Transcript Highlights:

• This bill adds occupational therapists to the list of licensed professionals who can issue a statement
• And when I started hearing all the things that occupational therapists do, I had no clue.
• I am a licensed occupational therapist from Kansas City, and I'm here on behalf of the Missouri Occupational
• Occupational therapists help people do the everyday activities that occupy their lives, like getting
• Occupational therapists across our state already make these functional determinations every day.

Committee: House Health and Mental Health

Summary: The committee first met in executive session and approved a combined House Committee Substitute for House Bills 2642, 2296, 1996, and 1680 on a 15-0 vote after adopting a committee amendment and substitute. It then adopted a substitute for House Bill 2596, which expanded access for sole proprietors with at least one common law employee and their dependents, and passed that bill do pass by a 15-0 vote. The committee then heard several health-related bills. House Bills 2194, 2349, 1826, and 2560 focused on expanding epinephrine access in schools, child care facilities, nursing homes, and first responder settings to include nasal sprays and other delivery systems, with testimony emphasizing the need for easier administration, training, and broader school nurse support. House Bill 1827 would add occupational therapists to the list of professionals who can certify disability parking placards and plates, with supporters saying OTs already perform the functional assessments needed. House Bill 1783 would let the Department of Health and Senior Services contract with nonprofit public health institutes to help administer federal public health grants and reduce lapsed funds; supporters said the state lacks staffing capacity, while some members raised concerns about oversight and fraud. Finally, Representative Peters presented House Bill 2372, a large omnibus health bill combining many previously heard measures, including epinephrine delivery system updates, pseudoephedrine purchase limit changes, doula participation in Mo HealthNet, telehealth, workplace violence signage, long-term care inspection changes, RX CARES sunset removal, 340B language, anesthesia time protections, and other provisions. Support came from numerous medical, nursing, pharmacy, public health, and provider groups, while opposition focused mainly on the 340B provisions, non-opioid alternative language, anesthesia contracting language, and telehealth standards, arguing those sections needed separate consideration and stronger transparency safeguards.

Transcript Highlights:

• occupations, but the best example that we have is actually from the state of South Dakota.
• South Dakota has defused occupational licensing requirements in the entire country.
• But, like, I do have somebody here to speak to the specific occupations. Okay. Thank you.
• So most of those occupations that were mentioned are probably licensed in those other states.
• And I would say most occupations, they learn so much in the first couple of years.

Committee: House Professional Registration and Licensing

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> occupational license fees and taxes. occupational license fees and taxes.
• ><00:30:34.720><c> not</c> occupational license tax is not occupational license tax is not something<
• </c> occupational license tax. But Mr. occupational license tax. But Mr.
• </c> County and there's an occupational County and there's an occupational license<00:34:11.440><c> tax
• ><c> we're</c><01:01:55.040><c> talking</c> The occupational tax that we're talking The occupational

Transcript Highlights:

• Occupants above the fire may have no second interior route to escape.
• Fire crews must rely on aerial apparatus to remove occupants from harm's way.
• Occupants above the fire may have no second interior route to escape.
• This proposed bill introduces imminent risk to occupants and firefighters.
• Occupants depend on built-in fire protection systems, including egress and exiting.

Committee: Senate Local Government and Taxation

Transcript Highlights:

• This is about multi-occupancy spaces in government facilities.
• That's why there's the provision for the single use, single occupancy.
• You're the only person in there in a single occupancy.
• So that's a single occupancy restroom on the airplane?
• You're the only person in there in a single occupancy.

