Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a sexual nurse examiner.
• If you're a nurse practitioner, you should identify as a nurse practitioner, not as a nurse anesthesiologist
• or a cancer nurse or a pediatric nurse.
• Some people can read into the scope of practice between a nurse. practitioner, nurse, and doctor.
• Is a doctor of nursing? Okay? Well, say doctor of nursing.

Bills: HB3000, HB2622, HB2283, HB541, HB1776, HB1803, HB1669, HB2588, HB220, HB3415, HB50, HB1314, HB 107, HB220, HB50, HB107

Keywords: ambulance service, rural healthcare, grants, financial assistance, qualified counties, mental health, patient transport, female attendants, security measures, healthcare regulation, epinephrine, anaphylaxis, health care, school safety, training, emergency response, direct patient care, healthcare, physicians, medical services

Transcript Highlights:

• So, so... ...actually, we have plenty of nurses in Massachusetts.
• You're confident that there's not a nursing staff shortage?
• And I've met with all the nurses represented by the MNA, the Mass Nurses Association, and the workers
• And I've met with all the nurses represented by the MNA, the Mass Nurses Association, and the workers
• I am fortunate enough to be a nurse, a registered nurse.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The special legislative commission on the future of Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital for Children held a hybrid public hearing focused on the hospital’s future, admissions, staffing, infrastructure, and whether the facility should be preserved, expanded, or reimagined. Opening remarks from legislators, commissioners, parents, and union representatives emphasized that Pappas provides a unique combination of medical, rehabilitative, educational, and residential services for children with complex needs, and several speakers argued that the hospital is effectively being depopulated through reduced admissions and ongoing discharges despite public assurances that it remains open. Multiple speakers urged the commission to extend its authorization and continue its work before any closure or major change can occur. Testimony from labor leaders, including AFSCME, SEIU Local 509, and the Massachusetts Nurses Association, described a “silent closure” in practice, with staff reporting confusion about the hospital’s status, declining census numbers, blocked admissions, and uncertainty about the workforce’s future. They called for immediate action to stop admission denials and unnecessary discharges, and some proposed short-term solutions such as temporary modular structures to address infrastructure barriers and allow admissions to resume. Parents and former patients testified that Pappas provided life-changing independence, specialized therapy, and campus-based supports that they said could not be replicated elsewhere, and they criticized alternative placements as inadequate. Commissioner Robert Goldstein of the Department of Public Health said the administration supports keeping Pappas open and funded while the commission works, but he argued that admissions must comply with hospital-level-of-care rules and that the campus’s deteriorating infrastructure limits the kinds of children who can safely be served there. He said the department is continuing admissions for appropriate patients, working to expand outreach and services, and exploring long-term options, including broader statewide models of care. Commissioners pressed him on whether discharge status or lack of a clear discharge plan had been used as a barrier to admission, and requested de-identified data on patients recommended for admission but denied. No formal votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• So right now, a nurse graduates from nursing school, hopefully passes the NCLEX, and then goes to practice
• So this bill simply requires that nursing students in a nursing program must have two hours of identification
• We're not requiring nursing programs to do that.
• So with that, we want to make sure that all our nurses, all our nurses from day one can identify the
• And our nurses are right there on the front line.

Bills: S0032, S0068, S0210, S0246, S0340, S0418, S0428, S0606, S0628, S1028, S1734

Keywords: injunctions, protection orders, domestic violence, serious violence, court procedures, enforcement, risk protection, statewide communication system, pediatric care, emergency departments, hospital regulations, patient safety, health care standards, public records, violence protection, confidentiality, defamation, specialty license plate, specialty plates, motor vehicle registration

