Transcript Highlights:

• out of foster care.
• bias, particularly in emergency care settings.
• professionals receive essential training in sickle cell care and treatment.
• And you just heard from people that suffer through this disease every day.
• So there's also health care initiatives and financial literacy and so many things.

Summary: The Fiscal Policy Committee met and first adopted a late-filed amendment to SB 774, which expands enhanced workers’ compensation coverage to 911 public safety telecommunicators for mental or nervous injuries. The bill drew supportive testimony from a Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office dispatcher and others, and was reported favorably. The committee also reported favorably SB 770 on forensic services for certain defendants, which would allow the Agency for Persons with Disabilities to consolidate secure forensic services for individuals with intellectual disabilities or autism whose charges were dismissed after incompetency findings. Members then considered several public safety, family, and workforce bills. CS/SB 86, which declares unauthorized aliens operating commercial vehicles an imminent safety hazard and imposes vehicle impoundment and a $50,000 penalty on motor carriers, was reported favorably after questions about impound procedures and cargo handling; one speaker opposed it. SB 1594, protecting veterans’ benefits for foster youth so the funds are reserved for postsecondary education, training, and after-care services, was reported favorably with supportive testimony from a former DCF attorney. CS/SB 760, creating a new offense for willful violations of no-contact pretrial release conditions in violent crime cases, was reported favorably despite criminal defense attorneys’ concerns about a provision allowing warrantless arrests without officer observation. The committee also approved a complete rewrite of the nonprofit corporations chapter in SB 554, a sickle cell continuing education bill (SB 844) after extensive emotional testimony from patients, advocates, and family members, and SB 1022 adding two children’s initiative programs in Bay County and Broward County. CS/SB 1246 broadened the Linking Industry to Nursing Education Fund to include health science education programs and related workforce needs and was reported favorably. Finally, the committee approved CS/CS/SB 1230 restricting use and sale of certain firefighting foam containing intentionally added PFAS, and CS/CS/SB 128 directing DEP to mark Red Harris Spoil Island; both passed with favorable votes. Several senators later asked to be recorded as voting in the affirmative on specific tabs, and the meeting adjourned without further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• When they get the diagnosis, they have two days to almost—usually two They have two days to almost—usually
• We can treat cancer and standard-of-care medicine.
• From that point, it was 25 days.
• From the diagnosis to the day we harvested was 23 days. I was in the category that...
• You learn something new every day.

Summary: The House Health and Welfare Committee first briefly took up RS 33-691, a proposal related to the SNAP soda and candy restrictions passed the prior year. Sponsor Rep. Jordan Redman said the measure would refine the earlier law so more nutritious foods remain eligible while still excluding traditional soda and candy. The committee moved to introduce the RS and the motion carried. The committee then heard House Bill 818, sponsored by Rep. Brooke Green, which would require insurance coverage for fertility preservation for cancer patients facing treatment-related infertility. Green, Dr. Rihanna Menon, and Dr. Kristen Slater testified that cancer treatment can quickly threaten fertility, that decisions must often be made within days, and that the procedures can cost thousands of dollars up front. They described the bill as medically necessary, time-sensitive, and especially important for younger patients, including those with breast cancer, leukemia, and testicular cancer. Several patients and survivors also testified about their own experiences, emphasizing the emotional strain, the short decision window, and the financial burden when insurance did not cover the treatment. An insurance representative, Norm Varian of PacificSource, explained that the bill would create a new mandated benefit for non-self-funded plans and could trigger state reimbursement under federal benefit-deferral rules, with a fiscal note attached. Some members raised concerns about whether the bill should be limited to cancer patients when other conditions also cause infertility, while others supported the measure as a pro-family, pro-life policy. Rep. Green said she would refine the bill and return it next year, and the committee voted to hold House Bill 818 in committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• I also have an urgent care in Manford, Oklahoma, and just opened my third practice in Cleveland, Oklahoma
• Senator Prieto, Senator Wingard, Senator Woods, Senator Logan, do you care to vote?
• It is actually moving it back about 10 days.
• They can't get access to care unless they go to the emergency department.
• You can doctor him right there and take care of the situation.

