Transcript Highlights:

• Speaker, the Committee on Health and Welfare reports that we have had under consideration Senate Bills
• In the House of Representatives: House Bill 899, by the Health and Welfare Committee, an act relating
• And so the Department of Health and Welfare had not been able to issue her a permit for that particular
• So what we did is we worked with the Department of Health and Welfare to find a way that we could honor
• House Bill 899 is referred to the Health and Welfare Committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• The hour of nine o'clock having arrived, we will call the House Health and Welfare Committee to order
• He said the Department of Health and Welfare should not approve more than 100 providers in each specialty
• sections to the code, and so this was a quality-of-care oversight by the Department of Health and Welfare
• It would be Health and Welfare picking a random person. And they could also interview staff.
• Chairman, Representative Burgoyne, the Department of Health and Welfare in the state of Idaho is the

Committee: House Health and Welfare

Transcript Highlights:

• At the request of Senator Rouson, two appointees from the Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County are
• Alicia McShea, who also is a nominee for the Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County. Ms.
• My connection to the Juvenile Welfare Board's mission began more than a decade ago through my active
• The Junior League also has a long-standing historical connection to the Juvenile Welfare Board.
• McShea to the Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County. Is there such a motion?

Bills: S0460 , S0748 , S1180 , S1334

Committee: Senate Ethics and Elections

Summary: The Committee on Ethics and Elections met with a quorum and took up several election-related bills. CS/SB 1180 by Senator Arrington, which creates a recall framework for elected community development district board members and also addresses synthetic turf regulation and CDD eligibility, was presented briefly and then approved unanimously. SB 460 by Senator Polsky, requiring the governor to call special elections within set deadlines after vacancies and allowing judicial relief if deadlines are not met, also passed unanimously after members discussed flexibility for emergencies and the cost of delayed elections. The committee then heard SB 748 by Senator Bracy Davis, which would add constitutional voting-rights restoration language to the sentencing score sheet given to felony defendants. Supporters said it would improve clarity and notice without changing eligibility, and the bill was favorably reported unanimously. The committee also confirmed several appointees, including Jim Milliken and Alicia McShea to the Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County, Robert P. Estalas as Director of the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, and additional gubernatorial appointees listed on the agenda, all by favorable votes. The longest discussion centered on Senator Grall’s strike-all amendment for SB 1334, an elections bill dealing with citizenship verification, Real ID and SAVE database use, paper-ballot voting, candidate qualification rules, and related election administration changes. Supporters argued it would streamline verification and ensure only citizens vote, while opponents warned it would create burdens, disenfranchise eligible voters, and impose costs and administrative confusion. After extensive public testimony both for and against, the committee adopted an amendment to allow supervisors of elections to observe holidays when not otherwise required to be open, then approved the strike-all as amended by a 6-2 vote, with Senators Polsky and Bernard voting no. The meeting then adjourned after members recorded their votes on earlier items.

Transcript Highlights:

• The reason we have the federal component in there is because of the Indian Child Welfare Act.
• Specifically skilled and experienced in social work and child welfare.
• But we also have Brenda Donald, who is a contractor, who is a child welfare expert, a former.
• And I'm not a child welfare expert; I'm an attorney.
• But as I said, Brenda Donald is a child welfare expert.

Committee: House Courts, Corrections & Justice Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Resolution 5, you know, that was one of many avenues that the legislature looked at addressing child welfare
• we're going to be covering tomorrow with Rachel Garcia from LFC, um, more specifically what child welfare
• Um, with the experience in child welfare that's needed, um, to really address the issues, um, in terms
• So, um, I'm continuing to work, uh, on child welfare issues along with some other, uh, social workers
• And at some point in time, hopefully, we will have a child welfare system in New Mexico, um, that Is

Committee: House Legislative Health & Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Issue 14 is related to our May revision proposals for the child welfare budget.
• Guidance was released... ...support for building and sustaining the child welfare workforce.
• I have a separate question under child welfare.
• Have we seen more kids go into child welfare without having emergency response funding?
• In answer to your question, we've seen caseloads continuing to decline in child welfare. Okay.

