Transcript Highlights:

• The second page of the handout I gave you is just our FTE count.
• So we're well within what our appropriation of FTE count is.
• So I think of it as North Dakota being a low-population state, 800,000.
• In a larger population state, it's kind of a blip in their budget.
• Population 1,000, that includes the chickens and the dogs, I think.

Summary: The committee met with a quorum, approved the March 18 minutes, and then received a series of updates on health-related projects and Department of Health and Human Services budget matters. Representatives from CHI St. Alexius in Bismarck and Williston, and Altru in Grand Forks, reported progress on behavioral health expansion projects, including demolition and construction milestones, updated timelines, funding status, staffing plans, and barriers such as an unbudgeted air handler replacement in Williston. Members asked about original completion dates, use of telehealth, recruitment of psychiatrists and other staff, and whether the new beds might reduce the need for patients to travel to Jamestown State Hospital. The projects were described as on track overall, with completion expected in 2027 for the larger builds and earlier openings for some phases in Williston. The committee then heard from HHS leadership on technical line-item transfers and the Salaries and Wages Block Grant. Donna Ockland explained that recent transfers were administrative corrections to place spending in the proper budget lines and did not involve new spending, and she reviewed FTE counts and vacancies across the department. Questions focused on behavioral health staffing changes and the use of consultants in the Rural Health Transformation Program. Pat Rainer outlined the rural health program’s first-year grants and priorities, including workforce retention, rural rotations and housing, community wellness initiatives, behavioral health promotion, safety net services, hospital equipment, suicide prevention training, technology, and EMS support. He said North Dakota’s plan was drawing positive national attention, but the department still needed to obligate roughly $199 million by September and was working with CMS on timing and compliance. The committee also received an update on certified community behavioral health clinics from Elena Zeller. She said North Dakota had been accepted as a demonstration state, with certification efforts underway in Williston, North Central, Fargo, and Dickinson. Members asked about care coordination, service growth, staffing, and whether certification would expand to all clinics; the department said it was still collecting baseline data and evaluating impacts before making future recommendations. Finally, Rebecca Askins reviewed SNAP payment error rates, explaining that the 2025 rate was finalized at 9.89 percent and that the department is working on training, system changes, and quality assurance steps to get below 6 percent. Members pressed on the causes of monthly variability, the performance of the SPACES system, and accountability for ongoing errors, and the department said it expects improvement over the next 6 to 12 months.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are concerned about, Of our student population struggle with math difficulties.
• , if they count one by one, if they use skip counting, how they might compose and decompose numbers,
• We are concerned about, of our student population struggle with math difficulties.
• , if they count one by one, if they use skip counting, how they might compose and decompose numbers,
• It's learning to count. It's learning bigger, smaller, larger, greater.

Bills: SB29, SB64

Keywords: SB29, math requirements for teaching license, teacher licensure, teacher endorsement, mathematics methods, elementary education, secondary education, special education, early childhood education, reciprocity, Public Education Department, Mathematics and Science Education Act, mathematics instructional leadership framework, professional learning plan, K-3 screening, mathematics screening assessment, mathematics difficulty, support plan, multilevel support, intervention

Transcript Highlights:

• If this go through state's population?
• in the state of 30% of the population in the state of Alabama.
• By diluting Black voting power, despite Black residents making up 25% of the population.
• , every vote matters, every voice counts, every vote matters, every voice counts, and<00:42:06.920
• And the way we just tried to run through that vote count, that's because you want people silent.

Bills: HB1

Keywords: HB1, Alabama, elections, primary election, special primary, runoff, congressional districts, redistricting, reapportionment, district boundaries, federal court, injunction, judgment, Governor proclamation, nominee certification, party nominee, general election 2026, election calendar, voting rights, congressional race

Transcript Highlights:

• the population don't get vaccinated.
• They have a lot of the population. population there, but you also see increased case counts along that
• Again, we're dealing with a population. population that has a high risk of mental retardation, seizures
• And I want to say for the younger population. population? Are we on trend or is there a difference?
• We still know which populations are suffering more.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• On a single night in October 2023,<00:31:02.000> we<00:31:02.159> counted<00:31:02.480>
• over 10,500 people who 2023, we counted over 10,500 people who are<00:31:04.720> homeless<00:
• <00:31:50.320> with<00:31:50.480> many homeless population with many homeless population
• growing needs of our homeless population growing needs of our homeless population due<01:20:30.880
• a difference for our homeless population a difference for our homeless population most<01:45:08.639

