Transcript Highlights:

• HEALTH PROFESSIONS AND PROGRAMS SUBCOMMITTEE WILL COME TO ORDER.
• RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING THAT NEARLY 1 MILLION FLORIDIANS WHO ARE PATIENTS OF THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA PROGRAM
• THE PROGRAM RECEIVES NO GENERAL REVENUE.
• WE WILL GO OVER A COUPLE THINGS FIRST TALKING ABOUT PROGRAM MEMBERS KEY FEATURES INCLUDING QUALIFIED
• PATIENTS, CAREGIVERS AND POSITIONS THAT ARE CURRENTLY OPERATING WITHIN THE PROGRAM.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have had 13 babies come out of our program.
• We have had 13 babies come out of our program.
• The need for the program remains urgent.
• I can speak to our program budget.
• This makes a nine-year pilot program.

Committee: House House Health & Human Services Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee heard several bills related largely to Arizona’s behavioral health and Access system, plus a fertility coverage mandate, a state hospital admissions bill, and a naturopathic scope-of-practice bill. SB 1114 would appropriate $1 million to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office for investigations into behavioral health patient brokering; the sponsor described ongoing fraud involving vulnerable Native American patients, while some members questioned why the Attorney General was not handling the work. The bill passed 10-1 with one present. SB 1116 would require claim denials and appeal determinations for American Indian Health Program behavioral health services to be reviewed by someone with at least two years of relevant clinical experience; Access said it was neutral but raised concerns about vague language and added staffing needs, and the bill passed 7-4 with one present. SB 1346 would require Access to notify providers of claim deficiencies within 72 hours and approve or deny corrected claims within 10 business days; supporters said it would reduce long delays and unpaid claims, while Access said it would need more staff and system changes. The bill passed 7-5. The committee also approved SB 1347, which requires insurance coverage for fertility preservation services for cancer patients of reproductive age whose treatment is likely to cause infertility, with a religious-employer exemption. Supporters, including cancer survivors and an advocacy representative, said the bill protects patients who must make rapid decisions before treatment begins; insurers were neutral. The bill passed unanimously 12-0. SB 1813 would require the Arizona State Hospital to admit patients based on clinical need rather than county of residence, effectively ending the Maricopa County cap tied to the Arnold v. Sarn settlement. Supporters argued the cap leaves seriously ill patients waiting in other facilities for long periods, while ADHS warned of possible litigation and rural access concerns; the bill passed 9-2 with one present. Finally, the committee began hearing SB 1178, which would allow naturopathic physicians to administer certain antibiotics, antivirals, and antifungals intravenously. The sponsor argued naturopaths should be able to practice to the full scope of their training amid physician shortages, while the Arizona Medical Association and osteopathic representatives opposed the bill, saying IV antimicrobials are high-risk therapies that require hospital-level training, monitoring, and stewardship. Testimony focused on patient safety, appropriate setting, and whether the bill should be narrowed or amended; no vote on SB 1178 was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• We need to look at the program. We need to control the benefits.
• We need to control the runway to get on the program.
• We need to look at the program. We need to control the benefits.
• We need to control the runway to get on the program.
• If the cost goes to three cups of coffee a day, the program dies.

Keywords: March 11, 2026 - Regular Session, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Just a brief word about the Veteran Homelessness Prevention Program: I want to say When a program is
• The program that we're working with is through Lutheran Social Services, and it's a proven program.
• , is a great program.
• on loans, that money must go back into the program.
• that those on the program could potentially stay on this program. just that little bit above the 50%

Transcript Highlights:

• One graduated from WKU in the JRTC program and became a bird colonel in the U.S. Army.
• Thompson stated that a lot of our other programs, welding and a lot of those programs that involve college
• Thompson stated that a lot of our other programs, welding and a lot of those programs that involve college
• students, EKU with their textbook program, and Murray State with their scholarship programs for low-income
• programs for lowincome their scholarship programs for lowincome students<00:46:47.839><c> we</c><00:

