Transcript Highlights:

• They need counseling or mental health services following their time of service. Okay.
• I'm a Director of Forensic and Jail Diversion Services under Behavioral Health Services at Texas Health
• Human Services Commission. I appreciate y'all having me here today.
• It's a transition from owning space shuttles to acquiring launch as a service.
• They will now transition from owning portions of the ISS to acquiring access to space stations as a service

Bills: HB5621 , HB4904 , HB5067 , HB5076 , HB5081 , HB5354 , HB4862 , HB3847 , HB4088 , HB4157 , HB2966 , HB2287 , HB4203 , HB4803 , HB4737 , HB5093 , HB783 , HB5411 , HB4281

Committee: House Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Keywords: HB 5621, consumer protection, Deceptive Trade Practices Act, DTPA, Business & Commerce Code, attorney general, consumer protection division, district attorney, county attorney, local prosecutor, civil investigative demand, CID, voluntary compliance, financial institution records, bank records, privacy, protective order, in camera review, trade secrets, insurer

Transcript Highlights:

• With our hands, with our blood, with our lives, we will not be silent.
• wraparound services for homeless youth.
• As noted in the resolution, there are over 300 million people worldwide who live their lives every day
• , one out of every ten Americans lives with a rare disease.
• They're about transforming lives and I just want to share one particular woman.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a service that we provide through Medicaid, but it's also a service that's paid for by the PASS
• This is a service that we provide through Medicaid, but it's also a service that's paid for by the passes
• We want to make sure that there's a quality service.
• Things that qualify you for personal care services.
• to evaluate whether someone qualifies for their service.

Summary: The committee approved the December 8 minutes and referred items C1 and C2 to the labor and environment subcommittees, adopting the chair’s recommendations. The main substantive item was a DHS rule package revising the State Plan Personal Care Manual and the Arkansas Independent Assessment (ARIA) Manual. DHS said the revisions would repeal and replace the current manuals with streamlined versions, remove overlapping language, implement Act 853 by shifting licensure/certification for personal care agencies to the Department of Health, lengthen personal care prior authorizations from six months to one year, and keep the 64-hour monthly cap. For ARIA, DHS said it would remove references to state plan personal care, clarify telehealth and in-person assessments, and add/update sections for PASS, AR Choices, Living Choices, and PACE. DHS argued the current independent assessment process is costly and not controlling utilization, citing a 95% approval rate, annual spending of more than $212 million on personal care for about 17,000 people, and an estimated $6.173 million in savings from eliminating the Optum assessment and reducing prior-authorization frequency. Agency witnesses said the new process would reinsert primary care practitioner involvement, use standardized evaluation and prescription forms, and rely on personal care provider nurses for the assessment step, with training already available through an AFMC contract. Several members questioned whether PCPs should be used as gatekeepers, whether the change would delay services, and whether the savings estimate accounted for training or provider burden. Some members also raised concerns about conflicts of interest, the workload on physicians, and whether the agency had adequately worked with the existing vendor to improve the current system. The discussion became contentious, with Senator Irvin and others strongly opposing the proposal as inconsistent with the earlier independent-assessment approach and urging DHS to slow down and work with legislators. Other members asked for clarification on how the new process would work for new applicants and whether it would affect waiver or PASS participants; DHS said the rule would not apply to PASS and should not delay services. At the end of the hearing, the chair offered DHS the option to pull the rule down and work off-record with legislators on a revised proposal, and DHS agreed. The meeting then adjourned without further business or a final vote on the rule.

Transcript Highlights:

• requirements of civil service.
• requirements of civil service.
• requirements of civil service.
• requirements of civil service.
• requirements of civil service.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ICS fills the gap in the service continuum between a person living in their own home and more restrictive
• ICS fills the gap in the service continuum between a person living in their own home and more restrictive
• actually you provided a less expensive service like a transition service.
• </c> service like a transi transition service like a transi transition service. service. service.
• provide services to help people transition from homelessness to new housing, to help people when they

Committee: House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> would land them taking away services would land them taking away services such<00:10:11.440><c>
• </c><00:10:25.360><c> even</c> I'm worried about County Services even I'm worried about County Services
• People want to live where they can live, work, and play. Thank you. Do you have a testifier?
• People want to live where they can live, work, and play. Thank you. Do you have a testifier?
• People want to live where they can live, work, and play. Thank you. Do you have a testifier?

