Transcript Highlights:

• And it's actually a question directed to Amy and the opposition.
• We are not going to control the 10% that are buying this legally; they don't care.
• They don't care where their battery ends up. And this is not going to help that.
• I don't care if adults do this, that's on them. But our kids are addicted to this.
• 90% are not, they don't care where their battery ends up. They don't.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• When this one begins child care, our annual cost will be over $37,000, and that's just part-time care
• </c><01:19:15.680><c> I'm</c> in child care for 17 years. I'm in child care for 17 years.
• As a child care provider, I hear from legislators that they want to support child care, but I am told
• </c> deserve affordable high-quality care. deserve affordable high-quality care.
• ,</c> While we have to still fund child care, While we have to still fund child care, schools,<01:40:

Bills: HF4561, HF4343

Keywords: homeless prevention aid, homelessness, housing stability, rental assistance, family homelessness, unaccompanied youth, housing navigation, legal representation, family outreach, county aid, Tribal governments, local government aid, general fund appropriation, unspent funds, aid redistribution, sunset repeal, Minnesota property tax aid, services for persons experiencing homelessness, sales tax, use tax

Transcript Highlights:

• Currently, I do critical care. Hold on real quick, your position on the bill? I'm for it. Okay.
• I'm currently a Critical Care Paramedic in Pediatrics.
• Start moving in the direction where we can solve it. I appreciate it. I like that. Thank you.
• ALICE is our local cashier, our child care provider, our small business owner.
• There's no direction about seeking higher ground or an assembly point.

Bills: HB48, HB 66, HB 68, HB71, HB75, HB164, HB171, HB254, SB 3, SB 18, HB123, HB149, HB117

Keywords: HB 48, Texas alert notification systems, emergency alerts, public warning systems, alert fatigue, notification fatigue, Texas Division of Emergency Management, Department of Public Safety, DPS alerts, emergency management, State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry, STEAR, disaster notifications, weather alerts, Amber Alert, Silver Alert, Blue Alert, missing persons alerts, accessible alerts, hearing impaired

Transcript Highlights:

• At the same time, the initiative includes careful and explicit carve-outs.
• wait months before they got access to health care, and thank you for passing that.
• So my direct question, which I respect to get an answer, would that be covered or not covered?
• Are you directing how that money's being used? Are you directing how that money is being used?
• The question, auditor, with all the respect, is: are you directing how that money is being used?

Bills: H5004

Keywords: public records, public records law, transparency, open government, government accountability, legislature, general court, governor's office, executive records, legislative records, constituent communications, policy drafts, deliberative process, freedom of information, FOIA, records access, Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 66, Chapter 4, veterans services records, initiative petition

Transcript Highlights:

• in care.
• A hand specialist may not care about the elbow, may not care about the knee, so it may limit their exposure
• It cuts off care.
• Don't you think, in a global scenario, that that's going to deliver better care, faster care to the most
• care that they need to get back to work.

