Transcript Highlights:

• These diagnostic assessments must be completed and/or signed off by a mental health professional, and
• This change will ensure that the diagnostic assessment is completed in a timely manner while relieving
• has to be completed following assessment has to be completed following admission<00:04:57.440><c> to
• assessments must be completed<00:05:04.720><c> and</c><00:05:05.040><c> or</c><00:05:05.360><c> signed
• </c><00:05:19.759><c> is</c> ensure that the diagnostic assessment is ensure that the diagnostic assessment

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:43:08.720><c> the</c> were looking at the assessment the were looking at the assessment the questions
• Another key factor is the assessment.
• </c> person's responses on their assessment person's responses on their assessment to<00:53:37.960><c
• The MNCASA assessment is a highly unstable assessment tool.
• </c><01:30:32.480><c> is</c> effort um the men choices assessment is effort um the men choices assessment

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• and the dates by which local education agencies must receive statewide assessment scores and data.
• The Senate amended the bill by increasing the length of the statewide assessment testing window from
• four to six consecutive school weeks and prohibiting the state assessment testing window from beginning
• and the dates by which local education agencies must receive statewide assessment scores and data.
• The Senate amended the bill by increasing the length of the statewide assessment testing window from

Summary: The Republican caucus reviewed several House bills with Senate amendments and asked whether sponsors would concur or refuse. On HB 2003, which lowers the age for an instruction permit and extends permit validity periods, the sponsor refused concurrence because of an oversight affecting people in the transition period, and the bill was headed to conference committee. On HB 2013, dealing with ADEQ duties related to wildfire smoke and damage from federally managed land, the sponsor was reported to concur with the Senate changes. HB 2133, concerning consent verification for online sexual material, was not concurred with because the sponsor said the definition of sexual material was circular and the bill also swept in an unintended entity, so further fixes were needed. The caucus also heard that the sponsor concurred on HB 2226, which requires courts to inquire about veteran status and provide information on veterans’ services, after the Senate clarified that the court—not the prosecuting agency—must provide the information. HB 2693, revising the definition of a bona fide association, had a Senate amendment requiring a feasibility study on state employee and public school district employee health insurance plans, and the sponsor concurred. HB 2032, which changes the statewide assessment testing window and reporting timeline, also had sponsor concurrence after the Senate lengthened the testing window and delayed its start. No votes were taken in the caucus; the discussion focused on concurrence decisions and whether bills would proceed to conference committee or advance with the Senate amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• health, uh, either an assessment and also counseling.
• health, uh, either an assessment and also counseling.
• health, uh, either an assessment and also counseling.
• health, uh, either an assessment and also counseling.
• health, uh, either an assessment and also counseling.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 669, sponsored by Representative Smith, which was presented as a response to a September shooting incident in his district that led to school closures and missed instructional days. Smith said the bill was intended to help school districts recover lost days caused by extraordinary emergencies and not to set a broad precedent. Members asked whether districts had adjusted calendars to make up time, and Smith said many had already extended days or moved calendars into June. The committee then voted to pass House Bill 669, with all members present voting yes. The committee next heard House Bill 621, as amended by a committee substitute that removed a homeschooling-related section and left only the school-threat provisions. The bill would allow courts to impose a fine on parents when a child is adjudicated for terroristic threatening if law enforcement incurred excessive costs, and it would require a mental health assessment for the child. Representative Duvall and Officer Steve Chappelle supported the measure, arguing that online school threats spread fear, disrupt attendance, pull law-enforcement resources from other schools, and should create more parental accountability. Representative Riley also supported the accountability goal, citing lost instructional time and a recent student suicide tied to online issues. Several members raised concerns about the bill’s scope and due process. Representative Josh Callaway questioned why this offense should be the starting point for parental fines and warned about a slippery slope in holding parents liable for children’s crimes. Representative Willner said the bill seemed more like a judiciary issue, questioned whether punishment can make parents better parents, and asked about diversion programs and the meaning of the detention language. Representative Tipton pointed to existing statutes on mental health assessments and terroristic threatening penalties, and said the committee substitute would alleviate many concerns. Scott West, speaking for Kentucky Policy and the Kentucky Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, argued that the mandatory detention language would remove judicial discretion and that the parental fine provision could conflict with existing due process protections requiring notice, a hearing, and a finding that lack of supervision was a substantial factor in the child’s delinquency. The transcript does not show a final vote on House Bill 621 in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• You heard a little bit about the flood damage assessment work.
• We use that to put together disaster assessments. ...across the state.
• But we haven't had a chance to assess it.
• But we haven't had a chance to assess it.
• But we haven't had a chance to assess it.

