Transcript Highlights:

• My current hospitalization, the many short-term hospitalizations I've experienced, and the trauma I've
• My current hospitalization, the many short-term hospitalizations I've experienced, and the trauma I've
• from the hospitals, the things that led them to be hospitalized have not been addressed.
• I've been in the hospital a couple of times.
• This type of coercion is sadly common in the hospital. The hospital locked up my cell phone.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery

Summary: The hearing opened with remarks from House Chair Mindy Domb and Senate Vice Chair Robyn Kennedy, who outlined procedures for the hybrid public hearing, noted the committee would hear testimony on 15 bills related to treatment settings, and recognized members present. The first major bill discussed was H. 4200, authorizing a pilot program for psychedelic-assisted treatment in licensed facilities. Representative Jim O’Day and witnesses from Control Z supported the bill, describing it as a tightly controlled, medically supervised pilot with DPH oversight, limited sites, and screening requirements. Committee members asked about the number of sites and whether Column Health still existed; witnesses said the bill contemplated three separate pilot programs and that Column Health no longer existed after being purchased by another company. The committee also heard testimony on S. 1405 to make the drug stewardship program permanent by removing its 2026 sunset date. Senator John Keenan and others said the program helps collect and safely dispose of unused medications, reduces diversion, and should remain in place because manufacturers should bear disposal costs. A member from Boston added support based on local concerns about people searching through bags for drugs, and Keenan explained the original sunset reflected pilot status and industry pushback. A large portion of the hearing focused on S. 1394 and H. 2193, which would strengthen implementation of the 2023 Roadmap for Behavioral Health Reform. The Children’s Mental Health Campaign, Parent/Professional Advocacy League, Massachusetts Association for Mental Health, and Elliott Community Human Services testified that the roadmap’s helpline, community behavioral health centers, and crisis services are important but unevenly implemented. They urged a single point of accountability within EOHHS, regular strategic planning, a public data dashboard, and financial analysis of the behavioral health system and the access and crisis intervention trust fund. Witnesses said commercial insurance often does not fully reimburse community behavioral health center services, making sustainability difficult, and asked for better coordination across agencies and crisis response systems. Committee members asked whether the roadmap includes substance use disorder; witnesses said it is intended to cover behavioral health broadly, including mental health and substance use. The committee also heard testimony on bills to ban aversives and on suicide prevention signage. Lisa Jean Graff testified in support of S. 1394 by urging a statewide ban on aversive practices, including electric shock, withholding food or bathroom access, and other painful interventions, arguing disabled people deserve the same protections from harm as others. Fonda Bryant and Carol McLean supported a bill requiring suicide prevention signs on tall parking garages, describing personal experiences and saying the signs could create a brief pause and connect people to 988 or other help. McLean said her son died by suicide from a parking garage and that signage might have made a difference. The committee also heard strong testimony in support of creating intensive stabilization and treatment units within DMH facilities (S. 1398/H. 2204), with the Massachusetts Nurses Association and a DMH nurse arguing that highly assaultive patients need specialized, more secure units to protect staff and other patients and to improve care. Additional testimony supported creating a dedicated board for licensed mental health counselors (H. 4696/S. 1382), with Rep. John Badger, the Mass Mental Health Counselors Association, and others saying LMHCs are a large and growing workforce that needs its own licensing board, clearer standards, and faster implementation of existing licensure reforms. The committee also heard extensive testimony on H. 2223 regarding benzodiazepines and non-benzodiazepine hypnotics. Survivors and advocates described severe withdrawal, lack of informed consent, cognitive harms, and long-term disability, while a physician supported the bill as a way to improve disclosure of risks. Finally, the committee heard multiple witnesses in favor of H. 2231/S. 1383 to establish peer-run respite centers statewide. Advocates and people with lived experience said peer respites provide non-coercive, home-like alternatives to hospitalization, can reduce trauma and repeated admissions, and may be especially important for marginalized communities; they also cited cost savings and existing positive outcomes from current respite programs. No votes or final committee actions were taken during the hearing portion reflected in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• And sometimes, uh, the, the perpetrator will, like, come to the hospital and, and, and, hospital with
• Recently, we. and a hospital that my organization is connected to.
• Contact at these hospitals won't necessarily be a sane nurse.
• Thank you, because I believe in protocol. Mr. Money. Absolutely and and mr.
• Going into the hospitals, not knowing what's going to happen next.

