Transcript Highlights:

• I just want to thank him for his service and tell him how grateful we are to him.
• to services during a state of emergency.
• Access to Health Care Act, allowing cosmetologists to provide aesthetic body contouring services without
• Access to Health Care Act, allowing cosmetologists to provide aesthetic body contouring services without
• and access to care with patient safety.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opening with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a series of recognitions for interns, staff, and guests. Members also honored a retiring Senate staffer and a wounded veteran, then moved into returning House messages and special order bills. Several measures were taken up and either concurred in or sent back to the House, with multiple unanimous or near-unanimous votes on noncontroversial bills. Among the bills addressed were SB 118 on recreational vehicle park assessments, SB 572 on ethics for public officers and employees, and HB 991 on election integrity. SB 118 and SB 572 were amended to reflect House changes and passed 38-0. HB 991 drew extensive debate over voter registration and identification requirements, with opponents arguing it would burden students, seniors, disabled voters, and others, while supporters said it would strengthen election security and streamline verification; it passed 27-12. The chamber also approved bills on historic cemeteries, chickee regulation, habitual traffic offender designation, military affairs, and a Department of Health package. The Department of Health bill (SB 902/HB 733) was the subject of detailed amendment work, including changes to medical marijuana rules, NICU educational materials, Early Steps, dental loan repayment, and pediatric trauma center designation. The Senate adopted an amendment to the amendment and then passed the bill 37-0. Other measures included a funeral services bill, which the Senate refused to concur in because the House strike-all would redefine cremation to include composting, and a veterans-related bill that was temporarily postponed. The Senate also recessed briefly, then returned to continue the calendar and additional recognitions.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> did not have access to capital and that did not have access to capital and that could<00:44:29.839
• It is very meaningful to all of the farmers that can find a way to access this.
• Oftentimes our farmers are trying to access Farm Service Agency direct loan services, and it's really
• Um that can find a way to access this.
• agencies</c><00:55:57.440><c> um</c> to access farm service agencies um to access farm service agencies

Bills: HF3579 , HF3549 , HF3548 , HF4388 , HF3566

Committee: House Agriculture Finance and Policy

Keywords: eggs, donation, quality assurance, food assistance, charitable programs, agriculture, grain indemnity, financial security, crop insurance, Minnesota agriculture, farm assistance, down payment, state funding, loan modification, rotational grazing, grazing management, livestock, pasture management, soil health, erosion control

Transcript Highlights:

• vote to volunteer to assist poll workers for the purpose of receiving community service hours to meet
• I think it is meant to harass and chill access to funding.
• have an insurance company who has access to massive resources and wouldn't have to have to... of the
• I think it is meant to harass and chill kind of access to funding.
• have to have to ...has access to massive resources and wouldn't have to find the type of funding in

Committee: Senate Rules

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and access to services, things like the spousal impoverishment, which before used to be a condition
• and access to services, things like the spousal impoverishment, which before used to be a condition
• and access to services, things like the spousal impoverishment, which before used to be a condition
• certain criteria for services to access those services before they are deemed completely eligible by
• certain criteria for services to access those services before they are deemed completely eligible by

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and females have access to public health services corresponding to their biological sex, laws ensuring
• individuals have access to public health services corresponding to their race or ethnicity, or laws
• and females have access to public health services corresponding to their biological sex, laws ensuring
• individuals have access to public health services corresponding to their race or ethnicity, and laws
• to access city services, would that be considered special ...access city services, would that be considered

Summary: The subcommittee first took up HB 339, which would create liability for vaccine manufacturers that advertise in Florida and require them to stand behind their products if consumers are harmed. The sponsor argued the bill is meant to restore trust in vaccines, improve informed consent, and address inadequate federal vaccine-injury compensation systems; he said he was open to amendments and noted the bill was modeled on Texas law. Opponents, including a former vaccine-court official, a Florida Justice Reform Institute representative, and a physician, argued the bill is preempted by federal law, raises First Amendment concerns, is vague, and is unnecessary because existing federal compensation programs already provide a remedy. After an amendment delaying the effective date by three months was adopted, the committee heard extensive public testimony, mostly opposed, and then approved HB 339 as amended by a 12-4 vote. The committee then began HB 1001, a strike-all on official actions of local governments that would bar counties and municipalities from official DEI-related actions and spending, define DEI and related terms, add enforcement provisions, and include broad exceptions for holidays, observances, and certain content-neutral civic events. The sponsor said the measure is intended to curb what he described as divisive and wasteful DEI activity in local government while preserving compliance with anti-discrimination laws and other listed exceptions. Members questioned the lack of definitions for terms like “preferential treatment” and the bill’s possible effects on local festivals, language-access services, Pride events, memorials, and community programs; the sponsor said some concerns were addressed by exceptions and that he was open to further changes. Public testimony was overwhelmingly opposed, with speakers warning of overbreadth, preemption, frivolous lawsuits, harm to local autonomy, and impacts on marginalized communities, while supporters said the bill would restore neutrality, accountability, and merit-based governance. The amendment to HB 1001 was adopted, and the committee continued hearing testimony and debate on the bill as amended.

