Transcript Highlights:

• He said he has pharmacies in Eastern Kentucky and had a nurse practitioner pass away in a road accident
• </c> Kentucky and sadly I had a nurse Kentucky and sadly I had a nurse practitioner<00:07:07.319><c>
• I'm Adia Wisher, Executive Director for Kentucky Right to Life and an RN and OB nurse.
• everyone is prepared to approach nursing everyone is prepared to approach this<00:14:04.720><c> in</
• I really appreciate your work on all of this, and as a former neonatal intensive care nurse, I saw a

Summary: The Health Services Committee met with a quorum and first considered House Bill 389, a cleanup measure related to the CASPER prescription monitoring program. Representative Duval and staff explained that the bill addresses implementation issues the Office of Inspector General encountered and aligns the definition of “practitioner” for in-state and out-of-state providers. The committee took no questions, then approved the bill unanimously and reported it favorably. The committee then heard House Bill 501, which would allow a pharmacist to fill a prescription for a limited period after the prescribing provider has died, so patients can maintain continuity of care. Sponsors and a pharmacist witness said the bill is intended to reduce uncertainty and liability for pharmacists, excludes controlled substances to comply with federal law, and leaves professional judgment with the pharmacist. Members asked about documentation and verification, and the sponsor said the bill applies when the pharmacist knows of the death and that pharmacies would document the situation as they normally do. The committee discussed the issue briefly and passed the bill unanimously with favorable expression. Finally, the committee took up House Bill 414 for discussion only. Representative Tate and Adia Wisher described it as “Love Them Both,” a perinatal palliative care proposal meant to provide wraparound support for women and families facing fatal fetal anomalies or other serious pregnancy complications. Testimony emphasized that the bill would encourage referrals to programs offering medical, emotional, spiritual, financial, and bereavement support, with examples such as Footprints at St. Elizabeth. Members discussed access, referrals, counseling, coverage language, and the role of fathers, and supporters stressed that the services would be optional and intended to broaden support rather than impose penalties. No vote was taken on House Bill 414.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are discussing enrollment figures for higher education.
• education that our children get.
• impact the quality of education for our children.
• We're going to impact public education. We're going to impact public safety.
• It was quite educational on where we are.

Bills: HB26 , HB73 , SB 14 , HB46

Committee: House Intergovernmental Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• On the same page, we now come to House Bill 614, legislation directing the Department of Education to
• House Bill 1037, middle of page 40, is legislation relating to the Board of Education, instructional
• It amends Board of Education qualifications for division superintendents applying for licensure under
• Who have completed five years of successful educational experience in a public or accredited nonpublic
• On page 47, we come to House Bill 1377, which would establish a task force to examine higher education

Transcript Highlights:

• Leader, Madam President, if you would please recognize Senator Coleman to introduce the nurse of the
• Senator Coleman, you are recognized to introduce the nurse of the day. Thank you, Madam President.
• Our nurse of the day today comes from Tonkawa, America, Courtney Kapet.
• Her passion for nursing is evident in her daily actions, her leadership, and her unwavering focus on
• Members, if you'd please give a round of applause to our nurse of the day and give her privileges on

Bills: SR34

Keywords: recognition, Harvey Pratt, forensic art, legacy, public service

Transcript Highlights:

• assistants, and nurses.
• We compared Washington to other states using data on the number of home care aides, nursing assistants
• We compared Washington to other states using data on the number of home care aides, nursing assistants
• For context, employers for all types of long-term care workers, including nurses and nursing assistants
• assistants, nurses, or any other similar professions. ...for nursing assistants, for nurses, or any

