Transcript Highlights:

• Health plans offered by carriers, health plans offered through PEB and SEB, and Medicaid coverage offered
• Health plans offered by carriers, health plans offered through Peb and Seb, and Medicaid coverage offered
• These requirements apply to fully insured health plans and health plans offered to public and school
• That plan required step-down treatment with wraparound psychiatric services.
• Greater predictability in payment timing supports responsible financial planning.

Bills: SB5915 , SB5988 , SB6025 , SJM8002

Committee: House Health Care & Wellness

Keywords: SB 5915, health technology assessment, HTA, clinical committee, medical technology review, coverage determination, state-purchased health care, Washington health care, RCW, evidence-based medicine, cost-effectiveness, safety and efficacy, Medicare coverage, national coverage determination, clinical guidelines, patient advocacy, public comment, medical necessity, rare disease, life-threatening disease

Transcript Highlights:

• Again, Those are all things that are kind of planned for in a way.
• So how they plan out these types of projects, I think that really is a question for them.
• So what's the plan if there were a transfer to occur?
• What's the plan for education continuity, IEP services, credit transfers? How is that?
• We’re not trying to force a plan onto anyone.

Summary: The Health and Human Services Committee held an invited-testimony hearing on LR 425, which examines the Whitehall campus in Lincoln and possible long-term options for youth currently served there. Chair Brian Hardin explained that Whitehall houses two separate programs for adolescent males: a substance use program and a youth-who-sexually-harm program. Testimony from DHHS officials described Whitehall as a Joint Commission-accredited psychiatric residential treatment facility (PRTF) that provides about 40 hours of weekly programming, family involvement, school services, and community reintegration activities. Officials said the department is evaluating whether the programs should remain at Whitehall or move to another state-owned facility, with Hastings described as the department’s preferred alternative because it is more residential in design than a youth rehabilitation treatment center (YRTC).

Transcript Highlights:

• planning.
• planning.
• But you need to also have a community outreach plan, a community benefit plan, a sustainability plan,
• plan, a sustainability plan, a water plan, all things that are actually great.
• It is part of the GRID plan.

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, recognized several guests in the gallery, and then took up a series of committee reports, referrals, and floor actions. Early business included concurrence in committee reports on bills and resolutions from Game and Fisheries, Professional Licensure, Health, and Children and Youth, along with referral of Senate Bill 1377 to Transportation. The chamber also signed House Bill 1344 after the Senate returned it without amendment. Later, members announced caucus and committee meetings, including Rules, Intergovernmental Affairs and Operations, Insurance, and Appropriations, before recessing and then reconvening for floor votes. The House adopted several resolutions, including House Resolution 537 designating Rail Safety Week, House Resolution 449 recognizing the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, and House Resolution 568 designating Javei Syndrome Awareness Day. The chamber also considered House Bill 2037 on cryptocurrency corruption, where Amendment A03882 narrowing the bill to public officials and immediate family members was adopted, while two later amendments were tabled or failed. House Bill 2198, repealing the sales and use tax exemption for computer data center equipment, was amended to take effect immediately and to bar KOZ use for data centers, then agreed to. House Bill 2559, concerning a university conveyance and other conveyances, was agreed to after out-of-order amendments were ruled on. A major portion of the session focused on data center policy. House Bill 2496, creating a 180-day pause on data center proposals to give municipalities time to update zoning and planning, drew extensive support from members emphasizing local control, environmental concerns, and the need for time to assess impacts; it passed final passage 201-1. House Bill 2650, creating the Governor’s Responsible Infrastructure Development certification for data centers, also generated lengthy debate over energy use, water, community benefits, and tax treatment; it passed 134-68. The House also passed House Bill 2162 on temporary licensing for drug manufacturers before FDA approval, House Bill 2388 on rounding cash payments when pennies are unavailable, House Bill 2437 on county and municipal bridge repair funds, House Bill 2555 on equine dealer recordkeeping, and House Bill 2621 directing a Department of Health survey on maternal and infant outcomes. Other actions included final passage of House Bill 1006 on milk tester and wearer sampler certification periods, House Bill 2014 on opportunities for minors and emergency service organizations, House Bill 2512 prohibiting ride-share pricing based on device condition, House Bill 2644 authorizing itemized capital bridge projects, and Senate Bill 1058 updating the E85 flex-fuel reference. The House also adopted House Bill 2162, House Bill 2388, House Bill 2437, and House Bill 2555 by recorded votes, and several committee reports were agreed to throughout the day. The session ended with additional committee referrals, a motion to recommit several bills to Appropriations, and adjournment until the next morning.