Summary: The House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee held a work session on the December 2025 flooding in Washington and its impacts on agriculture, with no public testimony. Emergency Management Division Director Robert Azel described the storm sequence, record rainfall, widespread river flooding, landslides, power outages, evacuations, rescues, and damage to homes, roads, flood control infrastructure, and agricultural land. He said the state was preparing a major disaster declaration request and noted that mitigation investments and interagency coordination helped reduce losses, while debris removal and federal reimbursement remain important next steps. Snohomish County Emergency Management Director Lucia Schmidt focused on farm impacts in Snohomish County, where tens of thousands of acres were underwater. She described damage to equipment, fences, hoop houses, feed, hay, nurseries, and perennial crops, and said many small farms face losses not well covered by existing federal disaster programs. She urged funding for the Washington State Conservation Commission’s disaster assistance program and emphasized the importance of helping small-scale farms recover to preserve the local agricultural community. WSDA Assistant Director Kelly McLean outlined the department’s disaster response role, including food and feed safety, animal health, livestock sheltering, and coordination of resources. She described efforts to keep feed and dairy products moving, support dairies and livestock producers, connect farmers to relief and mental health resources, and distribute food assistance. She also said WSDA is working on a report due in July with recommendations for small and mid-sized farms and noted interest in developing a broader agricultural disaster assessment tool. Washington State Dairy Federation policy director Jay Gordon described repeated flooding in the Chehalis Basin and other areas, praised state and local partnerships, and argued that continued flood mitigation, storage, levee adjustments, and basin-specific planning are needed because these events are becoming more frequent and severe. Committee members asked about debris removal, federal disaster assistance, insurance challenges, farmworker impacts, and future mitigation projects, and the chair adjourned the meeting after thanking the presenters.

Transcript Highlights:

• if the health carrier objects to paying the assessment for reasons of conscience or religion.
• will be occurring and that the assessment will not be passed through to the enrollees.
• plan billing statement that gets sent to enrollees if there is a circumstance when the assessment is
• There's nothing in this assessment that requires any new coverage of abortion care by health insurers
• This bill, this would be confusing for enrollees as the assessment does not impact premiums.

Summary: The Senate Health and Long-Term Care Committee held confirmation hearings for Ryan Moran to lead the Health Care Authority and Dennis Worsham to serve as Secretary of Health. Moran emphasized his personal background, experience in Maryland Medicaid, and priorities of protecting coverage amid federal changes, addressing health disparities, strengthening tribal partnerships, and improving agency operations. Worsham described his long public health career in Washington, his statewide listening tour, and his focus on collaboration, science-based decision-making, accountability, workforce support, and rebuilding public trust. Senators raised questions about behavioral health, social determinants of health, communication, misinformation, and the impact of federal policy changes; both nominees said Washington should continue leading on coverage, prevention, and public health resilience. In executive session, the committee advanced several bills. It passed SB 5899, allowing qualified chiropractors to perform chiropractic diagnosis and adjustments on animals; SB 6292, creating a joint legislative-executive committee on health care financing with a substitute; SB 6182, establishing an abortion savings program, after rejecting several Christian-sponsored amendments and adopting a Bateman amendment limiting eligible organizations to DOH-contracted abortion providers or funds; SB 5947, creating the Washington Health Care Board; SJR 8206, proposing a constitutional right to affordable health care; and SB 5933, on overdose mapping information sharing, with a substitute. The committee also recommended confirmation of both gubernatorial appointments. In a second group of bills, the committee passed SB 5823 on patient advocates with a substitute requiring at least one person physically present daily in acute care settings and expanding exemptions for certain hospitals; SB 6210 on the health plan certification process with a substitute; SB 5921 on psilocybin; SB 6226 protecting audiologists’ clinical autonomy with a substitute; and SB 5924 expanding pharmacists’ prescriptive authority with a substitute. Members discussed access, affordability, rural workforce shortages, and patient safety, and the committee adjourned after completing its agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• There are two specific waivers that we are looking at requesting, and they're both around assessments
• There's been a lot of discussion over time on who's assessing.
• We have put a lot of resources into literacy based on the state assessment.
• Related to assessments, there's also been a lot of discussion in the last few years on where and how
• where they want to go, I also believe... ...on matching the assessment that fits where they want to

