Transcript Highlights:

• . >> House File number 3378, number three on the calendar for the day, an act relating to human services
• giving this information to the chairs and staff of the human services committee, there were no real
• House File 3378 is seeking for members of the human service committees who would have to start the process
• </c><00:06:54.560><c> service</c><00:06:54.880><c> committees</c><00:06:55.440><c> who</c> of the human
• service committees who of the human service committees who would<00:06:55.919><c> have</c><00:06:56.080

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Committee will come to order. Welcome, everyone, to the House Community Safety Committee.
• The committee will be holding public hearings on four bills referred to the committee, not in the order
• Chair and members of the committee. For the record, Lena Langer, staff to the committee.
• Chair, members of the committee. Again, for the record, Lena Langer, counsel to the committee.
• Chair, members of the committee.

Summary: The House Community Safety Committee held public hearings on several bills. House Bill 2209 would add 12- or 24-month sentencing enhancements for theft-related offenses when the value of stolen, possessed, or trafficked property exceeds $20,000 or $50,000, respectively. Rep. Mari Leavitt said the bill targets organized retail theft and related violence, emphasizing business losses, worker safety, and links to broader criminal activity. Supporters included prosecutors, retailers, law enforcement, and city officials who described organized retail crime as coordinated, underreported, and harmful to employees and communities. Opponents argued theft trends are declining, existing penalties are sufficient, and sentencing enhancements would worsen incarceration and racial disparities. The hearing on HB 2209 was left open for additional testimony. House Bill 2403 would revise penalties for failure to register as a sex offender or kidnapping offender, including lowering the seriousness level for second and subsequent offenses from level 2 to level 1 in the proposed substitute. Testimony was overwhelmingly supportive or neutral. Proponents from the Sex Offender Policy Board, sentencing commission, public defenders, prosecutors, and sheriffs’ representatives said the bill reflects long-negotiated recommendations, better matches the offense’s administrative nature, and may improve compliance by pairing shorter prison terms with community custody and supervision. The committee then closed the public hearing on HB 2403. House Bill 1591, in a proposed substitute, would create a sentencing alternative, resentencing option, and conviction-vacation process for defendants who are verified survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, or human trafficking, where abuse was the primary and proximate cause of the offense. Supporters, including survivor advocates, prosecutors involved in diversion programs, and researchers, said many incarcerated women are survivors and current law often fails to account for coercion and trauma. Some witnesses urged broader eligibility and less reliance on formal documentation. Prosecutors and sheriffs’ representatives expressed concerns about discretion, potential public-safety impacts, and whether existing sentencing factors already address these cases. The committee also heard extensive testimony on House Bill 2526, which would rename patronizing a prostitute as commercial sexual exploitation, expand the offense to include providing anything of value, elevate it from a misdemeanor to a Class C felony, and increase associated fees. Supporters framed it as a response to trafficking, exploitation, and violence against women and children, while opponents—many of them sex workers or survivors—argued it would criminalize consensual adult sex work, push the industry further underground, and reduce safety and income for vulnerable people.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is the Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 2 on Human Services issues.
• We’ll move on to part two on human services issues. I don’t know.
• Are there specific examples within the Human Services Department of Social Services space you would note
• Much in the health and human services world, correct?
• Department of Developmental Services, I think, are the big cost drivers in human services. Got it.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Human Services held a hearing on the Governor’s May Revision, with no votes taken. The first major topic was child care and early education, where the Department of Social Services and Department of Finance outlined proposed changes to absorb federal Child Care and Development Fund and Proposition 64 revenue reductions, shift some funding between child care programs, end funding for prospective pay implementation now that the federal requirement has been rescinded, adjust the alternative payment administration structure, and fund child care infrastructure grants and a Low-Income Investment Fund contract closeout. The Legislative Analyst’s Office said the budget makes progress on the structural deficit but recommended maintaining the administration’s solution level, making reserve deposits, and avoiding new ongoing commitments; it also raised concerns about shifting reductions to the California Alternative Payment Program and about the proposed administrative-rate change. Committee members strongly criticized the proposed loss of child care slots and said they would oppose eliminating those slots, while also expressing support for child care as essential infrastructure. The committee then reviewed California State Preschool Program proposals. Finance and CDE described reductions to the preschool COLA from 2.41% to 2.01%, removal of prospective pay funding, and increases for the QRIS block grant, audit support, and rate reform implementation. Trailer bill language would codify age-based rate categories, inclusion-rate documentation, family fee collection rules, portability, and excused absences. CDE supported the QRIS increase and some attendance and family-fee changes, but warned that aligning three- and four-year-old rates could reduce support for three-year-olds and that the budget does not fully cover enrollment growth. Members also questioned whether the preschool and child care slot reductions should be reallocated rather than terminated, and the administration said the reductions were intended to reflect current utilization and avoid harm to currently enrolled families. The hearing then moved to CalFresh and nutrition programs. CDSS said the May Revision includes a one-time CalFood augmentation, funding to cover federal SNAP administrative cost-share pressures, and additional staffing and technical assistance to implement HR 1 changes, including the able-bodied adults without dependents time limit and new non-citizen eligibility rules. The department estimated HR 1 could cut CalFresh funding by $2.3 billion to $3.7 billion annually and affect about 500,000 people, with roughly 806,000 adults potentially subject to the time limit and about 34,000 non-citizens expected to lose eligibility once fully implemented. Members pressed for stronger harm mitigation, including a $98 million backfill to protect families from losing food benefits, and raised concerns about county workload and the “chilling effect” on immigrant participation. The final portion of the transcript began the IHSS presentation, noting a revised budget of $33.7 billion total funds and $12.8 billion General Fund, with proposed reductions tied to Medi-Cal asset-limit changes and other federal conformity items.