Transcript Highlights:

• Speaker, we, your Committee on Health and Welfare, report that we have had under consideration House
• Ways and Means Committee, regarding judgments and civil actions; House Bill 787, by the Health and Welfare
• Bill 790, by the Ways and Means Committee, regarding architects; House Bill 758, by the Health and Welfare
• House Bill 863, by the Health and Welfare Committee, regarding Medicaid.
• House Health and Welfare Committee will meet Thursday, March 12th, at 9:00 a.m. in East Wing Room 20,

Transcript Highlights:

• This is to protect American taxpayer dollars and make sure that welfare is going to American citizens
• conversations like this deter individuals who are illegally present in the United States from receiving welfare
• And this ensures part of this bill that when individuals apply for welfare, that they understand up front
• opposed to this bill say this bill won't do anything because the illegals already aren't getting welfare
• Sixty-one percent of households headed by illegal immigrants use at least one welfare program.

Bills: HB3057 , HB3130 , HB4113 , HB3310 , HB3314 , HB3985 , HB4486 , HB3040 , HB3407 , HB4343 , HB2981 , HB3764 , HB3765 , HB3767 , HB3982 , HB3321 , HB3322 , HB3323 , HB4126 , HB4130 , HB4170 , HB3345 , HB2941 , HB3062 , HB3244 , HB3298 , HB2977 , HB3304 , HB3299 , HB3297 , HB4260 , HB3906 , HB3648 , HB3319 , HB2933 , HB3544 , HB1322 , HB4104 , HB4105 , HB4106 , HB4107 , HB4108 , HB3974 , HB3134 , HB3055 , HB3115 , HB3471 , HB3497 , HB3500 , HB3505 , HB3755 , HB4202 , HB4226 , HB4236 , HB4139 , HB4144 , HB4422 , HB4423 , HB4317 , HB4321 , HB4322 , HB3176 , HB3239 , HB3263 , HB3673 , HB3794 , HB3796 , HB4265 , HB4266 , HB2123 , HB3048 , HB2445

Summary: The House convened with a prayer, Pledge of Allegiance, and several recognitions, including the Duncan Girls Golf Team, the Doctor of the Day, and the Nurse of the Day. Members also made personal announcements and committee meeting reminders before moving to legislation. The main floor action centered on House Bill 4422, which would require applicants for SNAP and TANF to be U.S. citizens and use the SAVE system to verify immigration status. Supporters argued it would protect taxpayer dollars, enforce the law, and reduce improper benefits use; opponents said it would deter eligible families, especially children in mixed-status households, from seeking aid and would not address DHS error rates or budget problems. After extended debate, the House passed HB 4422 by roll call vote, 18-0. The House then considered House Bill 4423, a similar measure applying the same citizenship-verification concept to Medicaid through the Oklahoma Health Care Authority. Debate repeated many of the same arguments about fiscal responsibility, eligibility, children’s access to benefits, and immigration enforcement. HB 4423 also passed by roll call vote, 18-0. The chamber then moved to announcements and adjourned until Monday, March 2, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• Then there's a request for a clinician service transfer from the Department of Health and Welfare.
• A bit of background for this one: Back in 2009, $327,000 of the Department of Health and Welfare base
• this partnership has been established for quite some time, The movement of funds from Health and Welfare
• So you will see a reduction of that $327,000 from the general fund in the Health and Welfare budget and
• Medicaid does not pay for, but really digging into that carefully with our partners at Health and Welfare