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 1192 raises the DUI assessment fee from $160 to $200.
• The DUI assessment fee from $160 to $200.
• No, these fees would be paid prior to taking the assessment.
• No, these fees would be paid prior to taking the assessment.
• It's like any other fee that you would, assessment.

Bills: SB1192 , SB1264 , SB1284 , SB1810 , SB1921

Committee: Senate Public Safety

Keywords: substance abuse, counseling, assessment fees, mental health, alcohol and drug programs, domestic violence, domestic abuse, assault and battery, assault, battery, strangulation, dangerous weapon, family or household member, intimate partner, pregnant woman, great bodily injury, batterers intervention program, batterers' intervention, anger management, victim safety

Summary: The Public Safety Committee met and first laid over Senate Bill 1284 by Vice Chair Hamilton until the following week. The committee then heard Senate Bill 1192 by Senator Mann, which would raise the DUI assessment fee from $160 to $200 to help stabilize independent assessment providers; members asked about who pays the fee and whether there was a fiscal impact, and the bill passed 7-0. The committee also heard Senate Bill 1264 by Senator Gillespie, which expands the definition of great bodily injury to include concussions, prolonged pain, and injuries affecting more than 10% of the victim’s body, and adds coverage for offenses committed in the presence of a minor; after questions about the new standards and duplicate repealer language, it passed 7-0. Senate Bill 1921 by Senator Murdock was heard next. It increases OSBI background check fees, including criminal history and fingerprint-based checks, with the added revenue intended for electronic infrastructure and staffing; members questioned whether the fees would be charged to requesting agencies as well as individuals, and the bill passed 7-0. The committee then heard Senate Bill 1810 by Senator Weaver, an Attorney General request bill that would allow human trafficking expert testimony in court and add human trafficking victims to the list of persons eligible for Attorney General Victim Service Unit services; Senator Weaver explained the need for specialized testimony and victim support, and the bill advanced 7-0.

Transcript Highlights:

• And what what formative assessment.
• This really is about that formative assessment for entry.
• This just removes the expectation for that assessment score.
• This really is about that formative assessment for entry.
• However, it does allow assessment score.

Committee: House Primary and Secondary Education

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Those included an assessment process called a QSI.
• The other two components are a needs assessment.
• The other two components are a needs assessment.
• So I want to switch gears to the assessment, the QSI assessment in particular.
• So APD performs that assessment.

