Transcript Highlights:

• Unfortunately, I only work three days a week, so the access to it for them is limited.
• </c><02:11:32.800><c> of</c> system because they see the benefit of system because they see the benefit
• </c><02:17:03.920><c> testimony</c> for time we're going to limit testimony for time we're going to limit
• </c><02:46:07.640><c> from</c> ticking for those who might benefit from ticking for those who might benefit
• And I'm wondering if there's what kind of plan limitations there are.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I know my time is limited.
• I know my time is limited.
• I know my time is limited.
• Each has its own benefits and wrong.
• the benefits of the current structure prevail.<00:37:01.040><c> Those</c><00:37:01.280><c> benefits<

Committee: Senate Public Safety and Military Affairs

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint committees heard testimony on several measures. SB 2723, which would designate April 27 as State Sheriff’s Day, was supported by the Department of Law Enforcement and a long-serving sheriff, who described the historical roots of Hawaii’s sheriffs in the Kingdom of Hawaii and said the bill would recognize that legacy. HGA submitted written comments, and there was no opposition or vote taken on the measure during the excerpt. The committees then heard SB 17 on wildfire mitigation. The Public Utilities Commission, DLNR, the State Fire Council, OPSD, the Attorney General’s office, and Kamehameha Schools all testified, mostly in support of the bill’s intent but with suggested amendments. Several witnesses said the bill should better define the working group’s structure, staffing, and funding, and the Attorney General noted constitutional concerns about placing the group outside a principal department and pointed out possible overlap with Acts 302 and 303 from the prior year. Committee members questioned whether SB 17 duplicated earlier wildfire legislation, and witnesses generally said it did not directly conflict but overlapped with existing efforts. On SB 2358, which would require reimbursement for search-and-rescue costs when people leave trails and enter closed areas, the State Fire Council and the Hawaii SAR Alliance testified in opposition or caution, arguing that reimbursement could deter people from calling for help and that Hawaii’s SAR system still has structural and administrative gaps. A committee member asked whether other jurisdictions had used similar measures without discouraging rescues; the Fire Council said Kauai has a similar law but it has not resulted in invoices being sent. No action was taken in the excerpt. The final measure discussed was SB 2475 on Red Hill remediation funding and reimbursement from the Department of Defense. The Board of Water Supply, DLNR, and other testifiers supported the bill, emphasizing the need for long-term research, monitoring, and cleanup, while also noting the unique groundwater conditions and the importance of keeping the funds focused on Red Hill contamination response. Committee members asked about existing federal and state funding, whether the state had received any direct federal money, and what would happen if reimbursement is not obtained. DLNR said it was still working through the reimbursement mechanism and that some federal funding had gone to the Red Hill registry, but not directly to the state for this purpose.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, and the benefits go on and on and on.
• And so benefits go on and on and on.
• but not limited to uh pastor<00:02:38.239><c> Galloway.
• Today, benefits and find an apartment.
• </c><01:31:51.600><c> you</c> could benefit in a number of ways. you could benefit in a number of ways

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Each public testimony will be limited to two minutes to speak on each bill.
• Texans will never truly actualize the touted benefits of price transparency reform, nor will they ever
• There's still much work to do, and to actualize the benefits of price transparency, the work there is
• What they're doing is tiering their benefits.
• Senate Bill 1236, Pharmacy Benefit Managers, PBMs,” “Senate Bill 1236, Pharmacy Benefit Managers, PBMs

Bills: SB331 , SB883 , SB926 , SB1137 , SB1138 , SB1144 , SB1151 , SB1236 , SB1270 , SB1522 , SB1869 , SB2207 , SB2422

Committee: Senate Health & Human Services

Keywords: healthcare, cost disclosure, transparency, administrative penalties, health facility compliance, COVID-19, off-label use, prescription drugs, patient access, medical standards, insurance, physician ranking, incentives, fiduciary duty, health plan issuers, SB 1137, group home, assisted living, residential care, board and care

