Transcript Highlights:

• And even though I was in education and human services, a lot of my inmates were in the infirmary.
• As this committee knows also, many fields within public service are experiencing unprecedented issues
• I have been a DDS human service coordinator for over 20 years. I would, sorry, over the course...
• Being a human service coordinator is a rewarding job. The word human is in the job title.
• Please support House Bill 2943 and make the law equitable for DDS human service coordinators.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several retirement and workforce-related bills. House Bill 2980 would place county correctional nurses and certain medical staff into Group 4 retirement. Representative Trino, Middlesex Sheriff Peter Koutoujian, and nurse manager Leanne Cameron argued that correctional nurses work in dangerous, high-stress settings with frequent contact with incarcerated people, high rates of mental illness and substance use in the jail population, and significant workplace violence, and that the change would help recruitment and retention with limited statewide fiscal impact. The committee also heard Senate Bill 210, which would create a commission to study additional regular compensation and annual expenses for members of the General Court. Senator John Keenan said Massachusetts has high leadership stipends compared with other states and argued the current structure can affect independence and public trust. Representative O'Day testified on House Bill 2928 to extend Group 2 retirement to additional Department of Children and Families social workers, and SEIU 509 witnesses described frequent transport of children, crisis response, threats, assaults, and other high-risk duties that they said match Group 2 work. Additional testimony supported House Bill 2943 for DDS service coordinators and supervisors, with witnesses describing home visits in unsafe conditions, transport of vulnerable individuals, direct care during staffing crises, and exposure to violence. House Bill 2899 drew support from the Association of Social Work Boards for social work field placement grants, incentives for supervisors, and expanded retirement benefits for DCF social workers. The committee also heard Senate Bill 2613, a local retirement bill for Salem police officer Kathleen Roachville, who described a severe line-of-duty injury during an arrest involving a combative person in a mental health crisis. Finally, Susan Smith Campbell testified for reclassifying certain DYS administrative officers into Group 2 because of their direct involvement in restraints, assaults, and crisis management. After testimony concluded, the committee adjourned without taking any votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Senate Committee on Business and Commerce will come to order.
• Chairman and members of the committee.
• Thank you, Chairman and committee.
• I understand there's a committee substitute.
• With no business to come before the committee, the Business and Commerce Committee at this time, Senator

Bills: HB12, HB149, SB229, SB1361, SB1749, SB1897, SB2113, SB2566, SB2677, SB1652, SB2327, SB2344, SB2696

Keywords: artificial intelligence, regulation, biometric data, ethical AI, consumer protection, AI governance, automobile sales, finance, retail seller, motor vehicle purchase, motor vehicle sales, pricing restrictions, third-party financing, education, funding, student assessment, accountability, standards, motor vehicle, financing

Summary: The Senate Committee on Business and Commerce heard testimony on HB 149, the Artificial Intelligence Governance Act. Senator Schwertner described the bill as an outcomes-based AI framework that would require disclosure when people interact with AI, prohibit manipulative or social-scoring systems, address biometric capture, discrimination, and deepfake child exploitation, and give the Attorney General enforcement authority. It would also create an AI Sandbox and AI Council. Witnesses from the Texas Public Policy Foundation, a Houston attorney, TechNet, and the Texas Association of Business strongly supported the bill, praising its stakeholder process and pro-innovation approach, while Texas Appleseed suggested regulators should have more examination authority over sandbox participants. The bill was left pending. The committee then heard SB 229, which would prohibit motor vehicle dealers from conditioning a sale on dealer-offered financing or charging more because a buyer uses outside financing or cash. Senator West said the bill is meant to stop forced financing and bait-and-switch pricing, and he noted the bill passed the committee and Senate in the prior session. The Texas Automobile Dealers Association opposed the bill, arguing it would force dealers to accept any third-party lender or cash transaction on terms they cannot control. The Texas Credit Union Association supported the bill, saying consumers should be able to choose outside financing without hidden fees or pressure. After questions about cash purchases and dealer practices, the bill was left pending. The committee also took up SB 2566, which would clarify legislators’ access to information from executive agencies, including confidential information, by setting response deadlines, limiting confidentiality agreements to statutory terms, requiring a standard AG form, and creating a complaint and penalty process for noncompliance. No witnesses testified, and the bill was left pending. Finally, SB 1749, as substituted, would let certain court-related employees and judicial conduct commission personnel keep personal information such as home addresses and phone numbers confidential, with work addresses used in place of home addresses for certain purposes. District clerk and judicial conduct commission witnesses described threats and harassment as the reason for the bill, and a court administration witness answered questions about how the address protections would work with voter registration and precinct records. That bill was also left pending, and the committee recessed without further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• This committee should oppose SB 63.
• This has also already been through both a policy committee and a money committee on the other side.
• Chair, committee members. Dr.
• of a human body is not considered a human being for any purpose under Nevada law.
• The committee will come back to order. The committee will come back to order.