Summary: The committee first reviewed the Department of Juvenile Corrections budget. Legislative Services analyst Noah Peterson outlined the agency’s funding sources, staffing, recent expenditure patterns, and several FY 2026 and FY 2027 budget requests, including substance use disorder treatment, youth assessment center funding, replacement items, IT upgrades, and a clinician services transfer from the Department of Health and Welfare. Members asked about the governor’s holdback, public works projects, vehicle replacements, and staffing. Director Ashley Dowell said the department’s census has declined due to strong county partnerships, prevention and diversion efforts, and youth assessment centers, and she explained that a staffing analysis found the agency understaffed by 12 positions, with six vacancies converted to direct care roles. She also described the holdback impacts as coming from contract reductions, internal efficiencies, travel and training cuts, and substance use disorder funding adjustments. The committee adjourned after the department discussion. The committee then reviewed the Office of Energy and Mineral Resources budget. Peterson described the office’s mostly federal funding, small staff, dedicated funds, prior energy resilience appropriations, and FY 2027 requests for personnel realignment, Idaho Orchestrating Nuclear (ION) support, and home energy rebates. Administrator Callie Younger said the office is focused on energy resilience, permitting coordination, hydropower relicensing, geothermal and mining projects, and a growing nuclear policy portfolio. She highlighted the new nuclear task force, the office’s request for information to industry, and work on a federal request related to a nuclear lifecycle campus. Members asked about nuclear development, spent fuel, modular reactors, permitting efficiency, and whether the office might merge with the Office of Species Conservation. Younger said the office is exploring a merger because of overlapping permitting functions and could reduce positions and save some general funds, while also improving its ability to handle nuclear and mining work. The chair closed by noting the committee’s alignment with several governor’s office recommendations and adjourned the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 578 will be referred to the Health and Welfare Committee. February 3, 2026, Mr.
• Speaker, we, your Committee on Health and Welfare, report that we have had under consideration House
• House Bill 591, by the Health and Welfare Committee, an act relating to indigent eligibility, repealing
• House Bill 591, by the Health and Welfare Committee, an act relating to indigent eligibility, repealing
• House Health and Welfare Committee will meet Thursday, February 5, at 9 a.m. in Room EW 41, Chairman.

Transcript Highlights:

• health maintenance organizations, health care service contractors, and self-funded multiple employer welfare
• health maintenance organizations, healthcare service contractors, and self-funded multiple employer welfare
• The insurance contractors and self-funded multiple employer welfare arrangements.
• health maintenance organizations, health care service contractors, and self-funded multiple employer welfare
• health maintenance organizations, healthcare service contractors, and self-funded multiple employer welfare

Bills: HB2367 , HB1974 , HB2650 , HB2626

Committee: House Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• health maintenance organizations, health care service contractors, and self-funded multiple employer welfare
• health maintenance organizations, healthcare service contractors, and self-funded multiple employer welfare
• The insurance contractors and self-funded multiple employer welfare arrangements.
• health maintenance organizations, health care service contractors, and self-funded multiple employer welfare
• health maintenance organizations, health care service contractors, and self-funded multiple employer welfare

