Transcript Highlights:

• Our daughter, who's trying to finish her college education, she lost her little brother and best friend
• I went to enroll in college, and my goal was to become a nurse.
• However, my record did not allow me to enroll in the nursing program.
• Through his leadership, we developed a best-practice framework known as the three E's: education, removal
• Marty Lopez with the California Nurses Association in support. Micah, Dr.

Committee: Senate Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 262 revises provisions relating to graduate medical education.
• And the Department of Education had a fiscal note on the bill.
• We did get an email since the presentation from the Department of Education.
• The Department of Education, Amelia Thebalt, said that they resubmitted a fiscal note of zero.
• How are we educating the public?

Bills: AB568 , SB90 , SB133 , SB147 , SB229 , SB233 , SB240 , SB245 , SB280 , SB378 , SB393 , SB417 , SB434 , SB494 , SB495 , AB62 , SB104 , SB119 , SB132 , SB193 , SB262 , SB422 , SB431 , SB435 , SB468 , SB503

Committee: Assembly Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• of nursing home care, could we look at this bill as relieving burden on property taxes?
• We have high nursing home roles.
• It has such common sense where half the cost of nursing home care, half the cost of nursing home care
• Can we promote high nursing home roles.
• </c> home is far less expensive than nursing home is far less expensive than nursing home<00:27:23.279

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• for 30 years, but started as a nursing assistant.
• And so we have to be positioned... nursing home administrator for 30 years nursing home administrator
• </c><00:04:08.120><c> assistant</c><00:04:08.879><c> but</c> but started as a nursing assistant but but
• </c><00:04:36.280><c> homes</c><00:04:36.639><c> so</c> 100 are in Minnesota nursing homes so 100 are
• in Minnesota nursing homes so the<00:04:37.160><c> frailest</c><00:04:37.680><c> of</c><00:04:37.800

Transcript Highlights:

• commissions that the committee approved on Monday night, including members of the State Board of Education
• <c> MEDCO,</c><00:13:38.480><c> and</c><00:13:38.640><c> the</c><00:13:38.680><c> University</c> Education
• , MEDCO, and the University Education, MEDCO, and the University System<00:13:40.320><c> of</c><00:13
• In 2003, she became chair of the Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee and at that time
• As the Senator from Montgomery County said, she was a nurse.

Summary: The Maryland Senate convened with 39 members present and a quorum. The session opened with an invocation by Bishop Antonio Palmer of Kingdom Celebration Center, whose remarks were journalized. The President and members also welcomed several guests to the chamber, including former Delegate Sean Terrence, students from Charles H. Flowers High School and Garrison Forest School, Dr. Lee Snyder as doctor of the day, and Dr. Barbara Ann Palmer in recognition of Women’s History Month. The President also noted that the next day would be pro forma and that some scheduled items would be moved to the following week. The Senate considered Executive Nominations Report No. 6, covering gubernatorial nominees for boards and commissions including the State Board of Education, MEDCO, and the University System of Maryland Board of Regents. On motion of the committee chair, the report was special ordered to Tuesday, with members asked to review the list for recusals or related issues. The chamber then took up Senate Bill 890, which concerns an insurance premium receipts tax exemption for captive insurance procured by nonprofit hospitals and health care systems. On SB 890, the Senate adopted the committee amendments and then adopted a floor amendment offered by the bill sponsor. The amendment was described as replacing the bill’s earlier approach with a two-year moratorium on collection of any related liabilities, followed by a Maryland Insurance Administration report back on ongoing investigations. One senator raised concern that the amendment’s language could require the state to refund taxes already paid by hospitals and others, potentially costing millions, and asked for more time to review it; the motion to special order the bill was defeated. After discussion, the amendment was adopted and the bill was ordered printed for third reading. At the close of the floor session, committee and delegation announcements were made, including Finance, Triple E, Judicial Proceedings, Budget and Tax, Executive Nominations, and several county delegations. A senator from District 6 also spoke about the anniversary of the Key Bridge collapse and thanked colleagues for bipartisan work on related legislation and recovery efforts.

