Transcript Highlights:

• And when we look at things like the READ Act, all the research shows in reading that language is the
• And when we look at things like the READ Act, all the research shows in reading that language is the
• And when we look at things like the READ Act, all the research shows in reading that language is the
• And when we look at things like the READ Act, all the research shows in reading that language is the
• I also developed skills in research, storytelling, and advocacy.

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And maybe that research doesn't exist yet, but I just wanted to be able to kind of see where that was
• </c> really utilizes the rise research really utilizes the rise research reports<00:36:20.640><c> um<
• I save everything under research. I did not find it.
• It went to RY's research website; did not find it.
• that has been that some of the research that has been done<01:26:08.320><c> about</c><01:26:08.679><

Committee: House Public Safety Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• to requiring the Office of Addiction Services and Supports to encourage and facilitate clinical research
• to requiring the Office of Addiction Services and Supports to encourage and facilitate clinical research
• So having more research behind it is, I think, always good. So thank you. Anyone second?

Committee: Senate Alcoholism And Substance Use Disorders

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Alcoholism and Substance Use Disorders met on April 29, 2026, with Senators Pete Harckham and Rob Rolison present and a quorum established through submitted vote sheets. The chair noted this could be one of the committee’s final meetings of the year and thanked members for their participation. Nine bills were on the agenda, all of which were moved and approved without recorded opposition. The committee advanced several addiction-treatment and recovery measures, including S-1817 on encouraging and facilitating clinical research into ibogaine for drug treatment, S-4747A creating an intensive addiction recovery and mental health integrated services pilot program, S-4948A providing reimbursement for non-medical transportation to peer support services, and S-59A creating a substance use disorder treatment bill of rights. Members also approved S-83A establishing the Individual Counseling for Integrated Care Rate Enhancement Act and S-7508, which requires health care professionals to prescribe opioids, sending those bills to Finance. The committee also approved education-focused bills: S-513 requiring schools to include instruction on preventing co-occurring disorders, S-5900 directing educational materials on prescription drug misuse in counties with the most prevalent opioid abuse, and S-9272 expanding opioid overdose prevention measures in certain settings. Most bills were reported either to Finance, Education, or the calendar, with no negative votes recorded on any measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• from the House and Senate, higher ed, Department of Health, private and public health care, and research
• from the House and Senate, higher ed, Department of Health, private and public health care, and research
• task force shall meet quarterly beginning in January 2027 and submit an annual report relating to research

Committee: House Higher Education and Workforce Development

Summary: The House Committee on Higher Education and Workforce Development met in executive session and considered two bills. House Bill 1659 was advanced after the committee adopted a House Committee amendment ending in .02H, rolled it into a House Committee substitute, and then voted the substitute do pass by a roll call vote of 9 ayes and 0 noes. The committee then took up House Bill 2740, which would create a task force. The substitute described a task force made up of members from the House and Senate, higher education, the Department of Health, public and private health care, research, Missouri University, nonprofits, and a patient advocacy group. The task force would meet quarterly starting in January 2027, issue annual reports on research, outcomes, funding, and legislative recommendations, and expire in December 2030. An additional amendment ending in .03H clarified the partisan balance of the elected members, specifying that the two Senate members could not be from the same party and the two House members could not be from the same party. That amendment was adopted, rolled into a substitute, and the House Committee substitute for HB 2740 was then voted do pass by 9 ayes, 0 noes, and 1 present. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Now to the bill itself, with that long preamble: the research and science is clear that elective cat
• , uh, excuse me, evidence-based research, uh, excuse me, evidence-based<00:57:37.200><c> medicine,</c
• ><00:57:38.000><c> the</c><00:57:38.160><c> research</c> evidence-based medicine, the research evidence-based
• </c> have new evidence. we have new research have new evidence. we have new research that<00:59:16.880
• And the research I think able to do it.

