Transcript Highlights:

• </c> be overseas a favor board. Thanks, sir. be overseas a favor board. Thanks, sir.
• The workforce communities up there.
• </c> economic development and workforce economic development and workforce development<00:13:44.639><
• </c> development and workforce development. development and workforce development.
• </c> Um there would be a nineperson board Um there would be a nineperson board appointed<00:13:57.360

Bills: HB304 , HB285 , HB312 , HB311 , SB60 , HB304 , HB285 , HB312 , HB311 , SB60

Committee: House Ways and Means General Fund

Keywords: impoundment, driver licenses, vehicle redemption, local identification cards, law enforcement, HB285, TJ's Law, traffic infraction, traffic ticket, uniform traffic ticket and complaint, minor driver, juvenile driver, parent notification, guardian notification, emergency contact, citing agency, traffic citation, driver safety, youth safety, Alabama traffic law

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Gloria Doherty, here on behalf of the New Mexico Nursing Association and the New Mexico Nurse
• We have many psychiatric nurse practitioners who prescribe and take care of these patients.
• And so they got on board.
• It has the Technology Advisory Board.
• It has the Technology Advisory Board.

Bills: SB20 , SB21 , SB166 , SB177 , SB181 , SB189 , SM6

Committee: Senate Senate Tax, Business & Transportation

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

Transcript Highlights:

• or to all four of the veterans homes.
• There needs to be money for the home that just had the fire, I believe the Sergeant Major Atkins home
• Uh, typically the veterans in the state homes are in their 70s, 80s, and a state homes are in their 70s
• . and put it into state veterans homes.
• Senator Albrin,... our veterans' homes, Senator Albrin, I believe our veterans' homes are general fund

Bills: HB86 , HB273 , HB379 , HB386 , HB387 , HB388 , HB389 , HB487 , HB600 , SB120 , HB176

Committee: Senate Finance and Taxation Education

Keywords: rural health, hospital funding, tax credits, qualified donations, Alabama Department of Revenue, HB273, Hunger-Free Campus Act, hunger free campus, food insecurity, college hunger, student hunger, campus pantry, food pantry, SNAP, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, basic needs, student food assistance, meal vouchers, meal credits, food vouchers

Transcript Highlights:

• home placement.
• home placement.
• Mara Gibney, sorry, I'm so sorry, Executive Director of California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform.
• homes.
• Mori Gibney, California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform, in support.

Summary: The Assembly Aging and Long-Term Care Committee met on June 24 with a substitute chair presiding and considered three measures. SB 352 by Senator Reyes was placed on the consent calendar and approved unanimously, 7-0, to be re-referred to the Committee on Emergency Management. SB 433 by Senator Wahab, presented on behalf of Senator Stern, was heard next and focused on room-and-board protections for participants in the assisted living waiver and CalAIM assisted living transition community support programs. Supporters, including Justice in Aging, CANHR, the Western Center on Law and Poverty, the California Commission on Aging, and the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Association, argued the bill would prevent low-income Medi-Cal residents from being charged unaffordable rates and losing their housing. Opponents, including the California Assisted Living Association, LeadingAge California, and Six B’s, said they remained concerned about the bill’s rent-control implications and statutory scope, though they acknowledged recent amendments addressed some eligibility issues. After committee discussion, SB 433 was approved 5-1 with one abstention and re-referred to the Committee on Human Services. The committee also heard SB 582 by Senator Stern, presented by Senator Wahab, which would allow state departments to issue disaster suspensions of active licenses for facilities rendered inoperable by declared emergencies, waive some licensing fees, and provide temporary flexibility for community-based adult services, child care, and evacuation planning requirements for skilled nursing and residential care facilities. Support came from the California Assisted Living Association, LeadingAge California, the California Commission on Aging, the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Association, CANHR, and a child care resource center, all describing the bill as helpful for rebuilding and continuity of services after disasters. There was no recorded opposition, and SB 582 passed unanimously, 7-0, to the Committee on Health. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• So right now, a nurse graduates. That in our nursing programs.
• So right now, a nurse graduates from nursing school, hopefully passes the NCLEX, and then goes to practice
• So this bill simply requires that nursing, that nursing, that, So this bill simply requires that nursing
• So with that, we want to make sure that all our nurses, all our nurses from day one can identify the
• , our Board of Nursing that meet the requirements for continuing education.

