Transcript Highlights:

• More of a voice without changes are about change is needed in APD programs.
• So so what is the algorithm and why does it need to be updated?
• additional need request or San request.
• So so really, we are at the point where it really does need updating and a validation of why it needs
• And they don't need I budget services, but there are mixed together.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think we need to do I'm for it.
• The industry needs some tools.
• don't need to go through the bill. don't need to go through the bill.
• We need some help.
• We need some help.

Bills: SF0050, SF0084, HB0133, HB0116, HB0011, HB0044

Keywords: groundwater, water resource management, state engineer, aquifer study, corrective controls, monitoring wells, public reporting, water conservation, Colorado River, drought, irrigation, water rights, voluntary program, interstate agreements, conservation districts, supervisors, elections, agriculture, local governance, beneficial use

Transcript Highlights:

• they serve a little bit different needs also.
• , and I think they serve a little bit different needs also.
• they serve a little bit different needs also.
• So this gives us the time that we need to get our full four-year load of students on board.
• <01:34:59.719> to research programmatic staff needed to research programmatic staff needed

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, I need two things from you. Gap say. Uh, I need two things from you.
• If I need 3 seconds to make that left turn, I need to see that car coming at me longer than 3 seconds
• <00:41:12.880> to<00:41:13.040> ask pictures and I need to ask pictures and I need
• what this bill does, uh, and the need what this bill does, uh, and the need for<00:56:50.799>
• kind of touch base that we know we need. kind of touch base that we know we need.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• needed, and can be safely eliminated. needed, and can be safely eliminated.
• We don't need the HEAK.
• We don't need the HEAK.
• <00:21:38.320> So, statute needs to be changed. So, statute needs to be changed.
• It does need oversight. I'll agree with that. I think it has a purpose. It does need oversight.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• special-needs populations.
• We need to feed ourselves. We need to be able to eat our own produce. I thank you, Mr.
• We need help.
• I need a bigger sign, Mr.
• I agree again that we need economic expansion in our districts and we also need the funding That we need

Bills: HM3, HM11, HM14, HM15, HM21, HM25, HB9, SB2, SB19

Keywords: nurses, health care workers, healthcare workers, frontline workers, hospital staff, clinicians, allied health professionals, support staff, public health, workforce shortage, nursing shortage, safe staffing, patient safety, rural health care, frontier communities, behavioral health, mental health, substance use disorder, substance abuse, health care memorial

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:34:52.879> Secret needed care. And this isn't new. Secret needed care.
• didn't function. didn't function.
• We need to protect our care partners. Our system will not function without them.
• function without them. function without them.
• children everything they needed. children everything they needed.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Metro State needs to be a safe place, needs to be an essential space, needs to be a place that you are
• <00:58:42.440> to needs to be an essential space, needs to needs to be an essential space,
• A warrant is<01:04:42.960> needed. is needed. is needed.
• Why do we need this?
• Why do we need this?

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Which is exactly what we need to do.
• <01:11:28.800> Because functions are optional. Right? Because functions are optional.
• Because again, to offload them to more of a tourist function than it was, more of a tourist function
• Um, I could see where if we need to cut costs, we need to shut the operations, but maintain ownership
• <01:28:39.600> the need to cut costs, we need to shut the need to cut costs, we need to shut

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee worked through several HB 2 budget amendments, focusing first on energy-related transfers and then on judicial funding. For the energy item, members discussed moving remaining money from the renewable energy fund into the general fund for the biennium, with later-year amounts going to the general fund rather than ratepayers. They noted the proposal was based on prior House Bill 111 language, that the exact amount was still being worked out with the Department of Energy, and that some language about “incentive payments” was being removed or clarified. Amendment 1211H was moved and adopted on a 5-4 vote. The committee then considered amendment 1040 on the governor’s scholarship fund, which would eliminate the program and sweep uncommitted funds. Members supporting the program argued it helps New Hampshire students afford in-state college and should be reworked rather than repealed; opponents said the remaining balance was limited and the program should be ended. Amendment 1040 was defeated 4-5. The committee then turned to a judicial council request tied to a Franklin Pierce criminal justice clinic that had previously used ARPA funds. Supporters said the clinic cleared 323 cases in nine months, provided training for future attorneys, and could reduce more expensive assigned-counsel costs by helping the public defender system handle cases more efficiently. The amendment would add $100,000 to the judicial council line for that purpose. There was some confusion over the line item and whether the request should be attributed to the judicial branch or judicial council, which was corrected during discussion. Members also discussed a larger issue: the judicial council’s budget request appeared lower than intended because of a possible clerical error in how prior-year funding was calculated, especially after the last budget combined HB 1 and HB 2 funding. The committee compared the public defender line and assigned counsel line, noting that if public defender funding is cut, more cases would shift to assigned counsel, which is more expensive. No final vote on the judicial council amendment is shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• process where um the health care needs process where um the health care needs of<00:10:02.880>
• they need to get folks signed up. they need to get folks signed up.
• And then we also learned, need it.
• <00:56:46.240> who who are civil servants functionally who who are civil servants functionally
• governor comes in uh if there is a need governor comes in uh if there is a need for<00:57:27.040

