Transcript Highlights:

• It's refreshing to hear somebody who wants to do health care and not sick care.
• Complete dental care and right?
• Okay. $40 million a day on sugary drinks. And if you add candy, that's $68 million a day.
• </c> you add candy, that's $68 million a day. you add candy, that's $68 million a day.
• I think there may be a third pillar here, and that being no care. No care.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The task force met for its third meeting, approved the minutes, and heard testimony from Dr. Jack on behalf of the American Beverage Association and Kentucky Beverage Association. Dr. Jack argued that the “totality of the science” supports low- and no-calorie sweeteners as safe and useful tools for reducing sugar and calories, citing FDA and other domestic and international reviews, clinical trials, and the FDA’s recent healthy-label rule. He also described the industry’s transparency efforts, including a “Good to Know” database compiling ingredient and safety information, and said the beverage industry has voluntarily worked to offer more choices with less sugar. Members questioned him about whether beverage ingredients are restricted in other countries, possible health effects beyond weight and cancer, concerns about metabolic issues and gut microbiome effects, whether sweeteners are addictive, and why companies do not simply remove sweeteners. Dr. Jack responded that most ingredients are permitted in many jurisdictions, that broad food-safety reviews have looked at multiple endpoints and found the ingredients safe, that the gut microbiome is still being studied, and that recent clinical evidence does not show increased sweetness preference. He also said business decisions about formulations are up to companies and noted that cane sugar and high-fructose corn syrup are metabolically similar. The committee also discussed consumer apps and ingredient-scoring tools; Dr. Jack said the industry’s website presents facts without interpretation and is based on food-safety agency assessments. At the end of his testimony, the chair accepted additional fact sheets for the committee. The meeting then moved on to introduce Dr. Gary Huber, who began testimony by emphasizing integrative medicine, metabolic syndrome, and the role of diet, exercise, sleep, and stress in health, but his full presentation was not included in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• I know we had a hard day yesterday. I'm surprised even showed up.
• Again, this is a valuable service that doesn't impact access to care.
• They're working through implementing managed care, which we told them to do last year.
• Okay, committee, we are done for the day. Thank you for the two days of hard work.
• We are done for the day. Thank you for the two days of hard work.

Summary: The Senate Health and Welfare Committee first approved the March 4 and March 5, 2026 minutes, then heard House Bill 935, which would consolidate the Board of Denturity into the Board of Dentistry as part of occupational licensing reform. Senator Lakey said the merger would create efficiencies, reduce costs, and help address the denturist board’s ongoing deficit, while preserving separate scopes of practice and giving denturists a seat on the combined board. Supporters from the Idaho State Dental Association and DOPL-backed testimony said the change would maintain public protection and lower fees; denturists and their association opposed the bill, arguing it creates a conflict of interest, could allow competitors to influence education and licensing standards, and could threaten access and patient choice. After debate, the committee adopted a motion to send HB 935 to the floor with a due pass recommendation by a 4-3 roll call vote. The committee then took up House Bill 913, which would begin implementing the federal Medicaid work/community engagement requirements for able-bodied adults ahead of the January 1, 2027 deadline. The bill proposed a three-month look-back period and a process intended to give enrollees notice and time to comply before the federal requirement takes effect. The sponsor argued this would help the state prepare budgets, spread out redeterminations, and give people time to meet the requirements; supporters said it would encourage work and independence. Hospital, children’s advocacy, and other opponents warned that the three-month look-back would add administrative burden, increase costs, and risk erroneous coverage losses, with some urging a one-month look-back instead. After a failed substitute motion to send the bill to the 14th order for possible amendments, the committee voted to send HB 913 to the floor with a due pass recommendation and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> And now, on to the work of the day.
• LILLY DAY.
• BUT ALSO, WAS GOING TO GO ON TO That particular day, Mr.
• And ever since that day, Mr.
• WITH INTERVENING DAYS BEING LEGISLATIVE.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate met on May 6, 2026, approved the prior journal, and accepted a Rules Committee report advancing the government appropriations bill to third reading. The chamber then took up the tenth budget extender, which sponsor Senator Serrano said would keep state government operating through Monday, May 11 and contained $482 million in new spending, bringing the total across extenders to $20.3 billion. In questioning, Senator O’Mara and Senator Helming pressed Serrano for details on the reported $268 billion budget deal, policy outcomes, revenue raisers, and whether local governments, schools, and rural health programs would receive certainty; Serrano said final budget bills were not yet in print and declined to speculate on unresolved issues. The extender passed 60-1, with Senator Weik voting no. The Senate also adopted several previously adopted resolutions honoring the North Tonawanda High School girls varsity basketball team, the Tappan Zee High School girls basketball team, and SUNY student Chriss-Ann Pryce. Members praised the teams’ state championships and Pryce’s academic and leadership achievements through the Educational Opportunity Program. The chamber then returned to legislation and passed a bill designating May 9 as Overdose Awareness Day in New York; Senator Fernandez said it recognized the harm of overdose and the need to continue funding harm reduction and recovery services. Additional bills passed included a statewide domestic violence lethality assessment measure, with Senators Murray, Rolison, Webb, and Ramos describing it as a tool to identify dangerous situations and prevent fatalities; a mental health insurance bill limiting step therapy/prior authorization for serious mental health medications, supported by Senator Fahy; and measures on education, real property tax, election law, general business law, kitchen incubator economic impacts, public buildings, state finance, and mental hygiene. Several bills drew recorded opposition, including the real property tax bill and the election law and general business law measures. The Senate concluded by adjourning until Monday, May 11 at 3:00 p.m., with intervening days designated legislative.