Bills: HB47 , HB1552 , HB1686 , HB1953 , HB2151 , HB2355 , HB2582 , HB2697 , HB2895 , HB3073 , HB3418 , HB47

Committee: House Criminal Jurisprudence

Transcript Highlights:

• Since hospitals are already exempt, we have to be considered, just like hospitals, as our services are
• Since the hospitals are already exempt, we have to be considered, just like hospitals as our services
• Hospitals are exempt under current law, and temporary staffing services provided to hospitals are not
• I'm the CEO of Mason General Hospital, a public hospital district and critical access hospital.
• He added that they had done research in Washington comparing non-340B hospitals—hospitals that pay local

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee held a public hearing on multiple bills, beginning with a motion to suspend the five-day notice rule for a long list of Senate bills, which passed on a voice vote. The committee first heard Substitute Senate Bill 6026, a governor-request housing bill that would require cities and counties over 30,000 population to allow residential uses in commercial and mixed-use zones, limit mixed-use/ground-floor commercial requirements in some areas, and allow added height where such requirements are imposed. The lieutenant governor testified strongly in support, arguing the bill would add needed housing capacity without requiring ground-floor retail burdens. The hearing on SB 6026 was then suspended so the committee could move through the agenda. The committee then heard Senate Bill 6294, a broad local government finance measure with eight parts, including expanded uses for certain REET revenues, a new county public utility tax, a new local sales tax for children and family services, expanded housing-related tax uses, changes to county levy structure, longer lid lift periods, and expanded use of rental car tax revenue. Local government, housing, and public health witnesses largely supported the bill, emphasizing flexibility for affordable housing, rental assistance, children’s services, and county fiscal stability. Opponents, including wireless industry, water/sewer district, auto dealer, realtors, energy, and cannabis representatives, objected to specific tax provisions as regressive, costly, or likely to raise consumer prices. Several witnesses requested amendments, including adding public health clinic funding and flood recovery language from House bills. The committee also heard Substitute Senate Bill 5400 on local news sustainability, which would create a state grant program funded by a surcharge on large search engines and social media platforms to support journalism jobs and the Murrow Fellowship program. News organizations, the League of Women Voters, open government advocates, and local journalism supporters testified in favor, saying local news is essential to civic life and that the bill would help sustain reporting without using general fund dollars. Technology industry representatives opposed the bill, arguing it unfairly singles out tech companies and could face legal challenges. The committee then heard Senate Bill 6211, which would let opt-in GMA jurisdictions impose REET-2 without voter approval; cities and counties supported it as a parity and infrastructure funding measure, while Realtors opposed the loss of voter approval. Senate Bill 5650, authorizing local cannabis excise taxes, drew support from some local officials but strong opposition from cannabis businesses, which argued Washington’s cannabis taxes are already too high and drive sales to the illicit market. Senate Bill 6033, waiving penalties and interest for taxpayers who failed to collect new sales tax on certain services, was supported by NFIB as a compliance and fairness measure. Senate Bill 6297, exempting temporary staffing services for nonprofit behavioral health providers from sales tax, drew strong support from behavioral health organizations citing workforce shortages and unsustainable costs. Finally, Senate Bill 6343, extending and expanding tax relief for disaster-damaged property and repairs, was presented as aid for flood recovery; local officials testified in support. No final committee votes on the bills were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Eighty-two percent of ER visits by children take place in general hospitals.
• We have amazing children's hospitals in the state, but not every community has a children's hospital.
• So what this... ...but not every community has a children's hospital.
• This is really going to keep our children safe and make sure that hospitals are equipped to take care
• This is really going to keep our children safe and make sure that hospitals are equipped to take care

