Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 1376, Delegate Rosenberg — Maryland Medical Assistance Program, Maryland Children's Health
• <00:20:19.800> Program, Maryland Medical Assistance Program, Maryland Medical Assistance Program
• assistance programs.
• <01:01:17.120> The<01:01:17.200> bill in energy assistance programs.
• The bill in energy assistance programs.

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Wednesday, April 8, 2026, 960, senate, all

Summary: The Senate reconvened with a quorum present and proceeded through a series of committee reports and floor actions, mostly on House bills. Several measures were advanced without opposition, often after brief floor explanations and unanimous adoption of committee amendments. Topics included behavioral health rate-setting modernization (HB 772), expedited Medicaid eligibility for relocated individuals with developmental disabilities (HB 1015), perinatal behavioral health screening and coverage (HB 1118), mammogram notices about breast arterial calcification (HB 1364), menopause provider training and coverage (HB 1365), cannabis licensing and training changes (HB 622), cemetery sale and transfer oversight (HB 892), travel services insurance requirements (HB 994), cash transaction rounding authorization (HB 1026), specie as legal tender (HB 1312), menstrual hygiene product ingredient labeling (HB 1357), health care quality reporting and a health centralization commission (HB 1372), special pediatric hospital transfer and review procedures (HB 1376), telehealth continuity of care for out-of-state counselors (HB 1483), and child placement protections for unlicensed settings and pediatric overstay patients (HB 1559). Most of these bills were ordered passed for third reading after the chamber adopted the committee amendments and favorable reports. The Senate also considered environmental and consumer-related measures. HB 146 would delay implementation dates for onsite wastewater system regulation and licensing requirements, while striking provisions on inspections and pumping for rental properties and sales. HB 254, a Department of Natural Resources bill, was described as facilitating community engagement in planning and development of departmental projects. HB 969 on retail electric vehicle fuel sales and charging equipment requirements was also taken up and reported favorably. In each of these cases, members noted no committee opposition and no fiscal impact, and the bills were advanced. Two bills were set aside rather than immediately acted on. HB 1037, concerning a Public Service Commission study on broadband and voice over internet protocol service, was special ordered until Friday at the request of a senator. HB 1312, the specie/legal tender bill, prompted questions about the definition of specie and was also special ordered for consideration the next morning. No roll-call votes were recorded in the excerpt; actions were taken by unanimous consent on amendments and committee reports, with multiple bills ordered to third reading.

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, it’s more strict than other states, but many other states have this.
• Seven states with legalized assisted suicide have already planned people. So.
• We know from history and personal experience that assisted suicide programs are fueled by deadly social
• The AMA Code of Medical Ethics states, and I quote, physician-assisted suicide is fundamentally incompatible
• The other thing, of course, is that nearly every U.S. state that has legalized assisted suicide has expanded

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Health opened its first hearing of the session and heard testimony on bills in three areas: emergency medical services/AED access, athletic training and student safety, and end-of-life options. Committee chairs outlined testimony rules and noted that written testimony would also be accepted. Some bills had no live witnesses, while others drew extensive testimony from advocates, professionals, and legislators. On AED-related bills, the American Heart Association supported requiring automated external defibrillators at sporting events and athletic fields, citing sudden cardiac arrest survival rates and urging cardiac emergency response plans as an added safeguard. A parks and recreation professional supported AED access but raised concerns about the cost, staffing, maintenance, and feasibility for municipalities with limited resources. Athletic trainers supported expanding their scope of practice and removing workplace restrictions, arguing it would improve injury prevention, reduce costs, and help retain professionals in Massachusetts. The committee also took extensive testimony on end-of-life options legislation. Supporters included legislators, physicians, hospice volunteers, clergy, patients’ family members, and advocacy groups, who described the bills as allowing terminally ill, mentally capable adults to choose a peaceful death with strict safeguards and self-administration requirements. They emphasized personal stories of suffering, public support, and the claim that other states have not seen abuse. Opponents, including faith-based, disability-rights, and family policy representatives, argued the bills amount to physician-assisted suicide, could pressure vulnerable people, and may be influenced by prognosis errors, coercion, or financial incentives. No votes or final committee actions were taken during the hearing.

