Transcript Highlights:

• Member of Senate Bill 1653 is the Oklahoma Occupational Therapy Licenser Compact, which is an interstate
• The OT compact is the same in form and function as other license compacts such as the Nurse License Compact
• disqualification that they can go through plans on their discipline and continue their professional license

Bills: SB1806 , SB1430 , SB206 , SB1547 , SB1849 , SB1428 , SB1653 , SB1984 , SB1644 , SB1561 , SB1813 , SB1570 , SB1796

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: foster care, adoption assistance, transitioning youth, Department of Human Services, voluntary services, mental health, substance abuse, commissioner appointment, governor's authority, legislative consent, SB206, emergency medical services, EMS, ambulance, 911 response, emergency response, essential services, federal funding, grant funding, public health

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 2114 requires the Department of Licensing to waive fees for replacement license plates or
• It allows the Department of Licensing to waive fees for a replacement license plate or plates if the
• license plate is defective and is between two and five years of issuance and is for the same vehicle.
• So we agree the state should help drivers whose license plates fall apart replace those. Thank you.
• license, and I will have to pay this fee.

Bills: HB2092 , HB2114 , HB2172 , HB2251 , HB2374 , HB2410 , HB2552 , HB2588 , HB2718 , HB2722 , HB2727

Committee: House Transportation

Keywords: passenger rail, transportation, committee, advisory, infrastructure, defective license plates, vehicle registration, Department of Licensing, state regulations, route jurisdiction, abandonment, local governance, climate change, commitment act, emission reductions, sustainability, environmental policy, electric bicycles, electric motorcycles, regulation

Transcript Highlights:

• money, and then there's a 98 preschool.
• influence program licensing trust fund.
• That they hold the license for five years.
• The licensing fee went from $179 to $330.
• Revenue from licensing is supposed to self-fund licensing of personnel.

Transcript Highlights:

• money, and then there's a 98 preschool.
• influence program licensing trust fund.
• Of $1 million from the NTP licensing trust fund and $1 million from the DUI licensing trust fund in budget
• The licensing fee went from 179 to 330.
• Revenue from licensing is supposed to self-fund licensing of personnel.

Summary: The committee first heard May Revision child care and human services items. The Department of Child Support Services described two technical adjustments, which the analyst supported. The Department of Social Services then walked through child care proposals, including a reduction in federal and Proposition 64 funding absorbed through a shift from General Child Care to the Alternative Payment program, a 2.01% child care COLA, disaster-related infrastructure grants, a new administrative support cost structure for Alternative Payment agencies, the removal of prospective pay funding after a federal rule change, a reappropriation for existing infrastructure grants, and estimates of unspent child care funds. The Legislative Analyst’s Office recommended asking for more justification for shifting reductions to CAP, supported the COLA reduction but wanted consistency across programs, recommended removing prospective pay funding, opposed the administrative cost shift, and suggested further review of disaster grant alignment. Members pressed the administration on why more slots would be cut for the same savings, why the COLA was reduced, and whether the administrative percentage would grow over time. The administration said the changes were intended to avoid disrupting currently enrolled families, reflect point-in-time relinquishments and unspent funds, and stabilize contractor operations. Public commenters, including providers, advocates, and county representatives, urged full COLA funding, rejection of child care slot reductions, preservation of prospective pay, and continued investment in child care infrastructure and access. The subcommittee then recessed before moving to health items. In Part B, the Department of State Hospitals presented its May Revision proposals, including a central utility plant replacement project at Metropolitan State Hospital, funding for a continuum electronic health record system, reduced county bed billing authority to reflect phase-in of additional LPS beds, limited contract exemption authority for online clinical subscription services, reversion of prior-year unspent operating funds, and a workforce development proposal to use Behavioral Health Services Act funds instead of General Fund for training programs. The department said the EHR would modernize records and improve continuity of care, and that the contract exemption would prevent delays in essential clinical information services. No votes were taken in the excerpt provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Division of Early Learning was awarded $14.751 million in the Federal Grants Trust Fund for the Preschool
• Division of Early Learning was awarded the $14.751 million in the Federal Grants Trust Fund for the Preschool
• a little bit specifically how these monies, you know, when we look at the grant, will help with preschool
• programs provide fee-for-service supplemental payments and directed payments for physicians and other licensed
• fee-for-service and supplemental payments and directed payment program for physicians and other licensed

