Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Colorado River Compacts. Colorado River Compacts.
• </c> reduce our use to meet our compact reduce our use to meet our compact obligations.<00:58:30.720>
• ,</c> what however it's with this um compact, what however it's with this um compact, are<01:09:05.120
• </c><01:09:36.400><c> does</c> entitled to under the 22 compact does entitled to under the 22 compact
• </c> that we are obligated under the compact that we are obligated under the compact to<01:11:13.120>

Committee: Joint Select Water Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair and Representative Hewitt, the issue that the event center is likely running into is the compact
• So, any service of alcohol that is intended to be not contiguous or not compact, then they would need
• </c> center for a space that's not compact center for a space that's not compact and<00:36:57.960><c>
• But are all centers, uh, event centers that have that would kind of like fall under this compact and
• But are all centers, uh, event centers that have that would kind of like fall under this compact and

Bills: HF4145 , HF4009 , HF4304 , SF2511 , HF4090 , HF357 , HF901

Committee: House Commerce Finance and Policy

Keywords: alcohol consumption, nursing homes, assisted living, resident activities, Minnesota Statutes, seasonal liquor licenses, resorts, intoxicating liquor, county board, Brainerd, Northern Pacific Center, event center, liquor license, on-sale license, alcohol sales, special law, local option, Minnesota liquor law, chapter 340A, Sunday sales

Transcript Highlights:

• And then I'll talk more about the compact that we have with the Seminole Tribe, but they have seven locations
• There are an additional seven tribal locations as they're permitted as part of the compact to do this
• Here's a little bit more information about the compact.
• general revenue fund, and the commission carries out the state's oversight responsibilities under the compact
• state's laws are not interpreted in any way that would jeopardize the exclusivity provision of the compact

Summary: The subcommittee first took up House Bill 197, which would require all private employers in Florida, regardless of size, to use E-Verify for new hires and eliminate the current exemption for businesses with fewer than 25 employees. The sponsor said the system is free, uses information already collected on I-9 forms, and helps employers confirm work authorization; supporters argued it simply enforces existing law and closes a gap in current requirements. Opponents, including labor and policy groups, said the bill would burden small businesses, could produce errors, and should be addressed through comprehensive federal immigration reform rather than state mandates. Members also raised concerns about implementation, enforcement, and potential impacts on workers and employers in industries such as agriculture, hospitality, and small business. The committee voted along party lines to report HB 197 favorably. The committee then received an update from the Florida Gaming Control Commission, beginning with new Executive Director Alana Zimmer and then Director of Gaming Enforcement Carl Harold. Zimmer outlined the commission’s structure, staffing, legal slot and card room locations, and the Seminole gaming compact, noting that changes in state law or court rulings could affect compact revenue. Members asked for additional information on salaries, commission vacancies, and how veterans’ organizations can determine whether gaming machines are legal. Harold described the commission’s enforcement work against illegal casinos, saying they are widespread, often exploit vulnerable patrons, and can be tied to organized crime, weapons, drugs, and other offenses. Harold reported thousands of complaints, more than 4,000 illegal slot machines seized, over 100 illegal casinos raided, millions in proceeds recovered, and numerous arrests and joint operations with other agencies. He said the main barriers are weak misdemeanor penalties and limited staffing, and requested two additional enforcement squads, one in southwest Florida and one in Jacksonville. Members questioned the cost of the request, storage of seized machines, coordination with local law enforcement, and how the public can report illegal gambling. The commission said it works with local agencies, has many MOUs, and directs the public to its website and law enforcement hotline for reporting.

Transcript Highlights:

• 06.120><c> want</c><00:16:06.240><c> to</c><00:16:06.360><c> be</c><00:16:06.480><c> very</c> our compact
• so we want to be very our compact so we want to be very careful<00:16:07.120><c> about</c><00:16:07.360
• 19:41.720><c> the</c> multi-state license if they're in the multi-state license if they're in the compact
• 00:19:42.720><c> and</c><00:19:42.840><c> work</c><00:19:43.000><c> on</c><00:19:43.120><c> a</c> compact
• they can come and work on a compact they can come and work on a privileged<00:19:43.679><c> practice

