Transcript Highlights:

• Committee.
• Chair, Ranking Gildon, Allison Mandiola, staff to the Human Services Committee.
• Allison Mandiola, staff to the Human Services Committee.
• For the record, my name is Will Tronson, staff for the Human Services Committee.
• DCYF at a Senate Human Services work session last week cautioned the legislature to, quote, not view

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee met on February 6, 2026, and first voted to suspend the five-day notice rule for all bills on the agenda. Senators Braun and Gildon objected, arguing the bill needed more public review and that the fiscal note had only just been released, but a roll call vote passed 15-9 and the committee proceeded to Senate Bill 6346. Staff briefed SB 6346 as a proposal to create a 9.9% income tax on Washington taxable income above a $1 million per-household standard deduction, with a $50,000 charitable deduction, apportionment rules for nonresidents and certain professions, quarterly estimated payments, and credits for capital gains tax and certain business taxes. Staff said the tax would begin in 2029 and eventually raise about $3.5 billion annually from roughly 30,000 taxpayers. The bill also would expand the Working Families Tax Credit, create a sales tax exemption for grooming and hygiene products, increase the small business B&O tax credit and filing threshold, and end the B&O surcharge on high-grossing businesses one year early. Members questioned the bill’s constitutionality, its exemption from referendum, treatment of student athletes, natural-resource industries, and whether real estate gains would be captured. Public testimony was sharply divided. Supporters, including labor groups, educators, health care advocates, counties, child care workers, and some business owners and high-income individuals, said the bill would make the tax code more progressive and provide stable funding for health care, education, child care, public defense, and other services, while expanding the Working Families Tax Credit. Opponents, including many small business, construction, housing, and taxpayer advocates, argued the measure would function as a tax on pass-through businesses and retained earnings, harm housing production and investment, encourage wealthy residents and businesses to leave the state, and violate the state constitution or the will of voters. No final action on SB 6346 was taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Committee on Health and Human Services is called to order.
• , its division of fee-for-service management.
• Last week in the House Health and Human Services Committee, Access testified that the agency is paying
• When the Council of Human Service Providers asked me to participate in a meeting with providers who are
• When the Council of Human Service Providers asked me to participate in a meeting with providers who were

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:05:49.280><c> Next</c> committees. There being no need. Next committees.
• Next order of business, a meeting of the Committee on Committees and the Rules Committee.
• Without objection, the House stand in recess for meeting of committee on committees and rules committee
• </c><00:24:09.280><c> on</c> recess for meeting of committee on recess for meeting of committee on committees
• at</c><00:24:10.960><c> the</c> committees and rules committee at the committees and rules committee

Keywords: Convene 00:00 Motions, Petitions, and Communications 00:55 Introduction of New Bills and Resolutions 11:09 Motion to Act on HR 21 15:13 Recess for ConC and Rules Meeting 23:52 ConC and Rules Report 29:29 Adjournment 31:04, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 182 was filed at the request of the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services and addresses
• in your body, and members of the Department of Health and Human Services are here to speak on SB 182
• and Human Services.
• </c><00:48:28.599><c> Services</c> Department of Health and Human Services Department of Health and Human
• EMS</c> Health and Human Services put an EMS Health and Human Services put an EMS professional<00:50:

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman and committee.
• Good morning representatives and committee members.
• Once a child is conceived, it is a human being. It should have every right a human being has.
• I'm where the majority of this committee voted.
• Thank you, Chair King, members of the committee.

Bills: SB6, SB11, SB33

Keywords: electric power, interconnection, utilities, ERCOT, large load customers, water supply, sewer service, demand management, school prayer, Bible reading, religious text, public schools, Texas Education Code, student prayer, silent prayer, meditation, religious liberty, First Amendment, Establishment Clause, church and state

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, Chair and committee members.
• He thanked the committee and said he would move the bill.
• The committee then continued with questions and comments.
• I'm for humane treatment in prisons, for sure.
• Item number two, SB 221 was pulled by the committee, excuse me.