Summary: The Florida Senate convened with a quorum, heard an opening prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and then moved through a series of introductions recognizing guests, interns, public servants, and a Senate resolution honoring Indiana University quarterback Fernando Mendoza for winning the Heisman Trophy. The chamber then proceeded to the special order calendar, with several measures temporarily postponed before debate began on the day’s bills. The Senate passed CS/CS/HB 355 on health care patient protection, requiring hospitals with emergency departments to adopt pediatric emergency care policies, training, coordinators, and readiness assessments for children. It also passed CS/HB 1113 on public records, which narrows and clarifies confidentiality protections for victims and law enforcement officers who become victims, and CS/CS/HB 1085 on local government cybersecurity, creating a state-administered program through Florida Digital Service to help local governments obtain cybersecurity services and data-sharing support. The chamber also approved CS/HB 925 on clerks of court, allowing clerks to retain all revenue above annual projections and revising related fee distributions, and CS/HB 679 modernizing trademark registration by moving to the federal classification system and creating an online filing portal. The Senate also passed CS/CS/CS/HB 589 on septic system permits, aligning the bill with Senate language and clarifying liability if construction begins before a permit is issued. CS/HB 679 and the other noncontroversial measures passed unanimously or with broad support, while CS/HB 1113 passed 33-4 and CS/HB 1085 passed 37-0 after amendments. Several bills were temporarily postponed, including measures on land use and clerks of court. The most extensive debate came on the elections bill, CS/CS/HB 991, which would use DHSMV Real ID data to verify citizenship, change candidate-qualifying rules, alter acceptable photo IDs, and revise election administration procedures. Numerous amendments were offered and rejected, including proposals to protect voters who cannot afford citizenship documents, exempt older long-time voters, preserve student and retirement-center IDs, and delay the effective date. The Senate adopted an amendment that retained the citizenship-verification framework and added provisions on candidate disclosures, but the bill remained under debate at the end of the transcript, with senators arguing over voter access, fraud prevention, and the practical impact on students and seniors.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have amazing children's hospitals in the state, but not every community has a children's hospital.
• So what this bill does is make sure that all our hospitals who have emergency departments are ready and
• We have amazing children's hospitals in the state, but not every community has a children's hospital.
• So what this... but not every community has a children's hospital.
• This is really going to keep our children safe and make sure that hospitals are equipped to take care

Summary: The Florida Senate convened with a quorum, opened with a prayer and Pledge of Allegiance, and heard several member introductions recognizing guests, interns, public servants, and a resolution honoring Indiana University quarterback Fernando Mendoza for winning the Heisman Trophy. The chamber then moved to the special order calendar and took up a series of bills, with some measures temporarily postponed and others advanced after brief debate and, in several cases, substitution of House companions for Senate bills. The first major bill passed was CS/CS/HB 355 on health care patient protection, which requires hospitals with emergency departments to have pediatric emergency care policies, training, equipment, and a designated pediatric coordinator; it passed 36-0. The Senate also passed CS/HB 1113 on public records, expanding confidentiality protections for victims and temporarily protecting the name of a law enforcement officer who becomes a victim in the line of duty; it passed 33-4. CS/CS/HB 1085 on local government cybersecurity was amended to place the program under the Florida Digital Service and to adjust grant timing, then passed 37-0. CS/CS/HB 925 on clerks of court passed 38-0 after amendments affecting revenue retention, legal notices, traffic citation distributions, and municipal fee sharing. CS/CS/HB 679 on trademark registration modernization and CS/CS/HB 589 on septic permit timing also passed unanimously. The most extensive debate centered on CS/CS/HB 991 / SB 1334, an elections bill that would use Real ID data to verify citizenship, change voter ID rules, alter candidate qualifying requirements, and revise election administration procedures. Senators offered and debated numerous amendments on documentation fees, senior exemptions, human review versus automated systems, student and retirement-center IDs, and effective dates; most were defeated, though one amendment adding stock-trading disclosure language for candidates was adopted. The bill’s sponsor cited election-crimes reports and specific prosecutions involving non-citizens as justification for the measure, while opponents argued it could disenfranchise eligible voters, especially students and seniors. The transcript ends during continued questioning and debate on that elections bill, before final disposition is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• These requests range from 9-1-1 call data to response protocols, and emergency alerts.
• What was the protocol in the process to warn people? when that scenario comes up.
• National Weather Service, do you make an effort or is there a protocol in place to share?
• We had a public plan, we had evacuation protocols that we had put together.
• I was born at the Hunt-Peterson Hospital. Oh, sorry.

Committee: House Disaster Preparedness & Flooding, Select

Transcript Highlights:

• I think they've seen State Hospital.
• Their medical needs met. readmission to the hospital. The idea readmission to the hospital.
• </c> means take the person from the hospital means take the person from the hospital to<00:25:23.520>
• ,<00:58:17.200><c> the</c><00:58:17.320><c> clinics,</c> hospitals, the clinics, hospitals, the clinics
• So, hospitalization.

