Transcript Highlights:

• upon the feedback of a semi-retired Nebraskan who is working to receive his substitute teacher certificate

Bills: LB878, LB958, LB958A, LB762, LB1187, LB966, LB929, LB962, LB1209, LB937A, LB962A, LB1050, LB1050A, LB965, LB1022, LB753, LB788, LB913, LB1055, LB1195, LB429, LB721, LB722, LB727, LB745, LB749, LB778, LR293, LR296, LR422, LR495, LR496, LR497, LR498, LR499, LR500, LR501, LR502, LR503, LR504

Keywords: paid parental leave, state employees, workplace benefits, family support, economic impact, Medicaid, Medical Assistance Act, home and community-based services waiver, HCBS waiver, waiver participant, assessment tool, clinical interviewing, service tier, retroactive coverage, doula, doula reimbursement, maternal health, prenatal care, pregnancy, birth outcomes

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 1181, certified public accountant certification alternative.
• SB 1215, firefighters occupational diseases cancers. SB 1218, abortion repeals.
• SB 1247, assisted living centers occupants; Regulatory Affairs and Government Efficiency.
• SB 1247, assisted living centers occupants; Regulatory Affairs and Government Efficiency.
• SB 1261, short-term rentals occupancy; Government.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Occupancy in private spaces might not be the best solution.
• But what about that place that only has multiple occupancy restrooms?
• Their driver’s license or their birth certificate, does it say one or the other?
• A birth certificate or any other medical records.
• Support this amendment to make those single occupancy spaces available.

Bills: SB 8, HB7, HB15, HB 265, HCR 13, SB 8, HB 7, HB 15, HB 265, HCR 13

Keywords: sex designation, restroom access, civil penalties, private civil right of action, women's privacy, abortion, healthcare, jurisdiction, civil action, qui tam, prohibition, state law, youth camp, safety regulations, advisory committee, child welfare, health standards, summer camp, camp safety, child abuse reporting

Transcript Highlights:

• I wrote eight of them, eight certificates of need.
• But there are entities out there who basically rent the certificate of need to provide services.
• They did change the standards for certificate of need back in 2022 and 2023 in April.
• They did change the standards for certificate of need back in 2022 and 2023 in April.
• In Putnam and Fayette, I depend heavily on the certificate of need for personal care.

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and death certificates.
• and death certificates.
• We have taken a look at our certification levels and adjusted that to make sure.
• Once these provisions are met, a certificate of occupancy is issued to the owner or the building representative
• occupancy issued by the building or fire code official in order to a certificate of occupancy issued

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You've heard a lot of talk about certificate programs.
• The suggestion was that that occupations list be for both years of the biennium.
• areas, that's all they get is a certificate, and they're ready for the workforce.
• Hardly on the issue, for sure, of certificates. We will take that into consideration.
• And you could add certificates in there.

Summary: The Higher Education Funding Review Committee met to continue work on a draft higher education funding formula and related capital building fund changes. Lisa Johnson of the North Dakota University System updated the committee on the board’s developing policy for low-producing academic programs. She said the board is using a five-year rolling window, with thresholds of fewer than 10 undergraduate graduates or fewer than 5 graduate graduates, and that programs flagged in three consecutive review cycles would go to the board for review. Possible outcomes include continuation, continuation with modifications, inactivation, or termination. Members asked about how the policy would account for enrollment, program costs, workforce need, and programs that serve students outside their major. Johnson said the board would likely use an accompanying procedure to consider those factors. She also reported that about 200 programs could potentially be reviewed under current guidance, with 135 inactivated and 112 terminated, and said the process is intended to support quality and stewardship rather than simply cut programs. Jamie Wilkie then reported on the Capital Building Fund. He reviewed the fund’s history, matching requirements, and use for extraordinary repairs, deferred maintenance, and some legislatively authorized projects. He said about $334 million in state and matching dollars has been invested overall, with roughly 78.7% going to deferred maintenance and extraordinary repairs. Committee members pressed for updated information on how much deferred maintenance has actually been reduced, and several members said they wanted clearer reporting on the return on investment from new buildings versus repairs. NDSU representatives said the tier funding has helped significantly reduce deferred maintenance and allowed demolition and renovation work on campus. The committee also discussed the need for updated five-year facility plans and space-utilization information from the institutions. The committee then began a section-by-section review of a draft bill that would replace the current higher education funding formula with an FTE-based model and restructure the capital building fund. The draft would fund UND and NDSU differently from the other nine institutions, use fall enrollment rather than completed credits, add performance funding for completions in in-demand fields, create research incentives for UND and NDSU, and combine capital building fund tiers while changing matching requirements and eligible uses. Members raised concerns about the treatment of professional students, the use of CIP codes, incentives for waivers, and whether the formula should rely on more current data. The committee did not take final action on the draft during this meeting, but it continued detailed discussion and indicated more review would follow.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have two certificates.
• So we'll get to those certificates as soon as we can.
• Once we get done with that, we'll get to the certificates.
• So if the reader would read the certificate.
• Therapy Licensure Compact, amending the Occupational Therapy Act to enacting the Occupational Therapy