Summary: The Legislative Budget Commission considered 21 budget amendments, most of them routine authority adjustments tied to federal grants, Medicaid payment programs, and trust fund realignments. The Department of Education received $14.751 million for a Preschool Development Grant to support early learning system improvements, workforce credentialing and training, IT modernization, and related early childhood certification work. The Department of Veterans Affairs shifted $2.2 million within its trust fund to cover higher nursing home occupancy, replace contract nursing with OPS staff, and meet rising operating costs. The Department of Health moved about $9.1 million to support Disability Determinations, where roughly 140,000 cases were pending or in process, and said the change would help reduce backlog and avoid a deficit. The Agency for Health Care Administration presented multiple amendments for Medicaid-related programs, including $766 million for indirect medical education, $1.9 million for managed care network adequacy audits, $209 million for the Rural Health Transformation Program, and several large supplemental payment programs for hospitals and physicians; members asked about CMS approval delays, provider access, and how rural funds would be distributed. The commission also adopted an amendment realigning KidCare funds, placing a $32.1 million surplus into reserve, though several members objected that the state had not yet implemented the 2023 KidCare expansion and that children remained on a wait list. Another Medicaid amendment placed a $376 million surplus into reserve after updated estimating conference projections. Other agencies also received approvals. FDLE received $16.26 million to buy counter-unmanned aircraft systems equipment such as radar and RF sensors to detect and mitigate drone threats. The Department of Juvenile Justice received $1.6 million for the Florida Scholars Academy and a Social Services Block Grant realignment, with staff confirming corrective action had been taken after prior audit findings about allowable SSBG spending. The Division of Emergency Management received federal pass-through authority for FIFA World Cup security and counter-UAS funds, both controlled by the Miami host committee, and members noted the state had little direct oversight over how those local grants would be used. The Department of Commerce received $148.4 million for Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery work, with questions focused on the split between housing, infrastructure, and administrative costs. The Department of State received $408,377 for arts and culture federal grant obligations. All amendments were adopted, generally without objection, after brief questioning and no public testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• Division of Early Learning was awarded $14.751 million in the Federal Grants Trust Fund for the preschool
• a little bit specifically how these monies, you know, when we look at the grant, will help with preschool
• More specifically, how these monies, when we look at the grant, will help with preschool development?
• programs provide fee-for-service supplemental payments and directed payments for physicians and other licensed
• program provides fee-for-service supplemental payments and directed payments for physicians and other licensed

Transcript Highlights:

• The community care licensing division is tasked with overseeing the licensing monitoring of residential
• Through licensing or any part of the other areas in your department? That's correct, Senator.
• It has never been able to license enough home care to fully support that fee-funding model.
• , the license for the license has been revoked.
• And we will now move to issue 11, licensing during emergencies and disasters.

