Video & Transcript : 'UNT System' :
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MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety - 03/19/25
Judiciary and Public Safety
Transcript Highlights:
- Allowing marriage record system.
- </c> this is the honor system. Correct. Okay. this is the honor system. Correct. Okay.
- </c> before we delete that out of the system? before we delete that out of the system?
- And with that, I'll go to my system.
- </c> speed that criminals can abuse systems. speed that criminals can abuse systems.
Committee:
Senate Judiciary and Public Safety
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Finance Division III (03/28/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- It does that by uh taking the system.
- </c> existing facilities out of their system existing facilities out of their system and<00:11:54.240
- A strong home care system benefits the entire health care system.
- </c> total health care system. total health care system.
- </c> because my son's already in the system. because my son's already in the system.
Summary:
The Division 3 work session focused largely on amendment 1176 to HB 2, which would have incorporated the substance of HB 548FN, a House-passed bill creating a direct-pay or membership-based model for health care facilities. Representative Mlan described the proposal as a way to increase competition in health care by extending the direct-care model used in primary care to facilities, arguing it could encourage innovation and that concerns about widespread harm to critical access hospitals were overstated. He pointed to Oklahoma’s long-standing Surgical Center model as evidence that the approach had not spread broadly or displaced hospitals there.
Several members and witnesses raised concerns. Representative Stringham questioned whether the model would shift profitable services and patients away from existing hospitals, potentially worsening their finances and affecting Medicaid-related funding. David Ross, speaking for county nursing homes, opposed the language because it also removed moratoriums on nursing home, skilled nursing, inpatient rehabilitation, and self-pay beds, warning that it could increase pressure on Medicaid rates and undermine community-based care. Ben Bradley of the New Hampshire Hospital Association said the proposal appeared to create a separate regulatory framework for direct-pay facilities and raised concerns about patient safety, CMS participation rules, and a separate patient bill of rights.
The chair concluded that, because HB 548 was already moving through the Senate, the HB 2 process was not the best vehicle for the policy and that the issue should be left to the Senate’s more deliberative committee process. Representative Ferski moved to not accept or remove amendment 1176 from the agenda, and the committee approved the motion by roll call, 9-0, withdrawing the item from HB 2.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
- And when they do, the system should be able to respond.
- SB 99 also bridges the gap between military and civilian systems outside the courtroom.
- Implementation is central to ensuring that the intent of the to create systemic change.
- The regular basic course is the foundation of that system.
- Thanks. ...policies, command structures, and accountability systems.
Committee:
House Public Safety
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- The Queen's Health System impact the Queen's health system.
- The Queen's Health System impact the Queen's health system.
- The Queen's Health System impact the Queen's health system.
- The Queen's Health System impact the Queen's health system.
- </c><00:49:37.359><c> has</c> acknowledge that the medical system has acknowledge that the medical system
Committee:
House Health
Keywords:
accessible parking, disability, kupuna, public accommodations, small business exemptions, Hawaii Revised Statutes, parking permit, blind, deaf, accessibility, deafness, traffic safety, law enforcement, vehicle registration, communication, emergency services, commercial driver's license, first responders, public safety, authorized emergency vehicle
Summary:
The joint hearing covered House Bill 251, which would require hospitals to report costs associated with Medicare and uninsured patients, and House Bill 1875, which would expand protections for gender-affirming health care services. On HB 251, the Department of Health said it supported the intent but described the bill as complicated and potentially impractical as drafted because the department lacks the expertise to produce the required analyses without outside help. Hawaii Health Systems Corporation echoed those concerns, while the Queen’s Health System said it was willing to work with the department to provide the information. In committee discussion, officials explained that hospital support in Hawaii includes public hospital appropriations and the provider tax program, which uses hospital and nursing home contributions to draw federal matching funds; a department witness estimated the net benefit at about $150 million for hospitals and $20 million for nursing facilities, though exact figures would be provided later.
