Transcript Highlights:

• We have licensed 94 non-relative foster homes since January.
• Again, foster parents don't even reach that in a week—$21 a... ...day for 24-hour care in foster homes
• parents, the treatment foster parents, and the workers who have left...
• For retention of foster parents, we currently issue an additional $125 per child each month for foster
• help foster parents take harder-to-place youth.

Transcript Highlights:

• During the interim, my office had numerous meetings with foster care parents about issues. and concerns
• That's because there's not supervision 24/7 in the home; it's just the foster parent.
• My wife, Sarah, and I were foster care parents and have worked through the system of... ...getting licensed
• The solution to this problem is expanding true access to care by giving foster parents the option to
• The way that this bill is laid out right now, The foster parent would not have to let the state or parents

Bills: SB397 , SB481 , SB596 , SB760 , SB855 , SB1195 , SB1196 , SB1233 , SB1257 , SB1318 , SB1368 , SB1388 , SB1398 , SB1524 , SB1558 , SB1589 , SB1677 , SB1792 , SB2034

Committee: Senate Health & Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• I think that as parents, potentially foster parents, adoptive parents in this case, we know that the
• I do believe that the parents know.
• parents knowing best.
• , and their parents kicked them out.
• They need to grow and develop, and we should expect foster parents to try to understand the kids that

Bills: HB2268 , HB3000 , HB3043 , HB3066 , HB3078 , HB3143 , HB3144 , HB3244 , HB3298 , HB3320 , HB3467 , HB3321 , HB3329 , HB3431 , HB3464 , HB3499 , HB3500 , HB3586 , HB3590 , HB3650 , HB3671 , HB3695 , HB3700 , HB3701 , HB3764 , HB3767 , HB3834 , HB3931 , HB3934 , HB3940 , HB3944 , HB3979 , HB3985 , HB4113 , HB4294 , HB4302 , HB4317 , HB4324 , HB4359 , HB4426 , HB4427 , HB4430 , HB4431 , HB4434 , HJR1077 , SR42 , SR35 , HJR1023 , HB1225 , HB1374 , HB1381 , HB1590 , HB1675 , HB2153

Keywords: HB2268, Oklahoma Health Care Authority, OHCA, appropriation, General Revenue Fund, PACE, Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, elderly care, aging Oklahomans, long-term care, Medicaid, health care funding, provider reimbursement, rate increase, low-income seniors, senior services, integrated care, emergency measure, cosmetology, barbering

Transcript Highlights:

• It is a no-brewer licensee shall require a licensed distributor to accept delivery of any beer that such
• licensee or licensed distributor did not order.
• but I still remember us taking shelter in tornadoes, how we did evacuation, how we communicated to parents
• or sexual predators from ending up at our camps in Oklahoma, and My bill was actually just to let parents
• So, there are camps in our state that don't do background checks, and the parents are completely unaware

Bills: HB2268 , HB3000 , HB3043 , HB3066 , HB3078 , HB3143 , HB3144 , HB3244 , HB3298 , HB3320 , HB3467 , HB3321 , HB3329 , HB3431 , HB3464 , HB3499 , HB3500 , HB3586 , HB3590 , HB3650 , HB3671 , HB3695 , HB3700 , HB3701 , HB3764 , HB3767 , HB3834 , HB3931 , HB3934 , HB3940 , HB3944 , HB3979 , HB3985 , HB4113 , HB4294 , HB4302 , HB4317 , HB4324 , HB4359 , HB4426 , HB4427 , HB4430 , HB4431 , HB4434 , HJR1077 , SR42 , SR35 , HJR1023 , HB1225 , HB1374 , HB1381 , HB1590 , HB1675 , HB2153

Keywords: HB2268, Oklahoma Health Care Authority, OHCA, appropriation, General Revenue Fund, PACE, Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, elderly care, aging Oklahomans, long-term care, Medicaid, health care funding, provider reimbursement, rate increase, low-income seniors, senior services, integrated care, emergency measure, cosmetology, barbering

Transcript Highlights:

• Central currently has two safe foster houses and eight safe foster homes.
• Central currently has two safe foster houses and eight safe foster homes.
• foster homes.
• Another lead agency increased reimbursement rates to foster parents caring for CSE youth.
• So it's foster youth 16 and older who were in licensed care, with the exception of level one, right,

