Transcript Highlights:

• next committee, we can get a good work product in front of you.
• Unfortunately, as humans, this is not a victimless crime.
• We have to help serve almost 1100 survivors of human trafficking.
• We rank number 3 for human trafficking. We have to ask ourselves why.
• So while I expect the committee to pass through and be approved today by the Senate Committee and World

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That customer service piece.
• Continuity of services.
• We looked at some of our calls for service.
• Chairman, and all the members of the committee.
• I have a question about human trafficking. You are...

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to children in the department's conservatorship part of the Committee on Human Services.
• on Human Services.
• on Human Services.
• Human Services.
• refer to the Committee on Human Services.

Transcript Highlights:

• on Human Services.
• </c> on Human Services. on Human Services.
• Committee on Human Services be amended as recommended by the Committee on Appropriations?
• </c><02:03:35.920><c> Now</c> of the Committee on Human Services.
• Now of the Committee on Human Services.

Keywords: 926, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights and the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division
• The Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights and the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division
• The Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights and the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division
• The Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights and the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division
• The Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights and the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:00:05 Roll Call: 00:00:14 SB 26: 00:01:50 SB 64: 00:18:29 SB 73: 00:22:54, 958, all

Summary: The Senate Judiciary Committee met with a quorum and heard three bills. Senate Bill 26, sponsored by Chair Storm, would protect parents and prospective parents with disabilities by barring disability alone from being the sole basis for denying an adoption petition or terminating parental rights. Testimony from Judge Marcus Vanover and Crystal Adams described the bill as a product of the Kentucky Judicial Commission on Mental Health and its work groups, cited Kentucky and national cases and federal ADA guidance, and said the bill would require consideration of supportive services, clearer documentation, retention of records, and conforming language changes. Senator Carroll asked how the bill would apply to a hypothetical adult child with special needs; witnesses said the bill is aimed at adoption and termination proceedings where the Cabinet is already involved, not proactive service requests. The committee approved SB 26 by a unanimous 7-0 vote and sent it to the floor with favorable expression. The committee next considered Senate Bill 64, also sponsored by Chair Storm, which would expand the definition of key infrastructure assets to include telecommunications services such as telephone lines and broadband and make damaging, tampering with, or rendering those services inoperable a Class D felony. Representatives from Charter/Spectrum and AT&T testified that copper theft and vandalism have increasingly damaged fiber and other facilities, citing more than 20 incidents in Kentucky in 2024 affecting over 30,000 customers and diverting resources from broadband expansion. The committee adopted a committee substitute and then passed SB 64 by a 7-0 vote with favorable expression. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 73, sponsored by Senator Julie Adams, which would create a felony offense for sexual extortion, allow victims or their representatives to bring civil actions, include the offense in Kentucky’s sex-crime definitions, and require school-based notification and education efforts along with resource information for students. Senator Adams and witness Lady T. Thompson described sextortion as a fast-growing online crime targeting minors, often through social media, gaming, and messaging apps, and argued that stronger penalties and prevention efforts are needed. The transcript cuts off before any committee action on SB 73.

Transcript Highlights:

• I am the CFO for the Department of Health and Human Services.
• I was looking at the human services line.
• So will you be asking for all of the human service centers to go this direction?
• Health and Human Services.
• service zone... ...level, which is either the human service zone employee, because some of our decisions

