture, protecting funding for the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, preserving sales tax exemptions on farm inputs, keeping property taxes controlled, and exploring additional tools to keep farmland in active farmers’ hands, including possible loan or inheritance-tax changes. He also raised concerns about eminent domain transparency, nuisance deer permits, and access to agricultural inputs and crop protection products. Alita Bots described the farmland transition initiative in more detail, saying the revised state tax credit is generating strong interest and that a new federal tax provision now allows eligible land sales to actively engaged farmers to spread capital gains taxes over time. She said the initiative has reached 22 counties and more than 1,300 people this year through outreach and meetings, and that Farm Bureau is pairing policy work with resources to help farm families plan transitions and prepare wills and other estate documents. Drew Graham added that the effort is also meant to bridge the rural-urban divide and support rural communities, and Farm Bureau invited members to its annual meeting in early December. Members asked about rising insurance costs and deer damage. Farm Bureau representatives said severe convective storms, inflation, and higher repair and material costs have driven insurance rate increases, citing five major storm events since 2021 and a recent Owensboro hailstorm that caused about $350 million in losses; they said the company is moving toward percentage deductibles to help moderate increases. On deer, they said crop-loss totals are hard to quantify but acknowledged the problem and discussed possible coordination with the Department of Fish and Wildlife and Hunters for the Hungry. Commissioner Jonathan Shell then began the Department of Agriculture presentation, reporting gains from the department’s school agriculture outreach program, including a 23% increase in county participation between March and September and improved teacher-reported student learning, before continuing into the department’s legislative priorities.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our bill directs regulators to focus enforcement resources on the most serious threats to public health
• For the regulated industry to function well, the rules must be not only strong, but also predictable.
• Yeah, I'll just say this: the DCC is a very difficult job by not over-regulating those who are trying
• So artificially regulating ticket prices by setting arbitrary prices or limits in a free marketplace
• And having the confidence in your physician and nurses and anyone in the medical field to communicate

Committee: Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:

• I think if you're 80 years old in a nursing home, as an example, you probably are not doing that.
• The Board of Examiners for Psychologists does not regulate medical psychologists.
• And again, this is a bill that I’ve kind of talked with the med psych persons who are regulated under
• But again, at the end of the day, our state board regulates what happens in Louisiana.
• And then it will leave in the bill the telephone communication regulations.

Bills: HB88 , HB181 , HB210 , HB250 , HB486 , HB529 , HB544 , HB639 , HB996 , HB1036 , HB1071 , HB1113

Committee: House House and Governmental Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• advocate for Alabama's veterans, Senator Butler sponsored legislation to construct state veterans nursing
• ><c> veterans</c> legislation to construct state veterans legislation to construct state veterans nursing
• His daughter Robin, a registered nurse, and his late daughter Jill, who faithfully served as a teacher
• as a nurse it was brought<06:19:49.680><c> to</c><06:19:49.840><c> me</c><06:19:50.080><c> by</c><06
• that are taking care of these the nurses that are taking care of these kids,<06:20:43.600><c> but</c

Summary: The Senate first recognized the Montgomery Academy boys basketball team for winning the 2026 Class 3A state championship, their second straight title. Senator Barfoot introduced the team and read a resolution commending the players, coaches, and school community for the 66-39 win over Southside Selma, noting standout performances by Braden Gordon, Mason Ellis, and Jarrett Friendley. Coach Jeremy Aant and school head John Williams thanked the Senate and emphasized the team’s selflessness, teamwork, academic standards, service, and leadership development. The Senate applauded the team, added all senators to the resolution, and arranged for a picture and challenge coins for the players. After the recognition, the Senate came to order, established a quorum, excused absent senators, and adopted the previous day’s journal. Committee reports followed. The Committee on State Government Affairs reported House Bill 541 favorably with one amendment; the bill would create the Safeguard Alabama Voter Engagement Act, requiring party registration for primary voting, restricting crossover voting, retaining voter history as a public record, revising voter registration forms, and requiring parties to publish candidate qualifications. The bill was ordered to a second reading and placed on the calendar. The Committee on Local Legislation reported House Bills 630, 631, and 632 favorably, all relating to Etowah County, including changes to tax exemptions and personnel board membership. These bills were also sent to second reading and the calendar. The Senate then took up Senate Joint Resolution 117, commending Dylan Nut for winning the 2026 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic, and added all members as co-sponsors. During discussion, one senator used the opportunity to speak at length about a separate concern involving alleged unlicensed real estate solicitation and the need for legislation to protect citizens from property-related scams; he also discussed the calendar process and other bills. The floor later included extended informal remarks about fishing and a separate discussion of a proposal to designate Miss America as an official state ambassador, with support expressed for a possible stipend amendment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Is the kid regulated enough to get on the bus? That's real life.
• enough to get on Is the kid regulated enough to get on the<01:40:38.760><c> bus?
• She's also a school nurse in a district in my house district.
• </c><02:13:07.679><c> who</c> we saw from our school nurses who we saw from our school nurses who enlisted
• Counselors, nurses, and psychologists.