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: Aaron Thompson, president of the Council on Postsecondary Education, and Travis Pal briefed the committee on Kentucky higher education performance, affordability, workforce alignment, and budget needs. Thompson said the state has made progress toward its 60x30 attainment goal, reporting 56.2% of adults with a credential of value and a 6.4% one-year increase in credentials. He highlighted gains in completion, enrollment recovery after COVID, lower student borrowing and debt, and faster degree completion, saying Kentucky is now back to an average of 4.1 years for four-year degrees. He also emphasized that postsecondary education has a strong return on investment for both students and the state. A major theme was student success and access. Thompson described efforts to reduce barriers through test-optional admissions, the elimination of zero-credit developmental education, expanded wraparound supports, and Bridge programming for students not fully prepared for college. He also promoted Futurity, a student-facing information website, and said CPE wants modest ongoing funding to maintain it. He argued that higher education must work in a P-20 system with K-12, and that the state should better communicate the value of certificates, trade programs, and other credentials, especially for adult learners and men, who he said are underrepresented in college-going. The presentation also focused on performance funding, capital needs, and workforce initiatives. Thompson and Pal said performance funding has pushed institutions toward more need-based aid and lower costs for low-income students, but they want more base funding, more performance funding dollars, and relief from about $38 million in mandated tuition waivers. They also said asset preservation and deferred maintenance remain major needs, estimating roughly $7 billion in campus need overall. On workforce, they cited healthcare pipeline work supported by state funding and private partners, and said HB 200 continues that effort into aviation, aerospace, and defense. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the presentation, which ended with members indicating interest in further discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Testifying in favor of this bill, we have started a community paramedic program in 2025.
• We have started a community paramedic program in 2025 and have been seeing patients in multiple counties
• the year following the start of our program.
• year following the start of our program. after that we went on kind of a high ...program.
• , community paramedic program.

Summary: The Committee on Local Government first took up Senate Substitute for Senate Bill 975, which concerns community paramedic/mobile integrated health services and related jurisdictional issues. Supporters, including ambulance and EMS leaders from Caldwell County and Cox Health, said the bill would help expand community paramedicine in rural and regional areas, improve patient care, reduce unnecessary emergency room use, and lower Medicaid costs. One witness described a successful program that cut Medicaid charges dramatically, while another said the bill would help ambulance districts merge and operate more efficiently. An opponent representing the Missouri State Council of Firefighters said the group supported the underlying bill but was concerned about the Senate-added jurisdictional language affecting community paramedic services and wanted those issues resolved. The committee heard testimony but took no vote before closing testimony on the bill. The committee then heard House Bill 3496, sponsored by Rep. Rodger Reedy, which would update county official salary schedules and assessed valuation ranges that have not been revised in decades. Reedy and the Missouri Association of Counties said the bill is intended to modernize minimum salary schedules while preserving local control through county salary commissions, with a growth factor designed to account for changing assessed valuations over time. Committee members asked about how the bill interacts with other salary legislation and whether counties could use alternative training or salary arrangements approved by their associations. Supporters said the proposal was developed through a multi-year task force process involving county officials and related associations. The Missouri Association of Counties and Warren County officials testified in favor, saying the bill reflects a broad consensus and better matches current county finances. No one testified in opposition to House Bill 3496, and the chair closed the public hearing and adjourned the meeting after testimony concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• It is a cloud seeding bill that is to bring more transparency and more clarity on the program here in
• This one is to bring a little more attention to the existing program that is already in statute that
• Cloud seeding in areas with long-standing cloud seeding programs: silver concentrations are found to
• And we've seen since the 80s, for example, this program.
• local program in eastern Idaho to most of the many areas in the Upper Snake Basin of eastern Idaho,

Summary: The Environment, Energy, and Technology Committee approved the minutes from March 12 and then heard Senate Concurrent Resolution 120 from Representative Hill. Hill argued the resolution supports Idaho’s role in the emerging nuclear energy industry, especially reprocessing used nuclear fuel at INL, and said it would clarify Idaho’s position under the 1995 settlement agreement so the state would not become a long-term storage site. He emphasized economic opportunity, fuel supply benefits, and the governor’s support. The committee had no public testimony and voted to send SCR 120 to the floor with a due-pass recommendation. The committee then took up Senate Bill 1269, sponsored by Representative Fuhrman, which would revise Idaho’s cloud seeding laws to increase transparency and reporting. Fuhrman said the bill would add clearer definitions, require public meetings and annual/monthly reports, align with federal reporting, and narrow liability protections by excluding gross negligence and willful misconduct. Questions focused on what materials are used in cloud seeding, whether all ingredients would be disclosed, how often and where seeding occurs, and whether the program is already permitted or monitored. Paul Arrington of the Idaho Water Users Association testified that current cloud seeding uses silver iodide along with propane and acetone for ground generators, and flares for aircraft, and said reporting already exists but the bill would make it more formal and public. Several members raised concerns about proprietary chemicals, environmental and health effects, and whether the bill functioned as an immunity measure. Arrington said the amounts used are very small, that studies show no known harmful impacts at current levels, and that contractors report to the Water Resource Board under existing agreements. After debate, the committee voted 9-6 to send SB 1269 to the floor with a due-pass recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• to methods to improve health profession-related career and technology education and dual credit programs
• courses to ensure they align requirements for health professional-related certificate and degree programs
• in the Employees Retirement System of Texas and is eligible to participate in the group benefits program
• , dual language immersion programs, and special language programs.
• the quality of these programs for our students.