Summary: The Assembly Public Safety Committee met and adopted a consent calendar that included SB 4, SB 229, SB 385, SB 459, and SB 553. SB 221 was pulled by the committee and will return later. The committee then heard several bills, with members repeatedly noting the next hearing would be July 1 in Room 126. SB 281 by Senator Perez would require judges to use the exact statutory immigration-consequences advisement when taking pleas from noncitizen defendants. Supporters said judges have been deviating from the required language, creating confusion and harming defendants; opponents, including district attorneys, warned that the bill could affect plea withdrawals and appellate litigation unless amended. The committee discussed possible amendments, including a nonretroactivity clarification and language proposed by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, and the bill was passed on call. SB 337 by Senator Menjivar would strengthen protections against sexual abuse and misconduct in prisons, especially women’s prisons, by requiring documentation of searches, extending grievance timelines, limiting hiring of people with violent or sexual convictions, and improving investigation procedures. Supporters emphasized staff abuse, retaliation concerns, and the need for oversight; opposition testimony focused on transgender inmate placement and was criticized by committee members as not germane. The bill passed 9-0 to Appropriations. SB 379 by Senator Jones, dealing with oversight of sexually violent predator conditional release placements, passed to Appropriations after support from law enforcement and prosecutors and no opposition. SB 734 by Senator Caballero, which would provide due process protections for law enforcement officers affected by California Racial Justice Act findings, also passed to Appropriations with support from police and district attorney groups and no opposition. SB 551 by Senator Cortese, which would codify normalization and dynamic security principles in corrections, passed to Appropriations despite concerns from one member that it went too far in making prisons too home-like.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then there's $6 million for helping to integrate behavioral health services.
• And it's about 0.28 years of service credit that a female And that it's about 0.28 years of service credit
• it's homeless, and the wraparound services are so desperately needed.
• a human that would verify or dissent or disagree with the findings.
• Good afternoon, Chair and committee members.

Summary: The committee heard presentations on the Governor’s May Revision TK-12 education proposals, beginning with Proposition 98. The Department of Finance explained that the minimum guarantee rises by about $6.4 billion relative to the January budget across the three-year window, with a total of $124.9 billion in 2024-25, $125.1 billion in 2025-26, and $127.1 billion in 2026-27. Finance also described revised settle-up and reserve actions, including maintaining a $3.9 billion settle-up balance, increasing discretionary deposits into the Prop. 98 reserve, and ending with a projected reserve balance of about $10.3 billion. The Legislative Analyst’s Office said the overall estimates were reasonable but urged the state to fully fund the guarantee and use other budget actions or reserves to manage volatility rather than delay settle-up payments. Members questioned the rationale for leaving the $3.9 billion unsettled, and Finance said the amount reflects revenue uncertainty and the risk of overappropriating Prop. 98 if revenues later fall. The committee then reviewed the Department of Education portion of the May Revision. Finance said the budget adds positions and state operations funding for CDE and includes trailer bill changes affecting community schools, preschool, literacy, special education, charter accountability, and other programs. The LAO highlighted concerns and recommendations on several proposals, including the size and structure of the LCFF increase, the special education base-rate increase, additional one-time community schools funding, literacy coach and math professional development augmentations, the multilingual screener, inclusive college grants, homelessness grants, and the proposed paid pregnancy disability leave mandate. CDE supported the special education increase, paid pregnancy leave, community schools, homelessness funding, literacy and math investments, and preschool parity, while urging more support for county offices of education and clearer definitions and implementation details for some programs. Finance said the paid pregnancy leave proposal would cost an estimated $218 million annually and is intended as a recruitment and retention measure. In the Commission on Teacher Credentialing item, Finance proposed funding for legal staffing tied to SB 848 and educator misconduct cases, plus funding and fee changes to support a statewide transcript review platform for subject matter competency and additional support for the residency technical assistance center. The LAO said it had no concerns with the staffing for misconduct and SB 848, recommended the transcript review platform and related fee increase if the platform moves forward, and recommended rejecting the residency technical assistance center expansion because current funding lasts through 2029. CTC said the misconduct workload has grown over the last five to six years and that AI would be used only as a backstop to human review in the transcript system. Public commenters were split, with unions and education groups supporting special education, paid pregnancy leave, community schools, homelessness funding, and literacy investments, while opposing the $3.9 billion settle-up delay and the reduction to preschool COLA.