Committee: Senate Fiscal Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• is proudly home to the first public school.
• We are both the workforce behind the workforce and the beginning of the educational journey for many
• They are a pipeline to our workforce.
• This is what we call the workforce behind the workforce.
• And they're not fully connected to the workforce.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• Without the proper support, many are discharged home where they're often not safe, or into nursing homes
• home.
• They may be placed in nursing homes, like Kimberly said, or sent home with outpatient or home health
• home placement.
• The board is clear.

Committee: House Insurance

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, so in the last two years the Board of Agriculture and Board of Financial Resources have approved
• Kevin Moore, Land Division, DLNR, said that the Board of Land and Natural Resources and the Board of
• </c><01:02:43.119><c> for</c> if we need to take to the board for if we need to take to the board for
• </c> from the lesie and take to the board from the lesie and take to the board consents<01:02:49.720>
• So the concept of, specifically in our key work areas of workforce wellness and workforce development

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a board member of the HSCPA.
• standards.
• standards.
• </c><00:48:47.960><c> L</c><00:48:48.400><c> variance</c> as standard for new homes un L variance as
• standard for new homes un L variance is<00:48:49.400><c> requested</c><00:48:50.640><c> um</c><00:48:

Committee: House Consumer Protection & Commerce

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several measures, beginning with HB 117 on condominiums. Testifiers were split: reserve-study professionals and the Community Associations Institute opposed tying reserve requirements to assessed value, arguing reserve studies should be based on actual components and costs and that the bill could lead to over- or under-collection. Condominium owners and advocates supported the bill, saying some associations are not completing reserve studies or are failing to provide audits and adequate funding, and urging stronger fiduciary accountability. A member later asked about compliance rates, and a witness said he was not aware of any association that had failed to do a reserve study, estimating compliance at well over 95 percent, likely close to 100 percent. The committee then took testimony on HB 544 on pet insurance, which drew support from the Attorney General’s office and the Insurance Division with comments about contract-impairment issues, as well as support from the North American Pet Health Insurance Association and the Hawaiian Humane Society. Testifiers said the bill would help consumers understand and use pet insurance as veterinary costs rise. HB 983 on certified public accountants also drew mostly support, with the Hawaii Society of CPAs and the Hawaii Association of Public Accountants offering conditional support and proposed amendments. Public accountants said the bill could help address a shortage of CPAs and expand pathways into the profession, while some speakers cautioned that the language needed clarification and that public accounting experience should be tied to CPA-firm work. An instructor from UH West Oahu said students cannot afford the extra credits currently required and would benefit from a more accessible pathway. The committee also heard HB 1050 on Title 24, with DCCA supporting the measure and no opposition or questions. The discussion then moved to HB 256 HD1 on environmental protection and incinerator emissions. The Department of Health offered comments, while Energy Justice Network and Climate Protectors Hawaii supported strengthening the bill, warning that it could weaken existing standards at H-Power unless amended to preserve stricter state rules and require modern pollution controls. A member questioned the Department of Health about H-Power’s permits and whether additional controls would be required if federal rules change; the department said permits are reviewed every five years and that the facility currently meets state and federal requirements, while EPA rules remain in a public comment process. Finally, the committee heard HB 1051 HD1 on energy efficiency portfolio standards, with support from the Consumer Advocate, State Energy Office, Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission, Public Utilities Commission, and Hawaii Energy. The committee then heard HB 350 HD1 on energy, where the State Energy Office supported the bill, Solar Ray Corporation offered conditional comments urging any new mandated water-heating technology to meet the same efficiency level as existing solar thermal systems, and the Kauai Climate Action Coalition testified in support. No votes or final committee actions were taken during the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• HOME FACILITIES AND LIVE IN GROUP HOME FACILITIES HAVING A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE FOR A DISEASE THAT
• SO FOR PEOPLE IN HOME HEALTHCARE WHEN THEY'RE SEEING THE NURSE TWICE A DAY AND THEY GO IN IN THE MORNING
• IT OR THEY COULD GO INTO A NURSING HOME.
• AND A NURSING HOME IS NOT AN OPTION.
• AND TO HAVE SOMEONE GO INTO A NURSING HOME BECAUSE THEY NEED AN INSULIN SHOT TWICE A DAY OR THREE TIMES

