Transcript Highlights:

• We just may not know their name for getting service in the old fashion way.
• through the service or communication method that they used to contact the victim.
• So that's a service. It's down after the petition has already filed.
• But oftentimes adult protective services will be notified and that a DR Project, Protective Services,
• We went to all service members, veterans alike. That was great.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• for your public service to our state. for your public service to our state.
• , strained resources or reduce services, strained resources or reduce services, potentially<00:47
• non-public pupil aid, these services non-public pupil aid, these services would<01:16:50.800>
• Yet Minnesota financial services.
• members to protect these vital services members to protect these vital services and<01:30:16.400

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Committee on Human Services.
• and re-referred to the Committee on Human Services.
• President, at our own Minnesota Department of Human Services...
• Please vote green. of community health services. of community health services.
• That day, and Health and Human Services.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They have accepted the responsibility and the burden of service placed upon their shoulders.
• So, senators, at their core, health and human services budget decisions are about protecting children
• the Florida Forest Service and $10 million for the fuel transfer switch modernization.
• We had a very good in-depth discussion about outsourcing our inmate health care service and food service
• ...sourcing our inmate health care service and food service to provide efficiencies, and proviso lines

Summary: The Senate took up the 2026-2027 budget and related implementing bills. Appropriations Chair Hooper presented a $115 billion General Appropriations Bill, saying it reduces overall spending from the prior year, preserves reserves, and includes a 3% raise for state employees and 5% raises for state law enforcement, firefighters, correctional officers, and park rangers. Committee chairs then outlined major budget areas, including K-12 education, higher education, health and human services, criminal and civil justice, transportation/tourism/economic development, and environmental/agricultural agencies. Highlights included increased funding for school safety, teacher and scholarship funding, workforce education, Medicaid and kid care, corrections operations, judgeships, affordable housing, hurricane recovery, Everglades and water quality projects, and arts and cultural grants. Members asked detailed questions about several items. Senators discussed the Emergency Management Trust Fund, cultural arts grant allocations, Florida Forever land acquisition versus conservation easements, teacher salary support, charter school capital outlay funding, Bright Futures and EASE funding, New College funding, DOC deficits and inmate health care/food service costs, the ADAP HIV drug program, Medicaid reductions for non-critical access hospitals, and the use of opioid settlement and COVID relief funds. Chairs explained that some apparent reductions reflected shifts below the line or reclassification, that the ADAP appropriation would only cover about six months, and that some vacant positions were being removed as part of a right-sizing effort. Questions also covered lottery staffing, concealed weapons permit processing, elections security funding, and arts grant selection and proviso language. The Senate then substituted House bills for the Senate budget and implementing measures, amended them into the Senate posture, and passed them. HB 5001 (the appropriations bill), HB 503 (implementing bill), HB 5201 (collective bargaining), and HB 5205 (retirement) all passed 36-0 and were sent to conference. Other budget-related bills also passed, including SB 2506 on fuel taxes, SB 2508 on the state agency law enforcement radio system surcharge, SB 2510 on court trust funds, SB 2512 creating 13 circuit and 12 county judgeships, SB 2514 on K-12 education, SB 2516 on higher education, and SB 2518 on health. Most of these passed unanimously, with the Senate requesting the House either pass the Senate versions or include them in budget conference.

Transcript Highlights:

• That customer service piece.
• And we want to make sure our customer service is top-notch.
• Also, we moved an agent into a victim services division.
• Continuity of services.
• We looked at some of our calls for service.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• AB 2233 does not expand benefits or mandate new services.
• AB 2020-333 does not expand benefits or manage new services.
• A rigid cap removes the little flexibility that they do have to access these services in entirety.
• fully staffed to take people off a wait list on services that save their lives.
• staffed to take people off a wait list on services that save their lives.