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

Keywords: human services, aging services, disability services, behavioral health, long-term care, nursing home, nursing facility, assisted living, waiver services, medical assistance, Medicaid, case mix reimbursement, PDPM, RUG, direct care and treatment, developmental disabilities, day services, positive support, guardian, conservator

Transcript Highlights:

• population population and<00:39:58.880> 2023<00:39:59.839> Senate<00:40:00.160> Bill
• <00:57:41.040> there and I believe our our bid count there and I believe our our bid count
• We've not specifically tracked any population increases.
• It's that population.
• In the Uh it's that population.

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:00:03 Roll Call: 00:00:09 Agency Updates: 00:01:44 Juvenile Justice Advisory Board Update: 00:03:36 Department of Juvenile Justice Update: 00:23:10, 958, all

Summary: The Juvenile Justice Oversight Council approved the minutes from its November 8, 2024 meeting and welcomed new member Representative Nick Wilson. The council also heard an update from the Administrative Office of the Courts on a school attendance awareness campaign aimed at reducing truancy referrals to court, and a member requested a future, more detailed presentation on truancy trends. The council then received an update from the Juvenile Justice Advisory Board from Dr. David Frink and Elsie Berger. They described the board’s membership, meeting schedule, public access, annual report and three-year plan, and its role in helping Kentucky remain compliant with federal juvenile justice requirements so the state can receive Title II funding. They said the board reviews grant applications for community-based services, substance use, and early intervention programs, with about $584,000 in federal funds this year and a little over $600,000 expected next year. Members asked about participation, board vacancies, and how to engage with the board, and the presenters emphasized the importance of statewide representation and community input. The Department of Juvenile Justice then provided a broader update through Commissioner Randy White and Deputy Secretary Mona Wamik. White said DJJ is under an ongoing U.S. Department of Justice investigation focused on conditions in detention facilities, including use of force, isolation, abuse, mental health care, and special education, and said the department has cooperated with repeated information requests and site visits. He also reviewed recent legislative and administrative changes, including 2023 Senate Bill 162, regional detention planning, facility segregation requirements, staffing and salary investments, improved staffing levels, reduced mental health vacancies, and training efforts related to security threat groups. He said DJJ has made progress but continues to work on staffing, safety, and facility improvements.

Transcript Highlights:

• 13.6% of the voting eligible population 13.6% of the voting eligible population that's<00:05:00.120
• The results from the hand count cannot deviate from the machine count beyond the thresholds outlined
• the number of precincts to be counted the number of precincts to be counted depends<00:47:21.880
• two precincts to be hand counted two precincts to be hand counted the<00:47:27.880> hand<
• Chair, so I'm looking for a count.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And when you have a population like Medicaid, they treat very rare conditions.
• Is that for the aging population, or is it more school-based? Mr.
• So we can't pick and choose which populations get those.
• Population. Mr. Chair, members of the committee, thank you.
• And if it's midnight, we count them as an office stay.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And if we just set our whole system of government just on population alone, think how much that would
• Just on population alone, think how much that would change and impact Arkansas.
• It doesn't matter what your population is.
• And it sets up a more structured plan to give them that every year, where they know they're counting
• And if the population keeps going in Carroll Boone, we get our water from Beaver Lake.

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• legislation is to create accountability for underperforming programs so that they can someday be counted
• And it counts against the school because it was the first time they took the test.
• You give a test, you tell the students it doesn't count toward your graduation.
• This has allowed me a broad perspective on the mental health needs of our population and barriers that
• is only growing and our population is getting older.

Summary: The Health Professions and Programs Subcommittee heard and advanced several health care bills. HB 909, joining the Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact, was presented with a strike-all amendment and reported favorably as amended by a 13-0 vote. HB 911, the related public records exemption protecting certain biological information, was also adopted and reported favorably as amended by a 14-0 vote. CS for HB 597, allowing schools to procure and administer glucagon for students with diabetes under trained personnel, passed unanimously 14-0 after a technical amendment. HB 519, aligning state law with federal language on controlled substances administered by paramedics, passed as amended 14-0. The committee then took up HB 919 on nursing education programs. Sponsor Rep. Overdorf argued the bill would create accountability for underperforming nursing schools by requiring remediation, tuition refunds in the lowest-performing programs, and public reporting of passage rates. Supporters said it would improve quality and protect students from debt without licensure success, while opponents from private nursing schools warned it could close programs and reduce nurse supply. After extensive debate, the bill was reported favorably 15-0. HB 1553, which would require health care providers to submit identified uterine fibroid data so the Department of Health can implement the research database previously authorized by law, passed unanimously 15-0. The final bill, HB 883, would allow psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners to practice autonomously; supporters said it would expand access to mental health care, especially in rural and underserved areas, while opponents raised concerns about quality and physician oversight. After lengthy testimony and debate, the bill was reported favorably 14-3.

