Transcript Highlights:

• Those categories are ambulatory patient services, emergency services, hospitalization, maternity and
• Or maybe, excuse me, they are living tissue drugs. They are drugs made of living tissue.
• Living tissue drugs. They are drugs made of living tissue.
• The operative language is coverage of services or payment for specified providers of services.
• dental or oral health service.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee met to review the history and current treatment of North Dakota health insurance mandates, with presentations from Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota, Sanford Health Plan, the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), and the Insurance Department. The discussion focused on how mandates apply differently to fully insured, self-funded, ACA, Medicaid, and PERS plans; how the state’s benchmark plan and federal essential health benefits affect coverage; and how the existing process requires cost-benefit analysis and, for certain measures, a PERS pilot period before broader application. Presenters also reviewed the long list of existing state mandates, including provider, beneficiary, and coverage requirements, and noted that many were enacted decades ago and have not been revisited despite changes in medical evidence and treatment options. Witnesses from the carriers argued that mandates should be reviewed periodically because some are outdated, can create unintended costs, and may not align with current medical guidance. Examples cited included PSA screening, off-label drug coverage, prior authorization rules, step therapy, and cost-sharing provisions for mental health and substance use treatment. They emphasized that carriers often cover services without a mandate when supported by clinical evidence, and that mandates can shift costs to employers and employees, especially in the fully insured small-group market. They also suggested possible policy improvements such as clearer mandate definitions, better transparency around cost-benefit analyses, a regular 10-year review of mandates, and more timely submission of proposals through the interim process. PERS and the Insurance Department highlighted a recurring tension over what counts as a mandate and when a measure triggers the state’s defrayal obligation under federal law. PERS described its interim committee process, the April 1 deadline for fiscal-impact proposals, and the limited pilot program used for certain measures, noting that only a few bills have gone through the full pilot process. The Insurance Department explained that it views new benefit mandates through the lens of the ACA benchmark plan and essential health benefits, distinguishing true new benefits, such as infertility coverage, from changes to existing benefits, such as telehealth or insulin cost-sharing caps. No votes were taken on policy changes; the meeting was informational, with members asking questions about costs, applicability, transparency, and whether a periodic mandate review should be established.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is supervised independent living services for specified populations.
• This is for in-home services and transitional support for young adults.
• DCFS with Timothy Hill Children's Ranch this is supervised independent living services for specified
• This is for in-home services and transitional support for young adults. 49 is with Gainwell Technologies
• Contract 58, with DWS Sources for Community Independent Living, is for benefit planning services.

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• continues to inspire my commitment to public service.
• Public service is not something that I have ever taken lightly.
• But DEIA has been embedded within our services before it was called DEIA.
• She lives with me day in and day out in my heart.
• the services.”

Summary: The Senate Rules Committee met with quorum and first approved several non-appearance items, including the appointments of Armin Meyer to the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation and Uca Danka to the California State Lottery Commission. The committee also approved references to bills, a request to suspend Senate Rule 55 for guest access on the Senate floor, and floor acknowledgments, all by 5-0 votes. The committee then heard the appointment of Arania Ortega to the Public Employment Relations Board. Members questioned her about her background at CalHR and Finance, PERB’s case backlog, implementation of AB 288, recusal rules tied to her prior work, the ride-share caseload, and the board’s role in legislative employee unionization. Ortega said PERB currently has no backlog, is prepared to implement AB 288 if litigation changes, and has strong recusal procedures; she also said the state employee cases affected by her recusal would be a small share of PERB’s workload. Public testimony supported the nominee, and the committee voted 5-0 to send the appointment to the full Senate. The committee also heard Monica Erickson’s appointment as Director of the Department of Human Resources. Questions focused on labor negotiations, CalPERS fiduciary responsibilities, recruitment and retention, telework, discipline and accountability, DEIA efforts, hard-to-fill classifications, degree requirements, return-to-office implementation, and the gender pay gap. Erickson said CalHR is working on recruitment tools, class consolidations, apprenticeship pathways, policy forums, and a skills-matching pilot to help applicants, while also addressing pay equity and reducing barriers such as unnecessary degree requirements. Public witnesses spoke in support, and the committee approved her appointment 5-0 to advance to the Senate floor before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> College of Health and Human Services College of Health and Human Services thank<00:38:07.880><c>
• </c> pre-engagement um to increase service pre-engagement um to increase service uptake<01:03:53.440>
• </c> preservation and reunification services preservation and reunification services so<01:05:29.960>
• </c> 90% of those funds on Direct Services 90% of those funds on Direct Services for<01:22:44.639><c>
• :42.040><c> might</c> areas where service Services might areas where service Services might otherwise