Summary: The Committee on Fiscal Policy met and reported a series of bills favorably, covering health care, public safety, insurance, coastal resilience, juvenile justice, drowning prevention, transportation designations, and beach management. Senator Harrell presented CS/SB 68, requiring hospitals with emergency departments to adopt pediatric emergency care policies, training, designated pediatric readiness personnel, and participation in a national readiness assessment; it passed. Harrell also presented CS/SB 340, requiring nursing students to complete two hours of human trafficking identification training before licensure; it also passed. Senator Sharif’s CS/SB 32 and SB 210, creating a new injunction for protection against serious violence by a known person and the related public records bill, were both reported favorably. Senator Garcia’s CS/CS/SB 302 on nature-based coastal resiliency, Senator Jones’s SB 418 on law enforcement interaction with individuals with autism and the Blue Envelope Program, and Senator Martin’s CS/SB 1734 updating juvenile probation and detention officer definitions and related cost-share language were also approved. The committee then took up several drowning-prevention measures. CS/SB 606 by Senator Smith would add drowning prevention and safe bathing education to postpartum materials and direct the Department of Health to create standardized materials; an amendment removed a records-retention requirement, and the bill passed. SB 428 by Senator Yarborough would expand the state swim lesson voucher program from children ages 0-4 to ages 1-7; it received strong support from advocates, including a young swim instructor and autism advocates, and passed. The committee also approved CS/SB 246, a specialty license plate bill that was amended to include the UFC plate and a First Responders’ Resiliency Foundation plate, and CS/SB 1028, which revises Citizens Property Insurance and clearinghouse procedures to prioritize admitted carriers and prohibit public funds for the clearinghouse; that bill drew discussion about market competition, Citizens’ exposure, and potential impacts on policyholders. Additional measures reported favorably included SB 628, designating a portion of South Navy Boulevard in Pensacola as Warrior Sacrifice Way to honor the sailors killed in the 2019 Naval Air Station Pensacola attack, and CS/SB 636 on beach management, which would create a proactive pathway for coastal communities to obtain erosion-related designations and align with federal programs. Beach industry testimony supported the bill’s intent but raised concerns about perpetual easements and funding shortfalls. At the end of the meeting, members recorded additional votes on selected bills, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• So I hold a doctorate in nursing practice.
• I'm a nationally certified school nurse, a member of the Texas School Nurses Association. organization
• You're here on behalf of school nurses. I'm a school nurse and yes. And then Ms.
• We've got school social workers, school nurses and school counselors.
• I'm grateful for the work of social workers and nurses and school counselors.

Bills: HB367, HB497, HB549, HB983, HB 1188, HB 1290, HB1368, HB2243, HB2310, HB2849, HB3099, HB3546, HB3629, HB3627

Keywords: education, absences, severe illness, life-threatening, school policy, verification, healthcare, insurance, affordability, coverage, patient rights, school health, respiratory distress, airway clearance devices, medication training, public health, HB 983, Texas Education Agency, TEA, educator privacy

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, we got shortages of nurses.
• I'm a registered nurse, and I work as a nursing practice specialist at the Minnesota Nurses Association
• at Minnesota nursing practice specialist at Minnesota Nurses<00:57:05.400> Association<00:57:
• job cuts by replacing skilled nurses job cuts by replacing skilled nurses with<00:57:48.400>
• Staffing decisions that may cause nurses Staffing decisions that may cause nurses to<00:58:17.119

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Would you please recognize Senator Reinhart to introduce the Nurse of the Day?
• She began her journey as a licensed practical nurse in 1997 and went on to achieve her registered nurse
• and became certified in maternal newborn nursing in 2025.
• Continued support of Oklahoma nurses serving as Nurse of the Day is sincerely appreciated and helps highlight
• the vital role nurses like Amanda play in their communities.

Bills: SB1265, SB1198, SB2046, SB1415, SB1714, SB1962, SB26, SB172, SB260, SB264, SB1525, SB1332, SB1998, SB1378, SB1771, SB1919, SB2018, SB1936, SB1612, SB1543, SB1260, SB1988, SB1859, SB2041, SB1257, SB1726, SB1236, SB1633, SB1413, SB1317, SB1360, SB1342, SB1477, SB1189, SB1546, SB1524, SB1338, SB1193, SB1812, SB1617, SB1638, SB504, SB2072, SB1283, SB1216, SB1655, SB2011, SB1643, SB1446, SB1256, SB1258, SB1441, SB1224, SB1448, SB1496, SB1597, SB1621, SB1827, SB2066, SB2104

Keywords: healthcare authority, property lien, county treasury, local government, Oklahoma, municipalities, campsite regulation, Department of Environmental Quality, unauthorized camps, public safety, environmental standards, nondisclosure agreements, state employment, employee rights, transparency, government accountability, employee suggestions, cost savings, state agencies, incentives

Transcript Highlights:

• nurse at that point, and then obviously a registered nurse.
• That focus was on modernizing the production model for nurses, bachelor's degree level nurses and down
• Very few of them were nurses.
• we're teaching nurses and how we're aligning a career pathway for nurses.
• In nursing, for example, we should all have giant nursing programs.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <04:34:44.400> homes, the county and the county nursing homes, the county and the county nursing
• The rehab community at nursing homes.
• homes, skilled nursing...
• <04:42:27.280> homes the issue there is that nursing homes the issue there is that nursing
• normally go into the private nursing normally go into the private nursing homes<04:44:04.560>

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill prohibits DHS from requiring licensed registered nurse practitioners to obtain any other license
• I'm a nurse practitioner working currently as a registered nurse in the Interventional Radiology Department
• at Mayo Clinic, hoping to transition as a practicing nurse practitioner in that department.
• Board of Nursing to make educational and standards of practice for nurse practitioners, just as physician
• We had a Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services-required process for skilled nursing.