Transcript Highlights:

• Angela Pontes, on behalf of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, in support.
• Lowe with the California Behavioral Health Planning Council, proudly support.
• Madam Chair, Matt Back representing the California Association of Dental Plans.
• And then finally, ERISA plans, which are federally regulated plans, and these departments have no jurisdiction
• Cassidy Heckman, on behalf of the California Association of Health Plans, in respectful opposition.

Committee: House Health

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Retired and a Plan 1 member.
• First, it's really an equity and justice issue on so many layers because Plan 1 is the only plan without
• First, it's really an equity and justice issue on so many layers because Plan 1 is the only plan without
• PERS and TRS 1 plans are the only state pension plans without an automatic COLA.
• All other state retirement plans have a COLA.

Bills: HB2689 , SB5832 , SB5922 , SB5944 , SB5988 , SB6151

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: Working Connections Child Care, child care subsidy, subsidized child care, Washington DCYF, Department of Children, Youth, and Families, low-income families, child care providers, licensed child care centers, family child care, market rate survey, subsidy rates, income eligibility, state median income, SNAP, Basic Food, collective bargaining, provider reimbursement, daily payment, half-day care, partial-day care

Transcript Highlights:

• So a concrete plan, like how will we go about addressing those needs?
• How does that impact our engagement with our health plans?
• Also, it was to enhance discharge planning.
• For discharge planning, we know that making sure that we have effective discharge planning leads to the
• I'm really glad to see discharge planning being a big part of it.

Summary: The Human Services Subcommittee met to review implementation of House Bill 7021, the recent overhaul of Florida’s Baker Act and Marchman Act, and to hear from DCF Assistant Secretary Erica Floyd Thomas about how the department is using the $50 million appropriation tied to the bill. Representative Maney, the bill sponsor, gave a lengthy background on why he pursued the reforms and emphasized that the goal was to improve access, reduce unnecessary crisis interventions, and give agencies the resources needed to carry out their responsibilities. He and the chair both noted that the bill was the product of many years of work and broad bipartisan support. DCF reported several early outcomes and implementation steps, including a statewide reduction in Baker Act initiations over the past five years, strong diversion rates from crisis through 988, mobile response teams, care coordination, and forensic multidisciplinary teams, and the creation of new tools such as a Baker Act dashboard and the first annual Marchman Act report. The department described key statutory changes: law enforcement discretion in initiating Baker Acts, a single-petition process, remote appearances, stronger discharge planning, interim services, updated parent notification and hold-period rules, an ombudsman office for children’s behavioral health, and regional collaboratives to identify local service gaps. DCF said it has updated manuals, FAQs, trainings, and rules, and that the managing entities have begun contracting for services. Members asked about how the $50 million was allocated, why much of it went to crisis capacity rather than outpatient care, how much has been spent so far, whether administrative costs are capped, and how the department will measure success. DCF said most of the money was used to preserve and expand crisis beds, detox beds, CSU beds, short-term residential treatment, discharge planning, and outpatient supports, with $1.3 million for the ombudsman and regional collaboratives and $48.3 million to managing entities. The assistant secretary said the department tracks readmissions, utilization, provider capacity, and monthly and quarterly reports from managing entities, but it is still early to see full effects because contracts were only recently executed. Members also raised concerns about children, families, veterans, workforce shortages, transparency, and gaps for hard-to-place individuals, including those with developmental disabilities or dementia. The meeting ended with no formal action beyond adjournment after questions were completed.