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Health Services met with a quorum and first considered House Bill 9, which would create a Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board modeled after the Public Pension Oversight Board. The sponsors said the board is intended to bring together the executive branch, legislative branch, and stakeholders to study Medicaid policy and its fiscal impacts before changes are made. Members generally supported the concept, with questions focused on board size and representation from providers and community-based service organizations. The bill was reported favorably by unanimous vote, including a title amendment. The committee then heard House Bill 152, which would create a Medicaid supplemental directed payment program for public EMS agencies, including fire departments and city, county, or taxing-district EMS providers. The sponsor said the measure is designed to draw down a higher federal match without any general fund impact, and noted support from local government groups. After brief discussion, the bill passed with favorable expression by unanimous vote. Finally, the committee took up House Bill 688, a two-part measure. One part would give the Board of Nursing more discretion to review out-of-state nursing credentials by changing mandatory acceptance of certification to permissive language, in response to concerns about fraudulent or substandard nursing programs and the effects of multistate licensure. The other part would allow certain diabetes medications to be stored and administered in schools, with training for school personnel and civil immunity for those acting in good faith. Some members supported the bill as a way to protect patients and maintain standards, while one senator voted no because of concerns about slowing licensure during a nursing shortage. The bill passed 10-1 with favorable expression. The committee announced it would meet again Wednesday at 8:30 a.m., then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• compact.
• compact.
• and the dietitionians trainers compact and the dietitionians compact.<03:55:12.640><c> So</c><03:55:
• </c> compact.
• So all three of those compacts compact.

Bills: HB567 , HB776 , HB2 , HB568 , HB619

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate File 84, which is a bill that originated from the Select Water Committee, dealing with our compacts
• It gives Wyoming a state-led solution to manage drought and reduce interstate compact risk.
• Projects must show a real reduction in historic consumptive use or directly support compact obligations
• They have four compacts and three decrees that they're working with, and just everything going on with
• :14.840><c> decrees</c><00:04:15.360><c> that</c> four compacts and three decrees that four compacts

Committee: House Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 1813 allows the governor to enter into compacts with certain jurisdictions for the purpose
• This compact preserves the regulatory authority of the state to protect public health and safety through
• This compact preserves the regulatory authority of the state to protect public health and safety through
• Representative, forgive me, it's been a compact few days, but on page three, line one, no employer shall

Bills: SB1824 , SB1813 , SB1326 , SB1277 , SB1937 , SB1217 , SB1826 , SB1641

Committee: House Business

Summary: The committee met with a quorum present and heard several bills, mostly business, licensing, and economic development measures. HB 1277, presented by Rep. Hill, updated OESC job-search requirements and added flexibility for rural residents; it passed 8-0. SB 1217, an OREC request bill presented by Rep. Osborne, would allow a person to tour a house without first signing a contract with a real estate agent; after questions about federal real estate settlement issues and buyer-agent compensation, it passed 7-1. SB 1826 would eliminate the sunset on the Oklahoma Enterprise Zone Incentive Leverage Act and passed 8-0. SB 1824 updated the Oklahoma General Corporation Act as a mirror to a House bill and passed 8-0. SB 1813 would allow the governor to enter athletic trainer licensure compacts with other jurisdictions and passed 7-1. SB 1326 modernized self-storage facility operations and passed 7-0. The committee then took up SB 1937, the Taxpayer Dollars Protect Workers Act, which would condition economic development incentives on labor-practice requirements intended to preserve secret-ballot organizing, employee privacy, and employer rights. Rep. Blancett raised concerns that the bill could harm the film, entertainment, and Olympic-related industries and undermine economic diversification, while Rep. Lepak argued it was aimed at preventing coercive organizing tactics and said similar measures had passed in other states. After a brief debate, the bill passed 5-1-2. Finally, SB 1641, requiring an email address in LLC articles of organization filed with the Secretary of State, passed unanimously. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• consideration engrossed Committee Substitute for House Bill 5015, relating to the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact
• consideration engrossed Committee Substitute for House Bill 5015, relating to the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact
• consideration engrossed Committee Substitute for House Bill 5015, relating to the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact
• Engrossed Committee Substitute for House Bill 5015, relating to the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 3503 by Darby relating to the Social work license or compact authorizing fees for the Committee on
• HB 3506 by Dyson relating to the withdrawal of the state of Texas from the Interstate Mining Compact
• amendment authorizing the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas to conduct gaming by executing a gaming compact
• within the state, providing for occupational licensing under the compact and limiting certain taxes