Summary: The House first established a quorum, then took up several bills for perfection and printing. House Bill 2297, a fence-law bill, was presented as a way to let livestock owners enter up to 10 feet onto neighboring property to repair fences, remove trees and debris on the fence line, and avoid trespass liability while repairing damage caused by livestock escaping. Supporters said the measure addresses a real rural problem and protects farmers who are already responsible for keeping animals contained; the bill was adopted and perfected and printed after debate over property rights and access concerns. The chamber then considered House Bills 2142 and 2058, a film and television tax incentive measure. Supporters said Missouri’s film credit program has produced strong economic returns, created jobs, and attracted productions, and they argued for combining separate film and TV funding buckets while removing a proposed sunset extension. An amendment to keep the sunset at 2029 was adopted, and the bill was then adopted, perfected, and printed. The House also took up House Bill 3004, a hardwood labeling bill requiring products sold in Missouri to be labeled accurately as wood or non-wood materials; supporters framed it as truth-in-advertising and protection for the state’s timber industry, while one member questioned how the law would apply to online and out-of-state sellers. The bill was adopted and perfected and printed. Next, the House considered House Bills 3283 and 3306, which set a timeline and process for public-sector collective bargaining disputes, including negotiation, mediation, and arbitration, and defined “good faith” in bargaining. An amendment narrowed the bill so it would not apply to teachers, police, or other excluded public employees under existing law. Supporters said the bill would prevent years-long contract disputes and save taxpayer money, especially for firefighters and other first responders; the substitute was adopted and perfected and printed. Finally, House Bill 2536, a bill on sex-designated restrooms and other private spaces in government-controlled settings, drew extensive debate. The sponsor said it was intended to protect privacy and safety in restrooms, changing rooms, sleeping quarters, schools, airports, correctional facilities, and similar spaces, and an amendment clarified exceptions for corrections officers and other public safety duties. Opponents argued the bill would target transgender people, create enforcement problems, and rely on signage rather than preventing crime; supporters said it was needed to protect women and girls. The amendment was adopted, and debate continued on the bill as amended.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Bill 1340 limiting occupational Bill 1340 limiting occupational regulations<00:03:00.720><c> to<
• </c> pursue a chosen occupation pursue a chosen occupation um<00:04:44.240><c> and</c><00:04:44.560><
• Uh it limits uh regulations occupation.
• </c> an occupational restriction or license. an occupational restriction or license.
• </c> higher ranking in terms of occupational higher ranking in terms of occupational licensing<00:44:

Committee: House Executive Departments and Administration

Transcript Highlights:

• Because they're already certified in another area, it's unnecessary... degree, an occupational license
• Having... ...this time they have 5,000 hours of related occupational experience.
• On the left-hand side, you'll see that occupational pathway, including the subjects of health sciences
• And the candidates for these positions are often moving from high-pay occupations that in some cases
• A person's coming through the occupational pathway at the career and technical education with a high

Committee: House Elementary and Secondary Education

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 2243 allows physical therapists and occupational therapists to be attending providers for
• House Bill 2243 allows physical therapists and occupational therapists to be attending providers for
• If there's a problem with communication with the physical or occupational therapist, because they are
• My clinic specializes in occupational medicine.
• Our main concern here is that by elevating physical and occupational therapists to attending providers

Bills: HB2107 , HB2137 , HB2243 , HB2264

Committee: House Labor & Workplace Standards

Keywords: construction safety, hazard notification, worksite regulations, labor safety, state law, law enforcement, correctional officers, interest arbitration, collective bargaining, public safety, workers' compensation, healthcare providers, physical therapy, occupational therapy, employment, unemployment insurance, benefits, layoffs, workforce reduction

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 1567 preempted occupancy limits.
• SB 1567 preempted occupancy limits based on arbitrary characteristics such as age, race, occupation,
• And Denton had an occupation-based occupancy limit, so they limited the number of servants that could
• Occupancy limits should be tethered to the structure, not the relationship or occupation of the people
• As you heard, occupancy limits are legal limits on the amount of unrelated residents, As you heard, occupancy

Committee: House Land & Resource Management

Transcript Highlights:

• Did we map out the competencies for this occupation correctly?
• Did we map out the competencies for this occupation correctly?
• It's also just where the number of occupations are, especially the new ones.
• </c> to figure out where those occupations to figure out where those occupations are<00:38:52.839><c>
• </c> see you know what what those occupations see you know what what those occupations are<00:42:21.599

