Transcript Highlights:

• for budgeting for drowning prevention.
• </c> budgeting solution. budgeting solution.
• So I think that's one of the questions around the budget.
• So I think that's one of the questions around the budget.
• So I think that's one of the questions around the budget.

Bills: HCR13, HCR61, HCR136, HCR185, HCR155, HCR68, HCR174, HCR178, HCR179, HCR91, HCR103, HCR115, HCR199, HR15, HR128, HR175, HR147, HR62, HR164, HR168, HR169, HR83, HR95, HR107, HR189

Keywords: coral reefs, sunscreen, environmental education, student stewardship, marine conservation, reforestation, Hawaii, Department of Land and Natural Resources, native forests, climate resilience, sustainable practices, economic opportunity, biodiversity, wildland-urban interface, WUI, wildfire mitigation, wildfire safety, Maui County, County of Maui, Kauai

Summary: The Committee on Water and Land met on March 31, 2026, and heard testimony on several resolutions. HCR 13/HR 50, which asks DLNR to work with DOE and the Public Charter School Commission on a student coral stewardship program, drew comments from DLNR, which said it stood on written testimony and had proposed amendments, and from supporters in the room. HCR 61, urging investment in reforestation policies, workforce, nursery capacity, and related support for public and private lands, received strong support from DLNR and multiple testifiers, including members of a reforestation policy hui, a resident, and others who emphasized watershed protection, flood and fire resilience, and the need to upgrade nursery infrastructure and staffing. Committee members asked questions about nursery modernization, staffing, island-specific needs, and whether reforestation could reduce wildfire impacts; the DLNR witness said all islands need investment, with especially large opportunities on Hawaiʻi Island, and that healthier forests improve resilience though they cannot eliminate climate-related risks. The committee then heard HCR 136/HR 128 on wildland-urban interface safety standards for Maui plantation towns, but no one testified. It also heard HCR 185/HR 175, which urges denial of permits for ICE detention-related warehouses; Chris Coffey of Immua Alliance testified in support, saying migrant survivors of exploitation are harmed when ICE detains people and that Hawaii would not be the first place to take such action, citing examples from other states and cities. In questioning, members explored whether a local facility would keep people closer to families and services or instead increase local detention; Coffey said detention generally cuts off access to services and can intensify fear, and that a local facility could incentivize more detention and make survivors less likely to come forward. Finally, the committee heard HCR 155/HR 147 supporting the Hawaii Water Safety Coalition’s Hawaii Water Safety Act. Testifiers included Allison Shapera, who described the statewide water safety plan, Hawaii’s high drowning rate, the economic and human costs of drownings, and her personal loss of her daughter in a preventable drowning; Kirsten Hermstead and Kalani Vierra of the Hawaiian Lifeguard Association said the plan’s recommendations need legislative recognition to help with implementation and grant funding; and Jessamine Town Horner testified by Zoom as a co-founder and bereaved family advocate. The transcript provided does not show any votes or final committee actions on the measures discussed.

Transcript Highlights:

• Budgets for small schools like mine are always very tight.
• Budgets for proper learning environment.
• </c><01:26:04.800><c> every</c> discipline, balancing our budget every discipline, balancing our budget
• Contrast our budget down to 7.5% today.
• </c> $150 million annual operating budget $150 million annual operating budget ranks<01:26:27.440><c>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• All of this is taken into consideration when ADE is putting together the budget and when the governor
• It is all accounted for when they consider this general revenue budget amount.
• So ADE tabulates their budget request, and they present it to you all during budget hearings, accommodating
• It is all accounted for when they consider this general revenue budget amount.
• So ADE tabulates their budget request, and they present it to you all during budget hearings, accommodating