Summary: The Health and Human Services Committee received an overview of Florida’s intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) managed care pilot, created by legislation in 2023 to test whether a managed care model could integrate Medicaid medical services with iBudget waiver home- and community-based services for adults in pre-enrollment categories. AHCA explained the existing system, the pilot’s scope in Regions D and I, and the rollout timeline, including federal approval, contract execution with Florida Community Care, and the October 2024 go-live. Officials reported that, as of early February, 370 individuals had been sent for onboarding and 168 more were in queue, with about $35.8 million of the appropriation remaining. APD also clarified the difference between the pre-enrollment categories and the waiver waitlist, and noted that crisis cases can be enrolled more quickly depending on eligibility and funding. Florida Community Care described the pilot as a comprehensive managed care model offering medical, long-term care, and iBudget services, plus enhanced benefits such as bed-hold days, caregiver transportation, and help with legal guardianship costs. The plan said it uses one care coordinator, a 1:18 coordinator ratio, a face-to-face assessment within five days of enrollment, and 180 days of continuity of care for existing providers. The company emphasized that it is recruiting providers by offering higher rates than some iBudget rates, lower administrative burden, and network adequacy incentives, while APD said it continues to monitor provider supply and demand and recruit across service types and regions. Members repeatedly questioned whether the pilot’s costs, provider rates, and service levels were truly comparable to the iBudget system, and AHCA and APD said it was too early to draw firm conclusions because claims data are still lagging. Committee members also raised concerns about communication, enrollment delays, provider shortages, and whether the pilot could scale statewide. APD said it has used letters, phone calls, texts, emails, and community meetings to reach eligible individuals, and that some delays stem from required assessments, Medicaid eligibility checks, and level-of-care determinations. Several members asked for more detailed comparisons of costs and provider reimbursement between the pilot and iBudget, and APD said it would provide additional data. Public testimony at the end was strongly critical of managed care, with a participant and his mother describing poor service, transportation failures, and loss of control under prior managed care arrangements, and urging the committee not to expand such a model without safeguards. No votes or formal committee action were taken before adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• This risk assessment will have to be done prior to any bond that can be paid.
• So I was surprised to see the word actuarial assessment.
• Why say actuarial assessment?
• Will this be a big cost to the counties for this assessment? No, no, it won't be at all.
• The counties, for this assessment? No, it won't be at all. Do you hear a motion?

Summary: The committee first considered Senate Bill 419, as amended to update the effective date to 2026. The bill would allow the State Treasurer and the Department of Wildlife Conservation/Wildlife Conservation Commission to employ or appoint attorneys, joining other entities already authorized to do so. Supporters argued the treasurer’s office handles highly specialized financial matters and large state assets, and that in-house counsel could provide faster, more specialized advice. Members questioned possible conflicts with the Attorney General’s role, the fiscal impact, and why Wildlife was included; the sponsor said Wildlife’s inclusion was tied to similar specialized needs and indicated willingness to remove it if needed. The bill received a due pass recommendation on a 7-2 vote. The committee then heard Senate Bill 835, also amended to update the effective date to 2026. This measure would require qualifying licensing boards and commissions to submit proposed non-rulemaking actions with anti-competitive implications for review, shifting oversight from the Attorney General to the Secretary of State. The sponsor said the bill was intended to address antitrust concerns raised by the North Carolina dental board case and to provide earlier executive-branch review of potentially anti-competitive board actions. Members raised concerns about whether the Secretary of State should be the arbiter of anti-competitive conduct and whether existing court remedies or current executive-order processes were sufficient. The bill passed on an 8-2 due pass vote. Senate Bill 1618 would require courts to conduct pretrial risk assessments early in criminal cases. The sponsor said the assessments would be one tool judges could use in setting bond and determining release conditions, and that the bill was intended to make the practice available statewide rather than only in some counties. Questions focused on who would validate the assessments, whether counties already could do this, whether it would delay release in smaller counties, and whether it would add costs; the sponsor said counties could tailor the process, that it was already being done in some places, and that the fiscal impact would be minimal. The committee voted 6-4 to report the bill due pass. Finally, the chair presented Senate Bill 262, which had been amended and had its title and enacting clause struck as part of ongoing work. The bill was described as an effort to reduce county jail overcrowding by allowing certain inmates awaiting transfer to the Department of Corrections to be handled differently, with further amendments expected. Members discussed concerns about fairness and the use of factors such as community ties in release decisions, and the sponsor said the measure was still being refined and was intended to solve a practical jail-capacity problem. The committee voted 8-1 to pass the bill out.