Committee: House Higher Education Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• And then of course now with the current ICE occupation that we have here, that's a major thing for our
• Um, with everything happening right now, I probably the ICE occupation will be a big one that gets worked
• :11.440><c> here,</c><00:02:11.680><c> that's</c><00:02:11.920><c> a</c><00:02:12.319><c> a</c> occupation
• that we have here, that's a a occupation that we have here, that's a a major<00:02:13.040><c> thing<
• will be a big one that gets occupation will be a big one that gets worked<00:03:57.519><c> on.

Summary: The transcript is an interview with Shelley Buck, a newly elected Minnesota House member for District 47A, who introduced herself as Dakota, a member of the Prairie Island Indian Community, and president of a nonprofit working to restore land at Owámni/St. Anthony Falls. She said her prior 12 years on tribal council, including six as president, motivated her to run because she wants to help people and bring that same kind of service to her new district. Buck said constituents in her district emphasized affordability, especially housing and health care, along with environmental protection, clean water, PFAS concerns, gun safety, and the impact of the current ICE occupation. She described herself as a champion for working families and the environment, citing her own working-class, single-parent upbringing and the importance of postsecondary education and state support programs. On policy priorities, Buck said she wants to focus first on the ICE occupation issue, while also addressing affordability, health care, housing, and environmental protection. She framed her environmental views through a Dakota worldview that treats plants, animals, land, and water as relatives and stressed protecting the Boundary Waters and other natural areas.

Transcript Highlights:

• Are there any occupational licensing currently that I'm just not aware of?
• Are there any occupational licensing currently that I'm just not aware of?
• Are there any occupational licensing currently that I'm just not aware of?
• Are there any occupational licensing currently that I'm just not aware of?
• :14:57.640><c> licensing</c> Are there any occupational licensing Are there any occupational licensing

Bills: HB163 , HB344 , HB163 , HB344 , SB11 , SB92 , SB164 , HB22 , HB89 , SB227 , SB6 , SB11 , SB92 , SB164 , HB22 , HB89 , SB227 , SB6

Committee: Senate County and Municipal Government

Keywords: income tax, research expenditures, economic development, tax deductions, Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Alabama tax law, educational intervention, State Superintendent, local boards of education, subpoena, accountability, state control, property improvement, private financing, energy efficiency, capital expenditure, local government, volunteer fire departments, federally insured financial institutions, fund management

Transcript Highlights:

• WE LOOK AT GROWTH RATE ACROSS OCCUPATIONS BECAUSE HE WANTED TO IDENTIFY OCCUPATIONS THAT WOULD CONTINUE
• TEACHERS, IT IS BY THAT LEVEL OF OCCUPATION.
• NURSES, ELEMENTARY TEACHERS, IT IS BY THAT LEVEL OF OCCUPATION.
• AND THEN WHAT PROGRAM SUPPORT THE OCCUPATION?
• UNFILLED OPENINGS FOR THIS PARTICULAR OCCUPATION?

Transcript Highlights:

• One of which is regulating unrelated occupancy, whereas currently we have a regulation that bases occupancy
• One of which is regulating unrelated occupancy, whereas currently we have a regulation that bases occupancy
• </c> home subject to their occupancy home subject to their occupancy standards<00:59:28.760><c> on</c
• </c> talk uh today about uh occupancy talk uh today about uh occupancy restrictions<02:02:13.760><c>
• </c><02:02:18.760><c> restriction</c> there is an occupancy restriction there is an occupancy restriction

Committee: House Municipal and County Government

Transcript Highlights:

• ,<00:58:48.400><c> dangerous</c><00:58:48.799><c> narcotics,</c> occupants, dangerous narcotics, occupants
• </c> from the imposition of occupational from the imposition of occupational taxes<01:05:08.160><c> and
• In addition to property, occupational In addition to property, occupational insurance,<01:14:49.440><
• </c> uh in the shift towards occupational uh in the shift towards occupational license<01:21:38.880><
• </c> uh, 87 counties levy an occupational uh, 87 counties levy an occupational license<01:21:55.840><

