Transcript Highlights:

• They are going to re-evaluate that fiscal note as it goes to provisos because of the proposed substitute
• They are going to re-evaluate that fiscal note as it goes to provisos because of the proposed substitute

Bills: HB2188 , HB2218 , HB2524 , HB2563

Committee: House Labor & Workplace Standards

Keywords: transparency, industrial insurance, insurance rate increases, financial disclosure, regulatory oversight, workers' compensation, medical care, healthcare access, employee rights, insurance coverage, security, regulation, employment standards, security guards, industry board, unemployment, electronic notices, compensation, digital communication, order processing

Transcript Highlights:

• also said in this, and this does pertain to the agencies that we oversee, and you say that you are evaluating
• And you say that you are evaluating options to balance a statewide budget.

Summary: The House Commerce and Human Resources Committee opened by welcoming new members Representatives Bingham and Haas and a new committee secretary, Michelle Coburn. The committee then received a briefing from Representative Josh Tanner on the JFAC budget process, with Tanner emphasizing that germane committees should pay closer attention to budget impacts, fiscal notes, ongoing costs, and whether existing programs still achieve their intended purpose. He discussed the committee’s role in reviewing policy decisions that drive spending, the limits of using stabilization funds for structural spending problems, and the major budget drivers in Idaho, especially education, health and welfare, and corrections. Members asked Tanner about Medicaid, agency cuts, and the risk that repeated reductions could lead to furloughs and pension impacts. Tanner said additional Medicaid cuts would be constrained by federal approval, noted that some Health and Welfare reductions were already being considered, and argued that agencies should identify where cuts can be made rather than relying on reserves. He also encouraged the committee to look backward at existing statutes and programs to determine whether they still work or should be scaled back. The committee then considered two RS measures. Representative Ted Hill presented RS 3-2-878, a bill to conform Idaho leave law to recent changes increasing military leave from 120 to 160 hours and removing a contradiction in the law; the committee moved to introduce it and the motion passed. Representative Furman presented RS 32833, which would fix compliance issues in PERSI by aligning Idaho law with the federal Secure Act 2.0 and allowing after-tax Roth-style contributions in the PERSI Choice 401(k) plan; the committee also moved to introduce it and the motion passed. The meeting ended with notice of a future Thursday meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• I believe it is critical that the state quickly evaluate and share the impact and results of any existing
• actually reduce the guidelines around CCA spending and would even eliminate the requirement to, quote, evaluate

Bills: HB2251 , HB2254 , HB2385

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: climate change, commitment act, emission reductions, sustainability, environmental policy, HB 2254, Washington, Health Care Authority, partnership access line, psychiatric consultation line, first approach skills training, behavioral health, mental health, assessment, administrative costs, health insurance, health carriers, self-funded plans, multiple employer welfare arrangement, MEWA

Transcript Highlights:

• This regulatory structure, combined with a robust risk evaluation process, is intended to identify and
• platform is coordinated across multiple entities, and when a report is received, it's verified and evaluated

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government convened with a quorum present and excused Senators Arrington and Pizzo. The committee first took up confirmation hearings for appointments on tabs 1 through 4, and Senator DiCeglie moved to recommend confirmation of all appointees together. The motion passed unanimously, and the appointees were favorably recommended. The main presentation was from FWC Chief Conservation Officer George Wharton on invasive species management in Florida. He described the scale of the problem, including more than 500 non-native species reported in the state, and outlined FWC’s prevention, containment, removal, outreach, and research efforts. He highlighted risk screenings, the conditional/prohibited species framework, enforcement actions against illegal wildlife trafficking, and public programs such as the Florida Python Challenge, lionfish outreach, the Exotic Pet Amnesty Program, and the “I’ve Got One” reporting app. He also noted ongoing removal efforts for pythons, tegus, lionfish, and iguanas, and discussed new technologies and partnerships aimed at improving control efforts. Members asked follow-up questions about FWC issues beyond invasive species, including the status of special activity licenses for threatened species and giant manta rays, the upcoming bear hunt, and whether the committee could help reduce barriers to invasive species removal on federal lands. Wharton said all SAL permits for threatened species are currently suspended pending Commission review, that Florida is on track for a bear hunt this December with 172 permits issued across four subpopulations, and that bear management is based on scientific data while urban bear conflicts still require separate management. He also said federal partners are increasingly cooperative on python control, including commercialization of hides, and that drones, sentinel snakes, robotic lures, and AI-based traps may improve future invasive species removal. Senator Sharief and Senator Burton later requested to be recorded as voting affirmatively on tabs 1 through 4, and the committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Each state And whether it's in compliance with the law has to be evaluated based on the demographics
• of that state and when you evaluate the demographics here in the state of Texas as has been illustrated

Transcript Highlights:

• However, if rulemaking is required by statute and has not been initiated within six months of the evaluation
• The joint committee rules are basically our Bible, what we go through in evaluating all of the rules