Bills: AB52, AB76, AB163, AB388, AB483

Keywords: health insurance, claims process, insurance regulation, admin penalties, healthcare access, cannabis, cannabis establishment, medical cannabis, adult-use cannabis, advertising regulations, packaging requirements, unlicensed cannabis activities, state prosecution, confidentiality, Cannabis Compliance Board, disciplinary proceedings, mental health, counseling, interstate practice, telehealth

Transcript Highlights:

• This is the Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Human Services.
• , health care services, developmental services, and the Health and Human Services Agency to support eligible
• Services Policy Committee...
• Services Policy Committee.
• I work in the Health and Human Services Unit.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Human Services held an informational hearing focused on the impacts of federal HR1 on CalFresh and Medi-Cal, along with related state mitigation efforts. CDSS, DHCS, DDS, county representatives, LAO, and Finance discussed automatic exemptions, data-sharing between departments, county workload, and the timing of implementation. CDSS said about two-thirds of adults ages 18 to 64 are already known to be exempt in CalFresh, and that administrative data matches could newly exempt about 200,000 of the roughly 955,000 adults potentially at risk. DHCS said Medi-Cal work requirements would begin in 2027 and the department is working to automate exemptions, including for IHSS recipients and some caregivers, while DDS said its population is expected to be covered by auto-exemptions. County welfare directors emphasized that individualized worker contact is critical, that counties need more staffing and stable funding, and that without it they expect delays, higher error rates, and reduced exemption screening capacity. Members pressed for written timelines, county-by-county impact data, and clearer guidance; the administration said it would provide follow-up materials and technical assistance. No votes were taken. The committee then heard a separate discussion on a proposed CFAP expansion or “CFAP Plus” concept to provide state-funded benefits to additional populations affected by HR1, including lawfully present non-citizens and ABODs. CDSS said implementation could not occur before October 1, 2027 because of policy and system-design constraints, and that adding unique eligibility rules would increase complexity and cost. Finance cautioned that any expansion would have General Fund impacts likely in the hundreds of millions to multiple billions. Members asked for cost estimates and technical feedback on trailer bill language, and CDSS said it would review the proposal and respond. The hearing also covered CDSS’s CalFresh strategic plan and mandated reporter training updates. CDSS said it is hiring a strategic plan lead to develop a long-term, data-informed CalFresh plan, and that the revised mandated reporter training is on track for launch in fall/winter 2026, ahead of the July 1, 2027 statutory deadline. The training will include updated content on structural racism, ICWA protections, implicit bias, and the distinction between reporting and supporting families. Members praised the work and asked for continued updates. Later panels focused on Promise Neighborhoods, Stop the Hate, and housing programs. Promise Neighborhood advocates and CDSS described the state’s prior $12 million investment, a positive evaluation showing roughly a 4-to-1 return, and a new proposal to support place-based partnerships and community schools through AB 1969. Stop the Hate grantees and CDSS reported that the program has provided direct services, prevention, and statewide coordination to millions of Californians, and urged reauthorization before funding expires; members asked for best-practice language and discussed focusing future funding on solidarity work, harm reduction, legal services, and education. Finally, CDSS presented on the CalWORKs Housing Support Program and Housing and Disability Advocacy Program, saying proposed General Fund investments of $105 million and $55 million would prevent funding cliffs and allow the programs to continue through 2026-27, while the absence of new funding would force reductions in housing assistance, subsidies, and enrollments.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, I move that the Health and Human Services Committee amendment be adopted.
• Chairman, I move that the Health and Human Services Committee amendment be adopted.
• Chairman, I move that the amendment of the Health and Human Services Committee be adopted. Mr.
• Chairman, I move that the amendment of the Health and Human Services Committee be adopted.
• Chairman, I move that the Health and Human Services Committee amendment, as amended, be adopted.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• really sticking up for human services.
• really sticking up for human services.
• sticking up for human services.
• I've contended since we passed this bill out of the human services committee in the first place that
• > the</c><01:46:31.280><c> first</c> human services committee in the first human services committee in

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• This is the Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Human Services.
• , health care services, developmental services, and the Health and Human Services Agency to support eligible
• Services Policy Committee.
• Second, integrating health, housing, and human services.
• I work in the Health and Human Services Unit.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, Madam Chair and committee members.
• Good afternoon, Chair and members of the committee.
• The motion is due pass to the Human Services Committee. Bonta, aye. Bonta, aye. Chen. Addis, aye.
• It's so important to boil it down to human beings.
• Paul Fox, Northeast Medical Services, in support.

