Transcript Highlights:

• Unwilling to abandon my patients, I left CHLA to form an independent practice.
• Unwilling to abandon my patients, I left CHLA to form an independent practice.
• These small practices can't.
• These small practices can't.
• Is that a statement of legal fact, was offered by this practicing doctor? Yes.

Summary: The joint hearing focused on access to gender-affirming care in California, with opening remarks from the subcommittee chairs emphasizing the importance of protecting transgender, gender-diverse, and intersex Californians and asking for decorum during public comment. The first panel from the Department of Justice, Department of Managed Health Care, and Department of Health Care Services described existing state protections, including nondiscrimination rules, privacy protections, shield laws, and Medi-Cal and commercial coverage requirements for medically necessary gender-affirming care. State officials also outlined ongoing litigation against federal actions and against hospital decisions to end or restrict care, including the Rady Children’s case and challenges to federal proposed rules and declarations affecting Medicaid, Medicare, and provider participation. Members questioned state agencies about why some hospitals that had stopped providing care had not been sued, how network adequacy is measured, whether the state can track actual access to gender-affirming care, and what legislative changes might strengthen protections. DMHC said it monitors complaints and independent medical reviews but does not track gender-affirming care as a separate provider category or collect utilization data, while DHCS said Medi-Cal continues to cover medically necessary care and that the state is preparing for possible federal rule changes. Finance staff said the previously approved $15 million for gender-affirming care was still being implemented through Covered California. The second panel featured a physician, clinic leaders, a parent, and a transgender teen describing how care is delivered and the effects of hospital closures and federal pressure. Dr. Johanna Olson-Kennedy described the history and medical basis for gender-affirming care, said minors need parental consent for medical interventions, and argued that care should be individualized and supported by families. Providers and families testified that hospital closures and insurance barriers have disrupted continuity of care, forced patients to travel farther, and shifted demand to community clinics that lack sufficient funding and contracting support. Several witnesses asked the Legislature to provide new funding, strengthen insurance enforcement, and stabilize access to care for transgender youth and families.

Transcript Highlights:

• As a matter of practice, the committee takes elected officials out of turn to testify.
• So is it ICE's practice that they are only going to detain people who are being released?
• I cannot speak to what their practices are because it appears to be all over the board.
• Massachusetts has two types of tracks: race tracks and practice tracks.
• I come before you because I have been privileged to practice law for 46 years.

Summary: The hearing covered several public safety bills and related testimony. On S. 2681, “Colby’s Law,” which would establish safety standards for BMX/motocross tracks, the committee heard emotional testimony from the family of a teen killed at a track and from advocates who said minimum standards are needed for barriers, medical staff, emergency planning, insurance, and oversight. A track owner and rider also testified that safety is important but argued the bill was incomplete and should better distinguish between BMX and motocross and include more specific equipment and weather-related rules. On S. 2680, a bill to expand emergency planning around aging nuclear plants and high-level nuclear waste sites, supporters from Cape Cod, medical groups, and anti-nuclear organizations urged a 50-mile emergency planning radius and stronger state preparedness, citing risks from long-term waste storage and inadequate federal oversight. The committee also heard testimony on a Barnstable home rule petition to allow certain emergency response vehicles to use red lights, with the town supporting the change to improve response times on the water. A substantial portion of the hearing focused on H. 5158, the Protect Act, which would limit state and local cooperation with federal civil immigration enforcement. County sheriffs testified about how ICE notifications and detainers work in practice, distinguishing between criminal warrants and civil immigration requests to notify, and describing their discretion when people are released on bail or at the end of a sentence. Sheriffs said they generally notify ICE when requested, especially in cases involving serious charges, but emphasized the need to balance public safety, victim notification, and due process. Committee members pressed them on the impact of ICE pickups at courthouses and jails, and several lawmakers and witnesses argued that pretrial detainees taken by ICE can disrupt prosecutions and deny victims their day in court. Supporters of the Protect Act included labor, education, health care, and immigrant advocacy groups. They said immigrants and mixed-status families are living in fear of routine interactions with police, schools, courts, and hospitals, and urged the committee to ban 287(g) agreements, prohibit law enforcement from asking about immigration status or providing operational assistance to ICE, and add stronger protections for sensitive locations such as schools and health care facilities. Medical witnesses described patients and families avoiding care because of ICE presence, and educators said students are missing school out of fear. No votes or final actions were taken during the hearing; the committee heard testimony and indicated it would continue receiving written testimony before taking action later.

