Transcript Highlights:

• Daily Pay is an earned wage access financial technology that allows an employee the option to access
• It's about protecting the right of every Alabamian to access financial services without fear of ideological
• Now is the time to act to safeguard free enterprise, consumer choice, and equal access to consumer choice
• and equal access to financial services for all Alabamians.
• of future we've been trained to provide without cost barriers for access to care standing in our way

Keywords: 923, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This would enable the agency to use that funding instead of losing it and having to cut services to cover
• to try to get those services in if needed.
• This is equivalent to personal care services.
• start getting access to data.
• So we have to make sure, if we go to the cloud or whoever we go to, we have to make sure we can access

Keywords: 996, all

Summary: The committee first heard an Aging and Long-Term Services Department budget presentation comparing the LFC and executive recommendations. The main differences were in the Aging Network, Adult Protective Services, Program Support, and Long-Term Care Division, especially the executive’s proposed $10 million infusion into the Kiki Savadra Senior Dignity Fund and $6.2 million for expanding New Mexico Care. LFC staff explained that the committee recommendation was lower in general fund and fund-balance use, while the executive emphasized rising senior population needs, meal and transportation costs, and the cost savings of keeping older adults at home. The secretary also reviewed the department’s special requests, including the conference on aging, outreach, emergency preparedness, and the Kiki fund, and described New Mexico Care’s growth, its evaluation results, and the department’s plan to separate Kiki into its own accounting fund. Members largely focused on senior services, rural meal delivery, transportation, caregiver support, and the Kiki fund. Several members urged stronger support for non-metro aging providers and for New Mexico Care, citing its role in keeping seniors out of nursing homes and the program’s reported savings and outcomes. Questions also covered eligibility, background checks for caregivers, respite care, dementia and Alzheimer’s screening, and whether Kiki funds can support home modifications such as ramps. The committee then voted to adopt the LFC recommendation with one executive language change: adding the executive’s page 14 language allowing an additional 12.5% distribution for initial payments to aging network providers at the start of FY27. Representative Dow opposed the motion. The committee then moved to the Attorney General’s budget. LFC staff explained that the office’s budget relies heavily on the Consumer Settlement Fund, with both recommendations reducing general fund revenue while increasing settlement-fund use, and that performance measures were in consensus. The Attorney General said the office was not seeking more general fund, but wanted greater ability to use funds it recovers. He highlighted major consumer and public safety work, including litigation against major social media and AI platforms, a case involving Snapchat and child exploitation/extortion, the statewide crime gun intelligence center, efforts to address oilfield theft, work on missing and murdered Indigenous persons, and efforts to protect federal funds coming into New Mexico.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill is about ensuring patient access to care at affordable, accessible, and trained health care
• Chairman, in addition to this being an access-to-care issue for veterans, it's also... Yeah, Mr.
• Chairman, in addition to this being an access-to-care issue for veterans, it's also access to care for
• It's access to care for whether you're insured or uninsured.
• So let's say if you again run on the platform of access to care, this is a bill about access to care.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And also making sure that people had continuity of care and access to service.
• And also making sure that people had continuity of care and access to service.
• protect this critical funding while maintaining access to service for people.
• to service for maintaining access to service for people.<00:21:04.240><c> Um,</c><00:21:04.640><c> in
• In addition to providing access to service, new services, we're still at work on that and, of course,

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so I want to make sure, and I'd like you to clarify, that law enforcement access to investigate any
• They would reach out to the private entity to get access to those cameras.
• get access to as part of the investigation.
• We do want to be able to make high-speed broadband access available to all New Mexicans.
• ensure access to broadband Internet services by low-income rural on... ...your access to broadband Internet

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• From there, we've moved to include military service members on Title 10 orders as a priority to give
• And when service members are asked to uproot their families in service to this country, states can ensure
• thank you for your service to our country.
• The issue is access. These children deserve access to opportunity. I respect...
• It comes down to the accessibility for charter schools for our military service members.

