Transcript Highlights:

• And as DRF, we would like a wider swath of individuals to be able to access work.
• Unfortunately, what that means is we lose access to our in-home care and I lose access to the waiver,
• and my job is in jeopardy. ...access to our in-home care, and I lose access to the waiver, and my job
• to be able to achieve their dreams... ...that is on a home and community-based waiver has access to
• I'm... ...stop and get all the stakeholders in the room, including medically assisted treatment.

Bills: S1002 , S1016 , S1030 , S1594 , S1630

Committee: Senate Children, Families, and Elder Affairs

Keywords: child welfare, substance abuse, neglect, parental rights, drug exposure, Medicaid, disabilities, employment, healthcare access, income eligibility, veteran benefits, minor clients, financial assistance, education services, Department of Children and Families, Department of Health, aging services, disability assistance, long-term care, Alzheimer's support

Summary: The committee considered several bills affecting children, disability services, aging, recovery residences, and foster youth benefits. SB 1016 codified the working people with disabilities program for Medicaid waiver recipients, with amendments removing automatic enrollment and improving information sharing between agencies; advocates testified that the program helps people with developmental disabilities work while keeping needed care, though they raised implementation and training concerns. The bill was reported favorably. SB 1002, as amended, clarified that evidence of acute or chronic parental drug abuse can constitute harm or neglect in child welfare cases and allow court intervention and treatment requirements; it was also reported favorably. SB 1594 would preserve veterans’ benefits for foster youth for postsecondary education or aftercare rather than using them as reimbursement to the agency, and it passed favorably. SB 1630 modernized aging and long-term care statutes, expanded emergency service authority, updated oversight of area agencies on aging and guardianship, and permanently established the Florida Alzheimer’s Center of Excellence; after two amendments, it was reported favorably. SB 1030, on recovery residences/substance abuse services, was amended with a substitute that narrowed transfer definitions, sped licensure for existing providers adding levels of care, and limited credentialing entities’ access to resident records; members noted it remained a work in progress, but it was reported favorably. The committee also held confirmation hearings. Robert Astellos, nominated as Director of the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, described efforts to reduce the pre-enrollment list, improve transparency and customer service, expand family involvement, and streamline agency processes; multiple advocacy groups appeared in support, and the committee recommended his confirmation. The committee then unanimously recommended confirmation of the appointees on tabs 7 through 10. The meeting concluded with adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Do we have Lonnie Johns Brown and Emily Bryce here in the room?
• Nonprofit insurers do not have access to capital.
• Before you is House Bill 2385 relating to the Medicaid Access Program.
• Last year, the legislature enacted the Medicaid Access Program.
• SB 6260 would reverse proven gains in access, equity, and completion.

Bills: SB5808 , HB2254 , HB2385 , SB6006 , SB6351 , SB6198 , SB6260 , SB6353 , SB5949 , SB6129 , SB6228 , SB6231 , SB6229 , SB6173

Committee: Senate Ways & Means

Keywords: health insurance, premium assistance, funding, healthcare access, state budget, HB 2254, Washington, Health Care Authority, partnership access line, psychiatric consultation line, first approach skills training, behavioral health, mental health, assessment, administrative costs, health carriers, self-funded plans, multiple employer welfare arrangement, MEWA, employers

Transcript Highlights:

• When Oregon passed Measure 109, I accessed safe, supervised access to psilocybin in a service center,
• When Oregon Pass Measure 109, I accessed safe, supervised access to psilocybin in a service center, and
• And the Democrats will caucus in the room across the hall, Senate hearing room 3. Is that correct?
• And the Democrats will caucus in the room across the hall, Senate hearing room three.
• The Democrats will caucus in the room across the hall, Senate hearing room 3.

Bills: SB5921 , SB5185 , SB6182 , SB6115 , SB6258 , SB5916 , SB5981 , SB5985 , SB6019 , SB6161 , SB6183

Committee: Senate Health & Long-Term Care

Keywords: psilocybin, mental health, therapy, decriminalization, legalization, international medical graduates, preceptorship, hardship pathways, medical practice, licensure, abortion, reproductive health, pregnancy termination, clinic access, abortion access fund, abortion savings account, health carrier assessment, insurance assessment, health insurer tax, Department of Health

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 1027 is Chair Shaheen's bill to increase access.
• can access it.
• deserts, and not having access to green space. ...space.
• It's accessible. Almost everybody has a smartphone.
• The ability to ensure that there is access to continuing education and access to information and recruitment