Transcript Highlights:

• When you're looking at people not having access to services, is that because they aren't civilly committed
• or because we have not provided appropriate access to supportive long-term housing, access to community-based
• mental health services, and access to mental health providers?
• And, you know, ideally we would love for people to gain access to inpatient services prior to becoming
• And I say this because it's very important to recognize that we need to provide services in the least

Keywords: 907, all

Summary: The joint Senate and House Behavioral Health committee met for informational presentations on the Oregon State Hospital and civil commitment, followed by a planned tour of the hospital. Oregon Health Authority and Oregon State Hospital leaders reported that Sean Murphy will become the next permanent superintendent on July 13, with Sarah Castle to follow as permanent chief nursing officer on July 20. They described recent leadership turnover, a major organizational restructure, and efforts to build a culture of safety, transparency, and accountability. Officials said the hospital regained Joint Commission accreditation and CMS compliance, and they highlighted daily safety huddles, incident review processes, stronger escalation procedures, and improved management of seclusion and restraint. Committee members pressed hospital leaders on past prolonged seclusion practices, falls, staffing, and the need for better public reporting; OHA said it is building a public dashboard of key safety and workforce metrics. The committee then heard a civil commitment overview from the Oregon Judicial Department. The presenter explained that civil commitment is a separate legal process from criminal cases, usually beginning with a hospital hold, investigation, court review, appointed counsel, and a hearing within five days. She summarized changes made in House Bill 2005, including revised standards for danger to self, danger to others, and basic-needs commitments, plus a second 14-day diversion option. She cautioned that the new law has only been in effect since January and that it is too early to draw firm conclusions from the data, though there has been a recent uptick in commitments and a decrease in diversions. Testimony from NAMI Oregon and a forensic psychiatrist emphasized that Oregon still relies too heavily on jails and state hospitals because community services, housing, and outpatient supports are insufficient. They argued that the state needs more less-restrictive alternatives, including better use of assisted outpatient treatment or outpatient civil commitment, and more supported housing so people do not cycle between homelessness, incarceration, and hospitalization. A family member described a relative remaining psychotic in jail for more than 120 days before ending up back at the state hospital, urging faster intervention and better collaboration among courts, counties, hospitals, and state agencies. Committee members and witnesses also discussed workforce shortages, the expansion of secure residential treatment beds, and the need for broader system reforms beyond the hospital itself.

Transcript Highlights:

• While incarcerated, inmates have the potential to access healthcare services partially through what the
• Without access to affordable healthcare services post-release, individuals who were formerly incarcerated
• to receive healthcare services are able to do so.
• to ensure that survivors have access to the care they need outside of the criminal legal system for
• These barriers include inadequate access to services, communication challenges, limited understanding

Bills: HB153

Committee: House Corrections

Transcript Highlights:

• It calls for all workers to be paid at least minimum wage, and providers to redesign services moving
• I think that services might have to be flipped that going to the school and meeting with the students
• braiding, where you can be using DdF services at the same time to supplement DrS services.
• , very accessible for employers who don't understand how it's going to work to come and get all their
• , so according to my employment services director of small businesses are actually much more open to

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And then related to that, there was untimely removal of IT access privileges, so they are not always
• related to IT applications, security management needed improvement to ensure that access privileges
• And then related to that, there was untimely removal of IT access privileges, so they are not always
• If they fail to turn in the report, it's to send a letter to the Department of Financial Services, Department
• of Revenue, to withhold funds not pledged for bond debt service.