On HB 1875, the Insurance Division testified with concerns that the bill’s language on prohibited actions by malpractice insurers was broad and vague, and that a rate-increase prohibition could conflict with actuarially based insurance pricing. The division also noted it was not the primary enforcement agency for the statute. In contrast, many testifiers strongly supported the bill, including the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, the Hawaii State LGBTQ+ Commission, the Hawaii Public Health Institute, PFLAG Oahu, the ACLU of Hawaii, the Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii, the Hawaii County Democratic Party, and others. Supporters argued that gender-affirming care is medically necessary, evidence-based, and protected by privacy and bodily autonomy principles, and that the bill would protect patients and providers from outside political interference. No votes or final committee actions were taken during the portion of the hearing provided.
WY
Wyoming 2026 Regular Session
House Floor Session-Day 4, February 12, 2026-PM
Wyoming House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- This $105 million per biennium is what the most common biennial award in this system has been in the
- This is for a billing system software upgrade, and you'll see that in the budget request page 30.
- </c> and this is for a billing system and this is for a billing system software<03:39:58.960><c> upgrade
- ,</c> that um ETS and that TRP design system, that um ETS and that TRP design system, but<03:40:48.319
- And then 9, to this new system or not.
AL
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> retirement system of Alabama. retirement system of Alabama.
- is a system and everybody is supposed to fall under that system that's retiring. >> Yeah.
- is a system and everybody is supposed to fall under that system that's retiring. >> Yeah.
- is a system and everybody is supposed to fall under that system that's retiring. >> Yeah.
- is a system and everybody is supposed to fall under that system that's retiring. >> Yeah.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> Um, there was a system in St.
- </c> trust in our public education system. trust in our public education system.
- I'm still kind of processing... system. By high school, they've learned system.
- What if a kid got beat up system.
- </c><02:05:18.960><c> is</c> system, but our current system is system, but our current system is failing
Committee:
Senate Education Policy
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources
Transcript Highlights:
- But I want you to think about it as a strategic and systemic conservation effort to meet our 2050 goals
- She worked a full-time job as a clerk for the court system, where she retired a few years ago.
- for and H-915 to expand access to our state's trail system for people with disabilities.
- In a very important way, we're, to some degree, the end of the trail system.
- Forest began growing back, but forests are the essential components of Earth's operating system.
Summary:
The hearing covered several environment and natural resources bills focused on natural and working lands, forest protection, municipal reforestation, trail accessibility, and a park naming bill. Representative Moschino and Senator Comerford described the natural and working lands bill as part of the state’s climate roadmap, arguing that protecting these lands supports carbon sequestration, resilience, biodiversity, and helps prevent development pressure on the least expensive land. Senator Comerford also testified on a separate bill to expand access to trails for people of all abilities, saying it would build on the administration’s Trails for All initiative and create a permanent advisory structure and trust fund. Representative Consolvo and family members testified in support of H. 4259 to name the tennis courts at Wether Park in Roslindale after Kim O’Connell, describing her long community service and activism.
A large portion of the hearing focused on H. 952 and H. 953, bills to protect watershed and state forest lands as parks or reserves. Supporters, including environmental advocates, scientists, and organizations such as Standing Trees, Sierra Club, The Nature Conservancy, and the Massachusetts Forest Alliance’s opponents, debated whether state forests and watershed lands should be permanently reserved from logging and other active management. Supporters said the bills would improve carbon storage, water quality, biodiversity, flood and drought resilience, and would protect large acreages of public land at no cost. Opponents, including the Massachusetts Forest Alliance, argued that sustainable forest management and a mix of reserves and managed forests are needed for climate, water quality, wildfire prevention, rural jobs, and carbon outcomes, and urged the committee to allow the administration’s existing reserve process to continue.
The committee also heard extensive testimony on the municipal reforestation bill, H. 1013/S. 553, which would create a statewide program, advisory council, and trust fund to support urban tree planting and maintenance. Municipal officials and advocates from Wellesley, Cambridge, Boston, the Mystic River watershed, and other communities said urban trees are critical for cooling, stormwater control, air quality, public health, and equity, especially in environmental justice neighborhoods with low canopy cover and high heat. Several witnesses emphasized that consistent funding is needed because trees take years to mature and many municipalities lack staff or watering capacity. Some witnesses asked that the bill be funded at $100 million and tied to the Mass Ready Act or environmental bond funding. No votes or final committee actions were taken during the hearing.
LA
Transcript Highlights:
- Simply put, it makes our system more efficient without compromising safety.