Bills: HB3239 , HB3391 , HB3557 , HB4128

Committee: Senate Agriculture and Wildlife

Keywords: veterinary medicine, definitions, animal husbandry, board of veterinary examiners, telemedicine, veterinarian-client relationship, animal welfare, commercial pet breeders, licensing, advertising, animal cruelty, Oklahoma Agricultural Extension, local funding, financial institutions, county extension services, state funds, wildlife conservation, hunting regulations, mountain lions, black bears

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> to care in the state of Kentucky. to care in the state of Kentucky.
• So for most people, that translated from about $480 a day to $520 a day.
• day to 520<01:24:47.840><c> a</c><01:24:48.080><c> day.
• to day.
• </c> how we operate day-to-day. how we operate day-to-day. Very<01:34:30.080><c> good.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The meeting opened with roll call and housekeeping, including moving standing attendees to an overflow room and asking the audience to avoid interruptions. The task force then heard testimony from Allison Adams of the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky, who presented statewide health trend data showing Kentucky ranked 41st overall and 44th in health outcomes, with especially poor performance on premature death, chronic disease, diabetes, and vaccination rates. She emphasized that Kentucky has the highest rates of residents with multiple chronic conditions, that diabetes remains above the national average, and that childhood immunization rates have worsened. She also highlighted major provider shortages in rural areas, noting that 43 of 120 counties meet shortage criteria and that more than half of primary care providers are concentrated in Fayette and Jefferson counties. Adams urged the task force to focus on prevention, early intervention, access to care, physical activity, and healthier school and community environments, and said the foundation is prepared to share results from its demonstration projects. Task force members asked follow-up questions about the age range for chronic-condition data and whether the diabetes figure reflected type 1 or type 2 diabetes; Adams said the chronic-condition measure spans all ages and that the diabetes figure likely reflects type 2, though she offered to provide the full report. The task force then approved the minutes from the prior meeting. The committee next turned to SNAP benefits and heard from Lisa Dennis, commissioner of the Department for Community Based Services, and Roger McCann, director of the Division of Family Support. They explained that SNAP is not only a food assistance program but also a public health and family stability tool, arguing that poor diet contributes to chronic disease and that food insecurity is linked to family stress, child welfare involvement, and neglect-related CPS referrals. They cited research showing that more generous SNAP policies are associated with fewer CPS reports, fewer substantiated reports, and fewer foster care placements, and said SNAP helps reduce risk and promote stability across vulnerable populations including children, older adults, people with disabilities, and pregnant women. They also described SNAP-Ed as the nutrition education component that teaches healthy eating, cooking on a budget, and how to use fresh produce, but warned that recent federal legislation eliminates federal funding for SNAP-Ed beginning in federal fiscal year 2026. McCann outlined the remaining SNAP outreach and employment-and-training components, noting that outreach is typically run by nonprofits with a 50% match and that employment and training funds job-skills programs to help recipients move toward better jobs and self-sufficiency. The discussion emphasized that access to nutritious food, education, and job supports are all part of improving health outcomes and reducing food insecurity.

Transcript Highlights:

• Yet we're doing crucial work without health care insurance from their employer.
• For districts and bargaining representatives, health care is something.
• They should be attended to and taken care of regardless of where they identify.
• They should be attended to and taken care of regardless of where they identify.
• Without on-campus housing, getting to school each day would be a barrier.

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We provide respite care to families via our camp.
• It was the move from Medicaid to managed care Medicaid.
• We have had some technology challenges since day one.
• And that's all they're doing every day. Thank you.
• Did I hear that we're now looking at like same day on that transport?

Committee: House A&B Health Subcommittee

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• for health care providers.
• </c> Maryland Child Care Credential Program. Maryland Child Care Credential Program.
• c><00:47:00.319><c> provers's</c> care in the family care provers's care in the family care provers's
• </c><02:00:44.800><c> All</c> need to be careful about that. All need to be careful about that.
• </c> &gt;&gt; on that particular day. &gt;&gt; on that particular day.