Transcript Highlights:

• for markets for the recycling materials so that they part of the plan.
• on board with this plan? You're recognized. Thank you, Madam Chair.
• The Arc also approves management plans for these types of locations.
• And our management plan was updated in 2012.
• Final rule management plan.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• plan plan sponsor<03:38:48.080><c> nhrs</c><03:38:49.080><c> staff</c><03:38:49.720><c> implements</
• ><c> the</c> a plan that the a plan that the members<03:39:16.720><c> can</c><03:39:16.920><c> make</
• </c><03:40:28.040><c> is</c> obligation to ensure that the plan is obligation to ensure that the plan
• </c><04:27:29.159><c> the</c> lot of information about the plan the lot of information about the plan
• </c> steps to assure proper plan steps to assure proper plan funding<04:32:49.960><c> page</c><04:32:

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee held an orientation for new and returning members of the House committee on agencies and administration, with introductions from members and staff. Chair Carol Maguire outlined her expectations for hearings: keep questions focused on the bill, be respectful to witnesses, and use the committee’s orientation opportunities to learn about the jail staff, retirement system, and Office of Professional Licensure. Members also discussed related assignments on other bodies, including the Joint Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules and the Joint Committee on Employee Classification, and noted that some members already serve on those panels. A substantial portion of the meeting focused on the State Building Code and the committee’s upcoming workload. Members explained how the state code is intended to provide a common baseline while allowing limited local options, and why municipalities must formally adopt and publish any local amendments. They reviewed several anticipated bills: a consolidation bill to gather building-code enforcement materials in one place, a bill to update the state energy code, a bill to restrict municipal adoption of building-code changes, and a bill to update the electrical code. Members also discussed how building codes apply to older homes and commercial buildings, and why code updates are important for safety and clarity. The chair said the committee had 36 bills currently scheduled, including many early bills that must move by March 6 because they will be heard by two committees. She said the committee would use subcommittees for harder bills, with three subcommittees this year: pensions, licensing, and likely state building code. She also outlined the hearing schedule, including lighter bills on February 12 and the expectation of executive sessions later in the month. No votes were taken during the orientation, but members were told that public hearings do not require a quorum and that hard copies of bills would be distributed by committee staff.

Transcript Highlights:

• Yeah, I mean, it's the plans.
• Yeah, I mean, it's the plans.
• This bill does not change zoning, planning, or inspections.
• All the planning, prepping, negotiating, and analysis can be done prior to the submitting of the plans
• All the planning, prepping, negotiating, and analysis can be done prior to the submitting of the plans

Committee: House Government Efficiency

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• 1, 2006, and it requires the Developmental Disabilities Administration to develop and implement a plan
• What I haven't heard is a good plan. How are you going to implement it? None of that's gone on.
• What I haven't heard is a good plan. How are you going to implement it? None of that's gone on.
• What I haven't heard is a good plan. How are you going to implement it? None of that's gone on.
• What I haven't heard is a good plan. How are you going to implement it? None of that's gone on.

Summary: The Senate Human Services Committee met on February 24 to executive a large docket of bills and one gubernatorial appointment. The committee first heard and then moved several bills in two packets. Topics included the Community Protection Program (SHB 1390), jail search policies for transgender and intersex individuals (EHB 1604), medically tailored meals (EHB 2211), limits on DSHS reviews of community residential service providers (SHB 2230), and a children and youth behavioral health coordination bill (2SHB 2429). Later, the committee also considered bills on foster care licensing and adult family homes (SHB 2505), DOC supervision of stalking convictions (HB 2510), inmate funds and indigency thresholds (SHB 2539), and transparency for residential habilitation centers (SHB 2350), along with the reappointment of Corey McNally to the Indeterminate Sentence Review Board. Most of the debate centered on SHB 1390 and EHB 1604, where Senator Christian offered numerous amendments aimed at adding restrictions, notifications, assessments, and delays; most of those amendments failed on party-line votes. On SHB 1390, the committee adopted only a technical amendment updating agency names and references, then advanced the bill to Rules. On EHB 1604, all proposed amendments failed and the bill was sent to Rules. On EHB 2211, an amendment to add a competitive bidding credit for nonprofit and small-business meal vendors failed, and the bill advanced. SHB 2230 moved forward without amendment, and 2SHB 2429 was amended with a striking amendment and referred to Ways and Means because of its fiscal impact. In the second packet, SHB 2505 and HB 2510 were both moved out of committee without amendment. On SHB 2539, the committee rejected an amendment to lower the indigency threshold to $50, adopted an amendment allowing the threshold to be at least $100 and adjustable, and then advanced the bill as amended. On SHB 2350, the committee adopted a negotiated amendment requiring notices about residential habilitation center noncompliance to be emailed to relevant legislative committees, withdrew a second notice amendment, and passed the bill. The committee also voted to recommend confirmation of Corey McNally’s appointment to the Indeterminate Sentence Review Board. Several bills were reported out subject to signatures, and the meeting adjourned after the final vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:07:36.599><c> tools</c><00:07:37.000><c> and</c> traditional planning tools and traditional planning
• planning process.
• </c> it is that uh is that part of your plan it is that uh is that part of your plan to<00:43:16.960>
• But is the energy assistance a program part of her plan to keep energy affordable?
• <01:02:55.160><c> Senator</c><01:02:55.520><c> GR</c> plans Senator GR plans Senator GR oh<01:02:56.760

