Transcript Highlights:

• Let's get them into programs and programs and programs.
• to programs.
• , for the basic training program and the annual in-service training program.
• , for the basic training program and the annual in-service training program.
• We do not have this money for these programs in FY27. Not just the programs.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Ways and Means held its sixth public hearing on the Governor’s H-2 budget proposal for fiscal year 2026, focused on public safety and judiciary agencies, at the Foxborough Community Center. After opening remarks and local welcomes, the committee heard first from the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, led by Secretary Gina Kwan, who outlined a $1.72 billion budget, up $69.8 million from FY26. She said the proposal emphasizes core operations, readiness, and partnerships with municipalities, and highlighted work on firearms-law implementation, State Police reform, DOC reentry efforts, hate-crimes prevention, emergency response, and planning for major events including the World Cup. Members also raised concerns about DNA backlog reporting, State Police academy boxing and training standards, ICE communication, disaster relief funding, crime lab staffing, EMS placement, and diversity in public safety leadership. Several exchanges focused on specific operational issues. Secretary Kwan and her team said the State Police are tracking the influx of forensic work from local sheriffs, that the boxing program remains suspended pending an IACP review and likely will not return in its prior form, and that EOPS has no direct communication with ICE but supports law-enforcement coordination where appropriate. On disaster preparedness, officials said the new disaster relief fund is being developed with MEMA and A&F, currently capitalized at $14 million with another $14 million expected, though members urged a more permanent funding source. On the crime lab, staff said the roughly $4.5 million increase is intended to cover core operations and a structural funding gap rather than expand services. The secretary also said EOPS is not ready to absorb OEMS from DPH at this time, though she would keep an open mind. The committee then heard from district attorneys, led by Suffolk County DA Kevin Hayden, who said the Massachusetts District Attorneys Association is seeking a 10% increase in operating budgets, including about $16.7 million for staffing salaries, to recruit and retain prosecutors, advocates, and support staff. He said the request reflects rising workload and the need to keep the criminal justice system functioning efficiently and fairly. The hearing was recessed briefly after the district attorneys’ opening remarks, with additional testimony expected to continue afterward.

Transcript Highlights:

• Let's get them into programs and programs and programs.
• to programs.
• , for the basic training program and the annual in-service training program."
• Those programs don't have a look-back. Those are funded programs at MOVA.
• We do not have this money for these programs in FY27. Not just the programs.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Keywords: 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Board of Nursing in support.
• Good afternoon, Alexander Pang, Executive Officer for the Board of Nursing.
• and support thank you thank<00:22:58.000><c> you</c><00:22:58.159><c> board</c><00:22:58.600><c> nursing
• I also want to highlight that a lot of the success of the COVID program in the past that this bill is
• in the past that this bill is program in the past that this bill is modeled<00:55:00.240><c> on</c><