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee was called to order, the roll was taken, and the March 18 minutes were approved. Members then received several project and program updates, beginning with CHI St. Alexius’s behavioral health buildouts in Bismarck, Williston, and Grand Forks. St. Alexius reported that the Bismarck project remains on track for June 2027 completion, with demolition underway and final design work nearing completion. Williston reported construction is progressing, staffing recruitment is underway for psychiatrists and other staff, and an air handler replacement is creating a roughly $750,000 unbudgeted barrier that will slightly delay the timeline. Grand Forks reported its expansion is about 30% complete, with no major barriers beyond weather, and leaders said the project should be substantially complete in the first quarter of 2027. The Department of Health and Human Services then presented a series of budget and program updates. Donna Ockland explained several recent line-item transfers as technical corrections that net to zero and do not require new spending, then reviewed salaries, wages, and FTE counts, noting the department remains within its authorized staffing levels. Pat Rainer followed with an update on the Rural Health Transformation Program, saying 12 opportunities have been posted, 422 applications received, and $8.4 million obligated so far, with a goal of obligating the full $199 million by September. He described grants for workforce retention, rural rotations and housing, community gardens, school wellness, behavioral health promotion, safety net services, equipment, technology, EMS, and other initiatives, emphasizing that the program is intended to be transformational and tied to metrics. Members asked extensive questions about how rural eligibility is defined, how grants will support both rural facilities and hub hospitals, and how future years of funding will build on current awards. The committee also heard an update on certified community behavioral health clinics from Elena Zeller, who said North Dakota has been accepted as a demonstration state, implementation is underway in Williston, North Central/Minot, Fargo, and Dickinson, and care coordination and service counts are increasing. Rebecca Askins then reviewed SNAP payment error rates, saying the 2025 rate was finalized at 9.89%, with the state aiming to get below 6% through policy updates, training, data tools, and a quality assurance team. Members pressed her on the causes of the error rate, the role of the SPACES software system, and the need for accountability and improvements. Finally, Dirk Wilkie reported the state laboratory project reached substantial completion on June 12 and is on budget at about $69.95 million, though a service elevator had to be redesigned because it was too small for equipment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Health and human services. SB 1559, rural groundwater management work groups. Natural resources.
• Appropriation, Transportation, Technology, Health and Human Services.
• Appropriation, Transportation, Technology, Health and Human Services.
• Health and Human Services at 9 a.m. in Hearing Room 2.
• Health and Human Services, 9 a.m., Hearing Room 2.

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, confirmed attendance, approved the journal, and welcomed several guests in the gallery, including a veteran and House candidate, a former legislative district chair, and two district guests attending in support of future highway-naming testimony. The chamber also extended well wishes to Senator Farnsworth’s wife, who was reported hospitalized, and announced a temporary committee replacement appointment for Senator Fernandez on the Education Committee. The bulk of the meeting consisted of reading House messages and introducing numerous bills for first reading and committee referral, covering a wide range of topics including transportation, taxation, education, health care, housing, water, public safety, elections, immigration, behavioral health, and appropriations. The Senate also placed many measures on second reading, including bills on school budgets, civics instruction, campaign finance, voter registration, housing, tax deductions, and public safety-related issues. Committee meeting announcements were made for the following day. The chamber then considered a gubernatorial nomination and, on a voice vote, confirmed James McCain to the Arizona Board of Regents for a term ending January 19, 2032. After a recess and return, additional bills were introduced and referred, including measures on corporal punishment in schools, homeless shelter funding, child care waiting lists, community gardens, solar energy requirements, insurance claims assistance, firearms regulation, and crime victim notification funding. The Senate adjourned at the end of the session until Wednesday, February 4, 2026, at 1:15 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• But my counter to that would be, yes, they're helping with health and human services, but they're also
• So I don't think you can make the argument that it would solely fall under health and human services.
• But my counter to that would be, yes, they're helping with health and human services, but they're also
• So I don't think you can make the argument that it would solely fall under health and human services.
• And again, we... that it would solely fall under health and human services.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Compassionate release is humane.
• Thank you, committee members.
• Thank you, Chair, and through the chair to the committee.
• Hello, committee. My name is Mois Don.
• While I expect the committee to pass through and be approved today by the Senate committee, and folks