Summary: The committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 883, which would protect physicians’ ability to prescribe off-label medications and treatments, framed by the author as a “Right to Treat” measure tied to COVID-19 care. Supporters, including physicians and patient-choice advocates, said the bill would safeguard the doctor-patient relationship and prevent interference by boards, pharmacies, or hospitals. Several witnesses described using hydroxychloroquine, ivermectin, budesonide, antibiotics, steroids, and monoclonal antibodies during the pandemic, and said they faced complaints, board scrutiny, or pharmacy refusals for those prescriptions. The bill was left pending after public testimony closed. The committee then took up Senate Bill 331, which would extend hospital price-transparency requirements to additional health care facilities such as freestanding ERs, urgent care and retail clinics, ambulatory surgical centers, outpatient clinics, and birthing centers. Proponents argued that broader disclosure of prices for shoppable services would help consumers compare costs and reduce surprise billing, while opponents from ambulatory surgery centers said the bill would impose costly compliance burdens on small providers and that insurers or the state already have much of the needed data. The bill was also left pending. Senate Bill 2422 would expunge Texas Medical Board records and impose reparations for disciplinary actions tied to COVID-era treatment decisions, including references to ivermectin, hydroxychloroquine, budesonide, and masks. The author and supporters argued that doctors were unfairly targeted for trying to save patients and should be made whole; the Texas Medical Board representative said most pandemic complaints were dismissed, that actions generally involved broader issues such as privileges, documentation, or informed consent, and that no physician was disciplined solely for prescribing off-label COVID medications. The bill was left pending. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 2207, which would loosen Texas Medical Board rules on physicians advertising themselves as board certified, especially by reducing barriers tied to maintenance of certification requirements. Supporters said the current rule is overly restrictive, inconsistent, and costly, and that it drives physicians out of practice; they also said Texas is one of only a few states with such a rule. Witnesses described hospitals using the rule against physicians and said the change would improve transparency and competition. The bill remained pending after testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's why senators' terms are limited. It's why the president is limited.
• It is why the governor is limited. It is about self-determination.
• It's just not—the risk versus the benefit.
• It's just not, it's the risk versus the benefit.
• So I might be limited if I don't pressure test the pipe high enough; I'm limited to that pressure test

Committee: House Natural Resources & Environment

Keywords: 965, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:38:33.000><c> these</c> law and this doesn't just benefit these law and this doesn't just benefit
• :34.560><c> Health</c><00:38:35.480><c> by</c> workers it benefits Public Health by workers it benefits
• </c> people who probably need this benefit people who probably need this benefit some<01:22:15.239><c
• </c> two and they're afraid to lose a benefit two and they're afraid to lose a benefit and<01:32:19.760
• But it has to be as easy as possible for the employer to implement that benefit.

Committee: Senate Labor

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It talks about the safety, the risks, the efficacy, the benefits, and all of that.
• I'm going to limit your questions to two, if I may. Thank you.
• Disclosing risks and benefits is not jumping through hoops.
• It has always been for her benefit and the benefit of others.
• The best part of the report, though, is the acknowledged limitations.

Summary: The committee first took up CS for SB 896 on school safety, which would expand the Guardian program to public postsecondary institutions, require active assailant response plans and threat management protocols, improve reporting and information sharing, and make it a felony to discharge a weapon within 1,000 feet of a campus. A late-file amendment by Senator Polsky was adopted to clarify that students who are also employees or faculty at a public postsecondary institution are not eligible for the Guardian program. The bill drew strong opposition from faculty, students, and gun-safety advocates who argued that more guns on campus would create confusion, weaken safety, and undermine campus police; supporters said trained guardians would improve deterrence and protection. After debate, the committee reported the bill favorably by a roll call vote. The committee then considered SB 1690 on child care and early learning services, which updates child care laws, reduces some regulatory burdens, and expands the Florida Education Foundation’s authority to fundraise for early learning from birth through VPK. Members discussed oversight of the related direct-support organization and the removal of certain notice requirements, while supporters from Moms Rising and other advocates said the bill would help families access affordable, high-quality child care and support home-based providers. One opponent argued the bill added more government regulation, but the committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably. Next, the committee passed CS for SB 118, a narrow bill on non-ad valorem special assessments for recreational vehicle parks, clarifying how assessments are calculated for RV spaces and campsites. The bill received supportive comments from RV advocates and was reported favorably without controversy. The committee then took up CS for SB 1220, the Department of Transportation package, which included provisions on seaports and airports, personal delivery devices, autonomous vehicles, broadband and utility permitting, and advanced air mobility. Amendments were adopted that revised research institute membership, limited some delivery-device provisions, and clarified cruiser light rules for law enforcement; after questions about utility preemption and PDD safety, the bill was reported favorably. Finally, the committee began hearing SB 1756 on medical freedom, which would require new vaccine educational materials, expand school-entry exemptions to include conscience-based objections, limit the Surgeon General’s emergency vaccination authority, and allow behind-the-counter ivermectin for adults with written information and liability protections. The bill drew extensive testimony from both supporters and opponents, with supporters emphasizing parental rights, informed consent, and vaccine injury concerns, and opponents warning about reduced immunization rates, public health risks, and the appropriateness of ivermectin provisions. The transcript ends during public testimony and debate on SB 1756, before final action on that bill is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is paid through the pharmacy benefit side, not the medical insurance side, but the pharmacy benefit
• :39:38.480><c> encourage</c><00:39:38.960><c> more</c> benefit for us to encourage more benefit for us
• Senate File 106." sometimes that benefits are beginning. sometimes that benefits are beginning.
• c> limits the reporting from limits the reporting from uh<01:10:31.199><c> from</c><01:10:32.159><c>
• So those are not uh receiving benefits.