Summary: The House Labor and Industrial Relations Committee met on May 7, 2026, and first deferred several measures, including House Bill 460, Senate Bill 322, Senate Bill 32, Senate Bill 22, and House Bill 561. The committee then took up House Bill 819 by Chairman Cruz, which would replace Louisiana’s current workers’ compensation medical treatment schedule with the Official Disability Guidelines (ODG) by MCG as the primary guideline, while keeping the existing variance and appeal process. Cruz and MCG representative Troy Prevo argued that ODG is more comprehensive, updated more frequently, and used in many states, and said it could reduce delays, disability duration, and costs. Dr. Jason Picard, the state medical director, testified that Louisiana already uses ODG as a secondary reference in many cases because the state schedule lacks coverage for some body parts and treatments, and said the bill would not otherwise change the appeals process or care delivery. Committee members focused heavily on whether the bill would delay care or improve it. Several members questioned the private-company nature of ODG, the $400 annual subscription cost, and whether Louisiana doctors would be forced to rely on an out-of-state guideline. Rep. Glorioso and others raised concerns about preauthorization delays and proposed amendments to create tacit approval when treatment follows the schedule, require payment within 30 days, and make the carrier prove by clear and convincing evidence that care was not medically necessary to challenge it. Chairman Cruz said he was willing to work with those ideas, and the committee also discussed adding an on-ramp or legacy language so current patients would not be disrupted. Opposition testimony came from injured-worker advocates and representatives of medical and labor groups, including Joseph Jola St. and Robin Krumholt. They argued that Louisiana’s current guidelines are already working, that rates have fallen over time, and that the real problem is delay in approval rather than the content of the schedule. They said ODG is overly rigid, cost-driven, and can lead to denials that shift costs to workers, Medicaid, or private health insurance. They urged the committee to keep Louisiana’s existing system and instead adopt tacit approval under current law. The bill was still under discussion at the close of the transcript, with amendments being read and no final vote shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• If you come to Midwestern, you're under patient care, under student care.
• If you come to Midwestern, you're under patient care, under student care.
• It helps our health care system take care of Arizonans because we critically need all of these folks.
• I believe in allied health care.
• “I don’t care who gets the credit.

Summary: The committee opened by announcing a heavy agenda and noting that Senate Bill 1176 would be held. It then took up several Senate bills, beginning with SB 1272, which appropriates $5 million for the City of Douglas as a state match for the Douglas Port of Entry project. The bill was amended to draw the money from the Water Supply Development Revolving Fund instead of the General Fund. Senator Gowen, the Douglas mayor, and city staff described the project as a $678 million federal investment opportunity that would support water, wastewater, and broadband infrastructure, create jobs, and improve border security. The committee approved SB 1272 as amended on a 15-0 vote with three present and one not voting. The committee next approved SB 1503, as amended, which expands the state death benefit to include civilian pilots employed by law enforcement agencies and applies the change retroactively to January 1, 2026. Senator Gowen and DPS leadership testified that the change was needed so the family of a pilot killed in a February helicopter crash would qualify for the benefit. The bill passed 18-0 with one not voting. SB 1274, as amended, created a separate timeshare salesperson license and training path; supporters said it would streamline licensing for people who only sell timeshares, while one member objected to the added rulemaking discretion. It passed 17-1 with one not voting. The committee also approved SB 1286, which expands veterinary telemedicine by allowing longer prescription periods for certain medications after an electronic exam, with shorter limits for antimicrobials. Supporters said it would help rural and disabled pet owners and had been negotiated to the satisfaction of veterinarians and telemedicine advocates. The bill passed 18-0 with one not voting. SB 1519, as amended, raised the off-highway vehicle weight threshold from 2,500 to 3,500 pounds and revised related registration and funding provisions; supporters argued it would reflect newer enclosed-cab vehicles and better align Arizona with neighboring states, while opponents warned of trail damage and said the study process was not complete. It passed 10-7 with one present and one not voting. Finally, the committee approved SB 1618, which restructures the Military Affairs Commission, adds members with defense and aerospace expertise, requires more frequent meetings and reporting, and updates the Military Installation Fund and related duties to better attract and retain defense missions. Supporters said the changes would help Arizona compete for military and defense investment, while some members questioned whether the commission’s mission was being broadened too far and whether the existing structure should instead be handled through other agencies. The bill passed 10-6 with one present and one not voting. The committee then considered SCR 1020, which would index legislative salaries to inflation or deflation starting with future officeholders if approved by voters. Supporters argued the current $24,000 salary had eroded significantly since 1998 and limited who could serve, while opponents objected to legislators voting on their own pay or preferred reducing session time instead. The resolution was approved and sent forward for voter consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is the Corps for offender health care.
• care services.
• Health care needs.
• Anything additional on offender health care or the new decision item relating to offender health care
• My question was more so on the new NDI on offender health care.

