Transcript Highlights:

• Um, [clears throat] my background is I'm a sick you nurse, pick you nurse, trauma nurse for the last
• . program. program.
• </c> a program? a program?
• </c> workforce program. workforce program.
• are generally noncredit programs such as licensed nurse assistant, EMT, CDL A and CDL B, welding programs

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• program is different.
• program is different.
• seen a lot of different programs, this program is different.
• And so we've built this program.
• Thomas Residency Program and other similar programs.

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• unlike other Public Assistance Program unlike other Public Assistance programs<01:35:25.760><c> with
• so</c> expand the program any further so expand the program any further so there's<01:36:48.639><c>
• </c><01:45:15.920><c> or</c> children in the EFA program either or children in the EFA program either
• c><01:45:26.960><c> been</c> program a program that has been program a program that has been extremely
• </c><01:49:23.440><c> serves</c> Year FAA program serves Year FAA program serves 5,321<01:49:26.159><

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Phyllis Johnson, and also a group of Mississippi Nurse Practitioner Association folks.
• If you'll stand, Mary Beth Griffin, with a group of nursing students from Mississippi College.
• the Mississippi Board of Nursing under the Mississippi Board of Nursing under the<00:09:30.520><c> direction
• </c> and also a group of Mississippi Nurse and also a group of Mississippi Nurse Practitioner<00:09:36.000
• nursing students from Mississippi<00:10:40.040><c> College.

Keywords: MS House Floor - 27 January, 2026; 2:00 PM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The residency law protection program, overseen by HCD, would become a grant-based program funded by mobile
• The mobile home residency law protection program is set to expire at the end of this year.
• This program, which we fund ourselves and operates at no cost to the state, is our guardrail against
• In 2023, the State Auditor concluded the program needs improvement.
• But we need your help with these program improvements that make AB 635 better.

Summary: The Senate Judiciary Committee met as a subcommittee and announced a large agenda, including a consent calendar and several bills pulled for separate hearing. Early in the hearing, the committee heard AB 1876, which would codify federal nondiscrimination protections in state health care law. The author and supporters said it would protect access to coverage and services for all protected classes, including transgender people, while opponents argued it would force coverage of disputed gender-affirming treatments and impose penalties on providers and insurers. No vote was taken during the informational-style presentation, and the author requested an aye vote when a quorum was present. The committee then heard AB 1650 on requiring rental vehicles used by government agencies for enforcement to be clearly marked, with supporters describing it as a transparency and public-trust measure in response to immigration enforcement activity and opponents later withdrawing opposition after discussions with the author. AB 635, dealing with the Mobile Home Residency Law Protection Program, would extend and revise a resident-funded legal assistance program for mobile home owners; supporters said it improves access to justice and enforcement, and there was no opposition. AB 1697 would extend the date for enforceability of certain employment contract provisions under AB 692 and add an urgency clause; the NFL supported it, SIFMA was support-if-amended, and the chair noted sympathy for some workers while expressing concern about high-paid executives. The committee also heard AB 2784, the annual State Bar fee bill, which held fees flat while making governance and reporting changes; it drew support from the State Bar and no opposition. AB 2782, the Assembly Judiciary Committee civil omnibus bill, made minor clarifying code changes and also drew no opposition. Other measures heard included AB 2662 on monitoring and reporting federal immigration enforcement impacts, AB 2235 on allowing judges to use alternate mailing addresses for safety, AB 1544 on courthouse access and transparency, AB 2624 expanding Safe at Home protections to immigrant service providers, AB 1857 to block grocery restrictive covenants that prevent new grocery stores in underserved areas, AB 1892 clarifying HOA duties and election notice rules, AB 634 banning products containing tianeptine, AB 1684 limiting HOA restrictions on home cooling systems, AB 1752 increasing appraisal reimbursement in eminent domain cases, AB 1660 improving compliance by financial institutions with public guardian requests, AB 782 narrowing a prior housing redevelopment law for certain charter cities, and AB 2195 limiting occupational license suspensions for low-income parents owing child support. Across these bills, testimony was largely supportive, with several measures drawing “support if amended” or no opposition after negotiations; the transcript does not reflect final votes on the bills discussed here.