Transcript Highlights:

• Those people still need health care.
• They'll likely seek less preventative care, and that will hurt health care providers, especially those
• For decades, the largest bills for most families—housing, child care, health care, education—have all
• </c> self-care routine that keeps me sane. self-care routine that keeps me sane.
• I care very deeply about that.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> up our home health care up our home health care assistance<00:18:35.080><c> uh</c><00:18:35.320>
• </c><00:34:00.320><c> of</c><00:34:00.480><c> a</c> 10 days of a 10 days of a diagnosis<00:34:02.679>
• I teach newborn care.
• I work every day on that.
• of care.

Committee: House Health, Human Services & Elderly Affairs

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> given the same that appropriate care. given the same that appropriate care.
• Start the day.
• We rely in our health care on problem-focused care.
• health care on problem health care on problem focused<03:45:33.800><c> care.
• </c> care. We're the lifer state. Great. care. We're the lifer state. Great.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I must say it feels a little bit like Groundhog Day up here.
• Food, clean water, electricity, and medical care have been systematically cut off.
• He carried that understanding with him every day, and it guided his work in Congress.
• Standing with him every day, and it guided his work in Congress.
• He carried that understanding with him every day, and it guided his work in Congress.

Summary: The Assembly met in session, established a quorum, and dispensed with the reading of the previous day’s journal. Members handled routine procedural motions, including permission for guest seating and adjournment-in-memory remarks. A motion by Assemblymember Tangipa to suspend the rules so ACA 12, described as preventing double taxation on roads, could be taken up without reference to file failed on a roll call vote of 17 ayes to 46 noes. The floor then featured several guest introductions and recognitions. Assemblymember Elhawary honored Los Angeles Trade Technical College on its centennial, highlighting its role in accessible education, workforce training, and reentry programs. Assemblymember Addis recognized Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and Cal Poly Maritime for Cal Poly’s 125th anniversary and its students and leadership. Assemblymember Haney welcomed representatives from Heel Palestine and six children from Gaza receiving medical care in California, describing the organization’s humanitarian work and the children’s resilience. The remainder of the session was devoted to adjournment-in-memory tributes. Members honored former Congressman Doug LaMalfa, emphasizing his long public service, rural advocacy, and work on agriculture, water, wildfire prevention, and local representation. The Assembly also remembered Alan Stewart Hammond IV for his civil rights and media policy work, and Rob and Michelle Reiner for their contributions to early childhood programs, equality, and public service. The House then adopted the adjournment motion and recessed until Thursday, February 5 at 9 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are in the very last day of the Revenue Stabilization and Tax Policy Committee.
• The Gulf War began a few days after the legislature convened.
• Saturday morning and was passed at noon that day.
• Do that all day long. I don't care.
• But at the end of the day, it adds up to whatever it adds up to.