Summary: The Joint Legislative Auditing Committee heard the Auditor General’s operational audit of the City of Mexico Beach, which identified nine findings. The audit cited significant turnover in key management positions, late filing of required annual financial reports, weaknesses in competitive procurement and purchase approval controls, a duplicate payment on stormwater repairs that was later largely refunded, issues with the city accountant’s contract and IRS classification, IT access control problems, and the lack of fraud-reporting policies. Committee members asked about corrective action, and the Auditor General said a follow-up audit is required by statute within 18 months, with no enforcement authority beyond reporting progress back to the committee. Mayor Rich Wolf and city staff responded that the city had experienced major turnover and was rebuilding its finance and administrative team. He said the city had hired a city administrator, financial director, city clerk, and accounting firm, and was working to create policies, procedures, forms, and review processes to address the findings. Members discussed whether the turnover and hurricane-related workload contributed to the problems, and city officials said some of the larger purchases were storm-related and tied to FEMA or emergency work. The committee then received a staff update on enforcement for local governments that have not filed required financial reports. Staff said 400 entities had been notified, and as of the meeting two counties, 33 municipalities, and 48 special districts still owed reports or audits. The committee adopted a motion to proceed under section 11.42, Florida Statutes, including possible withholding of state funds for municipalities and enforcement actions for special districts, with authority for the chair and vice chair to delay action if new information warranted it. Finally, the committee unanimously directed the Auditor General and OPPAGA to conduct the required 2024-2025 audit of the Department of the Lottery, with the Auditor General handling financial, internal control, and compliance issues and OPPAGA developing operational recommendations. Members also briefly discussed whether the committee had reviewed transportation surtaxes and expressed interest in improving the timeliness and transparency of the audit and enforcement process before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• to crime victim services.
• services that are available to the hearing population.
• </c> specialized services to ensure that the specialized services to ensure that the deaf<00:22:12.000
• the support and funding needed to maintain services.
• </c> funding needed to maintain services. funding needed to maintain services.

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:13:17.680><c> to</c> increased um people having access to increased um people having access to
• to some services, and it's indexed to a person's income.
• to people receiving services.
• to people receiving services.
• to people receiving services.

Bills: HR1

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Keywords: January 6 insurrection, pardon, law enforcement, violent crimes, public safety, justice system, political accountability, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a voluntary program, and the focus is to provide support and services to those 18-, 19-, and 20-
• Property ownership allows providers to control rental costs, expand access to stable housing, and serve
• providers' access to financing for property purchases.
• to get service providers into positions of property ownership.
• to access housing and maintain it over the long term.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Human Services heard and advanced a series of foster care, benefits, housing, and poverty-related bills. AB 373 would require appointed counsel for nonminor dependents in dependency proceedings to represent the young adult’s expressed wishes rather than substitute counsel’s judgment; supporters said it would respect autonomy for foster youth ages 18 to 21, and the bill passed 4-0, later updated to 6-0 and then 7-0 as absent members were added. AB 42 would exempt merit-based scholarships, grants, loans, and fellowships from income calculations for CalWORKs and CalFresh and align the two programs’ exclusions; student and anti-poverty advocates said it would prevent students from losing benefits when they pursue education, and it passed 6-0, later updated to 7-0. AB 534 would encourage transitional housing providers serving foster youth to move from leasing to owning properties by extending contract terms and improving access to financing; witnesses said ownership would improve stability and reduce landlord barriers, and it passed 4-0, later updated to 7-0. AB 562 would require counties below the state average for family placements to use a family-finding checklist and best-practice support; supporters emphasized family-first placements for foster youth, and it passed 6-0, later updated to 7-0. AB 661 would direct the Department of Social Services to develop an implementation plan for a permanent statewide guaranteed basic income program; supporters described positive results from pilot programs and the bill passed 5-2, later updated to 7-0. The committee also approved a consent calendar of additional bills, all without opposition.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'd like to focus on the access to justice issue, in particular, Representative...
• I'd like to focus on the access to justice issue.
• In a rural area, it becomes an access to... ...be problematic.
• And they would be able to be protected if, in good faith, they're trying to get access to treatments
• to provide access to the full slate of our prevention services throughout our 21-county region.