- So that was the system that they were under. But they all wished that they did.
- So that was the system that they were under. But they all wished that they did.
- A system this sensitive cannot be built on guesswork. And then there's the data problem.
- We have seen over and over again that no system is immune to breaches.
Committee:
House Commerce
Keywords:
building codes, construction standards, state uniform construction code, local option, municipal ordinance, parish ordinance, resilient construction, FORTIFIED Home, IBHS, Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety, hurricane resistance, storm resilience, roof replacement, residential construction, certificate of occupancy, code enforcement, building resilience, home hardening, wind mitigation, residential roof
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Natural Resources Committee Apr 6th, 2026
Natural Resources
Transcript Highlights:
- And recycled content is what really creates the demand that makes the whole system work.
- accounting system used in energy systems, ...system, which is an internationally recognized accounting
- system used in energy systems.
- In California, we've built a system for planning across multiple agencies and entities.
- In California, we've built a system for planning across multiple agencies and entities.
Committee:
House Natural Resources
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Health Committee Mar 24th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- This leaves 16 remaining public hospitals that are forced to compete with hospital systems and large
- foundation models without the same tools or resources. ...forced to compete with hospital systems and
- The rest of these systems fall in urban areas.
- Billions of dollars to the hospital-based health care delivery system will be gone.
- Billions of dollars to the hospital-based health care delivery system will be gone.
Summary:
The Assembly Health Committee heard several bills focused on workforce access, consumer protection, behavioral health parity, and public health safety. AB 1591 by Assembly Member Michelle Rodriguez would create a podiatric medicine pipeline program to address shortages of podiatrists, especially in rural and underserved counties; it drew strong support from podiatrists and medical groups and no opposition. AB 2011 by Assembly Member Hart would codify federal mental health and substance use disorder parity standards into state law; supporters argued it would preserve access if federal enforcement weakens, while health plans and insurers opposed it as premature and potentially confusing. The bill was moved on a due pass motion to Appropriations and remained on call after a roll vote with several ayes and some noes.
The committee also considered AB 2311 by Assembly Member Chiavo, which would allow public health care district hospitals to directly employ physicians. Supporters said the change would help district hospitals recruit and retain doctors and stabilize care in underserved communities, while CMA and emergency physicians warned it could weaken the corporate practice of medicine protections and physician autonomy. Members raised concerns about guardrails, but the author said the bill would continue to be refined; it passed on a due pass motion to the Business and Professions Committee. AB 2030 by Assembly Member Lowenthal would prohibit sales of over-the-counter diet pills and weight-loss or muscle-building supplements to minors, with supporters citing eating disorder risks and opponents objecting to scope, age-verification, and retail requirements. The bill passed on a due pass motion to the Judiciary Committee.
AB 1864 by Assembly Member Berman would require screening of gene synthesis orders to prevent misuse for bioterrorism and would authorize enforcement penalties for noncompliance. Supporters from Stanford, Encode, and the medical community said the measure would align California with federal best practices and address growing biosecurity risks, while life sciences representatives raised concerns about operational burdens and supply-chain impacts. Members discussed whether the bill should include an urgency clause and how to keep the standards current; it passed to the Judiciary Committee. AB 2457 by Assembly Member Connolly would standardize and speed up Medi-Cal managed care credentialing for physicians, and it passed to Appropriations with broad support. Finally, AB 2302, presented on behalf of Assembly Member Celeste Rodriguez, would require infant formula manufacturers to test for toxic elements such as lead and arsenic and post results publicly; pediatric and disability advocates supported the measure as a transparency and infant safety bill.
LA
Louisiana 2026 Regular Session
Labor and Industrial Relations Mar 19th, 2026
Labor & Industrial Relations
Transcript Highlights:
- One, reduce that burden upon the school system.
- So no longer requiring the school system to collect and issue those work permits.
- It's a no-fault system.
- How does that benefit our system if we have all these people with no benefits? It doesn't.
- So all you're doing is putting more burden on a system. Yes, sir. So my good friend, Mr.