Summary: The committee’s final day focused first on a historical overview of New Mexico tax packages by Pam Stokes of Legislative Council Services. She described how tax packages have alternated over the decades between tax relief, revenue raising, and tax reform, with examples ranging from the creation of the gross receipts tax in 1966 to major packages in 1981, 1986, 1991, 1994, 2005, 2019, 2022, 2024, and the vetoed 2025 package. Members discussed how tax policy often tracks revenue conditions, how packages can combine increases and decreases, and how local government gross receipts taxes and hold-harmless distributions have affected communities differently. Several members reflected on past packages, especially the 2004 food tax repeal and the 2013 film tax and manufacturing changes, and noted that tax policy can have major economic and political effects even when it is not “sexy” legislation. The committee then heard a proposal to expand the health care practitioner gross receipts tax deduction to include co-insurance, and to extend the sunset date. Sponsor Senator Figueroa said the bill was intended to help recruit and retain medical providers and build on prior deductions for co-pays and deductibles. Testimony explained that co-insurance is the patient’s share after the deductible, that providers currently absorb the gross receipts tax on those payments, and that the proposal would cost about $30 million to the state plus about $20 million to municipalities and counties, with the exact fiscal impact likely to be updated. Members raised concerns about the effect on local governments, whether insurers could be required to reimburse providers, whether the bill would actually attract doctors, and whether better evaluation measures and sunsets should be added. The sponsor said the bill was part of a broader set of efforts to address provider shortages and that the discussion would continue. Representative McQueen then presented a bill to update the Land Conservation Incentives Act. He and conservation partners said the program has protected more than 500,000 acres but has not kept pace with rising land values, especially for irrigated agricultural land in the Middle Rio Grande. The proposal would increase the percentage of conservation value eligible for the credit, raise the per-transaction cap from $250,000 to $2 million, and make the credit refundable rather than only transferable. Testimony emphasized that the program is voluntary, keeps land in private ownership and production, and helps land-rich, cash-poor landowners preserve farmland and water rights. Members asked about average credit amounts, how easements work, whether landowners could effectively buy land and then use the credit, and whether there should be inflation indexing or a statewide cap. The discussion also touched on water rights, fencing, and the role of conservation easements in protecting agricultural land and compact water deliveries. Finally, Senator Sharer previewed his 2% tax proposal with a historical presentation on New Mexico tax law, using props to illustrate the evolution from early territorial tax codes to the modern tax system. He argued that the state’s current tax structure is overly complex and that recent federal changes have disrupted the personal income tax base. The committee did not take any votes on the day’s presentations; the meeting was primarily informational, with members offering feedback and raising policy concerns for future sessions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Speaker, the day illness Mr.
• </c> 8:00 on that day?" And he had a record. 8:00 on that day?"
• I don't care if it's 18 of day again.
• I don't care if it's life. They years. I don't care if it's life.
• </c> disciplinary primary care workforce. disciplinary primary care workforce.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I care. The majority of contraband comes from staff.
• Okay, and we have you down as the Texas Women's Health Care Coalition.
• Chairman, may I present from the dais? You may. Wonderful. Thank you.
• And enhances safety within the essential health care services.
• Every day, they should have some kind of therapy.

Bills: HB1826 , HB1969 , HB2708 , HB2729 , HB3618 , HB4515 , HB4764 , SB1021 , SB1610

Committee: House Corrections

Keywords: mental health, women's health, county jail, depression screening, criminal justice, inmate release, identification certificate, Texas Department of Corrections, personal identification, driver's license, state law, reentry services, nondisclosure, criminal history, criminal defendants, community supervision, misdemeanors, felonies, rehabilitation, hearsay

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, first up we have to primary care.
• </c><00:27:36.720><c> because</c> bill, I would really be careful because bill, I would really be careful
• Mike Wen of Aloha Care in support.
• same day.
• So, there's a potential for same day.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee first heard SB 888, which would bar operators of smart household security devices from sharing user data with law enforcement unless the user consents or police obtain a warrant. DCCA’s Office of Consumer Protection offered comments and Judiciary submitted written support. Several individuals also submitted written support. The committee recommended passage with amendments clarifying that the Office of Consumer Protection may enforce violations and adopting Judiciary’s recommended changes, while also deferring the effective date to July 1, 2050. The motion passed unanimously among members present, with one senator excused. The committee then took up SB 2777 on insurance disclosures. The bill would require authorized insurers to disclose claim-handling data to consumers, including claims open at the start of a period, closed with payment, closed without payment, and open at the end of the period. The committee described amendments to clarify the bill, remove a requirement for the DCCA insurance division to handle publication, and defer the effective date to July 1, 2050. The measure was passed with amendments and the recommendation was adopted, with one member voting no and another excused. In a joint Commerce and Consumer Protection/Judiciary hearing on SP2738 relating to tax haven abuse, the Department of Taxation offered comments and the Tax Foundation testified in opposition, arguing the state should rely on IRS audits and existing worldwide reporting rules rather than create a separate state approach. Other written testimony was noted in both support and opposition. The committees recommended passage with amendments adopting Taxation’s technical changes and deferring the effective date to July 1, 2050; the recommendation was adopted, with one senator noting reservations. The joint hearing then moved to health-related bills, including SB 2690 on primary care spending, SB 3103 on energy assistance, SB 3137 on Department of Health authority over food, drugs, and cosmetics, SB 3164 on child welfare service organizations, and SB 3206 on cannabinoids. SB 2690 drew strong support from physicians and advocates who said it would address primary care shortages, especially on neighbor islands, while HMSA and others warned a fixed spending percentage could raise costs and suggested a working group. SB 3164 drew support from child welfare providers and opposition from the Attorney General over indemnification language, and SB 3206 drew mixed testimony: state agencies raised federal-law and vagueness concerns, while hemp and cannabis advocates and some farmers supported the measure and urged broader legalization or amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• But just seeing him day in and day out being able to balance the demanding coursework that he has at
• Day-to-day duties. And with that, I would take questions. Discussion, the lady from St.
• A wise individual told me long ago that if you win every day, the last day is really easy, and that's
• Did you know that 42% of women who've left the workforce last year did so because of child care and caring
• Women need this child care ability, this ability to use our funds, our campaign funds for child care.