Summary: The House Education Committee first approved minutes from February 18, 19, 20, and 23, 2026. The committee then heard House Bill 657, which would change charter school lottery priorities to give charter schools more local discretion while also adding foster children to the sibling category and allowing military-connected students on Title 10 orders to be considered in the lottery. Supporters, including military families, the Idaho Charter School Association, and the Idaho Charter School Network, said the bill would reduce enrollment barriers for military children who move frequently and often miss lottery windows. Opponents, including the Mountain Home superintendent and a retired senior master sergeant, argued it could harm Mountain Home schools and that a simpler fix would be to amend existing military enrollment law. The sponsor moved to hold HB 657 in committee and instead advance RS-33489, which the committee approved for introduction and referral to the second reading calendar with a due pass recommendation. The committee next considered House Bill 711, an alternate authorization pathway for principals and superintendents. Chairman Hawkins and Superintendent Critchfield said the bill is meant to help rural districts fill leadership vacancies by allowing experienced non-educators to enter school administration with mentoring and training, while not forcing any district to use the option. The Idaho School Boards Association and Idaho Association of School Administrators raised concerns about removing the master’s degree requirement, the breadth of the executive pathway, and the use of training funds for mentorships. A teacher and union leader also opposed the bill, saying educational leadership requires experience in law, budgeting, special education, and curriculum. After debate, the committee passed HB 711 out of committee with a due pass recommendation. Finally, the committee took up RS 32862 C1, which would move the STEM Action Center under the Workforce Development Council, require a 50% industry match, reduce overhead costs, and add performance measures for general fund spending. The sponsor said the change would create savings, improve coordination, and strengthen accountability. After brief questions about charitable contribution deductions and governance, the committee voted to introduce the RS. The chair then announced House Bill 712 would be moved to the next morning’s agenda, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• They just need reasonable access to timely services, which many aren't getting.
• to expand access to immigration legal services.
• The project has proven to be a successful model to expand access to immigration legal services in some
• While access to immigration counsel and legal services has been limited, the environment created under
• We had to go in with basically 12 to 15 people one day to try to have access to the patient, with his

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• programs easy to access.
• resources and access to fishing can be done in a cleaner way.
• More specifically, the goal of ZAP grants is to expand access to clean fuel transportation options by
• gas-powered vehicles, and around 92% of these riders reported improved access to essential services.
• And around 92% of these riders reported improved access to essential services.

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'd also like to thank his family for their service to our country.
• So are all VFWs required to provide this service to their membership? Yes or no?
• Are all VFWs required to provide this service to their membership? Yes.
• go to the VFW for assistance for services such as this.
• to get $5 million to hire more county veterans service officers.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs met with a quorum and first approved its consent calendar, which included AJR 15, SB 56, SB 296, and SB 855, with the roll left open for absent members. The committee then heard SB 694 by Senator Archuleta, a bill aimed at protecting veterans from unaccredited claims representatives and other for-profit entities that charge fees to assist with VA disability claims. The author and supporters, including county veterans service officers and veterans organizations, argued the measure would curb predatory practices, restore accountability, and steer veterans toward free, accredited assistance through CVSOs and other authorized representatives. Testimony in support emphasized that veterans are often targeted online and may pay large fees for services that are available for free, while supporters said unaccredited firms lack transparency and can exploit vulnerable veterans. Opposition witnesses, including representatives of claims-assistance companies and individual veterans, argued the bill would eliminate choice and that some contingency-based firms provide useful services, better outcomes, and faster claims processing. Committee members debated whether the bill would unlawfully bar legitimate assistance or whether it was needed to stop illegal business practices, with several members noting the issue is also being litigated in federal court and that an accreditation process already exists through the VA. After discussion, the committee voted to pass SB 694 and refer it to the Committee on Judiciary. The final vote was 6 ayes, with some members not voting. The committee then completed the consent calendar vote, which passed with eight votes, and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Health and Human Services Committee will come to order. Sabrina, will you please call the roll?
• I do fear that it could lead to access issues, which could lead to relapse, and which could lead to patient
• HB 683 modernizes the physician assistant practice to improve access to care across Florida.
• Of care where access is most fragile. When patients lose access to doctors, care is delayed.
• Every patient in Florida deserves access to care regardless of zip code.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, I might defer to—it is a modification of the definition of security services.
• <00:07:31.120><c> 4.12</c> to 4.12 to 4.12 services<00:07:33.199><c> obtained</c><00:07:33.599><c> from
• It is a clarification that allows for the heads of the caucus and both chambers to have access to the
• would have access to the address for every candidate running for the Minnesota House.
• </c><00:30:25.520><c> that</c> right to a lot of accessibility that right to a lot of accessibility that