Bills: HF1277 , HF812 , HF457 , HF633

Committee: House Taxes

Keywords: data centers, tax exemption, Minnesota statutes, economic development, employment growth, income tax, tax brackets, tax adjustments, Minnesota, tax policy, underutilized buildings, adaptive reuse, building conversion, historic preservation, downtown revitalization, vacant property, vacancy reduction, refundable tax credit, income tax credit, grant in lieu of credit

Transcript Highlights:

• So what type of services do they get? Mr.
• public defense services be required to contribute or reimburse defense services.
• Connect them to behavioral health and treatment services.
• Pretrial services. The pretrial services aspect of 1425 is covered in Sections 5 and 7.
• And we've got human service so we can talk to them.

Committee: Senate Appropriations - Education and Environment Division

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee met to review fiscal aspects of House Bills 1417 and 1425, both part of a broader criminal justice reentry package. HB 1417 would eliminate the $35 public defender application fee and end court-ordered reimbursement of indigent defense costs, while also removing the $55 monthly community supervision fee. Testimony from the Commission on Legal Counsel for Indigents and the Department of Corrections said the bill would replace lost revenue with general fund appropriations of about $310,000 for indigent defense and $1.5 million for supervision fees, and that the fees are rarely collected and can hinder reentry. Representative Clemene said the bill is intended to reduce barriers to successful community reintegration and improve data and supervision practices. HB 1425 would create and fund front-end diversion, deflection, and pretrial services programs. Supporters described it as allowing prosecutors and local jurisdictions to divert appropriate low-level offenders from prosecution, establish deflection programs for people with behavioral health needs, and expand pretrial services. The bill includes a pilot program in three counties, a $1 million appropriation to DOCR for one FTE and contracts with local providers, $750,000 to DHS for treatment services, and $55,000 for a study of pretrial services cost savings. Committee members asked several questions about how the pilot counties would be chosen, how the consultant study would be procured, and what services the DHS funds would cover. The committee also heard House Bill 1603, which would provide a $500,000 matching grant for Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act compliance, with $100,000 available to each of North Dakota’s five tribes if matched. Sponsor testimony said the funds would support a Historical Society NAGPRA compliance committee and help catalog and repatriate human remains and cultural items in coordination with tribes. After questions about the federal mandate and the difficulty of identifying artifacts, the committee voted 4-0 to give HB 1603 a do-pass recommendation, with Senator Meyer assigned to carry it forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• Heavy-duty service vehicles, including those providing essential solid waste and recycling services,
• So just to be clear, Utility service provider agreements.
• Everyday essential public services like solid waste collection use heavy service vehicles while on local
• for providing services.
• For the self-help transit tax in San Luis Obispo for the Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District.

Committee: Senate Local Government

Summary: The Senate Committee on Local Government met and first adopted a consent calendar covering SB 1005, SB 1080, SB 935, and S.J.R. 11 by a 4-0 vote, with those items remaining on call until later in the hearing. SB 992 was pulled at the author’s request. The committee then heard SB 922, which would clarify that local governments may recover street maintenance and repair costs caused by public service operations, such as waste hauling, through rates, fees, or franchise agreements. Supporters included the League of California Cities, county groups, cities, waste haulers, and legal counsel who argued the bill restores a long-standing practice and reduces litigation risk after a recent court decision; the California Building Industry Association opposed unless amended, warning the bill could affect construction impact fees. The bill passed the committee 7-0 to the Senate floor. The committee also heard SB 1078, which would allow Santa Cruz County voters to consider raising the county’s local tax cap to help fund health care, food assistance, and other safety-net services in response to federal cuts. The County of Santa Cruz and the Central California Alliance for Health supported the measure, emphasizing Medi-Cal enrollment, CalFresh needs, and potential impacts on hospitals and clinics. Senator Choi raised concerns that the bill effectively authorizes a tax increase and questioned the fairness of county-by-county exceptions, while other members supported giving local voters the choice. The bill passed 5-2 and was sent to the Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee. After those actions, the committee returned to and approved the consent calendar items 7-0. The meeting concluded with thanks to the public and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Kevin Campbell is a principal budget and policy analyst with the Legislative Services Office.
• I'm a budget and policy analyst with the Legislative Services Office.
• I'm a budget and policy analyst with the Legislative Services Office.
• I'm a budget and policy analyst with the Legislative Services Office.
• I'm a budget and policy analyst with the Legislative Services Office.

