Transcript Highlights:

• Assembly Bill No. 467, introduced by Assemblymembers Roth et al. and Senator Wynn, revises provisions
• Assembly Bill No. 467, introduced by Assemblymembers Roth et al. and Senator Wynn, revises provisions
• Assembly Bill No. 414, introduced by Assemblymembers Moore et al. and Senators Flores et al., revises
• Assembly Bill No. 442, introduced by Assemblymembers Watts et al. and Senators Wynn et al., revises provisions
• Senate Bill No. 262, introduced by Senators Pazina et al. and Assemblymembers Marzola et al., revises

Keywords: 909, all

Transcript Highlights:

• > ALS.
• away from ALS. away from ALS.
• known cure for ALS. known cure for ALS.
• living with ALS. living with ALS.
• those living with ALS. those living with ALS.

Keywords: 981, all

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, approved the journal, and received committee and House messages on a large number of bills. Committee reports advanced several measures, including House Bill 1335 from Health and Human Services, House Bills 1281, 1315, and 1255 from Judiciary, House Bills 1345 and 1417 and Senate Bill 139 from Education, Senate Bill 192 from Transportation and Energy, and a number of Appropriations recommendations. The chamber also received House-passed and revisor-transmitted bills, and later laid over the special-order second reading calendar until later in the day. A major floor action was adoption of Senate Resolution 26-009, which proclaimed May 2026 as ALS Awareness Month. The resolution described ALS as a fatal neurodegenerative disease, highlighted the need for research, multidisciplinary care, and support for patients and caregivers, and recognized Colorado ALS advocates and medical professionals. Senators spoke personally about the disease’s impact, including the minority leader’s remarks about his mother’s death from ALS. The resolution passed 35-0, and the current roll call was added as co-sponsors. The Senate then took up third-reading consent calendar bills and passed Senate Bill 186, Senate Bill 188, House Bill 1420, House Bill 1341, House Bill 1015, and House Bill 1423, with recorded no votes on Senate Bill 188 and House Bill 1015. Senate Bill 191, concerning gifts, grants, and donations for nursing-facility reimbursement, was amended on third reading to correct reporting language and then passed 32-3. Senate Bill 125, which would codify disability-rights protections in public schools in response to reduced federal enforcement capacity, generated debate over state responsibility and passed 24-11. Senate Bill 187, creating a commission to study Medicaid and adding managed care entities as stakeholders, passed 31-4 after supporters cited rising Medicaid costs, fraud concerns, and data problems. Senate Bill 189, concerning automated decision-making technology and consequential decisions, was introduced and discussed as an AI-regulation measure, but no final action is shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• ALEs.
• Next is the green line showing the per-student spending on ALE, or program spending, from the ALE Categorical
• Similarly, this green line is showing the expenditures on ALEs from the ALE fund, which has also decreased
• choosing to provide ALEs?
• Those that are choosing to provide ALEs and also to transfer the categorical funds over to the ALEs,

Summary: The committee first approved the March 9 and 10 minutes, then heard a presentation from the Arkansas Excellence in Teaching Fellowship Program featuring three third-grade teachers from Poyen, Drew Central, and Cabot, along with Department of Education Secretary Jacob Oliva. The teachers described the fellowship as a year-long collaboration among 23 merit-pay recipients from across the state, focused on sharing classroom strategies, data use, and professional support. Members asked about teacher experience, how the fellowship information is shared locally, the role of merit pay, and how teachers are addressing third-grade reading and retention concerns under the ATLAS assessment system. The teachers emphasized early intervention, relationships with students, small-group instruction, progress monitoring, and communication with families; they also described community supports such as churches, food backpacks, and local donations. Several members raised broader questions about poverty, trauma, social services, DHS involvement, and whether similar professional learning should be expanded to more teachers. Secretary Oliva said the fellowship is a small subset of a larger merit-pay program, that participation was voluntary, and that the state is working to improve literacy supports, clarity, and alignment across grades. He also said ATLAS results are now available to schools and families much faster than in the past, often within 24 to 72 hours, and that the state is using the data to identify at-risk students earlier and support intervention before retention decisions are made. The committee then moved to the adequacy/resource allocation presentation from the Bureau of Legislative Research. Staff explained that the report is part of the statutory adequacy review and focuses on state funding sources beyond foundation aid, including categorical and supplemental funds. They noted that districts and charters spent more than $7 billion in the 2025 school year, with roughly 49% from foundation funding and 51% from other sources over the last three years. The presentation outlined the four categorical funds—Alternative Learning Environment, English Learners, Enhanced Student Achievement, and Professional Development—describing their restricted uses, student-based funding formulas, and the ability of districts to transfer some money among categoricals while keeping it within allowable purposes. Staff said categorical funds account for about 4% of total spending, or less than $300 million, and reviewed superintendent feedback on whether those funds met district needs, with responses varying by category and district.