Transcript Highlights:

• So there's some other vehicles that we can do within human services when we get into the conference committee
• </c><01:19:32.560><c> services,</c> departments of human services, departments of human services, education
• This is just adding Department of Human Services human services judges to this list.
• This is just adding Department of Human Services human services judges to this list.
• ><c> to</c><01:57:50.000><c> the</c> the human services committee and to the the human services committee

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to note you can see a piece of her original art, a self-portrait that hangs in the Human Services
• Committee room.
• </c><00:21:47.840><c> services</c><00:21:48.320><c> committee</c><00:21:48.640><c> room.
• </c><00:21:49.600><c> As</c> in the human services committee room.
• As in the human services committee room.

Keywords: 926, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• services.
• to health and human services.
• to health and human services.
• to health and human services.
• services.

Summary: The Senate convened, adopted a motion by Senator Zaffirini to suspend Senate Rule 11.13 so committees could meet during the reading and referral of bills, and then proceeded to first reading and committee referral of a large number of measures. The bills covered a wide range of topics, including judicial qualifications, alcohol sales at racing facilities, health care provider participation programs, abandoned land receiverships, local mental health authority governance, school trustee employment eligibility, DFPS review procedures, groundwater district management plans, early voting by mail, contracts with companies from foreign adversaries, wastewater permitting, nondisclosure provisions involving child sexual abuse, child abuse reporting, veterans’ claims assistance, hotel occupancy tax collection by accommodations intermediaries, apprenticeship grants, Sunset Commission renaming, health care entity ownership reporting, firearms and school trespass offenses, water trust and water bank issues, construction contract trust funds and payments, Medicaid recoupment, colonia real estate contracts, epinephrine use in schools, forensic analyst apprenticeship training, online ticket sales disclosures, and public water system security incident reporting. The chamber also received and read several resolutions, including SCR 27 authorizing burial of Guy Herman in the State Cemetery, SCR 28 urging Congress to propose a constitutional amendment on regulating money in campaigns and ballot measures, SCR 29 designating El Paso as the official boot capital of Texas, and multiple joint resolutions. Those included proposals on county tax exemptions for rainwater harvesting and graywater systems, creation of a Texas Health Care Workforce Education Fund, authorization of sports wagering, dedication of state tax revenue to the Texas Water Fund, a statewide referendum on standard time versus daylight saving time, and clarification of impeachment-trial and removal provisions for public officers. After the readings and referrals, the Senate adjourned until 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, March 11.

Transcript Highlights:

• President, your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was referred Senate Bill 466, has had
• Assembly Bill 43, by the Assembly Committee on Health and Human Services, provides for a priority review
• Assembly Bill 43 by the Assembly Committee on Health and Human Services provides for a priority review
• President, your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which were referred Senate Bills Nos. 494
• human services.

Keywords: 909, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm here to talk about software for human services.
• Now, this software we've been talking about is for the Department of Human Services.
• You have a bill, Senate File 4719, that aims to establish a Human Services System Steering Committee.
• </c><00:09:12.760><c> Services,</c><00:09:13.880><c> the</c> Department of Human Services, the Department
• It's has to do with child welfare services. human services area, and human services area, and how<00:

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Services Committee.
• Services Committee.
• So, I think we Human Services Committee.
• I appreciate the opportunity to get to serve on the Senate Human Services Committee.
• Uh, we've been working jointly as the Human Services Committee and the Health and Human Services Committee