Bills: HF4080 , HF3693 , HF1857 , HF4350

Committee: House Agriculture Finance and Policy

Keywords: agriculture, livestock, retailers, ownership interest, exclusive contracts, meat packing companies, dominant retailers, state law, Department of Agriculture, appropriation, funding, agriculture policy, state budget, animal welfare, cat declawing, animal cruelty, therapeutic procedures, civil penalties, Minnesota Department of Agriculture, aquatic life

Transcript Highlights:

• Research shows that longer treatment... Research shows that longer treatment...
• Research shows that longer treatment.
• And that's because of the independent research that I did on my own.
• I've done a lot of research on PBMs and more broadly on...
• I've done a lot of research on PBMs and more broadly on middlemen.

Summary: The Assembly Health Committee met on April 22 and took up a special order of bills focused largely on prior authorization and utilization management in health care. The chair framed the discussion as part of a broader legislative effort to reduce delays and barriers to care, especially in behavioral health, chronic disease management, cancer treatment, and rehabilitation services. AB 384 by Assembly Member Connolly would prohibit prior authorization for inpatient mental health or substance use emergency admissions and related physician care; supporters said it would prevent dangerous delays in crisis care, while insurers and health plans warned about fraud, abuse, and ambiguity around residential treatment facilities. The bill was moved on a due pass as amended motion and passed the committee on a party-line style vote, with Republicans largely absent or not voting. The committee then heard AB 510 by Assembly Member Addis, which would require health plans, upon request, to provide a peer reviewer of the same or similar specialty when a treating provider appeals a prior authorization denial or modification. Supporters argued that specialty-matched review would make appeals fairer and more clinically informed; opponents said the requirement was too rigid and that timelines and electronic submission rules needed changes. After discussion about the need for timely, specialty-specific review, the bill was approved on a due pass as amended motion and placed on call. AB 539 by Assembly Member Schiavo would extend prior authorization approvals to one year or the duration of the physician’s prescribed treatment for chronic conditions; supporters cited repeated denials and treatment interruptions, while opponents raised concerns about overbreadth, fraud, and the need for shorter validity periods. The bill was also passed as amended and placed on call. The committee next considered AB 669 by Assembly Member Haney, which would bar concurrent and retrospective review for the first 28 days of medically necessary substance use disorder treatment and limit prior authorization for related outpatient medications. The bill was presented with a powerful personal story from Ryan Matlock’s mother about her son’s death after an insurer cut off treatment early; supporters said the measure would keep patients in care long enough to stabilize, while opponents argued it would reduce oversight and could allow lower-quality or non-evidence-based care. The bill was moved on a due pass as amended motion and placed on call. Finally, AB 512 by Assembly Member Harabedian would shorten prior authorization response times to 24 hours for urgent requests and 48 hours for non-urgent requests; supporters said delays can worsen outcomes, while opponents warned the timelines were unrealistic and could increase administrative burdens and safety issues. The bill was approved as amended and placed on call. AB 574 by Assembly Member Mark Gonzalez was then heard; it would allow up to 12 medically necessary physical therapy sessions for a new episode of care without prior authorization, with supporters emphasizing stroke and neurological recovery and opponents warning of reduced oversight and unnecessary care. The transcript ends during testimony on AB 574, before final action is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• from the House and Senate, higher ed, Department of Health, private and public health care, and research
• task force shall meet quarterly beginning in January 2027 and submit an annual report related to research
• task force shall meet quarterly beginning in January 2027 and submit an annual report relating to research

Committee: House Higher Education and Workforce Development

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So instead of choosing a side, she chose a seat in the nonpartisan Senate Council Research and Fiscal
• Research and Fiscal Analysis Office. Research and Fiscal Analysis Office.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I suspect there's some real research, some academic research on this.
• The current policy, at least from the House Chairman's standpoint, is a result of research in the past
• The current policy, at least from the House Chairman's standpoint, is a result of research in the past
• I'm a security researcher.
• The Federal Trade Commission researched 184 connected products, only to discover that 21 disclosed the