Transcript Highlights:

• Reason being, recidivism rate in the general population is above 70%.
• , and when you lose population you lose revenues and your economy starts going down.
• And so I don’t know if the tribal IDs would count.
• I would estimate maybe 5 to 10% of the total population in the program would qualify.
• I would estimate maybe 5 to 10% of the total population in the program would qualify.

Bills: HB2109, HB2168, HB2198, HB2226, HB2415, HB2440, HB2665, HB2805, HB2811, HB2825, HB2857, HB2874, HB2966, HB4067, HB4117, HCR2001, HCR2016, HCR2051

Keywords: distracted driving, portable wireless communication devices, motorcycles, traffic safety, civil penalties, public nuisance, nuisance abatement, abatement action, injunction, superior court, attorney general, county attorney, city attorney, board of supervisors, obscenity, obscene materials, adult materials, pornography, schools, parks

Transcript Highlights:

• Yeah, we're going to get a count. Okay, if you're going to get a count.
• And also I've been involved in the count verification after the electronic count.
• And also I've been involved in the count verification after the electronic count.
• They want to ensure that every vote counts and that every vote counted is a valid vote. So I'm, Mr.
• Highest homeschool population in the country. Think about the highest homeschool population.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I don't know what the vote count is, and continue the discussions on it.
• I know it's targeted to populations of 75,000, but there are some... ...75,000 populations, but there
• That was an interesting vote count. Wow, didn't see that. Couple things here.
• To the signing die, I have a vote count of eight yes, nine no, one present.
• Why don't we, I love that vote count we just did. Let's do another veterans bill. Let's do 2960.

Bills: HB2211, HB2229, HB2389, HB2403, HB2445, HB2502, HB2620, HB2813, HB2872, HB2889, HB2960, HB4028, HCR2007

Keywords: contractors, subcontractors, resident preference, public contracts, materials supply, Arizona Revised Statutes, local businesses, pregnancy resource center, pregnancy center, crisis pregnancy center, DHS, Arizona Department of Health Services, state appropriation, general fund, nonprofit grant, women's health, maternal health, reproductive health, abortion funding, pro-life

Transcript Highlights:

• But the population of two side-by-side municipalities, Quincy and Milton— So Quincy has a population
• Who has a population multiplier? Quincy's is a population multiplier of three.
• Milton is in the tier with a population multiplier of nine.
• Without objection on both counts. Thank you, Mr. President. Mr.
• It's because we know we can't count on excess capital gains.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate considered a fiscal year 2025 close-out supplemental appropriations bill and a series of amendments, many of which were withdrawn, adopted, or rejected. Early debate focused heavily on funding for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Massachusetts, with Senators O’Connor and Feeney arguing for restoring money for transportation, safety, and event readiness, citing projected ridership surges, economic benefits, and the need for Boston and the Commonwealth to invest. Senator Driscoll also won adoption of an amendment directing the MBTA to study and report on its local assessment formula, using Milton and Quincy as examples of perceived inequities in how communities are charged relative to service received. The Senate then took up several other amendments, including measures on fire survivor support, vaccine liability, mental health and sidewalk projects, council on aging and public safety items, disaster relief, service dogs, and MBTA assessments. Senator Tarr offered amendments on driver record transparency and energy cost reporting, but those were not adopted. A major roll-call vote rejected Tarr’s amendment to restore a larger share of excess capital gains to the stabilization fund; supporters argued for stronger rainy day reserves, while the Ways and Means chair defended the bill’s use of a deficiency reserve fund and warned of revenue losses from federal tax changes. The Senate also adopted an amendment on shelter and Home Base spending transparency, requiring renewed reporting on emergency shelter and housing assistance programs. Later, the chamber adopted Senator Edwards’ amendment creating a Massachusetts Federal Employee and Service Member Civil Relief Act to protect federal workers and service members in the event of a shutdown, including relief from eviction and foreclosure-related harms. The Senate also adopted Senator Rodrigues’s Ways and Means amendment, then approved the underlying supplemental budget as amended and ordered it to third reading. After the final roll call, the bill was passed to be engrossed by a 39-0 vote. The Senate concluded by agreeing to adjourn and by honoring Mrs. Anne Lee in memory, with a brief communication from Senator Cyr noting a prior remote-vote error for the journal.