Committee:
House Labor & Industrial Relations
Summary:
The committee first adopted prior meeting minutes and voluntarily deferred three bills before taking up House Bill 232, which would shift the employment-certificate process for minors away from school boards and to Louisiana Works. Rep. Carlson said the bill is intended to reduce burdens on schools and make it easier for 16- and 17-year-olds to work, especially in the summer. A youth advisory council testified in support, describing the current process as cumbersome for students and families. The committee adopted amendments, including a change making the bill effective upon the governor’s signature, and then reported HB 232 favorably with amendments.
The committee next considered House Bill 951, creating an Office of Talent Accelerator within Louisiana Works and a Business Workforce Committee to coordinate employer-facing workforce services. Rep. Bamberg and Secretary Susie Schowen described it as a centralized, regional, business-facing effort to respond more quickly to workforce needs tied to major economic development projects, while also supporting existing small and mid-sized businesses. Supporters, including Bollinger Shipyards and Leaders for a Better Louisiana, said similar models in Mississippi had helped expand training pipelines and better match employers with workers. The committee adopted a large amendment set and reported HB 951 with amendments.
House Bill 923, a cleanup measure reorganizing Louisiana Works statutes and updating language after last year’s agency restructuring, was then adopted with technical amendments and reported with amendments. The committee also took up House Bill 301, which would create a voluntary portable-benefits framework for independent contractors and gig workers. Supporters said it would give contractors a way to negotiate benefits such as health care or retirement contributions, while opponents warned it could encourage misclassification, weaken workers’ compensation protections, and shift costs to workers and the state. After debate, the committee adopted amendments and reported HB 301 with a 6-5 vote.
Finally, House Bill 185 was introduced as a workers’ compensation measure to expand the definition of independent contractor and restore tort immunity for employers in certain contract-labor situations. The sponsor said it was part of the Attorney General’s package and aimed at addressing a recent court decision; the bill was just beginning discussion when the transcript ended.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- Queens Health System in support. >> Aloha, Chair, Vice Chair, members, we stand in strong support.
- Queens Health System in support. Let's see.
- So within the VA system, they have navigators to access services within the VA system itself, as well
- 47:27.440><c> navigators</c><00:47:28.079><c> to</c> VA system, they have navigators to VA system, they
- </c> access services within the VA system access services within the VA system itself<00:47:31.599><c
Committee:
House Health
Keywords:
cannabis, marijuana, Hawaii Cannabis Law, legalization, decriminalization, adult use, hemp, taxation, social equity, public health, primary care, health insurance, health carrier, insurance commissioner, Med-QUEST, Medicaid managed care, provider reimbursement, downcoding, prior authorization, utilization review
Summary:
The committee heard testimony on several health-related bills. HB 1864, which would require health insurance coverage for standard fertility preservation services for people undergoing medically necessary treatment, drew broad support from SHIPA, the Department of Health, HMSA, the Hawaii Association of Health Plans, and others. Testifiers emphasized that fertility preservation is routine coverage on the mainland and important for patients facing infertility from cancer or other treatment; one patient described incurring more than $20,000 in costs. The Insurance Division flagged possible Affordable Care Act issues, a potential conflict in the bill’s language about using patient history to determine limits, and a mismatch with state medical-necessity standards. Committee discussion also focused on whether the bill should apply to all women of childbearing age rather than a narrower age-based category.
HB 2305 would require nutrition and metabolic education as part of physicians’ continuing medical education. The Hawaii Medical Board opposed the measure, arguing that CME should remain flexible and tailored to each physician’s specialty and warning that topic-specific mandates can expand over time. The Office of the Governor supported the bill, saying it would help the state’s rural health transformation application and could improve federal funding prospects, though the exact impact was unclear. Members questioned whether nutrition is already covered in medical training and whether the requirement should be limited to primary care physicians; the board said Hawaii currently has no topic-specific CME mandates and that physicians can already choose relevant courses.
The committee also heard strong support for HB 1597, which would establish an Alzheimer’s disease research center at the University of Hawaii. Supporters from the university, the Alzheimer’s Association, AARP, and others said the center could attract federal research dollars, expand clinical trials, and help address the state’s high Alzheimer’s-related health costs. HB 2159, which appropriates funds for health care workforce development, also received broad support from the University of Hawaii, health systems, and advocacy groups, with no opposition noted. Finally, HB 2121, which would prohibit the sale and distribution of disposable electronic smoking devices, drew support from the Department of Health, youth advocates, and public health groups citing youth addiction, environmental waste, and fire hazards; the department said a separate bill, HB 1573, would be more comprehensive and better defined for enforcement and penalties. The committee ended with HB 1913, creating a veteran services mental health coordinator position at Tripler Army Medical Center, which was supported by veteran services officials and others who said veterans need better navigation and coordination for behavioral health care.