Transcript Highlights:

• Ask us for water projects and educational projects.
• Ask us for water projects and educational projects.
• Last week, I spoke at the Senate Appropriations Committee for Pre-K-12 education about a revision to
• But two years ago, when we had the debate on the education bills, you asked me the question.
• I provided you the same response today that I provided you two years. the education bills.

Committee: Senate Community Affairs

Summary: The committee first heard SB 1134, which would extend the use of qualified private providers in the building permit process to residential solar energy systems and certain single-trade inspections, and would allow computer-based plan review tools. The sponsor said the bill is intended to reduce long solar permitting delays and lower costs. A late amendment clarifying the word “application” was adopted, and after some discussion about local permitting problems and the need to work with municipalities, CS/SB 1134 was reported favorably, with Senator Pizzo voting no. The committee then took up SB 784, dealing with issuance of addresses and parcel identification numbers for plats. The bill sets a 14-day timeframe, and an amendment was adopted that would allow use of a private provider if the deadline is missed and would limit fee collection if verification is not completed. Members discussed whether the bill should include more flexibility and whether private providers are appropriate for this function, but the committee ultimately reported CS/SB 784 favorably. SB 1738, allowing counties that previously opted out of transportation concurrency to opt back in while maintaining current levels of service, was also reported favorably without significant opposition. Next, SB 1080 on local government land regulation was presented as a measure to speed up development permit and order approvals, limit repeated information requests, prevent hearing delays, and impose penalties for noncompliance. Local government testimony argued it would rush planning and weaken public input, while supporters called it common-sense streamlining. After debate, the bill was reported favorably, with several no votes. SB 1260, which clarifies county constitutional officer budget procedures and creates an appeal process for clerks and supervisors of elections similar to that used by sheriffs, was also reported favorably after members raised concerns about county budget timelines. Finally, the committee considered SB 420, as amended by a strike-all, which would prohibit counties and municipalities from adopting or funding DEI-related ordinances, programs, or policies, while carving out compliance with state and federal law and defining DEI-related terms. The amendment removed retroactivity and delayed the effective date, but members from both parties raised concerns about vague definitions, impacts on women- and minority-owned business programs, local commemorations, and the loss of attorney’s fees for prevailing counties. Public testimony was sharply divided, with many speakers opposing the bill as an attack on local control and inclusion, and a few supporting it as a merit-based standard. The amendment was adopted, but the bill drew extensive opposition in debate and was not yet reported in the portion of the transcript provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• It can disrupt a person's life, job, education, and relationships.
• So that's what really makes us unique, too, because, you know, somebody's in a nursing home, say they
• home, say they pass away or they nursing home, say they pass away or they get<01:29:51.199><c> a</c>
• ,</c> with input from interpreters, educators, with input from interpreters, educators, state<01:36:31.440
• Without standardized educational or training benchmarks, it is very difficult to assess qualifications

Committee: House Health Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• One of the work groups that I'm involved with is specifically focused on ADU education.
• That's been my experience, not to go broad afield to other issues like education funding.
• That's been my experience, not to go broad afield to other issues like education funding.
• That's been my experience, not to go broad afield to other issues like education funding.
• That's been my experience, not to go broad afield to other issues like education funding.

Committee: House Housing

Transcript Highlights:

• We believe in public education. We believe in fiscal discipline.
• We, as educators, who are professional educators, who this has been what we have put our life's work
• , school bus drivers, nurses, counselors, and social workers.
• You know, excellence in education.
• They're leaving because they can get a better education somewhere else.