Summary: The committee first took up an update from the Kentucky County Clerks Association on the transition to electronic recording and land records modernization. Testimony explained that legislation from the 2021 task force created funding and deadlines for counties to provide online search portals and complete a 30-year property record search, with a later move to a 60-year standard. Speakers said the money has been awarded to counties, but much of the work is still in progress because records must be scanned, indexed, and manually verified. They said only a handful of counties are fully compliant with electronic recording so far, while many are still working through staffing and vendor issues. They also noted that the 60-year standard may ultimately be easier and more efficient to complete than the 30-year standard, and that compliance is expected to improve by next summer. The clerks’ representatives also raised related issues, including deed fraud, the county document storage fee, and KDLA digitization grants. They said online recording can make deed fraud easier to attempt, so they expect to seek legislation next session to address it. They described an existing notification service available in many counties that alerts property owners when a document is recorded, which can help detect suspicious activity quickly. They also said the storage fee and separate county account structure has generally worked well, but that two recent KDLA grant cycles have not released money for clerks, limiting support for digitization work. Another topic was whether, once records are fully digitized and verified, some permanent records should remain publicly accessible or be moved to a safer archive under KDLA control. Members asked about the balance in the KDLA fund, what the General Assembly could do to help lagging counties, and how much of the $25 million modernization funding had been spent. Witnesses said they did not have the current fund balance but would try to get it, that the main obstacle now appears to be staffing rather than additional money, and that the funds have been awarded but not fully expended because work is still ongoing. They emphasized that counties are helping one another and asked members to alert association leadership if any county is struggling. The committee then heard a presentation from Dan London, executive director of the Lincoln Trail Area Development District, who described area development districts as regional staff extensions and technical resources for cities and counties, and highlighted their role in coordinating regional services and partnerships across county lines.

Transcript Highlights:

• , it doesn’t have the power to restrict who pursues the occupation.
• , it doesn’t have the power to restrict who pursues the occupation.
• , it doesn’t have the power to restrict who pursues the occupation.
• , it doesn’t have the power to restrict who pursues the occupation.
• </c> farming as legitimate legal occupation farming as legitimate legal occupation on<01:25:45.119><c

Committee: Senate Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development

Transcript Highlights:

• As you recall from previous bills, the rule does not apply to occupational disease claims for PTSD for
• There is a rebuttable presumption that PTSD is an occupational disease for those occupations, except
• It would include any worker who chooses to participate in the pilot that is eligible for an occupational
• It doesn't rely on the presumption; it relies on the occupational disease allowance.
• It would include any worker who chooses to participate in the pilot that is eligible for an occupational

Bills: HB1526 , HB1069 , HB1347 , HB2091 , HB2264

Committee: Senate Labor & Commerce

Keywords: liquor license, snack bar, state regulations, alcohol sales, business licensing, collective bargaining, retirement benefits, employee rights, public sector, supplemental benefits, education, funding, student loans, affordability, higher education, public employers, employee information, bargaining representatives, labor relations, union representation

Transcript Highlights:

• Of these 900 occupational therapists, 23 practice in rural New Mexico.
• New Mexico Occupational Therapy Association.
• New Mexico is facing a significant shortage of occupational therapy practitioners.
• Occupational therapy has also been linked to reduce hospital readmission rates.
• On behalf of the New Mexico Occupational Therapy Association, I urge you to support HB 52.

Committee: House House Taxation & Revenue

Transcript Highlights:

• was lost, and the municipality had a record that a certificate of occupancy had been issued.
• For example, since the 1960s, their records don't have the original certificate of occupancy.
• The city then has a record that they issued a certificate of occupancy to the business owner at that
• This is due to not being able to make access and have clear exit egress for our occupants.
• to access and occupants to escape at the same time.