Transcript Highlights:

• , not practical.
• , not practical.
• </c> retirement benefits would be in practice retirement benefits would be in practice not<00:46:39.200
• ><c> practical.
• It would be not practical.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint hearing of the Senate Committees on Labor and Technology and Public Safety and Military Affairs considered three bills. SB 2141 would reclassify certain Department of Law Enforcement leadership and employees as Class A members for retirement purposes and adjust retirement benefit calculations. DLE supported the bill, saying it would address retirement classification without enhancing benefits, while the Employees’ Retirement System said it had no formal board position but wanted key provisions preserved. The Deputy Attorney General raised a potential title/subject issue and warned the bill could be vulnerable to challenge because the reclassification, contribution changes, and benefit calculations are in separate statutory sections. After questions about the number of affected employees and possible amendments, the committees deferred the bill. SB 2593 would exempt certain Law Enforcement Standards Board positions from civil service and collective bargaining. The board’s administrator said the positions would handle sensitive and confidential information and require specialized experience, and the board chair’s representative said the bill was important to meet certification deadlines. Opposition testimony from HGA argued exempt employees are at-will and suggested civil service protections should remain, with any staffing issues handled through reclassification or other personnel tools. Committee members questioned whether the positions could instead be civil service but excluded from bargaining, and staff explained the distinction between civil service exemption and collective bargaining exclusion. The committees ultimately recommended passing SB 2593 with amendments, including a deferred effective date of January 1, 2077, and the recommendation was adopted. SB 2824 would create a bribery-related reporting duty for public servants. Supporters, including Indivisible Hawaii, said it would establish a clear duty to report known or suspected bribery and strengthen public trust. The Office of the Public Defender opposed the bill, saying it would criminalize an affirmative duty to report another person’s misconduct. After limited discussion, both committees voted to pass SB 2824 with amendments, including a deferred effective date of July 1, 2050, and the recommendation was adopted. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a best practice in one of a group of five relating to the sale of bonds: selecting and managing
• It addresses the extracurricular concern that the governor had, and it brings into practice, or makes
• So this, again, is making that standard practice that most board members, most boards are already practicing
• So this is, again, making that standard practice that most board members, most boards are already practicing
• And I'm not saying that improper procurement practices followed.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It sounds like, I mean, we talk about all this practice and stuff too.
• This is about our young residents that are coming here to practice and to learn their skill and their
• It affects them very much in how they can complete their residency and then go on to practice medicine
• So we can expect that it would be in line with probably current practice, should those practices be at
• And also that these practices are recommended by the ATF as best practices, even if they're not required

Bills: SB4, SB7, SB9, SB17

Keywords: Medicaid, healthcare, medical education, salaries, graduate education, clinician pay, health sciences, education funding, faculty salary, University of New Mexico, healthcare funding, general fund, state budget, New Mexico legislation, gun control, firearm safety, dealer regulation, illegal trade, background checks, 996

Transcript Highlights:

• Drives now practice insurance rates up, and insurers do not draw the line at 18.
• I was practicing. I'm glad that worked out. I was practicing. Good job. I'm glad that worked out.
• My firm has the largest appellate practice of any family law appeal practice in Arizona, including some
• The repetitive practice of any malfeasance does not legitimize the perpetrator or the acts.
• They don't subscribe to a standard of practice.