Summary: The committee took up a full agenda of criminal justice and related bills, beginning with SB 1180 on AI-generated sexual images. Senator Gates explained the bill was prompted by an Escambia County case involving deepfake pornography created from images of teenage girls, and a student victim testified in support. The committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably. Members then approved SB 500, creating a Spectrum Alert system and related training for missing children with autism; SB 726, making swatting offenders liable for prosecution, investigation, and restitution costs; and SB 494, which would create a statewide animal abuse database, after extensive support testimony from shelters, law enforcement, and animal welfare advocates. SB 964, revising objective parole guidelines to account for rehabilitation and program participation, also passed after testimony from supporters of parole reform and compassionate release. The committee next approved SB 1344, a juvenile justice cleanup bill with a delete-all amendment that updated truancy, CINS, detention risk assessment, and other juvenile justice provisions. SB 468, increasing penalties for fleeing or eluding and allowing impoundment of involved vehicles, was reported favorably after limited opposition and support from law enforcement-related groups. SB 1136, increasing penalties for offenses involving minors and clarifying that ignorance of a victim’s age is not a defense, also passed after testimony from law enforcement supporters and two speakers opposed. SB 1660, on prostitution, drew the most extensive public comment: the sponsor said it was intended to distinguish trafficking victims from willing participants and shift penalties toward buyers and facilitators, while survivors, prosecutors, and advocates debated whether the substitute amendment would improperly criminalize prostituted persons; the committee ultimately adopted the substitute and reported the bill favorably. The committee then approved SB 1828, making trespass at large ticketed events and certain secured locations a felony, with discussion focused on crowd control and public safety at major events. SB 1386, increasing penalties for assault and battery on utility workers and adding propane workers through an amendment, passed with broad support. SB 612, closing a loophole so minors who distribute deadly drugs like fentanyl can be charged with murder in certain cases, was reported favorably after testimony from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and opposition from civil liberties groups. SB 814, which would allow firearms on college campuses and at school-sponsored events, drew strong opposition from students and faculty and was reported unfavorably. Finally, the committee began SB 1604 on corrections with a delete-all amendment that addressed filing deadlines for DOC-related claims, execution-method language, tracking devices, involuntary treatment, and parole-related statutory cleanup; the transcript cuts off before final action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• Human Services Agency.
• But the programs are administered locally by county health and human services agencies.
• Roar from the San Francisco Human Services Agency. pilots to identify those best practices.
• I'm Trent Roar, the executive director of the San Francisco Human Services Agency, which is a position
• To accomplish this, we must ensure that county human services eligibility staff can effectively screen

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Accountability and Oversight held a hearing on how H.R. 1’s new federal work and community engagement rules will affect Medi-Cal and CalFresh, especially for Californians with behavioral health needs, people experiencing homelessness, and justice-involved individuals. The Legislative Analyst’s Office outlined the scope of the changes, including Medi-Cal work requirements beginning in January 2027 and CalFresh changes beginning in June 2026, and estimated large potential coverage losses if people cannot document exemptions or comply with reporting rules. State departments said they are still awaiting some federal guidance but are already building implementation plans, data matching, outreach campaigns, and system changes to reduce disruption and automatically identify exemptions where possible. Department of Health Care Services and Department of Social Services officials described efforts to use existing data, CalSAWS, and cross-program coordination to streamline exemption screening, including for medical frailty, serious mental illness, substance use disorders, and student status. They said outreach will include text messaging, webinars, county training, and community-based partners, while also acknowledging that many people will still need direct worker contact. County representatives stressed that the new rules will create major administrative burdens, require significant new staffing, and could lead to coverage loss if counties are not adequately funded. They urged the Legislature to release the $20 million in current-year General Fund for CalFresh implementation and to consider a much larger county augmentation next year. Assembly members pressed the administration on outreach strategy, county funding, consistency across counties, and how to avoid harming eligible people through overly aggressive implementation. They also asked about coordination with universities, CDCR, and community-based organizations, and about how exemptions would be documented for mental health and substance use conditions. Department officials said they are working with counties, education institutions, and correctional agencies, and that they are trying to align Medi-Cal and CalFresh rules where possible, but not all federal definitions match. Public commenters from legal aid, counties, labor, and public hospitals warned that work requirements do not increase employment, will worsen food insecurity and health outcomes, and will strain county systems unless the state provides more funding and support.

Transcript Highlights:

• By Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services, Children, Families, and Elder Affairs, and
• By Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services, Show the motion adopted.
• By Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services, Children, Families, and Elder Affairs, and
• By Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services, Health Policy, and Senator Massullo, CS for
• By Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services, Health Policy, and Senator Massullo, CS for