Committee: Joint Health Services

Transcript Highlights:

• and if the check is not our protocol and if the check is not returned<00:59:47.440><c> the</c><00:59
• Neither could provide a timeline, a protocol, or a solution.
• Neither could provide a timeline,<01:43:15.360><c> a</c><01:43:15.600><c> protocol,</c><01:43:16.239>
• </c> timeline, a protocol, or a solution. timeline, a protocol, or a solution.
• Um, I was hospitalized for six scene.

Committee: House Criminal Justice and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• protocol to communicate with<02:31:57.520><c> staff</c><02:31:58.080><c> without</c><02:31:58.640><c
• ><c> accounting</c> protocol for identifying and accounting protocol for identifying and accounting for
• <02:58:16.960><c> emotional</c><02:58:17.520><c> support,</c> hospitality emotional support, hospitality
• A protocol for identifying and accounting for each camper affected by the emergency event. 2.
• One, a protocol for following.

Summary: The meeting included a Senate recognition ceremony honoring the Winona High School boys basketball team for winning the 2026 Alabama High School Athletic Association 5A state championship. A resolution was read commending the team for its 101-40 victory over Silicag, noting the team’s record-setting performance, Brendan Davis’s MVP honor, the contributions of other players, and Coach Cedric Lane’s leadership. Senators and the lieutenant governor praised the players’ sportsmanship, the school community, and the team’s historic season, and copies of the resolution were presented to the team, coaches, and administrators. Several guests and school representatives also spoke briefly, including the coach and principal, who thanked the Senate and noted the team’s success and the principal’s retirement after 35 years. After the recognition, the Senate returned to session and adopted the Committee on Rules report setting the special order calendar. The calendar included Senate Bill 99 on the Ten Commandments, Senate Bill 298 on Class 3 municipalities, House Bill 381 on camp safety, Senate Bill 370 on tax increment districts, Senate Bill 363 on the Department of Economic and Community Affairs, House Bill 466 on firefighters, House Bill 95 on elections, House Bill 259 on stablecoin, and Senate Bill 342 on education. The chamber then took up SB 99, sponsored by Senators Kelly and Sessions. Senator Kelly described the bill as requiring local school boards to display the Ten Commandments, together with founding documents such as the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, Bill of Rights, and Alabama Constitution preamble, in certain history classrooms and common areas for grades five through 12, using donated displays and funds when available. He said the bill was intended as a historical and educational measure, not religious instruction, and emphasized the inclusion of a disclaimer stating Alabama is not establishing a religion. After extended debate and a petition to close debate from the Rules Committee, the Senate voted on the bill by long roll and passed SB 99, with the recorded vote announced as 30 yeas and 4 nays.

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c> restaurant food services, hospitals, restaurant food services, hospitals, colleges<00:37:50.320
• </c><01:20:45.679><c> What</c> protocol weren't being collected.
• What protocol weren't being collected.
• </c><01:21:56.480><c> So</c><01:21:56.639><c> I</c> management protocols so and policy.
• So I management protocols so and policy.

Committee: Senate Jobs and Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:

• H. 171, an act relating to criminal justice agency protocols for an officer-involved shooting.
• </c><00:12:41.920><c> for</c><00:12:42.040><c> an</c> justice agency protocols for an justice agency
• protocols for an officer-involved<00:12:43.120><c> shooting.
• </c> those who are outside of the hospital those who are outside of the hospital environment<01:32:04.440
• Um and right now our hospitals<01:45:54.080><c> and</c><01:45:54.360><c> other</c> hospitals and other

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> healthy and out of the hospital. healthy and out of the hospital.
• People who the hospital even sicker.
• </c> enforcement protocols and procedures. enforcement protocols and procedures.
• </c> hospitals with their activity. hospitals with their activity.
• No money to make sure our hospitals.

Transcript Highlights:

• They refused to let her call her family while she was in the hospital until somebody from the hospital
• she was in the hospital until somebody from<00:41:30.400><c> the</c><00:41:30.640><c> hospital</c><00
• ,</c> days of getting out of the hospital, days of getting out of the hospital, they<00:41:38.079><c>
• ,</c><02:29:22.000><c> we</c> or ignores established protocols, we or ignores established protocols,
• I also wanted to announce today that today is Colorado Hospitals Day at the Capitol.

Transcript Highlights:

• This means hospitals are likely to lose money on most avoidable ER visits.
• This means hospitals are likely to lose money on most avoidable ER visits.
• However, this shifts costs from hospitals to fire agencies.
• So we partner with both hospitals in Clark County.
• Out of hospital care back to the home.

