Transcript Highlights:

• The mentor pool that we have because our the majority of our support is provided by our peer mentors
• are each of our students will have residential mentor, who was a our students will have residential mentor
• So the mentor pool that we can provide and the size we're campus, the number of inclusive classes we
• I think we are. >> Is big as we can be just because like their mentor pool it the size of the students
• It's with youth in residential care who often have already achieved.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:28:22.360><c> of</c> narrowing the I guess the the pool of narrowing the I guess the the pool
• Consider you called out residential programs, so again, a residential addiction program that is helping
• Consider you called out residential programs, so again, a residential addiction program that is helping
• </c> it'd be tough to say that a residential it'd be tough to say that a residential house<00:47:34.520
• </c> men and women in residential men and women in residential agricultural<00:58:17.359><c> mentoring

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , and clubhouses within an area designated for residential use are not commercial uses irrespective of
• , and clubhouses within an area designated for residential use are not commercial uses, irrespective
• If the residential units—there's nobody there, because you've got to think of it, this all goes back
• Not all Miami Gardens customers that use North Miami Beach water are residential.
• In Lee County, the distance is 1,896 feet from the facility to its closest residential neighbor.

Summary: The committee heard and acted on a long agenda of local, housing, education, construction, and claims bills. It first took up SB 1730 on affordable housing/Live Local changes, adopting an amendment that narrowed and clarified several provisions, including density, height, parking, attorney fees, and exclusions for certain protected areas, then reported the bill favorably. It also approved SB 1674, which clarifies that local investment restrictions cannot block Israel bonds, after a clarifying amendment. SB 140 on charter schools was reported favorably after significant debate over school conversion, teacher contracts, local control, and the use of surplus school property for housing or other public purposes; several speakers opposed it as harmful to public schools, while the sponsor said it preserved district authority and added options for municipalities and job creation. The committee also passed SB 96 and SB 4, two local claims bills, and SB 1714, which allows SHIP funds to help mobile home owners with lot rent and requires local housing plans to address mobile home park closures.

Transcript Highlights:

• Youth in residential placements.
• 2021, the Legislature passed AB 153 to end the practice of sending foster youth out of state to residential
• driving qualified auditors out of the field, which is critical given that we already have a small pool
• driving qualified auditors out of the field, which is critical given that already we have a small pool
• what we basically indicated in the bill is just that the investment goes into the state investment pool

Summary: The Assembly Education Committee met without a quorum for much of the hearing and heard several bills out of order. SB 249 by Senator Umberg would move county board of education elections from the primary to the statewide general election. Supporters, including the League of Women Voters and many educators, argued the change would increase turnout and make the electorate more representative. The Orange County Board of Education opposed the bill, saying it would increase costs, reduce local control, and bury education races on crowded general-election ballots. The chair and members discussed turnout, cost, and representation, but the bill was held pending a quorum. Senator Grove presented SB 373, which adds safeguards for California students placed in out-of-state non-public schools through IEPs. The bill would require more robust LEA and CDE oversight, including annual site visits, student interviews, quarterly contact, stronger certification standards, and restrictions on prone, supine, and mechanical restraints. Testimony from a survivor of an out-of-state placement and from advocates emphasized abuse, neglect, and the need for stronger monitoring. There was broad support and no opposition testimony, but the measure was also held pending a quorum. Senator Ashby presented SB 568, the epinephrine in schools modernization act, to clarify and expand requirements for stocked epinephrine so they clearly apply to all public schools, including preschool programs. School nurses and medical experts said the bill would close gaps created by universal preschool and ensure life-saving treatment is available for anaphylaxis. The committee discussed dosing and implementation, and the bill was supported without opposition testimony. The committee also heard SB 414, the Charter School Accountability Act, which would strengthen fiscal oversight, audit standards, and transparency for charter schools and authorizers. Supporters said it responds to fraud and audit findings while preserving charter flexibility; opponents, including school employees and teachers, said it did not go far enough on authorizer accountability and small-district oversight. After discussion, the committee voted 7-0 to pass SB 414 as amended to Appropriations. The committee also briefly heard SB 743 by Senator Cortese, which would create an equalization reserve account to provide additional funding to underfunded school districts and reduce funding inequities tied to ZIP code. The author said the bill would support student achievement and teacher retention over time. The transcript cuts off before testimony or action on SB 743 was completed.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, next items on the<00:06:34.560><c> pool</c><00:06:34.800><c> list</c><00:06:35.120><c> are</c><00
• :06:35.280><c> with</c><00:06:35.600><c> facilities</c><00:06:35.919><c> and</c> the pool list are with
• facilities and the pool list are with facilities and support<00:06:36.479><c> services.
• for them, but also a peer-to-peer mentorship between our residential providers.
• So one residential can mentor another residential that may be going through some of the same challenges