Bills: SF0122 , SJ0006 , SF0121 , SF0106

Committee: House Labor, Health & Social Services

Keywords: medical necessity, insurance, healthcare policy, independent review, claim processing, shared parenting, family law, joint custody, child well-being, parental rights, pharmacy, collaborative care, healthcare, prescriptions, patient safety, Wyoming Pharmacy Act, welfare, Medicaid, employment, eligibility verification

Transcript Highlights:

• That has to do with out-of-state electronic benefit transfer...
• for other benefits.
• recipients of those benefits.
• And that's the whole point of it is. ...and should receive the benefits are the recipients of those benefits
• And boy, wouldn't I like to have no SNAP benefits and no health and welfare myself?

Committee: Senate Health and Welfare

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> are still having some positive benefits are still having some positive benefits in<00:20:53.120>
• That their capacity limits their ability.
• School counselors are not just limited to helping prepare kids to go to college.
• So that sort of capacity oftentimes limits their ability.
• College-bound, so that sort of capacity oftentimes limits their ability.

Committee: Senate Higher Education

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a disciplined, time-limited update that improves New Mexico's competitiveness and respects local
• When New Mexico wins those projects, the benefits extend far beyond a single company.
• Transferability sort of allows a taxpayer to have a more immediate benefit from a credit by selling it
• Dobbs, is this affordable or is this something that if we went Beyond just limiting it to certain areas
• None of our tax credits limit transferability to a certain Industry.

