Transcript Highlights:

• Treatment options.
• actual mental health treatment.
• If more treatment is needed, our court decides whether to order inpatient or outpatient treatment or
• However, an assisted outpatient treatment program has proven that community-based outpatient treatment
• treatment.

Committee: Senate Health & Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> appropriate placement and treatment appropriate placement and treatment options<00:07:46.120><c>
• </c> psychiatric Residential Treatment psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility<00:14:48.800><c> we
• </c> placement in a state operated treatment placement in a state operated treatment program<00:20:44.799
• </c> in inoa uh Medical Regional treatment in inoa uh Medical Regional treatment facility<00:21:30.360
• </c> direct care and treatment direct care and treatment facility<00:26:36.480><c> there</c><00:26:36.720

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• treatments? treatments?
• ,</c> there were improvements in treatment, there were improvements in treatment, were<00:18:52.040><
• </c><00:21:35.160><c> uh</c> uh number of treatments uh uh number of treatments uh some<00:21:36.320>
• </c> what went wrong with uh the treatment what went wrong with uh the treatment uh<00:22:45.040><c>
• </c> safety aspects of treatments. safety aspects of treatments.

Summary: The Special Committee on COVID Response Efficacy for New Hampshire held its first organizational meeting. The chair read the committee’s updated mission statement, which says the bipartisan committee will fact-find on the state’s COVID-19 response and its impact on the healthcare system, with focus areas including federal guidance, federal funds, emergency use authorization vaccination efforts, long COVID, the Patient Bill of Rights, and vaccination policies. The chair also announced committee staffing changes: Linda McGrath stepped down as vice chair and Representative Gerard was named vice chair; Representative DeRoy was named clerk. The chair emphasized the committee’s work is intended to be science-based and fact-finding, not anti-vaccine, and noted that the committee may issue follow-up reports and recommendations. Members discussed a broad list of topics for future hearings, including long COVID treatment, ongoing vaccination policies, reporting of COVID deaths, standards of care and provider discretion, COVID-related funding such as ESSER/CARES Act money, and communication of treatment developments during the pandemic. Representative Pollina argued the committee should examine specific treatments and outcomes, including remdesivir, oxygen/intubation practices, and ivermectin, and raised concerns about whether some treatments were harmful or suppressed. He also focused on pediatric vaccination policy, saying the committee should review New Hampshire’s recommendations for children and medical students, and questioned the state’s reliance on federal guidance versus independent review. The chair responded that shifting federal positions may justify an independent New Hampshire evaluation and asked him to gather more information and potential witnesses. In open discussion, members suggested additional witnesses and topics, including local funeral directors, nursing homes, and emergency medical services, as well as how nursing homes were affected by positive tests and admission restrictions. Another member suggested the committee consider what products it should produce, such as a final report, possible bill recommendations, and better documentation or footnotes tying findings to testimony and scientific sources. The chair said the committee’s deliverables could include reports, letters to department heads or legislative leaders, and other actions, and noted that the committee’s 2024 report and supporting documents are available on the House committee page. No votes or formal actions beyond the organizational appointments were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have Japanese beetle treatments in Caldwell, where we treated 1,100 properties.
• And the degree to which, you know, I would... ...to be able to do the treatment.
• the entire water column, throughout the entire reach of these treatment areas.
• , and then afterwards post-treatment, to make sure it moves out of the system.
• Up north, we have done multiple, multiple aquatic treatments.

Committee: House Agricultural Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• for this hearing, where we are going to focus on children's health, disease prevention, screening, treatment
• Sources and the treatment plan, not every care provider is knowledgeable about this condition.
• When it comes to medication, Violates our right to avoid medical treatment.
• But for buprenorphine, for opioid use disorder treatment, three out of four people who want treatment
• Who am I to talk about buprenorphine treatment?