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved contracts 98, 99, and 100, then heard from the Kentucky Department of Tourism on a contract with the United Kingdom and other European markets. Tourism officials said the state has had similar international marketing contracts since 2013, that international visitors spend about six times more per day than domestic travelers, and that the work includes marketing, public relations, familiarization trips, and media outreach. After questions about costs and effectiveness, the contract was approved by roll call. Members then reviewed Finance Cabinet facilities contracts 29 and 48 for engineering and architectural services tied to project design, including a specialized lab expansion project. The chair raised concerns that the fees seemed high for services that do not include construction, while the agency explained the work covers design for mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and architectural planning, and that the lab project’s specialized pathogen-related work limits the pool of firms. The committee voted to approve the contracts. The Attorney General’s office then presented an opioid abatement agreement. Senator Meredith asked how the commission coordinates with other state behavioral health efforts, and staff explained that the commission allocates settlement funds based on applications and includes related agency representation to help avoid duplication. The contract was approved. The committee also approved a behavioral health contract for 988 chat and text services, which will expand Kentucky-based crisis response coverage to 24/7 and move more of the state’s calls, chats, and texts from a national center to local specialists. A related amendment for the Voices of Hope overdose response contract was approved after staff said the increase simply extends services into the next fiscal year. Finally, the committee approved a DCBS contract for the Building Bridges Initiative, which provides training and peer mentoring for residential child care providers, and then approved three contracts for the Council on Developmental Disabilities. Those contracts were explained as necessary because the council is the designated state agency for federal DD Act funding, and one questioned item involving an advocacy and sexuality initiative was described as part of the council’s five-year plan focused on self-advocacy, systems change, and capacity building. The committee also discussed a food insecurity survey contract with a Kentucky nonprofit, with staff saying the organization was chosen for its statewide network and ability to gather raw data, while members raised concerns about whether the study should distinguish between lack of food and poor diet. All of the reviewed contracts were approved by roll call.

Transcript Highlights:

• Corporations or for the Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs HB 1590 by Gates relating to multi-family residential
• by Goodwin relating to the seller's disclosure regarding water services for the water rights and residential
• workforce HB 24 73 by sevens relating to the emergency insurance premium relief programs for certain residential
• criminal jurisprudence HB 2508 by Turner relating to the exemption from ablorum taxation of the residential
• 2563 by Ashby ruling to the establishment of the temporary prescribed burn manager self-insurance pool

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's just in a big pool.
• In the pool, it's not identified as an individual's security. So, like I said, it would be illegal.
• It's just in a big pool. So when that custodian, back to you or back to me.
• It's just in a big pool.
• Currently, residential policy owners get as little as 30 days' notice to change a carrier.