Committee: House Consumer Protection & Commerce

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce met on March 12, 2025, and heard testimony on several bills, with most measures drawing support from state boards, agencies, and industry groups. SB 102 (restaurants) had one supportive testifier and no questions. SB 1367 SD1 (installment loans) drew support from DCCA and other boards, but the chair raised concerns about a proposed $5 debit-card convenience fee, saying it seemed high and suggesting it might be amended downward; DCCA said it would check with industry on the likely impact. SB 1373 SD2 (administrative licensure action against sex offenders) received broad support from DCCA and multiple professional licensing boards, including psychology, physical therapy, naturopathic medicine, chiropractic, dentistry, massage therapy, nursing, optometry, barbering and cosmetology, the Hawaii Medical Board, and HPD. The committee then heard SB 1142 SD1 (insurance proceeds), which was supported by DCCA, the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, AARP, Hawaiʻi Realtors, and the Hawaiʻi Insurers Council, while State Farm offered comments and the Hawaii Bankers Association opposed. Testimony focused on insurance access after the Lahaina wildfires and the need to address underinsured homeowners. The committee also discussed SB 144 SD2 (stabilization of property insurance), with support from the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority, AARP, Hawaiʻi Realtors, and the Hawaiʻi Insurers Council, and comments from the Attorney General and DCCA Insurance Division about revising the financing structure and correcting bill language. Opponents and reservationed supporters argued the bill may not help if applicants can still obtain coverage at very high prices, while supporters said it would expand market capacity and provide a safety net as climate-related losses continue. Finally, SB 253 SD2 (condominium reserves) received support from Hawaiʻi Realtors, CI, and several individual testifiers. Supporters said it would enforce existing disclosure requirements under Act 199 and improve reserve funding transparency, while one individual argued stronger enforcement and an ombudsman-style office would be more effective. The chair reminded testifiers to stay on the bill at hand. No votes or final committee actions were taken during the portion of the meeting reflected in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• and programs and programs.
• to programs.
• , for the basic training program and the annual in-service training program.
• program, or is it...
• Those programs don't have a look back. Those are funded programs at MOVA.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Summary: The Joint Committee on Ways and Means held its sixth public hearing on the Governor’s FY27 H-2 budget proposal, focused on public safety and judiciary agencies, at the Foxborough Community Center. After opening remarks and local welcomes, the committee heard testimony from the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS), led by Secretary Gina Kwan, who described the $1.72 billion budget as a 4% increase over FY26 and emphasized readiness, local partnerships, and support for core operations rather than expansion. She highlighted ongoing work on firearms-law implementation, State Police academy reforms, DOC’s new strategic plan, disaster response, hate-crime prevention, and planning for major 2026 events including the World Cup, Marathon, and America’s 250th anniversary. Members also raised concerns about State Police capacity, DNA backlog reporting, academy boxing/training reforms after a trooper’s death, ICE coordination, diversity in public safety leadership, the disaster relief fund, crime lab funding, reentry programming, and whether OEMS should move from DPH to EOPSS; Kwan said she would keep an open mind on some issues but was not ready to commit to an OEMS transfer. The committee then questioned EOPSS officials and the State Police colonel on several operational matters. The colonel said the academy boxing program remains suspended and likely will not return in its prior form, pending an IACP review, and that future training will likely emphasize jujitsu-style control techniques. He also said the State Police uses the civil service exam, with current advancement scores ranging from 83.72 to 98.78 for the most recent class, and acknowledged the need to improve recruitment, preparation, and diversity. On the DNA and sexual assault kit backlog, EOPSS said it supports extending the statute of limitations and is working with the courts and crime lab to identify and collect lawfully owed DNA. On disaster preparedness, officials said the new disaster relief fund is being developed with MEMA and A&F, is currently capitalized at $14 million with another $14 million expected, and should be designed to respond flexibly to different regional needs. They also said the crime lab increase is largely to cover core operations and a structural deficiency rather than expansion. Several members focused on public safety coordination and staffing. Questions from legislators from Bristol, Plymouth, Cape Cod, and elsewhere stressed the need for State Police to absorb additional forensic work if county resources shift, and to maintain strong communication with local chiefs and federal partners. Rep. Holmes pressed EOPSS on racial and gender diversity in the department and State Police; Kwan and Colonel Noble said diversity has improved but will take time to show up in senior leadership, and they pointed to internships and hiring practices as ways to broaden the pipeline. The hearing also included discussion of the World Cup security plan, with Kwan saying planning has been underway for about 18 months through 14 working groups and that current staffing and overtime resources appear sufficient for now. After EOPSS concluded, the committee recessed briefly and then began testimony from district attorneys, led by Suffolk DA Kevin Hayden, who said prosecutors are seeking a 10% budget increase to address staffing and salary pressures, especially the widening pay gap between assistant district attorneys and newly hired public defenders after recent CPCS funding increases.

Transcript Highlights:

• Only a few institutions in the state offer competency-based education, or CBE, programs.
• aware of the waiver program, they may not be in a position where they are able to use it.
• Social programs are designed to support individuals in making positive contributions to society.
• The program will help 11th and 12th grade students complete a certificate program while in high school
• Sustained investment in career and technical education, the ARPET program, and the P-TECH program is

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:16:09.400><c> through</c> Minnesota communities program through Minnesota communities program
• ,</c> Mercy program, Mercy program, the<00:21:37.000><c> change</c><00:21:37.400><c> in</c><00:21:37.560
• </c><00:21:42.480><c> supports</c> flexibility in how the program supports flexibility in how the program
• And this project that is being extended is a Minnesota Parks Artists in Residence program.
• </c> Residence program. Residence program.