Committee: House Emerging Issues and Professional Registration

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 3423 from Rep. Darren Chappell, which would require judges in Missouri courts of record to file annual financial disclosure statements, bar judges from hearing cases involving people who have given them money, and extend similar disclosure rules to members of judicial nominating commissions. Chappell framed the bill as a transparency and ethics measure. Business groups supported the proposal, but judges, bar groups, and trial and defense lawyers opposed it, arguing existing judicial ethics rules already address gifts and recusals, that the bill is overly broad in covering “anything of value,” and that it could create unintended consequences, including strategic donations to force recusal and reduced public access to judicial financial disclosures. The Supreme Court’s representative said the bill should be read alongside the full Code of Judicial Conduct and offered to provide the committee with that material. No vote was taken. The committee then heard House Bill 2922 from Rep. Jeff Myers, which would align Missouri’s right-to-try law with federal law by extending access from terminal illness to debilitating conditions and by addressing the use of Schedule I drugs in that framework. Myers said the bill is intended to help ensure access to emerging treatments and has passed in various forms in prior sessions. There was no opposition testimony, and the hearing concluded without action. Next, the committee heard House Bill 2643, also from Rep. Senate, the “Hope for Missouri Patients Act,” which would expand right-to-try access for individualized treatments such as gene therapies, enzyme replacement therapies, and substrate reduction therapies for patients with rare or debilitating diseases. Supporters, including the Goldwater Institute, a parent of a child with a rare disease, and Americans for Prosperity, said the bill could help patients access customized treatments sooner and reduce red tape. The sponsor and witnesses emphasized that the bill would not require insurance coverage and is meant to help patients who cannot wait for lengthy clinical trial or FDA pathways. No opposition testimony was offered. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 3204 from Rep. Senate, which would create a tax credit to encourage private donations to prevention resource centers that work on substance misuse prevention. Supporters from prevention organizations and advocacy groups said the credit would strengthen local prevention coalitions, reduce future treatment and criminal justice costs, and stabilize funding for services such as school education, early intervention, and suicide prevention. One opponent warned that Planned Parenthood could qualify as a prevention resource center and receive tax credits, but supporters said they had no concern about that. The hearing ended with no vote or other committee action, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The House Human Services Finance and Policy Committee will be coming to order.
• There are a number of things that we do to try to manage access and ensure appropriate access.
• There are a number of things that we do to try to manage access and ensure appropriate access.
• The legislature then funded a state-only option to maintain access due to the caregiver shortage.
• ensure that folks folks do have need to ensure that folks folks do have access<01:02:49.960><c> to</

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> recommended to pass and re-refer to recommended to pass and re-refer to human<00:57:35.680><c> services
• Thank you, and reer to human service.
• but they've also lost access to public notices.
• </c><01:31:09.520><c> to</c> Not only have residents lost access to Not only have residents lost access
• </c><01:31:14.800><c> to</c><01:31:15.040><c> public</c> lost access to public lost access to public

Committee: Senate State and Local Government

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Restricting access to these tools is akin to restricting access to pens, paper, and the spoken word.
• It includes explicit limitations to prevent anti-competitive behavior, protect emergency service access
• > marijuana,</c> to access to cigarettes, marijuana, to access to cigarettes, marijuana, alcohol,<02:
• </c> accessible to anyone on the internet. accessible to anyone on the internet.
• </c> Services and to committee staff members. Services and to committee staff members.

Committee: House Commerce and Consumer Affairs

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• However, my office has been slowed in its efforts to complete these reviews by a lack of access to job
• that he is not able to access to have the right people in the right position and paid the right amount
• Public access to government records is an essential part of our democracy.
• Public access to government records is an essential part of our democracy.
• Failure to secure additional funds will impact service to residents of Santa Cruz and Watsonville and

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• decide to close, thus depriving services to a number of children.
• Ortiz, I want to say thank you for your service.
• We have S. 1048, an act relative to access to a decedent's electronic mail accounts.
• they had access to everything else, as they were the rightful heirs to his estate.
• that they had access to everything else, as they were the rightful heirs to his estate.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on the Judiciary

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on the Judiciary held a hearing on a wide range of state, probate, and family bills, with chairs Edwards and Day outlining strict testimony limits and accepting written testimony. Early testimony focused on H. 1911/S. 1138, which would clarify that a durable power of attorney may create a trust if that authority is expressly granted; sponsors and elder law advocates said the bill would resolve uncertainty created by the Barbetti decision and align Massachusetts with other states. A major portion of the hearing centered on S. 1102, a proposal to establish medical panels in Probate and Family Court. Supporters, including attorneys, parents, physicians, and advocates, said neutral three-doctor panels would help judges resolve disputed medical issues in guardianship and custody cases involving children, elders, and people with disabilities. Testifiers described cases where medical treatment was blocked or contested by one parent or guardian, arguing the panels would provide impartial expertise and protect vulnerable people. The committee also heard support for bills addressing disability discrimination in family court, military parents’ custody rights, and a shared parenting bill, H. 1710, which drew strong opposition from domestic violence advocates and others who said a 50-50 presumption could harm survivors and children. The committee also took testimony on several probate and court-administration measures. Senator Lovely supported a bill on nominee trust partition, and Senator Comerford and probate officials backed legislation to codify additional registry staff positions and modernize registry operations. Other bills discussed included foster care liability insurance, with providers warning that rising premiums and loss of coverage could force program closures; health care proxy storage and activation; access to decedents’ email accounts; uniform trust decanting; the Uniform Voidable Transactions Act; heirs’ property partition protections; a constitutional right to health care; alimony-related reforms; child-centered family law; and a right of disposition for funeral arrangements. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the committee repeatedly invited written testimony and follow-up questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:54:05.520><c> to</c> appropriate to give people access to appropriate to give people access to
• to be able to get access to this.
• to be able to get access to this. ...to meet certain weight and other conditions to be able to get access
• /c><02:15:24.000><c> people</c> good service to um to making people good service to um to making people
• </c><03:07:43.040><c> which</c> to decreases in access to care which to decreases in access to care which