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Public Health

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Health held a hearing focused on children’s health, disease prevention, screening, treatment, and pharmacy-related bills. The chair explained that the session was for public testimony only, with no votes or decisions taken that day, and outlined the three-minute limit for individual testimony. The committee then heard testimony on a range of bills, including H. 2413 on adding electromagnetic sensitivity to the state’s MAVEN registry, S. 1508 and H. 2433 on creating an amputation prevention task force, H. 2535 and S. 1551 on establishing a naloxone purchase trust fund, S. 1635 on authorizing pharmacists to provide opioid use disorder treatment, H. 2385 on creating a special commission on avian influenza, and S. 1497 on patient safety and non-FDA-approved compounded drugs. Testimony on H. 2413 came largely from advocates and individuals who described electromagnetic sensitivity as a real health condition and argued that adding it to the registry would improve data collection, provider education, and public awareness. Testimony on the amputation prevention task force bills came from the American Diabetes Association and podiatry groups, who said diabetes-related amputations are often preventable, disproportionately affect people of color, and could be reduced through earlier screening, better care coordination, and improved insurance coverage for preventive foot care. On the naloxone trust fund bills, a representative, emergency physician, and nurse testified that hospitals often cannot reliably send overdose patients home with naloxone because of billing and reimbursement barriers, and that a bulk-purchase fund would expand access at no added cost to payers or providers. The committee also heard strong support for S. 1635 from pharmacists and public health researchers, who said community pharmacists could safely initiate and maintain buprenorphine treatment and help close gaps in opioid use disorder care. On H. 2385, a local board of health chair supported a special commission on avian influenza, citing gaps in emergency preparedness and the need for clearer coordination across agencies. On S. 1497, a pharmacy representative opposed restrictions on compounded drugs from outsourcing facilities, warning that changes could reduce access to life-saving medications and harm patient safety. No votes or formal actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• So the water is treated to advanced treatment requirements.
• The water will be piped from wastewater treatment facilities, approximately 20.
• I've mentioned multiple treatment trains.
• I've mentioned multiple treatment trains.
• County is probably one of the first uses of that type of treatment in the state.

Summary: The Natural Resources and Disaster Subcommittee heard and acted on several bills related to wetlands, emergency management, fishing licenses, disaster recovery, the Florida Keys, brownfields, wastewater treatment, and spring protection. HB 1175 on mitigation banking drew the most discussion, with supporters saying it would create more predictable release of mitigation credits and help address shortages, while opponents warned it could weaken watershed-based wetland protection and allow credits to be used farther from the impact site. The committee adopted a strike-all amendment making the changes prospective after July 1, 2025, and then reported the bill favorably with committee substitute by a 12-3 vote. The committee also considered HB 1535, a broad emergency management strike-all that would expand local storm-preparedness information, debris removal coordination, shelter planning, permitting procedures after storms, limits on post-storm fee increases and moratoria, and changes to election procedures after disasters. Members raised questions about FEMA coordination, shelter standards, impact fees, and the 100-mile post-storm land-use restrictions. After adopting the strike-all, the bill was reported favorably with committee substitute on a 17-0 vote. HB 673, which would extend the same fishing-license convenience to freshwater guides that saltwater captains already have, and HB 705, which extends a public-records exemption for disaster recovery assistance applicants, were both reported favorably without amendment. Later, the committee approved HB 995 for the Florida Keys, which combines affordable-housing incentives, a Habitat for Humanity bond exemption, an extension of the Florida Keys Stewardship Act, and a modest increase in hurricane evacuation time to allow additional residential permits; it was reported favorably on a unanimous vote. HB 733 on brownfields received a technical strike-all and was also reported favorably. HB 645 creating a general permit for distributed wastewater treatment systems passed unanimously, and HB 691 on a reclaimed-water project tied to Outstanding Florida Springs passed 16-1 after concerns were raised about cost, water quality, and whether the bill could broaden the intent of existing spring-protection law. The meeting adjourned after all agenda items were completed.

Transcript Highlights:

• have the Florida Behavioral Health Association to discuss the effectiveness of medication-assisted treatment
• Problem-solving courts are also known as treatment courts, and they're specialized.
• And then you've appropriated $6 million for medication-assisted treatment.
• To us, a successful discharge is that they've met their treatment plan.
• Yet it's 80% White in terms of the treatment clients that go there.