Summary: The committee first heard the Missouri National Guard’s FY 2027 budget request in House Bill 2008. Brigadier General Bob Payne outlined the Guard’s dual state and federal mission, recent deployments and state activations, counter-drug work, and the need to maintain readiness and aging armory infrastructure. Members questioned several items, including a proposed internal auditor position required by statute, a World Cup-related NDI, the use of general revenue versus other funds, and a federal match for base operations support at Rosecrans Airport. The presentation then shifted into executive session, where the committee reviewed a House committee substitute and several amendments. One amendment to fund the Missouri State Fair’s Great American State Fair participation with ag and tourism funds was rejected, while an amendment reducing $50,000 in House and Senate legal contingency funding was adopted. Another amendment directing budget information to all committee members rather than only chairs was rejected. The committee then adopted the substitute and voted House Bill 2014 do pass by a 24-0-1 vote. The committee next took up the Department of Corrections FY 2027 budget in House Bill 2009. DOC described a new CERT stipend increase, a reduction in the Office of Director’s Staff, and several core items including professional standards, federal funds, community treatment programming, education grants, population growth pool, restitution payments, human services staff, telecommunications, general services, fuel and utilities, food purchases, food service, staff training, employee health and safety, overtime, adult institution staff, institution E&E, wage and discharge, and individual institutions. Members asked about the CERT stipend, PREA allegations, education funding, restitution payments, the population growth pool, the working capital revolving fund, food service costs, overtime, retention, warden turnover, the prison nursery, and the use of inmate canteen funds. DOC said CERT members are full-time employees who volunteer for additional duty, that staffing has improved but remains a challenge, that the food service increase reflects the end of inventory credits and inflation, and that the department generally spends non-GR funds first when possible. Discussion also turned to whether DOC facilities could be repurposed for pretrial or mental health populations; DOC said it is legally limited to post-sentence inmates and that staffing and labor-market constraints make reopening closed facilities difficult.

Transcript Highlights:

• And in fact, in ASV, the child was allegedly in foster care before the state ran foster care.
• We had a plaintiff who said she thought she had been in foster care.
• We had some relatives who said they thought that she had been in foster care.
• care services that are provided to that client.
• care services that are provided to that client.

Summary: The committee held a work session on tort liability and parole, with the chair explaining that the topics were linked because criminal justice reform and state liability often intersect, especially in cases involving child welfare and corrections. Staff first outlined Washington’s tort liability framework, including the state’s broad waiver of sovereign immunity, statutes governing mandatory reporting and investigation of abuse, the childhood sexual abuse statute of limitations, and the lack of caps on non-economic damages. Staff and presenters also compared Washington to other states and noted that Washington remains among the broadest states for state liability and childhood sexual abuse claims. Presenters from the Attorney General’s office, Washington State Association for Justice, DCYF, DSHS, and DOC discussed how tort exposure has grown, especially in claims involving DCYF, historical child abuse, juvenile rehabilitation, vulnerable adults, employment discrimination, medical negligence, and negligent supervision. DCYF and AG staff said claims and payouts are rising, with many claims tied to older abuse and new theories of liability, while defense counsel emphasized the human harm behind the claims and argued that tort cases have historically driven accountability and reform. Agency witnesses said they face large volumes of old claims with limited records, rising verdicts and settlements, and staffing and systems challenges, and they highlighted efforts such as early resolution programs, electronic health records, medication-assisted treatment, and improved incident review processes. The committee then shifted to parole. Sentencing experts reviewed Washington’s move from indeterminate sentencing to the current determinate sentencing system under the Sentencing Reform Act, and explained how parole could be integrated with sentencing guidelines through different models used in other states. They also summarized Criminal Sentencing Task Force recommendations related to a determinate-plus approach for three-strikes and persistent offender laws and a second-chance review process, noting there was no consensus on those ideas. Judges from the Minority and Justice Commission and the Superior Court Judges Association said a parole system could support rehabilitation and reduce disparities if it includes data collection, fairness, transparency, due process, and meaningful judicial review; they also pointed to research suggesting parole and structured reentry can reduce recidivism and costs, while warning that access and outcomes can vary by geography and other factors.