Committee: House House Taxation & Revenue

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• What they have indicated, there are limitations in the state process that exist that don't, and the plans
• What they have indicated, there are limitations in the state process that exist that don't, and the plans
• This is not something that benefits only providers.
• This ensures agents understand the benefits, exclusions, and wellness components of pet insurance so
• These claims do not provide meaningful benefits to consumers.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Banking and Insurance met with a quorum present and heard a full agenda of bills, most of which were reported favorably. Early in the meeting, SB 1000 on trust fund interest for attorney trust accounts was explained as setting a floor and ceiling tied to the Wall Street Journal prime rate and passed without objection after supportive testimony from banking and credit union groups. The committee then took up CS/SB 1082 on a statewide provider and health plan claim dispute resolution program; the sponsor described it as a way to move emergency out-of-network payment disputes away from costly litigation and into an independent dispute resolution process modeled on the federal No Surprises Act. A proposed amendment drew significant questions from senators and concerns from the Florida Insurance Council about confusion over state versus federal eligibility and possible effects on contracted rates, and the sponsor ultimately withdrew the amendment. The underlying bill was then supported by health care and insurance stakeholders and reported favorably. SB 684 on electronic signatures for total loss vehicles and vessels also passed, with Progressive Insurance waiving in support. The committee next approved CS/SB 158 on pet insurance, which requires continuing education for agents, clearer consumer disclosures, and annual reporting to OIR; the amendment was technical and adopted. SB 1494 on breast cancer screening coverage was presented as expanding required coverage for mammograms and supplemental screenings for certain insurance products, and it passed with support from cancer and radiology groups. CS/SB 314 on digital asset issuers was amended to create a Florida framework for payment stablecoin issuers consistent with the federal GENIUS Act, allowing state-level regulation as an alternative to federal supervision, and was reported favorably. SB 1500 on uncontested probate proceedings, including higher small-estate thresholds and clearer authority for personal representatives, also passed after a banking-related amendment requiring letters of administration for safe deposit box access was adopted. Later, the committee approved CS/SB 618 on workers’ compensation insurance, which raises the consent-to-rate cap for workers’ comp policies from 10% to 20% and adjusts the Florida Workers’ Compensation Guarantee Association board membership; a carrier representative testified that the change would help keep more high-risk accounts in the voluntary market. CS/SB 1568 on a Florida Stable Coin Pilot Program was amended to remove authority for DFS to create a Florida coin, limit the pilot to existing stablecoins with at least $1 billion market capitalization, and require qualified public deposit handling; it then passed. CS/SB 838 on electronic payments for retail installment contracts clarified that convenience fees for electronic payments are permissible while preserving a fee-free option, and it was reported favorably after questions about consumer access to free payment methods. SB 1452, the Department of Financial Services agency bill, made a wide range of administrative changes affecting My Safe Florida Home, unclaimed property, licensing, bail bonds, and other DFS functions; a late-filed amendment on title insurer appointments was adopted, and the bill passed. The committee also approved SB 1706 on the My Safe Florida Condominium Pilot Program, targeting condo hardening assistance to owner-occupied units meeting income and occupancy criteria, and SB 990 on protected cell captive insurance companies, which the sponsor and industry witnesses said would modernize Florida law and promote insurance competition and economic activity. The meeting ended with all bills on the agenda reported favorably and the committee adjourning without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's been a huge benefit, and potentially the only benefit any of us has seen from COVID.
• There's no other limiting requirement in rule or statute with regard to what's proposed by members.
• Certainly, when you make income, you own what you make, but the legal limitation of 1% on property, as
• And in 49 states and in the federal government, they understand that legal limitations around property
• I think this can be a benefit to victims as well as to the state and to state taxpayers.

Keywords: 904, all

Summary: House and Senate Democratic leaders held a media availability focused on the session’s fast-moving cutoff period, the supplemental budget, and several major bills moving through committee. They said they had advanced a number of Senate bills, including the face mask bill, a bill on access to abortion medication, a bill on mobile devices in schools, and upcoming measures on driver privacy and IRS tax issues. They also said the House Finance Committee had held a hearing on the proposed millionaire’s tax, and that the budget would continue to emphasize food, shelter, health care, and continuity of government services. A major topic was allegations of fraudulent or bot-driven remote sign-ins and testimony on the millionaire’s tax hearings. Leaders said remote participation has broadened public access and they do not want to shut it down, but they acknowledged the system may need interim tweaks to improve accuracy. They said the issue appears unprecedented, that they learned of it through a complaint to the House chief clerk, and that legislative tech staff and Senate operations leaders would review possible changes after session. They also stressed that sign-in counts should be treated cautiously and are not the same as votes. The lawmakers also discussed the proposed income tax on high earners, defending it as constitutional and necessary to fund state priorities. They argued that state spending growth reflects inflation, population growth, McCleary-related school funding changes, and major investments in child care, higher education, Medicaid dental care, IT systems, and special education. In response to questions about tort claims against the state, they said Senator Dhingra’s arbitration bill is unlikely to move further this session, though the issue will continue to be worked on over the interim. They said the state needs to reduce liability through prevention and alternative dispute processes rather than through unconstitutional damage caps. On the millionaire’s tax process, leaders said the House Finance Committee is expected to add more tax reductions than the version heard that morning, with a goal of reaching roughly 25 to 40 percent in reductions and likely avoiding a conference committee if the House and Senate can concur. They said the bill may still include a sales-tax-on-services change, but that the final package is still being negotiated. They also said they do not support extending the tax to incomes below $1 million, and that no decision had been made on a possible governor-backed sales tax holiday.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's been a huge benefit, and potentially the only benefit any of us has seen from COVID.
• There's no other limiting requirement in rule or statute with regard to what's proposed by members.
• Certainly when you make income, you own what you make, but the legal limitation of 1% on property, as
• And in 49 states and in the federal government, they understand that legal limitations around property
• I think this can be a benefit to victims as well as to the state and to state taxpayers.