Summary: The House and Senate Education Committee first approved minutes from February 2 and 3, then heard an interim study proposal on Arkansas adult education and the Excel Center model, presented by Goodwill Industries of Arkansas and the University of Notre Dame’s Lab for Economic Opportunities. Witnesses argued that about 300,000 Arkansas adults lack a high school diploma or GED and described the Excel Center as a diploma-granting public charter option for adults 19 and older, with wraparound supports such as child care, transportation, tutoring, life coaching, and career services. They said the Arkansas campuses are not state-funded, highlighted growth in enrollment and graduation outcomes, and cited research showing improved employment, earnings, and reduced criminal justice involvement for graduates. Committee members discussed the role of Goodwill’s nonprofit mission, the need for multiple adult education pathways, and the relationship between adult education challenges and broader state efforts such as LEARNS and ACCESS. The committee then debated the interim study proposal procedure, including whether questions should have been taken before the vote. The motion to adopt the ISP passed, and members noted that the study would broadly examine adult education, GED testing, high school diplomas, charter schools, in-person adult education, and funding allocation. Several members asked for follow-up information on current adult education funding, the availability of Excel Centers, and the criminal justice study results. After that, staff from the Bureau of Legislative Research gave a detailed adequacy funding overview for Arkansas K-12 education. They reviewed national funding principles and then explained Arkansas’s revenue streams and distribution system, including general revenue, the Educational Excellence Trust Fund, the Educational Adequacy Fund, local property-tax revenues, and facilities partnership funding. They also walked through the state’s foundation formula, categorical aid, supplemental aid, and additional funding, including the per-student matrix amount of $7,771 for 2025 and how funds are allocated to districts and charters. Members asked about student support staff, special education high-cost occurrences, ALE funding, teacher salary equalization, and the Excel Center’s treatment in funding totals; staff said some of those questions would be addressed in a later spending presentation. The meeting ended after the committee was told the department was present mainly to answer questions and no further business remained.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a budget revision. So it's right there. Yeah. Okay, I'm sorry to interrupt already.
• That reduces pressure on ERs, courts, schools, and future state budgets.
• We have cuts being made federally, a challenging budget this year.
• the state budget.
• I think that's built into the budget. But that's certainly your prerogative.

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The committee met to hear presentations on possible uses of temporary Millennium Fund dollars for youth- and family-focused prevention programs. Members first approved the prior meeting minutes, then heard from the Idaho Children’s Trust Fund, which requested $682,000 for mid-sized grants to community organizations for child abuse prevention, parenting support, family resource centers, and school-based programs. The presenter emphasized the link between adverse childhood experiences and later substance use, and described the fund’s statewide grant-making process and current projects. Committee members asked about grant selection, funding sources, and how families are identified for services. The committee also heard from Children’s Bridge, which requested $3.5 million over four years to build a shared-services infrastructure for child care providers. The proposal focused on helping providers stabilize their businesses through software, coaching, shared purchasing, bookkeeping, and access to benefits such as health insurance and retirement plans. The presenter argued that child care is part of Idaho’s prevention infrastructure and said the model would transition toward earned income and employer support over time. Members asked about similar programs, infrastructure, and how the model would be sustained after 2029. Idaho Safety Assessment Centers requested $1 million to support 12 youth assessment centers that divert youth from court, ERs, and school discipline into screening, counseling, and family support. The presenter cited individual success stories and said the centers served more than 12,000 youth in a year, with an estimated return of more than $3 in benefits for every dollar invested. The committee also heard from the Idaho Network of Children’s Advocacy Centers, which requested $3 million in one-time bridge funding for 10 centers that conduct forensic interviews and coordinate child abuse investigations; members asked about coordination with state agencies and sustainability. Ross Edmunds of the Department of Health and Welfare requested $150,000 for a 10th recovery community center in Kamiah, explaining that the department already oversees nine centers through quarterly payments and reporting requirements. Finally, Representative Jordan Redman proposed a $5 million statewide drug-use awareness campaign using research, surveys, and targeted media buys; he said the campaign would be evaluated through impressions, reach, and frequency. No decisions were made, and the chair said the committee would return later to continue reviewing the requests, noting the fund is one-time money and that the governor’s recommendations and a $25 million request reduce the amount available.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a budget revision. So it's right there. Yeah. Okay, I'm sorry to interrupt already.
• That reduces pressure on ERs, courts, schools, and future state budgets.
• We have cuts being made federally, a challenging budget this year.
• to be faced with that and being part of the state budget.
• I think that's built into the budget. But that's certainly your prerogative.