Committee: Joint Joint Legislative Audit Committee

Summary: The committee first heard a follow-up on the Arizona State Board of Chiropractic Examiners special audit. The Auditor General’s contractor reported that the board has made progress on most of the 28 recommendations from the 2024 audit, with 25 in process and three not yet implemented. Remaining concerns included complaint investigations not being resolved within 180 days, continued open meeting law compliance problems, and failure to consult the Attorney General’s open meeting law experts. The follow-up also identified new issues with posting disciplinary/non-disciplinary actions and maintaining a complete public records request log. Board staff said they had adopted new complaint timelines, subpoena limits, conflict-of-interest procedures, public meeting guidance, training, and a new licensing platform, and they described efforts to professionalize investigations and improve transparency. Members pressed the board on open meeting violations, complaint backlogs, lobbying activity, and the resignation of the board chair, while the executive director said the audit findings were being treated as a roadmap for reform. The committee then received the January 2026 Arizona school district financial risk analysis. The Auditor General’s office said the number of highest-risk districts rose from two to nine, and districts approaching highest risk increased from seven to nine. The report highlighted common risk factors such as declining student counts, budget reserve problems, use of capital funds for operations, and weakening general fund positions. Tucson Unified was used as an example of a highest-risk district, with declining enrollment, reserve declines, and capital funds redirected to operations; Scottsdale Unified was cited as approaching highest risk. The office explained its web-based dashboard, district action plans, and ongoing outreach to affected districts. Sierra Vista Unified School District superintendent Terry Romo then presented the district’s response to its financial risk designation. She said she inherited the problems, quickly developed an action plan, and is working to stabilize enrollment, reduce staffing through attrition, close an elementary school, freeze nonessential spending, tighten purchase controls, and renegotiate or cancel high-cost contracts. She also said the district is redirecting DAA funds, considering sale or lease of property, and improving communication with families through letters, videos, and enrollment outreach. Committee members questioned the district about declining enrollment, school safety, academic performance, and the pace of corrective action, while Romo emphasized that the district is trying to protect both students and finances and avoid returning to the high-risk list.

Transcript Highlights:

• It adds registered nurses to the list of health professionals not required to obtain an additional license
• These updates address staffing shortages and make sure that the education requirements are on par with
• These updates address staffing shortages and make sure that the education requirements are on par with
• Seeing none, we'll move on to the Committee on Education.
• Is there any facet of business they are not involved in other than education?

Summary: The meeting covered a long series of House bills across health, commerce, education, elections, government, and veterans issues, with many measures described as consent-calendar items. In health and human services, members discussed updates to radiology technology standards, a tribal Medicaid waiver bill, an emergency medicine study committee, fetal death certificate and remains-transfer requirements, a physician assistant licensure compact, dementia care telemonitoring funding, and SNAP error-rate reduction and eligibility oversight. Sponsors generally framed these bills as technical updates, workforce or access improvements, cost savings, or support for families and vulnerable populations, while some bills drew brief questions about implementation or opposition. In commerce and finance, the committee heard bills on mobile food vendor licensing, earned wage access services, CPA certification, cash acceptance by retail businesses, unmanned aircraft regulation, timeshare salesperson licensing, social credit score restrictions for lending, and a ban on state assistance to the International Criminal Court. Sponsors emphasized reduced regulation, consumer protections, transparency, and state sovereignty. The committee also considered tax and retirement-related measures, including conformity with the Internal Revenue Code, ASRS technical changes, and a 529 plan update that also addressed Roth IRA rollovers. Education and school governance bills focused heavily on school district oversight and transparency. Members discussed patriotic youth group presentations in schools, school board term limits and mandatory training, bond-advisor requirements, restrictions on school districts buying operating charter or private schools to affect funding formulas, conflicts of interest on the School Facilities Oversight Board, public meeting and travel disclosure rules, limits on long-term school property leases, job-order contracting caps, and a computer science proficiency seal. Sponsors repeatedly argued these bills would improve accountability, prevent misuse of public funds, and increase public access to school board decisions. The meeting also included elections, veterans, government, and other administrative measures. These included changes to sample-ballot mailing deadlines, a requirement that courts ask about veteran status at first appearance, a veterans awareness study, broader military leave protections, SAVE database verification for voter registration and licensing, U.S.-sourced election equipment requirements, Electoral College affirmation, justice court due-process protections, library trustee reporting deadlines, adult protective services reporting cleanup, and procurement transparency. No final floor votes were taken in the excerpt, and most items were presented for questions or moved through consent with brief sponsor explanations and occasional opposition noted in committee testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• Can you educate me on that just a little bit?
• Transportation, housing, and education costs weigh on my generation, but nothing weighs more heavily
• Alliances for Nurses for Healthy Environments, California Nurses for Environmental Health and Justice
• under the Safer Consumer Products Program, of which CRA has been collaborating with DTSC on how to educate
• under the safer consumer products program, of which CRA has been collaborating with DTSC on how to educate