Transcript Highlights:

• Please recognize Representative Kane to present the nurse of the day.
• It is my distinct honor to recognize our nurse of the day, Mary Eutzler.
• range of roles from bedside care and surgical nursing to public health leadership.
• Springs, Colorado, and later serving as nurse consultant for the state of Colorado.
• There she teaches introduction to nursing and community nursing while also leading students in smart

Bills: HB1411 , HB3143 , HB3144 , HB3901 , HCR1019 , HB3981 , HB4248 , HB3194 , HB3849 , HB4095 , HB4302 , HB3342 , HB3344 , HB3287 , HB3645 , HB3647 , HB3930 , HB3931 , HB1818 , HB4454 , HB4336

Transcript Highlights:

• Celebrating 50 years of service, our School of Nursing is among the top five largest nursing programs
• Especially in our rural regions, such as critical care nursing, flight nursing, which we have one of
• Care Nurse Training Pathway.
• The DeWitt School of Nursing has a rich history of training both baccalaureate and master's degree nurses
• As the School of Nursing, also number one ranked in Texas.

Committee: House Appropriations - S/C on Article III

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill also revises allowable uses of line fund monies for nurses.
• is our nursing program.
• our nursing program.
• And we also have some wonderful community partners in that nursing program.
• programs and to grow our nursing programs.

Bills: S0720 , S1246

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Higher Education

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Higher Education met to consider one bill, a postponed bill, and a slate of trustee confirmations. The committee first took up CS/SB 1246, which expands the Linking Industry to Nursing Education (LINE) fund to support health science workforce shortages beyond nursing, including allied health programs. The bill also broadens eligible uses of funds, revises matching requirements and grant criteria, and updates reporting requirements. A strike-all amendment was adopted without objection, and the committee then reported the bill favorably after supportive testimony from Florida State College at Jacksonville, the Florida Hospital Association, the College of Central Florida, and the Florida Chamber of Commerce. Senator Davis also noted a favorable vote on the bill for the record. The committee then temporarily postponed SB 720 at the sponsor’s request. Chair Harrell explained that the bill had been incorporated into a larger committee measure and would likely be heard later in another form. Public witnesses who had come to speak on the bill were not heard because of the postponement. The remainder of the meeting focused on confirmations for trustees at several state colleges, including Chipola College, Tallahassee State College, Pensacola State College, Palm Beach State College, Pasco-Hernando State College, and St. Petersburg College. The appointees emphasized themes of affordability, workforce training, nursing and allied health success, dual enrollment, community partnerships, and local economic development. After hearing from the appointees, the committee approved a block motion to recommend confirmation of all appointees on tabs 2 through 25. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• is school nurses in heard um from nurses is school nurses in particular<00:21:22.720><c> that</c><00
• County nursing homes did not act independently or arbitrarily.
• nurse this immunity would expose<00:40:17.920><c> county</c><00:40:18.240><c> nursing</c><00:40:18.640
• ><c> as</c><00:40:32.320><c> a</c> Counties operate nursing homes as a Counties operate nursing homes
• ><c> Homes</c> New Hampshire County Nursing Homes New Hampshire County Nursing Homes answered<00:40:48.960

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• this proposal could mean the Bureau charges higher fees to the private postsecondary schools it regulates
• program, a 13-week automotive repair program, and essential worker pathways such as those for certified nursing
• alone is proposed to take up to 90 days, on top of the need for the Commission to adopt emergency regulations
• In addition, the federal regulations for Workforce Pell were finally released on Monday of this week.
• order to further refine the proposed implementation pathway, so as to both fully conform with these regulations

Transcript Highlights:

• And I'm just concerned that we give the boost to the wine sellers at the expense of... with the regulations
• And you're right, the more we regulate, the more we limit permissive applications in the industry, the
• So we are very highly regulated.
• We have nursing homes that come to a polling location with a van or a bus, which means you would have
• To regulate the assembly, association, and speech of property owners or residents, and particular government

Bills: HB223

Committee: Senate State Affairs