Transcript Highlights:

• Why are we going this direction?
• They may not care for Florida as much or care about taking care of it when they're visiting it.
• And I just feel that this bill is a step in the wrong direction.
• And so I think that this bill is definitely a step in the wrong direction.
• Not in the correct direction. My opinion. Thank you. Thank you.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our children need a straightforward framework where their medical care demands direct permission, not
• And additionally, it confuses the roles of schools in health care, and it continues to chip away at our
• However, we do want clear parental opt-ins when it comes to stuff that parents have the direct say over
• , not their child, can have these sorts of things done. ...to have the direct say over, not their child
• In my bill, I thought that I was following directions in terms of being less wordy.

Summary: The Pre-K-12 Education Committee took up a series of education, school safety, health, and student access bills. SB 754 on International Baccalaureate bonus funds was amended to clarify the theory of knowledge course and then reported favorably. SB 370 would allow routine non-invasive school health screenings, such as vision, hearing, and dental checks, to proceed with written notice and an opt-out process rather than active parental consent; supporters said it would improve participation and access, while opponents argued it was too broad and weakened parental rights. After debate over scope, funding, and consent, the bill was reported favorably. The committee also advanced SB 1070, which would require ECG screenings for student athletes under a phased rollout beginning in 2026, with religious and medical opt-outs. The bill was renamed the Second Chance Act in honor of Chance Gainer. Supporters described it as a life-saving measure to detect hidden cardiac conditions, while some members raised cost and implementation concerns. SB 508, the Family Empowerment Scholarship bill, would require private schools to disclose in writing what accommodations and services they will provide to students with IEPs, 504 plans, or ELL plans before enrollment; it was supported by parents, advocacy groups, and some school representatives and was reported favorably. School safety measures were also considered. SB 1470 would refine campus locking and supervision rules, create clearer exceptions, expand training and security options for school safety personnel, and allow district-employed law enforcement officers to use canines for threat detection. Witnesses from school safety and Parkland-related advocacy groups supported the bill but urged caution on exemptions and implementation details. SB 1472 would extend a public records exemption to certified school security guards, matching the protection already given to school guardians, and it was reported favorably. Finally, SB 248 would expand participation in FHSAA sports for private school and home education students at public schools when their own schools do not offer the sport, and SB 1618 made broad changes to VPK through grade 12 policy, including reading instruction, financial literacy, school funds restrictions, teacher certification, and advisory council rules; both bills were reported favorably. Several members later recorded votes in support of specific tabs before the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Idaho Child Care Program capacity is intended to fund child care programs needing short-term investments
• The program will allow eligible child care providers to apply for new contracted child care slots.
• for children, which can prevent entry into foster care.
• And we heard Director Adams really hone in on... ...to keep kids out of foster care.
• The purpose, of course, is to strengthen rural health care across the nation.