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee took up House File 3363, a bill focused on protecting the privacy and safety of legislators and other candidates by limiting public access to home addresses and related information in campaign finance and election filings. The author said the bill was prompted by the events of June 14 and was intended to make temporary Campaign Finance Board changes permanent. No public testimony was offered, and the author explained that the bill had been narrowed and reorganized after a Senate delete-everything amendment expanded its scope. Members then considered a series of amendments. The A1 amendment, which added security devices and security services as allowable non-campaign disbursements, was adopted after questions about family relationships and whether payments to relatives could qualify. The A2 through A9 amendments were also adopted, covering data classification or redaction of street addresses in Campaign Finance Board reports, lobbyist gift reports, candidate affidavits of candidacy, nominating petitions, local government candidate reports, and retroactive redaction of existing reports. The A4 amendment was modified by A12 to apply city, state, and ZIP code reporting to political committees, political funds, and party units. The A13 amendment removed a proposed misdemeanor penalty tied to disclosure violations, and the A14 amendment was adopted to give caucus and chamber leaders access to actual candidate addresses, though members noted the language still needed refinement and that the intent was to continue working on it. There was discussion about whether the address-access language in A14 would apply to all candidates or only legislative candidates, and whether it would affect residency disputes; staff said it would not change complaint or court processes, but could be a data point. Several members said they had concerns about the breadth of the language but were willing to keep working on it. After the amendments were adopted, the committee moved to the bill as amended and recommended that House File 3363 be re-referred to the Judiciary Committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• Too often, when folks don't have access to resources, they turn to substances just to cope.
• To ensure that people have access to timely and individualized services to meet their needs, to get them
• It is imperative that we have access to those services.
• And it is also imperative that we work to protect the vulnerable. ...access to those services.
• to services and health care.