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I first met Jana in 2017 when we were both participating in a statewide leadership training program.
• </c><00:44:00.720><c> One</c><00:44:01.040><c> focus</c> leadership training program.
• One focus leadership training program.
• John was also the primary academic liaison across the nursing degree programs, which helped initiate
• John was also the primary academic liaison across the nursing degree programs, which helped initiate

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have the certified nurse aide license, the nursing home administrator license, and the psychiatric

Committee: All ALC-OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING REVIEW SUBCOMMITTEE

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The 340B program is a federal program.
• The 340B program is federal programs. Sometimes.
• The thought, the 340B program is the federal programs.
• We have done this with nursing assistants and several other medical professionals.
• This program is excellent, so please vote yes. Okay, any further discussion?

Summary: The Health Care and Wellness Committee heard executive action on seven bills, with discussion focused on prior authorization, the 340B drug pricing program, biosimilars, HIV drug coverage, exchange certification criteria, and hearing/speech board authority. Members also considered several amendments, including a date change to prior authorization reporting in SB 5395, a large striking amendment and multiple policy amendments on SB 5981, and market-criteria amendments on SB 6210. Testimony and debate centered on transparency, administrative costs, rural access, patient care spending, market stability, and the balance between state authority and federal law. SB 5395 on prior authorization received Amendment 247, which moved the carrier reporting deadline to the Office of Insurance Commissioner from January 1, 2027 to October 1, 2026, and was then reported out with a due pass recommendation. SB 5981 on 340B drug pricing adopted a striking amendment creating reporting and fee structures, but rejected amendments that would have removed filing fees, required 90% of revenues to go to direct patient care, limited additional contract pharmacies to rural or underserved areas, or delayed the bill’s effective date; the bill then passed out of committee 11-7. Supporters emphasized transparency and safety-net funding, while opponents raised concerns about federal preemption, litigation, costs, and administrative burden. SB 5594 on biosimilar substitution, SB 5877 on certified anesthesiology assistants and the physician health program, and SB 6183 on coverage of FDA-approved HIV antiviral drugs without utilization management all advanced with broad support and due pass recommendations. SB 6210 on health benefit exchange market factor criteria adopted a striking amendment but rejected amendments that would have limited updates to every two years, narrowly defined “meaningfully different,” or changed implementation timelines; it also passed 11-7. SB 6226 on the Board of Speech and Hearing adopted Amendment 313 to expand standards-of-care authority for hearing aid fitting and dispensing, then passed 17-1 after debate about patient safety, tele-audiology, and access to care.

Transcript Highlights:

• The prestigious CIF Scholar Award program has been awarded since 1982 and recognizes student-athletes
• about... ...peers avoided the IB program due to its perceived rigor and the lack of awareness about
• Under existing law, when there is a death of a resident within a drug and alcohol recovery program at
• Currently, the IHSS program employs over 700,000 workers and serves over 800,000 recipients.
• The Strong Workforce Program was established in 2016 to strengthen the CTE programs in California community