Summary: The committee heard several climate, environmental, and housing bills. AB 1425, dealing with pit dewatering near the San Joaquin River Parkway, drew extensive testimony. The author and supporters argued the bill was needed to protect the river, groundwater, floodplain conditions, tribal and cultural resources, and public access from a proposed mining project near the river. Opponents, including Cemex, labor representatives, and industry groups, said the bill would bypass the CEQA process before it was complete, threaten jobs, and create uncertainty for an existing operation. Members questioned both sides about hydrology, blasting, dewatering, and the adequacy of the ongoing environmental review. The bill was moved, but several members expressed concern about preempting CEQA and some did not vote or voted no. AB 881, which would allow California to move forward with carbon capture and sequestration pipelines, was presented as a way to advance state climate goals and capture federal funding. Supporters, including SMUD, labor, and industry groups, said the bill would help deploy carbon capture safely and preserve jobs. Environmental justice opponents supported stronger safety direction and warned that CO2 pipelines pose serious risks and that the state should not move ahead without clearer standards. The bill received a due-pass recommendation to Appropriations. AB 1207, on the cap-and-trade allowance price ceiling and the social cost of carbon, was presented as a science-based update to California’s climate policy. The author and EDF said the bill would keep the program aligned with current economic and climate data and protect it from federal political interference. It received broad support and a due-pass recommendation. AB 1106, creating a coordinated network of air quality incident response centers, was also approved after testimony about wildfire smoke, toxic emissions, and the need for better real-time monitoring during disasters. AB 28, the Landfill Fire Safety Act, focused on the Chiquita Canyon landfill fire and related health impacts in Castaic and Val Verde; residents described serious illnesses and contamination concerns, while landfill and county representatives warned about costs and asked for more study. The committee nonetheless advanced the bill with a due-pass recommendation. The committee also heard AB 357, which would speed Coastal Commission review of student and faculty housing projects, with supporters citing student homelessness and opponents urging caution but acknowledging the need for more housing; the bill was presented and discussed, with the committee emphasizing the need to balance housing production and coastal oversight.

Transcript Highlights:

• whatever community you're in, it is a proven fact that when a pharmacy closes down, you will have your nurse
• It is a great educational piece on how the vertical integration has damaged our healthcare system.

Bills: SB1673 , SB1500 , SB1447 , SB1646 , SB2007 , SB1275 , SB2074

Committee: Senate Business and Insurance

Keywords: prosthetics, health insurance, medical necessity, patient rights, insurance liability, pharmacy benefits manager, healthcare providers, claims processing, reimbursement, insurance regulation, employees insurance, contract awarding, certifications, state procurement, insurance plan, mental health, substance use disorders, utilization review, benefit coverage, pharmacy

Transcript Highlights:

• disabilities to live Sarah Goldman: in the community is three times cheaper than it would be to us in nursing
• buy-in for people with disabilities talking to so many people who are so talented, so creative, so educated

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> share of special education costs. share of special education costs.
• </c> special education in private schools. special education in private schools.
• </c> or how to invest in special education. or how to invest in special education.
• </c> education that's going to be impacted. education that's going to be impacted.
• funding</c> educational bill um educational funding educational bill um educational funding hostage.<