Summary: The Senate Health and Welfare Committee first considered the gubernatorial reappointment of Clayton Steele to the Board of Environmental Quality. Steele described his background in environmental work at DEQ and Clearwater Paper, his experience with air quality and rulemaking, and said he brings a balance of public- and private-sector perspectives to the board. Senators asked about major challenges, including a contested case involving Perpetua, and whether his employment created any conflicts of interest; Steele said he had not encountered conflicts. The committee thanked him and indicated the vote on his reappointment would likely occur at the next meeting. The committee then received a Legislative Services Office presentation on the Department of Health and Welfare budget, with emphasis on non-Medicaid programs. LSO analysts reviewed the department’s staffing, expenditures, and the state budget process, then outlined FY 2027 requests. Highlights included no-change maintenance budgets for Youth Safety and Permanency, Licensing and Certification, Substance Abuse Services, and the independent councils; a $16 million one-time federal request for Idaho Child Care Program capacity plus ongoing staffing for program integrity; a $600,000 ongoing general fund request for court-ordered evaluation and treatment; $180,000 for the Kinship Navigation Grant; $4.2 million for the Idaho Home Visiting Program; and a larger ongoing dedicated-fund request for the Immunization Assessment Fund, along with ARPA grant funding scheduled to sunset. Members asked several questions about the Home Visiting Program, including the source of the $1 million general fund transfer and whether it was being counted toward the department’s 3% holdback. The chair explained the program’s history as a prevention effort and expressed concern about the department’s treatment of the pass-through funds. The presentation also covered Division of Welfare requests tied to H.R. 1, including a $4.3 million general fund shift for SNAP administration, $1.8 million for Medicaid expansion work requirements, and a one-time $1.9 million eligibility system change. Mental health and psychiatric hospitalization budgets were noted as decreasing on the general fund side while relying more on dedicated endowment funds. Finally, LSO outlined the Rural Health Transformation Program, a new federal grant under H.R. 1. Idaho received $925 million over five years, with an initial $185.9 million award, and the governor recommended a FY 2026 supplemental and FY 2027 enhancement to begin implementation, including 12 limited-service FTPs, $1.3 million ongoing personnel costs, and $294 million one-time for program activities. Senators asked about allowable uses, timelines, tribal participation, and oversight, and the chair noted additional legislative proposals would be coming. The committee adjourned after indicating it would meet again the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• The idea is to direct it. There's TLR here, and then Joe Madison.
• It's been my privilege as a cancer surgeon to take care of patients at M.D.
• enhance patient care across the state and expand care, allowing us to see more Texas patients.
• I believe in the PA's compassionate, collaborative care mindset.
• level of care.

Bills: HB111

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Before we move on to our regular business, we need to take care of some housekeeping.
• Before we move on to our regular business, we need to take care of some housekeeping.
• As is usual, please silence your cell phones. care of some housekeeping.
• Our members care of some housekeeping.
• </c> that direction. So, thank you so much. that direction. So, thank you so much.

Keywords: 0:16 – CALL TO ORDER 0:20 – ROLL CALL 0:56 – ELECTION OF CO-CHAIRS 1:54 – APPROVAL OF MINUTES 2:10 – OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL 3:28 – PERSONNEL BOARD 4:30 – EDUCATION AND LABOR CABINET, BOARD OF EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION 5:18 – PUBLIC PROTECTION CABINET, OFFICE OF CLAIMS & APPEALS 12:03 – PUBLIC PROTECTION CABINET, DEPARTMENT OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL 12:54 – CABINET FOR HEALTH AND FAMILY SERVICES, DEPARTMENT FOR MEDICAID SERVICES 14:54 – CABINET FOR HEALTH AND FAMILY SERVICES, DEPARTMENT FOR COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES 31:44 – NEXT MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT/ADJOURNMENT, 958, all

Summary: The Administrative Regulation Review Subcommittee met to reorganize its leadership for the new term, renewing Representative Derek Lewis as House co-chair and Senator Steven West as Senate co-chair. The committee then approved the minutes and moved through a series of agency regulations, generally adopting staff-suggested amendments without objection. Among the regulations reviewed were an Attorney General rule changing how a commission reviews and distributes funds and how grant reporting is handled; Personnel Board changes abolishing and renaming certain job classifications and adjusting probationary periods; an Education and Labor Cabinet rule removing references to local board of education members; several Public Protection Cabinet rules covering Board of Claims and Crime Victims’ Compensation procedures; an Alcoholic Beverage Control rule on direct-to-consumer shipping forms; and a Medicaid Services emergency regulation establishing the Kentucky Trauma Hospital Rate Improvement Program for rural hospitals serving many Medicaid patients. The committee also heard that the Board of Claims and Crime Victims’ Compensation regulations included both staff and, in one case, an agency amendment, which were approved. The most extended discussion came on the Department for Community Based Services’ regulation increasing per diem rates for private child-placing therapeutic foster care levels 2 and 3. Committee members questioned the estimated $10 million biennial cost, the source of the funding, and why the cabinet had not yet filed regulations implementing Senate Bill 151 on kinship care. DCBS staff said the rate increase was discretionary and intended to address placement crises for children with high needs, while acknowledging they could not personally explain the budget decisions. A kinship caregiver testified in support of the rate increase but urged the cabinet to also implement SB 151 and expand support for kinship families. The committee expressed frustration over the lack of SB 151 implementation but stated the rate increase itself was appropriate and allowed the regulation to proceed.