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and heard a series of budget presentations from the Legislative Services Office and agency leaders on higher education and health education programs. Kevin Campbell first reviewed the Office of the State Board of Education budget, noting staffing growth tied to added responsibilities, the end of federal COVID/ARPA funding, a governor-recommended supplemental reversion for the sunsetted Empowering Parents grant, and FY 2027 requests including a Canvas LMS renewal, a risk-manager transfer back to institutions, and a one-time federal AI grant. Jennifer White, OSBE executive director, defended the Canvas contract as a cost-saving centralized arrangement, discussed budget pressure on colleges and universities, and said the board is developing an outcomes-based funding model that would shift emphasis from enrollment to progression, completion, and workforce outcomes while phasing in changes to avoid destabilizing institutions. Members asked about cuts, tuition, private donations, rainy-day funds, the longitudinal data system, CETL Now usage, and whether programs should be evaluated or eliminated based on outcomes. White said the board is still gathering data and expects at least another year before a workable funding proposal is ready, and she emphasized that unearned funds under the new model would be returned to OSBE for targeted intervention rather than simply removed. The committee also discussed risk-management centralization, with White explaining that moving risk managers back to institutions would improve day-to-day efficiency while OSBE retains enterprise risk oversight. The committee then turned to health education programs, beginning with Family Medicine Residencies. Campbell outlined the program’s funding and recent growth, and residency leaders said the 3% holdback affected both ISU-based and hospital-affiliated programs but would not force immediate reductions. They stressed the importance of continued legislative support, noted that residency training helps retain physicians in Idaho, and said the programs rely on a mix of state, federal, and patient-care revenue. Members also raised concerns about clinical placement capacity, rural access, and whether federal rural health funds could help support expansion. Additional presentations covered the Eastern Idaho Medical Residencies and the University of Utah medical program. EIMR leaders said Idaho remains far short of needed psychiatrists, especially child psychiatrists, and that training residents in-state helps keep physicians in Idaho; they also described private hospital support as part of the funding model. For the University of Utah program, Campbell said the state supports both medical students and psychiatry residents, and the program requested funding for three additional child psychiatry residents. Dr. Beth Botz, the training director, attributed rising child psychiatry need to increased stress, social media, COVID-era effects, and broader awareness of mental health issues, and said placing residents in southeast Idaho has already improved access and reduced wait times.

Transcript Highlights:

• But the smaller, every county has a veteran service officer, so anybody living in any county in North
• more expert services that might be available at the VA.
• Resources and Services Administration. ...through HRSA, the Health Resources and Services Administration
• Tribes pay a better rate for services than IHS.
• So for the FQHCs, our Medicaid rate is not fee-for-service.