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• e e e e e Good morning, everyone, and welcome to the House Committee on Health, Human Services and Elderly
• A lot of us here on this committee were Health and Human Services, so we may not be familiar with some
• Chair, and honorable members of the Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs Committee.
• Chair, and honorable members of the Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs Committee.
• Good afternoon, honorable members of the House Health and Human Services Committee.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:28:45.520><c> services</c> systems that our human services systems that our human services department
• ><c> the</c> these human services themselves to the these human services themselves to the front<00:28
• And I come to this as a member of the Senate Human Services Committee, and I have sat with the county
• And Human Services, the Department of Human Services, continues to not act and to put out a road map
• 00:32:49.440><c> Human</c> Services, the Department of Human Services, the Department of Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The House Health and Human Services Finance Policy Committee is called to order.
• I am here today in support of House File 2040, human services and corrections.
• I'm the Deputy Director with The Scott County Health and Human Services.
• Chair of the Senior Meals and Services Coalition. Mr. Swanson, welcome to the committee.
• All of what you do and for the important work here on human services.

Transcript Highlights:

• So I get a chance to serve on the Health and Human Services Committee, and as the Republican co-chair
• for the Human Services Committee, we've asked our testifiers over the last couple days whether they've
• ><c> Republican</c> Services committee and as the Republican Services committee and as the Republican
• c> Services</c> co-chair for the Human Services co-chair for the Human Services committee<00:14:49.199
• Yeah, and on the Human Services Committee, I think, you know, for us, we're always going to be looking

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As always, we're all trying to serve on multiple committees, be in multiple committees at the same time
• I have one committee... Good morning, Chair Scheible and committee members.
• Any questions from members of the committee? Any questions from members of the committee?
• It must, again, study human trafficking, and the interim committee must develop a report and send that
• Same to the committee.

Keywords: 909, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I also want to thank committee staff.
• I also want to thank committee staff for their hard work and my colleagues on the committee for their
• We have a new secretary of Health and Human Services in Massachusetts and a beginning search for a new
• Yes, my name is Claire Gauthier, and I work at the Peer Support Network as part of Bay Cove Human Services
• My name is Ruthie Poole, and I'm the Assistant Director of Recovery at Bay Cove Human Services.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee held a public hearing on a broad set of mental health, substance use, recovery, and patients’ rights bills. Early testimony focused on H. 2227, which would replace stigmatizing substance use terminology in the General Laws, and H. 3950, which would support parents in recovery involved with DCF by requiring more individualized recovery plans, clearer benchmarks for parenting time, access to recovery coaches or counselors, family counseling after sustained recovery, and staff training on addiction and lived experience. Speakers described the bills as ways to reduce stigma, increase accountability, and improve reunification outcomes for families. A major portion of the hearing centered on S. 1386, which would transfer Bridgewater State Hospital from the Department of Correction to the Department of Mental Health. Advocates, family members, and disability groups testified that Bridgewater functions like a prison rather than a hospital, with excessive restraint, seclusion, involuntary medication, poor conditions, and racial disparities, and argued DMH should oversee a treatment setting. One DMH occupational therapist and MNA member opposed the transfer, saying the real issue is mixing forensic and continuing-care patients and that DMH should instead create designated forensic units under bills H. 228/S. 1408. Committee members asked about Bridgewater’s population, the history of DOC control, capacity, staffing, and how a transfer might be implemented. The committee also heard testimony on modernizing the six fundamental rights for psychiatric inpatients, including expanding communication options, clarifying visitation and advocacy definitions, and improving access to gender-appropriate and culturally relevant items. Another bill, H. 2216, would require stronger oversight before antipsychotic medication is prescribed in nursing homes, prompted by concerns about inappropriate use. Finally, testimony supported H. 2240 and H. 2239 on sober homes, with supporters saying discharge and relocation policies are needed when a resident returns to active use or becomes unsafe, while preserving the recovery environment and resident rights. No votes or formal actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• The governor proposes $1.5 billion in Human Services cuts.
• <c> you've</c> the Human Services budget and you've the Human Services budget and you've seen<00:26:18.320
• </c><00:26:28.559><c> was</c><00:26:29.080><c> very</c> Human Services but his approach was very Human
• </c> bend the cost curve uh for Human bend the cost curve uh for Human Services<00:26:54.000><c> we</
• </c><00:31:31.960><c> services</c> planning on uh cutting human services planning on uh cutting human