Summary: The committee met to hear presentations on proposed uses of temporary Millennium Fund money for youth- and family-focused prevention programs. The chair opened by emphasizing that the funds are one-time and not ongoing, and that the committee would not make decisions at this meeting. Minutes from the prior meeting were approved before testimony began. Roger Sherman of the Idaho Children's Trust Fund described the fund’s statutory role in preventing child abuse and neglect and requested $682,000 for mid-sized grants to community organizations for child sexual abuse prevention, abusive head trauma education, parenting programs, family resource centers, and school-based family supports. Royal Lockhart of The Children’s Bridge proposed $3.5 million over four years for a shared-services model to stabilize child care businesses through software, coaching, bookkeeping, purchasing, and benefits access, arguing that stronger child care infrastructure supports prevention and family stability. Nancy Windmill of the Idaho Safety Assessment Center Coalition requested $1 million for 12 youth assessment centers, citing diversion and early intervention outcomes for youth facing substance use, behavioral, or mental health crises. Sonia Howerton of the Idaho Network of Children’s Advocacy Centers asked for $3 million in bridge funding for 10 children’s advocacy centers, explaining that declining federal funds and prior one-time state support created a sustainability gap. Ross Edmunds of the Department of Health and Welfare requested $150,000 for a 10th recovery community center, the Upper River Youth Leadership Council in Kamiah, noting that the department now serves as the pass-through and accountability entity for existing recovery centers under prior intent language. Representative Jordan Redmond also presented a proposed $5 million statewide drug-use awareness campaign through the Office of Drug Policy, with research, survey work, and multi-platform media buys to test and refine messaging. Members asked about grant criteria, referral networks, sustainability, oversight, and coordination with state agencies; presenters generally described extensive application processes, multidisciplinary collaboration, and plans to transition toward earned revenue or state oversight. The chair closed by reiterating that the Governor’s recommendation already includes $150,000 for recovery centers and that the Governor has proposed $25 million from the Millennium Fund, limiting available funds, and said the committee would reconvene later for further discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, I'll get into the total budget that we're asking for this fiscal year, and, Mr.
• So, I'll get into the total budget that we're asking for this fiscal year, and, Mr.
• But that would be their operating budget.
• And then their their operating budget.
• </c> again it's a it's an operating budget again it's a it's an operating budget there<00:05:09.759><

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 216, 15 January, 2026; 9:30 AM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is the typical process for how we do the budget free conference committee reports.
• Senator Herren to the Budget Review Subcommittee on Justice and Judiciary as a liaison member.
• :25:12.720><c> subcommittee</c><00:25:13.360><c> on</c> to the budget review subcommittee on to the budget
• ><c> on</c><00:25:24.240><c> justice</c> budget review subcommittee on justice budget review subcommittee
• </c><00:25:30.240><c> review</c> Senator Meredith to the budget review Senator Meredith to the budget

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Grants vary by budget levels and types of productions and are issued after the production is finished
• Each one of those had an in-state budget of between $1,000 and $2,000. ...between $70 million to $80
• I think I saw somewhere in the budget that there might be an opportunity...
• We have a $330 billion budget. Every penny comes out of Ways and Means.
• That, again, that's not our budget. That's just actually what we've spent here in the state.

Bills: HB4568, HB5458, HB4543, HB2703, HB3728, HCR113, HCR126

Keywords: film industry, incentives, grants, Texas, moving image, economic development, production companies, content standards, HB 5458, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, TPWD, chronic wasting disease, CWD, cervids, deer, elk, moose, wildlife management, game animals, disease management

Transcript Highlights:

• simple integration that will cost about $35,000, that will be funded out of the state government budget
• Various discussions between chairs have been taking place over whose budget this money would come out
• So the funding would not come out of our budget.
• We're going to be hearing our budget bill next week, so stay tuned.
• You know, I think as far as the budget, I mean, I think we all...

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

Keywords: child maltreatment, child abuse, neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, sex trafficking, labor trafficking, human trafficking, child protection, local welfare agency, county social services, Minnesota Department of Human Services, judicial review, district court appeal, venue, out-of-state abuse, cross-border investigation, Minnesota child welfare, family assessment, maltreatment determination

Transcript Highlights:

• The Higher Education Budget Subcommittee will come to order. Connor, please call the roll.
• And then finally, I will say, in a tough budget year or a tightened budget year, we're not asking for
• We did that calculation with that total amount; it's about 2% of the higher education budget.
• We're a budget committee. We like numbers here. Numbers, numbers.
• Just briefly, again, as the Chair has mentioned, we're a budget committee, so numbers matter.