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Attendance Roll Call 00:00:20 CRISP Shared Services 00:01:39 Rural Health Transformation Plan 00:30:55, 958, all

Summary: The Budget Review Subcommittee on Health and Family Services opened its first meeting of the 2026 interim session, took roll, and moved directly into presentations. The main presentation was from Ryan Bramble of Crisp Shared Services, who described the organization’s health information exchange and health data utility model in Kentucky and other states. He emphasized that Crisp is a nonprofit, that data ownership remains with providers, and that governance is local. He also outlined the technical infrastructure, including a master patient index, cloud-based data lake, support for modern standards like FHIR and USCDI as well as older formats, and data quality tools used to normalize and standardize information. Bramble said the model is intended to reduce duplication, lower costs, and support rural providers and future use cases such as reporting, analytics, and AI-enabled decision support. Members asked how the state can ensure the data is actually used and who should drive priorities for health care improvement. Bramble said Crisp can provide tools, expertise, and examples from other states, but local teams such as KHI and state stakeholders must tailor and lead utilization efforts. In response to questions about ownership and coordination, he stressed that successful HIE governance requires a multistakeholder body that includes hospitals, health plans, government, and other interests, with a unified approach rather than multiple competing directives. He also said the Commonwealth has an opportunity to convene those stakeholders and set clear priorities. A senator raised concerns that responsibility for Medicaid and broader health policy has become fragmented and suggested a stronger central role for the state, possibly through the Department of Public Health, to coordinate health priorities. Bramble agreed that a single convening authority and multistakeholder governance are important, and noted that local governance should determine what data is shared and how it is used. No votes or formal actions were taken during this portion of the meeting. After Bramble’s presentation and questions, the committee was told that Secretary Stack from the cabinet would testify next on the rural health transformation plan.

Transcript Highlights:

• > housing<00:21:37.280> and they need support in housing and they need support in housing
• > special >> So any special needs, special >> So any special needs, special population
• , what the districts need.
• But these folks need three things.
• So the need hasn't gone away.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Commission on Race and Access to Opportunity met in September 2025, established a quorum, introduced new member Larry Forester, and approved the minutes from the August 26 meeting. The main presentation came from Warren County Public Schools Superintendent Rob Clayton and Assistant Superintendent Sarah Johnson, who discussed the district’s work serving English language learners and multilingual students, including immigrant and refugee families. They said Warren County now serves roughly 5,500 multilingual students out of about 19,000 total, representing about 92 languages and 90 countries, with 57 certified multilingual teachers, a GO Center, migrant and refugee advocates, and the state’s first international high school. The presenters emphasized that the district welcomes immigrant families and that students and parents generally value public education, but they described major challenges tied to accountability and funding. They explained that multilingual students are tested after one year in the system, even though many need more time to become proficient in English and grade-level standards, and they argued that current graduation-rate rules can unfairly penalize schools when transient students enroll briefly and then leave. They also said the cost of serving this population has risen sharply, with special revenue and especially general-fund spending increasing substantially over the past decade, prompting the district to reallocate resources from EL teacher assistants toward translation technology and additional certified staff. Committee members asked questions about how long-term multilingual students compare with the general student body and whether the district’s data show similar graduation outcomes. Clayton said he did not have the specific comparison data at hand but believed students who stay K-12 generally reach proficiency. He and Johnson asked legislators to consider giving students more time before accountability measures apply and to shift some graduation accountability from individual schools to the district level for highly transient populations, while still maintaining accountability. No formal votes or legislative actions were taken beyond approval of the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• But what we need to really look at is: what is our role as legislators?
• Oftentimes, we're told that Minnesota needs to become energy independent.
• We need to do our due diligence.
• We need to do our due diligence, folks. It's important.
• Iran, Libya, and Yemen, the four of us, we need to do more here.

Transcript Highlights:

• When students can't obtain the care they need on campus, they must travel, Need on campus, they must
• <02:52:20.160> clearer that Colorado courts need clearer that Colorado courts need clearer
• So need to ask for a no vote. benefit. So need to ask for a no vote.
• So, I'm need that additional money.
• It's a government function.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• need for one service. need for one service.
• Is that why we need to raise...?
• we need PBM reform. we need PBM reform.
• There's things we need to see.
• There's things we need to see.