Bills: HB178

Committee: House Public Education

Keywords: efficiency audit, political subdivision, tax rate, fiscal management, government accountability

Transcript Highlights:

• So it's a step-by-step, a timestamp program that holds the participants in that program accountable to
• So it can almost consider it an educational program, you know, to your degree.
• and telling people these are the programs that you need to pursue.
• Some of them are defined by industry, but there's a lot of programs.
• So they help seed the programs and start them up.

Committee: Senate Industry and Business

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Senate Industry and Business Committee met to take up remaining business, focusing mainly on House Bill 1191, which would create an Office of Entrepreneurship within the Department of Commerce, and noting that House Bill 1584 on pharmacy benefit managers would be held until amendments were ready. Members discussed whether the entrepreneurship effort should be housed in Commerce, whether it would duplicate existing private and nonprofit resources, and whether the state should be creating a new government function at all. Supporters said Commerce is the right place, the bill contains no appropriation, and the office would mainly direct small businesses and startups to existing resources and report back on demand and staffing needs. Opponents warned it could grow into another government entity and argued private industry and existing programs are better suited to provide coaching and mentorship. Testimony and discussion referenced small business development centers, the Kauffman/Right to Start model, and other startup support programs already operating in the state or elsewhere. Members also cited a local entrepreneur’s experience as an example of the value of mentorship, networking, and guidance from private-sector groups, while others stressed that government should focus on pointing people to those resources rather than running the assistance itself. The committee emphasized that the bill would ask Commerce to identify how it could support entrepreneurship with existing staff and to report on its efforts. A motion for a do pass recommendation on House Bill 1191 was made and seconded. The committee voted 3-2 in favor, with Senators Klein, Kessel, and Chairman Barta voting aye and Senator Inget voting nay; Vice Chair Bame’s vote was not recorded in the final tally as read. Senator Kessel was designated as the carrier. The committee then noted it would reconvene later in the day after floor session, with the PBM bill expected to be taken up once amendments were available.

Transcript Highlights:

• This program is fully optional for each vet.
• This program is fully optional for each vet.
• and has passed a to be used only by an individual who has successfully completed an approved program
• This program would provide loan repayment support for three veterinarians per year who would work in
• Saying that VPAs and the currently designed programs would have less clinical..." Dr.

Bills: S0754 , S0796

Committee: Senate Regulated Industries

Keywords: heated tobacco products, tobacco regulation, vaping, definition changes, Florida statutes, veterinary medicine, telehealth, veterinary professional associate, animal health, public safety, access to veterinary services, 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It penalizes taxpayers. by allowing waste, fraud, and abuse in our welfare programs.
• So CalWORKs must be a robust and well-supported program to accommodate for the increased needs.
• To ensure that we continue to reform our social safety net from a survival program into a thriving program
• So yes, this continues to reform CalWORKs into a more humane, a more liberating program.
• Notably in the Bay Area Toll Bridge Capital Improvement Program.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Section 3 also indicates that the agency may adopt an existing statewide or nationwide program. training
• to methods to improve health-profession-related career and technology education and dual-credit programs
• to ensure they align with the requirements for health profession-related certificate and degree programs
• It directs the TEA to monitor bilingual education and special language programs in order to increase
• the quality of these programs for our students.

Bills: HB178 , HB1551 , HB1939 , HB2040 , HB2354 , HB2674 , HB3029 , HB3460 , HB3631 , HB3662 , HB5201 , HB5381 , HB178

Committee: House Public Education

Keywords: Texas education, public schools, curriculum, social studies, high school graduation requirements, State Board of Education, Education Code, ethnic studies, world history, world geography, U.S. history, government, economics, personal financial literacy, free enterprise, religious literature, Hebrew Scriptures, Old Testament, New Testament, ninth grade

Transcript Highlights:

• on this program.
• Essentially puts them out of scope of the grant program.
• on this program.
• It was fairly consistent with that program overall.
• The NG-911 JPA, the program I manage at NDACO, was 2%.