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Tuesday, April 7, 2026, 960, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened with an invocation by Rabbi Ari Goldstein, whose remarks were journalized at the request of the senator from District 33. The chamber then recognized the doctor of the day, Dr. Maryann Lamont, for her 50 years in medicine and her work in neurology and stroke care, and also thanked a legislative aide, Samantha Briggs, who is leaving for law school. The presiding officer noted a quorum was present and moved into the day’s floor work. The Senate handled several messages and committee reports, including a conference committee appointment on Senate Bill 18, which concerns provisional social work licensure. In Finance, the chamber advanced Senate Bill 246 on Health Services Cost Review Commission member terms, Senate Bill 370 on acupuncture board revisions, Senate Bill 564 creating a Division of Data Protection in the Attorney General’s office and a related work group, Senate Bill 782 on telecommunications infrastructure protections, Senate Bill 808 on health insurance provider panel requirements, Senate Bill 849 on agricultural equipment warranties, Senate Bill 867 on the Maryland Aerospace and Technology Commission, and Senate Bill 982 on mutual insurance holding companies converting back to mutual insurers. Most of these bills were reported favorably with technical or conforming amendments, which were adopted without objection, and each was ordered printed for third reading. The committee also considered several House bills with Senate cross-files or identical measures. These included House Bill 118 on money transmitter licensing, House Bills 339 and 512 on Anne Arundel County Board of License Commissioners compensation, House Bill 1100 on telecommunications infrastructure protections, House Bill 1395 on agricultural equipment warranties, House Bill 1473 creating Maryland’s Future Board, House Bill 226 on Department of Disabilities housing programs, House Bill 278 codifying the Longevity Ready Maryland plan, and House Bill 746 on collaborative care model coverage and cost-sharing limits. In each case, the committee reports were adopted, amendments were approved where offered, and the bills were advanced to third reading or passed for third reading, with no recorded opposition on the floor.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> within the health care within the health care continuum.<00:26:12.000><c> As</c><00:26:12.240><c
• </c> forgiveness programs for health care forgiveness programs for health care providers<00:26:39.919
• </c><00:48:21.520><c> Affordable</c> for all medical care. Affordable for all medical care.
• The stress impacted my ability to do my job, to take care of my other children, to care for myself.
• 01:19:37.440><c> of</c><01:19:37.600><c> the</c> day-to-day operations and and of the day-to-day operations

Committee: House Higher Education Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Of health care personnel to people in our state.
• Any part of a day counts as a day.
• So some of them allow you to practice unlimited, some 5 days, 10 days, 20 days.
• We knew that day might be the day we didn't come home to our families, but we ran towards the threat
• IPRA request a day, and this went on for about a year.

Bills: HB9 , HB50

Committee: House House Judiciary

Keywords: Immigrant Safety Act, immigration detention, civil immigration violations, ICE, federal immigration enforcement, sanctuary policy, public bodies, local government, sheriff's department, school district, higher education, deputization, 287(g), 8 U.S.C. 1357(g), 8 C.F.R. 287.7, intergovernmental services agreement, detainer, immigration cooperation, public property, attorney general enforcement

Transcript Highlights:

• within a 28 or 30-day period.
• </c> the privilege of casual recreational day the privilege of casual recreational day uses<00:01:50.479
• within a 28 or camping for up to 14 days within a 28 or 30-day<00:02:48.319><c> period.
• But again, there are 30-day period.
• </c> but they are part of their day-to-day but they are part of their day-to-day work<00:19:56.559><c

Committee: Joint Agriculture, State and Public Lands & Water Resources

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It talks about how much it costs—$152 a day—to hold someone in their local jail.
• I am here today because I care deeply about the future of the state.
• And the drug cartels ruled the day. They brought the drugs up. And the drug cartels ruled the day.
• But at the end of the day, it's a horrible, horrible thing that these cartel people do.
• So at the end of the day... President Trump has closed the border pretty much.