Transcript Highlights:

• ALEs.
• Next is the green line showing the per student spending on ALE or program spending from the ALE categorical
• Similarly, this green line is showing the expenditures on ALEs from the ALE fund, which has also decreased
• The ALE fund has been spent on ALE for the last three years, and finally that top line again is total
• provide ALEs, those that are choosing to provide ALEs and also to transfer the categorical funds over

Summary: The committee approved the March 9 and 10 minutes and then heard a presentation from the Arkansas Department of Education on the Arkansas Excellence in Teaching Fellowship, featuring three third-grade teachers from Cabot, Poyen, and Drew Central who are also teacher merit pay recipients. The teachers described the fellowship as a year-long Zoom-based collaboration with about 23 educators statewide, focused on sharing classroom strategies, data use, and professional support. Members asked about the teachers’ experience, how they share what they learn with their districts, the range of grades represented in the fellowship, and the relationship between the fellowship and merit pay. The teachers emphasized building relationships with students, using data to drive instruction, early intervention, and collaboration across grade levels, while the secretary said the program is intended to identify and elevate high-performing teachers and spread their practices. A major portion of the discussion focused on third-grade reading, retention, and the new ATLAS testing system. Teachers and the secretary said students are screened and progress monitored throughout the year, families are notified early if students are at risk, and schools are using interventions, tutoring, and individualized reading plans. They said ATLAS results are now available much faster than in the past, often within 24 hours or a few days, allowing teachers and parents to respond quickly. Members asked about the impact of poverty, trauma, foster care, DHS involvement, IEPs, and critical shortage areas; teachers said relationship-building, small-group instruction, and coordination with counselors and special education staff are key. The secretary said the fellowship is a small subset of a broader merit pay program, that participation was voluntary, and that the state is trying to build a coherent system with literacy coaches, high-impact tutoring, and clearer standards rather than teaching to the test. Members also discussed broader policy issues, including the need for more positive public messaging about public education, teacher input in decision-making, and support for early childhood education. Several legislators asked whether the state should expand funding for early learning and whether more literacy or academic coaches are needed in districts that improve and then lose eligibility for state support. The secretary said the state has committed literacy coaches to D and F schools and is still working through how to sustain support as schools improve. He also said the administration would look at data and return on investment before supporting additional funding, and he encouraged legislators to help recruit eligible teachers into future fellowship cohorts. After the teacher panel concluded, the committee moved on to the adequacy resource allocation study, where Bureau of Legislative Research staff began a presentation on state and local education funding sources, categorical funds, and district spending patterns.

Transcript Highlights:

• ALEs.
• Similarly, this green line is showing the expenditures on ALEs from the ALE fund.
• ALE.
• choosing to provide ALEs?
• Those that are choosing to provide ALEs and also to transfer the categorical funds over to the ALEs,

Keywords: 1204, all

Summary: The Senate and House Education Committee approved the March 9 and 10 minutes and then heard a presentation on the Arkansas Excellence in Teaching Fellowship Program from Department of Education staff and three third-grade teachers from Cabot, Poyen, and Drew Central. The teachers described the year-long fellowship for high-performing merit pay recipients, saying it provided collaboration with educators across the state, shared resources, and ideas they brought back to their districts. Members asked about the teachers’ experience levels, how they shared information locally, and whether the program should be expanded to more teachers and districts. A major focus of the discussion was third-grade reading, the new ATLAS testing system, and the state’s third-grade retention law. The teachers said they do not teach to the test, but use standards, data, interventions, small groups, and relationships to help students grow. They described progress monitoring throughout the year, early screening in K-2, and interventions such as before-school tutoring, RTI meetings, and co-teaching. One teacher reported that six students in a small group improved 10 to 15 points on ATLAS, and another said a student who started the year reading four words per minute improved significantly with targeted support. Secretary Jacob Oliva said the state is trying to create clarity and alignment through Arkansas Learns, science-of-reading support, literacy coaches, and faster test-result turnaround, with student scores now available within about 24 hours and district-level results expected later in the summer. Members also asked about student poverty, trauma, ACEs, DHS involvement, social workers, community supports, and the role of counselors. The teachers emphasized that relationship-building is essential, especially for students facing unstable home situations, and described local supports such as backpack food programs, church donations, fire department incentives, and family assistance. Oliva said the fellowship was intentionally small in its first year because it targeted top-tier merit pay recipients, but he expects participation to grow. He also said merit pay and fellowship eligibility spans many grade levels and subjects, including kindergarten and hard-to-staff areas, and that D and F schools receive state literacy coaches. No additional committee votes or formal actions were taken beyond approving the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• On behalf of approximately— 5,000 Texans living with ALS.
• My name is Yassar Hussain, I'm a neurologist and an expert in ALS.
• Also, I'm the director of the ALS Clinic based here in Austin.
• I've done the ALS book, but Maury has ALS. And it's so great, I'm sorry. Don't worry about that.
• The expenses that someone under 65 has to deal with ALS...