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• One is an agreement and one is a plan.
• Very few in a plan, and very few have been basically directed to a plan from an agreement.
• Chair and members, Kathy Mossberg with the local health plans in support.
• Cassidy Heckman with the California Association of Health Plans.
• Cassidy Heckman with the California Association of Health Plans in support.

Committee: House Health

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Harmony Grove Village South is a planned development of 500 new homes in San Diego County.
• plan.
• You had not one but two different fire districts look at this plan and okay it.
• I believe that planning can and should be cooperative at the local level.
• It is transit planning.

Committee: Senate Local Government

Summary: The Senate Committee on Local Government met to hear a long agenda of local government, housing, labor, and transparency bills. The committee first adopted the consent calendar for SB 1187 and SB 1388, then heard SB 983, which would authorize the Port of San Diego to use job order contracting for repairs and repetitive maintenance work. Supporters said the bill would speed emergency and small repairs and reduce costs, while opponents raised concerns about construction definitions and project labor agreement language. The bill was ultimately moved forward on a 2-2 vote after discussion of amendments and labor negotiations, and later the committee’s final roll call showed it passing out on a 5-2 vote. The committee also heard SB 1256, aimed at limiting duplicative litigation over a San Diego County housing project, and SB 992, which would make permanent and expand a small special-district audit flexibility by raising the revenue threshold from $150,000 to $250,000. SB 1256 drew support from the author and project counsel, who argued the project had already been litigated and was delaying needed housing, while opponents said the bill would interfere with wildfire and subdivision-map review. SB 992 had support from county auditors and special districts, with no opposition, and was approved 5-0. SB 1115, addressing governance failures at the Tulare County Public Cemetery District by allowing county supervisors to remove an individual trustee for cause, also passed unanimously after testimony describing serious dysfunction and opposition from the California Special Districts Association. The committee then took up SB 1193, which would impose transparency and approval requirements on Alameda County discretionary funding to nonprofits and other entities. The author and supporters described the bill as a response to grand jury findings and alleged conflicts of interest, while Alameda County argued its current process is already transparent and that the bill would add burdens and could harm services. After amendments and discussion, the bill passed 5-0. SB 1383, a density bonus law bill clarifying that local labor standards cannot be waived through density bonus concessions, was supported by labor groups and moved forward despite no opposition, with the final roll call showing it passing out 5-1. SB 1361, intended to prevent local governments from undermining transit projects because of SB 79 density concerns, also passed after support from L.A. Metro and labor and no formal opposition, with the final vote recorded as 5-2. The committee later resumed to hear SB 1272, the CASH Act, which would limit certain sanctions on homeowners for prior unpermitted work by previous owners; the transcript cuts off before that bill’s full testimony and vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• or other planning elements to respond to very important performance audits.
• We are going to start with an overview of that strategic management plan.
• We plan to have this in place before July of 2026.
• measures, and a communication plan.
• At the time of our study, LCB had plans to replace its data system and had a planned implementation date