Transcript Highlights:

• Conference Committee report on House File 2115, an act relating to human services.
• services to human services, and the policy that we have contains a lot of provisions that were in the
• Just wanted to say thank you to the human services team, from the commissioner to her staff, Liz Bailey
• services to human services, and the policy that we have contains a lot of provisions that were in the
• Just wanted to say thank you to the human services team, from the commissioner to her staff, Liz Bailey

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• to the Public Employment and Retirement Committee.
• I became sure the Local Government Committee led into my freshman year, and Marisa is the only committee
• Lancaster, for 45 years of service.
• Disaster recovery is a human issue. We all know this.
• Members, the following committee will meet today: Select Committee on Alternative Protein Innovation

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Human Services.
• I went to Bismarck to the West Central Human Service Center, and I did my fingerprinting and all of that
• Also, with the human service zone, could there be a tribal exemption that it doesn't function?
• Like it was mentioned with the human service zones, there has been trying to make waivers more efficient
• Like it was mentioned with the human service zones, there was been of trying to make waivers more efficient

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This joint hearing of the Senate Committee on Education and Committee on Health and Human Services will
• </c> Calling back to order the joint Committee on Education and Committee on Health and Human Services
• human services chair. chair. chair.
• If not, both committees on transportation and the health and human services committee.
• and human transportation and the health and human services<01:32:20.159><c> committee.

Bills: SB3263, SB3261

Keywords: student-athletes, name image likeness, NIL, compensation, transparency, University of Hawaii, Title IX, funding, protections, athlete agents, student athletes, endorsement contracts, professional representation, registration requirements, sports law, 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint Senate Committee on Education and Committee on Health and Human Services heard testimony on several bills related to student health and safety, University of Hawaii programs, and workforce development. For SB 2969, which would appropriate funds for the University of Hawaii to expand and sustain the Maui Wildfire Exposure Study and Maui Health Registry, testimony was overwhelmingly supportive. Witnesses described the ongoing physical and mental health impacts of the August 2023 Maui fires, said the study has identified serious untreated conditions and connected participants to care, and emphasized its role in serving survivors and training students. The committee also heard support from the Department of Health, the Alzheimer’s Association, the American Lung Association, Maui residents, and study staff. No vote was taken during the hearing. The committee then heard SB 2657, which would establish an Alzheimer disease and related dementia research center at the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine. University of Hawaii and Alzheimer’s Association representatives supported the bill, saying a local center would improve coordination of existing research, build state capacity, and help Hawaii compete for future NIH designation and federal funding. A family member affected by Alzheimer’s also testified in support, citing the disease’s impact in Hawaii. In response to questions, the university said the proposal would follow a five-year phased plan, with the first year funding used to recruit a senior neuroscientist and staff person, at an estimated cost of about $375,000, and that the effort would still strengthen Hawaii’s research infrastructure even if federal funding is not secured. For SB 2612, which clarifies immunity for Department of Education employees and agents who assist students with medication administration under certain conditions, the Department of Education said the bill is intended to protect volunteers and help ensure students can participate in school activities even when staffing is limited. The committee discussed how volunteers would be selected and whether every school would have someone available, and DOE said schools currently rely on health attendants, nurses, and trained volunteers. The committee also briefly discussed liability language and gross negligence exceptions. The hearing then moved to SB 2412, which would fund a bachelor’s degree program in sign language and sign language interpretation at UH Mānoa with a future master’s pathway. Testimony from interpreters, educators, and university officials emphasized the shortage of interpreters, the need to retain local talent, and the program’s role in building a pipeline; university representatives said the initial request would fund a faculty/staff position as a first step, with additional funding needed later. No final committee action or votes were announced in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• President, I move for the adoption of standing committee report number 1350. Senator DeCorte. Mr.
• The participating organizations include the Domestic Violence Action Center, Institute for Human Services
• > Children</c> Human Services, Parents and Children Human Services, Parents and Children Together,<00
• to the final committee is 5:00 p.m. this afternoon.
• </c><00:07:13.039><c> reports</c> adoption of standing committee reports adoption of standing committee