Bills: HB1464, HB1635, HB2516, HB3317, HB3502, HB4012, HB4268, HB4386, HB4877, SB916

Keywords: prescription drugs, drug pricing, pharmacy benefits, health insurance, health benefit plan, insurer, HMO, self-insured employer, public employer, school district, county, municipality, university system, higher education, retirees, dependent coverage, stop-loss coverage, bulk purchasing, group purchasing, purchasing pool

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a neurologist and expert in ALS.
• There is another ALS book. Memorial has ALS and it's so great. I. Don't worry about that.
• ALS has two nicknames. Lou Gehrites.
• People with ALS don't have time.
• The expenses that someone under 65 has to deal with ALS.

Transcript Highlights:

• And why this is so important to me is that, if you don't know, my mom had ALS.
• We all know what happens when people living with ALS are given that diagnosis.
• And at that point, her life crumbled, our life changed forever. ...of ALS.
• There is no cure for ALS.
• So, we currently serve at the ALS Association about 400 people.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several aging-related bills, with most speakers focusing on housing stability, home-based services, and care transitions. Representative Badger and a commissioner testified in support of H4039, which would create a universal breakfast and lunch program at senior centers funded through a new Senior Breakfast and Lunch Fund, arguing it would reduce food insecurity and social isolation among older adults. Representative Lipper-Garabedian and multiple providers then supported H780/S495, the hospital-to-home partnership program, describing how embedded aging-services liaisons help older patients transition safely from hospitals to home, reduce readmissions, and avoid nursing facility placement; witnesses from Mystic Valley Elder Services and Mass Aging Access cited pilot results, including hundreds of patients served and examples of substantial cost savings and successful discharge planning. The committee also took testimony on S478, which would require continuing care retirement communities to disclose entrance-fee refund policies more clearly at enrollment. Senator Lovely and LeadingAge Massachusetts said the bill would improve transparency for residents and families, while a consumer witness said her family experienced delays and confusion in getting a refund after her mother left a CCRC. Members noted the issue is also being examined by a special commission on CCRCs. A large portion of the hearing focused on S475, a statewide bridge subsidy program for older adults facing housing instability. Advocates from the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless, Western Massachusetts, Somerville, Northampton, East Hampton, Old Colony Elder Services, and Somerville’s Office of Housing Stability described rising senior homelessness, long waitlists for subsidized housing, and cases where short-term rental assistance kept older adults housed while they waited for permanent housing. Somerville witnesses said the pilot program helped nine households remain housed and that some participants have since moved into permanent housing. Members asked about wait times, program design, and how to prioritize applicants; witnesses emphasized flexibility, emergency risk, and the need for a statewide expansion. The hearing also included testimony on S465, an ALS bill that would expand home care access regardless of age and bar the use of quality-adjusted life-year metrics in coverage decisions, with the sponsor and ALS Association arguing the measure would reduce discriminatory treatment and better center patient care. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Britton Senator please Senator Al Britton Senator please Senator Al Britton Senator Carley Senator Coleman
• Al Al Britton Senator Britton Senator Britton Senator Carley Senator Coleman Senator gudger Carley Senator
• Britt what is the the store question Al Britt what is the the store question Al Britt what is the the
• one Senator Al one Senator Al Britton Senator Britton Senator Britton Senator Carley Senator Coleman
• Britton a second by motion by Senator Al Britton a second by motion by Senator Al Britton a second by

Bills: SB82, SB78, SB4, SB6, SB62, SB66, SB77, SB63, SB79, SB53, SB55, HB14

Keywords: SB82, warrant recall, outstanding warrants, stale warrants, misdemeanor warrants, Class B misdemeanor, Class C misdemeanor, municipal magistrate, circuit court clerk, criminal procedure, court administration, docket cleanup, warrant audit, law enforcement notification, domestic violence, sex offense, weapons offense, deadly weapon, dangerous instrument, felony-related charges