Summary: The Assembly convened after a quorum call, prayer, and Pledge of Allegiance, then moved through a long daily file with numerous guest introductions and recognitions, including tributes to outgoing University of California President Michael Drake, student and community advocates, and visitors connected to foster care, military appreciation, and college savings. The chamber also took up several procedural items, including concurrence in Senate amendments to ACR 75 on California Farm Week, which passed 59-0. Members then adopted AJR 7 on protecting federal special education funding and services for students with disabilities, with broad bipartisan support and a 65-0 vote after 63 co-authors were added. The Assembly also adopted ACR 82 recognizing Foster Care Month and ACR 85 recognizing 529 College Savings Day by voice vote after adding co-authors, and ACR 89 recognizing Military Appreciation Month, also adopted by voice vote after co-authors were added. These resolutions featured testimony and remarks emphasizing support for vulnerable children, foster youth, military families, and access to higher education. On policy bills, the Assembly passed AB 929 on groundwater and managed wetlands (41-14), AB 1026 on utility connection timelines for housing projects (52-0), AB 1332 on direct shipment of medicinal cannabis under specified conditions (55-0), AB 1356 on follow-up reporting in DHCS death investigations at treatment facilities (54-0), and AB 671 on streamlining restaurant openings through self-certification of certain plans (62-0). The chamber also approved AB 715 on anti-Semitism and school climate after extensive debate and cross-caucus support, 64-0, and AB 33 on autonomous vehicle deliveries requiring a human safety operator, 52-6. Later, AB 5 on election ballot-counting timelines passed 66-0, AB 27 and AB 28 addressing the Chiquita Canyon landfill disaster passed 61-0 and 44-6 respectively, and the Assembly began consideration of AB 43 to extend state authority over wild and scenic rivers.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's about DHS program integrity.
• </c><00:07:00.720><c> It's</c> pay for nursing facilities. It's pay for nursing facilities.
• um program integrity increase program um program integrity and<00:08:27.520><c> make</c><00:08:27.759
• </c> prevent fraud in those programs. prevent fraud in those programs.
• in the 14 we've seen across programs in the 14 high-risisk<00:21:37.440><c> programs.

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And so programs uh could help engage.
• </c><01:05:46.079><c> at</c> loan committees and loan programs at loan committees and loan programs at
• workforce programs.
• </c> workforce development programs workforce development programs particularly<01:14:09.600><c> in</
• Um, 10,000 of them that program.

Committee: Senate Jobs and Economic Development

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• existing law, certain individuals serving a term of confinement are eligible for temporary release programs
• such as work release. ...release programs such as work release.
• Yet, she finds herself in a work release program, walking around.
• states that individuals are assigned to suitable participation in formalized institutional treatment programs
• Senate, the difference in the two bills is that Senator Weaver put an amendment that would not allow nurses

Bills: SB210 , SB176 , SB167 , SB244 , SB218 , SB9 , SB153 , SB9

Committee: House Judiciary

Keywords: hospital liens, medical billing, government healthcare, insurance claims, patient rights, controlled substances, unlawful distribution, marijuana, violent offense, sentencing guidelines, criminal justice, aggravated theft, employee benefits, retirement funds, criminal penalty, state law, overdose, failure to render aid, public health, Alabama Athletic Commission

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, my biggest concern is that this bill prohibits programs for diversity.
• for diversity I mean who would have thought they were Programs for diversity?
• I mean, who would have thought they were going to prohibit a program on diversity, prohibit a program
• mom to 30 nurses in a year. ...so that I could grow my business from me and my mom to 30 nurses in a
• So you're going to have a program to help women who are in abused, You're going to have a program to

Committee: Senate Community Affairs

Summary: The committee first heard SB 1134, which would extend the use of qualified private providers in the building permit process to residential solar energy systems and certain single-trade inspections, and would allow computer-based plan review tools. The sponsor said the bill is intended to reduce long solar permitting delays and lower costs. A late amendment clarifying the word “application” was adopted, and after some discussion about local permitting problems and the need to work with municipalities, CS/SB 1134 was reported favorably, with Senator Pizzo voting no. The committee then took up SB 784, dealing with issuance of addresses and parcel identification numbers for plats. The bill sets a 14-day timeframe, and an amendment was adopted that would allow use of a private provider if the deadline is missed and would limit fee collection if verification is not completed. Members discussed whether the bill should include more flexibility and whether private providers are appropriate for this function, but the committee ultimately reported CS/SB 784 favorably. SB 1738, allowing counties that previously opted out of transportation concurrency to opt back in while maintaining current levels of service, was also reported favorably without significant opposition. Next, SB 1080 on local government land regulation was presented as a measure to speed up development permit and order approvals, limit repeated information requests, prevent hearing delays, and impose penalties for noncompliance. Local government testimony argued it would rush planning and weaken public input, while supporters called it common-sense streamlining. After debate, the bill was reported favorably, with several no votes. SB 1260, which clarifies county constitutional officer budget procedures and creates an appeal process for clerks and supervisors of elections similar to that used by sheriffs, was also reported favorably after members raised concerns about county budget timelines. Finally, the committee considered SB 420, as amended by a strike-all, which would prohibit counties and municipalities from adopting or funding DEI-related ordinances, programs, or policies, while carving out compliance with state and federal law and defining DEI-related terms. The amendment removed retroactivity and delayed the effective date, but members from both parties raised concerns about vague definitions, impacts on women- and minority-owned business programs, local commemorations, and the loss of attorney’s fees for prevailing counties. Public testimony was sharply divided, with many speakers opposing the bill as an attack on local control and inclusion, and a few supporting it as a merit-based standard. The amendment was adopted, but the bill drew extensive opposition in debate and was not yet reported in the portion of the transcript provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• programs are paying for.
• </c> program. You know should it be 20? program. You know should it be 20?
• </c> program that Aurora is registered under. program that Aurora is registered under.
• c><02:17:09.240><c> California</c><02:17:10.240><c> program</c> program.
• It's not the California program program.