Bills: S3082 , S3090 , H5425 , H5130 , H5114

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure

Keywords: animal telehealth, veterinary telemedicine, veterinary telehealth, veterinarian-client-patient relationship, VCPR, animal health, pet care, companion animal, livestock, remote veterinary care, synchronous audio-video, telemedicine, prescription drugs, antimicrobial drugs, controlled substances, xylazine, compounding pharmacy, veterinary practice, Massachusetts Controlled Substances Act, animal owner

Transcript Highlights:

• If I do some research on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, we have like 3,900 crashes
• I'm a research and advocacy associate with the Consumer Federation of America, and we're here to urge
• We did some research, and we found that the average auto insurance premium in Massachusetts ZIP codes
• Research shows that at least 90% of car crashes are caused by human error.
• According to Southwest Research Institute, AVs can be up to 20% more fuel efficient than human-driven

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Financial Services

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Financial Services held a public hearing on a wide range of auto insurance and vehicle-related bills. Testimony focused heavily on autonomous vehicle regulation, auto insurance rating by ZIP code, rental car liability coverage, and surcharge thresholds for minor accidents. Representative Polito supported a bill to regulate autonomous vehicle testing and deployment, arguing for school-zone restrictions, slower speeds, a remote kill switch, and minimum insurance requirements to protect the public. Representative Mendez and Senator Payano testified for legislation to reduce racial and socioeconomic inequities in auto insurance pricing by limiting the weight insurers may place on territorial loss costs, while the Mass Insurance Federation and Consumer Federation of America offered opposing and supporting views, respectively, on the fairness and actuarial impact of geographic rating. The committee also heard support for a bill to remove inspection-sticker violations from license-point calculations, and for a bill to raise the damage threshold for insurance surcharges and minor/major accident classifications. A substantial portion of the hearing addressed House Bill 1301 on rental car liability. Enterprise Mobility, the American Car Rental Association, and a small Massachusetts rental company supported the bill, saying personal auto insurers should be primary when their insureds drive rental cars, that Massachusetts is an outlier compared with most other states, and that the change would reduce costs and simplify claims handling. The Mass Insurance Federation opposed the bill, arguing that current Massachusetts law already clearly makes the vehicle owner’s policy primary and that shifting liability would raise costs for private-passenger policyholders. Committee members asked detailed questions about how rental coverage works, whether premiums or rental rates would change, and how other states handle the issue. The committee also heard testimony on a bill to adjust surcharge rules for at-fault accidents, with sponsors arguing that repair costs and vehicle values have risen sharply and that the current thresholds are outdated. Members discussed how the point system affects drivers, whether the proposal should apply cumulatively or per incident, and how Carfax and out-of-pocket repairs factor into consumer costs. At the end of the hearing, the chair noted written testimony could still be submitted and, during a brief personal privilege, recorded support for two underinsurance bills, H. 1109 and S. 748. The committee then moved and seconded a motion to adjourn, and the hearing ended without any votes on the bills themselves.

Transcript Highlights:

• A lot of it's going to be research and application of things like that.
• And we are able to do research that is not just about education, but is also about child welfare and
• And then we have a member appointed by the governor with experience in AI research and development, a
• And I've spoken to some vendors, spoken to some researchers on how to do this.
• You can fill out this form, and then if you want, you can pick it up at 655 Research Parkway, or you