Summary: The Assembly Health Committee heard several bills on June 9. SB 1023 by Senator Laird would require insurers that cover injectable HIV PrEP under the medical benefit to also cover it through the pharmacy benefit, with supporters saying the change would reduce reimbursement delays and expand access, while health plans opposed it as an unnecessary mandate that interferes with benefit design. SB 964 by Senator Smallwood-Quivas would limit prior authorization for certain dose or frequency adjustments to covered medications, especially for chronic complex conditions; medical supporters said it would prevent harmful delays in care, while insurers argued it weakens safety and utilization controls. SB 1323 by Senator Rubio, as amended, would strengthen protections for people in immigration custody receiving medical care by requiring hospitals and facilities to inform staff how to respond to requests and allowing patients to notify family members of their location; it passed with one no vote. SB 1099 by Senator Reyes would clarify local governments’ authority to provide state and local public benefits to all residents under federal PRWORA rules, with supporters saying it would reduce legal uncertainty for safety-net services; it passed, though one member later changed a vote to no on the add-on roll call. The committee also took up SB 895 by Senator Wiener, a proposed $12 billion science research bond for the November ballot that would create a California scientific research funding institute. Supporters from UC, UAW, hospitals, and advocacy groups said the measure would help offset federal cuts, protect research jobs, and sustain California’s leadership in biomedical and other research; there was no opposition, and the bill passed on a party-line style vote with two no votes. SB 944, also by Senator Wiener, would stabilize Medi-Cal coverage for acupuncture, which supporters described as a cost-effective, non-pharmacological treatment for pain and other conditions that has repeatedly been threatened in the budget process; it passed unanimously. The committee also approved consent items SB 918 and SB 1202, and later cleared the remaining measures on call after roll votes and add-on votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• Your Committee on Health and Human Resources has had under consideration engrossed Committee Substitute
• Your Committee on Health and Human Resources has had under consideration engrossed Committee Substitute
• Your Committee on Health and Human Resources has had under consideration engrossed Committee Substitute
• Your Committee on Health and Human Resources has had under consideration engrossed Committee Substitute
• Your Committee on Health and Human Resources has had under consideration engrossed Committee Substitute

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The Senate first took up Senate Bill 155 on adjunct teaching permits. After adopting a Senate amendment to the House amendment, the chamber concurred in the House amendment as amended and passed the bill 33-0, with one member absent and not voting. The amendment was described as creating an exception so a criminal history check would not be required every year, and the bill was presented as a tool to help county boards fill vacancies, especially in shortage areas. The chamber then received a large number of committee reports and advanced several House bills on first reading. These included measures on creating the Team West Virginia Corporation, establishing the West Virginia Collaboratory, the Foster Youth Post-Secondary Transition Awareness Act, business-ready site programs, volunteer fire company allowances, extending qualified opportunity zones, natural resource police retirement, PEIA treatment flexibility, PANS/PANDAS, ALS care services, abuse prevention, the respiratory care interstate compact, peer support services, tax lien sales, the Neighborhood Investment Program, bonds for the Science and Culture Center, and a comprehensive energy development policy and plan. Several bills were reported as amended by committees, and one energy bill was referred to the Rules Committee. Additional committee action included reports on a bill to repeal the school-transfer eligibility protection, a load forecast accountability bill, oil and gas well plugging provisions, a TANF drug-screening extension, and a bill authorizing the Supreme Court of Appeals to create child protection commissioners. Most of these were advanced on first reading after unanimous consent. The Senate then moved to adjourn until the next day, with announcements of upcoming committee meetings before the chamber adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'd like to call this meeting to order of the Health and Human Services Finance and Policy Committee.
• to the Committee on Human Services.
• </c> the human services field. the human services field.
• This bill, as amended, needs to go to the Human Services Committee.
• Any other the Human Services Committee.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is the Assembly Budget Subcommittee 2 on Human Services.
• This is the Assembly Budget Subcommittee 2 on Human Services.
• While the Department of Health and Human Services Agency, the Department of Developmental Services, the
• I'm an assistant secretary with the California Health and Human Services Agency.
• . ...the hall from 447, which was our hearing room for the Assembly Service, Human Services Committee