Bills: HB447 , HB897 , HB993 , HB2673 , HB3671 , HB3680 , HB3897 , HB4506 , HB4753 , HB4812 , HB4894 , HB5148 , HB5437 , HB5650 , HB5652 , HB5654 , HB5656 , HB5661 , HB5665

Committee: House Land & Resource Management

Keywords: traffic impact studies, municipal utility district, bonds, road projects, eminent domain, HB 897, Texas land sale, state property, Austin real estate, Travis County, General Land Office, Texas State Library and Archives Commission, HHSC, Health and Human Services Commission, state records facility, archives building, library funding, capital improvements, lease of state land, public land disposition

Transcript Highlights:

• , more than 9,200 graduates in nursing-related occupations, more than 3,000 graduates in IT-related occupations
• therapy-related occupations.
• occupations, more than 3,000 graduates in IT-related occupations, over 14,000 graduates in cosmetology-related
• occupations, and more than 1,600 graduates in massage therapy related. occupations and more than 1,600
• And these are across a variety of occupations.

Summary: The Higher Education Budget Subcommittee met for an introductory overview of the higher education programs under its jurisdiction. After roll call and member introductions, Chair Busatta outlined that the subcommittee oversees programs in the Department of Education and the State University System, including vocational rehabilitation, blind services, private postsecondary licensure, student financial aid, career and adult education, the Florida College System, and the Board of Governors. The chair and staff also noted that these areas represent roughly $9 billion in current-year funding. Officials from the Department of Education presented on several programs. Vocational Rehabilitation Director Kelly Rogers described services for adults and youth with disabilities, including pre-employment transition services, job coaching, assistive technology, and employer support; she said the program served more than 55,000 people last year, has no wait list, and reported a return of $7.61 to the economy for every $1 invested. Division of Blind Services Director Robert Doyle explained services from birth through older adulthood, including early intervention, school-age support, vocational rehabilitation, independent living, the Business Enterprise Program for blind vendors, and the Braille and Talking Book Library; he said the division serves about 12,000 people annually and also has no wait list, though some community rehab providers may have one. Tiffany Hurst of the Commission for Independent Education described licensure and consumer protection for independent postsecondary institutions, reporting oversight of about 1,100 institutions and 721 non-degree schools, along with enforcement actions against unlicensed operators. Sean Haskin of Student Financial Assistance reviewed 22 scholarship and grant programs totaling about $1 billion for more than 200,000 students, including Bright Futures, Benacquisto, need-based grants, EASE, EASE Plus, veterans’ scholarships, dual enrollment reimbursement, first responder scholarships, and the Ocoee and Rosewood scholarships. Members asked about surplus funds, marketing, Bright Futures eligibility requirements, and whether EASE awards had changed; Haskin said any unused funds are reverted to the Legislature, that the department markets through schools and the Florida Lottery, and that EASE remained at $3,500 per FTE for the last two fiscal years. Several members raised concerns that students and parents may not learn about aid programs early enough, especially in economically disadvantaged communities. Chancellor Kevin O’Farrell then presented on Career and Adult Education, highlighting record participation in career and technical education, adult education, and apprenticeship. He said about 800,000 secondary students and 480,000 postsecondary students are in CTE, adult education serves about 183,000 learners, and apprenticeship/pre-apprenticeship programs include more than 22,000 participants. He also described the workforce development fund, Perkins, WIOA Title II, the Pathways to Career Opportunities Grant, workforce capitalization grants, CAPE performance funding, and the Pipeline nursing initiative, noting strong NCLEX outcomes and expanded outreach through the Get There, Your Way, Future of Work Florida, and Zello platforms. Kathy Hebda began the Florida College System presentation by emphasizing open access, workforce preparation, statewide reach, and strong enrollment and completion growth, including more than 672,000 students, over 131,000 degrees and certificates, and significant dual enrollment savings for students and families.