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice met to continue its review of performance measurement in the criminal justice system. The first presentation, from State Courts Administrator Eric McClure, described how the court system uses multiple data sources to track filings, dispositions, clearance rates, workload, and support services, and how those data inform judge need, budget requests, resource allocation, and court administration. He also discussed ongoing efforts to improve case-level reporting, the use of case management systems in trial and appellate courts, and performance efforts in problem-solving courts and civil case management. McClure noted that the legislature provides dedicated funding for problem-solving courts and for medication-assisted treatment, and that the courts are required to report outcomes and monitor compliance with contract requirements. Melanie Brown-Whor of the Florida Behavioral Health Association then reviewed the medication-assisted treatment program funded through the courts budget. She said the program combines medication with counseling and behavioral supports, serves people involved in or at risk of criminal justice involvement, and has expanded over time to include additional medications and more counties. She reported improved engagement and retention, with more than 10,000 people screened over five years, about 9,200 receiving medication, and over 6,600 successfully discharged. Senators asked about racial and ethnic demographics, hospital referrals, and how services are delivered; Brown-Whor explained that local community providers deliver treatment under contract and that the program is working to improve data reporting and consistency. The Department of Law Enforcement then presented on investigations, forensics, and criminal justice information services. Deputy Commissioner Vaden Pollard outlined FDLE’s strategic plan and major investigative priorities, including cybercrime, targeted violence, crimes against children, mutual aid, and the SAFE fentanyl eradication program. He said SAFE has led to major seizures, arrests, and a reported decline in fentanyl deaths. Director Jason Bundy described FDLE’s forensic laboratory operations, DNA and rapid DNA capabilities, cold case and missing persons work, and the staffing and turnaround-time challenges tied to complex evidence testing. Director Lucy Saunders reviewed FDLE’s criminal history, biometric, incident-based crime reporting, and criminal justice transparency systems, noting that Florida is still transitioning agencies from summary reporting to incident-based reporting. The committee raised questions about Rapid DNA deployment, cold case coordination, and the slow pace of NIBRS/FIBRS adoption. No votes were taken, and the meeting adjourned after the presentations and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• When a patient receives a cancer diagnosis, treatment often must begin quickly.
• The decision to preserve, Cancer diagnosis, treatment often must begin quickly.
• Patients are simultaneously coping with the fear, the uncertainty, and the urgent treatment planning.
• However, advancements in oncology and treatment, cancer treatment, is allowing us to live longer, allowing
• So if their approach to treatment differs from those two or surgery, we did narrow it down on purpose

Committee: House Health and Welfare

Transcript Highlights:

• And this helps to make better decisions for treatments.
• It also helped in terms of research and developing a treatment.
• And now, only a... ...treatment for Margo. We knew what was wrong. We knew the DNA mutation.
• Scott, I realized that he needed advanced dental treatment.
• Earlier cancer diagnosis would have saved the cost of aggressive late-stage cancer treatment.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Health Care Financing

Summary: The Joint Committee on Health Care Financing held a public hearing on a large docket of bills focused on MassHealth benefits and reimbursement, health equity, behavioral health, public health, dental access, 340B drug pricing, tobacco cessation, and coverage for children. The chairs emphasized rising health care costs, provider shortages, administrative burdens, and persistent inequities by income, race, geography, and immigration status. Much of the testimony centered on H.1416/S.901, an act to advance health equity, with legislators and members of the Health Equity Compact arguing for statewide benchmarks, stronger health equity leadership, reimbursement for interpreter services, community health workers and patient navigation, Medicaid graduate medical education support, and a health equity zone trust fund. Witnesses described disparities in life expectancy, maternal mortality, access to primary care, and the impact of federal Medicaid and social service cuts, and urged the committee to report the bill favorably. The committee also heard strong support for H.1368/S.847 on rapid whole genome sequencing for critically ill MassHealth children. Testifiers from industry, academia, hospitals, and families said early sequencing can end long diagnostic odysseys, improve treatment decisions, shorten hospital stays, and save money, while also providing emotional relief and information for families. The hearing then moved to H.1407 on MassHealth rate parity for inpatient behavioral health providers, where Rep. Scanlan and the Massachusetts Association of Behavioral Health Systems said the bill would codify existing administrative parity so managed care plans cannot pay less than the MassHealth fee-for-service rate. On H.1392/S.853 to preserve and protect public health, witnesses supported higher vaccine administration fees to improve provider participation and immunization rates. The committee also heard testimony on H.770/845 to protect 340B providers in MassHealth, and on S.848 to require reporting and transparency around 340B revenues and outside administrative costs. Additional bills drew testimony on tobacco cessation coverage for MassHealth members, with advocates supporting broader access to counseling and medications through medical, behavioral health, and dental providers. On H.1409, a nursing home operator asked for more flexibility in a MassHealth staffing-related penalty tied to patient days per resident. On H.1401/S.888, supporters of the “Take 10” dental access proposal said adult MassHealth dental coverage is underused because too few dentists accept MassHealth, leading to long travel times and avoidable emergency room visits; they urged incentive payments for dentists serving new adult MassHealth patients. Finally, on H.1403/S.855, “Cover All Kids,” advocates and immigrant community members urged removal of immigration status as a barrier to full MassHealth coverage for children, while also backing a related bill to ensure 12 months of continuous coverage for children. No votes were taken during the hearing; the committee primarily received testimony and asked questions on costs, reimbursement levels, and implementation details.