Bills: HF3490 , HF4040

Committee: House Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:52:36.800><c> homes</c> profit extracting from our nursing homes profit extracting from our nursing
• </c><00:53:02.360><c> homes,</c> of money to invest in our nursing homes, of money to invest in our nursing
• home have to pay those have to nursing home have to pay those higher<00:53:10.960><c> rent</c><00:53
• Nursing homes, of course, are entitlements.
• </c> additional requirements for nursing additional requirements for nursing facilities<01:16:00.480>

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Education is key in making sure that the past is remembered and learned from.
• We must continue to advocate for education and remembrance. Thank you.
• Justice and education are vital to preventing this from occurring.
• He's a man of many talents, and he's a champion for bilingual education.
• Senator Menendez: ...was a champion for bilingual education.

Bills: SJR36 , SR8 , SR14 , SR15 , SR17 , HCR54

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill requires any general education course that integrates the use of technology to provide students
• Next, we will take up PCS for HB 1279 relating to education.
• Florida kids that we have already invested in through K-12 education.
• Florida kids that we have already invested in through K-12 education who have graduated.
• Our post-secondary education system is actually number one.

Summary: The committee first took up PCS for HB 1503, which would require general education courses that use technology to provide students opportunities to build digital literacy, including instruction on applications of artificial intelligence and related topics such as software engineering, computer networks, database systems, and cybersecurity as applicable to the course. It would also require high school computer science courses offered by school districts to include instruction on AI. There was no public testimony or debate, and the bill was reported favorably on a unanimous roll call vote. The committee then considered PCS for HB 1279, an education bill that the sponsor said was intended to improve consistency, oversight, and transparency while putting Florida students first. The bill drew extensive questioning and opposition over provisions affecting university admissions and funding, including a 95% Florida-resident first-time-in-college enrollment target tied to preeminent funding, a cap on nonresident students from any one country, standardized GPA weighting, limits on institution-wide graduation requirements, and changes related to accreditation references and other education programs. The sponsor argued these changes would open more seats for Florida students, preserve academic rigor, and align statutes with existing regulations and court action, while opponents said the bill would harm university competitiveness, research, revenue, faculty recruitment, and access for international and nontraditional students. Public testimony on HB 1279 was largely opposed. Speakers included a student advocate, a dental hygiene representative concerned about dual regulation of expanded-function dental programs, and faculty representatives from FSU and FAMU who warned the bill would politicize admissions and curriculum, reduce competitiveness, and create negative fiscal impacts. During debate, supporters emphasized taxpayer investment in Florida students and the need to prioritize in-state applicants, while opponents argued the bill would weaken the state university system and undermine its national standing. The committee reported PCS for HB 1279 favorably by a 12-5 vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> receiving special education receiving special education services<00:03:20.440><c> my</c><00:03:20.680
• I challenge whether or not that's an educational expense we can deliver in public education.
• expense we can deliver in educational expense we can deliver in public<00:19:57.880><c> education</c
• ><c> educational</c><00:34:39.000><c> support</c> our teachers educational support our teachers educational
• education and MLL.

Committee: House Education Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• about hospital payments, hospital payment structure, the provider tax, and just do some general education
• care, one of the larger populations that are excluded from managed care are really long-term care nursing
• Chairman. >> On your last slide regarding the indirect medical education payments for that $52 million
• </c><01:04:29.440><c> nursing</c><01:04:30.559><c> facility,</c> is one that we use. nursing facility
• , is one that we use. nursing facility, intermediate<01:04:31.920><c> care</c><01:04:32.880><c> uh</c

Committee: Joint Medicaid

Transcript Highlights:

• With our state being 50th in education, I think we can be first in honesty.
• And especially whenever childhood education is what it's at, from what I've heard from a lobbyist was
• $800,000 for pre-prek education for all of Oklahoma citizens.
• She's the nurse practitioner. I believe that's on the board. She's been pretty helpful.
• We're fifth in education. This is the fourth state that I've operated in.