Summary: The committee first took up SB 1066, which would allow the Attorney General or a county attorney to sue researchers for knowingly or recklessly publishing fraudulent scientific research, and would let injured parties recover damages. The sponsor and a supporting witness argued the bill would create personal accountability for deliberate research fraud and cited examples of retracted or manipulated studies; opponents warned that peer review and existing scientific processes already address bad research and that the bill could chill research and speech. The committee later passed SB 1066 on a 4-3 vote. The committee then heard SB 1015, which would impose strict personal liability on providers who perform gender transition procedures on minors for later detransition costs and related injuries. Supporters, including the sponsor, a doctor, a detransitioner, and a parent, said the bill would protect children, create accountability, and help families seek redress for irreversible harm. Opponents from the ACLU and others argued the measure discriminates against transgender patients, would likely chill care by making providers uninsurable, and could function as a backdoor ban; the committee nevertheless advanced the bill on a 4-3 vote. SB 1049, as amended, limited spousal maintenance to four years and adjusted eligibility and guideline factors. The sponsor and a family law attorney said the bill would curb overly long awards and better account for assets and income, while the Judicial Council explained the existing guideline work and noted the new calculator was intended to add uniformity; one senator objected that the cap was arbitrary and ignored case-specific context. The committee adopted the amendment and passed the bill 4-2. The committee also unanimously passed SB 1189, allowing campaign funds to be used for candidate and family security, and SB 1133, eliminating a duplicate financial disclosure filing for candidates who already filed an annual statement. Finally, the committee heard SB 1081, which would bar a DCS attorney from appearing before a judge after appearing before that judge in any of the attorney’s previous five DCS cases, and advanced it 4-3 after debate over judicial familiarity and rural-court impacts. The committee also heard SCR 1001, a proposed constitutional referral to end early voting the Friday before the election, require proof of citizenship and government ID, and restrict mail ballots to voters who affirmatively request them; supporters framed it as an election-integrity measure, while ADOT testified neutrally but warned that free IDs could cost tens of millions in lost revenue and affect road funding. The transcript ends during testimony on SCR 1001, before any vote on that measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• Drives now practice insurance rates up, and insurers do not draw the line at age 18.
• I was practicing. I'm glad that worked out. I was practicing. Good job. I'm glad that worked out.
• My firm has the largest appellate practice of any family law appeal practice in Arizona, including some
• The repetitive practice of any malfeasance does not legitimize the perpetrator or the acts.
• The key factor here is they... ...don't subscribe to a standard of practice.

Bills: SB1015, SB1049, SB1066, SB1081, SB1092, SB1133, SB1134, SB1139, SB1147, SB1148, SB1168, SB1189, SCR1001, SCR1002, SCR1005, SCR1010

Keywords: gender transition, detransition, healthcare liability, medical malpractice, youth protection, legal action, Arizona law, spousal maintenance, court guidelines, self-sufficiency, financial support, marriage dissolution, child safety, dependency cases, attorney regulation, foster care, legal representation, probation, dangerous crimes, children

Transcript Highlights:

• That's not always practical, and it's not enforceable either.
• Okay, just the practicalities of managing within the system of the legislature. And, Mr.
• Here are the practices that I already used to address Tier 1 instruction.
• To align law with practice.
• Practice.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> seem like there are some best practices seem like there are some best practices in<00:25:57.200>
• I've heard that more than once in 33 years of practicing.
• I've heard that more than once in 33 years of practicing.
• I've heard that more than once in 33 years of practicing.
• </c><00:40:27.760><c> Um</c> Associates is is our practice. Um Associates is is our practice.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee heard and considered a series of gubernatorial nominations to boards and commissions. Early nominees included Falleno Vital for the Boxing Commission, Rebecca Moore for the Board of Nursing, and Alexander Smith and Zachary Johnson for the Board of Public Accountancy. DCCA and board representatives testified in support of each, and the nominees who were present briefly described their qualifications and willingness to serve. The chair noted the unusually large volume of written testimony in support of the boxing nominee and emphasized that these are voluntary positions and nominees had already been vetted through questionnaires and resumes. The committee then heard several nominations to the Hawaii Board of Optometry, the Motor Vehicle Repair Industry Board, and the Hawaii Medical Board. Ashley Porter and Katherine Mao spoke in support of their optometry nominations, Nathan Konishi supported his motor vehicle repair board nomination, and Gary Belchure discussed his reappointment to the medical board. A substantial portion of the discussion on the medical board focused on physician shortages, especially on the neighbor islands, and efforts to address them through the Interstate Medical Compact and pending legislation such as SB 1365. Board staff also discussed possible pathways for foreign medical graduates and the need for criminal background checks to fully participate in the compact. The latter part of the hearing shifted to real estate commission nominations, including Audrey Abbe and Denise Lacosta. Testimony and member questions focused heavily on condominium governance, deferred maintenance, reserve studies, insurance costs, and the need for better education and oversight of volunteer board members and property managers. Both nominees said older buildings, rising insurance premiums, and lack of expertise among volunteer boards are major challenges, and they suggested more training, clearer guidance, stronger enforcement against unlicensed property management, and better access to qualified consultants and financing. No votes were taken during the hearing; the committee heard testimony and moved through the agenda nominee by nominee.