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first reorganized by electing Representative Hart as House co-chair and Senator Douglas as Senate co-chair by acclamation, then approved the December 10 minutes. It then took up deferred and routine contract items, beginning with a Council on Postsecondary Education item that was withdrawn after staff explained the contract had been canceled and should not have come before the committee because the granting authority, not CPE, was issuing it. The committee next reviewed a Department for Local Government contract tied to an Eastern Kentucky flood recovery housing project in Jackson. Members questioned the high per-unit cost and whether renovation was more expensive than new construction. Staff explained the cost included acquisition of an existing downtown building and needed water and sewer infrastructure upgrades, and said developable land was limited in the area. With no motion to object, the contract was allowed to move forward. The committee then considered Kentucky Transportation Cabinet professional services contracts for highway design work. Members asked about the size of the contracts and how much of the available funding is typically used; staff said the contracts are two-year agreements, that the prior cycle reached close to $2 million per contract, and that this year’s limits were reduced because less money is available in the Highway Plan. The committee also approved a PSC amendment contract for the Bridging Kentucky program after staff explained the $150 hourly loaded rate was within the normal range for consultants. Both Transportation Cabinet items were approved without objection. Finally, the committee heard a Kentucky Communications Network Authority contract for an $85,000 study of the dark fiber market. Members asked what dark fiber is, why the study was needed, whether there was coordination with the Office of Broadband Development, and whether existing service meant there was already a market. KCNA said dark fiber is unused fiber that local providers can light to deliver service, that the study was needed because the contractor said no market existed while ISPs said demand exists, and that the report would help both KCNA oversight and broadband development planning. The contract was reviewed without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Marcel Smith, and I live in Woodland, California.
• I'm from Sacramento, California, currently living in Fairfield.
• I've also lived with complex regional pain syndrome.
• Even though I'm limited, I've lived also with complex regional pain syndrome for 25 years.
• I'm a member, I live in central California, Placerville. I live in central California, Placerville.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And then we have our Metro Bus, our public transit.
• </c> Minnesota in the town back where I live Minnesota in the town back where I live in<01:08:02.200>
• </c> this Mission cost for basic services this Mission cost for basic services like<01:19:06.960><c>
• </c> upward pressure on goods and services upward pressure on goods and services across<01:19:18.080>
• </c> government than we get back in services government than we get back in services and<01:34:36.960

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you. okay you guys can live here and make okay you guys can live here and make money<01:17:17.000
• well give us the money for servic well give us the money for homeless<01:33:17.560><c> services</c><
• The member asked how many transit stations there are on Oʻahu and what constitutes a transit station
• ><c> so</c> transit stations Transit stations so transit stations Transit stations so similar<01:42:45.800
• </c><02:50:18.399><c> Serv</c> cost of serving a cost of living Serv cost of serving a cost of living

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And the work they can do throughout our state with that information and service.
• This bill requires the Department of Human Services using electronic communication to provide the West
• and services for students with current or former foster care experience.
• programs and services.
• You know, high school sports play a huge part in our kids' lives. They really do.