Committee: House Oklahoma Education Commission

Summary: The commission met with a quorum and introduced Brett Farley, who was discussed as a possible partner to help strengthen the nonprofit side of the commission’s work. Members also welcomed a new participant, Naomi Janes of Owasso Public Schools, who described her role in instructional technology and AI integration. The group spent much of the meeting on planning for the upcoming AI symposium, including venue logistics, room and meal costs, audio-visual expenses, fundraising progress, keynote and vendor participation, and ideas for breakout sessions and after-hours demonstrations. Members discussed keeping attendee contact information private unless permission is obtained, and they also considered future regional meetings and year-round follow-up to sustain momentum beyond the symposium. A major portion of the meeting focused on legislation and grant strategy. Michael provided an update on House Bill 1782, saying floor amendments had been filed and that the bill now includes authority for agencies to pursue gifts and donations, an expanded advisory council, broader research purposes, and a fund structure that can support multi-year projects without fiscal-year pressure. He also reviewed Senate Bill 1734, which would require parental disclosure, allow opt-outs, and require reporting on data minimization and privacy compliance for AI tools used in schools. Members discussed how the commission could help schools, families, and the public understand AI policy and how the new law might shape future recommendations. The group also reviewed several grant efforts. Anna reported on the NSF TechABLE/AI HubZone proposal, a three-year, $1 million-per-year opportunity with a June 15 letter-of-intent deadline and July 15 full proposal deadline, and noted plans to include staff positions to support the project. She also updated the group on a rural health care transformation proposal of roughly $700,000 and asked for follow-up on its status. In addition, Anna outlined a broader K-20 pipeline concept centered on a shared learner record and microcredential system that would connect K-12, CareerTech, higher education, libraries, and workforce systems, with tools such as Career Coach and Skill of Eye to link credentials to jobs. Members generally supported the idea, noting benefits for transcript portability, special populations, teacher certification, and workforce alignment. The commission agreed to meet again on June 14 at 1:00 p.m., and the meeting adjourned after a brief announcement of an informal AI book club for the summer.

Transcript Highlights:

• So again, with these new technologies and new research from Pew and other entities, it's now become clear
• Because of this emerging research and some advocacy from local architects and other groups, Texas and
• First off, it's already been mentioned about the Pew Research, and while that report is called Small
• Last year I brought this to JFAC's attention and was told, let's do some more research, and then next
• year come back with a solution and tell us, you know, do some research and figure out what the issue

Committee: Senate Local Government and Taxation

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, Madam Chair and Senator, in some of the research we did, about 10% might be expected to change in
• So Madam Chair and Senator, in some of the research we did, about 10% might be expected to change in
• So to see that this is going to unify research, workforce, and partnerships across federal and state.
• Section 2 allocates 111 to the Research and Development Fund. We created that last year.
• Section 2 allocates 111 to the Research and Development Fund. We created that last year.

Summary: The committee first heard SB 20, as amended, which would limit prior authorization for certain medications used to treat serious mental illness and extend prior authorization approvals for other chronic maintenance drugs to three years. The sponsor and supporters said the bill would reduce treatment interruptions and administrative burden for patients, clinicians, and pharmacies, while opponents argued the three-year period could raise safety concerns, reduce annual clinical review, and increase costs and premiums. After public testimony and committee discussion, the bill passed on a 7-2 vote. The committee then considered SB 21, as amended, establishing an annual Medigap open enrollment period with guaranteed issue protections for eligible Medicare beneficiaries already enrolled in Medigap plans. The Aging and Long-Term Services Department said the measure would give seniors more flexibility to change plans as their needs and premiums change, and OSI said premium impacts were expected to be limited. An amendment setting the effective date at January 1, 2027 was adopted, and the bill passed unanimously. Next, the committee heard SB 177, a large economic development package centered on quantum, advanced energy, defense, and related workforce and research investments. The sponsor and administration witnesses described New Mexico as uniquely positioned to attract major private and federal investment, while members raised questions about guardrails, reporting, use of the Research and Development Fund, and whether EDD could manage the spending and educational components. An amendment removed the public safety section, a technical title fix was adopted, and the bill passed 9-1. The committee also took up SB 189, which would protect existing coverage and expand insurance coverage for reproductive and gender-affirming care, including mid-year enrollment options for pregnancy and coverage for double electric breast pumps. Supporters said the bill would prevent abrupt coverage changes and ensure access to care, while opponents objected to abortion-related coverage and argued existing law and Medicaid already cover much of the care. A motion to table failed, and the bill then passed 6-4. Finally, the committee unanimously passed Senate Memorial 6 honoring golfer Nancy Lopez and her New Mexico roots and achievements.