Transcript Highlights:

• Nonetheless, the actual practice does not align with the rule.
• And then in practice, how would this support address the issue of covering for officers when they're
• Best practices would be or evidence there is from other states that have been successful in trying to
• First, Commerce neither adopted state-recommended contract management practices nor developed its own
• Our audit focused on the root cause of this, which we identified as poor managerial practices at the

Keywords: 904, all

Summary: The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee subcommittee held a hybrid hearing to receive three State Auditor’s Office performance audits. The first audit examined implementation of the Law Enforcement Training and Community Safety Act. Auditors said the Criminal Justice Training Commission had developed most required training, but six community/cultural topics were still unfinished, the patrol tactics curriculum was incomplete in one area, and the agency lacked a systematic project management approach. They reported that most officers had not completed the 40 required hours, with low participation in patrol tactics training, weak communication, limited data to track compliance, and ineffective incentives or consequences. Committee members questioned staffing, liability, and enforcement, and the Commission said it generally agreed with the findings and had begun implementing recommendations, including improving training development and communication. The second audit reviewed Washington’s digital equity planning. Auditors concluded the state lacked a comprehensive, unified digital equity strategy, a designated lead, and reliable funding. They said the existing PEAR/Impact Plan, BEAD five-year plan, and NTIA-approved digital equity plan each addressed parts of the issue but none provided a full statewide framework with clear authority across agencies. The Department of Commerce’s Broadband Office and the Office of Equity said they agreed with the findings and were open to working with the legislature and the Digital Equity Forum on a more structured approach. A public witness described local and regional digital equity planning efforts and emphasized the importance of coordination and community-based work. The third audit focused on Commerce’s management of the Digital Navigator Program. Auditors said Commerce did not consistently use a competitive process, did not adequately vet grantees and subgrantees, wrote contracts that lacked clear deliverables and monitoring requirements, failed to enforce reporting, and paid $10.7 million without sufficient documentation to verify reimbursement eligibility. They said agency staff had raised concerns that were ignored and that some payments and contract expansions occurred despite warnings. Commerce officials said new leadership had already begun major contract-management reforms, including centralized oversight, risk assessments, clearer documentation standards, and staff training, and they said they would pursue recapture where appropriate. Committee members expressed strong concern about accountability, and the hearing ended after public testimony and committee discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, CMS, but in real time, in practice at the facility, it's the professional staff.
• We have asked the other HCCs to pull and ensure that they're not doing the same failed practices.
• We have asked the other HCCs to pull and ensure that they're not doing the same failed practices.
• That's not what we're saying. a shared practice where we go, this is a great idea.
• It’s going to take time to shift that over because that’s been a longstanding practice.