Summary: The Military Affairs and Border Security Committee met for its second meeting, opened with a lengthy reminder about Senate decorum rules and the consequences for disruption, then approved the January 26, 2026 minutes. The committee first heard SB 1268, an emergency measure clarifying that a veteran with a 100% service-connected disability receives a full property tax exemption on a primary residence, including when the home is jointly owned with a spouse. County assessors said the bill was a needed cleanup to prior legislation and urged quick passage so applications could be processed before tax deadlines. The bill passed 7-0 with a do pass recommendation; one senator supported it in committee but objected to the emergency clause on the floor because it limits referendum rights. The committee then considered SB 1152, which would make people with pending asylum applications eligible for state or local public benefits until an immigration judge grants asylum. Supporters argued it would prevent state funds from going to people whose status is not yet verified and emphasized taxpayer responsibility; opponents said existing law already covers the issue, warned it could encourage racial profiling, and cited the economic contributions of refugees and asylum seekers. After debate, the bill passed 4-3. Next, SB 1156 appropriated $20 million to DPS to reimburse cities, towns, and counties for short-term detention costs for unauthorized persons. Supporters said local governments were bearing an unfair burden and needed backfill funding; opponents argued the money was unnecessary, not requested by DPS, and should not be spent on detention. The bill passed 4-3. SB 1157, which would appropriate $20 million for reimbursement of local border fencing or walls in high-crossing areas, drew the most extended and contentious testimony. Supporters framed it as a response to border gaps, cartel activity, and local security needs, while opponents said it would worsen fear, harm wildlife and communities, and divert funds from education and other priorities. The meeting briefly became disorderly during public testimony, prompting a rules clarification from the committee attorney about audience decorum and the chair’s authority. After debate, SB 1157 also passed 4-3. Finally, the committee heard SB 1213, as amended, which makes unlawfully present persons convicted of state or local offenses ineligible for probation and requires ICE notification; the amendment removed CBP from the notification provisions. The sponsor tied the bill to a recent child sexual assault case and said it would ensure convicted noncitizens are not placed on probation at taxpayer expense. Opponents raised due process and equal protection concerns and said the bill would profile noncitizens. The amended bill passed 4-3, and the committee adjourned after completing its agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• A couple of items of note for a roadmap for the next couple of days as we consider these rules.
• So we will have several more days of rules.
• I believe we have three or four or five days left yet on rules. So there's a lot out there.
• Thursday would be the foster care licensing and daycare license, and then the ICCP.
• We don't spend more than we make, and we continue to save for a rainy day.

Summary: The committee reviewed several Idaho Department of Health and Welfare rule dockets under zero-based rule review. For the Idaho Reportable Disease Rules, department staff said the revisions mainly reduce duplication and shorten the chapter, while adding viral hemorrhagic fevers and lowering the lead-poisoning reporting threshold from 5 to 3.5 micrograms per deciliter. Members questioned whether stricken language on records access, daycare restrictions, inspection authority, and reporting duties changed policy; staff and the state epidemiologist said the edits were mostly consolidations or removals of language already covered by statute or federal law, and that no substantive reporting requirements were intended to change. Concerns were also raised about limited time to review the large docket, public notice, and trust in the department’s explanations. The committee approved the radiation control rules, which were described as being reduced by about 70 percent, with incorporation by reference removed and a new requirement that out-of-state licensees register within 30 days. It also approved the docket on use and disclosure of department records, which staff said simply removes repeated references to the Idaho Public Records Act, HIPAA, and other governing authorities without changing what records are protected. The reportable disease docket drew the most discussion; after debate over whether the rule changes were merely cosmetic and how statutory changes affect rules, a substitute motion to hold the docket for one week was adopted on a 5-9 roll call vote, with the docket set for reconsideration on February 3. Later in the meeting, the committee received Your Health Idaho’s annual report. Executive Director Pat Kelly said the exchange remained financially self-sustaining, had no state funding, and continued to post record enrollment, with more than 144,000 Idahoans selecting plans during open enrollment 2026. He said most enrollees receive tax credits, but the expiration of enhanced premium tax credits drove affordability concerns, increased disenrollment, and shifted many consumers into lower-cost bronze plans. Members asked about plan changes, enrollment math, assessment fee revenue, and the effect of premium increases versus the loss of enhanced subsidies. Kelly said the exchange’s net premium increases were driven mostly by the subsidy expiration, and the committee adjourned after the report.