Transcript Highlights:

• 1 and Grade 10 ELA assessment, making them 30% of the final course grade rather than the graduation
• calendars, and requires districts to note state versus district assessments.
• ...flexibility in their assessment calendars, but requires districts to note state versus district assessments
• Students with disabilities whose IEP indicates that participation in a statewide assessment program is
• and turning the 10th grade ELA assessment into a portion of the class grade, 30% of the class grade,

Committee: Senate Education Pre-K - 12

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 296, as amended by strike-all, on middle and high school start times. Senator Bradley explained that the amendment would repeal the statewide mandate for later start times and return scheduling decisions to local school boards, while still requiring districts to inform the community about the health, safety, and academic effects of sleep deprivation and to consider later start times when setting transportation schedules. Testimony and debate were largely in support, with several school district and education group representatives waiving in support, and members citing transportation, staffing, family logistics, and cost concerns under the existing mandate. The strike-all was adopted, and SB 296 was reported favorably by roll call vote, with Senators Berman, Osgood, and Chair Calatayud voting yes and Senator Gaetz voting no; other members were absent or not recorded in the excerpt. The committee then heard Senate Bill 356, which would designate January 27 as Holocaust Remembrance Day in Florida. Senator Berman said the date matches the UN’s Holocaust Remembrance Day and would require the governor to annually proclaim it, while allowing public observance and instruction about the Holocaust’s harms and its impact on the Jewish community and humanity. There was no substantive opposition in the excerpt, and the bill was reported favorably by roll call vote with yes votes from Senators Berman, Gaetz, and Chair Calatayud. Finally, the committee considered Senate Bill 166 on administrative efficiency in public schools. Senator Simon described a broad deregulation package affecting student assessments, grade promotion, teacher evaluations, contracts and certification, school board operations, instructional materials timelines, internal audits, facilities planning, cost-per-student-station limits, emergency make-up days, federal fund timing, and VPK oversight. Testimony was mixed: school district and education organization representatives generally supported the flexibility, while some groups opposed or urged changes to the grade 4 promotion and graduation-related provisions, arguing they could weaken academic standards. After debate focused especially on third-grade promotion and testing requirements, the bill was reported favorably by roll call vote. At the end of the meeting, members recorded their votes on SB 296 and SB 356, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c><00:02:53.280><c> grant</c> assessments of potential grantees, grant assessments of potential grantees
• Pre-risk pre-awward assessment process.
• ><c> to</c><00:03:27.200><c> protect</c> Risk assessments are intended to protect Risk assessments are
• It takes pre-awward risk assessments.
• I'm going to be assessment submit.

Committee: House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And so we want our assessments to be accurate.” “Right.
• But as assessments take place in those counties or those school districts, as assessments take place,
• based on yearly assessments, and that's right?
• Yearly assessments, that's right.
• But in the last few years, as we saw residential assessments go up and the other assessments didn't,

Summary: The House first established a quorum after a quorum call and also welcomed guests from the Gateway Bleeding Disorders Association in recognition of Bleeding Disorders Awareness Month. The chamber then took up House Bill 2780, a major property tax reform measure, and adopted House Committee Substitute No. 2 before ordering it perfected and printed. The bill’s sponsor described four main provisions: applying Hancock rollback limits by subclass, adjusting the school levy floor from 2.75 to 2.20 while preserving current districts below 2.75 at that level for now, extending physical inspection protections to commercial property when assessments rise 15% or more, and requiring an old levy to expire before a new levy can take effect. Members from both parties largely supported the bill, though several raised concerns about the school levy floor and its interaction with the foundation formula; the sponsor said the bill was intended to stabilize taxes and send the issue to the Senate for further work. The substitute was adopted and the bill was perfected and printed. The House then considered a combined substitute for House Bills 2592, 2787, and 2834, which would restore voting rights to Missourians on probation or parole who are not incarcerated. The sponsor said the bill reflects accountability and reentry, and members discussed how election officials would determine eligibility, what happens if a voter later violates parole, and whether the measure could affect elections. Supporters, including members with corrections and election administration experience, said many people on supervision are working, paying taxes, and should be able to vote; opponents or skeptics focused on the seriousness of criminal penalties and the need to preserve public confidence. The substitute was adopted and the combined bill was ordered perfected and printed. Finally, the House took up House Bill 2125. The sponsor said it has three provisions: codifying the sharing of citizenship-status information in an existing Department of Revenue/Secretary of State data exchange, removing a sunset on the Secretary of State’s authority to seek court relief and subpoena records in credible election-violation investigations, and extending a technology fee sunset for another five years. The sponsor said the subpoena authority had been used only twice since 2020 and was intended to gather information, not automatically bring charges. Discussion on the bill began after the sponsor’s presentation.