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Committee on Crime, Delinquency, and Correction for law enforcement training, development, and certification
• This rule loosens that requirement to only require such certificate if the horse or stable pony has had
• This rule removes that application process for the certification of managed timberland, which is now
• The bill is to impose a business and occupation tax on certain business activities.
• The bill to impose a business and occupation tax on certain business activities.

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee met with a quorum present, approved the prior meeting minutes, and then considered a series of House bills and committee substitutes. House Bill 5438, dealing with changes to Step 7 of the school aid formula and allowable uses of certain education allocations, was amended to adopt the Education Committee’s changes and then reported to the full Senate. House Bill 4087 creating the West Virginia-Ireland Education Alliance was also reported, as was House Bill 4191, which expands child care tax credit eligibility for employer-sponsored facilities and changes subsidy payments from attendance-based to enrollment-based reimbursement; senators emphasized its workforce and economic development benefits. House Bill 5074, which reallocates medical cannabis fund balances and future revenues, was amended to increase the Child Protective Commission pilot funding from $3 million to $5 million and remove proposed ibogaine research funding for Marshall and WVU before being reported. House Bill 5353, regulating virtual currency kiosks and money transmission licensure, and House Bill 5527, creating licensure and oversight for wellness reimbursement program administrators, both received strike-and-insert amendments and were reported. House Bill 5687, which phases down the metallurgical coal severance tax and adds a temporary oil and gas tax reduction with county/municipal revenue adjustments, was amended and reported. House Bill 4418, creating an electronic system for municipal business and occupation tax filing and collection with a 1% administrative fee and a participation threshold, was also reported. The committee then took up House Bill 4245, the Revenue Rules Bundle, which bundles 26 legislative rules from the Department of Revenue and related agencies. The bundle included alcohol, banking, insurance, racing, and tax rules, with several sunset extensions and repeals of outdated rules; the committee adopted a strike-and-insert amendment affecting a lottery consumer protection rule and a pre-need cemetery company rule, then reported the bill. House Bill 5168, providing a $12 million lottery-funded stream for emergency medical services, was amended to clarify the uses of the funds, rename one fund, require a 30% county match for mental health treatment spending, and create two additional county-based EMS funds; senators described it as a needed permanent funding source for EMS, and it was reported. Throughout the meeting, members generally supported the measures, with some discussion on technical details, funding allocations, and the impact of the bills on local services and workforce needs. At the end of the meeting, the chair announced that Senate House Bills 4004, 4006, and 4009 would not be taken up that day, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• to any claimant who filed a verified claim with the Director of the Department of Professional Occupational
• you is an act to amend and reenact a portion of the Code of Virginia related to professions and occupations
• to any claimant who filed a verified claim with the Director of the Department of Professional Occupational
• you is an act to amend and reenact a portion of the Code of Virginia related to professions and occupations
• House Bill 756 relates to amending death certificates, petitions of the court to amend the electronic

Keywords: March 06, 2026 - Regular Session, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If we have an occupancy problem, we don't have to refund until we're, frankly, good and ready.
• If we have an occupancy problem, we don't have to refund until we're, frankly, good and ready.
• And especially now with occupancy and the demand so high, we don't have a problem.
• Is that not similar to certification or, at least not to certification, but to being registered?
• I think there's a difference between certification and validation, right?