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Forest Service, to maintain and manage fuel breaks on federally owned land up to one mile on either side
• You know, we are now in the part of the state I live in reaching the place where our urban growth area
• We provide services to all county residents, regardless of whether they live in or outside of incorporated
• Forest Service-owned lands. We appreciate that point being reinforced in this bill.
• And I was shocked that the Forest Service hadn't hired anybody yet. So why?

Bills: SB6211, SB6234, SB6242

Keywords: real estate, excise tax, growth management, uniformity, local government, sewage, grinder pumps, residential buildings, regulation, construction, shared stewardship, counties authority, land management, environmental agreements, local governance, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Army Medical Service Corps.
• </c> veterans vet cop here living in Hawaii. veterans vet cop here living in Hawaii.
• experience informed supportive lived experience informed supportive services<02:32:18.640><c> for</c>
• </c> mentorship, meals, supportive services. mentorship, meals, supportive services.
• Services. Services.

Bills: HB1531

Keywords: emergency announcements, American Sign Language, accessibility, public safety, broadcast media, 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on House Bill 1913, which would create a mental health coordinator position within the Office of Veteran Services for the Daniel K. Akaka State Veterans Home and appropriate funds for it. Supporters said veterans, especially on the neighbor islands, need more mental health access and coordination. Several witnesses, including Sean Sonatada and Tom Driscoll, supported the intent but urged amendments to broaden the position beyond one facility and make it a statewide resource. Committee members questioned whether the bill would duplicate existing services at the veterans home and whether the position would be reimbursable through federal VA funding; testimony indicated the state would appropriate the money, while existing home services are already covered through current staff and federal reimbursement structures. The committee also heard testimony on House Bill 9, which would designate Hawaii as a Purple Heart state. Testifiers generally supported the measure as a way to honor wounded veterans and their families, though one member asked what benefits the designation would confer. Witnesses clarified that the bill was mainly symbolic and did not appear to create new benefits, and one testifier noted Honolulu County had already adopted a similar Purple Heart designation. The committee then took up House Bill 1628, which would establish a compassionate release protocol for certain seriously ill or debilitated incarcerated persons. The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and the Hawaii Paroling Authority opposed the bill, arguing that an existing administrative process already works, that the bill could improperly extend eligibility to people serving life without parole or mandatory minimum sentences, and that it lacked victim and family input and sufficient resources. In contrast, the Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission strongly supported the bill, saying it would reduce the high cost of incarcerating people with complex medical needs, ease burdens on staff and the prison population, and better reflect human dignity. The commission described having seen severe suffering and deaths in custody and said compassionate release is warranted in some cases. No votes or final actions were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Naming the community solar program in her honor is a fitting tribute to her lifetime of service.
• In their income or where they live has a chance to benefit from the clean energy boom.
• </c><00:59:18.720><c> Recognizing</c> clean energy transition. Recognizing clean energy transition.
• </c> transition to cleaner, healthier fuels. transition to cleaner, healthier fuels.
• But I don't going to have to live in.

Bills: HF3556

Keywords: community solar, energy, solar power, renewable energy, Melissa Hortman, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> or home and community-based services or home and community-based services based<00:40:48.520><c>
• </c> requiring the continuation of services requiring the continuation of services until<00:41:24.400
• Washington, Emergency Medical Services Vehicles — Ambulances Required Services.
• </c> sale price in multiple listing service. sale price in multiple listing service.
• </c> services and implementation dates. services and implementation dates.

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Monday, March 23, 2026, 960, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• HE THEN BECAME ONE OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE, COUNTY ENGINEER THE NEXT 25 YEARS.
• I'VE LIVED IN HERNANDO COUNTY SINCE 2000.
• LIKE YOU FOR CONSIDERING MY CONTINUED SERVICE.
• FROM 2019 THROUGH 21 I SERVED AS SECRETARY OF THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF MANAGEMENT SERVICES.
• FOR EXAMPLE DISABILITY IS AN ACCESS CHALLENGE FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH A DISABILITY.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• At the time were appropriate, and I'm proud of my service in our profession.
• Services for these vacations based on the exercise of treaty Indian rights.
• We also know that years of Native Americans' lives have been impacted.
• Does the proposal permit only the electronic service of warrants, or would personal physical service
• service.