Summary: The Budget Subcommittee on Health and Human Services heard a series of budget items focused first on the California Department of Aging and then on the Department of Social Services. For Aging, the director reported the state is at the midpoint of the Master Plan for Aging, with about 300 initiatives launched and roughly three-quarters completed, nearly $1 billion invested, and expanded local planning, research, and stakeholder engagement. The committee also discussed HICAP modernization, which would add ongoing funding from the Special HICAP Fund to expand Medicare counseling capacity, and senior meal programs, including support for virtual congregate/to-go meals and the use of prior one-time nutrition investments. The chair raised concerns about federal H.R. 1 and its downstream effects on older adults, food assistance, and other safety-net programs, and the department said its direct budget was not affected but that other programs serving older adults could be under pressure. The committee then reviewed multiple CDSS proposals. These included implementing the federal Medicaid Access Rule by creating a statewide grievance process and critical incident reporting system for IHSS and other home- and community-based services; housing and homelessness programs such as CalWORKs Housing Support, Housing and Disability Advocacy, Home Safe, and Bringing Families Home, where the department described strong outcomes but warned that one-time funding is expiring and services are scaling back; and permanent position authority for the Housing and Homelessness Division. Members also heard about the facility management system modernization for Community Care Licensing, home care services branch solvency and regulation work, child care centers in multifamily housing, the Seizure Emergency Response Act, licensing during emergencies and disasters, the Family Preparedness Plan Act, and social services automation projects including CalSAWS, the enterprise data pipeline, and CalWORKs child support notices. The LAO and Department of Finance generally had no additional comments or were still reviewing several requests. A notable exchange occurred on the Community Care Licensing item, where Senator Grove pressed the department about the Autumn Oaks facility in Tulare County, citing dozens of complaints and severe conditions affecting seniors. The department said it had worked with the county and ombudsman on relocation, was reviewing what went wrong, and had authority to pursue administrative action even after a license surrender. The hearing ended with a stakeholder presentation from the California Association of Area Agencies on Aging supporting a $62.3 million Older Californians Act request, followed by public comment from advocates for housing, Meals on Wheels, HICAP, Home Safe, and H-DAP. The subcommittee adjourned without taking votes, and all items were held open.

Transcript Highlights:

• I will note in this chart, we have seen a small increase in the number of licensed resource homes.
• This is coming out of our annual report. 769 childcare centers, 142 licensed group homes, and 107 licensed
• So I should say licensed group homes, sorry, here, so one of the small, they're only 6 children, and
• We look at our license capacity under 2/2.
• This is being funded by the Preschool Development Grant.

Committee: House Legislative Health & Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Demonstrated competency, I'm sorry, to be licensed to teach this subject matter. Thank you.
• To be licensed to teach this subject matter.
• And as they are licensed, and they are given the authority to teach our students, ...of the folks who
• And as they are licensed, and they are given the authority to teach our students, And as they are licensed
• Approximately 10% of all preschool children have eye or vision problems.

Summary: The Senate first handled a House petition from John H. Rawlers and others seeking eminent domain authority for a parcel in Norwood; Joint Rule 12 was suspended and the matter was referred to the Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight. The chamber then resumed debate on the literacy bill, with Senator Tarr offering a series of amendments focused on school district funding, teacher competency, reporting, waivers, and curriculum implementation. Most of Tarr’s amendments were rejected, but one requiring written, appealable denials of district waivers was adopted by roll call, and another amendment on reporting from the Early Literacy Fund, including provisions for English language learners and special education educators, was also adopted. A separate amendment extending the timeline for DESE to publish high-quality curricula was adopted, while several other amendments were withdrawn or defeated. The Senate also considered and adopted an amendment from Senator Comerford addressing rural and regional equity in education funding. That amendment expanded eligible uses of the Early Literacy Fund to include screening assessments, required DESE to prioritize geographic and funding equity, mandated a public hearing in Western Massachusetts before final grant criteria were finalized, and directed technical assistance to rural districts. Senators from across the chamber spoke in support, emphasizing chronic underfunding, declining enrollment, minimum-aid pressures, and the need for a broader review of the Chapter 70 formula and a Foundation Budget Review Commission. The amendment passed unanimously. Later, the Senate took up an amendment from Senator Moore on children’s vision care, which would have created a registry for vision screening and expanded eye exam requirements, but it was withdrawn after supportive debate. The chamber then adopted the Ways and Means redraft, ordered the bill to third reading, and passed An Act relative to teacher preparation and student literacy to be engrossed by a unanimous roll call. Final passage was also achieved for a separate House land-taking bill allowing the town of Hingham to use municipal property for a center for active living, which passed by the required two-thirds vote and was enacted. The Senate then adopted an order to meet again the following Monday and adjourned in memory of Donna Goldstein.