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 702, which would amend Idaho’s Uniform Commercial Code provisions governing digital securities and entitlement holders. The sponsor and a guest attorney argued the bill would restore investor ownership rights by reversing 1994-era language they said gives priority to banks and clearing institutions if broker-held securities are pledged or fail in a collapse. Members questioned whether the bill was broader than margin accounts, whether it would affect existing brokerage contracts, and whether it was really a state or federal issue. After debate, a motion to send the bill to the floor with a due-pass recommendation failed 8-7, and the committee then voted to hold the bill in committee at the call of the chair. House Bill 562 followed, proposing to extend the notice period for residential and commercial property insurance nonrenewals and cancellations from 30 days to 60 days. The sponsor described the measure as a consumer protection response to rising nonrenewals and cancellations, especially in North Idaho but also in the Treasure Valley, and said it would give policyholders more time to shop for coverage or resolve issues with their current carrier. Members asked about contract impacts and whether the longer notice could discourage insurers from writing policies; the sponsor said insurers generally know in advance when they are leaving a market and that the change should not create major problems. A motion to send the bill to General Orders passed, with discussion of a possible amendment to move the effective date to January 1, 2027. The committee then took up House Bill 585, which would impose 48-hour “shot clocks” for local mechanical, electrical, and plumbing inspections, allow refunds and third-party inspections if deadlines are missed, and require written reasons for failed inspections within three business days. The sponsor and supportive testimony from a third-party inspector and the Idaho Associated General Contractors said the bill would reduce delays, especially in rural areas, and build on last session’s building inspection reforms. The committee moved the bill to the floor with a due-pass recommendation. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 545, which would create a pathway for certain military chaplains to become licensed professional counselors or licensed clinical professional counselors in Idaho based on their Master of Divinity, military training, chaplaincy experience, and additional clinical pastoral education. The sponsor and the bill’s supporter said chaplains already counsel service members and families on trauma, suicide, and other crises, and that the bill would help address counselor shortages and expand access for veterans. Opponents from the counseling profession argued that MDiv training is not equivalent to CACREP-accredited counseling education, that the bill would bypass important testing and clinical training, and that it could weaken public protections. The committee heard extensive testimony but the transcript ends before showing a final vote on HB 545.

Transcript Highlights:

• So if you look up above and it has the base level and then the FTE block grant pool... ...just looks
• So if you look up above and it has the base level and then the FTE block grant pool, it's just a total
• Chairman and Senator Davison, members of the committee, this is not inpatient or residential.
• And again, these are the programs that are meant to decrease the dependency we have on residential and

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The HR division continued work on the behavioral health budget, with members revisiting several funding items and generally agreeing to hold provider inflation increases until the full division picture is clearer. They tentatively supported additional funding for Community Connect and Free Through Recovery, as well as increases for the drug court program and peer support, while clarifying that some items were already in the House version and others were one-time or grant-related expenditures. The committee spent considerable time on a proposed $2 million behavioral health services program for nursing homes and basic care facilities. Senator Mathern brought revised language to describe a capitated payment model for training, consultation, and direct patient care for residents with medically based behavioral disorders and disruptive behaviors. Some members remained skeptical and wanted to see the amendment before deciding, but the discussion centered on whether the funding would help nursing homes accept patients who otherwise end up in state hospitals or acute care settings. Members also discussed several one-time funding items, including electronic health record and legacy system upgrades, network redundancy for the state hospital, partial hospitalization/intensive day treatment expansion, and a bathroom remodel at the Southeast Human Service Center. The committee restored the bathroom project to the original $972,000 estimate after concerns that the House reduction would not cover the needed ADA and plumbing work. They also debated a $12.96 million behavioral health facility grant for Altru in Grand Forks, with some members opposing it and others supporting it as a regional service expansion, but ultimately set it aside for later consideration. The meeting ended with staff flagging other sections of the bill, including the opioid settlement advisory language, the state hospital steering committee, behavioral health education grants, and the system of care grant. The chair announced that medical services would be taken up the next day, and members agreed to adjourn after planning to revisit unresolved behavioral health items and vote on the held bill later.

Transcript Highlights:

• irrigation districts was because there wasn't enough wet water to mitigate the loss of the CAP ag pool
• Because at this point we know we aren't going to see the ag pool through 2030, we think that we should
• water infrastructure... ...projects to tide them over when they were supposed to be getting the ag pool
• collection of the withdrawal fee through 2030 is just to match what the time frame was for the original ag pool
• bill included provisions requiring the applicant to disclose the distance to the closest occupied residential

Bills: HB2026, HB2027, HB2028, HB2031, HB2078, HB2094, HB2095, HB2101, HB2102, HB2103, HB2260, HB2278, HB2827, HB2932, HB2933, HB2934, HB2986, HCM2009, HCR2038

Keywords: assured water supply, groundwater, commingling, commingled water, water supply, Arizona Department of Water Resources, ADWR, active management area, AMA, subdivision plat, development approval, water rights, municipal provider, private water company, certificate of assured water supply, written commitment of water service, groundwater savings credits, gray water reuse, replenishment district, Central Arizona Project

Transcript Highlights:

• may apply objective development regulations, including form-based codes, that are required for residential
• If they kind of sign a contract, they pool their money, they buy the community, and they know going in
• Supportive housing consistently faces barriers that other residential developments do not face.
• Supportive housing consistently faces barriers that other residential developments do not face.
• Cities may consistently faces barriers that other residential developments do not face.