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• for civil legal assistance.
• Each of these three programs are existing programs. They have base budgets.
• I've written a lot of state grants. Nothing happens fast in a state-grant program.
• healthcare workforce programs.
• State-funded legal services programs help thousands of students, workers, families, and vulnerable individuals

Keywords: 988, house, all

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• Also, I think I would add to that looking at programs that serve maybe shortages in our state and what
• Programs that serve maybe shortages in our state and what our state needs the most, kind of the most
• Just a short overview of what our program is and what we do in the state of Minnesota.
• We are a residential program, as we serve students from all over the state.
• They moved out of state. They moved to different programs.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

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• Both of these programs are linked directly to funds available through the state of Missouri, and these
• So setting up programs in the state of Missouri has been successful with various different agencies,
• There are 38 states plus D.C. that have syringe service programs in their state.
• So yes and no, yes, state funding assistance.
• And then on the backside, it more specifically talks about our medication-assisted treatment program.

Keywords: 959, house, all

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• They operate under the state law that authorized CARES programs for fire agencies in 2013.
• The Puget Sound region has many CARES programs, while other areas of the state need and want one.
• State law does not impose many requirements on CARES programs. Thanks.
• State law does not impose many requirements on CARES programs, except that programs must track any reduction
• We, too, were fortunate to participate in the program and the audit from the State Auditor's Office,

Summary: The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee’s Initiative 900 subcommittee held a hybrid public hearing on two State Auditor performance audits. The first audit examined efforts to reduce non-emergency use of emergency systems through CARES programs. Auditors reported that Washington has 52 fire-agency-led CARES programs in 26 counties, but many communities without programs said they need one. Major barriers included unstable funding, difficulty hiring qualified staff, volunteer-based rural departments, and lack of statewide guidance. The audit also found that only about half of programs tracked both required performance measures, and it recommended that the legislature consider private insurance reimbursement options and convene a statewide work group to develop guidance, standards, and possible changes to the role of the Department of Health. Agency representatives and fire officials largely supported the findings and emphasized that short-term grants and one-year contracts make programs hard to sustain. Committee discussion focused heavily on financing, especially Medicaid reimbursement and accountable communities of health (ACHs). Auditors clarified that the 10% figure cited in the report referred to direct Medicaid reimbursement for treat-and-refer services, which some agencies do not pursue because the $115 rate is too low relative to the administrative effort. Several fire officials testified that their programs rely on grants and ACH support, but that funding is often year-to-year and uncertain. They also described the value of CARES programs in reducing emergency room use, jail detentions, and long ambulance wait times, while noting barriers to sharing patient records across systems. Members asked whether the new public safety sales tax authority could help, but fire district representatives said it is not a direct funding option for them. The second audit reviewed performance management in the Department of Commerce’s Office of Economic Development and Competitiveness. Auditors found that the division does not yet have a statewide economic development strategic plan and that performance management is inconsistent across its 16 programs. In a limited review, all six sampled programs had goals, but only half clearly identified performance measures and targets, and only three tracked outcomes and published results. The audit highlighted leading practices from other states, including strategic planning, regular progress reporting, aligning program goals with agency goals, and using performance-based contracts and grant monitoring. Recommendations urged Commerce to seek stakeholder input, assess internal and external conditions, set goals and measures, align programs with the strategy, and strengthen monitoring and evaluation. Commerce officials agreed with the audit and said the division is already working toward a strategic plan, with a new assistant director to be hired and a target of completing the work by mid-next year. Members pressed the department on how the plan would connect to workforce, higher education, housing, and other economic development systems, and asked Commerce to return to JLARC next year with progress updates. The meeting ended with instructions for submitting written public comments and notice of the next JLARC meeting schedule.

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• technical assistance equitably across the<00:03:47.360> state.
• So, I believe as of June 2026 all higher ed teacher prep programs in the state of Minnesota will be aligned
• So, I believe as of June 2026 all higher ed teacher prep programs in the state of Minnesota will be aligned
• So, I believe as of June 2026 all higher ed teacher prep programs in the state of Minnesota will be aligned
• where we out out at higher ed programs where we out out of<00:32:02.840> state<00:32:03.200><

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

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• would move the pilot program into a regular program within housing opportunities for our state.
• ; rental assistance and eviction diversion programs; land acquisition; home ownership opportunities;
• I don't know that we engage with a whole lot of state agencies providing them direct assistance.
• We have all these activities and programs, but primarily as a housing finance agency for the State of
• So does the Nevada Rural Housing Authority, which has the down payment assistance program.