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The commission met to review its draft final report on continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs), with most of the discussion focused on whether recommendations required unanimous consensus and how to handle disagreements in the report. Members agreed that consensus meant no stated opposition, and several participants argued that unresolved issues should still be described in the report rather than omitted. The chairs said the report would include agreed-upon recommendations, note areas without consensus, and preserve written comments or dissent letters submitted by members. The draft report’s findings and slides were reviewed charge by charge, including CCRC definitions, financial condition, entrance fee refunds, regulatory oversight, advertising practices, and closure/change-of-ownership procedures. Members suggested several factual and wording edits, including clarifying financial data sources, correcting a presenter’s name, refining language about entrance fee use and refund timing, and revising statements about Attorney General authority and CCRC advertising. There was also discussion about the need to distinguish nonprofit and for-profit CCRCs and to better explain how different care levels and licensing structures are described. On recommendations, the commission kept the proposal to advance the disclosure bill (S. 478) and update the consumer guide, but removed a recommendation for annual open board meetings after objections that it was inadequate. The group spent considerable time debating whether to recommend resident representation on CCRC boards, timely refund requirements for entrance fees, and possible state registration or definition changes for CCRCs, but no consensus was reached on those items. The chairs said the final report would be completed by the statutory August 1 deadline, with final written comments due before then and the report and meeting materials posted on the legislature website.

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 1016 by to relating to a public school policy regarding multi-occupancy bathrooms or changing facilities
• HB 1018 by Wilson relating to the establishment of a certification program for the public work and contracting
• AB 1039 by Morales of Maverick relating to the use of hotel occupancy tax revenue by certain municipalities
• AB 1076 by Pearson relating to the unauthorized entry, occupancy, sale, rental, lease, advertisement,
• rental, or lease or convenience of real property, including the removal of certain unauthorized occupants

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 1016 by Toth relates to a public school policy regarding multi-occupancy bathrooms or changing facilities
• on county and regional government AB 1038 39 but morale's a maverick relating to the use of hotel occupancy
• Services at the public primary or secondary school requiring an occupational license refer to the Committee
• Relating to the unauthorized entry occupancy sale, rental, lease, advertisement, or for sale, rental,
• or lease, or convenience. of real property, including the removal of certain unauthorized occupants

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I wrote eight of them, eight certificates of need.
• I was a subcontractor for different entities that had a certificate of need, which I disagreed with.
• of need and that is that is true and that is the case here in Putnam County. certificate of need and
• They did change the standards for certificate of need back in 2022 and 2023, and in April those were
• In Putnam and Fayette, I depend heavily on the certificate of need for personal care.