Summary: The Senate Housing Committee held public hearings on four bills and then took executive action on several measures and two gubernatorial appointments. At the start, the committee waived the five-day notice rule for Substitute House Bill 2354, Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2266, and Second Substitute House Bill 2590. The committee also heard public testimony on House Bill 1859, which would expand affordable housing on property owned by religious organizations by lowering the affordability threshold needed to qualify for a density bonus. Supporters, including the sponsor, faith leaders, and local officials, said the current 100% affordability requirement has made projects difficult to finance and that the bill would better unlock underused church land for housing. The committee then heard Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2266, which would further standardize where and how permanent supportive housing, transitional housing, indoor emergency housing, and shelters can be sited, while limiting local barriers and allowing some negotiated conditions near schools or when local governments provide significant support. The sponsor and supporters from King County, housing providers, the Attorney General’s office, disability advocates, medical professionals, and others argued the bill would reduce discriminatory or inconsistent local siting rules and expand needed housing. Some local government representatives supported the bill but asked for additional amendments to preserve local flexibility, require on-site contacts, and clarify how operating conditions and funding agreements would work. The committee also heard House Bill 2590, which would revise rules for limited equity cooperatives so they can better function as a long-term affordable homeownership model and remain exempt from certain Washington Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act requirements. Supporters said the bill would help preserve manufactured housing communities and other cooperative housing while maintaining affordability and oversight. House Bill 2354, a trailer bill to WACOIA, would make technical changes affecting common interest communities, including EV charging and heat pump cost responsibility, reserve studies, and audit thresholds; the Washington State Community Association’s Institute testified in support. In executive session, the committee confirmed gubernatorial appointments Aaron T. McGrath and Ann T. Malone and voted do-pass recommendations for EHB 1687, SHB 2269, and HB 2304, all subject to signatures.

Transcript Highlights:

• local government code allow governmental entities and political subdivisions to create self-insurance pools
• TDI does not have insight into how many pools are operating in the state, their rates, or their claims
• EDI for approval, much like other residential carriers.
• That includes- residential and commercial, auto rate filings and auto form filings.
• We also get involved in residential property, personal auto life, and health rules.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• facade or cedar siding or whatever—that $1,000 increase is pricing 4,000 people out of the potential pool
• of Market of buyers so if you add pool of Market of buyers so if you add 2,000<00:04:53.199><c> it's
• Subdivision 2 gets into the residential housing types that are going to be authorized again.
• This demonstrates that Eagan's zoning code is not restricting residential development.
• This demonstrates that Eagan's zoning code is not restricting residential development.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• If we don't incur those costs, it does generate a savings pool.
• And we do share that pool with the provider.
• Need the support of functioning as intended those inpatient or residential services and state that will
• the individuals who receive care coordination, which is linking folks from either a hospital or residential
• hundreds of thousands of individuals each year diverted thousands from cause their inpatient and residential

Transcript Highlights:

• of Juvenile Justice, the budget provides $5.4 million for increased medical costs for youth in residential
• For increased medical costs for youth in residential programs, $1.3 million for new uniforms for staff
• and youth, along with $10.7 million for maintenance and repair of detention and residential facilities
• Within DMS, there's $96 million for the Florida Facilities Pool to repair state-owned buildings, and
• Within DMS, there's $96 million for the Florida Facilities Pool to repair state-owned buildings, and