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The House Finance Division 3 work session continued its review of the Department of Health and Human Services’ Medicaid budget and related policy issues, with CFO Nathan White and Medicaid Director Henry Litman presenting updated materials. The discussion focused on a crosswalk between the adjusted FY 2025 Medicaid budget and the governor’s FY 2026 recommendation, plus handouts showing service additions, eligibility changes, dental rates, and other Medicaid changes since 2019. The department also said it would provide a clearer breakdown of the pharmacy cost-sharing item by general, federal, and other funds. Members asked detailed questions about the Medicaid enhancement tax, the 80% plan, and how funds are allocated between hospital payments, directed payments, and DSH uncompensated care. The department explained that the MET is being used more toward rates and directed payments to better align with federal matching rules, while DSH remains important for uncompensated care. They also noted that a pending Senate Bill 249 would keep the 80% structure and move to Senate Finance. On the trigger law, the department identified the governing provision as Chapter 342:12, Laws of 2018, and explained that if the federal match for Medicaid expansion falls below 90%, the state must notify legislative leaders and participants and the program would sunset after 180 days unless the legislature acts. The committee also reviewed current Medicaid expansion enrollment and program trends. Officials said enrollment was just under 59,000 as of March 3, with about 87,000 people enrolled over the past year and more than a quarter-million residents having used the program over its lifetime. They said enrollment has fallen from a post-pandemic high of nearly 97,000 and may eventually settle in the low 50,000s. Finally, the department discussed federal DSH funding risk, saying New Hampshire could face a significant reduction if Congress does not extend current protections, which is part of why the state has shifted more funding toward payment rates and directed payments.

Transcript Highlights:

• These are communities that face multiple environmental burdens, yet still struggle to access basic information
• These are communities that face multiple environmental burdens, yet still struggle to access basic information
• SB 1291 improves transparency, strengthens access to information, and requires better communication with
• And I would say, I mean, we're going to continue to talk to the opposition, of course.
• And I would say, I mean, we're going to continue to talk to the opposition, of course.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Banking and Financial Institutions heard two bills. SB 1131, presented by Senator Jones’s staff, would update the Debt Collection Licensing Act by requiring DFPI to conduct examinations remotely unless an on-site review is needed for consumer protection, and allowing the department to rely on recent audits or examinations by other regulators or approved third parties to avoid duplicative work. Supporters from the California Association of Collectors and Receivables Management Association International said the bill would reduce examination costs and improve administrative efficiency while preserving consumer protections. A representative of the California Low-Income Consumer Coalition expressed concerns. Committee members noted the need to avoid unintended consequences for the consumer protection goals of the licensing program. The bill was moved on a due pass and re-refer motion to Appropriations and later received enough votes on call to pass out of committee. The committee also heard SB 1291, the “Shine Act,” by Senator Gonzalez, which would increase transparency and accountability for mutual water company boards by eliminating the 24-hour written notice requirement for board meetings, requiring websites with basic information and consumer confidence reports, and directing a comparative analysis of mutual water companies serving disadvantaged communities. Supporters, including community and public health advocates, described problems with water quality, inaccessible meetings, poor notice practices, and lack of information in communities such as Cudahy and Maywood. The California Association of Mutual Water Companies opposed the bill unless amended, arguing it imposes costly, one-size-fits-all requirements on small systems without dedicated funding and could be difficult for remote or low-capacity mutuals to meet. Committee members generally supported the transparency goals but raised concerns about scale and compliance burdens; the author said he would continue working with opponents. SB 1291 was moved on a due pass and re-refer motion to Environmental Quality and later passed out of committee on call.