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The committee met, approved the March 5, 2026 minutes, and then took up several health- and human-services-related bills. House Bill 5086, concerning peer support programs for covered caregivers, was explained as creating training and testimonial privilege protections; the committee adopted an amendment clarifying that boards may still require participation in a board-designated professional health program, and then reported the bill to the full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass. House Bill 5004, an educational bill on PANS and PANDAS, was supported by the sponsor, who described his family’s experience and the importance of earlier diagnosis; it was reported to the Senate without amendment. House Bill 5327, which would require the Department of Human Services to create an ALS services program, also received supportive testimony from the sponsor and members, but the transcript reflects the bill being reported as House Bill 537; it was moved forward without amendment. The committee then considered House Bill 5096, which would remove personal care and intellectual/developmental disability waiver services from certificate-of-need review. The sponsor argued the change would reduce regulatory burden and expand access, while a county aging-program director testified that certificate-of-need revenues help fund senior meals and services and that eliminating the requirement would reduce important support for aging providers. After a division vote, the motion to report the bill failed 3-9. House Bill 4695, allowing PEIA patients to switch to an alternative medically appropriate covered treatment without new prior authorization if it costs no more than the original treatment, was explained as carrying an estimated $13 million annual cost to PEIA and was reported to the Senate. The committee also advanced House Bill 5582, enacting the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact, after discussion of a committee amendment removing a new-background-check-at-initial-licensure provision; the amendment was adopted and the bill was reported. Another House Bill 5582, concerning the TANF drug screening program, was described as removing the sunset date and allowing oral fluid testing in addition to urine samples; it too was reported. Finally, House Bill 5466 renamed the batterer intervention program as an abuse intervention program and allowed live synchronous virtual delivery with an in-person option; the sponsor said the change would expand access statewide, and the bill was reported to the Senate. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 1681, medical marijuana registration certificates. Rules.
• SB 1670, municipalities, counties, occupations, occupation license prohibition.
• SB 1799, commerce authority tax incentive certification.
• SB 1799, commerce authority tax incentive certification.
• SB 1824, blind and compensatory skills teaching certificates.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and many high-demand, high-skill, industry-recognized workforce certifications.
• In the AS in engineering technology, we have short-term certifications.
• start working, you know, at $18 to $22 an hour and then continue getting certifications.
• start working, you know, at $18 to $22 an hour and then continue getting certifications.
• And we use the Open Door funds for that certification. Yes, Ms. Thomas.

Summary: The Careers and Workforce Subcommittee heard a panel discussion focused on how Florida schools and colleges are exposing students to in-demand careers in manufacturing, semiconductors, transportation, and related fields, and how they are building pathways from middle school through postsecondary training. Panelists from Seminole County Public Schools, Lake Technical College/Lake County Schools, and St. Petersburg College described their career academies, dual enrollment options, industry certifications, and partnerships with employers, local governments, and state colleges. They emphasized early career awareness, counseling, and parent outreach as key to helping students understand technical education as a viable and prestigious path. Seminole County highlighted 51 career and professional education academies and new offerings in agricultural biotechnology, global finance, firefighting, and planned aerospace engineering. Lake County described Lake Technical College’s programs, strong completion and placement outcomes, and three partnerships: a flexible-day high school/workforce model at Lincoln Park Education Center, the Lake Works pathway collaboration with Lake Sumter State College, and a Transportation Innovation Hub with the City of Tavares that trains students on municipal vehicles and serves multiple local governments. St. Petersburg College discussed its manufacturing and engineering technology programs, including semiconductor processing, mechatronics, soldering, and clean-room training, along with new grant-funded expansion at its Midtown campus. Members asked about wages, the semiconductor workforce, how to change perceptions of technical education, how parents are engaged, and how Bright Futures CAPE and Gold Seal scholarships are communicated. Witnesses said school counselors, CTE teachers, parent nights, and district communications are used to promote these options, and that many students can earn strong wages through short-term certifications or two-year degrees. Lake Technical College also raised concerns about workforce funding not keeping pace with teacher pay increases and inflation, noting that funding covers only about 80% of what it earns and tuition has remained unchanged for 18 years. The meeting ended with members praising the programs, and the subcommittee adjourned without any vote or formal action beyond rising and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is the meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Licensing and Occupations. >> Okay.
• This is the meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Licensing and Occupations. >> Okay.
• This is the meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Licensing and Occupations.
• <00:08:04.560> for principles and certifications for principles and certifications for certain
• be to that certification, we could be to that certification, we could be exposing<00:10:30.399>