Summary: The Joint State Agencies committee met to approve prior minutes and then focused on the death of Zachary Moore at the Southeast Arkansas Human Development Center, later clarified in discussion as the Warren facility. DHS officials described Moore’s background, said he died after a prolonged prone restraint followed by a delayed chemical restraint, and reported that 13 staff were terminated, the superintendent was replaced, a consultant was brought in, and the agency entered a settlement with the family for $725,000. Members pressed DHS on the cause of death, restraint policies, staff training, supervision, family notification, and why the family had not been kept informed; DHS said a family-notification procedure exists but that communications during litigation had been handled through counsel. The committee also heard that six staff had been criminally charged with manslaughter and neglect of a vulnerable person, and that the death certificate listed the manner of death as homicide with cause of death tied to physiologic stress associated with struggle and prone restraint. DHS officials gave broader context on the five human development centers, their licensing and accreditation, resident population, mortality review process, and training programs. They said the centers serve highly medically and behaviorally complex residents, that annual restraint training and CPI-based instruction are required, and that the mortality review committee and Office of Long-Term Care review deaths and make recommendations. Members repeatedly criticized the agency for not having complete information at the meeting and for what they saw as gaps in oversight, staffing, and chain-of-command clarity during emergencies. DHS responded that the Warren facility had not been meeting the same standards as the others, that the consultant’s root-cause analysis identified multiple failures, and that new crisis-team and chain-of-command procedures were being drafted. A second major topic was staffing and recruitment. Members discussed low pay, turnover, use of float and on-call staff, rural staffing shortages, and a waiting list of about 2,000 people for home- and community-based services. DHS said CNAs at the centers start at about $39,000 a year, that a broader retention and recruitment plan is being drafted for all five centers, and that a separate rate study for PASS services will be implemented in January 2027 but does not cover CNA pay. The meeting ended with testimony from Moore’s mother, Angela Stevens, who said money could not replace her son and urged stronger training, background checks, and supervision so other residents would be protected. The committee asked DHS to keep members and Stevens updated on consultant reports, recruitment efforts, and follow-up on the family communication issue, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• are maintained, prevent deviations of care from practices at the HDCs to the extent possible, evaluate
• So CMS, but in real time, in practice at the facility, it's the professional staff.
• We have asked the other HCCs to pull and ensure that they're not doing the same failed practices.
• We have asked the other HCCs to pull and ensure that they're not doing the same failed practices.
• It’s going to take time to shift that over because that’s been a longstanding practice.

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• He said a practical application of the bill is a judgment of possession, including matters involving
• Representative Baham replied that a judgment of possession on a used automobile is a practical example
• Representative Baham said another practical example is the appeal rate in JP court.
• So that's just one practical example of that.
• If you don't, you're going to be practicing law without a license.

Bills: HR2, HR37, HR61, HCR11, HCR64, HB89, HB183, HB341, HB371, HB451, HB480, HB520, HB541, HB579, HB597, HB816, HB1004, HB1064, HB1165, SB44

Keywords: transparency, accountability, Justice Department, FBI, Jeffrey Epstein, victim protection, investigation, public trust, HR37, House Resolution 37, Honduras veterans, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, military medal, veteran recognition, Congress memorialization, U.S. veterans, foreign deployment, 1981 to 1992, military service awards, combat support

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and first took up House Bill 1165, which was converted into a substitute bill to reorganize the Avoyelles Parish court system by creating two city courts, one for Marksville and one for Bunkie, and expanding their jurisdiction parishwide, including small claims and certain misdemeanor, civil, and juvenile matters. The sponsor and supporting judges said the change would better use existing courts and improve access to justice, while the district attorney opposed it, arguing it would not help the criminal docket, could create staffing and constitutional issues, and needed more study. After questions about voting districts, appellate procedure, and minority vote dilution, the committee adopted the substitute and reported the bill favorably. The committee then heard House Bill 1064 creating a domestic violence intervention court pilot program in the 19th Judicial District, with testimony from the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council and the YWCA describing a specialty court model focused on accountability, victim services, and wraparound support. The bill was reported favorably. House Bill 341, clarifying law enforcement officer rights during administrative investigations, was amended to specify administrative matters and reported with amendments. House Concurrent Resolution 64, as amended, expanded a study of behavioral health courts to include additional parishes and a later reporting deadline, and was reported favorably. House Bill 579, the sexual assault survivor bill of rights, was amended to strengthen notice, confidentiality, and funding provisions and then reported favorably. Later, House Bill 1004, which would have raised the jurisdictional threshold for justice of the peace courts from $5,000 to $7,500, drew significant opposition from city court judges who warned of unintended consequences, including different evidentiary standards, possible attorney-representation issues for entities, and added burdens on district courts. Supporters framed it as an inflation adjustment and access-to-justice measure, but after debate the committee voted 5-11 to defer the bill. House Bill 183, limiting courthouse cell phone bans in fee-payment areas, was amended and then failed on a 7-7 tie with the chair voting no. The committee also reported favorably House Bill 451 on ATC hearing notices, House Bill 541 on micro distillers via substitute, Senate Bill 44 on tactical medical professionals’ firearms, House Resolution 37 honoring veterans who served in Honduras, and House Bill 89 requiring a district attorney office to pay certain retirees’ health premiums from its own funds. Several other bills were voluntarily deferred, and the meeting ended with a motion to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• What has been the common practice at the Department of Revenue is to put out forms that align with that
• That practice, I would say, was unremarkable for many years until this year, when for the first time
• And that practice when, I would say, was unremarkable for many years until this year.
• It has been the historical practice, so I don't view that as nefarious.
• historically, and then the department changes its practice.