Transcript Highlights:

• We should be focused on taking care of our communities.
• We work every day with immigrant families who call New Mexico home.
• We don't care about them anymore?
• We have extensive documentation obtained through public records requests that the day-to-day operations
• These problems are getting worse and worse by the day.

Committee: House House Consumer & Public Affairs

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Care also in support. Cat Brady testifying for Community Alliance on Prisons.
• I can check in later in the day. That's all right. And I had one other question.
• </c><00:05:12.080><c> no</c> um I can check in later in the day no um I can check in later in the day
• We already have a 10-day deadline, but there are parts of the statute where it still refers to a 30-day
• Within 30 days of entry of a final judgment.

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Judiciary Committee heard testimony on several bills covering criminal justice, elections, and wildfire-related settlement funding. HB 103 would raise the age cutoff for life-without-parole eligibility from 18 to 21; supporters included the Public Defender and others, while prosecutors and some others opposed it. HB 11 would allow civil claims against people or businesses profiting from sexual exploitation or sex trafficking; it drew mostly support but was not ready for a vote and was deferred for further questions. HB 132 would expand a state-initiated expungement pilot to include possession of any Schedule V substance; the Public Defender, ACLU, and oversight groups supported it, with one opponent, and committee questions focused on what substances and how many cases would be affected. HB 145 would require the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center to transmit expungement orders to the Judiciary to implement Act 159; the Judiciary and Public Defender supported it, and members discussed technical issues involving multiple defendants and multiple charges. HB 369, a campaign finance housekeeping bill on excess cash contributions, and HB 408, which aligns voter registration-by-mail deadlines with current law, both received support and no opposition of note. The committee also heard HB 1175, which creates appropriations and a trust fund for Maui wildfire settlement claims; the Attorney General’s office, Maui County Council, and Tax Foundation supported it, while one senator said he would vote no because of concerns about House leadership. HB 386, which conforms drug possession thresholds for methamphetamine, heroin, morphine, and cocaine, was supported by law enforcement and prosecutors. HB 134 would require electronic filing of nomination papers; the Elections Office supported it but asked that any convenience fee be authorized in statute, while one witness opposed it over security and cost concerns. After testimony and questions, the committee took up decision-making and passed HB 103 with amendments, deferred HB 11, and passed HB 132, HB 145, HB 369, HB 408, HB 1175, HB 386, and HB 134, with HB 134 amended to clarify no additional charge for electronic filing.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Health Care Budget Subcommittee will come to order.
• I need care. We factoring that into the equation.
• Has an comp isn't competent care, charity care which is a different funding streams and the direct payment
• So that would be uncompensated care non Medicaid enrollees, charity care if you're well depart, DPP is
• is not my the department's direct care staff.

Transcript Highlights:

• and make sure that New Mexicans can keep their health care coverage.
• On Affordable Care Act premiums, raising them by as much as 75% for some consumers.
• Line 22 gives the health care authority the ability to expand the pool.
• We take that very seriously at the Health Care Authority.
• Today's the first day. How am I going to be tomorrow? Maybe that's it.