Summary: The Assembly met in session, established a quorum, and opened with a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. Members then moved through guest introductions, including students and fellows from California Lutheran University, UC Merced’s CAPE program, the Maddy Institute, and Madera High School’s Madtown Robotics Team 1323, which was recognized for multiple robotics world championships. The chamber also adopted an adjournment in memory and took up the daily file. Several bills and resolutions were considered and passed, including AB 1390 on school board compensation thresholds, AB 1338 on air district cost recovery for fence-line air monitoring, AB 648 on community college housing, AB 1207 on cap-and-trade price ceilings, ACR 66 recognizing Skin Cancer Awareness Month, AB 49 on keeping ICE out of public schools, AB 317 on a CEQA exemption for certain single-family homes, AB 527 on geothermal exploratory wells, AB 665 on the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation ombudsman report, AB 940 creating quantum innovation zones, AB 1021 on workforce housing for education agencies, AB 1112 on property tax apportionment in Rancho Mirage, AB 1318 on nonprofit eligibility for public funding, and AB 1470 on using student housing loan funds for affordable housing in downtowns and commercial districts. Most measures passed with broad support; AB 49 and AB 1318 were urgency bills and passed with the required higher vote threshold. The floor also adopted H.R. 40, declaring May 25 as Rosenda’s Day to honor a teen killed by a drunk driver, and H.R. 42, recognizing May as Behavioral Health Awareness Month. Both drew extensive personal testimony from members about mental health, suicide, substance use, and the need to reduce stigma and expand access to care. Additional health-related bills passed, including AB 408 creating a physician health and wellness program, AB 546 requiring coverage for HEPA purifiers for certain enrollees after wildfire disasters, AB 967 expediting licenses for out-of-state physicians, and AB 968 expanding pharmacist authority to provide non-hormonal contraception. The Assembly also debated AB 1056 on phasing out gill net fishing and AB 1376 on limiting juvenile probation terms, with supporters framing both as conservation or rehabilitation measures and opponents warning about economic harm or public safety concerns. Both bills ultimately passed. Throughout the session, members repeatedly emphasized public safety, education, housing, climate, health care access, and support for immigrant and youth communities, with recorded roll-call votes and voice votes taken on each measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• , has access to these opportunities.
• Why would he want access to the information to look for programs to cut?
• Why would he want access to the information to look for programs to cut?
• </c><02:37:43.600><c> to</c> Medicaid will further limit access to Medicaid will further limit access
• buy access to the U.S.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Thursday, February 6, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This compact is designed to strengthen access to medical services while maintaining patient safety, allowing
• , including limited access to health care services and workforce shortages.
• In models of care involving pharmacists' test-to-treat services, a large portion of patients who access
• that the pharmacist doesn't have access to.
• expand access to care.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 2401, which would require physicians to complete continuing education on nutrition and metabolic health as part of the state’s rural health transformation effort. HHS supported the bill, saying it would help physicians better address chronic disease and preserve federal grant points tied to the state’s application. A member of the public also testified in favor, arguing that better nutrition education could improve diabetes outcomes and reduce costs. The committee then adopted an amendment to add the Board of Occupational Therapy Practice to the background-check statute so the occupational therapy compact could proceed, and it passed the bill as amended on a roll call vote. The committee next heard House Bill 1621, which would require the Presidential Fitness Physical Fitness Test in elementary, middle, and high school physical education courses. HHS said the bill was part of the rural health transformation application and could help preserve federal funding, but members raised many questions about the test’s criteria, adaptive options for students with disabilities, equipment needs, and whether the bill should apply to non-public schools. Senator Clemens offered an amendment to limit the requirement to public schools, but it failed. Senator Hogan then offered an amendment to clarify exemptions and allow DPI to align implementation with federal guidance; that amendment passed. A further amendment adding language allowing DPI to establish criteria for and exceptions to the test also passed. The committee then approved the bill as amended on a roll call vote. The committee also considered House Bill 1622, which joins North Dakota to the physician assistant licensure compact. HHS said the compact would improve access to care, especially in rural areas, support military families, and help preserve rural health transformation funding. Members noted the compact had been discussed in a prior session and that many earlier concerns had been resolved. After brief discussion about the compact process and its consistency with other interstate compacts, the committee voted to do pass the bill. Finally, the committee began Senate Bill 2402, which expands pharmacists’ prescriptive authority and therapeutic substitution powers. HHS and the Board of Pharmacy supported the bill as a way to improve access to care and maintain rural health transformation funding. Senator Roers introduced a detailed amendment negotiated with the Board of Medicine and Board of Pharmacy to narrow and clarify the bill, including notification requirements, limits on certain drug categories, and patient-protection language for therapeutic substitution. The Board of Pharmacy then testified in support of the broader bill and explained the CLIA-waived testing provisions and the repeal of the older, narrower pharmacist-testing language. The hearing and amendment discussion were still underway when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's going to allow ABC access to that data that's being stored by Manhattan for real-time access.
• It's going to allow ABC access for ABC.
• That way, if we need to allow other people to come in and have access to that data, such as if the auditors
• That is what will have access to that.
• In a nutshell, this is you're getting a service that allows you to access data that is stored on their