Summary: House Finance heard several bills and took no recorded votes. HB 2367 would end special tax and emissions exemptions for the Centralia coal plant by limiting its Climate Commitment Act exemption to pre-2026 emissions, removing limits on additional greenhouse gas requirements, and repealing coal sales and use tax exemptions. The sponsor, Rep. Fitzgibbon, said the bill would help keep the plant’s transition to cleaner natural gas generation on track; Climate Solutions supported it, while business and clean-energy groups raised concerns about allowance-market impacts and asked for amendments to adjust the cap-and-invest allowance budget. HB 1974 would authorize public housing authorities, public corporations, and nonprofits to operate as land banks for affordable housing, give them priority for tax-foreclosed properties, and provide property tax, leasehold excise tax, and REET exemptions for land bank transactions. Rep. Hill said the bill was narrowed to reduce fiscal impact and support existing land banking work in Spokane; supporters said it would lower land costs and speed affordable housing development, while questions focused on how public land would be used and whether affordability should be permanent rather than limited to 30 years. HB 2650, a Department of Revenue request, would standardize notice and effective dates for local REET and lodging tax changes and clarify documentation for an affordable housing sales tax deferral. DOR supported the bill as an administrative efficiency measure, and there was no opposition testimony. HB 2626 would raise the premium tax on health maintenance organizations, health care service contractors, and self-funded multiple employer welfare arrangements from 2% to 3%, remove a dentistry-related exemption, and add a new 1% tax on certain disability and group stop-loss insurers. The sponsor said the bill is intended to help fund Apple Health and subsidies amid federal funding concerns; insurers and business groups opposed it as a cost increase likely to be passed on to consumers and employers, while patient and advocacy groups supported the revenue idea but urged that funds be dedicated to subsidies or other health care supports and that pass-through to consumers be prevented.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'd like to call the Health and Welfare Committee to order at this time. Welcome, committee.
• Welcome to the Senate Health and Welfare Committee, and welcome, committee.
• Chairman and members of the Senate Health and Welfare Committee, my name is Orrin Duffin, and I'm happy
• Chairman and members of the Senate Health and Welfare Committee, thank you again for the opportunity
• Chairman, members of the Senate Health and Welfare Committee. My name is John Price.

Committee: Senate Health and Welfare

Transcript Highlights:

• proving to destabilize families to the point of even family separation and removal into the child welfare
• I am the Deputy Director at the Coalition of California Welfare Rights Organizations.
• Amanda Kirchner, County Welfare Directors Association, in support. All right, thank you.
• Amanda Kirshner, County Welfare Director, in support.
• Amanda Kirchner, County Welfare Directors Association, in support.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Human Services heard several homelessness, public benefits, and aging-related bills. SB 748 would expand Encampment Resolution Funding to support safe parking sites for people living in cars or RVs, require quarterly reporting from HCD on outcomes, and direct LAO evaluation; supporters said it would help local governments reduce RV encampments while connecting people to housing and services. SB 290 would repeal the CalWORKs immunization sanction that reduces aid when parents cannot provide acceptable proof of a child’s vaccination; supporters argued the penalty unfairly harms families already in poverty and can worsen instability, while no opposition testified. SB 606 would define “functional zero” for overall and unsheltered homelessness and require local jurisdictions to plan for and report on the housing and interim shelter needed to reach that goal; supporters said it would add accountability and focus on reducing unsheltered homelessness, and one group moved from opposition to neutral after amendments. SB 433 would create an income-based room-and-board cap and personal needs allowance for all Medi-Cal assisted living participants in residential care facilities for the elderly, not just SSI recipients; supporters said it would prevent eviction and homelessness among low-income seniors and people with disabilities, and facility groups withdrew opposition or moved to neutral after amendments. SB 761 would require students applying for Cal Grants to be notified that they may be eligible for CalFresh and given information on how to apply; supporters said it would address widespread student food insecurity and low enrollment among eligible students. The committee accepted amendments on the bills, and all of the measures discussed were reported out on 7-0 or similar unanimous votes to the Assembly Appropriations Committee, with the consent calendar also approved unanimously.

Transcript Highlights:

• California Food Assistance Program, General Assistance, General Relief, Welfare to Work Employment Programs
• We also talked about the Child Welfare Council and its coordinating efforts, as well as the Office of
• supporting the communities we serve and disrupting the disparities that we experience in the child welfare
• Good afternoon, Amanda Kirchner with the County Welfare Directors Association.
• that these vulnerable populations are best served by our mandated reporting system and our child welfare

Transcript Highlights:

• Developed the way Access receives federal money, all this care, state welfare, federal welfare are all
• welfare and medical care, how many people are involved in multiple programs?
• And then last, whether or not the children are subject to the Indian Welfare Act.
• Child welfare has been a focus in this space.
• I've been on both sides of the child welfare system.