Committee: Senate Children, Families, and Elder Affairs

Summary: The Committee on Children, Families, and Elder Affairs received three presentations and took no bill votes. The Department of Children and Families gave an extensive update on human trafficking prevention and services, describing Florida’s statutory framework, hotline and investigation data, placement options such as safe houses and safe foster homes, new adult safe house certification rules, expanded screening tools for vulnerable adults, and prevention efforts including youth-led outreach and training. Members asked about whether current funding is sufficient, how DCF addresses grooming and re-victimization in residential settings, and how long youth typically remain in safe-house placements; DCF said funding is only one part of the support system, that families and youth receive prevention resources even when allegations are not substantiated, and that placement length varies by child. OPPAGA then presented its 2024 annual report on commercial sexual exploitation of children. The report found that verified CSE victims slightly declined in 2023, with Broward, Miami-Dade, Duval, Hillsborough, and Escambia among the highest-prevalence counties. Most verified victims were community youth rather than children already in care, though dependent youth had higher rates of prior maltreatment. OPPAGA also reported continued concerns about limited placement capacity, especially for less restrictive Tier 1 safe houses, and service gaps such as the need for survivor mentors. Its recommendations focused on expanding placement options, improving data collection, and strengthening collaboration to support survivor mentors. Finally, DCF presented the Step into Success pilot program for current and former foster youth ages 16 to 26. The program combines workforce education, professional development, and paid internships with mentor support; the first cohort launched in 2024 with 15 participants, all of whom secured placements, and the department reported strong satisfaction and early outcomes. Committee members asked about scalability, costs, and whether the model could be moved beyond DCF-run operations into community-based providers. DCF said the program was designed to be scalable, currently costs about $500,000 annually for the pilot, and could be expanded statewide with additional funding and partner support. The committee adjourned after the presentations.

Transcript Highlights:

• care license or a child-specific license to care for a former foster youth or youths, and that youth
• , for those who had a foster care license, they had to have had an active license to operate a foster
• And for me, personally, having been a former foster parent, I took in foster children.
• parent, but for the foster children.
• And the foster children can then have... For the foster parent, but for the foster children.

Summary: The Senate Human Services Committee heard several Department of Social and Health Services-related bills. Senate Bill 6024, sponsored by Senator Gildon, would streamline oversight of community residential service providers by limiting DSHS to one annual routine review per subject area when possible, requiring better document sharing within the department, and preserving investigations tied to complaints, incidents, mortality reviews, and other legally required oversight. Supporters said the bill would reduce duplicative audits and paperwork so providers can spend more time on direct client services. No vote was taken during the hearing. The committee also heard Senate Bill 6063, an agency-request bill sponsored by Senator Bateman and supported by DSHS Secretary Angela Ramirez, to update statutes to reflect DSHS’s recent reorganization into the Home and Community Living Administration and the Behavioral Health and Habilitation Administration. Testimony described the measure as a technical cleanup with no fiscal impact. In addition, Senate Bill 6036, sponsored by Senator Kaufman, would exempt certain former foster parents and kinship caregivers from adult family home licensure when they continue caring for a former foster youth who is now an adult and the only unrelated adult in the home. DSHS supported the bill as a narrow way to preserve continuity and stability for vulnerable young adults. The committee spent the most time on Senate Bill 5681, sponsored by Senator Cortez, as amended in a proposed substitute. The bill would lower the age for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to access employment and community inclusion services from 21 to 20, and rename community access as community inclusion. Senator Cortez and multiple advocates, educators, and service providers argued that earlier access would reduce service gaps, support transition from school to work, and help young adults maintain employment. Staff explained that the substitute changed the eligibility age from the original bill’s 19 to 20. No final action was taken; the chair closed the hearings and announced upcoming executive sessions on previously heard bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• they would be eligible for the multi-state license, and some would only get a single-state license in
• It's important to realize that state assistance available to DCF foster parents and the children for
• licensed.
• They do the licensing. So my understanding, they do the licensing.
• foster care.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Higher Education