Keywords: Public Health and Welfare - Room 216, 3 March, 2026; 3:00 PM, 925, all

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 1622, a strike-all amendment to create a pilot program for certain small-community hospitals to receive limited certificate-of-need exemptions. The bill would allow qualifying hospitals to open a geriatric psychiatric unit without a CON, permit each hospital one additional CON exemption for a service otherwise requiring one, cap dialysis-unit exemptions at eight hospitals, continue existing moratoriums with periodic Department of Health review, allow facilities in Issaquena or Humphreys Counties under limited conditions, and add a loser-pays rule for unsuccessful CON court challenges. Technical corrections were made, the strike-all amendment was adopted, and the bill was reported do pass as amended by voice vote. The committee then moved to House Bill 942, where Senator McMahan offered an amendment to allow a Lee County chiropractor to advertise as a neurologic chiropractor and list related credentials. Members questioned whether chiropractic neurology is recognized in Mississippi and raised concerns about the practitioner’s prior discipline by the board, but the chair ruled the amendment germane. The amendment failed on voice vote, and the bill itself then passed and was reported to the floor. The committee next considered House Bill 1034, but no amendment was offered. It then took House Bill 479 off the table. That bill extends the temporary licensing period for psychology and marriage-and-family-therapy boards from 30 to 60 days to allow more time for criminal background checks. Senator Blackwell offered a clarifying amendment to make clear that temporary licenses must be revoked if required background checks or other licensure requirements are insufficient, and that the temporary license does not replace the underlying education, training, and examination requirements. The amendment was adopted and the bill was reported do pass as amended. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 1067, the Rural Health Transformation Program. Senator Hickman explained that the bill would require procurement procedures and reporting for the state’s rural health transformation funds, prioritize projects tied to the original application, and direct funds toward rural and underserved areas such as health professional shortage areas, low-income counties, and places without hospitals. Senators questioned whether the added state rules would layer on top of existing federal requirements and whether the bill could slow distribution or invite litigation, but supporters said it was meant to add transparency and guardrails rather than change the federal program. The bill was discussed at length, but the transcript ends before a final vote on HB 1067.

Transcript Highlights:

• lay some background um on what you need lay some background um on what you need to<00:06:54.280>
• not process generally does what it needs not process generally does what it needs to<00:39:43.720
• to do right now I don't know if we need to do right now I don't know if we need to<00:39:45.079>
• <00:52:31.520> so<00:52:31.760> Mr those functions so Mr those functions so Mr row<
• <01:16:53.280> better takeaway is I think we need better takeaway is I think we need better

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee held a hearing on the fiscal note process, prompted by concerns raised in a prior hearing about the fiscal note for the Paid Family and Medical Leave law. Chair Marty, Senator Pratt, and Senator Wiklund said the goal was not to revisit the bill itself but to strengthen understanding of fiscal note standards, the role of the Legislative Budget Office (LBO), and communication with agencies. They emphasized bipartisan concern that fiscal notes must be respected and that the process should be clearer going forward. Christian Larison of the LBO explained that the 2024 fiscal note issues stemmed from three main problems: choosing the proper baseline for a program that had not yet started, interpreting the seven-day qualifying event/waiting period, and determining whether DEED could adjust the first-year premium rate. He said the LBO, DEED, MMB, and House fiscal staff ultimately used the October 2023 actuarial analysis as the baseline because it was the most recent and likely most accurate estimate, but that choice meant the fiscal note did not show the difference from the 2023 enacted budget. He also described how DEED later interpreted the seven-day provision as a waiting period and how the premium-rate assumptions affected the fiscal impact. Larison outlined possible responses, including more assertive early communication from the LBO, providing more detailed analysis in unusual cases, and possibly creating a working group through the LBO Oversight Commission to consider new standards for substantial assumption changes, complex new programs, and third-party actuarial work. He also noted the LBO has authority to issue unapproved fiscal notes if standards are not met, though it has not used that authority. In questions, Senator Murphy asked about protecting the credibility of fiscal notes, and Larison said maintaining independence, objectivity, and consistent standards is central to the LBO’s role. No votes or formal actions were taken at the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• While we need to fix those conflicts, I still also believe we need to put money into the settlement fund
• Um, so I would urge state do need.
• We need all of them. Um and apartments. We need all of them.
• So, back to the the meet the need.
• you needed? you needed? >> Yes,<01:08:47.120> sir.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm happy to help in any way that you<00:19:10.960> need. you need. you need.
• > need.
• So why is this needed?
• Why is this bill needed?
• /c><05:15:21.120> to<05:15:21.520> stop needing, we would need them to stop needing, we

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• At some point, we need to start seeing gains.
• One important work that needs to happen.
• So there is evidence around the need.
• So there is evidence around the need.
• need to improve their infrastructure?