Bills: HB514 , HB1652 , HB2117 , HB2298 , HB3269 , HB46 , HB46

Committee: House S/C on Disease Prevention & Women's & Children's Health

Keywords: maternal health, maternal care, pregnancy, labor and delivery, postpartum, doula, birth worker, midwife, obstetric care, women's health, rural health, health workforce, workforce development, trauma-informed care, public outreach campaign, health equity, minority health, underserved communities, Texas Department of State Health Services, HHSC

Transcript Highlights:

• Every time a group of them comes into my room or anytime one is enrolled in one of the college classes

Bills: SB706 , SB1262 , SB1272 , SB1546

Committee: House A&B Education Subcommittee

Keywords: school funding, general fund carryover, State Aid, educational finance, budget penalties, emergency clause, tuition waiver, human trafficking, education, higher learning access, victims' rights, Oklahoma Tuition Equalization Grant, higher education, financial aid, income eligibility, student grants, scholarships, capital improvements, teacher incentives, Oklahoma Equal Opportunity Education Scholarship Act

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair: Any other testimony in the room before we go online? We're going to go online.

Bills: HB0108 , HB0039 , HB0091 , HB0070

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: audit, transparency, government reporting, accountability, public access, firearm rights, restoration of rights, criminal justice, felony convictions, Wyoming law, artificial intelligence, social scoring, biometric data, privacy rights, government regulation, foreign censorship, digital innovation, constitutional rights, Wyoming GRANITE Act, extraterritorial laws

Transcript Highlights:

• <c> now</c><00:11:16.880><c> available</c> Since the access is now available Since the access is now
• So I think it would ensure that this data continues to be easily accessible. >> Good.
• </c> be um easily accessible. be um easily accessible.
• Anyone else in the room very good.
• Anyone in the room wishing to testify on House Bill 91, >> Further questions, Mr.

Bills: HB0108 , HB0039 , HB0091 , HB0070

Committee: House Judiciary

Keywords: audit, transparency, government reporting, accountability, public access, firearm rights, restoration of rights, criminal justice, felony convictions, Wyoming law, artificial intelligence, social scoring, biometric data, privacy rights, government regulation, foreign censorship, digital innovation, constitutional rights, Wyoming GRANITE Act, extraterritorial laws

Transcript Highlights:

• Right now, the only people who can get access to that are the member That files it, their wife, and their
• They need to be able to get access to DD24.

Bills: SB2026 , SB1376 , SB1355 , SB2115 , SB1533

Committee: Senate Veterans and Military Affairs

Keywords: military discharge, veterans, DD Form 214, confidentiality, grandchildren access, Oklahoma National Guard, education assistance, military benefits, dependents, CareerTech Assistance Act, burial grant, memorial headstone, eligibility requirements, funding, Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs, fiscal management, state law, veteran burial, burial assistance, indigent veterans

Transcript Highlights:

• The cameras in the room will switch to whoever is actively speaking.
• The department must make this training available to the public at no cost and in an accessible format
• I was prevented from accessing the library.
• So there's a question also as to who exactly is having access to our campuses.
• Barring certain students from access to what they paid for and privileging other students.

Bills: HB2427 , HB2458 , HB2474 , HB2540 , HB2589

Committee: House Postsecondary Education & Workforce

Keywords: ink of hope act, mental health, substance use, rehabilitation, community support, Washington college grant, postsecondary education, nondegree programs, student access, financial aid, consumer protections, school closures, educational programs, student rights, emergency medical services, EMT recertification, healthcare, first responders, public health, encampments

Transcript Highlights:

• to becoming a CPA, all requiring an accounting degree, supervised experience, and passing the CPA exam
• This also expands workforce access without lowering professional standards and maintains the interstate
• year, they sign an affidavit stating that I completed my work requirements, and then I sit for the exam
• CIB would hold their license… They can sit for the exam up front.
• Constituents in the room here, if we have any questions for him directly, but we've...

Bills: HB3239 , HB4317 , HB4321 , HB4322 , HB3832 , HB3673 , HB3783 , HB3800 , HB2956 , HB3960 , HB2471 , HB3338

Committee: House Business

Keywords: veterinary medicine, definitions, animal husbandry, board of veterinary examiners, telemedicine, veterinarian-client relationship, accounting, CPA, licensure, educational requirements, reciprocity, professional conduct, elevator safety, inspections, Department of Labor, safety standards, regulatory compliance, funeral services licensing, funeral director, embalmer

Transcript Highlights:

• to becoming a CPA, all requiring an accounting degree, supervised experience, and passing the CPA exam
• This also expands workforce access without lowering professional standards and maintains the interstate
• year, they sign an affidavit stating that I completed my work requirements, and then I sit for the exam
• at is we're just saying they complete the program, they graduate the program, they can sit for the exam
• Constituents in the room here, if we have any questions for him directly, but we've got the Attorney