Summary: The Joint Committee on Higher Education heard testimony on a broad set of bills focused on making public higher education more affordable and accessible, protecting student information, and changing social work licensure rules. Chair Rogers and Senator Comerford opened by emphasizing the committee’s focus on financial aid, tuition and fee waivers, scholarships, admissions, and institutional changes, and they reminded witnesses about the three-minute testimony limit. No votes were taken during the hearing. A large portion of the hearing centered on the “Super Act” (H. 1423/S. 218), which would eliminate the master’s-level social work licensing exam and create grant support for social work internships. Supporters—including students, practitioners, educators, and advocates—argued that unpaid internships and the exam create financial barriers, worsen workforce shortages, and disproportionately affect Black, brown, older, ESL, and other marginalized candidates. Opponents from the Association of Social Work Boards argued the exam is a necessary public-protection standard, helps maintain uniform licensure, and is important to the social work licensure compact; they said workforce shortages should be addressed through pay, working conditions, and caseloads instead. Committee members asked detailed questions about compact participation, exam accommodations, and how other states such as Rhode Island and Connecticut have handled similar changes. The committee also heard extensive testimony in favor of debt-free public higher education bills (H. 1436/S. 929). Witnesses, including students, faculty, advocates, and Senator Eldridge, said Massachusetts should expand on free community college by covering tuition and mandatory fees at public colleges and universities, with additional aid for living costs for lower-income students. Supporters said student debt delays homeownership, family formation, and career entry, and that the state should use Fair Share revenue to invest in public higher education. Some committee members voiced support but also raised concerns about prioritizing K-12 funding and the cost of expanding free college further. Several witnesses also supported bills to extend tuition and fee waivers to young adults raised by grandparents or other kinship guardians outside the DCF system, arguing that these students face the same trauma and financial barriers as foster youth but do not receive the same benefits. Representative Donato, Joseph O’Leary, Shauna Manning, Sandra Vecchio, Karen Gardner, Judy Walter, Elaine Arsenault, and others described the financial strain on grandparents raising grandchildren and urged parity with DCF-related waivers. In addition, Senator Jake Oliveira testified for a bill to protect public higher education student directory information from data mining and unauthorized sharing, and Deirdre Cummings testified for an open educational resources bill to reduce textbook costs. The hearing concluded with continued testimony on kinship care and college access, with committee members thanking witnesses and indicating follow-up on some bill language issues.

Transcript Highlights:

• which</c><00:03:28.319><c> I</c><00:03:28.439><c> ran</c> foster foster Advocates um which I ran foster
• As foster parents, you often have to make decisions more quickly than families normally would.
• </c><01:00:41.599><c> parents</c><01:00:42.280><c> you</c> girls case um as foster parents you girls
• case um as foster parents you often<01:00:42.760><c> have</c><01:00:42.880><c> to</c><01:00:43.039><c
• in foster care.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• Really set some uniform expectations for foster parents in licensing.
• As anybody that's getting licensed in foster care, we complete 10 hours total.
• And even just for the benefit of the foster parents, it's really prudent to lay out those expectations
• , whether it's the court processes and various things, just so the foster parent is better equipped.
• And then there are further training that could be made available to foster parents if they were to ask

Committee: Senate Health and Welfare

Transcript Highlights:

• Have enough foster parents? Thank you, Madam Chair, and Representative members of the committee.
• Just to clarify, we have a little over 1,100 licensed foster parents, including relative foster parents
• So it's not that we have more foster parents; we have numbers of beds within the home.
• parents are signing up, why they're asking to be considered for foster parents, and whether or not an
• We do have a recruitment and retention plan for foster parents. It is extremely important.

Committee: House House Health & Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a parent.
• </c> these parents to have to homeschool. these parents to have to homeschool.
• Um, you had a parent consultation. parent consultation.
• </c> should be made by children or parents. should be made by children or parents.
• of parents of thing to ask um parents of parents of children<03:17:30.880><c> who</c><03:17:31.120><

Committee: House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• Pregnant individuals, parents of young children, foster youth, and survivors of intimate partner violence
• As legislators, when you hear about special education from parents, chances are you hear from a parent
• helping parents does incredible work helping parents advocate for their individual child as parents
• You don't necessarily hear from parents working through jobs, non-English-speaking parents, or parents
• The RFA was largely designed for licensing foster parents in traditional foster homes and does not fully