Summary: The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee held a public hearing on the State Auditor’s Office performance audit of Washington’s Restoring Quality Home Care Initiative (I-1163). Auditors said the initiative’s background checks and 75-hour training requirement are widely viewed as safety measures, but the state lacks pre-2011 data to directly measure safety outcomes. They also found Washington’s long-term care workforce is still short, though the state ranks better than many others in workers per disabled person, and that some groups and regions have larger gaps between authorized and actually used Medicaid care hours, suggesting access problems for certain clients. The audit focused heavily on the certification process for home care aides. Auditors reported that many applicants never finish certification, that the process often exceeds the 200-day legal deadline, and that delays can cause lost income, job loss, and in some cases repeated employer changes that allow aides to keep working without becoming certified. They recommended that the Department of Health accept applications only after training and testing are completed, move testing into training programs more broadly, and eliminate redundant DOH verification of FBI background checks. Committee members asked about testing contract incentives, language access, and the role of immigration in workforce shortages; auditors said they found no financial performance standards in the Prometric contract, did not specifically study immigration status, and did not focus on language barriers in this audit. Department of Health and Department of Social and Health Services officials largely agreed with the audit’s findings and recommendations. They said they have already made improvements, including expanded in-program testing, more staffing, and rule changes, and that testing has been integrated into more than 110 training programs. DSHS noted testing is offered in 13 languages. Both agencies said they support further streamlining and expect continued collaboration, including possible budget or legislative requests. No public testimony was offered, and the committee adjourned without taking any vote or formal action on the audit.

Transcript Highlights:

• ..especially while they're playing in physical education, within the schools.
• That is something that motivates me to continue with my education.
• with my own education and be able to help my own people.
• I'm from Greenfield, California, and I'm an educator and a member of Safe Schools.
• My I'm from Greenfield, California, and I'm an educator and a member of Safe Schools.

Transcript Highlights:

• I know you all believe in higher education very much.
• kids and how we provide them with a UC education.
• And lastly, UC was the first higher education institution...
• And lastly, UC was the first higher education institution.
• We've talked about it at the beginning of the set of hearings here in higher education in this Education

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c> superintendents, all of the educators, superintendents, all of the educators, all<01:09:36.960>
• </c> all other educational associations are all other educational associations are supporting<01:09:39.040
• </c><01:15:12.080><c> level,</c> do any learning on an education level, do any learning on an education
• </c> the school setting to the educational the school setting to the educational process<01:35:26.480
• </c> background, no education in the subject. background, no education in the subject.

Transcript Highlights:

• Council on Postsecondary Education 13 KAR 2:120 and 2:130.
• Board of Nursing, 201 KAR 20:257.
• </c><00:30:02.399><c> add</c> necessity for continuing education add necessity for continuing education
• Education and Labor Cabinet, Department of Education, 704 KAR 3:365. 704 KAR 3:365 has a staff-suggested
• secondary Education Act of 1965 the secondary Education Act of 1965 the staff<01:00:31.640><c> Amendment

Summary: The subcommittee met with a quorum, approved the minutes, and welcomed new members before taking up Council on Postsecondary Education regulations 13 KAR 2:120 and 13 KAR 2:130. The regulations, as amended by staff and agency amendments, update public university and KCTCS performance funding models to conform to 2024 Senate Bill 191 and the performance funding work group’s recommendations. Changes discussed included replacing the underrepresented minority metric with an underrepresented students metric defined as first-generation students, adding an adult learner metric, increasing the low-income degree premium, adjusting small-school and nonresident credit-hour weights, revising data aging and progression metrics, and adding STEM+H criteria in 13 KAR 2:120. Travis Pal of the Council on Postsecondary Education explained that the changes reflect the work group’s three-year review process and that the work group ultimately voted to define underrepresented students as first-generation students and to apply half-weighting between research and comprehensive universities for the new metric. Michael Frasier of the Kentucky Student Rights Coalition and Eastern Kentucky University student government opposed 13 KAR 2:120, arguing that the regulation improperly applies weights where the statute does not clearly authorize them and that the funding changes disadvantage comprehensive universities and vulnerable students. He asked the committee to find the regulation deficient or, alternatively, recommend legislative clarification and a revised fiscal analysis. Pal responded that weighting has been part of the model since 2017, that CPE was following the statute and work group recommendations, and that the model could be changed by future legislation. Members asked about the timing of the broader performance funding review, and Pal said the full model is reviewed every three years, with the next work group cycle beginning in 2026. No motion to find the regulation deficient was made, and the committee allowed the regulations to proceed to the committee of jurisdiction. The committee then approved a staff amendment to Teachers’ Retirement System regulations 102 KAR 1:195 and 102 KAR 1:340, which require annual reporting of accumulated sick leave, leave policies, and salary schedules to TRS and make technical changes to the final average salary calculation and related definitions.