Committee: House House Health & Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:37:41.839><c> the</c> utilities cut off and every day the utilities cut off and every day the
• We're living life every day. We only have one day that we die.
• Patrick's Day.
• Patrick's Day.
• Patrick's Day tomorrow. But today, members, is St. Erho's Day.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• You just took care of two of them. We'll start at the top here.
• </c> were five total items you just took care were five total items you just took care of<00:12:28.560
• I won't be offended if you want to just call it a day. It's your call.
• I won't be offended if you want to just call it a day. It's your call.
• I won't be offended if you want to just call it a day. It's your call.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first considered an amendment to add a new “Lakes” license plate to HB 2, with proceeds directed to the cyanobacteria fund for lake cleanup. Representative McGuire said the bill had already passed on consent and asked that it be included in HB 2; members discussed that it had also gone to the Senate. The motion to adopt the amendment failed on a 7-8 vote. The committee then took up an amendment imposing a 5% administrative fee on certain dedicated funds, with several exemptions for funds that could not legally or appropriately be charged, such as those involving federal money or bequests. Supporters said it would make the treatment of dedicated funds more consistent and raise roughly $31 million over the biennium for the general fund, while opponents questioned the number of carve-outs and who currently pays the administrative costs. The amendment failed on a 4-5 vote. Next, the committee reconsidered and then adopted an amendment changing the distribution of business profits tax and business enterprise tax revenue, reducing the share going to the Education Trust Fund from 41% to 30% and increasing the General Fund share. Supporters argued the Senate had overfunded the Education Trust Fund and that the change would help balance the budget without changing education spending levels; opponents said they could not support taking money from the Education Trust Fund. The amendment passed 5-3. The committee also adopted, by the same 5-3 margin, an amendment incorporating HB 741 language on open enrollment and student attendance in public schools, with supporters calling it House policy and opponents noting it had been a close, partly partisan vote in the House. Finally, the committee considered a change to the University System of New Hampshire budget that would reduce general fund appropriations by $40 million per year, offset in part by $15 million in previously approved unique dollars for a net reduction of $25 million per year. Supporters said the cut was necessary to balance the budget and that other options had been exhausted; opponents called it harmful to the university system and argued the committee should instead look to other areas, including education freedom accounts, for savings. The discussion continued, but the transcript excerpt ends before a final vote on the UNH item.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's good to be back on this same day since we were here on this day just a couple of hours ago.
• So today is Rio Aba County Day and Special Education Day at the legislature.
• of the day to day business.
• That works for us day in and day out that we trust. Is she making prevailing wage?
• We have an old school 19th century 60 day session and a 30 day session.

Transcript Highlights:

• That basically translates to approximately one every 14 minutes per court day.
• We had a widowed senior client who received a 60-day eviction notice from her landlord.
• I just love all, you know, I just love, you know, just appreciate all that you do every day.
• And then lastly, $10 million for services to protect health care access. Okay.
• Make sure you put that in writing, because there will be another day one day.

Summary: The committee heard budget and workload presentations from the Office of the State Public Defender, legal aid organizations, and the Judicial Branch. OSPD requested permanent funding for positions that had been temporarily funded to implement the Racial Justice Act, explaining that the work has become ongoing and now includes additional Supreme Court briefing, habeas proceedings, investigations, expert analysis, and data requests. The State Public Defender also presented the AB 625 public defense workload report, which found statewide staffing shortages, caseloads above recommended standards, and major gaps in investigators and support staff. Senators asked about racial bias claims, the volume of data requests, and the impact of Prop. 36, and OSPD said it would provide additional written information. The legal aid panel asked for a $50 million increase to the Equal Access Fund, $20 million to restart homelessness prevention services, and $10 million for health care access work, while also supporting Access to Justice Commission requests for loan repayment assistance, immigrant family preparedness services, and innovation grants. Witnesses described legal aid as homelessness prevention and cited examples involving eviction defense, domestic violence survivors, and immigration detention cases. Los Angeles Superior Court Presiding Judge Sergio Tapia discussed eviction data, low tenant representation, and court pilots in Compton and at Stanley Mosk that combine mediation, rental assistance, and legal help. Senators asked for service maps, outreach materials, and more detail on funding needs and federal funding losses. For the Judicial Branch overview, the Judicial Council and trial court representatives supported the Governor’s proposed budget, including $70 million for trial court operations, $21.7 million for employee health and retirement costs, and funding for appellate counsel, case processing, and courthouse construction. They said rising costs, staffing retention, and interpreter shortages continue to strain the courts, and described efforts to reallocate interpreter funds and recruit hard-to-find languages such as Mixteco. Senators pressed the branch and the Department of Finance on courthouse facilities, noting that the long-term need is far larger than the current budget proposal; Finance said the branch’s facility needs were estimated at about $22.5 billion over 10 years to start 68 projects and $29.4 billion to complete the remaining projects. The committee requested follow-up information on facilities, judgeships, and interpreter needs.