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Human Services heard testimony on a series of bills affecting disability services, child welfare, foster youth, domestic violence survivors, guaranteed income pilots, crisis response, and child care providers. AB 1575 would update the Lanterman Act to use person-first language and broaden respite services to allow safe community access; supporters said it would improve dignity and consistency in services, and there was no opposition. AB 2470 would create a statewide one-stop reentry program for survivors of intimate partner violence to replace documents, repair credit, and access housing supports, while also giving CalWORKs emergency housing funds more flexibility; the Little Hoover Commission backed the bill based on its prior recommendations. AB 2510 would clarify and expand CalWORKs family reunification aid so parents can keep receiving support during reunification even if not all children are removed, and supporters said it would reduce barriers and better align with reunification goals. AB 2585 would expand guaranteed income pilot funding to rural and underserved counties, with testimony emphasizing the need for geographic diversity and data from places like the Central Valley. AB 1932, the Crisis Act 2.0, would continue and strengthen community-based mental health crisis response programs; testimony from family members and advocates strongly favored non-law-enforcement responses, and the bill drew broad support. AB 1925 would direct a feasibility study on a statewide permanent disability certification process to reduce repeated verification burdens; the committee approved it 4-0 and sent it to Appropriations. AB 2189 would fund a statewide special education parent action network to train and connect parents for systemic advocacy; after some opposition over the use of state funds for advocacy, it passed as amended and was referred to Education. AB 2684 would allow out-of-state nonminor dependents to do monthly social worker visits virtually, with in-person visits still required quarterly; it passed to Judiciary. AB 1967 would improve pathways for older youth experiencing homelessness or failed adoptions to enter or reenter foster care, and it passed to Appropriations. AB 2126 would create a targeted background-check exemption for certain former foster youth hired as peer partners, and it passed as amended to Public Safety. AB 2379 would require DSS to notify family child care providers of Fourth Amendment rights and provide multilingual know-your-rights training regarding immigration enforcement; it passed to Judiciary after some members questioned whether DSS was the right agency to administer the training.

Transcript Highlights:

• Just to clarify, we have a little over 1,100 foster parents, licensed foster parents, including relative
• foster parents, and 2,100 kids in care.
• So it's not that we have more foster parents; we have numbers of beds within the home.
• Foster parents are signing up, why they're asking to be considered for foster parents, and whether or
• We do have a recruitment and retention plan for foster parents. It is extremely important.

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and first took up the committee substitute for HB 38, a complex insurance bill concerning coverage for prosthetics, orthotics, and complex rehab technology. The sponsor and expert witness explained that the substitute made technical clarifications across multiple sections of law, including explicit coverage language, restoration of services and supplies, and replacement timing rules to avoid overuse while preserving access when a patient’s medical needs change. They said the changes had been reviewed and supported by the Office of Superintendent of Insurance and insurers, and there was no opposition from the public. Members asked about the need to return the bill to committee because of the number of statutory changes, and the sponsor said the Speaker wanted a clean committee substitute before floor action. The committee adopted the substitute and then approved a do pass recommendation on the committee substitute for HB 38, with no opposition. The committee then heard House Memorial 59, which requests a study of fair compensation for foster parents, including consideration of a cost-of-living allowance, with findings due to the Legislative Health and Human Services Committee by November 30. CYFD testified that the study would likely use a contractor and that the department already has related recruitment, retention, and placement work underway. Members asked about foster parent numbers, foster care plus stipends, Social Security benefits for children in care, and clothing allowances; CYFD explained current payment structures, including a $50 monthly clothing amount built into the rate and separate vouchers in some cases. The committee heard supportive testimony from the New Mexico Child First Network and then voted do pass on HM 59 without opposition. The chair announced there would be no meeting the next day and adjourned the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• You've got licensed psychology.
• You've got the licensed psych associates, then you've got licensed specialists in school psychology.
• LPCs, licensed professional counselors, and then their associate level, which is the interim license
• You've got the licensed. master's level social worker, and then the licensed clinical social worker.
• family foster home.

Committee: House Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• Number one: improving the design for relative caregivers to access foster care licensing by increasing
• The new section 14 directs the commissioner to update the foster care licensing guidelines to expedite
• care givers and to relative foster care givers and to complete<01:37:54.639><c> licensing</c><01:37:
• We work to strengthen foster care by emphasizing loving parenting as our shared goal for all children
• c> next</c><01:40:22.599><c> steps</c> foster care licensing process next steps foster care licensing

Bills: HF1367 , HF2732 , HF1897 , HF1424 , HF1383 , HF2728 , HF2863 , HF1685 , HF2929

Committee: House Children and Families Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Our Office of Licensing and Regulation licensed 534 new foster homes.
• We increased the monthly reimbursement rate to licensed foster caregivers by 50% for older youth.
• And then 30% are in a licensed foster home. 46% of our kids are in unlicensed kin, so that's family,
• And then 30% are in a licensed foster home.
• We worked with our Office of Licensing and Regulation. In DCS for children in foster care.