Keywords: 909, all

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• Treatment) Medicaid Assistant Treatment program in the jail.
• There is none in the United States. Seven countries have such a program, Madam Chair.
• These guys are and gals are on almost every program up and down the state.
• The report shows how the New Mexico premium assistance program works.
• with the Medicaid program, and we also administer the state health benefits program.

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• So, we have charter schools all over the state that specialize in various programming. any number of
• The lease assistance program, to begin with, really only covers two-thirds of our facility costs.
• It stated that this isn't an optional program anymore; you have to do it every year, and that lease assistance
• When charter schools were going out to the bond market, we were taking state dollars from lease assistance
• . ...programs throughout the country and other states for charter schools.

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• fraud and misuse of such funds for state-administered programs.
• fraud and misuse of such funds for state-administered programs.
• is what we're referring to in the state of Florida, is our SR program.
• Our SR program serves, we have about 6,900 SR providers in the state of Florida serving roughly 212,000
• That is our VPK program that provides free VPK for all four-year-olds across the state of Florida with

Summary: The Pre-K through 12 Budget Subcommittee met with a quorum and first heard House Bill 731, which would address coach and extracurricular sponsor compensation and change how student-athlete transfer eligibility is determined. The bill would allow local school boards to adopt policies letting booster clubs or similar associations support coaches and activity sponsors, and it would let superintendents treat certain coaches and athletic leaders as administrative personnel for compensation purposes. It would also shift eligibility decisions for transferred student-athletes to the governing athletic association and require clearer bylaws and timelines for those determinations. Members raised questions about booster club oversight, pay equity, the new athletic administrator language, and safeguards against abuse or unequal treatment, while supporters argued the bill would help retain coaches and better support student athletics. The bill was debated and then reported favorably by roll call vote. The committee then received presentations from the Department of Education’s Division of Early Learning and the Florida Association of Early Learning Coalitions on school readiness fraud prevention and mitigation. Speakers explained that Florida’s school readiness program pays providers based on verified attendance rather than enrollment, requires daily parent sign-in/sign-out records, and uses multiple layers of oversight including coalition anti-fraud plans, annual audits, programmatic monitoring, DCF inspections, and referrals to state fraud investigators when needed. They emphasized that Florida delayed implementation of a federal rule that would have required prospective enrollment-based payments, and said the state’s current system makes fraud difficult. Members asked about military and grandparent guardianship situations, audit findings, and the number of fraud referrals; presenters said fraud cases are relatively limited and that the existing controls and public enforcement act as deterrents. The meeting ended after members thanked the presenters and the committee adjourned without further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• /c> scope of this program in our state we scope of this program in our state we currently<00:20:58.600
• our state uh this PR Federal program our state uh this PR Federal program supplements<00:53:49.680
• program under idea which um is the state program under idea which um is the state P<01:22:20.080
• state level program that equivalent um state level program that would<01:46:53.360> be<01:46:53.480
• state program um based trust fund is a state program um based off<02:02:01.280> uh<02:02:01.520

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The committee met to hear a Minnesota Department of Education presentation on federal education funding and the potential effects of federal actions on those dollars. Chair Kunesh framed the discussion around concerns about threats to the U.S. Department of Education and noted that federal funds make up about 10% of Minnesota’s education budget, or roughly $1.4 billion. Senator Lang pushed back, emphasizing that 90% of school funding comes from state and local sources and urging the committee to focus on state mandates and how to pay for them. New member Senator Clark introduced himself and said he would teach ethics or running if he were a teacher. Department staff explained that federal education dollars are divided between entitlement/formula funds and competitive/discretionary grants. They said Minnesota receives federal money through established systems and that the department is seeking clarity about how federal changes might affect the flow of funds, oversight, and program administration. They also outlined Minnesota’s legislative review process for federal funds, which includes several pathways such as the governor’s biennial budget, supplemental budget submissions, legislative advisory committee review, and expedited review processes when needed. The presentation then focused on ESEA Title funding, especially Title I. Staff said Title I is one of the largest federal education programs in Minnesota, with about $200 million in current funding, and supports 476 local education agencies. They described how funds are allocated through Minnesota’s North Star accountability system and Compass support structure, based on measures such as poverty, graduation rates, and state assessment performance. Examples of allowable supports included professional development, attendance initiatives, reading curriculum, training, and peer coaching. Senators asked whether executive action could affect these funds and whether the money flows directly to districts or through the state; staff responded that they would avoid speculation and would continue explaining the different funding streams and oversight structure.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Victims of Crime Act victim assistance grant, or VOCA, is the largest grant program that the grants
• The sole source of funding for the VOCA victim assistance grant program is the Crime Victims Fund, which
• grant or voca is the largest assistance grant or voca is the largest grant<00:03:01.440> program<
• /c><00:03:19.920> local programs, units of state and local programs, units of state and local
• <00:04:13.040> crime assistance grant program is the crime assistance grant program is the