MO
Transcript Highlights:
- But the only justice for victims comes in the form of our civil justice system.
- Their system works.
- And right now in Missouri, we have a system that's worked well.
- You get zero recovery under this system. Under the current system, the way it works is you’re 50%.
- Under the current system, pure comparative fault, I pay for half.
Committee:
House Commerce
TX
Texas 89th Regular
Pensions, Investments & Financial Services Mar 24th, 2025
Pensions, Investments & Financial Services
Transcript Highlights:
- Systems and more.
- So again, they're using... ...and the revenues of a system to pay for the outstanding debt.
- It would have a liability if it's directly supported by a revenue system.
- systems integration.
- Some of these integrate directly with employers' payroll systems to track hours.
Keywords:
local governments, anticipation notes, certificates of obligation, public works, flood control, financial management, local government, municipal financing, private activity bonds, closing definition, real estate finance, bond issuance, government regulation, bond election, general obligation bonds, GO bonds, political subdivision, city bonds, county bonds, school district bonds
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
Hearings to examine the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., of California, to be Secretary of Health and Human Services. Jan 29th, 2025 at 09:00 am
Finance Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- I went there to introduce a medical informatics system.
- Accountability and to transition to a value-based system rather than a fee-based system.
- We need to end the old boy system.
- I happen to believe that our health care system is profoundly broken.
- That's a broken health care system.
Committee:
Senate Finance Committee
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
US House Floor Proceedings (Monday, September 15, 2025)
US Federal House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> trust in the American health system. trust in the American health system.
- To provide system remains the same.
- </c> on an already overburdened VA system. on an already overburdened VA system.
- </c> System Authorization Act as amended. System Authorization Act as amended.
- Without these tools, chain system.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- The University of California system requires it.
- </c> as it's as simple as an automated system as it's as simple as an automated system or<00:50:13.760
- Conversely, fixing this broken system?
- They have it for carrying such a system.
- </c> it will be the uh again the UHCC system it will be the uh again the UHCC system requesting<02:04
Committee:
House Education
Summary:
The committees heard testimony on HB 1872, which would create an early learning apprenticeship grant program to help early childhood providers participate in approved apprenticeship programs, require annual reporting, and appropriate funds. Testifiers in support included the University of Hawaiʻi, the Executive Office on Early Learning, the City and County of Honolulu, Commit to Keiki, the Chamber of Commerce Hawaiʻi, the Commission on the Status of Women, Hawaiʻi Children’s Action Network Speaks, Parents for Public Schools of Hawaiʻi, and Kīʻoka Family Learning Centers. Supporters said the bill would reduce financial barriers, strengthen recruitment and retention, improve compensation and career pathways, and help address child care shortages and workforce instability. The committee then voted to pass HB 1872 with amendments, including an HD1 and a defective date to allow further discussion.
The committee next took up HB 2489, which would appropriate funds for the University of Hawaiʻi to establish a bachelor’s degree program in American Sign Language interpretation, with a longer-term plan for a master’s program. Testimony in support came from the Disability Communication Access Board and the University of Hawaiʻi, and members also heard detailed support from DECAP and other advocates describing a statewide shortage of ASL interpreters, long waiting lists for ASL courses, and the need for locally trained interpreters who understand Hawaiʻi’s cultural and community needs. Witnesses said the shortage affects schools, courts, hospitals, emergency services, and other settings, and that the program could be expanded through articulation with other campuses. The committee voted to pass HB 2489 with amendments, again using an HD1 and defective date.