Committee: Joint Information Technology Committee

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> allowable expenses, the program stops. allowable expenses, the program stops.
• It does have an active veterans program?
• ,</c> developers, let's use the grant program, developers, let's use the grant program, let's<00:31:37.320
• ><c> let's</c><00:31:39.280><c> use</c> let's use the KBI program, let's use let's use the KBI program
• ,</c> of a time to go through the program, of a time to go through the program, explain<00:43:50.600>

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The speaker outlined Kentucky’s economic development strategy and how the cabinet evaluates and awards incentives. He emphasized using national benchmarks such as Site Selection and Area Development magazines, focusing on real data, competitiveness, and performance-based incentives. He said the state is performing well nationally in investment rankings, and credited the legislature with providing tools that help attract and retain jobs, especially through speed to market, site readiness, transportation, and workforce coordination. A major portion of the remarks described the “anatomy” of an incentive package: first improving sites and infrastructure such as water, sewer, roads, and rail spurs; then using sales tax benefits for construction materials and equipment; then training support through the Bluegrass State Skills Corporation; and finally the Kentucky Business Incentive (KBI) program, which reimburses qualifying expenses from incremental tax revenue. He said incentives are negotiated, data-driven, and targeted toward companies with strong wage levels, training plans, growth potential, and, in some cases, agricultural benefits or industry leadership. He also noted special treatment for heritage communities and said the state has expanded KBI beyond heavy manufacturing to include R&D, headquarters, and service businesses. The speaker also described compliance and oversight. Incentive agreements are written with job, wage, investment, and community-benefit terms, and companies must file regular reports and invoices. Cash incentives can be clawed back if commitments are not met, while tax credits are tied to actual investment and job creation. He said the Revenue Cabinet and Environment and Energy Cabinet play important monitoring roles, and that projects go through application review and preliminary approval by the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority before final approval and payment. He closed by thanking legislators for their support and for allowing more flexible, capped, and data-driven incentive tools.

Transcript Highlights:

• and an intern in the Sato program.
• But our program of doctors from Mexico was never intended to be a permanent licensed program.
• There are 28 programs, with four more in development, and existing programs have been approved to grow
• Dental programs are focused on restorative treatment.
• Dental programs are focused on restorative treatment.

Committee: House Business and Professions

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I know the programs like the Para to Teacher program have been really helpful in getting teachers in
• I was a graduate of the resident teacher program at UND many years ago, and these programs are really
• Nathan, you said resident teacher program.
• Para-to-teacher program, same type of thing.
• I'm the program administrator for that office.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee met to discuss special education funding and retention, beginning with approval of the prior meeting minutes and then hearing a presentation from North Dakota United on a statewide special education survey and retention rubric. Presenters described how the rubric and survey were developed from special educator input around four domains: paperwork and due process support, workload, student and staff safety, and paraprofessional management. They reported high levels of stress and burnout, including increased workload, difficulty taking prep and lunch time, concerns about mental health, and widespread difficulty filling special education positions. Committee members questioned the survey’s lack of a general-education comparison group, the interpretation of terms like “rarely” and “sometimes,” and whether results could be broken down further by district size, unit, or disability area. The survey results showed the weakest area was workload, with respondents reporting caseloads increasing without corresponding adjustments, little additional support or compensation when workloads rise, and few negotiated-agreement protections. Paperwork and due process also scored poorly, with many teachers saying they rarely receive dedicated time during the duty day, often work outside contract hours without compensation, and take work home on evenings and weekends. Student and staff safety scored somewhat better but still showed gaps in crisis follow-up, notification about violent behavior, protective gear, and leave options after incidents. Paraprofessional management also drew concern, especially low pay, insufficient staffing, limited administrative support, and the burden placed on teachers to supervise and train paras. Several teachers then testified directly about the practical impact of these issues. One special education teacher described the job as combining instruction, legal compliance, and paraprofessional supervision, often requiring work beyond contracted hours and contributing to burnout and turnover. Another testified that special education case managers are effectively doing three full-time jobs and that the paperwork and caseload demands are a major reason people avoid or leave the field. Committee members discussed whether the problems are primarily local or state-level, whether more funding would solve them, and whether changes to the funding formula or weighting for high-cost students might be needed. No formal vote or action was taken beyond a recess and return to order for the next presentation, which continued the discussion of possible special education study objectives and potential policy directions.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so as I mentioned on the program.
• And so since theseUS program.
• And we found that DHS continued the program and paid about $6.6 million to employees after the program
• However, upon continue the program.
• Where did they programs were expired?