Transcript Highlights:

• County supervisor fighting for early childhood education.
• We need to stand up for our public schools, children, and educators.
• OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES AND VETERANS, WE NEED TO STAND UP FOR OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, CHILDREN AND EDUCATORS
• in, the Republicans with their big ugly bill, and make cuts to Medicaid and cuts to hospitals and nursing
• Hospitals, nursing homes, and community-based health centers are closing all across America, including

Transcript Highlights:

• Finally, teachers, nurses, police officers, firefighters, they can afford a single-family home in the
• He continued, "And that's why the Department of Education has announced that Minnesota has some of the
• Finally, teachers,<00:34:31.520><c> nurses,</c><00:34:32.159><c> police</c><00:34:32.480><c> officers
• ,</c> teachers, nurses, police officers, teachers, nurses, police officers, firefighters,<00:34:33.760
• has announced that Minnesota Education has announced that Minnesota has<00:35:25.599><c> some</c><00

Transcript Highlights:

• So I do think that, I mean, we allow people in their nursing home to register to vote from their nursing
• So I do think that, I mean, we allow people in their nursing home to register to vote from their nursing
• So I do think that, I mean, we allow people in their nursing home to register to vote from their nursing
• So I do think that, I mean, we allow people in their nursing home to register to vote from their nursing
• </c><01:54:27.760><c> and</c> going for a four-year education and going for a four-year education and

Committee: Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> So, we have a nurse of the day today, Jenny Ash, registered nurse. Jenny, are you here?
• Moms for Liberty is a grassroots organization whose mission is to unify, educate, and empower parents
• ,</c><00:33:51.200><c> and</c> whose mission is to unify, educate, and whose mission is to unify, educate
• </c><00:34:07.919><c> Would</c> in educational policy decisions.
• Would in educational policy decisions.

Transcript Highlights:

• So I understand, you know, you've got, we heard the story about the firefighter and the nurse and how
• So I understand, you know, you've got, we heard the story about the, the firefighter and the nurse and
• committed to high-quality public education and long-term economic mobility for students.
• committed to high-quality public education and long-term economic mobility for students.
• Education and economic mobility are inseparable.

Summary: The committee first took up the proposed 2026 tax package, Senate Bill 151, and adopted a committee substitute after discussion of the package’s funding capacity and included measures. The substitute bundled five bills: a physician tax credit, a quantum facility infrastructure tax credit, a construction materials gross receipts deduction for affordable multifamily housing, a local journalist employment tax credit, and a health equipment gross receipts deduction. Members discussed amendments that raised the physician credit from $4,000 to $10,000, narrowed the housing deduction to project-based certification, and reduced the journalist credit threshold from four stories to three. Concerns were raised about the fiscal impact on municipalities, especially Albuquerque, and about the funding mechanism, but the committee voted 6-4 to give the substitute a do pass recommendation. Senator Sanchez explained his vote, saying he wished more could have been included in the package. The committee then heard Senate Bill 18, the Clear Horizons Act, which would codify statewide greenhouse gas reduction targets and direct the Environment Department and Environmental Improvement Board to develop plans and rules for emissions reductions. The sponsors said the bill builds on the governor’s 2019 executive order, includes a 10,000-metric-ton threshold for covered emitters, allows certified offsets, and is intended to protect public health, reduce climate-related costs, and provide regulatory certainty. Supporters argued the bill would help communities facing wildfire, drought, health harms, and rising insurance and utility costs, and that it would encourage clean-energy investment and long-term economic stability. Opposition testimony came from mining, oil and gas, rural electric cooperatives, construction, agriculture, auto dealers, chambers of commerce, banks, water recycling companies, and realtors. They argued the bill functions like a carbon tax or broad regulatory mandate, would raise energy and compliance costs, could reduce investment and jobs, and would disproportionately affect rural, tribal, agricultural, and low-income communities. Several witnesses warned of higher electricity and fuel bills, revenue losses for local governments, and uncertainty from delegating major policy decisions to rulemaking. Supporters included public health advocates, educators, local officials, clean-energy businesses, tribal and environmental advocates, and residents affected by wildfire and drought, who said the bill is necessary to address climate harms and protect public health and the economy. No final committee vote on SB 18 was reached in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Second, they'd have to apply for enrollment in an institution of higher education within 24 months after
• We invested in them and in their education.
• Having said that, ...biting kid trying to get an education and better his life, I think it's a rather
• Living in Florida is unaffordable without a higher education, without some way of making more money.
• You need a higher education to survive here.