Summary: House and Senate Democratic leaders held a media availability focused on the late-session agenda, including the House policy cutoff, a supplemental budget, and the House Finance Committee hearing on the proposed “millionaire’s tax”/income tax measure. They said several Senate bills had moved or were moving quickly, including a face mask bill, an abortion medication access bill, a mobile devices in schools bill, a driver privacy/personal safety data protections bill, and a West Coast Health Collaborative bill. They also said the supplemental budget would emphasize food, shelter, health care, continuity of government, and other core services. A major topic was allegations of fraudulent or bot-generated remote sign-ins on the millionaire’s tax hearings. Leaders said remote testimony and sign-ins have broadened public participation, but misuse of the system is a problem that will be reviewed over the interim. They said the goal is to preserve easy public access while improving accuracy, and that the sign-in numbers should be treated cautiously because the system is informational rather than equivalent to voting. They also said there had been no direct contact with state Supreme Court justices about the tax bill. The leaders defended the need for the income tax proposal by arguing that state spending growth reflects inflation, population growth, the McCleary school-funding changes, and major investments in child care, higher education, Medicaid dental care, IT systems, and special education. They said the Legislature is trying to balance the tax code and that they do not support taxing incomes below $1 million, though they would not rule out future legislative changes decades from now. On tort claims against the state, they said Senator Dhingra’s arbitration bill has advanced the discussion but is unlikely to move further this session, and that broader liability reductions may require constitutional changes or prevention-focused investments. They also discussed long-term care workforce pressures, saying Washington is better positioned than many states but still faces an aging-population challenge. On the millionaire’s tax process, they said the House Finance Committee is expected to increase tax reductions in the bill, with leaders aiming to resolve differences with the Senate without going to conference if possible.

Transcript Highlights:

• So I've asked each of the agencies to kind of limit their questions or their presentation to about 10
• Medicaid meeting topics included, but were not limited to, questions about legislative audit reports
• Medicaid meeting topics included, but were not limited to, questions about legislative audit reports
• Program, or D-SNAP; the remaining employee received $5,837 in Medicaid benefits.
• Next slide shows a little bit on our annual eligibility limits.

Committee: All LEGISLATIVE JOINT AUDITING-MEDICAID SUBCOMMITTEE

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• on an organization receiving funds, and there's a time limit of five years for an organization to be
• And they all have different eligibility requirements and benefits as well as application processes.
• So it doesn't make sense to group them all together and to issue this type of a blanket limitation.
• There's no standards, no limiting principles, no legislative oversight.
• The benefits they have rightfully earned through service and sacrifice.

Bills: HB2523 , HB2606 , HB2684 , HJM4012

Committee: House Technology, Economic Development, & Veterans

Keywords: community reinvestment, housing, local funding, urban development, economic revitalization, data protection, privacy, performance measures, reporting requirements, office of privacy, social disadvantage, business certification, state guidelines, economic equity, minority-owned businesses, combat veterans, support, military service, injury compensation, veteran affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• So talk me through those options, benefits, drawbacks. Are they being considered? They sure are.
• /c><00:03:04.360><c> blow</c><00:03:05.200><c> so</c><00:03:05.560><c> the</c><00:03:05.799><c> limitations
• </c> doesn't always blow so the limitations doesn't always blow so the limitations of<00:03:06.640><c
• France says yes, we have risk, but that risk is worth the benefit.
• Germany says we prefer not to benefit Germany says we prefer not to take<00:06:54.160><c> that</c><00