Committee: Joint Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on the Department of Child Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, since I've been back here in 2020, I've had an interim study on foster kids, their parents,
• parent.
• The follow-up question noted that DHS already has rules over foster parent requirements, and the legislature
• The response was no, the speaker was not concerned that the bill would limit foster parent eligibility
• parents?

Bills: HR1036 , HB2975 , HB3026 , HB3297 , HB2981 , HB2978 , HB4144 , HB1322 , HB1818 , HB3194 , HB3767 , HB3342 , HB3344 , HB4170 , HB3287 , HB3288 , HB4454 , HB3264 , HB3266 , HB3268 , HB4095 , HB4115 , HB4316 , HB3530 , HB3428 , HB4272 , HB4273 , HB4274 , HB3405 , HB3406 , HB3467 , HB3469 , HB3931

Summary: The House opened with roll call, prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several recognitions, including Veteran of the Week Donald W. DeLap, 2025 Oklahoma Teacher of the Year Melissa Yvonne, Doctor of the Day Dr. Corey Shawnaway, Nurse of the Day Rusty Rutherford, and Psychologist of the Day Dr. Glenna Stumbling Bear Riddle. Members also recognized Bob Wills Day at the Capitol with a resolution and musical presentation, and introduced visiting student groups and pages. The chamber then moved into second- and third-reading business on a series of bills. Several measures passed with little or no opposition. House Bill 2975, a Department of Agriculture cleanup bill on poultry litter spreading/exporting, passed 89-8 after questions about removed misdemeanor language and hauler information. House Bill 3026, allowing children of U.S. military allies to start kindergarten according to their home-country timelines, passed 97-0 and its emergency clause also passed 97-0. House Bill 3297, creating a regulatory framework for highway remediation services, passed 87-0. House Bill 2981, requiring school boards to post approved meeting minutes within two weeks and within two clicks, passed 93-0. House Bill 4144, clarifying that arrest and incident reports are open records, passed 97-0. House Bill 1818, updating social work licensing terminology, also passed 97-0. House Bill 3767, updating controlled dangerous substance scheduling to match federal law and DEA watch lists, passed later in the day. The most extended debate centered on House Bill 3194, which would protect pregnancy resource centers from being singled out for regulation or lawsuits. Supporters argued the bill would shield private nonprofit centers from post-Dobbs legal attacks and let them focus on helping pregnant women and families. Opponents raised concerns about transparency, oversight of private nonprofits receiving state funds, the bill’s abortion definition, and whether it could create liability or reduce accountability. After lengthy debate, the House passed the bill 79-18. House Bill 3342, relating to Medicaid audits, passed 67-25 after discussion about making audits corrective rather than punitive. House Bill 3344, a foster care bill based on an interim study, was extensively debated over kinship placement standards, income thresholds, sleeping arrangements, transportation, tribal placement issues, and whether codifying DHS rules would improve accountability; the transcript cuts off before a final vote is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• You know exactly how many sites are licensed for or children are licensed for.
• Licensing actions can be taken.
• Parents have access to some of that information today through the Parent Aware website.
• They can see what violations have been reported by the licenser, but it's really difficult for parents
• I'll note that parents who have children in foster care but who are working toward reunification are

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill was initially brought to me by a group of concerned foster parents.
• I'm also a foster parent and I am representing myself today.
• I am a current foster parent and former foster youth.
• Madam Chair and good members of the committee, my name is Jeremy Rudolph, and I'm a licensed foster parent
• The stories that you received from foster parents, former foster youths, and families across Idaho describe

Committee: Senate Health and Welfare

Transcript Highlights:

• Pregnant individuals, parents of young children, foster youth, and survivors of intimate partner violence
• You don't necessarily hear from parents working through jobs, the non-English-speaking parents, or parents
• helping parents does incredible work helping parents advocate for their individual child as parents
• You don't necessarily hear from parents working through jobs, the non-English speaking parents, or parents
• The RFA was largely designed for licensing foster parents in traditional foster homes and does not fully

Committee: House Human Services