Keywords: 924, joint, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Participants need access to a approach.
• have access to therapeutic services.
• </c><00:10:53.200><c> clinical</c> have access to evidence-based clinical have access to evidence-based
• to therapeutic services. services. services.
• But, provide services to other counties.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The subcommittee received an overview of Kentucky’s specialty courts from Audrey Collins of the Department of Specialty Courts and the Administrative Office of the Courts, along with testimony from Christian County District Judge Foster Cutoff. Collins described the mission and structure of drug, mental health, and veterans treatment courts, emphasizing therapeutic jurisprudence, individualized treatment, judicial oversight, and multidisciplinary teams. She said Kentucky currently has about 2,991 active participants across the three court types, with drug courts in all 120 counties, mental health courts in 17 counties, and veterans treatment courts in eight counties. She also highlighted reported outcomes such as 7,658 entrants and 4,384 successful completions from 2020 to 2024, a five-year average completion rate of 57%, and lower recidivism among graduates than the statewide average. Collins also reviewed funding and costs, saying the department’s fiscal year 2025 budget was $18.6 million, with most of it from general funds, plus restricted and federal funds. She noted spending on personnel, treatment services, and drug testing, and said specialty courts allow participants to remain employed and meet obligations such as child support and restitution. She said participants paid more than $5.4 million in child support, restitution, and other court-related obligations over five years, and that a statewide evaluation by Morehead State University is underway. In response to questions, she said a dip in 2024 collections may have been affected by a case management system overhaul, and that court costs can be waived in some indigent cases while restitution is still required. Judge Cutoff described veterans treatment court and mental health court in Christian County, saying the programs are especially important because of the nearby Fort Campbell military community and because they help veterans with PTSD, traumatic brain injury, substance use, and related issues. He said the courts rely heavily on staff, treatment providers, and the VA, which helps connect participants to benefits and therapy. He also said mental health court participants receive housing, benefits, and medication support, and that the programs can keep people out of jail and help them stabilize. Committee members asked about the legal basis and history of the courts, and Collins explained that Kentucky’s specialty courts began as pilot programs in the mid-1990s, shifted from federal support to state funding around 2008-2009, and are now largely state funded. No votes or formal actions were taken during the discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• We want to ensure that those patients will continue to have access to Minnesota's medical cannabis program
• c><00:16:07.079><c> to</c><00:16:07.199><c> have</c><00:16:07.440><c> access</c><00:16:07.720><c> to<
• /c> will continue to have access to will continue to have access to Minnesota's<00:16:08.560><c> medical
• It'll go to Health and Human Services.
• to the Committee on Health and Human Services.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's translated into multiple languages, so it's much more accessible to students and to job seekers.
• We're also looking to support and increase more equitable access to financial aid.
• Portal access, again, I mentioned that portal access is something that we're really focused on to help
• on TVW and accessible to the public.
• on TVW and accessible to the public.

Summary: The committee held a work session on the state of Washington’s community and technical college system with State Board executive director Nate Humphrey and Tacoma Community College president Ivan Harrell. They described the system’s open-access mission, 34 colleges serving more than 307,000 students, relatively low tuition, enrollment growth over 12 consecutive quarters, and strong outcomes such as more than 46,000 credentials awarded last year. They also highlighted system initiatives including guided pathways, I-BEST, dual enrollment, tribal partnerships, a new program search tool, and six colleges named Aspen Prize finalists. At the same time, they emphasized major challenges: high rates of student food, housing, and homelessness insecurity; sharply rising emergency aid requests; and federal funding disruptions affecting TANF, BFET, adult basic education, Carl Perkins, NOAA-related tribal work, and several federal grants. Members asked about SNAP impacts, declining high school graduates, and how BFET and TANF interact with other aid programs. The presenters also discussed system priorities such as AI, Workforce Pell, capital planning, nursing accreditation alignment, and the Washington College Grant. The committee then heard testimony from AFT Washington and the Washington Association of Higher Education on faculty and staff conditions in the community and technical college system. Jackie Kane and Suzanne Sutherland argued that classified staff, professional staff, and contingent faculty are essential to student success but face low pay, instability, and weak retention, and they urged lawmakers to protect existing funding and avoid further cuts. They said working conditions for faculty and staff are student learning conditions, and that underfunding leads to reduced services, shortened advising, and program instability. Marina Parr of the Workforce Board presented on federal H.R. 1’s new Workforce Pell provisions and the updated Career Bridge website. She explained that Workforce Pell would allow federal aid for short-term training programs of 8 to 15 weeks, with high completion, employment, and earnings thresholds and a requirement that credentials be stackable and portable. She said Washington is well positioned to implement the program because of its existing eligible training provider evaluation system and Career Bridge, which now has a redesigned public portal, digital portfolios, multilingual access, and performance data on programs. Members asked about rulemaking, possible gaps in state services, and how the wage and completion standards would be applied. The Washington Student Achievement Council then briefed the committee on the new Washington Completes FAFSA campaign created by executive order. Staff described an advisory board with statewide representation, a pilot that used microgrants and other supports at 25 priority schools, and a new goal of 46,000 FAFSA or WASFA completions this year. They reported that completion rates were tracking slightly ahead of last year, with 24% of high school seniors having completed a FAFSA by the end of November, and they showcased a public dashboard with subgroup data and a WIAA-based leaderboard. Members asked about outreach to rural and homeschool students, legislative communications, Pierce County representation, and barriers to FAFSA completion, and staff said they would provide toolkits and continue expanding outreach. The committee then began hearing from student presenters about affordability, access, equity, and student experience.