Transcript Highlights:

• So this is our best assessment of what is needed at this time.
• So we don't have data, like, as of yesterday, for example, to make that assessment.
• How are we able to have that assessment?
• Well, we've made an assessment based on what. And why should we support this?
• That simply we believe what we believe, we said what we said, we assessed what we assessed, and we can't

Committee: Senate Budget and Fiscal Review

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 143 basically removes the sunset from the assessment tax to nursing homes.
• Senate Bill 143 basically removes the sunset from the assessment tax to nursing homes.
• So why not swap the gavl over lower hospitals assessment and medic...
• assessment sunset calls removed. removed. removed.
• :20:35.440><c> that</c><00:20:35.679><c> removes</c> same assessment bill uh that removes same assessment

Bills: SB146 , SB143 , SB144 , SB145 , HB224 , SB152 , SB153 , SB154 , SB162 , SB226 , SB146 , SB143 , SB144 , SB145 , HB224 , SB152 , SB153 , SB154 , SB162 , SB226

Committee: House Ways and Means General Fund

Keywords: supplemental appropriation, FY2025 budget, general fund, Alabama State Board of Public Accountancy, Unified Judicial System, court automation, advanced technology and data exchange, judiciary funding, transportation debt service, highway bonds, bridge bonds, Alabama Department of Transportation, ALDOT, public highways, federal matching funds, state appropriations, bond principal and interest, special funds, budget amendment, SB143

Transcript Highlights:

• We did a housing needs assessment a couple years back, and it found that by 2030 the state will need

Committee: House Housing

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, modern technology, it's now a 3D screen, so it's almost like a computer game.
• > now</c><00:44:45.240><c> uh</c><00:44:45.800><c> a</c><00:44:46.079><c> 3D</c><00:44:46.800><c> screen
• so it's almost it's now uh a 3D screen so it's almost uh<00:44:49.920><c> like</c><00:44:50.119><c>
• No, we have to stop and pause and assess the process and see have we really set up our employees for
• </c><02:07:30.079><c> the</c><02:07:30.400><c> process</c> to stop and pause and assess the process to

Committee: House State-federal Relations and Veterans Affairs

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• PROPERTY THAT MOVES BETWEEN DIFFERENT ASSESSMENT PRACTICES.
• CHAIRMAN AND SENATORS THIS AMENDMENT REQUIRES THE PROPERTY ASSESSED UNDER THIS NEW ASSESSMENT OPTION
• TO BE ASSESSED AT A JUST VALUE.
• MILLAGE IS LOCAL GOVERNMENT THE SPENDING SIDE, WE JUST DID THE ASSESSMENTS.
• AND SO WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT THE ASSESSMENT ASIDE.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• range for locally assessed providers, which is 1f%.
• If I am using my math skills correctly, this would mean the assessed value of this property is.
• Want to be assessed at this one level, right?
• This is about investing your dollars into an area in return for yes, a lower assessment rate.
• And I believe this is a reasonable assessment for the investment that's been made.

Bills: SB2102 , SB1940 , SB1625 , SB1442 , SB1623 , SB1242 , SB1949 , SB1592 , SB1913 , SB592 , SB992 , SB1241 , SB259 , SB1928 , SB1426 , SB1531 , SB1561 , SB1122

Keywords: credit card fees, merchant discounts, payment card network, interchange fees, transparency in fees, Oklahoma law, payment card, rebate, merchant, tax compliance, health insurance, mandate, impact analysis, insurance department, public health, access to healthcare, SB1442, alcoholic beverage control, ABLE Commission, liquor license fees