Transcript Highlights:

• Next is the governor's Workforce Development Board membership changes.
• :42:32.800><c> board</c> governor's workforce development board governor's workforce development board
• The next provision is for nursing home definitions for the nursing home workforce board.
• of the Association of Workforce Boards, and moves the local workforce development areas up to being
• development board who are also represent local workforce development boards from communities around

Transcript Highlights:

• Their business income is taxed through the personal income tax, and that income is always, yes, home,
• And that income is always partially taken, yes, home, but largely put back into investment, equipment
• Those are really the points we're trying to make. used it for other aspects of their workforce but it
• I serve as executive chair and chair of the board of directors of Eastern Bank.
• homes, and home care.

Summary: The Special Joint Committee on Initiative Petitions held a public hearing on two proposed ballot initiatives: one to reduce the state personal income tax rate from 5% to 4% over three years, and another to revise the state’s tax collection cap/62F process so it would be based on prior-year collections plus wage growth and include surtax revenue. The committee chair and House co-chair outlined the hearing process, and the first witness was Doug Howgate of the Massachusetts Taxpayer Foundation, who testified as the committee’s subject-matter expert on both measures. He said the income tax proposal would lower taxes broadly but would reduce state revenue by about $5.4 billion when fully implemented, with an estimated $800 million hit in FY27, and he discussed possible effects on competitiveness, taxpayer savings, and public finances. On the 62F proposal, he said the revised cap would make refunds more likely, could have produced several large refunds in recent years, and would reduce stabilization fund deposits and constrain recovery after recessions. Committee members questioned Howgate about competitiveness, outmigration, prior tax ballot measures, spending growth, MassHealth, and the interaction between the income tax and surtax. He emphasized that taxes are only one part of the state’s overall competitiveness and that housing, public services, and other factors also matter. He also noted that the surtax is constitutionally restricted but can still support ongoing spending choices. After his testimony, the committee moved to the proponents’ panel. Proponents of both initiatives, including representatives from Taxpayers for an Affordable Massachusetts, the National Federation of Independent Business, Pioneer Institute, and the Mass Opportunity Alliance, argued that the measures would improve affordability, help retain residents and businesses, and support job growth. They cited polling support, outmigration, small-business reinvestment, and comparisons to lower-tax states such as North Carolina. Their economist, Rebecca Paxton, said her model showed smaller revenue losses than critics claim and projected that the revised revenue cap would not create additional annual revenue losses while producing more regular taxpayer refunds. Committee members pressed the panel on competitiveness, prior ballot initiative implementation, and whether the measures would actually address broader affordability pressures; the hearing ended with the committee continuing to take questions from the proponents.

Transcript Highlights:

• policy. workforce strategy.
• In particular, the Workforce Development Board oversees statewide workforce policy.
• , which include our teachers, our nurses, our green workforce, and our community leaders.
• are appropriate at our next board meeting in early April.
• A newly appointed board member of the State Allocation Board and had our first my first meeting last

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> of my office's statutory advisory board. of my office's statutory advisory board.
• Nursing homes don't own dogs.
• Nursing homes don't own dogs.
• Because hospitals don't own dogs.<01:13:10.159><c> Nursing</c><01:13:10.480><c> homes</c><01:13:10.800
• Nursing homes don't own dogs. They dogs. Nursing homes don't own dogs.