Summary: The House met briefly to read a large number of first-reading bills, joint resolutions, and concurrent resolutions and refer them to the appropriate committees. The measures covered a wide range of topics, including public health, education, criminal justice, taxation, transportation, water and natural resources, elections, housing, veterans issues, local government, and constitutional amendments. Several bills focused on school policy, health care regulation, property tax and sales tax changes, criminal penalties, and local or state agency authority. Among the notable items were proposals on name and sex changes on birth records, college admissions inquiries into criminal history, foster care contractor liability, school nutrition and assessment policy, election procedures, homestead and franchise tax exemptions, public retirement system reporting, and numerous transportation and infrastructure measures. The House also received resolutions designating local honors and observances, including Brownsville as the bicycling capital of the Rio Grande Valley, Port Aransas as the fishing capital of Texas, and Selena Quintanilla Perez Day. Some measures proposed constitutional amendments on legislative procedure, homestead taxation, and election-law enforcement authority. No debate or testimony occurred in this segment; the action was limited to first reading and referral. The session also referred several resolutions to the Local and Consent Calendars. At the end of the proceedings, the House adjourned without objection until 2 p.m. Tuesday.

Transcript Highlights:

• 13, an act relating to intergovernmental agreements, enacting the Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact
• physical therapy licensure, An Act Relating to Licensure, enacting the Physical Therapy Licensure Compact
• 13, an act relating to intergovernmental agreements, enacting the Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact
• , amending the Occupational Therapy Act to enacting the Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact, amending
• to intergovernmental agreements, enacting the Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact

Transcript Highlights:

• Craig Indrate from the Health Equity Compact.
• The health equity compact believes that systemic change must be able to be that systemic change must
• The Health Equity Compact believes that systemic change must intentionally address historic harms to
• Through this omnibus bill, an act to advance health equity, the Compact aims to overhaul parts of the
• I also participate in the Health Equity Compact together with Dr.

Summary: The Massachusetts Permanent Commission on the Status of Persons with Disabilities held a public hearing focused on health equity for people with disabilities. The chair opened by explaining that the session was not about specific legislation, but about sharing data, lived experience, and strategies to inform more inclusive health systems. Presenters included representatives from the Health Equity Compact, the Department of Public Health, MassHealth, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan, the Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts, UMass Chan Medical School, Spaulding Rehabilitation, and the Arc of Massachusetts/Operation House Call. Speakers described how structural racism and ableism contribute to poor health outcomes, unemployment, poverty, and barriers to care for disabled people, especially disabled people of color. Testimony highlighted access problems such as inaccessible medical equipment, transportation, inadequate provider training, lack of culturally competent care, and insurance barriers. Several speakers emphasized the importance of collecting and disaggregating disability data, training providers in disability-competent care, and screening for accommodation needs. MassHealth described its Quality and Equity Incentive Program under the 1115 waiver, including disability-related metrics on data completeness, staff training, and accommodation screening, and reported early increases in hospitals collecting self-reported disability data. Brain injury advocates focused on inequities in rehabilitation access, including the impact of CMS’s “three-hour rule,” which they argued denies needed inpatient rehab to people with severe traumatic brain injury. They called for policy changes, a TBI task force, and possibly bipartisan legislation if CMS cannot revise the rule. Other testimony described DPH efforts such as one-to-one navigation, health promotion workshops, mini-grants for accessible recreation, and the Massachusetts Health and Disability Partnership. The hearing also highlighted medical education efforts like Operation House Call, which uses home visits and disability-led teaching to reduce bias and improve provider competence. No votes were taken and no formal actions were announced.