Transcript Highlights:

• It increases substantially the current program from $25,000, maximum of $25,000 a year for three years
• I am a nurse and a nurse practitioner, and actually a participant and recipient of this benefit.
• I love peer support programs, but I really I believe my warning in this, I love peer support programs
• That program is no longer in the Second Judicial District.
• So if we only give one program, one curriculum, it might not be as effective as looking at all the programs

Committee: House House Health & Human Services

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, for instance, a very large grocer collects information via their loyalty program, which you sign
• up for, and you get some deals Collects information via their loyalty program, which you sign up for,
• Fifth, the bill requires a study of a vapor product extended producer responsibility program.
• federal cuts to these programs.
• The responsible vendors program is especially important.

Bills: HB2439 , HB2483 , HB2400

Committee: House Consumer Protection & Business

Keywords: public health, tobacco regulation, smoking cessation, vapor products, health policy, youth prevention, data broker, registry, consumer protection, privacy, data regulation, social media, content creation, online platforms, digital marketing, user-generated content, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• For programs like this, we would prefer to see a subsidy program so we know what we're getting and we
• For programs like this, we would prefer to see a subsidy program so we know what we're getting and we
• That's what this program does.
• program.
• program.

Bills: HCR93 , HCR14 , HR85

Committee: House Finance

Keywords: image-based sexual abuse, working group, gender-based violence, Hawaii Commission on the Status of Women, prevention efforts, survivor protections, new technologies, legal reform, HCR14, House Concurrent Resolution, perpetual easement, non-exclusive easement, state submerged lands, submerged lands, shoreline easement, drainage outfall, stormwater outfall, lagoon outfall, pipelines, Kahala Hotel & Resort

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> program. On line 295 is Senate File 928. program. On line 295 is Senate File 928.
• our state version of that national program, match the requirements of the national program.
• our state version of that national program, match the requirements of the national program.
• . program. program.
• </c> and programming for the entire family. and programming for the entire family.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The purpose is to stabilize rural health care providers and facilities in the event that those programs
• There are a lot of programs in that arena.
• Yeah, I mean, I think that's reality, but I do think we also have a lot of private equity in nursing
• I'm the Chief Medical Officer for the Medicaid program, which is in the Health Care Authority.
• In June, our organization proactively worked with the Board of Pharmacy, the Board of Nursing, and the

Committee: House House Health & Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Hawaii Nurses Hawaii Nurses Association<00:17:46.720><c> testimony</c><00:17:47.400><c> from</c>
• My name is Molly Gella, and I'm a registered nurse of 28 years. I strongly oppose this bill.
• I grew up with a mother that was a nurse, and I believed in vaccines.
• An IEP is just an individualized education program. So we just strike the word action.
• An IEP is just an individualized education program. So we just strike the word action.

Committee: House Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs heard several measures, beginning with HB 194, which would designate May 22 as Maritime Day. Testimony from labor, health, and community groups was in support, and the committee later recommended passage of the bill as is, with several members voting yes and some reserving or being excused. HB 458 would designate April 27 as Brother Joseph Dutton Day; the Department of Accounting and General Services, the Joseph Dutton Guild, and a descendant all supported it, and the committee recommended passage with technical amendments. HB 957 would designate the first Friday in May as Lā‘au Day; support came from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Hawaii Farm Bureau, and many individuals, and the committee recommended passage as is. HB 345 would establish the ʻōpae ula as the state shrimp to promote awareness and protection of anchialine ecosystems; DLNR, Kuaʻāina Ulu ʻAu, and other supporters testified, and the committee recommended passage with technical amendments. The committee also heard HB 901, which would allow public charter schools to appeal directly to the Board of Education on certain operational, governance, or funding matters. The Attorney General and the Public Charter School Commission offered technical comments and suggested amendments, while the commission described its current monitoring and renewal process and said it works closely with schools over the life of a charter contract. Members raised concerns about whether the bill would shift too much work to the Board of Education, and one member voted no when the committee later moved the bill with the Attorney General’s amendments. HB 1066 would add Head Start-related ex officio members to the Early Learning Board; the Early Learning Board and the Executive Office on Early Learning supported it, explaining the changes were needed to align with the federal Head Start Act, and the committee moved it forward without opposition. HB 1069 would add voting members from the Department of Education and Board of Education to the School Facilities Authority Board. DOE and the School Facilities Authority supported the change as a way to strengthen collaboration, though questions from members focused on the current communication process between the agencies. HB 1343 would require the Board of Education to adopt a policy banning student phone and related device use during school hours; the committee noted written testimony in support and then moved to decision-making. At the end of the meeting, the committee adopted recommendations to pass HB 194, HB 458 with technical amendments, HB 957, HB 345 with technical amendments, HB 901 with amendments, HB 1066, HB 1069, and HB 1343.