Summary: The Senate began with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then moved into floor consideration of the 2026-2027 budget. Appropriations Chair Hooper presented Senate Bill 2500, describing a $115 billion budget that reduces overall spending from the prior year, maintains reserves, and includes a 3% pay raise for state employees and 5% raises for state law enforcement, firefighters, correctional officers, and park rangers. Committee chairs then outlined major spending in their areas, including K-12 education, higher education, health and human services, criminal and civil justice, transportation/tourism/economic development, and environmental and agricultural programs. Highlights included increased funding for school scholarships and safety, workforce and university programs, Medicaid and child welfare, corrections operations, affordable housing, rural communities, Everglades and water quality projects, and infrastructure. Members then asked detailed questions about several budget items. Senators sought clarification on the Emergency Management Trust Fund, arts and cultural grants, Florida Forever land acquisition versus conservation easements, teacher salaries, charter school capital outlay funding, EASE grants, New College funding, DOC inmate counts and reimbursement, lottery staffing, concealed weapons licensing positions, election security funding, iBudget waiver support, ADAP funding, Medicaid hospital rate reductions, and scholarship and enrollment supplements in K-12 education. Chairs explained that some reductions reflected technical shifts or right-sizing, that some funds were being moved below the line for better tracking, and that several items—such as ADAP and corrections operations—would likely remain conference issues with the House. After questions, the Senate substituted House bills for the budget and implementing measures and adopted amendments placing the Senate language onto the House vehicles to prepare for conference. The chamber passed the budget-related bills and several conforming measures, including bills on retirement, fuel taxes, the state agency law enforcement radio system, court trust funds, judgeships, and K-12 and higher education conforming changes. Votes on the major bills were overwhelmingly unanimous or near-unanimous, and the Senate repeatedly voted to accede to the House’s request for conference on the substituted bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have residential, we have intensive outpatient, we have intensive group.
• Some people might not need residential. Some people might just need the outpatient.
• I don't think anybody at the time understood how big the pool was, so to speak.
• States still have avenues to pursue care in residential facilities.
• And not everyone goes to residential.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Under the bill, it would only be allowed to be residential.
• So if a school district is at capacity right now, based on a comp plan that restricts new residential
• So if it's residential, they have residential.
• Actually, under part of this, you'd only be able to have residential there.
• SB 212 closes gaps around modern public recreation spaces by explicitly including public swimming pools

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and heard several introductions and announcements before moving to a long special-order calendar. Early bills passed included a trust law measure allowing a nonjudicial process for trustee settlement and discharge, a military affairs bill expanding leave protections and retirement eligibility for certain Guard and Coast Guard-related public employees, a penny-rounding bill for cash transactions, a podiatric medicine bill restricting certain cellular/tissue-based products and adding notice and consent requirements, a veterans’ courts bill expanding access to those courts statewide, an RV assessment clarification bill, a military-installation jurisdiction bill giving juveniles on bases access to state juvenile justice resources, an alcohol-tax deduction bill restoring DBPR’s authority to allow deductions for unsellable alcohol, a bail bonds bill revising training, fees, remission timing, and electronic procedures, an eyewear insurance bill updating definitions for modern products, a nursing education fund bill expanding support to health science programs, a recovery residences bill streamlining regulation and background-check rules, a felony battery bill adding resisting an officer with violence as a qualifying prior offense, a child welfare bill extending visitor definitions, making the Step Into Success program permanent, and creating a best-practices repository, and a candidate qualification bill tightening party-affiliation requirements and, via the House version, adding a name-change disclosure provision. Most of these bills were substituted with House companions where applicable and passed on near-unanimous votes, with one recorded dissent on the bail bonds bill. Several measures drew brief debate or explanation. Senator Wright’s military affairs bill was amended to restore two Florida National Guard special project officer positions to retirement eligibility, and Senator Gates’ veterans’ courts bill was described as a way to better address PTSD, brain injury, and substance-abuse-related offenses through problem-solving courts. Senator Trunow’s bail bonds bill prompted questions about charitable bail bonds, with the sponsor saying the current statute would remain in place and that further discussion could occur later. Senator Massullo’s podiatric medicine bill was framed as a bipartisan patient-protection measure, and Senator Leak’s felony battery bill was presented as closing a loophole that allowed repeat violent offenders to avoid enhancement. The chamber also took up a candidate qualification bill that would create an enforceable party-affiliation requirement and, in the House version, restrict recent petition-based name changes for candidates. A major portion of the meeting was devoted to a farewell ceremony for Senator Lori Berman, with family, staff, former colleagues, and guests in attendance. Senators from both parties offered extended remarks praising her leadership, collegiality, policy work, and advocacy on issues including voting rights, women’s rights, Israel and antisemitism, school safety, breast cancer, Everglades restoration, and other constituent services. Berman’s own remarks reflected on her 16 years in the Legislature, her family, and her belief in dignity, respect, and practical problem-solving. The Senate then adopted a motion to spread her remarks upon the journal and recessed before returning to continue the calendar.