Transcript Highlights:

• </font> <font color="aaaaaa">Children, Compact Commission </font> <font color="aaaaaa">often referred
• and </font> <font color="aaaaaa">shockingly 9 had heard of the </font> <font color="aaaaaa">Micro Compact
• been </font> <font color="aaaaaa">shockingly 9 had heard of the </font> <font color="aaaaaa">Micro Compact
• I applaud your </font> <font color="aaaaaa">idea because there is a </font> <font color="aaaaaa">compact
• How many people </font> <font color="aaaaaa">idea because there is a </font> <font color="aaaaaa">compact

Transcript Highlights:

• All right, so we’ll have two interstate compacts.
• We may be switching out one of these for a separate one, but these compacts allow...
• These compacts allow people who are in professionally licensed occupations to transfer their licenses
• We’ve done 11 of the 14 compacts, and I think the Pentagon just added two to the list last week, bringing
• This cannot be understated; these compacts are extremely important from a military spouse employment

Committee: House Veterans and Military Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• She paved the way. many of the gaming compacts that are in front of this body throughout this time.
• And was involved before compacts were signed into law here in the state of California with marching.
• leaders to bring forth, bring forth the voices of California's first people, paving the way again for compacts
• , the first compacts in the state to be signed by the governor.

Transcript Highlights:

• all cite the salary adjustments that came from implementation of the pay plan within the class and compact
• all cite the salary adjustments that came from implementation of the pay plan within the class and compact
• This is the amended contract to continue home studies for foster, adoptive, interstate compact on placement
• This is the amended contract to continue home studies for foster, adoptive, interstate compact on placement
• is a demanded contract to continue the agreement for home studies for foster, adoptive, interstate compact

Committee: All JBC-PEER REVIEW

Summary: The PEER Review Subcommittee met to consider a large agenda of budget, appropriation, transfer, and contract items. Members approved temporary appropriation requests for several agencies, including the Auditor of State, Department of Education, and Labor and Licensing; ARPA return requests from Workforce Services; Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act requests for State Police and Agriculture; restricted reserve transfers for teacher scholarships, school facilities, and economic stimulus; a Commerce reallocation of positions and spending authority; cash fund, budget classification, overtime, and pay plan requests; and 17 methods of finance items for universities and other agencies. Most items were approved without objection after brief explanations from staff and agencies. Several items drew questions and were held or discussed further. A Department of Human Services discretionary grant package for the RSVP program was held over after Senator Irvin raised concerns about whether the grants were an effective use of state general revenue and asked for more information on administration costs and program operations. In the contracts section, Representative Richardson questioned a DHS sole-source contract with EMS Link for document management software and a DHS contract with Presidio; the EMS Link item was held for additional answers, while the Presidio item was clarified as not sole-source and was allowed to proceed. Members also asked for more information on a Department of Education mental health referral contract with Care Solace, which officials said is a statewide concierge/referral service connecting students to Arkansas providers and telehealth options. The committee also reviewed monthly reports, including the Medicaid Trust Fund. DHS and DFA officials said the fund was currently sufficient to finish the fiscal year, though it was being drawn down and would likely require a $100 million transfer from restricted reserves in FY27, with another $100 million set aside in the governor’s budget as a backstop. Members discussed the need to define a minimum reserve level and to better account for ongoing Medicaid costs in the budget. The meeting ended with no further business and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• This regulation has staff-suggested amendments. 2011 K28240 amends the occupational therapy compact to
• add four new compact rules adopted on April 16, 2025.
• </c> amends the occupational therapy compact amends the occupational therapy compact to<00:03:54.560>
• <c> add</c><00:03:54.879><c> four</c><00:03:55.120><c> new</c><00:03:55.360><c> compact</c><00:03:55.840
• on to add four new compact rules adopted on April<00:03:57.760><c> 16,</c><00:03:58.319><c> 2025.