Summary: The Assembly Appropriations Committee met on April 8, 2026, with a quorum established and 59 bills listed for consideration. The committee first approved two consent calendars: several bills were sent to the Assembly floor on a due-pass basis, and a smaller set was approved due-pass but not eligible for the floor consent calendar. The proposed suspense calendar was then deemed approved without individual debate on those measures. The committee heard several bills in regular order. AB 1977, sponsored by the Secretary of State, would clean up and clarify the Online Notarization Act to support implementation by 2030; it drew no opposition and was approved. AB 2011 would codify existing federal mental health parity standards into state law; supporters said it would preserve enforcement authority, while health plans opposed it as premature given federal uncertainty and possible premium impacts; the bill was placed on the B roll call. AB 1673 would give county fish and game commissions more flexibility to use certain revenues for wildlife conflict prevention, and it advanced on an A roll call. AB 2233 would allow unused authorized ABA therapy hours for children with autism to be made up within the authorization period; supporters emphasized access and continuity of care, while insurers warned of higher costs and reduced utilization safeguards; it advanced on an A roll call. AB 1660, as amended, would give courts more flexibility in cases involving financial institutions and public guardians/conservators, with supporters saying it could save counties time and money; it was approved due-pass as amended. During general public comment, speakers voiced support for AB 2081 and AB 1667, and opposition to AB 1777. After public comment and final vote recording for absent members, the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• But you talk about peer services or family support services or trauma-informed care.
• They cannot do clinical services, nor should they be expected to.
• And so this funding source only applies to this service.
• I provide that service.
• You're providing these medical services on a volunteer basis.

Summary: The task force meeting opened with new leadership announcements, including Senator Nick Schroer thanking outgoing chair Representative John Black and naming Representative Del Taylor as vice chair. After some initial technical difficulties with audio and Zoom, members reviewed the task force’s statutory charge under Missouri law: to hold hearings on substance use, explore solutions, draft or modify legislation, and produce recommendations for prevention and treatment. The chair said the goal for this year is to develop concrete legislative ideas for the next session, with hearings focused first on field experts and later on alternative therapies and the Department of Mental Health. Dr. Rachel Winograd gave the first major presentation, describing Missouri’s overdose crisis as increasingly complex and driven primarily by fentanyl, now compounded by xylazine and metatomidine. She said overdose deaths have declined for a third straight year, with preliminary 2025 data around 1,200 deaths, and attributed the decline to a smaller fentanyl supply, wider naloxone availability, and fewer young people entering use. Her main recommendations were to focus on reducing harm rather than trying to eliminate drug use, expand evidence-based medications for opioid use disorder—especially methadone and buprenorphine—improve access to naloxone, and loosen methadone regulations, including take-home doses, the federal 72-hour rule, and broader methadone units. She also emphasized that peer support, housing, transportation, and other practical supports matter, and noted that naloxone can still reverse fentanyl overdoses even when tranquilizers are present. Dr. Heidi Miller, the state medical director, followed with two recommendations: integrate substance use disorder care into whole-person health care and follow the science when considering substance-related legislation. She argued that primary care, maternal health, workforce training, EMS, public health, and methadone access should all be part of a coordinated model, and said reimbursement should support teams rather than isolated providers. She also urged stronger enforcement of parity between behavioral health/SUD and physical health coverage, and highlighted tobacco and alcohol as major, under-addressed causes of death in Missouri. Dr. Doug Burgess then reinforced the need for a coordinated continuum of care, comparing substance use treatment to the seamless system used for heart attacks, and said patients should have standardized assessment, discharge planning from day one, transition coordinators, peer recovery coaches, and better information-sharing between levels of care. Members asked questions about relapse, treatment court, EMS referral barriers, reimbursement, and whether buprenorphine can be started in the field; no votes were taken, and the meeting ended with plans to continue hearing testimony and use it to shape future policy recommendations.

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to thank you for your service.
• Thank you very much for your service. Thank you.
• to do cost recovery on the services that are rendered.
• to do cost recovery on the services that are rendered.
• service if the local government chooses to charge a fee.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Service to our teachers. I am not sure about the AI component.
• Well, the services should define the environment. So...
• was defined before the services are defined.
• So does vision services assist the school district?
• Does school for Does vision services assist the school district?