Transcript Highlights:

• I just hate Al-Qaeda.
• As Jake Sullivan said to Hillary Clinton, "Al-Qaeda is on our side in Syria."
• , which is al-Qaeda's element there within East Africa.
• specifically was the biggest funder of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.
• al-Qaeda, our president Is supporting al-Qaeda.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm here today with ALS advocate Dante Tomasoni via Zoom and by the director of the ALS program at the
• Almost no progress has been made as to finding a cure for ALS.
• And that is the best way to help anyone who was ever diagnosed with ALS.
• Our ALS team is applying technology developed at the university to advance ALS research in the brain,
• ALS research and care for Minnesotans.

Transcript Highlights:

• With ALS, you lose the ability... ...to walk, talk, eat, and eventually breathe.
• Because the care of an ALS patient—ALS patients have a motor neuron disease...
• ALS patients live, on average, two to five years from when they are diagnosed.
• ALS takes away a person's ability to walk, talk, eat, and breathe.
• For Texans with ALS, it's a lifeline.

Bills: HB107, HB742, HB1639, HB1700, HB2071, HB2187, HB2402, HB2516, HB3211, HB4529, HB5342, HB694, HB923, HB4655, HB107

Keywords: sickle cell disease, registry, health data, confidentiality, healthcare access, human trafficking, first responders, health care, training, reporting, protection, cancer, female firefighters, health study, state health services, fire protection, telemedicine, teledentistry, telehealth, health records

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill No. 460, introduced by Senators Cannizzaro et al., revises provisions relating to education
• Senate Bill No. 207, introduced by Senator Taylor et al., requires the establishment of a program of
• Senate Bill No. 229, introduced by Senators Dondero Loop et al. and Assembly Members Wynn et al., revises
• Senate Bill No. 233, introduced by Senator Gurr et al., revises provisions relating to agriculture.
• Senate Bill No. 280, introduced by Senators Wynn et al. and Assembly Members Torres-Fossett et al., makes

Keywords: 909, all

Transcript Highlights:

• With ALS, you lose the ability to walk.
• Morrie has ALS. It is not about the ALS. It's a friendship and compassion. Compassion.
• ALS doesn't have the...
• Because the care of an ALS patient, ALS patients, it's a motor neuron disease, you lose the ability to
• For Texans with ALS, it's a lifeline.

Bills: HB 107, HB742, HB1639, HB1700, HB2071, HB2187, HB2402, HB2516, HB3211, HB4529, HB5342, HB694, HB923, HB4655

Keywords: sickle cell disease, registry, health data, confidentiality, healthcare access, human trafficking, first responders, health care, training, reporting, protection, cancer, female firefighters, health study, state health services, fire protection, telemedicine, teledentistry, telehealth, health records

Summary: The committee heard testimony on a series of health and human services bills and left each one pending after public testimony. HB 4655 would expand financial literacy instruction for youth aging out of foster care to include credit scores, predatory lending, scams, banking, budgeting, and related consumer topics; the sponsor and Buckner International described the need to protect foster youth from financial pitfalls. HB 923 would add three public members and one physician to the Texas Medical Disclosure Panel; supporters said it would improve informed consent and patient voice, while a witness raised concerns about a House amendment requiring a physician majority for decisions and senators questioned scope-of-practice limits. HHSC said the panel is an independent body and the bill expressly bars it from changing scope of practice.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have no clue how many ALS cases there are.
• the state of New Hampshire how many ALS the state of New Hampshire how many ALS patients<00:23:49.919
• They have an ALS clinic, or, well, that Dr.
• , just add another, um, like ALS, not CR?
• , just add another, um, like ALS, not CR?

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• She is escorted by Assemblymember Al Hawari.
• She is escorted by Assemblymember Al-Hawari.
• I ran this bill in honor of my mother who passed away from ALS 22 years ago.
• Lou Gehrig, I think many know that he died of ALS when it was really first diagnosed.
• But But there are many in addition to ALS, there's sickle cell anemia, spina bifida, Crohn's disease,

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• interning for Senator or and Senator Al interning for Senator or and Senator Al Brit attention salute
• roll Mr Al roll Mr Al Brittain Mr Bell Mr Bell Mr Butler Mr connley chamblas Mr chamblas Mr chestine
• Senator Al Senator Al Britton replace lines 59 through 60 on Britton replace lines 59 through 60 on
• Senator Al Senator Al Senator Al uh did you have a comment okay uh I Al uh did you have a comment okay
• Al Britton thank you and uh I Senator Al Britton thank you and uh I encourage members to U engage here