Transcript Highlights:

• With me today, I have Zach Strasburg, who is the Research and Data Chair for the UNM United Graduate
• faculty. graduate student employees, everyone that's engaged in instruction, instructional support, research
• I am the Research and Data Chair for the United Grad Workers, our grad student union at UNM.
• These are people who both do research or teach for their institution and get paid to do so while furthering
• So this is a product of what my full research is.

Bills: SB106 , SB171 , SB179

Committee: House House Education

Keywords: graduate scholarship, higher education funding, New Mexico, appropriation, financial aid, education, documentary, historical figure, Padre Antonio Jose Martinez, Northern New Mexico State School, SB179, Senate Bill 179, UNM, University of New Mexico, medical Spanish, Spanish-language curriculum, health sciences, health professions education, language access, bilingual healthcare

Transcript Highlights:

• CDC is doing some research now into the genetics of the mosquitoes and the virus.
• CDC is doing some research now into the genetics of the mosquitoes and the virus.
• There is research going into that currently, so, um, no.
• They have done some research, and they found that people were being exposed in one site to 13, no, a
• And part of the money being used is for attorneys, but primarily to do research on these sites, not for

Bills: SB66 , SB79 , SB108

Committee: Senate Senate Conservation

Keywords: environment, cleanup, contamination, uranium mining, abandoned sites, state funding, mosquito control, public health, surveillance, prevention funds, local government grants, food security, agriculture, food bank, regional program, appropriation, 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And we have really been researching this for the last couple of months trying to get to the one answer
• We know the research is pretty clear that things like education and some of the career technical ed,
• main programs, like I mentioned before, the educational and work programs, there is good national research
• that shows that investments in education, whether that's career technical ed... ...good national research
• Again, we don't have great Idaho-specific research on that, but there's good national research on that

Summary: The joint Senate Finance and House Appropriations committee reviewed the Idaho Department of Correction budget, beginning with an agency-wide overview and then moving through management services, state prisons, county and out-of-state placement, community corrections, community-based substance use disorder treatment, and medical services. Analysts and the director explained that the department’s budget is heavily driven by personnel, contracts, medical costs, and population pressures, with dedicated funds such as inmate labor and probation/parole receipts declining in cash balance. Members asked about vacancies, overtime, holdback impacts, software licensing, hepatitis C funding, and the department’s use of contracts and technology. The committee also heard that some planned reductions tied to the governor’s holdback remain in place despite the agency being exempted, including cuts to Recidivis, GEO-related services, and some technology purchases, while body-worn cameras were kept in place because of safety and accountability benefits. A major portion of the discussion focused on rising incarceration and housing costs. The director said the department is near capacity, with more people coming in than leaving, and that county jail and out-of-state placements are increasing because state facilities are full. Analysts described the county jail and out-of-state placement budget as highly volatile and based on updated population forecasts, with supplemental and ongoing requests increasing significantly. Members also asked about mandatory minimums, criminal aliens in custody, and the cost of housing inmates in state versus out-of-state facilities. The director said Idaho’s per-day direct prison cost is about $85, or about $95 with administrative costs, while the Arizona contract rate is about $85 per day. The committee also discussed rehabilitation and recidivism-reduction programs, including education, work programs, community reentry centers, and the Bridge 8 tablet system. The director said the tablets are funded through inmate phone-related charges and are used for educational and rehabilitative purposes, not because the state is required to provide them. She said community reentry centers have shown an 11% lower recidivism rate for participants, and that the department has previously eliminated ineffective programs after evaluation. Members asked for more information on inmate labor contracts, hepatitis C treatment funding, and the cost and effectiveness of various programs. The meeting ended before all questions were resolved, and the committee adjourned to continue work groups the next morning.