Committee: Senate Executive Departments and Administration

Transcript Highlights:

• Sandy Weathers, along with other board directors and members of the Mississippi Association of Nurse
• Sandy Weathers, along with other board directors and members of the Mississippi Association of Nurse
• Sandy Weathers, along with other board directors and members of the Mississippi Association of Nurse
• </c><01:55:48.400><c> will</c> board will the current board will board will the current board will appoint
• </c> home country. home country.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> school board from ever school boards school board from ever school boards from<04:33:12.639><c>
• is included in those standards.
• is included in those standards.
• is included in those standards.
• is included in those standards.

Summary: The committee opened with House Bill 184, which would create a committee to study changing school start times. Members discussed Amendment 0394, which made the study committee’s duties more investigative and adjusted reporting recipients, including the Governor. Several members raised questions about whether the committee should review evidence-based studies, local district decisions, and existing district reports; supporters said the amendment would better allow the committee to gather information and recognize local control. The amendment passed 17-0, and the bill as amended also passed 17-0. Representative Litchfield noted that no one had testified in opposition and encouraged the future study committee to review an Oyster River School District report on school start times. The committee then took up House Bill 394, concerning cooperative school district budget committees and board member representatives. Amendment 0476 was adopted 17-0 after discussion that it clarified the bill’s language and reflected work with the School Boards Association. The committee then voted OTPA on the bill, which also passed 17-0. House Bill 738, requiring background checks for employees and volunteers at certain non-public schools or education service providers receiving public funds, was moved inexpedient to legislate. Supporters said the bill would create practical and legal problems for private citizens and homeschooling families, and the motion passed 15-2 with no minority report, placing the bill on consent. The committee next considered House Bill 235, which would amend the educator code of ethics and conduct to add responsibilities to parents. Supporters argued parents should be explicitly included in the code, while opponents said parents were already covered in existing ethics language and statute. The bill passed narrowly, 9-8. The committee then returned to House Bill 532 on alternate dispute resolution and individualized education plan team meeting facilitation. Amendment 0480H clarified that different rules would apply separately to neutral conference, mediation, and IEP facilitation; it passed 17-0, and the bill as amended also passed 17-0. Finally, the committee moved to House Bill 564, concerning adoption of school administrative unit budgets, and voted to retain the bill for further review because members said there was still confusion about how it would apply to single-district and multi-district SAUs.

Transcript Highlights:

• pathway to expand radiation therapy services in rural communities while maintaining strong safety standards
• well-detailed process and laid out in this bill, I think it really continues to maintain safety standards
• So when you have workforce shortages, it threatens closure of cancer care.
• requirement that DHS rules for air ambulance services must establish response and operation time standards
• This is why we have nurses at the legislature, and with that I vote aye. Senator Schope? Aye.

Committee: Senate Senate Health and Human Services COR

Summary: The Committee on Health and Human Services heard several bills and held HB 2307. HB 2049 would allow use of a particle accelerator to treat human diseases under general supervision in counties under 400,000 population and at critical access hospitals, with documentation, observation, and monitoring requirements. Testimony from rural hospital and radiation oncology representatives emphasized oncologist shortages, long travel distances for cancer patients, and the need to maintain safety while improving access; the bill received a due pass recommendation on a 7-0 vote. HB 2178 would require any chief medical officer for a state agency to hold an active medical license, and members described it as a common-sense licensing requirement. HB 2179 would separate air ambulances from ground ambulances in statute, define air ambulance-related terms, and update staffing and regulatory provisions to better match current practice; air medical representatives said it was a statutory cleanup measure, and both bills were passed out of committee unanimously, 7-0. HB 2322 would require audio or video recording of DCS interviews with children, with exceptions for equipment failure or unforeseeable lack of access, and would preserve admissibility of statements even if a recording was not made. Supporters, including a trafficking survivor, a health care worker, and a foster parent, argued recordings protect children, improve accuracy and accountability, and reduce disputes over what was said. The bill also includes a conditional enactment tied to future federal grant legislation; it received a 7-0 due pass recommendation. The committee also announced that minutes were not ready for approval and that HB 2307 would be held.