Transcript Highlights:

• Other than that, both of those programs are continuing.
• . ...on long-term services and supports, but children's programs, nursing homes, et cetera.
• If any of you have been in a human service program or gone to a skilled nursing facility... ...or even
• grantees that are enrolled in the program.
• I'm really looking forward to our program on June 23rd.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Massachusetts Permanent Commission on the Status of Persons with Disabilities held its quarterly meeting virtually and in person at the State House. The commission approved the March minutes and elected its officers by unanimous roll call vote: Denise Garlick as chair, Chris White as vice chair, Carl Richardson as treasurer, and Osmondahar as secretary. The meeting also welcomed several new commissioners, including Rep. Jay Livingstone, Rep. Vanna Howard, Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa, Rep. John Marzi, and Leo Sarkisian, with brief introductions from the new legislative members. A substantial portion of the meeting focused on the commission’s current work and the broader policy environment affecting people with disabilities. Commissioners and subcommittee leaders raised concerns about federal threats to Medicaid/MassHealth, Section 504 accessibility protections, DEI-related rollbacks, immigration policy impacts on the direct care workforce, and the loss of funding for youth employment and vocational rehabilitation programs. Members also discussed ableist language in public discourse and the need for stronger advocacy and communication in response to these developments. Subcommittee reports highlighted recent activity on disability employment, workforce supports, and long-term services and supports/health equity. Presentations included veterans with disabilities, employment programming for young adults with disabilities, immigration and labor protections, MassHealth’s PCA working group, and a health equity roundtable. The commission also discussed future plans to create an advisory board, develop successor and mentoring planning, and launch regional “meeting the moment” listening sessions across the Commonwealth to strengthen outreach and leadership development. The meeting ended with an open invitation for commissioners to share urgent information with staff for broader distribution and a unanimous motion to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:28:34.480><c> getting</c><00:28:34.720><c> cornered</c> a nurse getting cornered a nurse getting
• Nurses Association, and they had no Nurses Association, and they had no problem<00:32:13.880><c> with
• Well, my daughter is a nurse, a registered nurse down in Nashua, and we've talked about this, these type
• Well, my daughter is a nurse, a registered<00:35:01.520><c> nurse</c><00:35:01.760><c> down</c><00:35
• A lot of nurses, emergency room nurses actually, and a physician have reached out to me, and they actually

Committee: House Criminal Justice and Public Safety

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Just a brief word about the Veteran Homelessness Prevention Program: I want to say When a program is
• The program that we're working with is through Lutheran Social Services, and it's a proven program.
• , is a great program.
• on loans, that money must go back into the program.
• that those on the program could potentially stay on this program. just that little bit above the 50%

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> increasing and it's not just nursing increasing and it's not just nursing it's<00:22:09.640><c>
• Thompson stated that a lot of our other programs, welding and a lot of those programs that involve college
• Thompson stated that a lot of our other programs, welding and a lot of those programs that involve college
• students, EKU with their textbook program, and Murray State with their scholarship programs for low-income
• programs for lowincome their scholarship programs for lowincome students<00:46:47.839><c> we</c><00:

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: Aaron Thompson, president of the Council on Postsecondary Education, and Travis Pal briefed the committee on Kentucky higher education performance, affordability, workforce alignment, and budget needs. Thompson said the state has made progress toward its 60x30 attainment goal, reporting 56.2% of adults with a credential of value and a 6.4% one-year increase in credentials. He highlighted gains in completion, enrollment recovery after COVID, lower student borrowing and debt, and faster degree completion, saying Kentucky is now back to an average of 4.1 years for four-year degrees. He also emphasized that postsecondary education has a strong return on investment for both students and the state. A major theme was student success and access. Thompson described efforts to reduce barriers through test-optional admissions, the elimination of zero-credit developmental education, expanded wraparound supports, and Bridge programming for students not fully prepared for college. He also promoted Futurity, a student-facing information website, and said CPE wants modest ongoing funding to maintain it. He argued that higher education must work in a P-20 system with K-12, and that the state should better communicate the value of certificates, trade programs, and other credentials, especially for adult learners and men, who he said are underrepresented in college-going. The presentation also focused on performance funding, capital needs, and workforce initiatives. Thompson and Pal said performance funding has pushed institutions toward more need-based aid and lower costs for low-income students, but they want more base funding, more performance funding dollars, and relief from about $38 million in mandated tuition waivers. They also said asset preservation and deferred maintenance remain major needs, estimating roughly $7 billion in campus need overall. On workforce, they cited healthcare pipeline work supported by state funding and private partners, and said HB 200 continues that effort into aviation, aerospace, and defense. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the presentation, which ended with members indicating interest in further discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• execute one bill, which is SB 197, relative to the medical supervision of the licensed registered nurse
• </c> something happening here and a nurse something happening here and a nurse being<00:32:26.080><c>
• I'm not sure, as I understand it, this isn't dealing with the nurse in liability.
• I would think the nurse would be, I mean, it is saying here that the nurse will be acting... where can
• and and chairman state house nurse?

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Legislative Administration Committee met to consider SB 197, which concerns medical supervision for the licensed registered nurse employed by the Legislative Facilities Committee. The main discussion focused on an amendment, 2025188H, that adds language about the chief medical officer’s authority to issue standing orders and includes immunity language for civil or criminal liability when acting in good faith and with reasonable care. John Williams of Health and Human Services explained that the language was modeled on similar provisions used for standing orders such as Narcan and epinephrine, and that it was vetted with the Attorney General’s office. Members raised questions about whether the immunity could shield mistakes or apply beyond the State House nurse; the chair clarified that the provision applies to the chief medical officer’s issuance of standing orders under this section, while the nurse’s practice remains governed by RSA 326. Representative Wade moved the amendment, which was seconded and adopted on a roll call vote of 10-0. The committee then voted on SB 197 as amended and recommended it ought to pass as amended, again by a 10-0 roll call vote. The bill was placed on consent, and the chair noted that a written committee report would be prepared. After the vote, the chair briefly updated members on other upcoming matters, including a Senate message on the Gold Star flag bill, the status of an enroll bills issue, and a Senate amendment to HB 248 on ethics. The committee also discussed scheduling for a joint historic committee meeting and a proposed Wentworth Cheswell portrait item, and members offered closing thanks to the chair, clerk, and staff for their work.

Transcript Highlights:

• Second, it allows physician assistants and nurse practitioners to sign a pre-hospital DNR.
• The park expansions, free parks pass programs, and equitable educational and recreational programs built
• down to 15% of degree programs.
• down to 15% of degree programs.
• Licensed vocational nurses may This bill updates the exempt practice settings.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I go now to Senator French. nursing services. And I would agree with nursing services.
• Not nursing home care, home care. There we go. Insurance.
• Not nursing home care, home care. There we go. Insurance.
• </c> short-term, long-term nursing home care. short-term, long-term nursing home care.
• </c><00:07:35.960><c> There</c> Not nursing home care, home care.