Committee: Senate Energy and Natural Resources

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But the final leg program is a program that was added several years after they had started that.
• And whereas since 1987, as part of the final leg program of the law enforcement torch run, law enforcement
• But we also have our nurse of the day, Lee Fasio, she is here as well. Thank you.

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Requirements for nursing assessments and the frequency of medical reviews move to Section 305.
• I'm the program supervisor with the residential assisted living program for licensing.
• And I think that the department has a really good relationship with the ombudsman program and with facilities

Summary: The Senate Health and Welfare Committee reviewed several Idaho Department of Health and Welfare administrative rule dockets, mostly zero-based rewrites intended to reduce duplication, simplify language, and align rules with current statutes or federal guidance. On the reportable diseases docket, the department said the rewrite cut the chapter by about 40 percent, added viral hemorrhagic fevers as reportable diseases, and lowered the lead-reporting threshold to 3.5 micrograms per deciliter to match CDC standards. Members asked about incorporation by reference, the history of using federal guidelines, and why COVID was not listed; department staff explained that COVID was handled under broader public health authority and extraordinary-occurrence provisions rather than the reportable disease list. That docket was approved by voice vote after some discussion about whether more health policy should be placed in statute versus rule. The committee then approved the radiation control rules, which were rewritten to shorten the chapter substantially, remove incorporation by reference, and require out-of-state licensees to register within 30 days. Next, members considered a consolidated chapter for developmental disability agencies and related provider types, including residential habilitation agencies and adult residential care providers; the department said the rewrite would streamline licensing requirements and had broad stakeholder support. The committee approved that chapter, then approved a repeal docket for residential habilitation agencies because those provisions had been moved into the new consolidated chapter. The final docket covered residential assisted living facilities. The department said the rewrite reorganized application, resident activity, discharge, and medical review requirements, removed duplicative statutory language, and eliminated a separate NFPA building standard reference because the International Fire Code already covers it. Senators focused on discharge protections for vulnerable residents, asking about emergency discharges, nonpayment, Medicaid-related placement issues, and the role of the ombudsman and appeal rights. Department staff said residents generally receive written notice, often 30 days, and can access appeals and ombudsman assistance; immediate discharge can occur in limited situations such as nonpayment or inability to meet care needs. The committee approved the docket by voice vote and then adjourned, with a note that budget presentations would likely begin the following week.

Transcript Highlights:

• Requirements for nursing assessments and the frequency of medical reviews move to section 305.
• I'm the program supervisor with the residential assisted living program for licensing.
• And I think that the department has a really good relationship with the ombudsman program and with facilities

Committee: Senate Health and Welfare

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have Marshall Stevenson, Vice President of Nursing and Ricardo Medrano, ECMO specialist, and in the
• HB 1536 by Craddock relating to the Rural Community-Based Piling Program or for the of the committee
• HB 1557 by Moody relating to the waiver programs for certain veterans provide by toll project entities
• , dual language immersion programs, and special language programs are for the committee on public education
• HB 1662 by Cunningham, relating to the grant program for public school.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If they don't want to be a part of this program, they don't have to be. This is not a mandate.
• Your property taxes will go up if this program is implemented in your county.
• You can have a nurse practitioner engage in a certain level of practice that's appropriate.
• We still have programs that will need to be run.
• We still have programs that will need to be run.

Keywords: 989, all