Summary: The House Ways and Means Committee considered several Senate bills dealing largely with cryptocurrency, county tax liens, and tax conformity. SB 1042 would allow state retirement systems to invest up to 10% in virtual currency holdings, and SB 1043 would let state agencies accept virtual currency payments through agreements with providers; both were described as permissive rather than mandatory and were returned with due pass recommendations on 5-3 votes. Members expressed caution about volatility and government involvement in digital assets, but supporters said the bills simply create options and could improve efficiency. The committee then took up SB 1067, which addresses county cleanup assessments for blighted properties in unincorporated areas. Chairman Olson offered an amendment removing the bill’s original mechanism for placing the assessment directly on the property tax bill, while preserving the lien so it survives a tax lien sale. County officials and the County Supervisors Association testified in support, saying counties currently absorb cleanup costs for hazardous properties and the amendment would help make counties whole without broadening property tax use. The amendment was adopted and the bill was returned with a due pass as amended recommendation on an 8-0 vote. SB 1180, on Department of Revenue tax conformity forms and instructions, prompted extended debate over whether DOR should presume conformity with federal tax changes and how to avoid an automatic tax increase without legislative action. Chairman Olson’s amendment would have DOR presume conformity only when federal changes reduce income or tax liability, while nonconformity would be presumed for increases; the sponsor said he wanted the bill to move but did not prefer the amendment. The amendment and the bill as amended both passed 5-3, with members noting the issue needed further work and clearer statutory language. SB 1221, requiring DOR to notify legislative tax chairs before new interpretations that adversely affect taxpayers and to testify if asked, also passed 5-3 after adoption of an intent-clause amendment. SB 1292, clarifying PSPRS’s 5% voting-stock cap applies to publicly traded corporations, passed unanimously, and SCR 1033, a nonbinding resolution encouraging retirement systems to monitor digital asset ETFs and report back before the next session, passed 5-3. SB 1503 was held at the sponsor’s request, and the committee adjourned at the end of the agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• These are principles recognized in domestic practices and international frameworks for death investigations
• strengthen the bill, ensuring investigations are not only independent in name, but effective in practice
• strengthen the bill, ensuring investigations are not only independent in name, but effective in practice
• strengthen the bill, ensuring investigations are not only independent in name, but effective in practice
• strengthen the bill, ensuring investigations are not only independent in name, but effective in practice

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, with reference to the OPTIM report, um, the section of the data practices act that was referenced
• Um, with reference to the OPTIM report, um, the section of the data practices act that was referenced
• Um, with reference to the OPTIM report, um, the section of the data practices act that was referenced
• act that was of uh the data practices act that was referenced<00:19:28.880><c> in</c><00:19:29.120><
• </c> section, the data practices act? section, the data practices act?