Summary: The committee heard a series of budget proposals focused on education finance, with repeated questions about whether the state’s investments are coordinated, targeted to the highest-need students, and likely to produce measurable results. On the first item, the administration proposed $1 million for a study of California’s curriculum framework, standards, and instructional materials process, plus $250,000 for supplemental ELA/ELD guidance. CDE and Finance said the study would examine how other states organize standards, frameworks, and adoptions, while the chair and members questioned why California has gone so long without updating some standards, what the study would actually accomplish, and whether the proposal was too vague to justify the cost. The issue was held open. The committee then took up a proposed $25 million statewide literacy network within the system of support. CCEE and CDE said the network would coordinate multiple existing literacy leads, create a clearinghouse of evidence-based resources, and improve coherence across the state’s many literacy initiatives. Members pressed on how a one-time, five-year allocation could support a long-term system, how the work would reach distressed and rural districts, and whether the proposal would translate into classroom change rather than just another layer of coordination. The issue was also held open. Next, the committee reviewed a $500 million proposal to expand literacy coaches and reading specialists and to create a math coaches program. CDE described the existing literacy coach cohorts as producing positive reports from participating LEAs, while the LAO recommended modifications, especially for the math coach portion, including limiting eligibility to elementary schools, setting minimum grant amounts, directing funds to eligible school sites, and making eligibility automatic rather than application-based. Members focused on whether coaches were actually being placed at the schools with the greatest need and whether the state has a coherent long-term strategy for literacy and math investments. The committee also heard a $40 million proposal for training and implementation of K-2 reading difficulty screeners, which the LAO said was reasonable but could be reduced because $25 million had already been provided for training; CDE said the new funds were needed for full implementation, procurement, and sustainability. Finally, the committee heard a $10 million proposal for a developmentally appropriate TK multilingual learner screener, with CDE explaining why the preschool language-identification process is different from K-12 EL assessment and the chair asking staff to explore whether a single, more consistent approach could be developed. The meeting concluded with a presentation on universal school meals and kitchen infrastructure, including a $31.5 million backfill, an $84.1 million increase for projected meal growth, a COLA adjustment, and $150 million for kitchen upgrades and training to support freshly prepared meals.

Transcript Highlights:

• when we need them most. when we need them most.
• It doesn't function of the committee.
• So then they still need to be paid.
• actually need reserves.
• Maybe we need to actually need reserves.

Keywords: 981, all

Summary: The House convened, established a quorum, approved the journal, and heard several committee and floor announcements about upcoming hearings. The chamber then took up House Resolution 1006, a resolution honoring Colorado law enforcement officers. The resolution was read at length and supported by Representatives Woo and Clifford, who emphasized officers’ service, public safety role, and the need for community trust. Several members spoke in favor, including Representative Bacon, who tied the resolution to broader discussions of policing, transparency, body cameras, and community relationships. The resolution passed unanimously, 60-0, with five excused. After the resolution, the House received committee reports and then considered Senate Bill 143, which renames the Colorado Youth Advisory Council Review Committee to honor Senator Faith Winter. Supporters, including Representatives Wilford and Garcia, said the change recognizes Winter’s commitment to youth leadership and civic engagement and does not alter the committee’s function or create new costs. The bill passed on a voice vote. The chamber also passed Senate Bill 124, which updates the automated protection order notification system by requiring the Colorado Integrated Criminal Justice Information System, in addition to CBI, to provide information needed for notifications. The House then considered House Bill 1421, concerning prohibiting certain compensation arrangements in the legal profession and creating the Colorado Legal Practice Integrity and Fee Sharing Prohibition Act. Sponsors said the bill is aimed at preventing non-lawyer ownership and fee-sharing arrangements that could let outside investors influence legal strategy, while clarifying that it does not interfere with court regulation of the profession. Supporters from the business community argued it addresses profit-driven incentives in litigation, while one member objected to the late-night committee process and the number of amendments. The Judiciary Committee report was adopted, and the bill was then debated further as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• If they don't need it, that's fine.
• Simply put, we may need to spend less and prioritize more on a few critical needs.
• One that we need more funding for.
• I want them expended as need, and I want that need to be. Extended beyond what we required.
• are and how much is needed.