Bills: HB2050, HB2082, HB2176, HB2195, HB2202, HB2307, HB2584

Keywords: radiologic technologist, radiologist assistant, radiology, imaging, x-ray, diagnostic x-ray, fluoroscopy, mammography, computed tomography, CT technologist, nuclear medicine technologist, bone densitometry, radiation safety, radiation licensing, scope of practice, health workforce, rural health care, critical access hospital, supervision, telehealth

Summary: The committee approved the minutes and then heard House Bill 2050, which updates Department of Health Services rules for radiologic technologists and radiologic assistants. The bill changes school accreditation and training requirements, reduces clinical hours, revises supervision and scope-of-practice rules, adjusts fees, and removes radiologic technologists from the telehealth health care provider definition. Testimony from a radiologic technologist supported the bill as an update to outdated standards and a response to workforce shortages, while a nurse practitioner supported the section allowing NPs to use diagnostic x-ray machines under nursing board standards. HB 2050 passed 7-0 with a do-pass recommendation. The committee then considered House Bill 2082, which creates a Childhood Cancer and Rare Childhood Disease Research Commission and expands the research fund to include appropriations, gifts, donations, and federal grants. An amendment shifted grant-awarding authority to the DHS director, required the commission to set criteria and review applications, and added public meeting requirements; it also tied funding to at least $5 million in available resources and removed the return-on-investment reporting requirement. Supporters said the bill would strengthen pediatric cancer research and leverage an underused funding source, though members raised concerns about oversight. The bill was amended and then passed 7-0. House Bill 2176 and House Bill 2195 both dealt with DHS licensing and complaint-investigation procedures for health care institutions and nursing care institutions. HB 2176 allows DHS to deny licenses or ownership changes based on serious prior licensing problems or safety risks, and it sets notice, investigation, and deficiency-statement rules; speakers from public health and hospital groups supported it as improving transparency and preventing bad actors from cycling through ownership. HB 2195 limits DHS access to certain personnel records, requires deficiency statements within 10 business days, and bars investigations of incidents older than 12 months; an amendment delayed implementation to July 1, 2027 and added corrective-plan and off-site review provisions. Both bills passed 7-0 as amended. The committee also approved House Bill 2202, which appropriates $300,000 annually for a dementia care tele-mentoring program to train providers statewide, especially in rural and underserved areas. The Alzheimer’s Association and a patient with younger-onset Alzheimer’s testified that the program would improve early diagnosis and care, though one senator opposed state funding on the view that medical schools should teach the material. HB 2202 passed 6-1. Finally, House Bill 2307, addressing placement for dangerous, incompetent, non-restorable defendants when secure state hospital beds are unavailable, drew the most debate. An amendment replaced out-of-state placement with a temporary, limited-use solution involving up to three beds at the Arizona State Hospital forensic campus, created a study committee, and shifted some non-psychiatric costs to counties; counties and hospital stakeholders opposed the county-cost language, while sponsors and DHS said the measure was an emergency stopgap. The amended bill passed 4-3. The committee then passed House Bill 2584 4-3, which prohibits public funds from being used for genetic sequencing equipment from foreign adversary countries or entities; supporters framed it as a national security measure, and opponents voted no. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Gloria Dordy, a nurse practitioner that's PhD prepared, here representing the New Mexico Nursing Association
• Doherty, the nurse practitioner, Ph.D., who spoke in favor of the bill. Dr.
• I am a PhD nurse practitioner here on behalf of the New Mexico Nursing Association and the New Mexico
• Nurse Practitioner Council.
• Madam Chair, we did the nursing a couple years ago. So we did the nurse thing a couple years ago.