Summary: The Administrative Regulation Review Subcommittee met with a quorum, approved the minutes, and then reviewed a series of agency regulations, most of which had staff-suggested amendments. The Board of Pharmacy regulation on remote prescription processing was amended to make grammatical and KRS Chapter 13A compliance corrections, and the Board of Social Work regulation on continuing education, telehealth training, waivers, and related fees was deferred at the agency’s request. The Occupational Therapy Compact rule update and the Professional Geologists fee increase regulation both received staff amendments and were approved, with the geologists’ board explaining the increases were driven by rising oversight costs and declining revenue. The committee also reviewed emergency regulations from the Board of Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy, the Board of Emergency Medical Services, the Transportation Cabinet, and the Department of Workplace Standards. The EMS package covered licensing classifications, compliance audits, ambulance service rules, and electronic forms; the Transportation Cabinet’s emergency rule established procedures for street-legal special purpose vehicles; and Workplace Standards’ emergency rules updated Kentucky requirements to align with federal standards and House Bill 398, including shortening the discrimination complaint filing deadline from 120 days to 30 days and adjusting appeal procedures. Staff amendments were approved where offered, and members asked several clarifying questions about the rationale and effect of the workplace and EMS changes. The Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources explained rules on aircraft and drone use in taking wildlife and on reciprocal hunting and fishing agreements with neighboring states. The agency said the drone restriction was intended to align with federal law and address hunter complaints, while the reciprocal agreement rule was a cleanup of older agreements that had lapsed or been overlooked; the committee deferred the wildlife regulation 301 KAR 2:031 at the agency’s request. The Department of Education also presented multiple KHSAA-related and standards updates, including academic eligibility, sports timing, health and physical education standards, and career studies/financial literacy standards; staff amendments were approved, and members questioned the athletic forms and the designation of KHSAA as the state’s athletic agent. Finally, the Cabinet for Health and Family Services presented emergency regulations to support a pediatric teaching hospital expansion and related certificate-of-need changes, which the agency said were aimed at improving pediatric and neonatal access to care; staff amendments were approved, and the committee concluded by setting its next meeting for October 13 at 1:00 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• and tried to make it better, compact, and contained.
• Compact is used. ...is different.
• You brought up compactness earlier, and compactness is one of those things that you consider. as well
• I'm just talking about compactness along the county lines.
• They are less than 50% compact, all of them, because compactness means when you put a district in a circle

Bills: HB4

Committee: House Congressional Redistricting, Select

Transcript Highlights:

• This law does not apply to professions covered by interstate licensing compacts, electrical contractors
• This law does not apply to professions covered by interstate licensing compacts, electrical contractors
• licenses would be valid only in Missouri and cannot be used for interstate reciprocity with any other compact
• areas not I don't think of professional occupations because they more or less either multi-state compacts
• You know, I'm up here all the time talking about how difficult compacts are and other reciprocity measures

Committee: House Professional Registration and Licensing

Summary: The Committee on Professional Registration and Licensing met in executive session and first approved House Bill 1963 by a 16-0 vote, then later revisited it and again voted do pass by consent, 19-0. The committee also approved a House Committee Substitute for House Bill 3129 by a 14-0 vote with two present, after discussion that the substitute clarified the use of the term “physician assistant” and required practice under Missouri statute. In public hearing, House Bill 2300 was presented as a workforce bill creating a temporary two-year Missouri licensing path for experienced out-of-state workers whose prior states did not license their occupation. Supporters said it would help workers in fields such as makeup artistry and interior design enter the Missouri workforce without starting over, while still requiring passage of Missouri exams and excluding applicants with disciplinary issues. Some members raised concerns about the bill’s broad reach into Chapter 324 professions and whether it should be narrowed to avoid affecting highly regulated fields. House Bill 1813 was then heard as a narrower “carve-out” for the Board of Architects, Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Landscape Architects. The sponsor and the Missouri Society of Professional Engineers said it would correct unintended consequences of a 2020 reciprocity law that had allowed some applicants who did not meet Missouri’s education or experience standards to be licensed; they cited data showing a significant number of reciprocity licenses issued since 2020. Opponents argued the bill would create barriers to work and give the board too much discretion, while supporters said it was needed to protect public safety and restore Missouri’s standards. Finally, House Bill 2649 was heard to extend reciprocity to licenses from the United Kingdom. The sponsor said it was intended to strengthen Missouri’s relationship with the U.K. and help workers with U.K. credentials, but members and witnesses quickly noted that because the bill used Chapter 324 language, it could affect many professions, including medical fields. The Missouri State Medical Association opposed the bill unless health care professions were carved out, and committee members expressed confusion about the scope before the hearing concluded with no further action on the bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think you mentioned something about a compact and other transferring...
• Senator Donne, the compact I was speaking of was being able to have some consistency that you all are
• The way we have it now under the federal compact on regular driver's licenses, you know a red octagon
• That would be a different, that would be a separate compact legislation reciprocity, basically.
• That's a separate compact legislation reciprocity, basically, yes.