Summary: The committee first approved the previous meeting minutes and then heard a detailed annual report from Dr. Thomas Arnold, chair of the Maternal Mortality Review Committee, on maternal mortality trends and policy issues. He explained the committee’s review process, confidentiality protections, and national and North Dakota data showing that most maternal deaths are preventable and that mental health conditions, substance use, cardiovascular issues, infection, hemorrhage, and embolism are the leading causes. Members asked about suicide, domestic violence, midwife training, home births, and whether pregnancy testing at death scenes should be expanded; Dr. Arnold said better coroner education, more investigation of unexplained deaths, and possible post-mortem pregnancy testing could improve case identification, especially in rural areas. He also noted that deaths often occur well after 42 days postpartum and that mental health-related deaths remain a major concern. The committee then heard from State Fire Marshal Dr. Matthew Clark on cigarette reduced-ignition-propensity standards and related fire prevention issues. He recommended updating the state’s cigarette propensity law to current national standards and also raised a separate recommendation to require fast-breakaway oxygen tubing for home oxygen users, citing fatal fires linked to smoking around oxygen. Members asked about implementation, cost, insurance coverage, and whether the standards apply in tribal communities; Dr. Clark said he would provide follow-up information and was willing to help with any legislation, but no agency bill had yet been planned. Next, Christine Greff of the Department of Health and Human Services reported on the North Dakota Stroke System of Care. She described the statewide network of stroke-ready hospitals, registry-based quality improvement, and performance data showing continued improvement in stroke recognition, imaging, thrombolytic treatment, transfers, and EMS pre-notification. She highlighted new quality measures for inter-facility transfers and intracerebral hemorrhage care, and said the system remains strong but depends on continued legislative and hospital support. Committee members asked about participation by the VA hospital and were encouraged to consider outreach to include it more fully in the stroke system. Finally, the committee began a presentation on prior authorization and non-opioid pain treatment from Taha Khan of Vertex Pharmaceuticals. He argued that prior authorization can delay access to non-opioid acute pain medications, especially in the 24- to 72-hour post-discharge window when pain is most severe, and said delays can push patients toward opioids. He emphasized that prior authorization has a role in utilization management but should not create barriers in acute pain care, and he noted that current use of the company’s non-opioid product remains very low. The discussion was still underway when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• for goods and services.
• We'll also add staff to increase our victim services work.
• laboratory testing services in fiscal year 2020.
• And with that, again, thank you all for your time, consideration, and service.
• all security services to DPS.

Bills: SB1 , SB 1

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You can't do that with just transit and active transportation programs.
• I'm president of CASE, an attorney with the Department of Health Care Services.
• Good morning, Alyssa Carroll with the California Department of Social Services.
• I'm an enforcement attorney for the California Department of Social Services.
• They are moments centered in culture, traditions, service, and community.

Committee: Senate Governmental Organization

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• live lives will be alone New Hampshire live lives will be visited<01:38:10.040><c> by</c><01:38:10.239
• People should be thinking of this: where do I live, where do my neighbors live?
• People should be thinking of this: where do I live? Where do my neighbors live?
• Where do my neighbors live?
• We can transition from 5 to 3.5.

Committee: House Health, Human Services & Elderly Affairs

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• May she rest in power. and her legacy lives on. Thank you.
• HB 1516 by Scofield, related to the creation of money services business terms of service agreements providing
• a civil penalty for the company on pensions, investments, and financial services.
• And regional education service centers to provide service related to educating students with autism.
• Dentistry Dental Service of Telehealth Service for the Committee on Public Health.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• services for certain projects.
• Now they service 122 jurisdictions.
• They service 122 jurisdictions, 159 departments, and over 10,000 first responders.
• It made a difference in our lives, and I know it does there.
• Rebecca Harris, Secretary for the Department of Children and Family Services.