Summary: The committee opened with a work session on effective interrogation techniques, hearing from two remote experts, retired homicide detective Matt Jones and former federal agent Mark Fallon. Both argued for science-based, information-gathering interviewing over confrontational or deception-based tactics, emphasizing rapport, open-ended questioning, corroboration, and avoiding coercion, especially with vulnerable interviewees. They said these methods improve reliability, reduce false confessions and wrongful convictions, and better withstand court scrutiny. Members asked for source materials and raised concerns about how friendly or minimization-style questioning could affect victims; the witnesses said they would provide research and noted that some common tactics can be problematic in sexual assault cases. No votes were taken in the work session. The committee then held a hearing on House Bill 1982, which would expand Washington’s existing process for vacating convictions tied to treaty rights. Staff explained that current law mainly covers pre-1975 fishing convictions, while the bill would extend relief to convictions involving treaty fishing, hunting, gathering, and pasturing rights, remove the date limit, include local ordinances, authorize the Office of Public Defense to provide direct representation and consultation, and create a tribal liaison position. The prime sponsor and tribal leaders testified in support, describing the bill as a way to correct historical wrongs and remove barriers to jobs, housing, and other opportunities. The Office of Public Defense said it supports the bill but needs statutory authority and a hub to identify and process cases; an Attorney General’s Office tribal liaison also supported the concept and suggested clarifying amendments. Some members questioned the scope of the affected population, costs, and whether the legislature could vacate the convictions directly, while others raised concerns about competing resource demands and the need for judicial action case by case. No final action was taken. Finally, the committee began hearing House Bill 2156, which would expand the Attorney General’s Office investigators’ authority in limited circumstances. Staff said the bill would let AGO investigators exercise only the authority of the entity granting concurrent jurisdiction, allow them to serve business search warrants only when authorized by a judicial officer, and clarify that they cannot detain, arrest, or carry weapons. The bill sponsor said it would reduce delays in economic-crime cases by allowing investigators to serve electronic warrants themselves instead of relying on local officers. Opponents from the sheriffs and police chiefs association and a retired veteran argued the bill blurs the line between investigation and prosecution, lacks sufficient oversight, and could create constitutional and training concerns. AGO representatives responded that the bill is narrowly focused, that most investigators are retired law enforcement, and that it would mainly streamline service of electronic warrants in cases such as organized retail theft and wage theft. The hearing was still in progress when the transcript ended, and no vote was recorded on this bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we feel that reference to that additional service, which is generally paid by local government, could
• Mike Moore, Guardian Fleet Services. Wave and support. Thank you very much.
• The bill also requires DHSMV to remit the tax collector service fee for all online transactions related
• So just a comment about the rapid transit compact.
• For instance, the rapid transit compact that you spoke about, in speaking with stakeholders, we found

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And if there's anything that you see in your service here, then feel free to reach out to us.
• Thank you so much for your service and your desire to continue to serve. I appreciate you for that.
• So LexisNexis is who we use now for all our legal service.
• Thanks for your endurance and all the transitioning and so forth. I have two questions.
• And so, obviously we live in a nation that is very diverse.

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you all for being here and for your years of service.
• Yeah, remember, this is live stream. So just be careful.
• typically if you see a child in need of services there’s a family in need of services, right?
• This is including the transitional funding for districts that are receiving that transitional funding
• Managing service consulting is professional services provided in order to assist management in board

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• She said, "You know, we have to decide, do we want to have a transit system?"
• Uh, that's sales tax for transportation or transit. Could be for transportation.
• </c> or transit. or transit.
• They were trying to big transit station.
• </c> transit stop. Nobody is riding that bus. transit stop. Nobody is riding that bus.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• can charge for services also offered by the DMV.
• This bill reduces service capacity without reducing demand.
• This bill reduces service capacity without reducing demand.
• And then it just, what it applied to, the types of services, have a cap, whereas other services in last
• So we have... so I live in Suisun City, along Highway 12.