Committee: Joint Arizona Off-Highway Vehicle Study Committee

Summary: The Arizona Off-Road Vehicle Study Committee met to review Senate Bill 1519 and broader OHV policy issues, including funding, mitigation, enforcement, and education. Staff summarized the bill’s amended provisions: raising the OHV/ATV weight threshold from 2,500 to 3,500 pounds, directing ADOT to create a new usage classification, creating an Off-Highway Vehicle Law Enforcement Fund, and setting a 50% vehicle license tax for vehicles in the 2,500–3,500 pound range. Members discussed how many vehicles would be affected, with industry testimony estimating about 2,600 new Arizona sales in that weight class in 2025 and growth of roughly 10% annually. Committee members also debated whether changes should be revenue-neutral to ADOT/HIRF or instead generate dedicated enforcement and mitigation funding without reopening HIRF distribution. The committee then turned to education. Staff reviewed SB 1567, which requires OHV course completion before issuance of an OHV indicia and includes a report due December 1, 2026. Game and Fish said the mandatory education appears to be improving behavior, especially helmet use by children. Several witnesses, including representatives from Riding Arizona and ABATE Arizona, supported a consistent statewide training model and suggested expanding the requirement from owners to operators, with possible reciprocity or compact-style recognition with other states. Members also raised practical questions about proof of completion, online access, and how law enforcement would verify compliance. For mitigation and enforcement funding, committee members and invited stakeholders discussed the scale of the need. A research presentation from Arizona Sportsmen for Wildlife Conservation estimated about $3.5 million annually for additional law enforcement and about $7.5 million annually for natural resource mitigation, for a combined target of roughly $11 million per year. The estimate was based on county sheriff input and existing federal land-management data on illegal or user-created roads, with a statewide rough range of 12,000 to 17,000 miles of roads needing some form of closure or decommissioning. Members emphasized that the estimate did not include all possible costs, such as fence repair, tank restoration, or environmental compliance, and discussed soft versus hard closures, prevention, and the need to pair any mitigation spending with enforcement and education. No formal vote was taken in the portion provided; the committee mainly received information, asked questions, and continued discussion of possible recommendations.

Transcript Highlights:

• Yeah, there are two compacts that the board has looked at.
• social work compact.
• , but in the counseling compact, we did oppose that bill.
• So that's the component that's missing from the compacts currently: on some of the compacts, it doesn't
• We haven't seen that language in the compact language.

Summary: The joint sunset oversight hearing reviewed five regulatory entities: the Board of Behavioral Sciences, the Board of Psychology, the Physician Assistant Board, the Podiatric Medical Board, and the California Massage Therapy Council. Across the hearing, each entity described recent accomplishments, licensing and enforcement workload, workforce shortages, and efforts to modernize processes. Common themes included streamlining licensure, expanding access to care, addressing telehealth or emerging technology, and balancing consumer protection with workforce needs. For the Board of Behavioral Sciences, members discussed workforce shortages in mental health, supervision barriers, telehealth confidentiality, AI in therapy, interstate compacts, school-based services, and military spouse licensure. The board said it has expanded outreach, improved licensing processes, and created temporary practice authority tracking, while also expressing concern about counseling compacts and emphasizing California-specific law, ethics, and cultural competency. Public commenters supported the board’s work and the possible move to a national MFT exam, while also urging more resources. The Board of Psychology highlighted fee adjustments, streamlined licensure pathways, enforcement process improvements, new CPD requirements, and proposed changes including a psychotherapist-client privilege exception for investigations. Committee members and public witnesses focused heavily on that privilege proposal, with some members opposing it as too broad and privacy-invasive, while the board argued it is needed to obtain records in bias and sexual misconduct cases. The board also discussed workforce shortages, processing improvements, and the use of inactive status for psychological associates. The Physician Assistant Board reported growth in the PA workforce and education programs, SB 697 implementation, and financial pressure from rising enforcement costs. The main policy debate centered on physician-to-PA ratios and practice agreements, with board representatives and many public commenters arguing that current restrictions limit access to care, especially in rural areas, while the California Medical Association defended the need for explicit ratios and agreements. The board also discussed AI, fee increases, and tracking temporary practice authority. The Podiatric Medical Board described licensing and renewal reforms, residency expansion, enforcement support, and budget constraints, while public testimony raised concerns about a proposed fee increase and about reimbursement parity and practice recognition for podiatrists. Finally, the California Massage Therapy Council defended the certification model over licensure, citing lower costs, local government collaboration, anti-trafficking work, and its role in vetting applications and disciplining bad actors; no formal votes or final actions were taken during this portion of the hearing.