Committee: House Appropriations

Summary: The House Committee on Appropriations met on March 30, 2026, and first approved House Bill 27, a constitutional amendment by Rep. McMakin that would let non-recurring state monies be used to pay down state retirement system unfunded accrued liabilities without being limited to the oldest debt. McMakin said the change would allow the state to choose the most actuarially beneficial debt to retire. The committee also favorably reported House Bill 755 by Chairman Turner, which creates indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity professional services contracting for design work tied to deferred maintenance projects, and House Bill 308 by Rep. Bayham, which requires cash acceptance at certain state-owned stadium facilities unless a cash-conversion kiosk is available. The committee then approved House Bill 311 by Rep. Kerner, which increases the dedication of insurance premium assessment revenue to the municipal fire and police civil service operating fund. Kerner said the Office of State Examiners now serves far more jurisdictions than when it was created and needs more funding to keep up with technology and workload. House Bill 417 by Rep. Zeringue was also reported favorably; it raises the cap on the hazardous waste site cleanup fund from $6 million to $8 million so DEQ can keep more dedicated revenue available for cleanup contracts instead of having excess amounts flow into the Environmental Trust Fund. Members questioned DEQ about the end of the Waste Tire Task Force and about how cleanup and tire-program stakeholder input would continue, but the bill itself was advanced. House Bill 980 by Rep. Zeringue, which would expand and alter the membership of the Fireman Supplemental Pay Board, was favorably reported after discussion about ensuring board members are tied to supplemental pay and about possible further changes on the floor. House Bill 575 by Rep. Carver, which gives youth in extended foster care priority to buy surplus state vehicles, was also approved after Carver described the transportation barriers facing former foster youth; an amendment that would have moved them from first to second priority was withdrawn after committee concern. The committee then favorably reported House Bill 290 to reauthorize the Department of Treasury through July 1, 2031, and House Bill 382, which shifts review of certain matters from an oversight committee to the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget to avoid a duplicative approval process. Several bills were adopted without objection, and the meeting adjourned after the final motions.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is the Senate Human Services Committee, and today we're hearing three bills.
• lives.
• I know this committee is interested in making sure people can live healthy lives and eat healthy food
• And these are people that are already overwhelmed by so many barriers to living healthy lives for themselves
• I'm Chair Wilson and members of the Senate Human Services Committee.

Summary: The Senate Human Services Committee heard testimony on three bills. SB 6212, sponsored by Sen. Nobles, would create a Department of Commerce pilot program providing monthly cash benefits to families with children who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, with a control group and a final report to the Legislature on whether to expand the program statewide. Supporters said the pilot could reduce child poverty, improve family stability, and provide evidence on the effects of direct cash assistance; the sponsor acknowledged the bill would be expensive and said funding would need to be worked out. No vote was taken. SB 6186, sponsored by Sen. Warnick, would direct DSHS to seek a federal waiver to prohibit SNAP benefits from being used to buy candy and sweetened beverages, with annual reapplication if needed. The bill’s preliminary fiscal note was described as significant, and the sponsor said she was open to amendments, including possibly limiting the proposal to Sun Bucks. Testimony was overwhelmingly opposed from anti-hunger advocates, public health experts, economists, SNAP educators, and individuals with lived experience, who argued the restrictions would be costly, hard to administer, stigmatizing, and unlikely to improve nutrition; one supporter said the measure would promote healthier choices and reduce long-term health costs. No action was taken. SB 6707, also by Sen. Warnick, would have WSIPP study DCYF’s screening tools and risk assessment processes for child welfare referrals and their effects on outcomes such as services, removals, re-referrals, and fatalities. DCYF said it supports evaluating its risk assessment tool but is already working with Chapin Hall on a similar redesign and pilot of the North Carolina Family Assessment Scale, and asked how the bill would avoid duplicating that work. Sen. Warnick said the bill was intended to examine child welfare outcomes more broadly. The committee heard testimony but took no vote, and the chair announced amendments for Wednesday’s executive session are due by noon the next day before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• These are smaller homes, no larger than 1,850 square feet in a heated living area, and have to have three
• bedrooms because they're supposed to be family homes... ...living area and have to have three bedrooms
• and the in the building permits but what about the additional school costs for every kid who might live
• In my town, I live in the town of Ipswich. We have a minimum of two acres.
• In my town, I live in the town of Ipswich. We have a minimum of two acres.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Community Development and Small Businesses