Summary: The committee met on December 3, 2025, with a quorum present and approved the September 17 minutes. Members first voted to suspend the 2026 JLARC lodging tax expenditure report for one year, based on staff’s explanation that the report is self-reported, not verified, and less useful than State Auditor accountability audits; the motion passed. The committee also approved renaming the JLARC I-900 subcommittee to the “Committee to Hear SAO Performance Audits,” while keeping the opening script noting that the performance audit process exists under Initiative 900. The committee then heard follow-up updates on two prior performance audits. The Department of Health presented a draft strategic management plan in response to findings on hospital inspections, complaints, adverse event review, and hospital data access. JLARC staff reiterated that 72% of hospital inspections were late, that DOH did not verify third-party inspection standards or review adverse event reports, and that complaint data suggested possible language-access barriers. DOH said it concurred with the recommendations, had improved on-time inspection compliance to about 49%, planned annual updates starting in July 2026, and would work on accreditation oversight, complaint-language access, and data accessibility, though members pressed for firmer deadlines and questioned the three-year timeline for language access improvements. The Liquor and Cannabis Board also reported on its cannabis market study recommendation. JLARC staff said the agency’s data were incomplete and unreliable, limiting oversight of production, recalls, tax collection, and diversion. LCB said it had improved its current CCRS system but still relied on self-reported data, and it presented a decision package for a new traceability system estimated at about $9 million over three fiscal years. LCB described a plant-tagging and serialization approach tied to production, processing, testing, and retail, but acknowledged it did not currently have sufficient staff to fully implement the system without additional funding. The committee also received briefings on JLARC’s recommendation-tracking tools and the 2024 public records reporting summary, including a high-level review of agency response rates, request volumes, costs, and litigation. Finally, JLARC presented the proposed final report on the Office of Privacy and Data Protection, concluding that OPDP meets its statutory responsibilities and has high user satisfaction, but that its mandate should be updated to better match its current capacity and focus; the committee adopted the report for distribution. The meeting then moved into the 2025 tax preference performance reviews, where JLARC staff summarized nine reviews and noted that the Citizens Commission on Tax Preference and Performance Measurement endorsed all 17 legislative auditor recommendations, with comments on seven. Early reviews discussed included natural gas transportation fuel preferences, travel agent and tour operator B&O rates, nonprofit low-income housing development, multipurpose senior centers, disabled veteran adaptive housing, and trade convention attendance, with staff and commissioners generally recommending continuation of some preferences, modification of others, and improved objectives or performance measures where needed.

Transcript Highlights:

• **Christine from the Department of Finance**: So the question was about planning, budget planning.
• That's the plan right now. We're relying on the federal government. That's not the plan.
• from the current year is planned to be repaid in 2029.
• There are no planned delays at this time.
• Community improvement plans or Community Health Improvement Plans (CHIPs), which are actionable plans

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• /c> office of state planning office of state planning &gt;&gt; recording<00:36:21.920><c> in</c><00:36
• </c> Office of Planning. Office of Planning.
• </c> Office<03:34:47.040><c> of</c><03:34:47.279><c> Planning.</c> Office of Planning.
• </c> office of planning voted I. office of planning voted I.
• </c><04:08:45.520><c> within</c><04:08:45.920><c> the</c> plan review and plan checkers within the plan

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It also replaces plan with 8 and 2.13.
• It not create or fund a retirement plan.
• Chair and defined benefit plan. Mr.
• </c><01:13:05.679><c> compared</c> an incredible retirement plan compared an incredible retirement plan
• </c> Minnesota's p tier 2 pensions plans are. Minnesota's p tier 2 pensions plans are.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:02:51.040><c> or</c> people are in some health plan or people are in some health plan or another
• </c> drug isn't covered under your plan drug isn't covered under your plan anymore.<00:03:46.120><c>
• We just the health plans managed part.
• And what that means to them is we have to pay all the costs the health plans have.
• And what that means to them is we have to pay all the costs the health plans have.