Transcript Highlights:

• The funding formula itself is comprised of the following factors: population, arrests, DUI citations,
• He has the Villages, and in the time that he's been the state attorney, he's seen a population growth
• terms of caseload Last year's statistics in terms of caseload, these are new cases assigned, not counting
• Since our creation, we have saved approximately $426 million at last count, according to JAC records.
• We have adjusted that for inflation. in today's numbers at last count, according to JAC Records.

Summary: The committee met for an interim appropriations presentation hearing focused on justice administration agencies. Members heard budget requests from the State Attorney’s Office, Public Defenders, the Justice Administrative Commission, Regional Conflict Counsel, Capital Collateral Regional Counsel, and the Guardian ad Litem Office, followed by a presentation from the Department of Juvenile Justice and a brief public comment from a nonprofit advocate. The chair noted that presentations from the Department of Law Enforcement and the Commission on Offender Review would be moved to a later meeting. The state attorney requested funding to true up underfunded circuits under the existing formula, staff 14 new criminal judgeships, replace declining VOCA victim-services funding with general revenue, and cover a projected due process shortfall. The public defender asked for a higher starting salary for assistant public defenders, funding to restore balance in circuits where public defenders lag behind state attorneys, and staffing for new criminal judgeships. Regional conflict counsel and capital collateral regional counsel also sought salary adjustments, additional attorneys and case costs, and competitive area differential funding to address recruitment and retention issues. The Justice Administrative Commission requested funding for Florida PALM readiness and implementation and for IT hardware and software replacement; it also relayed a clerks’ request for reimbursement related to injunctions for protection, Baker Act, Marchman Act, and sexually violent predator cases. The Guardian ad Litem Office said it now has a guardian ad litem for every child in Florida and requested salary increases for senior and managing attorneys to reduce turnover. The Department of Juvenile Justice presented a much larger budget request to expand residential and detention capacity, increase per diem rates, renovate and replace aging facilities, fund the Broward detention center rebuild, improve cybersecurity and the juvenile information system, and cover rising lease costs. Members asked questions about staffing, compensation, detention and residential treatment needs, mental health and substance-use services, and the Broward project timeline. A nonprofit advocate then asked for better data collection on protection orders and related court actions to support funding for domestic violence and recovery services. The committee adjourned without taking any formal votes on the budget requests.

Transcript Highlights:

• It will be counted towards their eligibility. and so they would know It will be counted toward their
• in the 19 and over U.S. population, the Medi-Cal premiums for that same population, the elimination
• So, um, Expansion population in the 19 and over U.S. population, the Medi-Cal premiums for that same
• population, the elimination of the PPS rates for FQHCs and RHCs for that same population, elimination
• of long-term care for that same population, elimination of dental benefits for that same population,