Transcript Highlights:

• Residential programs ensure high quality. and timely medical care for members.
• Detention services are for residential. There's a difference that may look the same.
• I want to go back to residential. You talked about residential...
• A new distinguished substance abuse residential in mental health president.
• Then it meant to have residential. Thank you, Senator.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 1002 by Blanco, relating to the establishment of a county employee family leave pool program
• Senate Bill 1036 by Zaffirini, relating to the regulation of residential solar retail transactions, to
• Senate Bill 1036 by Zafarini relating to the regulation of residential solar retail transactions to business
• Senate Bill 1082 by West, relating to declination and nonrenewal of residential and personal automobile

Summary: The Senate met briefly and referred a large number of first-reading bills and resolutions to standing committees. The measures covered a wide range of topics, including hemp regulation, dementia research funding, parental rights and public education, municipal library funding, tax and local government issues, criminal justice, health care, education, transportation, natural resources, and election law. Several constitutional resolutions were also referred, including proposals related to the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas and a severance tax revenue fund. Most of the transcript consists of the reading of bill captions and committee referrals, with no substantive debate or testimony recorded. The listed measures included proposals on school uniforms, charter schools, Medicaid fraud remedies, insurance practices, occupational licensing for people with criminal convictions, water and sewer utility cybersecurity, agricultural protections, public meeting broadcasting, and various local and state governance matters. No votes were taken on the bills in this segment. The only formal action reflected was referral of the bills and resolutions to the appropriate committees, followed by adjournment of the Senate until the next scheduled meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• refusing to bid on government agency contracts because of these clauses, resulting in a less qualified pool
• refusing to bid on government agency contracts because of these clauses, resulting in a less qualified pool
• Government agency contracts because of these clauses, resulting in a less qualified pool of contractors
• We don't have one because I'm in a residential neighborhood. Of course you do.
• essentially above 35% would require a stormwater management plan or something to that effect, even on my residential

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, I'm not trying to say that all hospital and residential staff are bad, Jonathan Dosick: Now, I'm
• Ruthie Poole, also virtual. Thank you. so that staff can get back in touch with you if we need to.
• Ruthie Poole, also virtual. Thank you. Ruthie Poole, also virtual. Ruthie Poole?
• Hi, is this Ruthie Poole? Claire is here now, and then I'll see. Oh, great, okay.
• My name is Ruthie Poole, and I'm the Assistant Director of Recovery at Bay Cove Human Services.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee held a public hearing on a broad set of mental health, substance use, recovery, and patients’ rights bills. Early testimony focused on H. 2227, which would replace stigmatizing substance use terminology in the General Laws, and H. 3950, which would support parents in recovery involved with DCF by requiring more individualized recovery plans, clearer benchmarks for parenting time, access to recovery coaches or counselors, family counseling after sustained recovery, and staff training on addiction and lived experience. Speakers described the bills as ways to reduce stigma, increase accountability, and improve reunification outcomes for families. A major portion of the hearing centered on S. 1386, which would transfer Bridgewater State Hospital from the Department of Correction to the Department of Mental Health. Advocates, family members, and disability groups testified that Bridgewater functions like a prison rather than a hospital, with excessive restraint, seclusion, involuntary medication, poor conditions, and racial disparities, and argued DMH should oversee a treatment setting. One DMH occupational therapist and MNA member opposed the transfer, saying the real issue is mixing forensic and continuing-care patients and that DMH should instead create designated forensic units under bills H. 228/S. 1408. Committee members asked about Bridgewater’s population, the history of DOC control, capacity, staffing, and how a transfer might be implemented. The committee also heard testimony on modernizing the six fundamental rights for psychiatric inpatients, including expanding communication options, clarifying visitation and advocacy definitions, and improving access to gender-appropriate and culturally relevant items. Another bill, H. 2216, would require stronger oversight before antipsychotic medication is prescribed in nursing homes, prompted by concerns about inappropriate use. Finally, testimony supported H. 2240 and H. 2239 on sober homes, with supporters saying discharge and relocation policies are needed when a resident returns to active use or becomes unsafe, while preserving the recovery environment and resident rights. No votes or formal actions were taken during the hearing.