Summary: The House convened with prayer, a moment of silence for Army Sergeant Benjamin Pennington, the Pledge of Allegiance, and quorum established. Members approved the journal and adopted the special order report setting the day’s calendar. The chamber also recognized Sheriff Mike Chitwood as law enforcement officer of the day and later held several introductions and farewell remarks, including lengthy closing speeches from Representatives Eskamani and Overdorf reflecting on their service and legislative priorities. The House then took up and passed a series of Senate bills, often after adopting House strike-all or conforming amendments. CS/SB 590 on mandatory child abuse reporting was clarified to apply prospectively only and passed 111-0. SB 418 on law enforcement interactions with individuals with autism was amended to incorporate House language, including blue-envelope provisions, and passed 111-0. CS/CS/SB 1668 on the Florida Birth-Related Neurological Injury Compensation Association (NICA) was amended to preserve House provisions and passed 112-0. CS/SB 1246 on the Linking Industry to Nursing Education Fund was amended to expand eligible health science programs and allow certain non-health-care contributions, then passed 112-0. CS/CS/SB 1404 on memory care passed 111-0. Later bills also advanced with broad support: CS/CS/SB 1030 on recovery residences passed 168-0 after debate over medication-assisted treatment; CS/CS/SB 178 on athletics in public K-12 schools passed 112-0 after amendments allowing limited coach support for student-athletes with parental consent; CS/CS/SB 422 on automatic dependent surveillance broadcasts passed 108-2; and CS/CS/SB 598 on funeral, cemetery, and consumer services passed 111-0 after an amendment on exclusive arrangements. The chamber then began debate on CS/CS/SB 1134, which would restrict counties and municipalities from official DEI-related actions and contracting practices. Members questioned its scope and exceptions, and Representative Gant offered an amendment to narrow the bill’s DEI definition; debate on that amendment was underway when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• or Human Rights Department.
• </c> not a protected class in the human not a protected class in the human rights<00:01:07.520><c> amendment
• uh</c><00:01:10.240><c> uh</c> rights amendment or human rights uh uh rights amendment or human rights
• House Research: The Minnesota Human Rights Act is actually one of the oldest human rights acts in the
• </c> re-referred to the Judiciary Committee. re-referred to the Judiciary Committee.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I am the CFO for the Department of Health and Human Services.
• I was looking at the human services line.
• Pat Rainer with Health and Human Services. I guess I'm operating the slide.
• Health and Human Services, here to talk about service denials and appeals, and how it's going to be
• service zone... ...level, which is either the human service zone employee, because some of our decisions

Summary: The committee met with a quorum, approved the March 18 minutes, and then received a series of updates on health-related projects and Department of Health and Human Services budget matters. Representatives from CHI St. Alexius in Bismarck and Williston, and Altru in Grand Forks, reported progress on behavioral health expansion projects, including demolition and construction milestones, updated timelines, funding status, staffing plans, and barriers such as an unbudgeted air handler replacement in Williston. Members asked about original completion dates, use of telehealth, recruitment of psychiatrists and other staff, and whether the new beds might reduce the need for patients to travel to Jamestown State Hospital. The projects were described as on track overall, with completion expected in 2027 for the larger builds and earlier openings for some phases in Williston. The committee then heard from HHS leadership on technical line-item transfers and the Salaries and Wages Block Grant. Donna Ockland explained that recent transfers were administrative corrections to place spending in the proper budget lines and did not involve new spending, and she reviewed FTE counts and vacancies across the department. Questions focused on behavioral health staffing changes and the use of consultants in the Rural Health Transformation Program. Pat Rainer outlined the rural health program’s first-year grants and priorities, including workforce retention, rural rotations and housing, community wellness initiatives, behavioral health promotion, safety net services, hospital equipment, suicide prevention training, technology, and EMS support. He said North Dakota’s plan was drawing positive national attention, but the department still needed to obligate roughly $199 million by September and was working with CMS on timing and compliance. The committee also received an update on certified community behavioral health clinics from Elena Zeller. She said North Dakota had been accepted as a demonstration state, with certification efforts underway in Williston, North Central, Fargo, and Dickinson. Members asked about care coordination, service growth, staffing, and whether certification would expand to all clinics; the department said it was still collecting baseline data and evaluating impacts before making future recommendations. Finally, Rebecca Askins reviewed SNAP payment error rates, explaining that the 2025 rate was finalized at 9.89 percent and that the department is working on training, system changes, and quality assurance steps to get below 6 percent. Members pressed on the causes of monthly variability, the performance of the SPACES system, and accountability for ongoing errors, and the department said it expects improvement over the next 6 to 12 months.