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and approval of the prior day’s journal by a 129-0 vote. Members then used points of personal privilege to recognize Law Enforcement Week, discuss personal health and family matters, and honor colleagues, spouses, interns, and guests in the gallery, including students, community members, and a visiting governor from Uzbekistan. The chamber also received Senate messages on House Bill 1871 and House Bill 2818, and fiscal review committee reports recommending passage of several deferred bills, including Senate Bills 953, 1470, and 1871, and House Bill 1940. The House agreed to conference requests on Senate Bills 835 and 1111 and on Senate Bill 1020, the latter a Department of Revenue bill focused on customer service and inspection language. Senate Bill 977 and 1011, dealing with limits on international organizations and foreign law, drew extended debate. Supporters argued the bill would protect Missouri from foreign or international mandates and foreign laws that conflict with constitutional rights, while opponents said such bodies already lack authority in Missouri and warned the bill was unnecessary, politically motivated, and could create problems for forum non conveniens and private arbitration. The bill ultimately passed 99-45. House Bill 1470, revising legislative research and statutory publication procedures, was amended on the floor to remove privacy-sensitive provisions and change a state auditor duty from mandatory to permissive; a later amendment to alter committee composition was defeated 50-94. The bill then passed 148-1. House Bill 1940, the newspaper/public notice bill, was adopted and finally passed 142-1 with two present. House Bill 1871, an elections administration bill, was also taken up with debate over added Senate language, including campaign finance and election testing provisions; discussion continued near the end of the transcript, with no final vote shown before the excerpt ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, a healthc care provider. wording. Uh, a healthc care provider.
• And we have long days here.
• </c> want to be clear, it's not every day. want to be clear, it's not every day.
• . care. care.
• What should be just a day of us, you know, focused on their care and their well-being.

Committee: House Judiciary

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to day.
• We're not in a rainy day.
• We're not in a rainy day.
• We're not in a rainy day.
• We're not in a rainy day.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And then, with the target audience, what could be a problem they're facing day to day when they're riding
• And then, with the target audience, what could be a problem they're facing day to day when they're riding
• And so I'm being careful there.
• So we have to be careful.
• For example, health care courses can be taught in person two days a week at one institution, and three

Committee: Joint Higher Education Institutions Committee

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And I worry every day about my black sons every single day.
• And it isn't that I don't care. It isn't that I don't care.
• to care.
• to care.
• It's been a long day. day.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Medicaid-funded health care.
• A merit-based health care system strengthens trust.
• At its foundation, health care is about providing the highest quality care to every patient, and that
• excellence, fairness, and patient care.
• It does not interfere with legitimate patient care.