After those two measures, the committee moved to HB 441 on campus safety, which would require students, including transfer students, to complete training on federal laws and university policies regarding sexual misconduct before initial registration and would change how often training is provided to students and employees. The University of Hawaiʻi stood on its written testimony, while supporters including IMUA Alliance and other testifiers urged passage, citing survivor experiences, national best practices, and the need for prevention before harm occurs. No vote on HB 441 was reached in the portion provided.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
Commission to Study Costs of Special Education (09/30/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- And in Massachusetts it was chapter 766 which drove the special education system, and went from a system
- </c><00:22:16.159><c> that</c> system. and um went from a system that system. and um went from a system
- </c> other things, but uh and then the system other things, but uh and then the system gradually<00:22
- </c><00:45:57.040><c> So</c> billing system in Massachusetts. So billing system in Massachusetts.
- that system linked at all with HHS or— >> No, it's a standalone system.
Summary:
The commission held an organizational meeting under SB 57 to study the cost of special education, with the meeting streamed publicly at the chair’s request. Members introduced themselves, and the chair explained that the bill creates two separate pieces, one dealing with SAU structure and the other with a commission on special education costing. He outlined his background in education and special education and said the commission’s work would focus on understanding and controlling special education costs.
The commission reviewed its membership requirements and noted several vacancies or unfilled appointments, including the special education advocate, two governor-appointed parent advocates, and a Department of Health and Human Services representative. The members then elected Representative Rick Ladd as chair, Representative Dick Ames as vice chair, and Representative Megan Murray as clerk. Representative Ames briefly described his legal and policy background in disability and special education work in Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
The chair then walked through the commission’s study topics, including referral rates by IDEA category, reasons for increases in categories such as autism and other health impairment, post-COVID referral trends, pre-referral interventions, Medicaid and 504-related costs, out-of-district placements, dispute resolution, billing practices, privacy, reimbursement, legal services, graduation rates, attendance, and adult learning. Members discussed how special education costs are distributed, noting that the state spends about $977 million annually on special education, with only part covered by state aid and the remainder largely borne by local districts. Testimony also noted that out-of-district placement costs have risen sharply since rate-setting changes around 2018, and that some categories may reflect changes in identification practices, medical factors, or broader population shifts. The commission agreed to continue reviewing the data and formulas in future meetings.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Children and Family Law (04/01/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> who uh named Resolution Systems who uh named Resolution Systems Institute<00:30:58.960><c> who</
- We don't have that system.
- We don't have that system.
- We don't have that system.
- We don't have that system.
Summary:
The subcommittee met to continue its review of recommendations for New Hampshire’s family court, with the chair emphasizing a collaborative approach and noting that the group would focus on the origins of the family division, recurring problems identified in earlier reports, and comparisons with other states. Members discussed organizing testimony into three broad topics: the court hearing process and pro se litigant preparation, mediation/arbitration/counseling, and the interaction of domestic violence issues with family court and related criminal proceedings. The chair also noted that the subcommittee would not meet again for two weeks and encouraged members to review materials from Judge Michael Mace and NCSL research on other states’ family court systems.
Attorney Heather Culp, senior administrator for the judicial branch’s circuit court, testified about New Hampshire’s ADR programs. She explained that the Office of Mediation and Arbitration, created by statute in 2007, oversees more than 12 statewide ADR programs across the Supreme, Superior, and Circuit Courts, including family division programs such as divorce-parenting mediation, neutral case evaluation, guardianship, termination of parental rights, and voluntary adoption mediation. She said the divorce-parenting mediation program is the largest family division ADR program, with about 3,400 mediation sessions in 2023 out of roughly 6,700 cases, and that most cases involving minor children are referred to mediation soon after the first appearance session.
Culp described the family division process as beginning with a first appearance session led by a case manager, who provides information, helps with paperwork, and schedules mediation, usually within 30 to 45 days. She said mediation is strongly encouraged in parenting and divorce cases, but there is no requirement to reach agreement, and parties may settle some issues while leaving others for court. She also explained that mediation is prohibited or limited in certain domestic violence cases: cases with active civil protection orders may proceed only with both parties’ consent and possible safeguards, while cases involving criminal protective orders are not sent to mediation. Mediators in court-referred family cases are contracted with the court and must be certified by the executive branch’s mediator certification board; mediators do not communicate with judges, except through a brief ADR report noting whether the case settled or what the next procedural step is. Members asked about referrals, timing, and the meaning of “neutrals,” and Culp said the court uses in-house contracted neutrals for family division ADR and does not refer divorce-parenting cases to outside providers.