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Calling the 1:00 p.m. calendar for Health and Human Services.
• Lean Gillespie, Department of Human Services, Office of Youth Services, in support.
• </c><00:58:35.440><c> I</c> Turned calling the Department of Health and Human Services and Committee
• c> um</c> Health Human Services, and also um Health Human Services, and also um Senator<00:59:21.839>
• First up, Health and Human Services.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee opened its Health and Human Services calendar, noted quorum, and first took up HB 194. The chair explained amendments to add an exemption for a person invited by a patient to attend a birth outside an accredited birth facility when no compensation is involved, remove a date reference in section 9, and accept Department of Health amendments. Members raised no objections, and the committee voted to pass HB 194 with amendments. The committee then heard HB 139 on insurance, with the Attorney General flagging possible unlawful delegation issues and suggesting clarifying language, while the Insurance Division stood on written testimony. A number of health organizations and advocates, including HMSA, Hawaii Association of Health Plans, oncology and fertility groups, testified in support. HB 613 on homeless youth drew broad support from state agencies, counties, youth advocates, and community groups; testimony emphasized the need for permanent safe spaces and more attention to unaccompanied minors, with one witness asking for clarity on funding and shelter capacity. HB 71 on a tax credit for family caregivers drew support from AARP, Alzheimer’s and children’s advocates, and several individuals, while the Tax Foundation raised concerns about blank provisions and the cost-effectiveness of administering a small credit. The Department of Taxation said a prior version with a $5,000 nonrefundable credit would have cost the general fund about $397.4 million. HB 716 on health care technology support received strong support from SHPDA, OHIN, and many provider groups, who described it as a one-time investment of roughly $20–25 million to connect rural and neighbor island providers to electronic health records; members questioned how the grant program would be allocated. HB 799 on physician hospital privileges also drew mixed testimony: supporters said it would align Hawaii with updated CMS rules and improve access, especially on Maui, while Maui Health and some members worried it could reduce on-call coverage and hospital safety, leading to discussion of a possible report and sunset date.

Transcript Highlights:

• Engrossed Committee Substitute for Committee Substitute for House Bill 4483, relating to funeral service
• The Committee on Health and Human Resources moved to amend the bill on page one.
• Engrossed Committee Substitute for House Bill 5086, relating to peer support services.
• Engrossed Committee Substitute for House Bill 537, West Virginia ALS Care Services Act.
• The purpose of this bill is to require the Department of Human Services to create an ALS Care Services

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The Senate met on March 11, 2026, with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, journal approval, and numerous guest and page introductions, including school groups, prayer caucus visitors, and advocates for Home Family Education Day and Women in Blue Day. The chamber then took up committee reports and a large number of House bills, most of them on third reading, along with several resolutions and referrals. Senate Resolution 62, designating March 12, 2026, as West Virginia Athletic Trainers Day, was adopted after remarks emphasizing the value of athletic trainers in preventing injuries and tragedies in school sports. Several other resolutions and concurrent resolutions were referred to the Committee on Rules or laid over under the rules. The Senate passed a wide range of bills addressing economic development, public safety, health, licensing, and state administration. Measures approved included bills on the West Virginia Collaboratory at Marshall University, the Business Ready Sites program, volunteer fire company spending authority, the Load Forecast Accountability Act, funeral service licensure, work zone fines, biennial business reporting, correctional officer retirement law, the Right to Try Act, quick claim deed tax exemptions, an ibogaine drug-development grant program, aggravated vehicular homicide sentencing, 529 savings plan definitions, opportunity zones, barber apprenticeship, municipal and county hotel occupancy fund uses, criminal-record licensing standards, intimate image disclosure remedies, executor training materials, contempt penalties, PEIA treatment flexibility, PANS/PANDAS information, the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact, capitation rate review expansions, convention and visitors bureau board membership, peer support services, cosmetology licensure compacts, natural resource police retirement, DNR fee indexing, ALS care services, the Neighborhood Investment Program, oil and gas well plugging and carbon capture-related provisions, DUI technical changes, abuse intervention program terminology, and a youth summer employment and career readiness program. Most bills passed overwhelmingly, with a few closer votes, including the Load Forecast Accountability Act and the DNR fee-indexing bill. Several bills were amended on the floor, including title amendments and strike-and-insert changes. The Senate also debated the work zone penalty bill, with supporters citing worker safety and fatalities and opponents arguing the bill increased fines too much without requiring removal of outdated work-zone signs. On the energy-related load forecast bill, senators discussed the inclusion of provisions from Senate Bill 420 and concerns about coal plant utilization and utility impacts. After debate, the Senate adopted amendments and passed the bill. In most cases, after passage the Senate ordered the bills communicated to the House, and for a few measures it also adopted title amendments or made bills effective from passage or on a specified date.

Transcript Highlights:

• President, your Committee on Health and Human Services, having had under consideration SB 1236 relating
• President, your Committee on Health and Human Services, having had under...
• President, your Committee on Health and Human Services, having had under consideration SB 1236 relating
• Excellent members you've heard that motion we've got a Health and Human Services Committee amendment
• your committee on health and human services having had under consideration SB 1236 relating to AHCCS

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to the Committee on Human Services.
• Senator Mann moves that Senate File 1138 be withdrawn from the Committee on Health and Human Services
• and re-referred to the Committee on Human Services.
• to the Committee on Human Services.
• and re-referred to the Committee on Human Services.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all