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• One such program that CFILC is a holder on is the Disability Disaster Access and Resources Program, which
• SB 971 establishes the Healthy Aging Community Partnerships Program.
• We'll get there, and we need this program.
• This bill does not create a new program. It preserves what is already working.
• This bill does not create a new program.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Aging and Long-Term Care met without an initial quorum and heard four Senate bills focused on older adults and people with disabilities. SB 837 by Senator Reyes would require Aging and Disability Resource Connection programs to provide disaster and emergency preparedness education tailored to older adults and people with disabilities. Supporters, including the California Foundation for Independent Living Centers and the California Commission on Aging, cited recent wildfire deaths and the need for better evacuation planning and preparedness. The bill passed on a due pass motion and was re-referred to the Committee on Emergency Management. SB 971 by Senator Choi would create a Healthy Aging Community Partnerships Program to encourage voluntary local partnerships, including with community colleges and other entities, to support social connection, technology help, caregiver resources, and other healthy aging activities. Supporters said it would promote independence and prevent isolation at no mandated cost, while one member questioned whether the bill addressed a current legal gap and whether public health departments should be involved. The committee approved the bill on a due pass motion and re-referred it to the Committee on Health. SB 1261 by Senator Laird would allow Aging and Disability Resource Connections to continue operating for one to two years during transitions when an area agency on aging or independent living center operator changes, preventing service disruptions. Testimony from Access Central Coast and the California Association of Area Agencies on Aging emphasized the importance of continuity for thousands of clients. The committee passed the bill and re-referred it to the Committee on Appropriations. SB 991 by Senator Menjivar, presented by Assemblymember Gonzalez, would require the Department of Social Services to classify substantiated abuse in residential care facilities for the elderly by specific abuse type rather than a broad residents’ rights category. Ombudsman advocates argued this would improve transparency and accountability; members also discussed whether similar protections should extend to younger adults in other licensed settings. The bill passed on a due pass motion and was re-referred to the Committee on Human Services.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is accomplished through our programs, staff, and board members.
• All the rest of the barley breeding programs are at the university level.
• I'm going to focus on some of our program highlights.
• We had an investment in insurance and an increase in market development programs.
• It modifies the Agricultural Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage programs.

Committee: House Agricultural Affairs

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• sure the program works successfully.
• First of all, I think this is a great program.
• Or you have ones that you actually work with on an annual basis: education programs, after-school programs
• , obesity programs, youth sports programs, building fields in underserved areas.
• Education programs, after-school programs, obesity programs, youth sports programs, building fields in

Summary: The Governmental Organization Committee met as a subcommittee before quorum was established, then heard three measures. AB 770 by Assemblymember Mark Gonzalez would authorize the City of Los Angeles to create a flexible signage framework at the Los Angeles Convention Center to generate revenue for renovation and modernization tied to the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Support came from labor, business, and SEIU representatives, who cited jobs, tourism, and financing benefits; there was no opposition testimony. Members asked about the job estimates and the connection between signage revenue and convention center expansion. SB 451, presented by Senator Archuleta, would clarify that a 50-50 charitable raffle may be conducted at a championship game held at a designated venue where an affiliated sports team plays home games, addressing a Super Bowl-related ambiguity. Supporters from the NFL and the 49ers said the change would preserve charitable fundraising for Super Bowls 60 and 61 and would not alter other raffle rules. CalNonprofits raised concerns about fairness, gambling expansion, and the special treatment of pro sports raffles, while members discussed how charities receive funds and the program’s audit process. AB 831 by Assemblymember Valencia would prohibit online sweepstakes using dual-currency models that allow cash payouts, while leaving non-cash social sweepstakes untouched. Supporters, including several tribes, the Sports Betting Alliance, the California Chamber of Commerce, and other stakeholders, argued the bill closes a loophole, protects consumers, and preserves tribal gaming sovereignty; opponents, including the Social Gaming Leadership Alliance and numerous tribal members and representatives, argued it would eliminate a legal industry, harm smaller and less advantaged tribes, and was advanced without sufficient consultation. After extensive debate about consumer protection, tribal equity, and online gaming regulation, all three bills were approved, and the committee adjourned at 9:55 a.m.