Summary: The Higher Education Budget Subcommittee heard and advanced House Bill 1145, which clarifies that public charter schools may participate in the CAP Grant Fund. The bill’s amendment expanded a separate “money-back guarantee” concept for state colleges, requiring participating institutions to offer six eligible programs and refund tuition if graduates do not find qualifying employment within six months under standardized job-search requirements. Members asked about refund rates, student notification, fiscal impact, and whether the proposal accounted for disability or out-of-state job searches. Public testimony on the amendment and bill was in support from Nathan Hoffman of the Foundation for Florida’s Future, and the committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably as a committee substitute by a 16-1 vote, with Representative Aristide voting no over the charter school issue. The committee then received presentations on the William L. Boyd IV Effective Access to Student Education (EASE) Grant and the private nonprofit college sector. Department of Education staff explained that EASE, created in 1979, provides tuition assistance to eligible full-time undergraduates at participating private institutions, with a 2024-25 maximum award of $3,500 and an additional EASE Plus incentive of up to $850 for students in high-demand fields. The department reviewed the program’s funding history, disbursement process, and accountability metrics, including access, affordability, graduation, retention, and postgraduate employment/continuing education. Members asked about award proration, eligibility for other aid, religious-program restrictions, and why some institutions had low or unavailable graduation-rate data. ICUF President Robert Boyd argued that EASE is a strong return on investment and described ICUF institutions as not-for-profit, four-year schools serving many Pell-eligible, adult, military, and minority students. He said the sector produces a significant share of Florida’s bachelor’s, graduate, nursing, and education degrees, and highlighted ICUF’s dashboard with additional transparency metrics, program earnings data, and net price calculators. Boyd and members discussed graduation and completion rates, NCLEX passage rates, affordability, institutional flexibility, and whether schools with lower graduation rates should be compared differently because of their student populations. The presentations ended with no further business, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• And during the last two years, we saw a period of time where the massive nearly $20 billion budget surplus
• </c> the massive nearly 20 billion budget the massive nearly 20 billion budget surplus<00:00:40.680><
• I mean, when we look at the fact that we had a nearly 40% increase in the state budget in one budget
• the state budget in one budget<00:19:18.640><c> cycle</c><00:19:19.280><c> that's</c><00:19:19.520><
• c> purely</c><00:19:20.120><c> unsustainable</c> budget cycle that's purely unsustainable budget cycle

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: House Republicans held a press event to announce two priority bills focused on immigration and state spending. Rep. Isaac Schultz said his bill, House File 10, would stop taxpayer funding for people in Minnesota illegally, including through programs such as Northstar Promise, MinnesotaCare, medical assistance, and legal services. He framed the proposal as a way to redirect limited state resources to Minnesota families, veterans, people with disabilities, the homeless, and infrastructure needs, and said it could save more than $100 million, with some estimates discussed during debate reaching about $200 million for MinnesotaCare alone. Rep. Max Rymer introduced House File 16, which would require reporting to ICE or other federal immigration authorities when an undocumented immigrant is suspected of committing a violent crime, and would bar local governments from withholding information from federal authorities. He said the bill is intended to end sanctuary-city practices and improve public safety. Both lawmakers argued that the measures are narrow, targeted at violent offenders, and consistent with cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. They also said the bills respond to voter concerns about illegal immigration and rising costs. During questions, the members said the state-funding bill is aimed at state dollars, while the reporting bill complements federal law by addressing local noncooperation. They discussed concerns about eligibility tracking and said current programs do not provide enough data on how many undocumented people receive benefits. Schultz cited a family in his district that lost MinnesotaCare after an income change as an example of what he sees as unfair treatment compared with benefits for undocumented immigrants. No votes were taken at the event; the lawmakers said these are the first of several bills they plan to advance this session.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Health Care Budget Subcommittee will come to order. Sarah, please call the roll.
• I want to welcome everyone to the Health Care Budget Subcommittee.
• This is our last meeting as a Budget Subcommittee in this capacity, so with that in mind, we're here
• I want to take a moment to thank the committee staff and the Healthcare Budget Subcommittee: Sean Smith
• This is true for the language we pass in bills and in the budget, as well as the dollars we appropriate