Transcript Highlights:

• Freeman is a small rural district considered a desert for preschool, with a lack of daycare programs,
• Freeman is a small rural district considered a desert for preschool, with a lack of daycare programs,
• Freeman is a small rural district considered a desert or preschool, lack of day.
• Without that funding, those licenses are simply going to be turned off at the end of the school year.
• These are licenses in coding or that lead to credentials in coding, and also the only AI skill-based

Bills: SB5998

Committee: Senate Ways & Means

Keywords: fiscal appropriations, budget, state funding, financial management, operating expenses

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:02:24.160><c> childcare</c> license childcare license childcare licensing<00:02:26.360><c> uh</c>
• of licensing, what we do, and the Licensing Division.
• 08:01.440><c> the</c> and the Licensing Division um the and the Licensing Division um the Licensing<00
• a license.
• <c> DHS</c> their license they're licensed by DHS their license they're licensed by DHS and<00:38:51.760

Committee: House Children and Families Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• We're up to 270 licensed social workers at CYFD.
• When we license an entity to do work in the state of New Mexico that deals with children, CYFD's licensing
• So it would be from lead to license to have an entity that would then be able to license those foster
• What's the protocol, what's the system for them to get their license reinstated or to get their license
• and preschool special education now that we have the 619 coordination.

Transcript Highlights:

• licensing them?
• Are y'all asking us to consider maybe licensing them?
• Are you all asking us to consider maybe licensing them?
• Are you all asking us to consider maybe licensing them?
• Are y'all asking us to consider licensing them? As we know, they are not licensed.

Bills: SB1 , SB 1

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• It's not something that has to be in a classroom somewhere or preschool.
• It's not something that has to be in a classroom somewhere or preschool.
• It's not something that has to be in a classroom somewhere or preschool.
• They are licensed as heavily as therapists, as doctors, and they're not going to risk their license on
• </c><01:38:29.880><c> sure</c> certification and a license sure certification and a license sure necessarily

Summary: The committee first addressed House Bill 415, which would remove the requirement that schools provide menstrual products. Members supporting an ITL said the mandate was unfunded, had been in place since 2019, and was already working without complaints from districts. Other members opposed the bill, arguing menstrual products are essential and that the requirement helps students, especially those with fewer resources. The committee voted ITL on HB 415 by a roll call of 17 yeas, 0 nays. The committee then took up House Bill 388, concerning public reports on special education. Supporters of ITL said they agreed with the goal of transparency but were concerned about student privacy, especially in small districts, and thought the bill’s information requests went too far. They noted that related issues could potentially be addressed in another bill, HB 557. The committee voted ITL on HB 388, 17-0. House Bill 730, which would require schools and some colleges to provide information on adoption, was also moved ITL. The sponsor said adoption is personally important to him but that the bill was not the right vehicle and involved entities such as colleges and the Attorney General unnecessarily; he said related ideas might be folded into other bills later. The committee agreed and voted ITL, 17-0. The committee then discussed House Bill 671, a preschool/early literacy proposal involving a statewide nonprofit digital program, likely Waterford. Members raised questions about who would be covered, data privacy, prior use of federal ESSER funds, whether the program had measurable results, and whether the bill’s nonprofit requirement was too restrictive. Department of Education witness Melissa White said the state had spent $400,000 in FY22 and $600,000 in FY23 on a Waterford contract using ARP ESSER funds, but she did not have participant counts and said the department could not measure literacy gains for that population. She also said the bill’s funding level would likely require an RFP and that, if enacted as written, the program would probably still be Waterford-based. The discussion continued without a final vote in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> licensing and modernization is underway. licensing and modernization is underway.
• </c> is that we would like to see licensing is that we would like to see licensing further<00:03:14.400
• <c> what</c><00:09:44.080><c> happens</c> licensing isn't always what happens licensing isn't always
• First, licensing regulations are smothering. Licensing is essential for children's safety.
• </c><01:14:51.840><c> licensed</c> only health and safety licenses licensed only health and safety licenses