Committee: House Government

Transcript Highlights:

• Your Committee on Health and Welfare reviewed the proposal of amendment in adding physician assistants
• /c><00:08:28.280><c> on</c><00:08:28.480><c> health</c><00:08:28.800><c> and</c><00:08:28.919><c> welfare
• </c> Your committee on health and welfare Your committee on health and welfare reviewed<00:08:30.720>

Transcript Highlights:

• In the House of Representatives: House Bill 730 by the Health and Welfare Committee.
• In the House of Representatives, Housewell, 7.30 by Health and Welfare Committee.
• In the House of Representatives, Houseville, 863 by Health and Welfare Committee.
• In the House of Representatives, Houseville 787 by Health and Welfare Committee.
• In the House of Representatives, House of 758 by Health and Welfare Committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we worked with the Department of Health and Welfare.
• We introduced it in the Health and Welfare Committee.
• The permit, I can't make it—it's like 10 or 20 bucks for the Department of Health and Welfare.
• And welfare receives so that we know what can be sold and can't be sold at the federal level.
• So essentially, once this gets implemented, it's overseen by the Department of Health and Welfare.

Committee: House Business

Transcript Highlights:

• 'Today I have signed landmark bipartisan welfare reform bill.
• The act honors my basic principles of real welfare reform.
• It requires work of welfare recipients, limits the time they can stay on welfare, and provides support
• to help families move from welfare to work.'
• 'The Congress and I are near agreement on sweeping welfare reform.'

Committee: House House Commerce Committee of Reference

Summary: The Commerce Committee heard and acted on multiple bills. HB 2192, a child influencer bill, would require compensation for minors featured in monetized content to be placed in trust, create a process for minors or adults to request takedown of content, and add restrictions on sexualized depictions of minors. The sponsor and Google supported it as model legislation; members raised questions about compliance, age 13 access to earnings, and removal rights at 18. It passed 9-0 with 2 present. HB 2501, an agency bill conforming Arizona’s appraisal management company definition to federal law, also passed unanimously 11-0. HB 2693, which revises bona fide association rules to allow self-funded multiple employer welfare arrangements through statewide chambers or business leagues, passed 8-1 after an amendment; one member cited possible federal preemption in opposing it. HB 2010, the digital goods disclosure bill requiring clearer “buy/purchase” language and prorated refunds when access changes, passed unanimously after amendment, with supporters calling it a consumer protection measure and retailers warning about compliance burdens and possible preemption. The committee then considered HB 2279, which would exempt commercial river outfitters in Grand Canyon National Park from liability for injuries or deaths arising from inherent risks of river trips, while preserving liability for gross negligence or intentional misconduct. Supporters said it aligns Arizona with other western states and reflects existing federal oversight; opponents argued it could violate Arizona’s anti-abrogation clause and improperly define inherent risk. The bill passed 7-4. HB 2690, which would tighten unemployment insurance eligibility by requiring more work-search actions, weekly reporting, and pre-claim data cross-checks, drew strong opposition from advocates who said it would add red tape and harm eligible claimants; supporters said it would reduce fraud and encourage work. It passed 7-4. HB 2310, clarifying that qualified marketplace contractor agreements may be terminated unilaterally by the contractor, passed 10-0. The committee also approved HB 2555, requiring retail businesses with physical locations to accept cash for purchases of $100 or less and prohibiting cash fees, after an amendment exempting rentals and mobile home vendors; supporters emphasized access for unbanked consumers and small purchases, while one member objected that businesses should self-govern. It passed 10-0. HB 2199, which requires RV park managers to complete education on landlord-tenant laws similar to mobile home park managers, passed 7-0 with 3 present after testimony from homeowner advocates and park groups in support. Finally, HB 2459 was introduced at the end of the meeting; it would allow landlords to pass through utility charges actually imposed by providers and add an administrative fee for submetering, but the transcript cuts off before testimony or a vote on that bill.