Bills: HB3239 , HB4317 , HB4321 , HB4322 , HB3832 , HB3673 , HB3783 , HB3800 , HB2956 , HB3960 , HB2471 , HB3338

Committee: House Business

Keywords: veterinary medicine, definitions, animal husbandry, board of veterinary examiners, telemedicine, veterinarian-client relationship, accounting, CPA, licensure, educational requirements, reciprocity, professional conduct, elevator safety, inspections, Department of Labor, safety standards, regulatory compliance, funeral services licensing, funeral director, embalmer

Summary: The committee considered and advanced a series of occupational licensing, workforce, and regulatory bills, often after adopting proposed committee substitutes (PCSs) and, in some cases, live amendments. House Bill 437 updated CPA licensure pathways to align with the 2025 Uniform Accountancy Act and passed 6-0-9. House Bill 4321 added a restriction on the Department of Labor retroactively applying new rules to existing structures absent written findings of obvious safety hazards, and passed 6-0-9. House Bill 4322 removed the requirement that a funeral director in charge also hold an embalmer license, with supporters saying it would help rural funeral homes and opponents raising concerns about embalming coverage; it passed 7-1-1. House Bill 3783, a constituent-request bill for career tech/CIB testing changes in the plumbing field, was discussed as a work in progress to clarify experience-hour requirements and passed 8-0-2. House Bill 2956 made cleanup changes related to the Appraisers Board after a federal audit and passed 8-0-0. House Bill 2471 expanded and adjusted the Oklahoma Workforce Commission’s membership and quorum rules and passed 8-0-0. House Bill 3239 updated the Veterinary Practice Act and passed 8-0-0. House Bill 3673 allowed journeymen and contractors to renew expired licenses without reexamination if they meet fee, education, and disciplinary requirements, and passed 9-0-0-8. House Bill 3338, a constituent-request bill regulating the pool industry to address bad actors, also passed after adoption of a PCS, with the Attorney General reviewing the issue. The committee also heard testimony on House Bill 3960, which would have required larger grocery stores and drugstores to employ more workers relative to self-checkout kiosks in an effort to increase staffing and reduce retail theft. Supporters framed it as a workforce and anti-theft measure, but the bill failed on a 2-6 vote. House Bill 3832 drew substantial discussion about human trafficking in exotic entertainment establishments; the sponsor explained that the bill was intended to require photo identification rather than lower the age threshold, so law enforcement could more quickly identify workers and shut down trafficking operations. Members asked about the practical effect of the proposal and related enforcement concerns, and the bill passed after the sponsor clarified the PCS was still being finalized. The committee then adjourned after the final bill was handled.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's free, and everyone can access it.
• Unfettered access was first passed by Nebraska in 1957.
• We ask for your support of HB1942 to extend access to more Texans.
• The last thing I want to say is, this is about access.
• Good evening, and I'm so sorry, it's such a big room.

Bills: HB1106 , HB3284 , HB541 , HB713 , HB1403 , HB1586 , HB1942 , HB2070 , HB2844 , HB2851 , HB3151 , HB3749 , HB3940 , HB3963 , HB4454 , HB4466 , HB4795 , HB5154 , HB5394 , SB1357 , HB1052 , HB4099 , HB4638 , HB5147

Committee: Senate Health & Human Services

Keywords: child abuse, neglect, gender identity, sexual orientation, child welfare, marriage, family, Texas Commission, family welfare, marriage support, stability, premarital education, child development, strong families, direct patient care, healthcare, physicians, medical services, insurance regulation, maternal health

Transcript Highlights:

• We have something called good faith exams. Those are put in place.
• There's a Telehealth exam either done via Zoom or over the phone with the provider.
• We were the first state in America to provide access to adult stem cells.
• You brought up an excellent point that this amendment is to broaden access.
• When a caregiver is licensed, they have access to more financial assistance.

Bills: HB1106 , HB3284 , HB541 , HB713 , HB1403 , HB1586 , HB1942 , HB2070 , HB2844 , HB2851 , HB3151 , HB3749 , HB3940 , HB3963 , HB4454 , HB4466 , HB4795 , HB5154 , HB5394 , SB1357 , HB1052 , HB4099 , HB4638 , HB5147

Committee: Senate Health & Human Services

Keywords: child abuse, neglect, gender identity, sexual orientation, child welfare, marriage, family, Texas Commission, family welfare, marriage support, stability, premarital education, child development, strong families, direct patient care, healthcare, physicians, medical services, insurance regulation, maternal health

Transcript Highlights:

• I have multiple elected officials out here in the room. I see Mayor Tubes, Mayor Patan.
• We have a state certification exam that a compliance officer is supposed to pass.
• We're all in the room, so you can't—oh, yeah, I got you. I got you. I got you. So you can't.
• I am an assistant bar examiner, grading the business entities and negotiable instruments exams for the
• Louisiana State Bar exam.