Committee: Joint JLARC I-900 Subcommittee for SAO Performance Audits

Summary: The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee’s Initiative 900 subcommittee held a hybrid public hearing on two State Auditor performance audits. The first audit examined efforts to reduce non-emergency use of emergency systems through CARES programs. Auditors reported that Washington has 52 fire-agency-led CARES programs in 26 counties, but many communities without programs said they need one. Major barriers included unstable funding, difficulty hiring qualified staff, volunteer-based rural departments, and lack of statewide guidance. The audit also found that only about half of programs tracked both required performance measures, and it recommended that the legislature consider private insurance reimbursement options and convene a statewide work group to develop guidance, standards, and possible changes to the role of the Department of Health. Agency representatives and fire officials largely supported the findings and emphasized that short-term grants and one-year contracts make programs hard to sustain. Committee discussion focused heavily on financing, especially Medicaid reimbursement and accountable communities of health (ACHs). Auditors clarified that the 10% figure cited in the report referred to direct Medicaid reimbursement for treat-and-refer services, which some agencies do not pursue because the $115 rate is too low relative to the administrative effort. Several fire officials testified that their programs rely on grants and ACH support, but that funding is often year-to-year and uncertain. They also described the value of CARES programs in reducing emergency room use, jail detentions, and long ambulance wait times, while noting barriers to sharing patient records across systems. Members asked whether the new public safety sales tax authority could help, but fire district representatives said it is not a direct funding option for them. The second audit reviewed performance management in the Department of Commerce’s Office of Economic Development and Competitiveness. Auditors found that the division does not yet have a statewide economic development strategic plan and that performance management is inconsistent across its 16 programs. In a limited review, all six sampled programs had goals, but only half clearly identified performance measures and targets, and only three tracked outcomes and published results. The audit highlighted leading practices from other states, including strategic planning, regular progress reporting, aligning program goals with agency goals, and using performance-based contracts and grant monitoring. Recommendations urged Commerce to seek stakeholder input, assess internal and external conditions, set goals and measures, align programs with the strategy, and strengthen monitoring and evaluation. Commerce officials agreed with the audit and said the division is already working toward a strategic plan, with a new assistant director to be hired and a target of completing the work by mid-next year. Members pressed the department on how the plan would connect to workforce, higher education, housing, and other economic development systems, and asked Commerce to return to JLARC next year with progress updates. The meeting ended with instructions for submitting written public comments and notice of the next JLARC meeting schedule.

Transcript Highlights:

• To your right and to my left under the Pillars of Truth, I am proud to announce that our rural hospital
• They're doing a great job keeping our rural hospital alive and well, and I'd like everyone to welcome
• Our rural hospital in Rolla, Missouri, which is my district, is in great hands with the leadership from
• They're doing a great job keeping our rural hospital alive and well, and I'd like everyone to welcome
• that the gentleman talked about inside of a juvenile treatment facility is a part of that treatment protocol

Summary: The House opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and approval of the previous journal by roll call. Members then offered personal privilege remarks honoring Dr. Penelope Martin Knox of Raytown Schools for Black History Month and introduced guests, including Adeline Overcast, who was made a page for the day, and visitors from a rural hospital in Rolla. Several new bills were first read, including measures on blind pensions, penalties for impeding first responders, and flag display in the state capitol. The chamber then took up multiple third-reading bills. House Bill 2596, dealing with multiple employee self-insured health plans for small businesses, passed unanimously after supporters said it would help small employers offer affordable health coverage. House Bill 1644, addressing franchisor liability and joint-employer issues, passed 103-45 after debate over whether it protected small businesses or limited workers’ ability to sue franchisors. House Bill 2423, increasing funding for the Division of Finance through fee authority, passed 146-0 despite concerns about higher costs being passed on to consumers. House Bill 2641, regulating intoxicating hemp-derived products and aligning state law with federal changes, drew extensive debate over a beverage carve-out, impacts on hemp businesses, and public safety; it passed 109-34. The House also passed House Bills 2498 and the combined House Bills 2637 and 3155. HB 2498, a juvenile justice reform bill shifting some referral responsibilities to prosecutors and expanding information sharing, passed 100-44 after strong debate over whether it would politicize juvenile cases and overburden treatment facilities, versus claims it would improve accountability and public safety. The combined sentencing bill, HB 2637/3155, passed 102-45 amid disagreement over whether it was truly a transparency measure or instead increased mandatory minimums and reduced judicial discretion. Finally, the House considered House Joint Resolution 154, which opponents described as an attack on Medicaid expansion tied to work requirements. Supporters argued it would encourage able-bodied recipients to work, volunteer, or attend school and reduce administrative costs, while opponents warned it would increase bureaucracy and risk coverage losses for vulnerable Missourians. The transcript ends during the procedural vote on the previous question for HJR 154, before the final disposition is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• And if that platform stops, that organization stops being what it is, meaning a hospital stops treating
• They are no longer a hospital. And so that's the type of thing that we focus on.
• There's different protocols to be able to share that API, but it allows extensibility of that.
• There's different protocols to be able to share that API, but it allows extensibility of that.
• Protocols to be able to share that API, but it allows extensibility of that data, and again, that function