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The interview focused on Senate File 3612, which the senator described as “patient-centered care” legislation for Minnesota’s Medicaid and MinnesotaCare programs. He said the bill would remove private insurers and HMOs from administering those public programs, replace them with a state contract for claims processing and administrative services, and shift care coordination directly to primary care clinics, counties, and nonprofits. He argued the current managed-care system creates churn, prior-authorization barriers, and fragmented care, and said providers should manage care rather than insurers. The senator repeatedly cited Connecticut as a model, saying that state moved away from managed care, improved primary care participation, and saved money. He also argued Minnesota’s current system lacks transparency and may be overpaying health plans, pointing to fraud concerns and a past example in which UCare returned money to the state after an overpayment. He said the bill would improve accountability, make fraud easier to detect, and could save taxpayers billions, though he emphasized his main goal was better care rather than savings. On support and prospects, he said the bill has backing from the governor and the American Cancer Society but currently only DFL co-authors. He said he does not expect it to become law this year because the fiscal note and details are still pending, and he does not expect insurance companies to support it. He added that he is open to discussion but sees the insurers as fundamentally opposed. The interview ended with him saying workers in insurance and claims processing should be treated fairly and offered retraining or dislocated-worker support if broader reforms reduce their roles.

Transcript Highlights:

• It simply requires transparency for Arizona plans reported to Arizona regulators.
• For Arizona plans reported to Arizona regulators.
• That leaves a large gap of plans for which reporting does not exist.
• Access is planning on reopening our material change policy, which is ACOM 439.
• They need an ongoing plan.

Committee: Senate Senate Health and Human Services COR

Summary: The committee approved the minutes and then took up a large agenda of health-related bills. SB 1214, the Arizona Stem Cell Therapy Act, drew extensive testimony from supporters who said it would create guardrails for regenerative medicine, protect patients, and encourage biotech investment, while opponents argued it was tied to abortion politics and imposed harsh penalties. The bill passed on a 4-3 vote. SB 1194, which would prohibit health professionals and institutions from denying care based on vaccination status, also passed 4-3 after testimony from supporters framing it as an access-to-care and religious-freedom measure and opponents warning it would interfere with private practice policies and parental choice. SB 1814, creating a study committee on substance use disorder treatment standards and oversight, passed unanimously 7-0. SB 1602, increasing stipends for kinship foster parents, passed as amended 7-0, and SB 1603, expanding child-only cash assistance eligibility, also passed as amended 7-0. The committee then considered several bills focused on gender-related care and public funding. SB 1177, which bars public monies from funding gender transition procedures and makes intentional violations a felony, passed 4-3 amid testimony that it protects taxpayers and counterarguments that it is discriminatory and unsupported by evidence. SB 1014, requiring insurance coverage for detransition procedures when transition care is covered and directing data reporting on transition and detransition, passed 4-3 after supporters said it would help detransitioners and collect needed data, while opponents argued it would chill providers and target transgender patients. SB 1094, creating civil liability for physicians who perform irreversible gender reassignment surgery on minors, was heard with testimony from supporters citing malpractice concerns and detransitioner harms and from opponents saying it would create a hostile environment for providers and treat trans patients differently; the transcript cuts off before the vote is shown. SB 1752, which classifies commercial harvesting or sale of mescaline as a felony while preserving bona fide religious use defenses, passed unanimously 7-0. Later, SB 1628, requiring insurers to report claims-denial and prior-authorization data and DIFI to publish standardized reports, passed unanimously 7-0 after supporters emphasized transparency and opponents called it redundant to federal reporting. SB 1629, requiring AHCCCS managed care organizations to give advance notice and network-adequacy documentation before terminating high-volume providers without cause, also passed 7-0; supporters said it would prevent patients from losing access to behavioral health care, while health plans and Access said existing oversight already covers much of this and warned the bill could slow necessary network changes. Throughout the meeting, the committee repeatedly adopted motions for due-pass recommendations and, where applicable, amendments, with several bills passing on party-line or near-party-line votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• It should not be part of family planning.
• It should not be part of family planning.
• In Los Angeles County, Planned Parenthood Los Angeles and Planned Parenthood Pasadena and San Gabriel
• County, including for Planned Parenthood.
• It was clear to me that cities can do an alternative plan.

Committee: House Local Government

Keywords: 988, house, all