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: House File 3542 was heard in committee and moved forward with a recommendation to be re-referred to the Children, Families, Finance, and Policy Committee. The bill would change current law so that the commissioners of Human Services and Children, Youth, and Families must disclose the existence of an investigation, rather than may disclose it, with the stated goal of increasing transparency to the public and legislature. Members and agency officials discussed concerns that mandatory disclosure could tip off subjects of investigations, especially in fraud cases, allowing them to destroy evidence, coordinate stories, or otherwise interfere. The Department of Human Services and the Inspector General said disclosure can compromise investigations and noted that providers are typically notified when payments are reduced, suspended, or withheld, though federal law can sometimes require delayed notice. Representative Pinto offered an A2 amendment to require disclosure within 30 days unless it would compromise an investigation, but it was rejected. Representative Hudson then offered an oral amendment stating that disclosure would be required if the commissioner has taken action to reduce, suspend, or withhold payments to the subject of the investigation. The chair waived the rule to allow the oral amendment, and it was adopted. Staff clarified that the bill would only require disclosure of the existence of an investigation, not underlying details, and would not address trade secret redactions. After the amendment, the committee approved the motion to re-refer the bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• Recently, we have passed policy in support of a prohibition on non-competes in physician practices.
• Vancouver Clinic is an independent, physician-owned medical practice in southwest Washington.
• I'm a licensed mental health counselor, clinical supervisor, and co-founder of a small group practice
• Because there is insufficient protection for the mental health field, my small group practice incurred
• I am strongly pro this bill because it prioritizes client choice and ensures that ethical practice is

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several bills. Second Substitute House Bill 2479 would create a wage recovery program within L&I to advance part of unpaid wages to low-wage workers facing immediate hardship, funded by civil penalties, while also increasing and restructuring wage theft penalties and complaint prioritization. Supporters, including the prime sponsor, labor advocates, and employer representatives from the work group, said it would help workers get paid faster and was a consensus proposal; questions focused on how the current complaint process works and whether general fund money would be needed. Engrossed House Bill 1941, as amended, would allow licensed cannabis producers to form agricultural cooperatives, with the striking amendment limiting any cooperative to three producer licenses; supporters said cannabis producers should have the same cooperative tools as other agricultural sectors, while some testimony urged future changes for interstate commerce and warned against consolidation. Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2476 would expand the spirits, beer, and wine theater license from 120 to 200 seats per screen and add stronger alcohol-control measures when minors are present; theater operators and LCB supported the change, and committee questions focused on youth access and enforcement. House Bill 1526 would allow snack bar licensees to sell wine by the glass in addition to beer; the sponsor said it simply modernizes the license, and LCB noted a likely fee alignment issue and a small revenue impact. Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1155 would void non-compete agreements and expand related notice and non-solicitation rules, with testimony split between labor and worker advocates supporting broader worker mobility and business and health care groups seeking narrower exemptions for executives, physicians, and financial institutions. Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2303 would prohibit employers from requesting or coercing employees to accept microchip implants, with no testimony offered. Substitute House Bill 2405 would create a three-year pilot for earlier PTSD treatment coverage in workers’ compensation for eligible occupational disease claims, with L&I supporting it as a way to improve outcomes and reduce long-term costs. The committee also took public testimony on these bills, with strong pro and con positions noted on the wage recovery, cannabis cooperative, and non-compete measures. In executive action, the committee adopted a striking amendment and passed House Bill 1069, narrowing it to Department of Corrections employees and making supplemental retirement bargaining mandatory, despite concerns from one member about the change. The committee also adopted a striking amendment on House Bill 1347 concerning cannabis testing labs, then passed it to Rules; passed Second Substitute House Bill 1701 on liquor licensees sharing property; passed House Bill 291 on employee information for public employers to Ways and Means; passed Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2229 updating engineer registration provisions; passed House Bill 2264 on unemployment eligibility for workers in employer-initiated layoffs; passed Substitute House Bill 2472 adding enforcement for sprinkler contractors and fitters; and passed Second Substitute House Bill 2345 on paid family and medical leave premium allocation. A striking amendment to Second Substitute House Bill 1128 creating a child care workforce standards board was not adopted, and the bill then passed to Rules. The committee also announced it would hold House Bill 1066 for later action and planned to return the next day for its final executive session.

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, evidence-based practice is how I roll, so absolutely. I don't know what that is.
• Madam Chair, ma'am, my students practice religion after school or during the weekends.
• It's been in practice for decades here in the state, but we'd like to see some uniformity so that this
• It's been in practice for decades here in the state, but we'd like to see some uniformity so that this
• It's been in practice for decades here in the state, but we'd like to see some uniformity so that this