Bills: SR86 , SB491 , HB205 , HB210 , HB228 , HB813 , HB1045 , HB1177

Committee: Senate Senate & Governmental Affairs

Keywords: Senate rules, Louisiana Senate, Senate Chamber, smart glasses, recording eyewear, audio recording, video recording, wearable technology, covert recording, legislative security, media access, chamber decorum, Senate President, internal rules, public access, lobbyists, official journal, public notices, competitive bid, Louisiana legislation

Transcript Highlights:

• Access to a device at home is no longer a luxury. Access to a device at home is no longer a luxury.
• to online platforms that aren’t as easily accessible by phone.
• I think they're all in different rooms, maybe. I think they're all in different rooms, maybe.
• We know that cardiac arrest does not discriminate, but access to timely care does.
• Please do, and we will make sure all members of this committee have access.

Bills: SB6222 , SB6263 , SB6118 , SB6261 , SB6320

Committee: Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education

Keywords: public education, technology access, surplus hardware, digital divide, student resources, school district, public bidding, bid limits, procurement, public works, construction contracts, competitive bidding, lowest responsible bidder, small works roster, quotations, school purchasing, Washington-grown food, local food, inmate work programs, Department of Corrections

Transcript Highlights:

• This is the one in the room that doesn't have... so damn, you're split, right? Yep.
• Access denied, point blank. I mean, there were no public hearings, nothing.
• I got held up in Room 200 and wasn't able to come in sooner.

Bills: HB352 , HB366 , SB272 , SB296

Committee: Senate Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry

Keywords: HB352, cotton, cotton bale assessment, cotton levy, cotton producers, agriculture, forestry, Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry Committee, per bale fee, commodity assessment, producer referendum, cotton sales tax, Alabama Code 2-8-199, cotton commission, agricultural funding, HB366, Lakyn Canine Act, police dog, K9, K-9

Bills: HB353 , HB354 , HB357 , HB396 , SB83

Committee: House Ways and Means General Fund

Keywords: judicial compensation, salary adjustments, district attorneys, Judges, local officials, district attorney, compensation, constitutional amendment, job security, Alabama Constitution, tobacco tax, heated tobacco products, heated tobacco, cigarettes, nicotine, vape alternative, smokeless tobacco, snuff, cigars, excise tax

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, I also want to thank the social workers that are in our room, as well as the social work students
• as</c><00:12:34.880><c> well</c><00:12:35.000><c> as</c><00:12:35.080><c> the</c> that are in our room
• Chairman, I on a more direct note with this bill, you know, I look around this room and I see one, two
• Chairman, on a more direct note with this bill, you know, I look around this room and I see one, two,
• Chairman, on a more direct note with this bill, you know, I look around this room and I see one, two,

Bills: HB151 , HB152 , HB138 , SB221 , SB190 , SB69 , SB225 , SB272 , HB151 , HB152 , HB138 , SB221 , SB190 , SB69 , SB225 , SB272

Committee: Senate Finance and Taxation Education

Keywords: fire chaplains, distinctive license plate, firefighter, volunteer service, criminal penalties, sales tax exemption, baby supplies, baby formula, maternity clothing, menstrual hygiene products, pregnancy, pregnant defendant, incarceration, jail intake, pregnancy test, bail, pre-incarceration probation, supervised probation, electronic monitoring, electronic supervision

Transcript Highlights:

• The House is coming into caucus in this room, so we lose the room at 12.
• We have this room until noon, and we are trying to get to everyone.
• In this room, so we're going to keep going. Oh, they did everybody.
• But the one thing I knew I had access to, no matter what, was school.
• But the one thing I knew I had access to, no matter what, was school.

Bills: H4697 , S2635 , S2680 , S2681 , H5158

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security

Keywords: constables, civil deputy sheriffs, law enforcement, training, certification, public safety, emergency response, red lights, Barnstable, town management, public health, safety standards, nuclear power, waste management, community protection, BMX, motocross, safety, regulation, insurance

Transcript Highlights:

• At the heart of this bill, this is really about access to justice.
• And I think that's critical as we look for equal access to justice.

Bills: HB2255 , HB2354 , HB2595 , HB2320 , HB2597

Committee: House Civil Rights & Judiciary

Keywords: litigation finance, legal funding, lawsuit, financial services, access to justice, common interest communities, homeowners association, property management, housing regulations, community governance, criminal justice, judgment, collateral attack, legal proceedings, sentencing reform, firearm regulation, manufacturing, safety standards, background checks, license requirements