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Community Development and Small Businesses held a brief hearing on several housing and planning bills. Testimony focused on Senate Bill 176 and House Bill 313, which would update Chapter 40R smart growth zoning incentives and double municipal payments for adopting qualifying zoning districts, and Senate Bill 177, a technical correction to Chapter 40S so starter-home districts created under Chapter 40Y would also qualify for school cost reimbursement. Benjamin Fierro, representing the Home Builders and Remodelers Association of Massachusetts, strongly supported the bills, arguing that the current incentives are too modest, that starter homes are needed for young and first-time buyers, and that the school reimbursement fix is necessary to align the statutes. Nally Soto of the Massachusetts Housing Coalition also supported the bills, saying the higher incentives would help municipalities approve more housing and address the housing shortage. Representative Kassner testified on House Bill 303, a remote community development planning bill modeled on Executive Order 418. She said it would restore and expand statewide comprehensive planning for land use, transportation, housing, open space, infrastructure, and climate resilience, with regional planning agencies playing a key role. Committee members asked about how Chapter 40S reimbursement is calculated and how the planning bill would interact with existing regional planning commissions. One member also spoke in support of the housing bills and described local challenges with affordability, land costs, and compliance with the MBTA Communities law. No votes were taken during the hearing. The chair closed testimony after a final call for additional witnesses and announced that the committee would continue working on the bills and hold one more hearing in September on additional measures and late-filed bills. The committee then adjourned by motion and second.

Transcript Highlights:

• and supports to their provide services and supports to their TSI<00:34:41.599><c> schools.
• </c><01:26:07.440><c> Yes,</c><01:26:07.840><c> bartending,</c> bartending services.
• Yes, bartending, bartending services.
• </c><01:26:11.760><c> Pride,</c> DJs, live music, Louisville Pride, DJs, live music, Louisville Pride
• productive lives, help them with career advancement as we go through school.

Keywords: Call to Order and Roll Call - 0:00:00 Approval of Minutes – 0:03:50 Robotics Education – 0:04:18 Canopy KY – 0:14:15 Comprehensive Support and Improvement – 0:23:20 Postsecondary Credit Alignment – 0:53:15 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in K-12 Settings – 1:21:25 Consideration of Referred Administrative Regulations – 2:05:15 Adjournment 2:05:41, 958, all

Summary: The committee opened with a roll call, confirmed a quorum, approved the minutes by voice vote, and recognized a guest of Senator Hickden, retired judge Dan Kelly. The chair then moved through a tight agenda and limited public presentations and questions. The first presentation was on robotics education in Kentucky, led by Representative Chris Lewis, Kentucky FIRST Robotics executive director Kelly Gowen, and students from Whitfield Academy. They argued that robotics should be expanded in high schools as a workforce pipeline for engineering, manufacturing, and advanced technology jobs. The presentation emphasized hands-on learning, industry certifications, teacher development, and a proposed framework to fund robotics education programs statewide. Committee members were not allowed to ask questions because of time constraints. The second presentation was from Canopy Kentucky, led by Adam Watson and founder Scott Collins. They described Canopy’s business and entrepreneurship education programs for fifth graders and high school students, including the NextGen Good Biz initiative and an eight-classroom high school unit. Canopy requested a one-time $750,000 appropriation for fiscal year 2026, matched by private funds, to expand into more schools and rural areas, train educators, and report outcomes. Members asked a brief question about how the programs fit into school schedules and the difference between the elementary and high school offerings. The final presentation, from KDE’s Kelly Foster and Todd Allen, reviewed the state’s school improvement classifications. Foster explained CSI, TSI, and ATSI status, the federal and state legal framework, and how House Bill 298 returned CSI identification to an annual cycle. She reported that Kentucky identified 50 CSI schools on the most recent release, with 53 CSI schools statewide, along with 39 TSI schools and 102 ATSI schools. She also outlined KDE’s support process, including education recovery staff, diagnostic reviews, turnaround plans, and required professional learning for CSI schools.

Transcript Highlights:

• CSU is in transition.
• You talked about service—military service men and women—which I know a lot of private institutions target
• service payments.
• service payments.
• the services helped them stay in school. 74% of students who used basic needs services said the services

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:09:05.920><c> that</c> the same level of volunteer service that the same level of volunteer service
• </c><00:20:41.799><c> forensic</c><00:20:42.320><c> Navigator</c><00:20:43.320><c> Services</c> services
• so forensic Navigator Services services so forensic Navigator Services um<00:20:44.480><c> are</c><00
• </c><00:32:35.480><c> and</c><00:32:35.960><c> the</c> borrow the services and the borrow the services
• And garage lived in it for 30-plus years.

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Keywords: 1187, senate, all