Bills: SB1004, SB1424, SB1497, SB1507, SB1572, SB1684, SB1711, SB1741, SB1754, SB1763, SB1798, SCR1012, SCR1041, SCR1051

Keywords: sex offender registration, sex offender registry, A.R.S. 13-3821, sexual offenses, public safety, GPS monitoring, electronic monitoring, transient offender, homeless registrant, online identifiers, internet identifiers, sheriff notification, Department of Public Safety, DPS, DNA collection, juvenile adjudication, kidnapping of a minor, unlawful imprisonment of a minor, lifetime registration, community notification

Transcript Highlights:

• There are so many questions out there about private equity: their business practices, accountability,
• I'm here as a citizen, a resident of Albuquerque, a lawyer who's been practicing here since 1973.
• I practiced utility regulatory law for 42 years in New Mexico before I retired in 2021.
• Throne, not quite as long, but I have practiced over 40 years in front of the PRC.
• It's standard practice for the commission and its staff not necessarily to be in lockstep.

Bills: SM20, SM9, SJR6, HB124

Keywords: youth violence, violence prevention, violence intervention, community violence intervention, credible messengers, peer support, restorative justice, violence interrupters, juvenile justice, at-risk youth, high-risk youth, public safety, Department of Health, New Mexico, statewide summit, data collection, reporting, interagency coordination, community-based organizations, law enforcement

Transcript Highlights:

• There are so many questions out there about private equity: their business practices, accountability,
• I'm here as a citizen, a resident of Albuquerque, a lawyer who's been practicing here since 1973.
• I practiced utility regulatory law for 42 years in New Mexico before I retired in 2021.
• Business practices, which have ravaged other public utilities in other states.
• It's standard practice for the commission and its staff not necessarily to be in lockstep.

Bills: SM20, SM9, SJR6, HB124

Keywords: youth violence, violence prevention, violence intervention, community violence intervention, credible messengers, peer support, restorative justice, violence interrupters, juvenile justice, at-risk youth, high-risk youth, public safety, Department of Health, New Mexico, statewide summit, data collection, reporting, interagency coordination, community-based organizations, law enforcement

Summary: The committee first considered the appointment of Mary Patricia Roman to the State Investment Council. Senator Campos presented her as highly qualified, citing more than 34 years in global investing, leadership at J.P. Morgan, and prior service on the SIC investment committee. Roman described her experience with asset allocation, fiduciary responsibility, and the SIC’s vetting process. Senators asked about the council’s role in pension investments, staffing levels, and whether personal values could influence decisions. Roman said the SIC process is robust, heavily staff-driven, and insulated from individual value judgments. The committee reported broad support and voted 8-0 to advance her nomination to the full Senate. The committee then heard the reappointment of John F. Bingaman to the SIC. Senator Worth praised his leadership as SIC chair and his background in private equity, public service, and economics. Bingaman emphasized the growth of New Mexico’s sovereign wealth funds to more than $70 billion, the importance of staffing and asset allocation, and the SIC’s role as a fiduciary for New Mexicans. Senators asked about protecting the funds in a weaker market and about the Blackstone/PNM matter; Bingaman declined to comment on the memorial because he had not read it. The committee voted 9-0 to send his reappointment to the full Senate. The committee next took up Senate Memorial 20, calling for a statewide youth violence summit. Senator Lopez and an expert from the Council of State Governments said New Mexico lacks a cohesive statewide infrastructure for youth violence prevention and intervention, limited data collection, and enough evidence-based services. Supporters from the ACLU, behavioral health organizations, youth-serving nonprofits, and youth advocates backed the memorial as a way to center lived experience, community engagement, and research-based solutions. Some members raised concerns that victims’ families were not explicitly included in the planning group, but the memorial passed on a 6-3 vote. Finally, the committee debated Senate Memorial 9, which asked the Legislative Finance Committee to study whether New Mexico should invest in equity stakes in PNM and New Mexico Gas Company and requested that the PRC pause consideration of the private-equity acquisitions while the study was completed. Supporters argued the state should examine whether utility ownership value could remain in New Mexico, protect ratepayers, and diversify revenue, while opponents from PNM, Blackstone’s representatives, chambers of commerce, and utility advocates said the proposal would duplicate the PRC’s review, create uncertainty, and risk higher rates and delayed investment. The committee adopted an amendment removing references to the PRC, but the memorial then failed on a 4-4 tie after a motion for due pass as amended.