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee met to discuss special education funding and retention, beginning with approval of the prior meeting minutes and then hearing a presentation from North Dakota United on a statewide special education survey and retention rubric. Presenters described how the rubric and survey were developed from special educator input around four domains: paperwork and due process support, workload, student and staff safety, and paraprofessional management. They reported high levels of stress and burnout, including increased workload, difficulty taking prep and lunch time, concerns about mental health, and widespread difficulty filling special education positions. Committee members questioned the survey’s lack of a general-education comparison group, the interpretation of terms like “rarely” and “sometimes,” and whether results could be broken down further by district size, unit, or disability area. The survey results showed the weakest area was workload, with respondents reporting caseloads increasing without corresponding adjustments, little additional support or compensation when workloads rise, and few negotiated-agreement protections. Paperwork and due process also scored poorly, with many teachers saying they rarely receive dedicated time during the duty day, often work outside contract hours without compensation, and take work home on evenings and weekends. Student and staff safety scored somewhat better but still showed gaps in crisis follow-up, notification about violent behavior, protective gear, and leave options after incidents. Paraprofessional management also drew concern, especially low pay, insufficient staffing, limited administrative support, and the burden placed on teachers to supervise and train paras. Several teachers then testified directly about the practical impact of these issues. One special education teacher described the job as combining instruction, legal compliance, and paraprofessional supervision, often requiring work beyond contracted hours and contributing to burnout and turnover. Another testified that special education case managers are effectively doing three full-time jobs and that the paperwork and caseload demands are a major reason people avoid or leave the field. Committee members discussed whether the problems are primarily local or state-level, whether more funding would solve them, and whether changes to the funding formula or weighting for high-cost students might be needed. No formal vote or action was taken beyond a recess and return to order for the next presentation, which continued the discussion of possible special education study objectives and potential policy directions.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:13:08.680> member may have authority over a service member may have authority over a service
• <01:00:01.119> for impact aid for veteran services for impact aid for veteran services for
• consists of ourmes in Food Service consists of ourmes in Food Service Health<01:54:56.480> Care
• need Do's help to provide the services need Do's help to provide the services for<02:09:20.239><
• community and provided the services community and provided the services including<02:09:39.880><

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: At the joint hearing on SB 951 SD2, the committees heard testimony on a child protection measure requiring mandatory child abuse and neglect reports to include military status and to improve communication between DHS and the Department of Defense. The U.S. Department of Defense testified in support and described its coordinated community response process for abuse reports, saying the bill would help ensure child safety and better coordination with DHS. DHS was initially absent, later appeared, and said it supported the measure but was still working with DOD on implementation details and staff training. Members asked about how DHS becomes involved and whether there were gaps in the current process. The chair recommended passage with technical amendments, including changing the effective date to 7/1/25 and conforming related language, and both committees adopted the recommendation by vote. The Public Safety committee then heard SB 1377 SD2, which would create a Veterans Cemeteries Board within the Office of Veterans Services in the Department of Defense to provide guidance, education, and technical assistance to state veteran cemeteries. DOD supported the bill and explained that county-run cemeteries must meet National Cemetery Administration standards to remain eligible for federal reimbursements and grants; witnesses described past compliance problems at several cemeteries, including one still not compliant in Hilo, and said the board would help counties prepare for future site visits and improve oversight without taking over operations. Members asked about costs, reimbursement amounts, and whether the state would assume cemetery operations; DOD said the current reimbursement process runs through the state to the counties and that direct takeover would be costly. The committee adopted the chair’s recommendation to pass the bill with amendments. The committee also heard SB 1382, which would make intentionally or knowingly causing bodily injury to a National Guard member performing duty a class C felony. The Hawaii National Guard and HPD supported the bill, citing incidents during the Maui response where Guard members encountered noncompliant and sometimes physically confrontational individuals while assisting police and protecting impacted areas. Testimony emphasized that Guard members are often unarmed and should receive protections similar to first responders. One witness opposed the bill, but the committee moved forward and adopted the chair’s recommendation to pass with amendments. Finally, the committee took up SB 1379 SD2 on emergency preparedness and Community Readiness Centers. Hawaii Emergency Management supported the bill, and supporters said it would create a statewide framework for resilience hubs that can provide supplies, action plans, and refuge during disasters. Testimony highlighted recent hurricanes, wildfires, and other hazards, and argued the measure would complement existing county efforts rather than replace them. County of Hawaii testimony opposed the bill, raising concerns about overlap and cost, while members asked about estimated expenses and implementation. The discussion ended with questions about planning and whether the bill would enhance existing programs; no final vote was captured in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:15:39.959> will while the demand for services will while the demand for services will
• Chair. service is that Behavioral Healthcare service is that Behavioral Healthcare manage<00:31:54.039
• the Doctor Who is running that service the Doctor Who is running that service is<00:36:43.640>
• to the committee on human service to the committee on human service finance<00:41:26.800> and
• <00:41:41.640> thank are off to Human Services thank are off to Human Services thank you<00

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• way to States uh to support uh services way to States uh to support uh services and<01:03:26.880
• must provide safe and reliable service must provide safe and reliable service to<01:16:17.480>
• <01:21:41.280> quality in annual utility service quality in annual utility service quality
• allows us to maintain current service allows us to maintain current service levels<01:24:53.920>
• <01:32:21.880> to innovative ways to provide service to innovative ways to provide service

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• of the massage service.
• activity is part of the massage service. activity is part of the massage service.
• their services. their services.
• Fish and Wildlife Service.
• <02:05:17.800> On goods or services involved. On goods or services involved.