Transcript Highlights:

• support to service members and their families.
• as the deadly gap, presents heightened risk due to limited access to psychiatric services and increased
• dogs after their service to our country.
• We implore them to use that free service before coming to us.
• , we want to utilize this service?

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs held its second public hearing of the 2025–26 session, with opening remarks from Chairs John Velis and Joe McGonagle outlining testimony on 20 House bills and 18 Senate bills. The hearing covered a wide range of veterans issues, including municipal veterans assistance funds, pension equity, expanding the Office of the Veterans Advocate, veterans service officer staffing, disability benefits eligibility, service dogs, POW tax relief, courtesy parking spaces, women veterans and motherhood, and workforce-related licensing and employment measures. Chairs emphasized the hybrid format, three-minute testimony limit, and written testimony process. Several bills drew support focused on expanding services and access. Representative Arena-DeRosa spoke for bills to broaden municipal veterans assistance funds to cover housing and legal expenses and to study enhanced pension equity for veterans, citing burn pit exposure and shorter life expectancy among veterans. Senator Fattman, Representative Peas, and Veterans Advocate Bob Notch supported bills expanding the Office of the Veterans Advocate to include active-duty service members and their families, arguing it would improve transition support, coordination with state agencies, and retention of military talent in Massachusetts. Representative Arriaga backed a bill to incentivize municipalities to provide full-time or regional veterans service officers and another to study the impact of combat on women veterans and motherhood. Representative Moulton/another sponsor also sought to exempt veterans’ disability payments from income calculations for other state benefits, and Representative Hong and Senator Scanlan supported a state service dog program, POW income tax relief, and courtesy retail parking spaces for veterans. Testimony also focused on workforce and claims-assistance issues. The Military Officers Association of America and James Keene urged passage of bills waiving duplicative education requirements so qualified veterans and military medics can become licensed practical nurses, arguing it would help address health care shortages and recognize military training. Brave Veterans Inc. called for a Veterans Research Trust Fund to protect data and program evaluation work during budget cuts. On claims assistance, one witness supported criminal penalties for unaccredited agents who charge veterans for VA claims help, while a private consulting firm opposed the bill, arguing it would restrict lawful speech and veterans’ choice and that existing federal and HERO Act safeguards already address abuses. The VFW strongly opposed paid claims consulting, said its accredited service officers provide free help statewide, and urged more public awareness of existing free services. No votes or final committee actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• the system and getting access to the services, but it's also difficult to administer within the current
• </c> of service to the person. of service to the person.
• to services<00:46:57.800><c> to</c><00:46:57.960><c> juveniles</c> services to juveniles services to
• prevent or to promote direct access of chemical dependency services by consumers.
• through</c> Direct access to hub services through their specific services.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all