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There will be a two-minute time limit for testifiers.
• on liability uh provides limitation on liability uh provides significant<00:35:20.880><c> benefits</
• , a lower cap on limitation of liability.
• </c> testimony suggests limiting testimony suggests limiting securitization<00:48:59.960><c> amounts<
• There will be a two-minute time limit per testifier for those on Zoom.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several measures, beginning with SB 48 SD2 HD1 relating to combat sports. The Attorney General offered a technical comment on the bill’s effective date, and several testifiers from the combat sports community strongly supported the measure with amendments. They argued that boxing and MMA should be treated separately, that the current regulatory structure has made events too costly and reduced opportunities, and that more local oversight would help revive the sport and give youth a constructive outlet. Committee members questioned whether the bill’s medical staffing requirements would apply to boxing, MMA, or both, and whether the added requirements would increase costs and reduce access. The witness from the combat sports community said amateur boxing is already regulated through USA Boxing, that the DCCA should focus on professional boxing, and that for safety he would support two physicians and one ambulance for boxing and MMA events. The committee then took up SB 117 SD2 HD1 relating to transportation. The Department of Transportation and the Ulon Initiative testified in support, and the bicycling community was listed as supporting as well. Members focused on the bill’s rebate program for electric transportation devices, asking how successful it had been and whether removing the rebate would affect use. DOT said the program began in February 2023 and had issued about 500 rebates totaling roughly $166,000, aimed at helping people without vehicles access transportation options. The department explained that the bill would broaden access and increase the rebate amount, including additional assistance for low-income applicants. Finally, the committee heard SB 897 SD3 HD1 relating to energy and wildfire liability. The Division of Consumer Advocacy, the Public Utilities Commission, the Attorney General, Clearway Energy Group, Ulon Initiative, Kawai K, IBEW Local 1260, and Hawaiian Electric all testified in support, while the Hawaii Association for Justice was listed as opposed but not present. Supporters said the bill would help finance wildfire mitigation and infrastructure improvements through securitization, reduce wildfire risk, and address utility cost and credit concerns. Hawaiian Electric emphasized that the bill is forward-looking, would help protect customers from future wildfire-related cost increases, and requested amendments including a study on a future wildfire recovery fund. In questioning, members pressed Hawaiian Electric on the liability cap, asking whether it would have applied to the Maui wildfires and whether it would cover personal injury or wrongful death; the witness and company counsel clarified that the aggregate cap applies only to qualifying property damage, not personal injury or wrongful death, and said they would follow up on how the cap would calculate in a Maui-type event. Hawaiian Electric also said it would seek financing under the bill if enacted and updated members on settlement funding efforts, including raising the first $550 million in equity and divesting assets to help meet its obligations.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> this is what we anticipate the benefit this is what we anticipate the benefit to<00:19:50.039><c
• <c> to</c><01:05:04.279><c> our</c><01:05:04.440><c> 247</c> limited to our 247 limited to our 247 facilities
• What is the benefit in that?"
• Unclassified employees do not have that benefit.
• </c> employees have uh relatively limited employees have uh relatively limited rights<01:21:06.560><c

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first recessed briefly, then took up HB 570, the prescription drug affordability board (PDAB). The chair and several members discussed the House amendment to repeal the board, which removed the fiscal note. The main concern raised was that the PDAB had not yet produced a clear business case showing value for the taxpayer investment, despite several years of work and four annual reports. Supporters of the repeal said the board’s recent report was largely redundant and that the board should either demonstrate a strong return on investment or be shut down; others cautioned against discarding the program too quickly and urged more time to refine the mission and legislative language. No vote was taken, and the committee appeared to agree to retain the bill for further work, with the possibility of revisiting it in a formal executive session on Tuesday. Members also shifted into discussion of HB 2, beginning with Section 85 on opioid abatement trust fund dollars for shelter programs. Department of Health and Human Services officials explained that the provision would provide $10 million from the opioid abatement trust fund, replacing general funds in the governor’s budget, while also noting an additional $2.5 million prioritized needs request for shelter care that was already fully funded. Committee members asked about shelter bed capacity, job placement efforts, and the remaining balance in the opioid fund; DHHS said there are 934 contracted beds and that case management includes help with housing and employment. Officials also said the current proposed budget includes another $1 million later in HB 2 from the opioid fund. The committee then began discussion of Sections 86 through 87, which would preserve the department’s ability to transfer funds between personnel lines. DHHS said the provision is operationally critical and that losing it would make it extremely difficult to manage the department, though it would not have a direct fiscal impact. The next item introduced was Section 88, extending a suspension related to eligibility for services until July 1, 2027; DHHS indicated that if the suspension were not continued, it would likely increase expenditures for Community Mental Health Centers and potentially others. No votes were taken during this portion of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• , you specifically state that nothing is limited.
• </c><00:39:44.280><c> You</c> where there's no limitations. You where there's no limitations.
• </c> is limited. I think it was 3.3.7. is limited. I think it was 3.3.7.
• is not limited to any exclusion,<00:40:22.720><c> limitation,</c><00:40:23.680><c> or</c><00:40:23.920
• ><c> other</c> exclusion, limitation, or other exclusion, limitation, or other restriction.<00:40:25.160

Keywords: 1183, house