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Tuesday, March 10, 2026, 960, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened on March 10, 2026, established a quorum, and began with an invocation by Reverend Damien Flowers, which was journalized without objection. The chamber then recognized several guests and honorees, including Dr. Courtney Glickman for being named 2025 Play Therapist of the Year, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Dr. Sonja B. Santelises for her leadership of Baltimore City Public Schools, students shadowing legislators, Navy Alliance representatives, the Maryland Alliance for Advocacy for Sickle Cell, and Ms. Kimberly Body for her lupus advocacy. The Senate also journalized prior remarks about the 6888 regiment. The Finance Committee report then moved several bills forward. Senate Bill 348 would allow hospitals and freestanding birthing centers to contact, rather than only call, patients after high-risk pregnancies; its amendments were adopted and the bill was ordered to third reading. Senate Bill 390 on Wicomico County liquor licenses was laid over under the rule. Senate Bill 492, addressing massage therapy advertising and prohibiting misleading sexual-service advertising, was amended and sent to third reading. Senate Bill 562, concerning pharmacist-prescriber agreements for opioid use disorder treatment, was amended and advanced. Senate Bill 773 would let pharmacists order certain vaccines, including intranasal flu vaccines, for self-administration and was advanced without amendment. Senate Bill 53, on Maryland Port Administration land acquisition notice in Anne Arundel County, was amended and advanced. Senate Bill 428 would bar cost-sharing for collaborative care model services under Medicaid and private coverage and was advanced without amendment. Senate Bill 473 would require human trafficking awareness training for for-hire and transportation network drivers; its amendments were adopted and it was sent to third reading. Senate Bill 585 would shift administration of the human relevant research fund from Health to Agriculture and was advanced. Senate Bill 606, the Easy Pass Commuter Fairness and Transparency Act, would require an MDTA report on commuter plans and unused trips; its amendment was moved as the transcript ended. During debate on Senate Bill 917, which would expand the definition of audiology practice to include certain screenings and non-radiographic imaging, a senator questioned whether the bill would make Maryland the only state restricting a health occupation from performing Medicare-required screenings. The floor leader said the committee had heard that claim in testimony but had not verified it, and the senator moved to special order the bill for amendment, which was granted without objection. Most other bills were reported favorably, with committee amendments adopted without objection and several bills ordered printed for third reading.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services will now come to order.
• with ADRD as long as those services are optional and available. ...services to residents with ADRD as
• long as those services are optional and available to all residents of the facility.
• The budget reflects this committee's proposed health and human services budget.
• The budget reflects this committee's proposed health and human services budget.

Bills: S0042, S0196, S0878, S0902, S0914, S1092, S1168, S1340, S1404, S1414, S1684, S1686

Keywords: child protection, medical records, investigation, abuse, neglect, healthcare, Child Protection Team, diagnosis, uterine fibroids, health database, medical research, personal data protection, women's health, clinical laboratory, licensure, healthcare personnel, technologist, technician, medical marijuana, low-THC cannabis

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services met to hear and vote on a series of health, human services, and education-related bills, along with a presentation of the committee’s proposed HHS budget. The budget was described as increasing by more than $2.1 billion over the current base, with major funding highlighted for Medicaid and KidCare, rural health, provider rate increases, child welfare, mental health and substance use, opioid treatment, Alzheimer’s initiatives, cancer research, ADAP, veterans’ services, and IT modernization. Public testimony on the budget focused heavily on AIDS Drug Assistance Program funding and concerns about Department of Health changes affecting access, premium assistance, notice, and continuity of care for people living with HIV/AIDS. Among the bills reported favorably were measures on podiatric medicine and tissue-based products (SB 1092), background screening and clearinghouse procedures (SB 1168), child protective investigations involving specific medical diagnoses and second opinions (SB 42), clinical laboratory personnel licensure standards (SB 878), uterine fibroid data tracking and research (SB 196), medical marijuana treatment center oversight and related health provisions (SB 902), dyslexia and dyscalculia screening and intervention in schools (SB 1340), memory care licensure for assisted living facilities (SB 1404), congenital CMV education materials (SB 1414), Parkinson’s disease registry and related public records exemption bills (SB 1684 and SB 1686), and occupational therapy dry needling licensure standards (SB 914). Several bills were amended before passage, including SB 1092, SB 42, SB 902, SB 1684, and SB 1404. Testimony generally came from professional associations, advocacy groups, and affected stakeholders, with support voiced for most measures. The committee adopted amendments on the floor, heard no opposition during debate on the bills described, and then voted to report each measure favorably. At the end of the meeting, senators requested to be recorded in the affirmative on selected bills, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Right, Legislative health and human services.
• Um, additional topics may be, you know, drafting and legal research services, uh, maybe constituent services
• the way the, the memorial is written, it has to be directed from council service.
• You could direct, uh, council service to undertake this. Madam, uh, thank you, Mr. Speaker.
• So, it's my understanding that that's what the council service is going to do.