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The committee took up a series of amendments to the bill. Representative Keagle’s A21 amendment, which would have prohibited online sweepstakes games, raised the paddle wheel prize value, and added Hessian pepper as a social skill game, was discussed with support cited from a broad coalition of organizations, but it failed on a roll call vote. The A27 amendment, directing the Department of Commerce to perform a 62J evaluation of home care nursing services, was then adopted after members described it as a temporary step toward a longer-term solution for disability home care issues. Senator French’s A11 amendment, which raises the cap on deposits into the consumer protection restitution account and changes how those funds are distributed to eligible consumers, was also adopted. Representative O’Driscoll then offered the H.F. 4188 A22 amendment, described by counsel as incorporating language from House File 4333 on short-term and long-term home care insurance; members supported it as a way to expand private insurance options, and it was adopted. Finally, Representative Keagle moved Article 3, Section 11, a provision to reimburse clinical trainees providing mental health services at full rates, and that motion was adopted as well. Afterward, the committee authorized nonpartisan staff to make technical or necessary corrections to the bill, noted that the bill would not be wrapped up that day, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, if<00:09:00.160><c> I</c><00:09:00.560><c> support</c><00:09:00.959><c> nursing</c><00:09:01.279
• ><c> homes,</c><00:09:01.600><c> long-term</c> if I support nursing homes, long-term if I support nursing
• homes under CMS requirements. nursing homes under CMS requirements.
• I think this is a matter of individuals who have applied for the programs and then decisions have been
• and then decisions for uh the programs and then decisions have<00:41:01.920><c> been</c><00:41:02.079

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , loan programs and stuff like that, but do we, and I know FSA had a program at one time, I don't know
• , loan programs and stuff like that, but do we, and I know FSA had a program at one time, I don't know
• We have a program in family and community wellness, which includes our food and nutrition programs.
• So for this new program, which is called the Water Resources Certificate Program, we developed that in
• We are also planning to develop a new certificate program similar to this undergraduate program, but

Committee: Joint Agriculture and Water Management Committee

Summary: The committee met in Fargo and approved the minutes from the March 31 meeting before hearing a series of informational presentations focused on North Dakota agriculture, water, and research. NDSU President David Cook opened with remarks about NDSU’s land-grant mission, emphasizing statewide service through research, teaching, and extension, and highlighting examples such as the Lilac Agriculture startup and the university’s role in applying research to real-world problems. He said he intends to spend time listening across the state to better understand local needs. The committee then received a detailed presentation on a state irrigation and drainage study from Tom Bodine on behalf of Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring. The study projected significant potential for expanded irrigation acreage, especially in counties such as McLean, Williams, Sargent, Burleigh, Mountrail, McKenzie, McIntosh, Dunn, and Bottineau, and estimated major economic gains from irrigation, including higher farm returns and support for value-added agriculture. Members discussed water permits, surface water versus aquifers, infrastructure, drought resilience, and the role of legal drains in improving productivity and generating economic activity. The presenters also noted that the full report is available online. Dr. Greg Lardy followed with NDSU’s required interim report, outlining the university’s agricultural research and extension system, including the State Board of Agricultural Research and Education, seven research-extension centers, and the economic importance of agriculture to the state. He highlighted recent research impacts such as new crop varieties, potato breeding successes, virtual fencing, AI-assisted weed control, weather-network tools, and 4-H programming. He also described NDSU’s budget priorities: restoring the governor’s proposed 10% cuts, additional operating support, and deferred maintenance funding. Committee members asked about the new agricultural field lab, storage sheds, and NDSU’s partnership with Grand Farm. The committee also heard from the North Dakota Water Resources Research Institute and a professor presenting water-related research, including data center cooling, water reuse, smart irrigation, and a feasibility study on co-locating data centers with greenhouse and aquaculture production. Members asked about water use, ownership, and whether the concepts were operational or still speculative. Finally, North Dakota AgTech presented its NSF-funded innovation engine work, describing startup commercialization, on-farm trials, workforce development, and partnerships with NDSU, UND, tribal colleges, and other land-grant institutions. No formal votes were taken beyond approval of the prior meeting minutes.