Transcript Highlights:

• Because we researched this very much since 2013. I hadn't seen any evidence of substantial fraud.
• Because we researched this very much since 2013. I hadn't seen any evidence of substantial fraud.
• Who gets the research?
• You know, something, even for some women's products, they've looked at men for the research.
• the House and Senate by the body. even for some women's products, they've looked at men for the research

Bills: SB5973 , SB5892 , SB6081 , SB5842 , SB5827 , SB5968 , SB6034 , SB6035 , SB5888 , SB6123 , SB5853

Committee: Senate State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections

Keywords: initiative, referendum, ballot measure, petition, signature gathering, circulator, per-signature pay, paid circulator, election integrity, voter fraud, ballot title, Secretary of State, Code Reviser, direct democracy, citizen lawsuit, civil penalties, Washington elections, initiative process, referendum process, grassroots petition

Transcript Highlights:

• Emily Horowitz is a nationally recognized sociologist whose research addresses the collateral consequences
• This bill This bill is not supported by any facts, data, evidence, or research.
• Our members are clinicians and researchers who work in prevention, assessment, treatment, and supervision
• However, based upon the research and our professional experience, we do not believe this proposal will
• Okay, so brave family, friends, landlords, therapists, researchers, and survivors of sexual harm who

Committee: Senate Criminal Justice

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And we have a lot of research going on at Washington State University, helping to understand the best
• Felt, faculty; Tom Link, faculty; Rachel Erstad, researcher of Bridges Center; and Jackie Kane, president
• Research consistently shows that faculty of color, women, and contingent faculty are more likely to be
• Research consistently shows that faculty of color, women, and contingent faculty are more likely to be
• I think that's an answer for the researcher. Well, I can make an attempt on that.

Bills: SB6090 , SB5931 , SB5963 , SB5978 , SB6082

Committee: Senate Higher Education & Workforce Development

Keywords: heritage orchard, agriculture, program, state funding, local agriculture, workforce education, accountability, oversight, administrative changes, investment, SB 5963, passport to careers, Washington College Grant, financial aid, higher education, student aid, need-based aid, college affordability, postsecondary education, workforce development

Transcript Highlights:

• First, we start with research and science, and at the same time, we work with those advisory boards.
• First, we start with research and science, and at the same time, we work with those advisory boards.
• That, coupled with science and research and the input of community, is really vital, and then we pilot
• Roland Moore from the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation.
• I'm center director and senior research scientist there, also serving as part of the Native American

Summary: The Senate Committee on Rules convened, established quorum, and first approved several governor’s appointments not required to appear: Courtney Welsh to the California Housing Partnership Corporation Board, Janessa Goldbeck to the California Veterans Board, and Tom Huntington to the State Parks and Recreation Commission, each by 3-0 vote. The committee also approved reference of bills to committees, the 2026 committee chair/member assignments, the 2026 session schedule, the 2026 holiday schedule, and floor acknowledgments, all by unanimous votes. The committee then heard and advanced two appointments requiring testimony. Dr. Hernando Garzon, nominated as chief medical officer for the Emergency Medical Services Authority, discussed his background in emergency medicine, disaster response, EMS data modernization, local flexibility within statewide standards, ambulance offload time regulations, stakeholder engagement, and alternatives to emergency transport such as community paramedicine and telehealth. Members pressed him on strategic planning, rural and climate-related disaster response, ambulance rate reporting, and how EMSA can better protect vulnerable people during evacuations; his appointment was approved 4-0 and sent to the Senate floor. Stephanie Weldon, nominated as Deputy Director of the Office of Health Equity at the Department of Public Health, described her tribal background, prior public service, and focus on health equity, behavioral health, tribal consultation, data, and community-led programs. Senators asked about measuring outcomes, serving rural communities, balancing equity work amid federal DEI opposition, youth mental health, and preventing fraud or waste through transparency. Public commenters, including tribal, health, and community advocates, strongly supported her nomination. Her appointment was also approved 4-0 and forwarded to the full Senate.