Summary: The Assembly Transportation Committee met as a subcommittee until quorum was established, then heard several transportation-related bills. AB 1614 would extend existing anti-piggybacking rules to Class 1 bikeways, prohibiting multiple riders on a single bike or e-bike; supporters emphasized rising e-bike injuries and trauma cases, while People for Bikes argued it could create unnecessary barriers and enforcement issues. The committee also heard AB 2193, which would make autonomous vehicle manufacturers responsible for traffic citations when no human driver is present; Teamsters and transit labor supported the bill as an accountability measure, and there was no formal opposition on file. AB 2629 would cap fees charged by DMV business partners for online vehicle registration services at 5% above DMV fees. The sponsor and consumer advocates said the bill would curb spoofed websites and hidden upcharges, while DMV business partners and related companies argued the cap would make the program economically unworkable and reduce service options. Members questioned how the 5% figure was chosen, and the bill advanced on a due pass recommendation to Appropriations after a roll call. The committee also heard AB 2046, which would allow EPA-approved E85 conversion kits in California to expand access to lower-cost, lower-carbon fuel; supporters cited consumer savings and emissions reductions, and the bill passed to Appropriations. Finally, AB 2346 proposed broader e-bike safety rules, including speedometers, lighting, age-based speed limits, local authority to set path limits, and consumer disclosures; supporters framed it as a response to serious injuries and illegal e-motos, while opponents raised concerns about overbreadth, enforcement, and potential profiling. The committee approved AB 2346, sending it to Judiciary, and later completed roll calls showing the consent calendar and the other heard bills advancing out of committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• We had a meeting with our service plan director, and so we stand by that if there are particular items
• And we have to make significant capital investments as we make this transition over.
• So we will now transition to our second panel.
• So we will now transition to our second panel.
• And about half of our customers actually opt to take service under a dynamic rate option.

Summary: The committee first heard AB 1026 by Assembly Member Wilson, which would require investor-owned utilities to provide clearer front-end information and follow more consistent timelines for post-entitlement energization applications tied to housing projects. The author and supporters from the Housing Action Coalition and Mission Housing said utility delays can hold up approved housing, add costs, and create uncertainty, and they argued the bill would align utility processes with recent state efforts to streamline local permitting. PG&E and Southern California Edison opposed the bill, saying existing CPUC timelines and the ongoing energization rulemaking already address the issue, that the bill could be duplicative or premature, and that some proposed timelines were too short. The committee discussed the bill’s relationship to the CPUC’s September 2024 decision, and AB 1026 was ultimately approved on a 15-0 vote, with the consent calendar also passing. The second half of the hearing was the committee’s annual oversight hearing on electric reliability. Representatives from the CPUC, CEC, CAISO, and DWR reviewed lessons from the 2020 and 2022 heat emergencies, emphasizing that California has since added significant resources, improved planning, and created backstop programs such as the strategic reliability reserve. They said the summer 2025 outlook is cautiously optimistic, with no expected shortfalls under traditional planning conditions and a projected surplus, though wildfire and extreme heat remain risks. The agencies also described major changes in planning and operations, including more battery storage, updated resource adequacy rules, expanded transmission planning, and reforms to the interconnection queue. Members asked about data center load, Diablo Canyon’s future, the strategic reliability reserve, demand response, wildfire mitigation costs, affordability, and regional market expansion. Witnesses said data center demand is a major variable but can be managed through better forecasting, flexible service arrangements, and siting in areas with existing capacity; they also said firm clean resources remain valuable while planning continues around Diablo Canyon’s scheduled retirement. On affordability, they said the agencies try to balance reliability with least-cost procurement, and that new resources can lower market prices even as they require upfront investment. CAISO also highlighted the value of the Western Energy Imbalance Market and the planned day-ahead market, saying regional coordination improves both reliability and cost savings.