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh there budget. So, it is a clean bill.
• </c> year sitting on the joint budget year sitting on the joint budget committee,<01:04:11.200><c> I<
• One is we are constitutionally mandated to come up with a budget, pass a budget on K-12 education and
• :41:37.760><c> President,</c> budget committee or Madame President, budget committee or Madame President
• Uh the joint budget sorry about that.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Notably, the Clean Water Fund is not shown here; it's not considered part of our base budget just due
• just due to the way that that budget just due to the way that that fund<00:30:44.240><c> is</c><00:30
• </c><01:19:53.120><c> year</c> potentially be a challenging budget year potentially be a challenging
• the general fund is a pretty our budget the general fund is a pretty small<01:20:41.480><c> portion<
• </c> of the eqb budget of the eqb budget is<01:20:54.679><c> one</c><01:20:54.920><c> piece</c><01:20

Bills: HF276, HF413, HF411

Keywords: human services, Medical Assistance, Medicaid, long-term services and supports, LTSS, public assistance, application process, eligibility determination, customer service survey, wait times, form complexity, lead agencies, Department of Human Services, Department of Children Youth and Families, streamlining, administrative reform, case management, reassessment, intake system, adaptive eligibility form

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c> of the federal budget, of the federal budget, then<00:46:37.680><c> it</c><00:46:37.920><c> only
• </c> budget lines. It's about real people. budget lines. It's about real people.
• Trump's budget to build a chance.
• And in terms of, again, the Congressional Budget Office, the head of the Congressional Budget Office,
• I reserve. committee on taxation budget. Um you committee on taxation budget.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Out how having it in code was helpful, because all of our state highways have to be budgeted and approved
• No, we do need to keep an eye on state highway miles and what that means for our budget going forward
• I think it could be a reporting thing as part of our budget. Senator Hogan, thank you.
• Because you routinely report this as part of your budget presentation to appropriations.
• He's already doing the reporting on it for his budgets.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The conference committee on House Bill 1053 met to resolve Senate changes concerning a statutory cap on state highway mileage. Members discussed the history of the mileage limit, which was set in 1933, and whether keeping the cap in Century Code still served a useful purpose. House members were split between viewing the cap as an accountability and educational tool for future legislators and seeing it as unnecessary clutter because DOT already reports highway mileage and is separately limited by the 50-mile-per-year rule. DOT Director Ron Hanky testified that the department already tracks and reports mileage for budget and federal purposes, that the 7,700-mile cap is not especially useful to DOT, and that the department would prefer the cap be removed. He also explained how mileage is measured and noted several potential road additions that could be affected by the cap. The committee ultimately could not reach agreement. Representative Dressler moved that the House reject the Senate amendment, and the motion was seconded, but the roll call failed with a split vote: Dressler, Johnston, and Freilich voted yes; Hogan, Rommel, and Corey voted no. With no further motion, the committee adjourned and planned to reschedule another meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Financial management, we ensure we're having reasonable budget growth.
• The budget... ...per month capped increase.
• with our decision to know exactly what the budget implications are.
• State Patrol, as Darren noted, is a much smaller system, so overall budget...
• So overall budget dollars, I would expect the impact to be probably smaller than that.

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Preservation of local control: Small districts work carefully to balance our budgets each year.
• Last year, Richmond experienced a significant budget increase driven in part by this statute, and we
• But it sounds like now when they come to your school, now it's a part of your town budget that now you
• This bill is not just about budgets.
• As school committee chair, I have the responsibility for budget oversight and long-term planning and