Transcript Highlights:

• WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT WE DO IN THE AREAS OF SERVICES AND CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN NEED OF SERVICES A
• AND I WAS CONTRACTING WITH SOMEONE WHO HAS THE HISTORY OF PROVIDING HIGH QUALITY EDUCATION SERVICE AND
• AND FLDS IS A CONTRACTED OPERATOR OF THE SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
• THE OTHER THINGS I WANT TO POINT OUT HERE ALL OF OUR KIDS THEY ARE GETTING ESC, ELL SERVICES.
• THEY GET THESE SKILLS AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE PROGRAMS WITH OUR SERVICES AND SUPPORTS.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:03:57.520> the services. Corporatization i.e. the services.
• development of medical services. development of medical services.
• . services. services.
• tax base, far in excess of the services tax base, far in excess of the services they<03:13:31.840
• dedication of our armed services members dedication of our armed services members and<04:23:38.159>

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This creates a lag in services.
• This specific services we provide.
• management and substance use services. management and substance use services.
• services and its septical services services and its septical services within<00:07:49.039> our
• lot of uh, parallel services available. lot of uh, parallel services available.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• One in seven children are eligible for services who actually receive those services.
• We received this one-time state funding that allowed us to enhance our service and put more service out
• We were looking at hourly service to now where we get 15-minute service.
• We were looking at hourly service to now where we get 15 minutes service.
• We were looking at hourly service, and now we get 15-minute service, and we're not dropping routes.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Summary: The committee heard several local government-related bills. AB 1578 by Assembly Member Jackson would require elected local and state officials to take anti-hate speech training through existing sexual harassment training. Supporters said hate rhetoric can embolden prejudice and officials should be accountable for their words; opponents argued the bill lacks a legal definition of hate speech and could chill protected speech. The chair indicated support, but no quorum was present at that point, so no vote was taken. AB 2083, also by Assembly Member Jackson, would authorize creation of a regional child care special district for Moreno Valley and Paris to expand child care programs and facilities. The author said the district would help underserved communities and support families with nontraditional work hours. The California Association of Local Agency Formation Commissions opposed the bill’s mechanism, though it said it supported the goal and had been working with the author. The bill was discussed without a final vote in the excerpt. AB 1783 by Assembly Member DeMaio would prohibit state and local mileage taxes and block state agencies from studying or advancing them. The author argued Californians already pay too much in gas and car taxes and that mileage taxes would burden drivers. Opponents, including the State Building and Construction Trades Council, Transportation California, NRDC, and others, said the state needs to study road user charges as a fairer replacement for declining gas tax revenue. After quorum was established, the committee voted 3-2 to pass and re-refer the bill to the Revenue and Taxation Committee, with the roll left open. The committee also advanced AB 1693 by Assembly Member Suber, which would streamline retail tenant improvement permits by allowing qualified professionals to certify plans and imposing review deadlines on local building departments. Support came from retail, business, property, and chamber groups, and there was no opposition. The committee voted 5-0 to pass and re-refer the bill to the Business and Professions Committee. AB 1679 by Assembly Member Gonzales would create a temporary commercial activation permit for pop-up businesses in vacant storefronts; supporters said it would help revive downtowns and reduce barriers for small businesses, while local government groups had no position. The committee approved it 7-0 and re-referred it to the Health Committee. AB 2418 by Assembly Member Gonzales would set timelines for nonresidential plan checks and allow private plan checkers after delays; business groups supported it, local government associations had no position, and the committee passed it 7-0 to the Judiciary Committee. The committee also heard AB 1820 by Assembly Member Schiavo, which would cap EV charger permit fees and allow higher fees only with written findings; supporters said it would reduce barriers to charger deployment, while cities and counties argued current fees reflect actual costs and that the bill would shift costs to local governments. The discussion was extensive, but no vote is shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• television service.
• service there telephone or television service there are<00:05:21.479> still<00:05:21.720>
• , so a provider sells telecommunication services, internet access, and video services all as part of
• a bundle, using the same network for telecommunications services and pay television.
• once you have internet access, those services are provided.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all