Transcript Highlights:

• abuse treatment facilities, dental clinics, group homes, vocational sites, and sex offender treatment
• </c> water treatment water treatment facilities<00:50:46.599><c> we</c><00:50:46.760><c> know</c><00:
• treatment plant.
• treatment plant.
• treatment plant.

Bills: HF919 , HF1192 , HF212 , HF214

Committee: House Capital Investment

Transcript Highlights:

• So if you requested that, that would be a part of my treatment plan.
• That becomes a part of the comprehensive treatment plan, yes.
• Seeking that treatment as a part of the treatment plan that we're creating.
• Botox treatments, and I can't get anybody to do my teeth.
• While opioids remain an essential treatment option in some cases.

Bills: SB1117 , SB1373 , SB672 , SB1986 , SB1098 , SB626 , SB1784 , SB2480 , SB2487 , SB437 , SB660

Committee: House Public Health

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm going to highlight one called family-centered treatment.
• So we have providers in all 75 counties with family-centered treatment.
• We have providers in all 75 counties with family-centered treatment now.
• This is our first residential substance use disorder treatment.
• What would be the cost of detaining a person without the treatment?

Summary: The House Health Services Subcommittee met to approve the October 7, 2024 minutes and then shifted to behavioral health as the main topic. Representatives Woodridge and Vaught described the work of the behavioral health working group, saying Arkansas needs a more proactive system that improves access, reduces red tape, and focuses on a few achievable policy changes for the 2027 session rather than many bills. Members discussed barriers such as low reimbursement, workforce shortages, licensing and credentialing hurdles, rural access problems, and the need to better use community providers, compacts, and step-down services. Director Paula Stone of DHS’s Office of Substance Abuse and Mental Health gave a detailed overview of the behavioral health system. She said Medicaid pays for more than 75% of behavioral health services in Arkansas and explained that when people are jailed or admitted to the state hospital, Medicaid generally stops, leaving state general revenue to cover care. She described current efforts including family-centered treatment for children, community reintegration group homes, a new adolescent substance use disorder residential unit, expanded community mental health center contracts, a secured restoration unit to reduce state hospital backlogs, and an IMD waiver to allow Medicaid payment for certain residential services. She also said DHS is working on crisis services, forensic evaluations, and provider rebidding in areas previously served by ERISA. Members asked about reimbursement for jail services, the lack of a statewide behavioral health dashboard, civil commitment options, crisis stabilization units, and whether Arkansas should expand step-down or long-term facilities for people who cannot safely return to the community. Stone said the state hospital backlog remains significant, average stays are still about 14 months, and crisis stabilization units have had mixed success, with Fort Smith and Jonesboro performing better than Fayetteville and Little Rock. The meeting ended with a commitment to continue the work, with more substantive discussion planned for August.

Transcript Highlights:

• We do have our Medicated Assistant Treatment (MAT) program.
• They're assessed and given the medical treatment and housing and watched.
• And then there's like a 30-day treatment.
• Is there any kind of treatment program in the facility itself?
• Lindstrom was just reminding me is that if you're on medically assisted treatment, you stay on that treatment

Committee: House Courts, Corrections & Justice Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• We're working on a psychiatric residential treatment facility; we understand the need.
• There are significant waiting lists for priority admissions to direct care and treatment.
• Anoka Metro Regional Treatment Center are simply unacceptable.
• Moving forward as quickly as possible to treatment puts patients at risk.
• So they would do the initial process to get the treatment started.