Transcript Highlights:

• The program set a grant award cap of $20,000 for centers and $115,000 for licensed family child care
• The program set a grant award cap of $20,000 for centers and $115,000 for licensed family child care
• The program set a grant award cap of $20,000 for centers and $115,000 for licensed family child care
• The program set a grant award cap of $20,000 for centers and $115,000 for licensed family child care
• age he was was 3 four around preschool age he was was 3 four around the<01:39:55.800><c> time</c><01

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• I've got five licensed, nationally accredited child care centers with over 125 employees.
• I am the owner of La Esperanza Preschool.
• Madam Chair and Representative Matthews, licensing will cite you.
• So we must submit written recommendations back to licensing to say this is how we are going to fix it
• We are now mandating teachers to have bachelor's degrees for infants through preschool.

Committee: House House Commerce & Economic Development Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> amendment, an act relating to licensed amendment, an act relating to licensed child<00:07:47.520
• House Bill 572, Representative Bojanowski, an act relating to preschool education programs.
• House Bill 574, Representative Donworth, an act relating to preschool education programs.
• </c><01:12:05.840><c> education</c> relating to preschool education relating to preschool education programs
• </c> Donworth, an act relating to preschool Donworth, an act relating to preschool education<01:12:18.400

Transcript Highlights:

• is the basis of almost all the other licenses.
• You can't get a license without getting a hunting license first.
• Well, the other one is the fishing license. The next one is the fishing license. >> Yeah.
• I met somebody who had a preschool business on Saturday and was complaining that her license only lets
• </c> there definitely is licensing. there definitely is licensing.

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from the September 24 and September 27 meetings unanimously. It then reviewed a spreadsheet and draft report tracking the status of various dedicated funds, with members deciding which items should be kept active, removed, or flagged for follow-up next year. Several funds were identified as no longer needing action because they had been repealed, terminated, or were already handled elsewhere, including mosquito-related funding, child care licensing, and the prescription drug affordability board item. In other cases, members agreed to keep the fund on the list but remove question marks and add notes for future review or for another committee to address. A number of funds drew more detailed discussion. Members agreed that the Fish and Game fee increase issue should not be handled by this committee directly, but that staff should notify the relevant sponsor/department that a legislative change would be needed. They also discussed a medical cannabis fund that was running down significantly; the committee agreed to keep it active, note the concern, and send a letter to the department and Representative McDonald suggesting that HHS review whether fees or another revenue source should be changed, with the possibility of a late bill if needed. The lead poisoning prevention fund was also kept, with a note that the department should take action if it wants changes, and the committee discussed a grants-and-aid escrow-related item, concluding it should remain active and be kept on the list. Members also discussed several legacy or special-purpose funds. They agreed to recommend deleting the broodstock reference, to keep the emergency fund while asking for a better explanation of its funding source, and to retain the building maintenance fund as active. The Recovery Monument fund was identified as inactive and likely eligible for transfer of its remaining $1,000 to the addiction treatment and prevention fund. The Matthew Elliott Trust Fund prompted the most extended discussion; members concluded it should not continue as-is and agreed to draft a letter to the Attorney General recommending that the fund be closed through probate court and the remaining $5,657 transferred to Fund 122, or otherwise handled as unclaimed property if appropriate. The committee also discussed a firemen’s association-related transfer and agreed it should remain, while noting that any broader change would require legislation and a sponsor in the relevant policy committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• Demonstrated competency, I'm sorry, to be licensed to teach this subject matter.
• Thank you. to be licensed to teach this subject matter.
• And as they are licensed, and they are given the authority to teach our students, And as they are licensed
• For preschool-age children, if symptoms of vision impairment are not caught by a parent, guardian, or
• Approximately 10% of all preschool children have eye or vision problems.