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Human Services held a hearing on developmental services, rehabilitation, and related supports, with no votes taken. The first major topic was the Master Plan for Developmental Services. Administration officials described a year-long, community-driven process that included a steering committee, work groups, and statewide engagement sessions, and said the final draft would be released that Friday with about 170 recommendations. The Department of Developmental Services said the plan would inform future work, but did not offer a detailed implementation roadmap. The LAO said the plan contains significant policy and budget implications, may require statutory changes, and needs further analysis to turn recommendations into actionable proposals. Advocates and regional center representatives urged the Legislature and administration to avoid letting the plan sit on a shelf, called for prioritization and ongoing stakeholder oversight, and emphasized the need to address equity, workforce, service coordination, and cross-system collaboration. The chair said he wanted to work with the LAO on trailer bill language and future reporting to create a clearer path forward. The second topic was the Office of Employment First and competitive integrated employment. Administration witnesses said California has ended subminimum wage under SB 639, but that moving people into competitive integrated employment remains a major priority. They described existing efforts such as DDS’s coordinated career pathways pilot, paid internships, job development services, benefits counseling, and DOR’s career counseling and referral services, along with pilot projects in San Diego and Orange County. The State Council on Developmental Disabilities and advocates argued that employment outcomes have remained stuck at roughly 15% and that a dedicated Employment First Office is needed to coordinate across agencies, align goals, and improve outcomes. The LAO recommended regular legislative oversight on people transitioning out of subminimum wage and asked for technical assistance on coordinated career pathways. The chair criticized the administration’s decision to effectively eliminate funding for the office, requested a detailed implementation timeline and quarterly transition reports, and said the committee would continue pressing for the office to be implemented. The final issue was respite services, utilization trends, and access. DDS reported that in-home respite use and spending have risen sharply over several years, with about 150,000 people using respite in 2023-24 and expenditures reaching about $1 billion. Officials said access depends on families knowing the service exists, service coordinators identifying need, and having enough providers, especially in rural and linguistically diverse communities. The San Diego Regional Center said utilization generally mirrors statewide trends, but access is stronger in some areas, such as Imperial County, where families often prefer family-directed or agency-supported models that allow them to hire trusted workers. Committee members emphasized the importance of respite for family health and caregiver well-being, asked whether service coordinators are asking practical questions about sleep and stress, and discussed the need for better identification of complex behavioral and medical needs. DDS said a standardized family support tool and updated IPP process are intended to improve consistency, transparency, and person-centered assessment for respite and related services.

Transcript Highlights:

• This meeting of the Health and Human Services Finance and Policy Committee of the Senate is Thursday,
• </c> Human Services Health Care Policy. Human Services Health Care Policy.
• services committee.
• </c><00:11:03.640><c> services</c> jurisdiction of the human services jurisdiction of the human services
• a</c><01:21:32.560><c> a</c> Department of Human Services, but is a a Department of Human Services,

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I am State Senator Susan Rubio, chair of this committee.
• That requires human review and human judgment. And so that's a centerpiece of the legislation.
• I’d like to begin by accepting the committee amendments and thanking the Chair and the committee staff
• I'll start by accepting the committee amendments and thank the committee for working with my staff.
• Good morning, committee members.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, I think our customer service got better with that too.
• around the human to facilitate their mission or work.
• teaming; we've also done work in human-human teaming as well as machine-machine teaming across a variety
• physiology, the whole human phenotype.
• As tools to support human decision-making.

Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome to Health and Human Services on this Thursday, January 30th.
• a statewide association of county-based human services leaders from Minnesota's 87 counties.
• c> that</c> health and human services to ensure that health and human services to ensure that if<01:35
• shift of state human services spending to the counties.
• services case can wipe out the entire human services budget for that county in a year if someone is

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We are the Health and Human Services Finance and Policy Committee.
• This will be the Minnesota Department of Human Services.
• </c> fund and where the Health and Human fund and where the Health and Human Services<00:11:11.040><c
• ><c> and</c><00:53:38.200><c> the</c> Human Services Division director and the Human Services Division
• We added Human Service Performance Management as well.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Speaker, your Health and Human Services Committee, to whom has been referred HB 408, has had it under
• Speaker, your Health and Human Services Committee, to whom has been referred House Bill 441, has had
• Speaker, your Health and Human Services Committee, to whom has been referred House Bill 461, has had
• Human Services Committee substitute for House Bill 370 has had it under consideration.
• We are on adoption of a favorable committee report for House Health and Human Services Committee substitute

Transcript Highlights:

• I'd like to call this, just had a little bit of a little funny over here, call this Senate Human Services
• humanity of the people who are in prisons.
• Public service, and I'm honored that he's going to be continuing his public service after retiring from
• Welcome back to Human Services. We miss you. I missed you guys too.
• So with that, I will close this hearing and close the Human Services Committee meeting for Tuesday, January

Summary: The committee began with a Department of Corrections update focused on agency culture, staff safety, reentry, and health services. Secretary Tim Lang highlighted DOC’s “Washington Way” approach, expanded visitation reforms, safety summits, community-corrections sanction changes, education and transportation improvements, partial confinement expansion, and efforts to increase volunteer and peer-led programming. Assistant Secretaries Danielle Armbruster and David Flynn described progress on Pell Grant implementation, reentry transportation, partial confinement, behavioral health standards, HIPAA compliance, the 1115 Medicaid waiver, telehealth expansion, and budget requests for opioid use disorder treatment, close-custody capacity, and staffing relief. Members asked about veterans’ units, telehealth for substance use treatment, women’s placement on the east side, correctional industries, and firefighting training. The new Office of Correction Ombuds director, Jeremiah Bourgeois, then outlined the office’s mission and limited resources, saying he would focus on the most serious complaints and continue building accountability with DOC. He described recent OCO reports, including findings of excessive force at the women’s prison, and said DOC had agreed to implement all recommendations. He also noted a new process for referring possible criminal misconduct to DOC leadership and law enforcement. Committee members praised the DOC-OCO partnership and Bourgeois’s appointment. The committee then heard Senate Bill 5895, which would add a new basis for extraordinary medical placement when DOC cannot meet an incarcerated person’s basic medical care needs. Senator Saldana said the bill is intended to provide a compassionate, workable path for people with serious or end-of-life medical needs while maintaining public safety. Testifiers in support included family members, Disability Rights Washington, and the League of Women Voters, who said the current EMP process is too restrictive and rarely results in release. DOC testified that it supports the EMP framework but has concerns about the bill’s definition of “basic medical care.” A former DOC physician suggested extending the qualifying time period and adding “approximately” to the language. The committee also heard Senate Bill 5873, which would expand escorted leaves of absence to include reentry-focused outings and broaden the family definition for funeral or bedside visits. Senator Wilson said the bill is meant to support a “slow release” and better prepare people for community reentry. DOC supported the concept, and witnesses from public defense, DOC reentry, and Amend said escorted reentry outings are consistent with evidence-based and international correctional practices. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 5945, which would limit persistent offender sentencing to convictions occurring after age 18 and require resentencing for affected people. Supporters argued the bill aligns with youth brain-development research and would address racial disparities; opponents, including prosecutors, victim advocates, and sheriffs’ representatives, said it would reopen painful cases, undermine finality, and impose costs. The hearing on that bill was still underway when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• The PDC also regulates continuing political committees, which are political committees of continued existence
• , including a statement whether the committee is a continuing committee, and information on each candidate
• Instead, candidates, political committees, and incidental committees that are required to file a statement
• committee that has not changed its statement of participation before July 1 to indicate the committee
• This committee heard this bill last year but did not move it out of committee.

Bills: SB5000, SB5325, SB6044, SB6313, SB6084, SB6137

Keywords: state nickname, evergreen state, identity, cultural heritage, tourism, state cactus, symbolic designation, ecological significance, state symbols, SB 6044, Diwali, Bandi Chhor Divas, Washington state holidays, RCW 1.16.050, state holiday recognition, religious observance, Hindu holiday, Sikh holiday, cultural recognition, paid holiday

Transcript Highlights:

• Questions from the committee.
• and we also stand ready to chair the committee on sex and human trafficking training, as the bill outlines
• and we also stand ready to chair the committee on sex and human trafficking training, as the bill outlines
• And when I say preventative services, that education component and the coordination of services is the
• But I—questions from the committee?

Keywords: 959, house, all