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Health held the first of several hearings on the Governor’s May Revision for health care, with opening remarks focused on the state’s projected $12 billion deficit, looming federal Medicaid changes, and the potential impact on Medi-Cal, public health, reproductive health, and safety-net providers. Several members criticized the proposal as balancing the budget on vulnerable Californians, while others defended the need for cost containment and questioned the administration’s assumptions. The chair set ground rules for respectful, focused questioning and outlined three topics: the Medi-Cal proposals, Proposition 35, and Proposition 56. DHCS Director Michelle Baas presented the May Revision’s Medi-Cal package, saying the department’s budget totals $200.6 billion overall, including $45.2 billion General Fund, and that the proposals are intended to address rising caseloads, pharmacy costs, and managed care spending. She described proposed changes for adults with unsatisfactory immigration status, including a freeze on new full-scope enrollment for those 19 and older, $100 monthly premiums beginning in 2027, elimination of adult dental and long-term care coverage, removal of PPS/RAP payments to FQHCs and rural health clinics for that population, and a pharmacy rebate aggregator. Other proposals included eliminating certain OTC drug classes, removing GLP-1 coverage for weight loss, prior authorization and step therapy changes, reinstating the Medi-Cal asset test, eliminating acupuncture as an optional benefit, allowing utilization management for hospice, raising the managed care minimum medical loss ratio to 90%, reducing PACE capitation rates toward the midpoint of the actuarial range, eliminating the skilled nursing facility workforce and quality incentive program, and suspending the SNF backup power requirement. The LAO said the revised Medi-Cal spending estimate is about $2.5 billion higher than the Governor’s Budget in the budget year, and that the increase appears driven more by higher per-enrollee costs than by caseload alone. The LAO said the budget solutions are concentrated in a few areas, are largely ongoing, and should be considered in light of federal uncertainty, but suggested the Legislature could explore alternatives such as more targeted income thresholds for the undocumented expansion and simpler asset-test rules. Department of Finance officials said the proposals are difficult but necessary to address a third consecutive deficit and rising Medi-Cal costs. Members then pressed the administration on the methodology and impacts of the proposals, especially the enrollment freeze, premiums, asset test, hospice controls, PACE reductions, and the elimination of benefits and provider payments. No votes or formal actions were taken at this hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are counting on you as our elected representatives to provide us that protection.
• We are counting on you as our elected representatives to provide us that protection.
• and counted about 180 in support and 26 in opposition.
• I made a real quick rough count of the I made a real quick rough count of the individual<01:07:41.280
• If this law goes particular population?

Bills: SB2936, SB2850, SB2851, SB2521

Keywords: accessible parking, disability, kupuna, public accommodations, small business exemptions, Hawaii Revised Statutes, parking permit, blind, deaf, accessibility, deafness, traffic safety, law enforcement, vehicle registration, communication, emergency services, commercial driver's license, first responders, public safety, authorized emergency vehicle

Summary: The joint hearing covered House Bill 251, which would require hospitals to report costs associated with Medicare and uninsured patients, and House Bill 1875, which would expand protections for gender-affirming health care services. On HB 251, the Department of Health said it supported the intent but described the bill as complicated and potentially impractical as drafted because the department lacks the expertise to produce the required analyses without outside help. Hawaii Health Systems Corporation echoed those concerns, while the Queen’s Health System said it was willing to work with the department to provide the information. In committee discussion, officials explained that hospital support in Hawaii includes public hospital appropriations and the provider tax program, which uses hospital and nursing home contributions to draw federal matching funds; a department witness estimated the net benefit at about $150 million for hospitals and $20 million for nursing facilities, though exact figures would be provided later. On HB 1875, the Insurance Division testified with concerns that the bill’s language on prohibited actions by malpractice insurers was broad and vague, and that a rate-increase prohibition could conflict with actuarially based insurance pricing. The division also noted it was not the primary enforcement agency for the statute. In contrast, many testifiers strongly supported the bill, including the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, the Hawaii State LGBTQ+ Commission, the Hawaii Public Health Institute, PFLAG Oahu, the ACLU of Hawaii, the Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii, the Hawaii County Democratic Party, and others. Supporters argued that gender-affirming care is medically necessary, evidence-based, and protected by privacy and bodily autonomy principles, and that the bill would protect patients and providers from outside political interference. No votes or final committee actions were taken during the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• a student three times or using the program to report overreport... ...counting a student three times
• My concern would be with this gap of students, that if we identify a student population that is on the
• These governor budget estimates assume that there will be some continued growth in meal counts before
• These governor budget estimates assume that there will be some continued growth in meal counts before
• Is it serving its intended population? So did you want to add something from Finance?

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So you can count me as part of your team. Assembly Member Colosa. Thank you so much, Chair.
• The people exploiting this system count on enforcement gaps and delays.
• Existing federal law requires all cost sharing to count toward the MOOP.
• “And it counts toward their co-pay offset.” “Yeah. Yeah.
• CBHJ would like to thank the chair and staff for ...and underinsured populations.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They can also reflect things like benefit design and the covered population characteristics.
• Does that calculation count? I'm going to ask the actuary, does that count as a loss?
• On the utilization side, you know, we have an aging population.
• As the population ages, then the burden of disease on that population increases.
• So these prices that you heard about yesterday are affecting our population.

Keywords: 1184, house, all