Transcript Highlights:

• Human trafficking is happening here in Idaho.
• Now, while hopefully human trafficking wasn't going on there, Now, while hopefully human trafficking
• I initiated a human trafficking case in 2012, I initiated a human trafficking case in 2004, one of only
• Committee, for listening to this today.
• This committee has always been strong against this wickedness of human trafficking since I've been here

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The House Judiciary Rules Committee approved the minutes from January 27, 2026 and then heard two RS introductions and two bill hearings. RS 3-3101, a minor revision to reckless driving language adding “active” school zone or construction zone, was introduced without opposition. RS 33096, clarifying that willful and malicious disturbance of a worship service is disturbing the peace, was also introduced after brief discussion about wording and protection of religious worship. The committee then heard House Bill 522, which would address drones operating in the security zone around correctional facilities by allowing the Department of Corrections and law enforcement to take reasonable measures against them and making violations a misdemeanor. Representative Hill, IDOC’s Chad Page, and anti-drone expert Dirk Manley described drones as a growing threat for contraband, surveillance, and escape planning, citing thousands of detections near prisons and examples from other states. A public witness raised First Amendment and cost concerns, but the bill was moved to the floor with a due pass recommendation on a unanimous roll call. House Bill 518, which would allow local law enforcement to request that the Attorney General’s office take the lead on human trafficking investigations and prosecutions, drew extensive testimony in support from police, victim advocates, city officials, and prosecutors. Supporters said trafficking cases are complex, multi-jurisdictional, and traumatic for victims, and that a statewide prosecutorial option would improve coordination and reduce re-traumatization. The Attorney General’s office testified neutrally, saying it supports the mission but would need additional resources and that the bill’s current scope may be too narrow because trafficking cases often include other felonies. Despite those concerns, the committee voted unanimously to send HB 518 to the floor with a due pass recommendation, and the meeting adjourned after a scheduled budget presentation was postponed.

Transcript Highlights:

• Engrossed Committee Substitute for Committee Substitute for House Bill 4483, relating to funeral service
• Engrossed Committee Substitute for Committee Substitute for House Bill 4483 relating to funeral service
• Senate Bill 827, supplemental appropriation to the Department of Human Services.
• Senate Bill 830, supplemental appropriation to the Department of Human Services.
• Senate Bill 840, supplemental appropriation to the Department of Human Services.

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, and I get to see this pretty much twice a week on the Senate Human Services Committee, where the
• We also are seeing moratoriums. the Senate Human Services Committee the Senate Human Services Committee
• Um, and we just had a bill yesterday in the Senate Human Services Committee that would actually have
• And so my concern is, on the Human Services Committee, we're literally making it harder to be a provider
• :26.720><c> services</c><00:17:27.039><c> committee,</c> is on the human services committee, is on the

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm Kyle Raymond, a Senate fiscal analyst to the Senate Human Services Committee.
• This is a called human services grants.
• EIDBI is kind of odd to be in human services because it's actually a medical service.
• services because it's actually a human services because it's actually a medical<01:17:50.719><c> service
• services finance and health and human services finance and policy<02:10:12.320><c> bill.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> a</c> Agency of Human Services to implement a Agency of Human Services to implement a sexual<01:
• </c> housing, and the Agency of Human housing, and the Agency of Human Services Services Services and
• </c><02:10:26.040><c> Services,</c> Agency of Human Services, Agency of Human Services, Champlain<02:
• </c><02:10:37.760><c> Services</c> the chair of the Human Services the chair of the Human Services Committee
• </c> Committee from the House, House Human Committee from the House, House Human Services, Services,

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Then it came to this committee, and our committee and the Insurance Committee have been in these conversations
• Then it came to this committee, and our committee and the Insurance Committee have been in these conversations
• society, human civilization, and humans overall.
• society, human civilization, and humans overall.
• society, human civilization, and humans overall.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'll call this informational hearing of the Assembly Human Services Committee to order.
• Good afternoon, Chairman Lee and members of the Human Services Committee.
• Good afternoon, Chairman Lee and members of the Human Services Committee.
• — I mean, sorry, the Human Services Committee members.
• Good afternoon, Chair Lee, and members of the Human Services Committee.

Keywords: 988, house, all