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• After its introduction, my office worked closely with the Department of Health and Human Services to
• You passed a reckless budget that was balanced in name only after making deep cuts to human services
• Through our Department of Health and Human Services, we're supporting the Make America Healthy Again
• And finally, the legal counsels I've had, John Dugger, went to the Health and Human Services Committee
• And finally, the legal counsels I've had, John Dugger, went to the Health and Human Services Committee

Bills: LR509, LR510, LR511

Keywords: congratulations, Nebraska Sandhills Cowboy Hall of Fame, Deloris Marshall Adamson, recognition, achievement, service, retirement, Nebraska Legislature, public service, legislature, Nebraska, 956, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And who has an amazing committee that is smart and works and cares and is humane and will figure it out
• </c> environment transportation committee. environment transportation committee.
• Committee<01:24:24.239><c> announcements,</c> Committee announcements, Committee announcements, appropriations
• </c> &gt;&gt; The health committee. &gt;&gt; The health committee.
• </c> committee will not be meeting today. committee will not be meeting today.

Keywords: House streaming session for Wednesday, January 14, 2026, 957, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Calling the Committee on Health and Human Services, um, informational briefing today on October 28, 10
• Department of Human Services.
• </c> at the Hawaii Department of Human at the Hawaii Department of Human Services.<00:10:05.279><c> Um
• Thank you department of human services.
• </c><00:42:44.960><c> services,</c> affairs, department of human services, affairs, department of human

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on Health and Human Services held an informational briefing on the federal shutdown’s impact on state benefits, with the main focus on SNAP. DHS Benefit, Employment and Support Services Division Administrator Scott Morish explained that SNAP serves about 86,229 households statewide, or 168,947 individuals, and averages roughly $58–60 million in monthly federal benefits. He said USDA directed states to suspend November SNAP benefits effective November 1 if the shutdown continues, while existing October balances on EBT cards remain usable and cash benefits such as TANF, General Assistance, and AABD are not affected. DHS said it has continued processing applications, recertifications, interviews, and required reporting, and has posted public guidance on its website. Morish also reviewed other SNAP-related changes taking effect November 1 under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, including expanded able-bodied adult work requirements and tighter non-citizen eligibility rules. He said the work requirements now extend from ages 18–54 to 18–64 and apply to additional groups previously exempt, while only lawful permanent residents, COFA residents, and Cuban or Haitian entrants will remain eligible among non-citizens. He also noted Hawaii’s ongoing SNAP benefit reduction tied to a federal calculation error in the thrifty food plan, which has lowered benefits by about $8 per person per month for the past three years. On the state response, DHS said it is working with the Hawaii Food Bank and seeking $2 million in state funding to support it, and is also developing a Hawaii Relief Program using TANF reserve funds. The program is intended as a short-term housing and utility assistance program for families with dependent children under 300% of the federal poverty level, with up to four months of assistance. Senators questioned why rainy day funds were not being used and whether the state could directly fund EBT cards; DHS responded that the TANF approach was the fastest available option, that EBT delivery involves significant technical and administrative mechanics, and that the department is still in discussions with the vendor and other stakeholders about additional options.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Committee on Fiscal Policy will now come to order.
• Thank you, Madam Chair, and members of the committee.
• Thank you, Madam Chair, members of the committee.
• Good morning, Chair and members of the committee.
• This is the Fiscal Policy Committee.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• [Music] The House Human Services Finance and Policy Committee will come to order.
• </c> Industry the Department of Human Industry the Department of Human Services<00:02:10.599><c> and<
• I know that this struggle because I've lived it now as a legislator and on the House Human Services Committee
• </c> legislator and and on the house um Human legislator and and on the house um Human Services<01:42
• 01:42:24.199><c> stand</c><01:42:24.520><c> by</c> Services committee I refuse to stand by Services committee