Summary: The subcommittee held its first meeting to examine Florida’s information technology governance, budgeting, cybersecurity, data management, and telecommunications operations. Chair Schneider and other members framed the panel as a new joint policy-and-budget forum focused on reducing jargon, improving accountability, and asking whether technology investments are feasible, aligned with state goals, cost-controlled, and secure. State Affairs Chairman Will Robinson and members emphasized that the committee should avoid buying “shiny new objects” without clear business cases and should focus on long-term value, cybersecurity, and operational efficiency. Florida Digital Service and Department of Management Services leaders provided an overview of the state IT enterprise. Secretary Pedro Allende described DMS as the state’s business, workforce, and technology service provider, while State CIO Warren Spanholz outlined Florida Digital Service’s four core areas: cybersecurity, project success, data interoperability, and enterprise architecture. Chief Data Officer Ed Ryan said the state data catalog is about 400,000 elements and roughly half of agencies are participating, and he described efforts to identify authoritative data sources and improve interoperability. Chief Information Security Officer Jeremy Rogers discussed the state cybersecurity operations center, enterprise risk management, incident response exercises, and a recurring $35 million cybersecurity resiliency budget. Chief Technology Officer Leo Schoonover described oversight of major IT projects over $10 million, updated project management standards, and a shift toward smaller phased implementations and more flexible methodologies to reduce delays and overruns. Other presenters covered telecommunications, data center operations, and cybersecurity workforce development. Director Denise Atkins said the Division of Telecommunications manages Suncom and MyFloridaNet, with nearly $336.9 million appropriated for fiscal year 2024-25, and is procuring the next network contract while emphasizing security controls and vendor flexibility. Tim Brown said the Northwest Regional Data Center operates on a chargeback basis, serves state and local customers, and returned surpluses to customers in recent years. Cyber Florida Director Ernie Ferraroso described training, workforce pipelines, K-12 outreach, a cyber range, and research programs aimed at building Florida’s cyber workforce and improving public-sector readiness. Members asked about budget setting, project delays, change orders, cybersecurity reporting, data catalog participation, interoperability, and expanding cybersecurity operations centers. Officials said chargeback rates are based on actual direct and indirect costs, project delays often stem from unclear scope and insufficient upfront planning, and cybersecurity success is measured by mean time to detect, respond, and recover. They also said the state is moving toward more modular project delivery, broader agency participation in shared cybersecurity services, and expanded CSOC locations within existing staff and budget where feasible.

Transcript Highlights:

• They'd have the procedure, then hang around the hospital. Hold on one second.
• and I don't really have anybody that is covering for me at the hospital.
• So they don't want to be on the hospital staff. So that's a big part of the problem.
• What is the protocol now after someone has surgery with you as an outpatient?
• , and as we heard earlier, sometimes in the hospital stay itself.

Bills: HB2051 , HB2324 , HB2439 , HB2457 , HB2686 , HB2837 , HB2875 , HB2953

Committee: Senate Regulatory Affairs and Government Efficiency

Keywords: AHCCCS, lactation care, breastfeeding, health services, healthcare access, HB2324, fire code, fire marshal, state fire marshal, municipalities, cities and towns, county-owned buildings, county buildings, intergovernmental agreement, IGA, fire inspection, occupancy certificate, building inventory, local government, county government

Transcript Highlights:

• The incubator was open to Florida-based specialty hospitals treating pediatric cancer patients.
• , Wolfson's Children's Hospital, Nemours Children's Hospital, and Nicklaus Children's Hospital.
• They're not one of the big hospitals or institutions.
• Every day I go to the hospital. Every day. I don't have any backup, so I'm the one there.
• “They don't belong to one hospital or one county or one community.