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Education held a hearing on two late-file bills: H. 4867, concerning school choice, and H. 4927, concerning access to applied behavior analysis (ABA). For H. 4867, testimony focused on a DESE interpretation of M.G.L. c. 76, §12B(k) that would require small elementary-only districts with school choice students to pay secondary tuition when those students continue into high school. Superintendents, school committee members, parents, teachers, and a representative argued this creates large fiscal shortfalls for rural districts such as Hancock, Warwick, Richmond, and Worthington, which do not operate high schools and already rely on tuition agreements for their own resident students. Witnesses said the current interpretation has led some districts to stop accepting school choice students, reducing class sizes and limiting educational opportunities; they urged an exemption or amendment so these districts could continue school choice without assuming high school tuition obligations for nonresident students. Committee members asked about the number of affected districts, how the arrangement worked before 2023, and whether alternative statutory language might solve the issue more broadly. Representative Barrett described the bill as a simple fix to an unenforced provision that had only recently been raised by DESE, and the hearing later included testimony from both district officials and families supporting the bill. The committee closed testimony on H. 4867 and H. 4927 and then adjourned. H. 4927 drew testimony from educators, an ABA provider, and a parent of a child with autism in support of protecting in-school ABA access. Witnesses said the bill would clarify that qualified ABA providers, including BCBAs and RBTs under supervision, may deliver services in schools while allowing districts to maintain neutral safety and operational rules. They argued that inconsistent access to ABA can undermine districts’ obligations under IDEA, including free appropriate public education and placement in the least restrictive environment, and that school-based ABA can reduce removals from class, improve student progress, and support families. A parent testified that her young son needs ABA to function in school and that promised supports had been delayed or not delivered, while another witness said the bill would help ensure accountability and consistent services for students with autism.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, so first we'll have Lori just mention the budget to you. >> Yeah.
• for the budget to be approved. there.
• </c> the the budget to you. the the budget to you.
• parameters of the budget and we will<00:05:14.400><c> need</c><00:05:14.720><c> to</c><00:05:15.039>
• </c> the budget the budget to<00:05:20.000><c> be</c><00:05:20.720><c> approved.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Kentucky Legislative Ethics Commission met on March 9, 2026, with a quorum present in person and one commissioner participating from Florida. The meeting began with the swearing-in of new commissioner Joe Palumbo, who briefly introduced himself and his family and business background. The commission then approved the February 2, 2026 minutes and approved the staff budget report, with staff noting the office remained within spending parameters. Staff gave an update on the heavy workload from re-registration and reporting season, saying roughly 4,500 re-registrations and about 10,000 total forms had been processed. They credited the new online payment portal with reducing manual work and discussed ongoing LRC technology work to build a new system for desktop use, online re-registration, payment processing, and a searchable register. Commissioners asked about the timeline and current paper-based process; staff said the system is being built from scratch and that, for now, forms are still often downloaded, completed, emailed or mailed, and manually entered by staff. The commission also reviewed financial disclosure processing. Staff said all required disclosures had been received except one outstanding candidate filing, and that the candidate was still officially running, so notice was being sent by certified mail under the statute. Staff explained that their review is for completeness rather than audit-level accuracy, and that disclosures from legislators, candidates, and certain upper-management/LRC officials are posted for public access. The commission then discussed its informal advisory opinions, including how staff tracks and organizes them, and praised staff for quick turnaround before voting to enter executive session to discuss confidential complaints and informal opinions.

Transcript Highlights:

• I know it's going to have an impact on the state budget through Medicaid.
• Two of my boys receive services through the APDI budget waiver.
• a budget issue arises or when a child or in my case children are in crisis.
• to support our budget waiver, as well as the support coordinators.
• to support our budget waiver, as well as the support coordinators.

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services met with a quorum present and took up several health-related bills. CS/SB 1110, covering Medicaid and insurance coverage for medically necessary orthotics and prosthetics, including activity-specific devices without lifetime or continuous-use caps, received emotional testimony from families and athletes describing high costs and the importance of access for children and adults with disabilities. Members voiced strong support, and the bill was reported favorably. The committee also heard SB 1574, which would add biliary atresia screening to the newborn screening program using the existing birth blood specimen. The sponsor and a parent testified that earlier detection could prevent severe liver damage, transplants, and deaths, and the bill was reported favorably. CS/SB 794, dealing with background screening for employees at residential facilities and day training programs for people with developmental disabilities and a review of waiver support coordination, was amended to align with the House companion and then reported favorably after testimony emphasizing the importance of strong support coordinators for APD waiver families. Members then considered SB 162, requiring hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers to adopt policies for smoke evacuation systems during procedures that generate surgical smoke. Nurses and other supporters described surgical smoke as a serious occupational hazard, while the Florida Hospital Association said hospitals are already regulated in this area and the bill was somewhat prescriptive; an amendment was adopted and the bill was reported favorably. CS/SB 254, which tightens oversight of nursing education programs, adds preceptorship and provisional licensure pathways for graduates awaiting NCLEX results, and increases transparency and accountability for low-performing programs, drew support from nursing advocates and opposition from private nursing schools concerned about workforce impacts; after amendment, it was reported favorably. Finally, SB 688 to reestablish licensure and regulation of naturopathic doctors in Florida was heard with testimony both supporting expanded health care choices and opposing the bill over safety and scope concerns, and it too was reported favorably. The committee then adjourned.