Bills: HF1419, HF500

Keywords: nursing facilities, reimbursement rates, elderly care, minimum wage, healthcare funding, nursing home, employment standards, worker rights, Minnesota Statutes, labor compensation, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator, do we have a schedule for the joint budget committees?
• &gt;&gt; SENATOR, DO WE HAVE A SCHEDULE FOR THE JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEES?
• Do you expect the budget committees will meet again?
• We have to show them the humanity.
• And see Black people as human.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate opened with routine proceedings, approved the prior journal, and processed several messages from the Assembly, including motions to discharge and substitute identical Senate bills for Assembly bills on the calendars. The chamber also reconsidered and restored Senate Print 1788, an act amending the Real Property Tax Law, to the third reading calendar. The Rules Committee reported Senate Print 10324, the state budget appropriations bill, directly to third reading, and the Senate accepted the message of necessity and laid the bill aside before taking it up on the controversial calendar as a budget extender. A lengthy debate followed on the budget extender, with Senator O’Mara and others criticizing the continued delay in finalizing the state budget, the lack of public details, and the absence of a schedule for joint budget committee meetings. Senator Serrano responded that the extender was necessary to keep state government operating while final budget negotiations continued, but could not provide specifics on policy items such as Tier 6 pension changes, New York City aid, local government support, or school aid. The extender was ultimately passed 56-2, with Senators Rhoads and Weik voting no. The Senate then adopted several previously adopted resolutions, including a memorial resolution for former Congressman Eliot Engel and a resolution marking the fourth anniversary of the Tops Friendly Markets mass shooting in Buffalo. The Buffalo resolution prompted extensive remarks from multiple senators about racism, gun violence, community trauma, and the need for policy responses; it was adopted with broad support. The chamber also passed a series of bills on the third reading calendar covering highway, municipal, environmental, banking, veterans, education, public health, and public service matters, with most passing overwhelmingly and a few drawing minority opposition. Notable floor debate occurred on a study bill regarding battery energy storage systems, where senators raised concerns about fire safety and siting; the bill passed 45-13. The Senate adjourned to reconvene on Monday, May 18 at 11:00 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I believe, like I said, I'm joined by our Director of Health and Human Services in Plymouth, Michelle
• Services through ARPA funding.
• of services, including home-delivered meals, homemaker services, personal care services, and personal
• of services, including home-delivered meals, homemaker services, personal care services, personal emergency
• , connecting with services.

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:

• Well, the process starts by engaging the community through visioning committees, facility committees,
• The last meeting of the bond committee was... it's a board committee; it's not a member of a district
• committee—it's a board committee.
• Chairman, committee members, I'm Robert Norris.
• As the Chair of the House Transportation Committee, the committee, Chairman Canales' office led a robust

Bills: HB1540, HB3837, HB5571, SB370, SB2425

Keywords: government review, Texas Sunset Act, regulatory oversight, agencies, sunset provisions, autonomous vehicles, regulation, safety, criminal offense, Autonomous Vehicle Commission, registration, regulations, Level 4 automation, Level 5 automation, self-driving technology, traffic laws, permit system, collision reporting, safety standards, Automated Vehicle Commission