Committee: Senate Health Policy

Summary: The committee first received an update from the Department of Health on the Cancer Connect Collaborative, the Cancer Innovation Fund, and the new Cancer Connect Collaborative Research Incubator, created and expanded by recent legislation. The department reported that the Cancer Innovation Fund has awarded $80 million to 95 researchers to date, with $60 million available in the current cycle and 65 projects funded across 28 institutions in 16 cancer areas last year. The new pediatric cancer incubator received $30 million and awarded four Florida children’s hospitals $7.5 million each. Senators asked about outreach to oncologists statewide, peer review and accountability, funding for National Cancer Institute-affiliated institutions, and whether underserved and rural areas are being prioritized; the department said it uses website notices, listservs, collaborative outreach, and eligibility criteria favoring rural and high-cancer-care providers, and that it monitors projects through reports, expenditures, and contract provisions. The committee then heard Senate Bill 312 on patient-directed medical orders, which would create a voluntary, portable, physician-authorized electronic registry for patients to document end-of-life and serious-illness treatment preferences. Supporters, including nurses, hospice and emergency care advocates, and medical professionals, said the bill would help ensure patient wishes are accessible in emergencies, reduce unwanted interventions, and improve continuity of care. Opponents, including Florida Right to Life, argued the bill could broaden end-of-life decisions too far, raise privacy and coercion concerns, and allow withdrawal of care inappropriately. The sponsor said the measure is intended to support patient autonomy and is not anti-life, and noted she was open to amendments. After public testimony, the committee voted on SB 312 and reported it favorably. The roll call showed support from Senators Berman and Harrell, with the bill passing on the committee vote. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• and I don't really have anybody that is covering for me at the hospital.
• In other words, who's going to cover the hospital patients, who's going to take care?
• So they don't want to be on the hospital staff. So that's a big part of the problem.
• What is the protocol now after someone has surgery with you as an outpatient?
• , and as we heard earlier, sometimes in the hospital stay itself.

Summary: The committee approved the minutes and then heard several bills. HB 2686, sponsored by Rep. Heap, would require physicians performing surgeries at outpatient surgical facilities to annually and whenever changed provide the facility a call-coverage plan, including hospital coverage if applicable, to ensure patients have a known physician contact for complications; it passed 6-0 with one not voting. HB 2051 would require AHCCCS contractors, subject to CMS approval, to cover breastfeeding and lactation services in inpatient, outpatient, home-based, and group settings; supporters described the bill as improving maternal and infant health and AHCCCS said it was neutral with an estimated $1.8 million general fund cost, and it passed 6-0 with one not voting. HB 2837, a transparency bill for municipal zoning hearings, would require speakers to disclose compensation for testimony and require certain board members or hearing officers to disclose and recuse for recent ties to entities appearing before them; it passed 6-0 with one not voting. The committee also approved HB 2875, as amended, which clarifies local authority over commercial drone delivery systems and related land-use and zoning issues, including near airports; Zipline and industry supporters backed the bill as providing regulatory clarity, and it passed 6-0 with one not voting after adoption of the amendment. HB 2324 would let cities with their own fire codes, through an intergovernmental agreement, enforce those codes on county-owned buildings in city limits, with reporting requirements to the State Fire Marshal; county and fire-management representatives supported the measure as a clarification of jurisdiction, and it passed 6-0 with one not voting. HB 2439 would exempt single-user public or semi-public cold plunges from ADEQ pool rules, but the committee adopted an amendment removing ADEQ rulemaking authority; supporters said the bill would reduce confusion and regulatory burden, while one senator opposed it over public-health concerns, and it passed 4-2 with one not voting. HB 2457 would allow utilities to build certain co-located power plants without a certificate of environmental compatibility after notice and a public comment session, which opponents said would reduce public review and transparency for power plant siting, while supporters said it would streamline power development; it passed 4-2 with one not voting. Finally, HB 2953 would cap certain nondisciplinary and disciplinary civil penalties imposed by the State Board of Pharmacy at $25,000 in specified circumstances; a supporter said it matched limits used elsewhere and gave the board authority to use nondisciplinary actions, and it passed 6-0 with one not voting. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• It says it all data fields must comply and its continues through the bill with established protocols
• speaking and touring and 43 treatment facilities, halfway houses, sober homes, emergency rooms of hospital
• Agency for Healthcare Administration, Medical and mental health professionals, representative from hospitals