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• And that's where the copper treatment started. So you can see that.
• Deep pool treatments.
• Treatment impact: we do a number of kind of canaries in the mine.
• Treatment impact we do a number of kind of canaries in the mine.
• And then there's a significant amount of coordination on pre-treatment testing, during and post-treatment

Committee: Senate Resources and Environment

Transcript Highlights:

• When CDCR developed their medication-assisted treatment program for treatment of substance use disorder
• That means supervision ends before treatment is finished.
• The probation ends at 12 months while treatment is still ongoing.
• Periods of custody can also interrupt or postpone treatment progress.
• We want to make... ...the probation and receive the treatment, as Mr.

Committee: House Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• courts um as you're aware treatment courts um as you're aware treatment<00:28:06.919><c> courts</c><
• </c><00:28:46.360><c> courts</c> different locations of treatment courts different locations of treatment
• treatment treatment court<00:28:55.320><c> so</c><00:28:55.559><c> and</c><00:28:55.720><c> that's</
• </c><00:32:23.240><c> bed</c> either exams or to have a treatment bed either exams or to have a treatment
• </c> because there are very few treatment because there are very few treatment beds<00:32:26.399><c>

Transcript Highlights:

• This is for family treatment services of specified populations. Number 15 is DHS, DCFS with UAMS.
• This is for family treatment services of specified populations. Number 15, DHS, DCFS with UAMS.
• Number 23, DYS with UAMS, is for the coordination of outpatient sex offender assessment treatment and
• This is for comprehensive substance abuse treatment programs.
• abuse treatment centers. 126 is with Southern Christian Home.

Committee: All ALC-REVIEW

Summary: The committee met to review a supplemental agenda item, procurement rule revisions, methods of finance, discretionary grants, contracts, reports, and a member disclosure. The supplemental agenda was accepted, and the Office of State Procurement’s rule revisions were approved after Jessica Patterson explained they were driven by 2025 legislative changes, including Act 782, CASO Consulting recommendations, and updates to sole source, bid, protest, and debarment provisions. The methods of finance and discretionary grants were also approved, covering a range of university capital projects, health and human services grants, historic preservation awards, and tobacco prevention and cessation programs. The committee then reviewed RFQs and six ratifications. The ratifications included a Workforce Connections payment to ACT WorkKeys for services provided during a contract gap, a Department of Health ratification for water-leak repairs, a large Department of Public Safety ratification for Motorola’s Arkansas Wireless Information Network upgrade, a Veterans Affairs HVAC ratification, an ADFA medical services ratification, and a UA Little Rock painting contract ratification. Members questioned the Public Safety ratification at length about why the expired Motorola contract was not caught sooner and why it took months after discovery to come forward; agency officials said the work was tied to bond funding and was not tracked in ASIS, and the chair urged agencies to develop better monitoring procedures. The committee approved a large slate of construction, intergovernmental, out-of-state, and in-state contracts, including many recurring service agreements for DHS, higher education institutions, corrections, health agencies, and state support functions. Several members asked about specific contracts, including aerial application services for correctional farms and a Southern Arkansas University custodial contract, and staff or agency representatives provided brief explanations. The meeting concluded with review of reports and approval of a member disclosure involving Representative Andrew Collins’ investment interest in a company leasing property to Arkansas Rehabilitation Services.

Transcript Highlights:

• We currently serve 47% of Medicaid members in SED treatment.
• We currently serve 47% of Medicaid members in SED treatment.
• Treatment.
• So to really differentiate that so that treatment is getting—we're getting to the core of treatment,
• Treatment or perhaps in some cases doesn't go through the entire program accurately.

Committee: House House Health & Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• I don't know what they had when it pertained to their treatments.
• Oftentimes it's a decision whether or not to continue their treatment.
• Some of those treatments are prescribed as oral medications.
• That only lasted two years, and I had to start treatment again.
• Cancer treatment is cancer treatment. It should be covered like that by the insurance companies.

Committee: Senate Commerce and Human Resources