Keywords: Call to Order 00:00 Roll Call 00:21 SB 145 Discussion 02:05 SB 145 Vote 04:06 SB 98 Discussion 06:25 SB 98 Vote 11:00 Adjournment 12:07, 958, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Licensing and Occupations met on February 10, 2026, with a quorum present and welcomed student visitors from the University of Louisville and Graves County DECA. The committee first considered Senate Bill 145, relating to the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control and declared an emergency. The bill was described as clarifying caterer licensing language, allowing catering services in certain venues, permitting advance storage of alcohol for multi-day events, and requiring ABC to act on applications within 45 days. Members discussed concerns about alcohol sales in conservative districts, while others praised ABC’s interpretation of the law and the need for practical regulatory fixes. SB 145 was approved by the committee and sent to the floor on a 10-1 vote, with Senator Donald Douglas voting no and explaining that he wanted more time to discuss the issue with constituents. The committee then heard Senate Bill 98 on welding safety, presented as a measure to require compliance with specified welding certifications and design plans on projects where such standards are called for, in order to improve structural safety and reduce liability. Supporters, including the sponsor, a representative, and a lobbyist, said the bill would apply only in limited cases and would help ensure welds are properly inspected and performed according to engineering specifications. SB 98 also received favorable action, passing 9-2 and advancing to the floor. Senators Christian McDaniel and Matt Nunn voted no, while supporters emphasized public safety, code compliance, and avoiding future damages by doing the work correctly upfront. After the two bills were considered, the committee had no further business and moved toward adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

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

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• exam. ...certified verbatim stenotype certification exam.
• I earned my certification in 2007.
• I earned my certification in 2007.
• AB 2773 is a sunset vehicle for the Board of Occupational Therapy.
• A.B 2773 is a sunset vehicle for the Board of Occupational Therapy.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

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

Transcript Highlights:

• Betancourt relates to the issuance of certain financial obligations. ...anticipation notes and certificates
• Senate Bill 1037 by Sparks relates to the issuance of certain anticipation notes and certificates of
• Senate Bill 1080 by Middleton relates to the issuance of a provisional occupational license to certain
• Senate Bill 1086 by Perry relates to the authority of certain counties to impose a hotel occupancy tax
• Senate Bill 1087 by Perry also relates to the authority of certain counties to impose a hotel occupancy

Bills: SJR36, SB26, SJR3, SJR48, SJR50, SJR51, SCR15, SCR17, SB3, SB5, SB12, SB18, SB1001, SB1002, SB1003, SB1004, SB1005, SB1006, SB1007, SB1008, SB1009, SB1010, SB1011, SB1012, SB1013, SB1014, SB1015, SB1016, SB1017, SB1018, SB1019, SB1020, SB1021, SB1022, SB1023, SB1024, SB1025, SB1026, SB1027, SB1028, SB1029, SB1030, SB1031, SB1032, SB1033, SB1034, SB1035, SB1036, SB1037, SB1038, SB1039, SB1040, SB1041, SB1042, SB1043, SB1044, SB1045, SB1046, SB1049, SB1050, SB1051, SB1052, SB1053, SB1054, SB1055, SB1056, SB1057, SB1058, SB1059, SB1060, SB1061, SB1062, SB1063, SB1064, SB1065, SB1066, SB1067, SB1068, SB1069, SB1070, SB1071, SB1072, SB1073, SB1074, SB1075, SB1076, SB1077, SB1078, SB1079, SB1080, SB1081, SB1082, SB1083, SB1084, SB1085, SB1086, SB1087, SB1088, SB1089, SB1090, SB1091, SB1092, SB1093, SB1094, SB1095, SB1096, SB1097, SB1098, SB1099, SB1100, SB1101, SB1102, SB1103, SB1104, SB1105, SB1106, SB1107, SB1108, SB1109, SB1110, SB1111, SB1112, SB1113, SB1114, SB1115, SB1116, SB1117, SB1118, SB1119, SB1120, SB1121, SB1122, SB1123, SB1124, SB1125, SB1126, SB1127, SB1128, SB1129, SB1130, SB1131, SB1132, SB1133, SB1134, SB1135, SB1136, SB1137, SB1138, SB1139, SB1140, SB1141, SB1142, SB1143, SB1144, SB1145, SB1146, SB1147, SB1148, SB1149, SB1150, SB1565

Keywords: teacher compensation, education funding, public school educators, teacher retention, teacher designation, dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, research funding, state budget, prevention, healthcare, medical research, Dementia Prevention and Research Institute, severance tax, oil and gas, Texas STRONG fund, economic stabilization, public health, property tax relief