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The subcommittee first heard from the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet’s Grants Management Division on federal victim-services funding. Staff described the main grant programs they administer, including STOP VAWA, VOCA victim assistance, sexual assault services, Byrne state crisis intervention, and Project Safe Neighborhoods. They emphasized that VOCA is especially volatile because it is funded by the federal Crime Victims Fund, which has declined sharply in recent years, reducing Kentucky’s available awards and forcing cuts to state, local, and nonprofit subgrants. They also outlined steps the cabinet has taken to stabilize funding, including changing the subaward formula, aligning the grant period with the state fiscal year, subawarding one year behind the federal cycle, and retaining a reserve. Members asked about how funds reach victims, how subgrantee amounts are determined, and requested a breakdown of grant recipients and amounts; staff said they would provide that information later. The committee then received a detailed presentation from the Department of Juvenile Justice on alternatives to detention. Commissioner Randy White and staff explained that ATDs are short-term, less restrictive placements for low-risk youth, including electronic monitoring, home supervision, group homes, foster care, private child care, community programs, mentoring, evening reporting centers, and in-home wraparound services. They described the referral and approval process involving court-designated workers, detention alternative coordinators, courts, and county attorneys, and said DJJ currently has 16 ATD-related contracts, with placements, programs, and electronic monitoring among them. They also reported that between July 1, 2024, and July 30, 2025, 1,652 juveniles were involved in the process, including 168 diversion cases. Members questioned the cost of juvenile detention versus adult incarceration, whether families pay for electronic monitoring, whether there is a national model for juvenile detention, and what alternatives exist for truancy and contempt cases. DJJ said families do not generally reimburse for electronic monitoring, there is no single national model, and day treatment centers are an important alternative for some youth. The department also said it builds daily routines and wellness education into its facilities, and that more than two-thirds of its programs are evidence-based. Officials said they currently monitor vendor performance through quarterly reviews and can end contracts for poor performance, but that data tracking is still largely manual. They said the new JCOM system, now in pilot in the eastern region, should improve reporting and help identify outcomes and recidivism more effectively.

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• Appropriation for a housing down payment assistant program. Is that a grant? Is that a loan?
• I hope that we're thinking about pulling up a similar program here in the state of New Mexico.
• Is our loan repayment program competitive with other states, particularly those nearby? Mr.
• As far as other states, our program is now very similar to other states.
• We have close to 40 different programs across the state.

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• with your testing program.
• with your testing program.
• that still require payments to come in via check, whereas most state captive programs have ways to electronically
• a captive insurance program that the state sets up.
• are the admin assistants.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Ways and Means and Commerce and Consumer Protection heard the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs present its biennium budget request for fiscal years 2025 to 2027. Director Nainoa Ando said the department’s requests were primarily special-fund ceiling increases to meet operational needs. Major items included an additional $12 million to complete the King Kamehameha V Post Office building roof project after hidden deterioration and water intrusion were discovered, plus funding related to fringe benefits and central services assessments. The department also outlined requests for a new medical compact implementation cost, an auditor position, an engineer position, and a captive insurance IT modernization project. A significant portion of the discussion focused on the Office of Consumer Protection’s landlord-tenant call line and public service access. Senators raised concerns that callers often reach voicemail, are told to leave a message, and sometimes are referred to look up the law themselves. DCCA said the Oʻahu line is staffed by one full-time employee backed by two to three investigators, with one investigator each on Maui and Hawaiʻi Island, and that calls are tracked in a case management system. The department said it plans to add one more Oʻahu staff position through a transfer from another division and that a new call-center/web system with time tracking is expected to go live in the summer. Members also discussed a possible bill related to Pearson VUE nursing certification testing, with one senator describing the burden on neighbor-island nursing graduates who must travel to Honolulu for a one-hour test. The senator said she intended to introduce legislation after receiving no response to repeated outreach. DCCA did not take action on that proposal during the hearing. For the PUC-related requests, the department explained a one-time $1 million request for outside consulting tied to Maui wildfire-related filings, including wildfire safety mitigation and hazard mitigation plans, and a separate $900,000 request through the Consumer Advocacy Division to hire consultants for review and analysis. The committee also discussed a captive insurance IT modernization request, which DCCA said would replace manual and spreadsheet-based processes with a cloud-based system to better handle filings, payments, and workflow; no vote or final action was taken on the budget items during the hearing.