Committee: Senate Appropriations

Summary: The Appropriations Committee took up SB 2B, a major immigration bill by Senator Gruters, described by supporters as a Trump-aligned package to strengthen Florida’s role in immigration enforcement. The bill would create a grant program for local law enforcement, expand jail-ICE agreements beyond sheriff-operated jails, establish a chief immigration officer and a state immigration enforcement council, require more coordination on E-Verify and detention-bed reporting, allow immigration status to be considered in bail decisions, increase penalties for certain offenses tied to illegal reentry and voting, and repeal in-state tuition waivers for undocumented students. Much of the sponsor’s presentation and debate emphasized focusing on criminal offenders, improving coordination with federal authorities, and using state resources to support detention and enforcement. Committee questioning focused heavily on the tuition-waiver repeal, reimbursement for jail costs, E-Verify coverage, and whether the bill could lead to street-level immigration enforcement in schools or churches. Senator Smith, Senator Pizzo, Senator Polsky, Senator Sharief, and others challenged the tuition repeal as unfair to students who were brought to Florida as children and argued for grandfathering current students or studying the fiscal impact first. Senator Fine defended the repeal as ending a state subsidy for people who are not lawfully present and argued the change would save tens of millions of dollars. Sheriff Bob Gualtieri testified that the bill was limited to jail-based enforcement, said there was no current street-level 287(g) program in Florida, and stated he did not believe the bill raised concerns for law enforcement or schools/churches. A representative of the Florida Supervisors of Elections supported the voting-related section, while a Florida Highway Patrol representative said state agencies would need additional funding if they were expected to take on more enforcement duties. The committee adopted Senator Gruters’ late-filed amendment correcting a drafting error. Senator Smith’s amendment to require an OPAGA study on the tuition-waiver policy was withdrawn after discussion, and his handwritten amendment to delete the repeal of in-state tuition for undocumented students failed on a roll-call vote. The bill then advanced as amended, with several members speaking in debate both for and against it. Supporters framed it as a focused public-safety and enforcement measure; opponents criticized the special-session process, the cost, and the tuition repeal’s impact on students already enrolled.

Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome to the Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 3 on Education Finance.
• We've not had a higher education bond in 20 years, Mr. Chair.
• We do that through education.
• For many courses in general education, we hope very soon.
• I believe, education requirement.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance held an oversight hearing on the California State University system covering enrollment, core operations, Title IX/civil rights, and basic needs. The Department of Finance said the Governor’s 2026-27 budget does not change CSU enrollment targets from the prior year and proposes a 5% ongoing General Fund increase for core operations as the final year of the compact. The Legislative Analyst’s Office recommended a lower resident undergraduate enrollment target than the Governor’s proposal, separate funding for enrollment growth rather than folding it into base, a smaller or no base increase tied more closely to inflation, earmarking some base funds for capital renewal, retiring deferred payments, and avoiding new multi-year compact commitments. CSU said enrollment has rebounded for three straight years, but growth is uneven across campuses, with several Northern California campuses still facing structural declines tied to demographics and community college pipelines. CSU described a multi-year reallocation plan shifting about 10,000 FTE and $89 million in ongoing funding toward higher-demand campuses, plus $40 million in one-time support, and said seven campuses submitted turnaround plans aimed at recovering enrollment over the next several years. The system highlighted strategies such as dual enrollment, guaranteed admission pathways with community colleges, outreach to high school students, retention and advising efforts, and new degree models for working adults and military-connected students. Members raised questions about how campus targets are set, whether the May Board of Trustees discussion will address a systemwide enrollment framework, and how CSU will manage future deficits if projected out-year funding does not materialize. On core operations and facilities, CSU said it faces about $320 million in mandatory cost increases in 2026-27 and is pursuing shared services, procurement consolidation, campus administrative sharing, and program redesigns to reduce costs. CSU and the LAO emphasized the system’s large deferred maintenance backlog, estimated at $8.6 billion, and discussed whether CSU’s bond/debt capacity is sufficient to address it; CSU requested up to $1.1 billion for deferred maintenance, while the administration did not propose new funding. The committee also heard CSU’s annual Title IX and civil rights update: CSU said it has implemented 15 of 16 State Auditor recommendations, has dedicated Title IX coordinators at every campus, is using a systemwide case management dashboard, and is piloting centralized investigations at five campuses. Finally, on basic needs, the Governor maintained current funding levels for food assistance/basic needs, rapid rehousing, and mental health. CSU reported heavy use of food pantries, CalFresh support, emergency housing, and counseling services, while warning that federal changes to CalFresh and related funding could make it harder to serve students in need.