Transcript Highlights:

• people that live in those homes can lower their property taxes, and in lowering their homes, we're able
• In Casagran, in my district, we have Homes. In Casagran, in my district, we have two old homes.
• Housing, workforce development.
• It increases the standard deduction. and additional tax deduction, it increases the standard deduction
• At home, I don't keep stuff from them. At home, I don't keep stuff from them.

Summary: The House convened, opened with prayer and the Pledge, approved the journal, and welcomed several guests in the gallery, including a high school student and an advocate connected to the domestic violence bill HB 2995. The chamber then moved through multiple Committee of the Whole calendars, first advancing HB 4155, HB 4156, and HB 4157, then HB 4164, HB 4165, and HB 4166, all with do-pass recommendations and no substantive amendments on those calendars. Later, the House also considered SB 1326, a victims’ rights measure, adopted a floor amendment, and reported it out as amended. The House corrected an earlier clerical error regarding HB 4155-4157 being referred to engrossing rather than third reading. The House then took up a long series of final passage votes on Senate bills. SB 2174, SB 2611, SB 1011, SB 1012, SB 1016, SB 1018, SB 1038, SB 1039, SB 1040, SB 1053, SB 1055, SB 1057, SB 1060, SB 1061, SB 1068, SB 1069, SB 1075, SB 1100, SB 1113 on reconsideration, SB 1160, and SB 1170 all passed. SB 2873, SB 1004, SB 1009, SB 1042, SB 1043, SB 1049, SB 1093, and SB 1143 failed. SB 2995, the emergency family-law/domestic-violence bill known as the Alec and Lydia Act, passed with the required two-thirds vote after extensive debate; supporters said it would better protect children and clarify judicial standards, while opponents argued its definitions were overly broad and could harm families. SB 1018 on foreign laws also drew extended debate over Sharia law, with supporters framing it as a defense of American values and opponents calling it unnecessary and discriminatory. Several votes included explanations focused on policy concerns. SB 1004 on sex-offender registration and monitoring drew debate over whether electronic monitoring is effective. SB 1040 on voter registration transparency prompted arguments over public access to voter rolls versus privacy and security. SB 1118 on municipal zoning and historical homes was debated as a property-rights and local-control issue, with supporters saying it could help preserve affordable housing and opponents warning it would override local decisions. The House also adopted motions to reconsider prior actions on SB 1043 and SB 1100, and it requested the Senate return SB 1552 for reconsideration. The session ended with the House still processing additional Committee of the Whole business, including HB 4158, HB 4159, HB 4160, HB 4161, HB 4162, and HB 4163, with HB 4162 and HB 4163 receiving floor amendments and do-pass recommendations.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a vacation home.
• It's a vacation home.
• So it is estimated that in about 20 years we will have too many people in nursing homes in this state
• So it is estimated that in about 20 years we will have too many people in nursing homes in this state
• or individuals on the and the board or individuals on the board. board. board.

Committee: House Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• Texas Nurse Partners, and herself. Well, thanks for being here today, Holly.
• Nurse Practitioners and myself.
• I'm a board-certified family nurse practitioner as well as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner
• homes in the community.
• Quality standards have changed.

Bills: HB139 , HB1818 , HB1942 , HB1959 , HB2221 , HB2254 , HB2563 , HB2067 , HB2275 , HB3211 , HB139

Committee: House Insurance

Keywords: HB 1818, Texas Insurance Code, Texas Department of Insurance, commissioner of insurance, health maintenance organization, HMO, insurer, utilization review, preauthorization, prior authorization, medical necessity review, health care services, medical care, insurance regulation, insurance examination, regulatory oversight, confidential records, public information exception, Chapter 843, Chapter 1301