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• Through a $95 million hazard mitigation assistance grant from FEMA and state funding, the program developed
• And that's two new programs: the innovation outreach and coordination program And that's two new programs
• Some are leaving the state altogether.
• that the state requires.
• The bill establishes a wildfire resilience loan program, as the Senator mentioned, modeled on the state

Summary: The Senate Emergency Management Committee heard several wildfire- and emergency-related bills. SB 1270 by Senator Richardson would expand the California Wildfire Mitigation Program to more counties and direct future funding toward areas with the greatest wildfire risk and social vulnerability; supporters included CSAC and the South Coast Air Quality Management District. SB 1079 by Senator Stern would create a permanent fire innovation unit within Cal Fire to identify operational needs, test new technologies, and speed deployment of successful tools; it drew support from Megafire Action, fire agencies, and several advocacy groups. SB 1020 by Senator Niello would require annual reporting on open gubernatorial states of emergency, including spending and lessons learned, to increase legislative oversight without limiting emergency powers; the LAO provided technical assistance on the bill. SB 894 by Senator Allen would establish a wildfire resilience loan program modeled on Go Green to help finance home hardening and defensible space improvements, with broad support from state, local, environmental, and credit union interests. Testimony on the bills emphasized wildfire risk, the need for broader home hardening access, and the value of innovation and oversight in emergency management. Supporters of SB 894 said grants alone cannot meet the scale of needed mitigation and that low-cost financing could leverage private capital. Supporters of SB 1079 argued California needs a more formal system to connect firefighters with innovators and scale proven technologies. On SB 1020, the author and committee discussed balancing executive emergency authority with transparency and accountability. There was no recorded opposition to the measures during testimony. After discussion, the committee accepted amendments on the bills and voted to pass SB 894, SB 973, SB 1020, SB 1270, and SB 1079 as amended to the Senate Appropriations Committee. The transcript shows multiple roll calls as quorum was established and absent members were called; each bill ultimately received unanimous support from members present and was reported out of committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• The purpose of the program is to assist students in securing employment upon graduation.
• Thank you. >> I am the assistant principal for the Leon County Schools Transition Program, which is the
• And so all of our programs must become federal program.
• Maybe University State college is technical colleges, private colleges or universities where these programs
• I really think that 120 programs in the state, and I'm certainly I don't have any experience in or profit

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• This is related to transit assistance program integration, and then there is a revenue item related to
• This would basically reestablish a state agency value initiative, or SAVY program, in the executive branch
• The theft or fraud committed against the medical assistance program.
• The theft or fraud committed against the medical assistance program.
• Section 26, statute assistance program.

Keywords: 1183, house

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• What that is doing is leaving middle-income families without state assistance each year, even when premiums
• On page three, line 16, about medical assistant programs or other programs established or administered
• programs and small business affordability costs.
• The 43 states that have joined the Dr.
• By the way, no state has ever left the compact.

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• And for assistant county and prosecuting attorneys, it's even less of a state share, potentially.
• We have a program for medical students whereby we assist them in getting an education.
• The bill charges that Delta Dental received for the state program, EGI's program for 2025, was 34.6 million
• With me today is the Assistant State Forester Fire Management Officer Jared Delay.
• Um, with that, state forestry did commit to two pilot programs.

Keywords: 916, all