Bills: SB20, SB111, SB211, SB218, SB14

Keywords: prior authorization, pharmacy benefits manager, PBM, health insurer, prescription drugs, step therapy, formulary, auto-adjudication, electronic portal, appeals, medical necessity, serious mental illness, mental health, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression, substance use disorder, addiction treatment, cancer, autoimmune disorder

Transcript Highlights:

• J.R. requires, unfortunately, 24-hour nursing care and supervision. That is the claims bill.
• Jack Corey, Florida Nursing Association, is waiving in support.
• Florida Nurses Association. Thank you. Waiving in support. Is there a debate?
• They would be in nursing homes were it not for home care that they are receiving.
• It has to do with the whole program on private duty nursing.

Summary: The Health Policy Committee met with a quorum and took up a long agenda of health care, Medicaid, and patient-access measures, along with confirmation votes. The committee first reconsidered and amended SB 1606 on patient access to records, clarifying portal obligations, deleting a section affecting nursing home facility records, and setting a January 1, 2026 effective date; the bill then passed favorably as a committee substitute. The committee also recommended confirmation of a block of appointees and separately confirmed Chavon Harris as Secretary of the Agency for Health Care Administration after Harris testified about priorities including financial accountability, managed care oversight, transparency, and quality improvement. Senators asked about audit findings and Medicaid managed care performance, and several witnesses and committee members voiced support for her appointment. The committee then advanced a series of bills, most of them with amendments, including claims bills SB 28 and SB 22 for South Broward Hospital District settlements, SB 772 on undesignated glucagon in schools, SB 998 on death certification by physician assistants and APRNs, SB 1412 on home health administration flexibility, SB 1800 creating a Parkinson’s disease research consortium at USF, SB 306 on managed care network access during holidays and after hours, SB 1768 on stem cell therapies by physicians, SB 1602 on pediatric readiness in emergency departments, SB 1156 on the home health aide program for medically fragile children, SB 1490 on Children’s Medical Services and managed care administration, and SB 1182 on Medicaid coverage of continuous glucose monitors. Most of these bills received support from industry, advocacy, or provider groups and were reported favorably as committee substitutes. The most debated measure was SB 1270, a broad strike-all amendment combining provisions on mRNA vaccine documentation, vaccination-status protections in the Patient Bill of Rights, medical marijuana reporting and background-screening definitions, compact language, and volunteer immunity. The committee heard extensive testimony both for and against the vaccine-related provisions, including concerns about discrimination, patient safety, provider discretion, and medical liability. After additional technical amendments and a time-certain motion, the bill passed favorably as a committee substitute, with Senators Davis and Osgood voting no and Senator Harrell expressing a weak yes. At the end of the meeting, senators recorded their votes on selected tabs, and the committee adjourned.

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.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• it prohibits residents, I assume nursing it prohibits residents, I assume nursing home,<00:25:25.840
• of customers who've been in nursing of customers who've been in nursing homes,<00:25:58.960>
• Section 7 is a MDH policy clarification related to supplemental nursing service agencies.
• homes and assisted in both nursing homes and assisted living. living. living.
• <00:38:00.000> homes in nursing homes in nursing homes uh uh uh that<00:38:02.760> have

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• live still independently of of nursing live still independently of of nursing homes<00:21:25.440
• I have a question about nursing and the budgets.
• I have a question about nursing and the budgets.
• I'm a registered nurse. I've been a registered nurse for over 25 years.
• Right now we self-direct. a registered nurse been a registered a registered nurse been a registered nurse

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Our moms have direct access to on-site licensed sonographers, OBGYNs, and nurses.
• Thank you for your interest in the safety of nursing home and assisted living residents.
• Assisted living facilities and older nursing facilities do not have these same requirements.
• nursing facilities.
• But it would almost be completely covered if you put the nursing facilities. Thank you.

Bills: SB397, SB481, SB596, SB760, SB855, SB1195, SB1196, SB1233, SB1257, SB1318, SB1368, SB1388, SB1398, SB1524, SB1558, SB1589, SB1677, SB1792, SB2034

Keywords: SB 397, telemedicine, telehealth, teledentistry, remote care, virtual care, consent documentation, patient consent, data collection, data sharing, audio-only telehealth, in-person examination, irreversible medical procedure, health professional regulation, Occupations Code, Texas Health and Human Services, medical records, provider compliance, data privacy, consumer rights

Transcript Highlights:

• know that there's lots of students who want to become nurses.
• People that will become nursing faculty.
• We're requesting funding for our nursing research, simulation and Education or nurse center in the amount
• of 93.75 million to meet the demand for nurses and the growing enrollment in our nursing program.
• We have a, a very fine robust nursing program at every level BSN, MSN, and, uh, nurse practitioner level