Transcript Highlights:

• Sharing our stories and educating lawmakers is essential for this.
• and the Santa Clara County Office of Education of best practices.
• and the Santa Clara County Office of Education of best practices.
• Oh, yeah, sorry, Butte County Office of Education.
• It is investing in county offices of education to support the employees...

Transcript Highlights:

• people in Massachusetts alone—living and working here lawfully under temporary protected status: nurses
• We are your nurses and your patients, your teachers and your students. We are small businesses.
• to our local economies, a dramatic drop in school enrollment that will have a long-term impact on education
• protecting their students that it's become harder and harder to do what they love to do and just educate
• immigration, ...focus on this, regardless of our beliefs on this larger bill, on immigration, on education

Transcript Highlights:

• We had a quality discussion on this legislation last week that involves elementary ag education and making
• There's a lot of good activity in this education going on right now.
• They're already doing a lot of this ag education in our rural and urban schools.
• It is a great bill to make sure our students don't lose their education on agriculture and to keep that
• It is a great bill to make sure our students don't lose their education on agriculture and to keep that

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair and Madam Vice Chair, at the suggestion of the Secretary of Education. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
• Chair and Madam Vice Chair, at the suggestion of the Secretary of Education. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
• I did work closely with the Secretary of Education, and we came to a meeting of the minds.
• What we envision would be a member on the commission who would represent the educational institutions
• And one way to do that is to get more physicians and nurse practitioners and other providers.

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 7, the Apprenticeship Assistance Act, which would keep apprenticeship trust fund distributions at $2.5 million rather than reducing them and remove a reference to the tobacco settlement permanent fund. Labor, construction, business, and environmental groups testified in support, emphasizing workforce development, retention of workers in New Mexico, and expansion of apprenticeship opportunities. The bill was moved and adopted without opposition. Members then considered House Bill 66, as amended, to increase funding for health professional loan repayment and related workforce supports. The amendment struck an appropriation because the funding was already included in House Bill 2. Testimony from health care providers, chambers of commerce, social workers, and physical therapy advocates supported the bill as a way to address provider shortages and improve recruitment and retention. After questions about eligibility, repayment terms, and overlap with similar Senate bills, the committee voted to do pass the bill as amended. House Bill 96, creating a working group to study a possible New Mexico Space Commission, was also amended to strike an appropriation. Support came from the chamber, Virgin Galactic, and aerospace advocates, who said a commission could help coordinate economic development and workforce efforts in the space sector. Members asked about other states’ commissions, workforce pathways, and the working group’s timeline, and the sponsor agreed to add clearer dissolution language later. The committee then passed the bill as amended. The committee then took up House Bill 80, a committee substitute to redirect more of the oil and gas conservation tax to the reclamation fund for orphan well plugging and site remediation. Supporters from industry, environmental groups, tribal advocates, and chambers said the bill would better align the tax with its original purpose and provide stable funding for cleanup, while an opponent argued the bill shifts costs from industry to the public and should instead raise the tax or bonding requirements. After discussion of backlog, phase-in timing, and procurement reforms, the committee voted do pass. The committee also heard House Bill 4, as amended, which phases in a larger share of premium surtax revenue to the Health Care Affordability Fund over three years. Supporters said it would sustain BeWell enrollment and affordability programs, while opponents questioned the burden on private payers and the size of the general fund impact. The committee adopted the substitute and then passed it on a 10-7 vote. Finally, the committee approved House Bill 65, as amended, creating a Foster Care Plus pilot project for children in CYFD custody, with testimony both supporting the need for better services and cautioning that implementation should respect tribal law, cultural practices, and family reunification. The committee also tabled House Bill 68 at the sponsor’s request. The transcript then began discussion of House Bill 88, which would make minor changes to the land grant assistance fund, including capturing reverted payments that currently go back to the general fund.