Committee: House Business

Summary: The committee first approved the February 11 minutes, then unanimously sent House Bill 721 to the floor with a due pass recommendation. HB 721, sponsored by Representative Crane, expands an existing 30-day initial plan review timeline from public school projects to all public works projects. Crane and supporters from the Idaho Associated General Contractors said the bill would improve efficiency, reduce regulatory burden, and let projects go to bid sooner; no opposition testified. The committee then heard extensive testimony on House Bill 618, a wildfire insurance transparency bill sponsored by Representatives Sauter and Church. The bill would require insurers using wildfire or catastrophe models to disclose certain risk-model information and mitigation-related details to policyholders and to the Department of Insurance, with annual data collection and website posting. Sponsors and several homeowners and fire-related witnesses said the measure would help consumers understand nonrenewals, appeal ratings, and learn what mitigation steps matter; opponents, including the American Property Casualty Insurance Association and some committee members, argued it could expose proprietary information, increase compliance costs, and raise premiums. After debate, the committee rejected a motion to send the bill forward and instead voted to hold HB 618 in committee. House Bill 817, sponsored by Representative Petsky, was then advanced to the floor with a due pass recommendation. The bill would allow mobile cigar-event businesses and related “cigar garden” operations under tobacco permitting rules, with age restrictions and compliance checks still in place. Supporters described it as a small-business and entrepreneurship update, while opponents worried mobile retail would make tobacco compliance enforcement harder; the sponsor said the Department of Health and Welfare believed enforcement could still work. Finally, the committee began hearing House Bill 801 from Representative Redman, which would ease land-use barriers for faith-based organizations to develop housing and related uses on religious land. Redman said the bill is intended to help churches use underutilized land for attainable housing and services, while preserving guardrails such as setbacks from heavy industrial uses, airports, and military zones. Members raised concerns about parking, building height, setbacks, and airport rules, and Redman said he was open to amendments; the transcript ends during that discussion before any final action on HB 801.

Transcript Highlights:

• One of them is a quality care oversight by the department.
• During my time in residential care, I spent multiple months at various placements.
• I know that is not the outcome of safe, effective care.
• So oversight of residential care facilities, I thought it might include fraud.
• just gives them better continuity of care.

Committee: Senate Health and Welfare

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• or 60 to 90 days, right?
• or 60 to 90 days, right?
• or 60 to 90 days, right?
• or 60 to 90 days, right?
• or 60 to 90 days, right?

Committee: House Public Safety

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Public Safety Committee held a hearing on House Bill 433, which would appropriate $4 million for Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation re-entry services to connect offenders with community-based services. Director Tommy Johnson said the department supports the bill’s intent but noted the governor’s executive budget already includes $4 million for the same purpose and asked that the measure defer to that budget. Supporters, including the Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission, Community Alliance on Prisons, and the ACLU, backed the funding but urged that it be tied to a clear re-entry plan, performance measures, transparency, and regular reporting to the legislature. They emphasized that re-entry should begin at intake and involve community partnerships, housing, treatment, employment, and family reunification services. Committee members questioned the department about current re-entry services, pre-trial detainees, and how the new funds would be used. Johnson said the department’s current statewide re-entry budget is about $1.5 million to $1.7 million, separate from the larger Corrections Program Services Division budget for in-facility programs. He described the proposed $4 million as supporting a mix of services, including a pilot apprenticeship program, substance abuse treatment, navigator or warm-handoff services, and short-term transitional housing. He also said the department already tracks performance outcomes in its annual report and can provide a matrix showing the intake-to-discharge process, program contracts, and volunteer organizations. The discussion also covered pre-trial detainees, electronic monitoring, and mental health services. Johnson said the department has limited jurisdiction over pre-trial detainees but works with courts to seek supervised release when possible; he noted that many requests are denied, though electronic monitoring has improved release rates somewhat. On mental health, he said the jail is not an ideal therapeutic setting for people found unfit to proceed and suggested a secure community-based step-down facility run by the Department of Health for those needing care above what the jail can provide but below forensic-level treatment. No vote or final action on the bill was taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, first is RS 33263, Dental Health Care Services.
• child to a health care facility; 3) make reasonable efforts to obtain care; or face medically complex
• So this is defining an alternative type of health care outside of traditional allopathic health care
• They still are seeking health care from a licensed health care provider in the community.
• We're not defining a specific type of health care and alternative health care.

Summary: The Health and Welfare Committee approved the February 13 minutes and then considered three RS drafts. RS 33263, by Rep. Dori Healy, would require annual reporting of dental loss ratios to increase transparency in dental insurance; it was introduced without objection. RS 33042, by Rep. Lucas Kaler, would narrow the definition of medical neglect and create private causes of action for knowingly false reports involving children and vulnerable adults. Members raised concerns that the language could discourage reporting, be too broad regarding alternative care, and create a “get-out-of-jail-free” effect if a parent eventually sought care. After extended discussion, the committee took a roll call vote and the motion to introduce RS 33042 failed on a 7-7 tie. The committee then heard RS 33328 from Rep. John Vander Wada, addressing SNAP administration and related state costs under new federal guidance. He said the proposal would codify current practices and tighten administration, noting the state now bears a larger share of administrative costs. The committee moved to introduce the RS, and it passed by voice vote. The meeting then adjourned, with members noting there was no meeting scheduled for the next day.