Transcript Highlights:

• But, for instance, they would go into a specialized care setting for, like, memory care, very similar
• Specialized care settings, like memory care, are very similar to what happens in the community, where
• Um, and oftentimes you can find cheaper care and more effective care in the community.
• and more effective care uh in uh care and more effective care uh in the<00:52:21.680><c> community.
• </c><01:22:53.600><c> Well,</c> what direction we go. Well, what direction we go.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The related to connective tissue repair, wound care, or pain management.
• You have the courage to challenge and the compassion to care.
• , child care, and food insecurity.
• Thank you. affordability, including housing, property insurance, health care, child care, and food insecurity
• This is a very strong step in the right direction of regulating data centers.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so this 100 million would be directed towards them.
• And with that, we'll move on to the health care authority.
• All right, one more for the health care authority.
• within the Health Care Authority and how the... Mr.
• I don't care how bad the economy is; I don't care what's going on in your life.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, maybe people start costing down so we can take care of our residents.
• </c><00:11:14.800><c> Any</c> we can take care of our residents.
• Any we can take care of our residents.
• The uh I'd just like to direct your attention.
• </c><00:42:48.240><c> his</c> know where he was directing his know where he was directing his comments

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh on managed care for aging population.
• </c> certainty whether or not a managed care certainty whether or not a managed care model<00:06:00.240
• </c> implemented long-term managed care implemented long-term managed care support<00:06:08.639><c> services
• </c> coordinated care for dual eligibles. coordinated care for dual eligibles.
• And I have another question, if I could direct it.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The Committee to Study Long-Term Managed Care met to approve the prior minutes and then focused on its final report. The chair reviewed the committee’s earlier options—maintaining the status quo, adopting DNIP, adopting an HCBS carveout model, or moving fully to managed care for the aging population—and noted that ABD and developmental disabilities had already been excluded from consideration. He proposed a final recommendation that New Hampshire consider adopting DNIP as a voluntary option to better coordinate Medicare and Medicaid for dual eligibles, reduce duplication, and create a possible pathway toward future managed care, while acknowledging that a majority and minority report could be issued if needed. Members generally supported the draft recommendation and asked questions about whether federal budget changes would incentivize states to move in that direction, how the proposal would align with current department efforts, and whether the program would remain voluntary. Director Henry Litman said he did not see a specific federal mandate in OB3, but noted incentives in rural health transformation funding and said the proposal aligned with existing managed care contract direction. He and others emphasized that DNIP should be voluntary and that implementation timing would need to account for federal deadlines and broader changes facing the department. Members also discussed PACE, with one member saying it appeared feasible mainly in more populous areas and expressing neutrality, while another raised concerns about county risk and the need to preserve patient choice and maintain three MCOs. After discussion, members indicated agreement with the majority report approach and no further changes were proposed. The committee then moved to accept the draft language as presented and issue it as its report; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Amen. our leaders with love and sovereign our leaders with love and sovereign care. care. care.
• </c><00:06:10.680><c> the</c> Madden, a joint resolution directing the Madden, a joint resolution directing
• </c><00:06:50.120><c> the</c> Madden, a joint resolution directing the Madden, a joint resolution directing
• So, please be careful with your people. So, please be careful with your words. words. words.
• </c> neighbors, educators, health care neighbors, educators, health care providers,<01:44:38.360><c>

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We did promise To health care.
• They provide access to health care.
• Missourians in my office begging us not to cut their vital services: health care, housing, child care
• care.
• I care who is responsible for the burden of paying those tax dollars, and I care about...

Keywords: 959, house, all