Transcript Highlights:

• that some nurses are not allowed to do. that some nurses are not allowed to do.
• Some nursing programs do not teach their nurses how to do IVs.
• nursing and and physicians and stuff. nursing and and physicians and stuff.
• nursing home and we can't find a nursing nursing home and we can't find a nursing home<05:23:28.320
• entire spectrum of our nursing homes. entire spectrum of our nursing homes.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Licensed physicians and nurses must complete a one-time... ...health care professionals.
• We have Victoria Zep, Florida Association of Nurse Practitioners, waiving in support.
• I just think that more, you know, nurses and physicians and people in the medical field I just think
• that more, you know, nurses and physicians and people in the medical field should gain the knowledge,
• and health science education programs in addition to nursing education programs.

Summary: The Fiscal Policy Committee met and first adopted a late-filed amendment to SB 774, which expands enhanced workers’ compensation coverage to 911 public safety telecommunicators for mental or nervous injuries. The bill drew supportive testimony from a Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office dispatcher and others, and was reported favorably. The committee also reported favorably SB 770 on forensic services for certain defendants, which would allow the Agency for Persons with Disabilities to consolidate secure forensic services for individuals with intellectual disabilities or autism whose charges were dismissed after incompetency findings. Members then considered several public safety, family, and workforce bills. CS/SB 86, which declares unauthorized aliens operating commercial vehicles an imminent safety hazard and imposes vehicle impoundment and a $50,000 penalty on motor carriers, was reported favorably after questions about impound procedures and cargo handling; one speaker opposed it. SB 1594, protecting veterans’ benefits for foster youth so the funds are reserved for postsecondary education, training, and after-care services, was reported favorably with supportive testimony from a former DCF attorney. CS/SB 760, creating a new offense for willful violations of no-contact pretrial release conditions in violent crime cases, was reported favorably despite criminal defense attorneys’ concerns about a provision allowing warrantless arrests without officer observation. The committee also approved a complete rewrite of the nonprofit corporations chapter in SB 554, a sickle cell continuing education bill (SB 844) after extensive emotional testimony from patients, advocates, and family members, and SB 1022 adding two children’s initiative programs in Bay County and Broward County. CS/SB 1246 broadened the Linking Industry to Nursing Education Fund to include health science education programs and related workforce needs and was reported favorably. Finally, the committee approved CS/CS/SB 1230 restricting use and sale of certain firefighting foam containing intentionally added PFAS, and CS/CS/SB 128 directing DEP to mark Red Harris Spoil Island; both passed with favorable votes. Several senators later asked to be recorded as voting in the affirmative on specific tabs, and the meeting adjourned without further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, this bill ensures that these aides, um, the care provided by these aides is under nursing supervision
• And the Texas Board of Nursing rules allow nurses to delegate nursing tests to unlicensed persons, including
• And a long day, but just to let you know that this program, private duty nursing is something that we
• This is different than adults and so private duty nursing is one of those services.
• So hospitals, nursing homes do have the regulation.

Bills: HB 660, HB 4845, HB 3902, HB 5396, HB 4615, HB 1825, HB 1403, HB 4336, HB 4585, HB 4371, HB 863, SB 1589, HB 5223, HB 3195, HB 2734

Keywords: child protective services, adult protective services, caseload limits, call processing goals, child-care licensing, employee workload, reporting requirements, employee caseload limits, protective services, workload management, accountability, Department of Family and Protective Services, employee goals, call processing, child care, human resources, government accountability, Medicaid, provider enrollment, revalidation

Transcript Highlights:

• not, I'll work through the other nurses not, I'll work through the other nurses or<00:59:14.079>
• of Clinical Nurse Specialists.
• This transition to practice limits where certified nurse specialists and nurse practitioners can work
• Supporters include the Minnesota Nurse Supporters include the Minnesota Nurse Practitioner<01:09
• /c><01:09:26.719> Nurse<01:09:27.120> Midwives, Minnesota Affiliate of Nurse Midwives,

Bills: HF3521, HF3563, HF82, HF2689, HF1794, HF3544, HF3516, HF1752

Keywords: hospital moratorium, hospital construction, bed capacity, hospital expansion, health care facilities, hospital licensing, safety-net hospital, level I trauma center, Ramsey County, Minnesota health law, hospital beds, new hospital exception, certificate of need, inpatient capacity, emergency care, trauma services, health system regulation, state moratorium, hospital modernization, health infrastructure