Bills: SJR 36, SJR 2, SB 4, SR 45, SR 47, SR 63, SR 66, SR 70, SR 85, SCR 14, SB 10, SB 11, SB 10, SB 11

Keywords: SJR 2, Senate Joint Resolution 2, constitutional amendment, homestead exemption, property tax relief, school property tax, ad valorem tax, residence homestead, school district taxes, Texas Constitution Article VIII, public school finance, homeowner exemption, elderly exemption, senior tax relief, disabled exemption, tax year 2025, voter approval, November 2025 ballot, local government, Ways & Means

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:03:30.159> as helping a lot of people through ALS as helping a lot of people through ALS
• Our ALS team is applying technology developed at the University to advance ALS research in the brain,
• ALS research and care for Minnesotans.
• The ALS team is applying technology developed at the University to advance ALS research in the brain,
• ALS research and care for Minnesotans.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• It was a request from Representative McDonald to talk a little bit about ALS and the ALS registry.
• It was a request from Representative McDonald to talk a little bit about ALS and the ALS registry.
• We should try to get the state to set up an ALS registry.
• We’ve all got on the and getting back to ALS.
• <00:36:42.839> is identified and identifiable ALS is identified and identifiable ALS is multi-stem

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Health and Human Services Oversight Committee met on February 2 and first approved the draft minutes from the prior meeting, with minor corrections to the meeting date and attendance notation. DHHS Associate Commissioner Patricia Tilly then gave a department update, describing the current uncertainty around federal priorities and funding, and provided two substantive reports: progress on the new Hampstead Youth Development Center and an update on the department’s review of an ALS registry proposal. She said the YDC project is underway with tree clearing, fencing, stormwater and site-prep work, and remains on track for completion by June 30, 2026 and operation by August 30, 2026. The center currently has 12 youth, and the new design is intended to provide flexibility for fluctuating census levels. On ALS, Tilly explained that HB 576 had prompted the department to examine whether a registry could be built, but the estimated cost of a HIPAA-compliant system was about $750,000. She said DHHS is reviewing whether existing data sources, such as hospital discharge data and CHIS claims data, could provide useful information, but noted both are incomplete for registry purposes. Committee members discussed whether the Rare Disease Advisory Council, Dartmouth, or existing cancer registry infrastructure could help reduce costs. DHHS said it is neutral and willing to continue exploring alternatives, while members emphasized the value of a registry and the need to consider shared infrastructure and funding. The committee also heard from Jenny Horan of the Alzheimer’s Association, who presented the subcommittee’s report on Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. She said the subcommittee spent the past year gathering information on dementia care, abuse and exploitation issues, caregiver strain, and available services, and is now moving into a second phase focused on identifying gaps and developing a state plan. Members asked about geriatric psychiatric capacity and long-term care availability; Horan said the state has limited capacity and that the plan will help clarify where needs are greatest. She offered to return for follow-up questions at a later meeting. Finally, Olivia May of DHHS presented the quarterly report on the 12-month postpartum Medicaid coverage extension. She said New Hampshire implemented the extension after federal and state action, and the first claims data are still emerging because of reporting lags. In the initial cohort studied, 95% received some medical services during the extended period, 52.4% received mental health or substance use disorder treatment, 26.7% received preventive visits, and 3.2% received heart or hypertension services. Members asked about return on investment and whether higher federal matching rates are being used appropriately; DHHS said it claims the highest possible match based on eligibility group and will return with more data over time. The committee then heard the annual therapeutic cannabis program report from Michael Holt, who said the program had 1,475 registered patients as of June 30, 2024 and that growth has slowed, with New Hampshire having the lowest per-capita medical cannabis enrollment nationally.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Al... ...people's lives have been ruined.
• Senator Al Brittain, thank you for the recognition, Mr. Chair.
• Senator Al... Senator Carley Coleman, Hi.
• by Senator Al Britt.
• Senator Al Britt and second on that... ...Senator Al Britt and second on that.

Bills: SB76, SB35, SB116, SB119, SB118, SB129, SB32, SB31, SB115, SB75, HB27, HB40

Keywords: jury duty, nursing mothers, exemption, legal rights, parental responsibilities, sexual extortion, criminal law, felony, threat, blackmail, SB116, machine gun conversion devices, switches, pistol conversion device, auto sear, firearm accessories, machine gun, automatic weapon, semiautomatic pistol, gun control