Summary: The Joint Administrative Procedures Committee met for its first meeting of the year, with roll call and member introductions followed by an orientation on the committee’s role in reviewing agency rulemaking. Staff explained that JAPAC/JAPSI oversees whether agency rules stay within statutory authority, reviews proposed and existing rules under Chapter 120, and can recommend objections when rules enlarge, modify, or contravene enabling statutes. The committee also adopted its biennial rules of procedure by motion and roll-call vote. The main substantive item was staff’s recommended objections to 32 existing Agency for Health Care Administration rules. Staff said the common issue was a sunset provision added to rules, which they argued is not authorized by Chapter 120 because rules may be amended or repealed only through formal rulemaking, not allowed to expire automatically. Staff noted the sunset language could create confusion and affect interrelated rules, and recommended formal objections. The chair reported that he and the vice chair had met with the agency, which agreed to work on compliance and amend the language. No public testimony was offered. After brief committee discussion, including questions about timing, the chair said the agency would return with a compliance proposal at the next scheduled meeting, likely in February. The committee deferred further action on the 32 recommended objections until that meeting, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• We get access to an annual self-assessment survey to evaluate cybersecurity maturity.
• There is a freeze right now in place until after that March 6 evaluation, and it's their right to evaluate
• There is a freeze right now in place until after that March 6 evaluation, and it's their right to evaluate
• There is a freeze right now in place until after that March 6 evaluation, and it's their right to evaluate
• There is a freeze right now in place until after that March 6 evaluation, and it's their right to evaluate

Committee: Senate Elections

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Elective PCIs are non-emergency procedures that can be performed on an outpatient basis.
• Existing Department of Health rules govern the issuance of a certificate of need for elective PCIs performed
• It simply allows ASCs to perform PCI procedures within their facilities.
• This would expand that to ASCs that have a record of stellar performance in procedures.
• Medicare has estimated that it's about a 36 to 47% less of a cost to have these performed at an ASC versus

Summary: The House Health Care and Wellness Committee held a Friday, January 30 meeting with two bills in public hearing and two scheduled for executive session. The first bill heard was House Bill 2545, which would require the Department of Health to adopt rules allowing certificates of need for elective percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs) at ambulatory surgical facilities by July 1, 2027. Staff explained that PCIs are currently subject to certificate-of-need requirements and are generally governed in hospitals, while the bill would create criteria for these procedures to be performed in ambulatory surgical centers. Testimony on HB 2545 was strongly supportive from the Washington Ambulatory Surgery Center Association. The witness said the bill would expand access to PCI procedures, reduce wait times, and free hospital capacity for more complex care. Supporters also emphasized patient safety, noting that CMS approved Medicare reimbursement for these procedures in ambulatory surgical centers in 2020, and argued the setting would lower costs, citing estimates of 36% to 47% less cost than hospital-based care. The transcript excerpt ends during the first panel’s testimony, before the committee moved on to the remaining public hearing or any executive action. No votes or final committee actions are shown in the provided text.

Transcript Highlights:

• I move that the committee direct the Auditor General to perform an operational audit of the City of Miami
• At any rate, do you think, Senator, by performing an audit, they will course-correct, or should we do
• Of the 21 that we looked at, 15 required immediate updates to creation of their performance mechanisms
• So when you look under performance management, the web presence and the performance measures, obviously
• Yes, the Union County Supervisor of Elections does perform their services.

Summary: The Joint Legislative Auditing Committee met to consider several audit requests and enforcement items related to local government accountability. The committee heard requests for operational audits of the City of Miami Beach, the Delray Beach Downtown Development Authority, and the City of Daytona Beach. In each case, the requesting member cited concerns about transparency, financial management, or compliance with state law. Representatives from Delray Beach DDA testified that an internal audit had already been completed, that findings were limited, and that they were working to cure issues such as procurement, credit card, and disbursement policies; the DDA chair also said the organization was willing to cooperate and was considering transitioning out of operating Old School Square. For Daytona Beach, the sponsor pointed to excess building permit revenues, vehicle purchases, and reported P-card irregularities as reasons for a broader audit. The committee approved all three audit requests, directing the Auditor General to finalize the scope while considering the stated concerns. The committee also received a presentation on the statewide performance reviews of 21 neighborhood improvement districts. The reviewers reported that 15 districts were active and six inactive, with common issues including outdated or missing performance plans, weak web presence, inadequate meeting notices, and limited management mechanisms. They said staffing levels often correlated with the ability to meet statutory requirements, and recommended that several districts be reviewed to determine whether they were still needed. Members asked about staffing, inactivity criteria, and how the districts were administered, and staff explained that city or county liaisons often supplement district staffing. Later, staff reviewed enforcement actions for local governments that failed to file required financial reports or omitted required information from submitted audits. The committee discussed a list of noncompliant counties, municipalities, and special districts, including the town of Rayford, which staff said had long-standing reporting problems, no apparent municipal services, and no response to repeated outreach. The committee voted to send a letter to the Union County legislative delegation encouraging a local bill to dissolve Rayford. It also approved staff recommendations to proceed against entities still missing required filings or missing audit information, with authority for the chair and vice chair to delay action if additional information is later provided in good faith.

Transcript Highlights:

• I move that the committee direct the Auditor General to perform an operational audit of the City of Miami
• At any rate, do you think, Senator, by performing an audit, they will course-correct, or should we do
• We conducted the services for this performance review through January of 2025, with the final reports
• So when you look under performance management, the web presence and the performance measures, obviously
• Yes, the Union County Supervisor of Elections does perform their services.

Summary: The Joint Legislative Auditing Committee met to consider several audit requests and enforcement items involving local governments and special districts. The committee approved operational audits of the City of Miami Beach, the Delray Beach Downtown Development Authority, and the City of Daytona Beach. In each case, the requesting member described concerns about transparency, financial management, or internal controls, while local officials or representatives generally said they were willing to cooperate and, in Delray Beach’s case, noted that an internal audit had already been completed and that some issues were being corrected. The committee also received a presentation on the statewide review of neighborhood improvement districts. The reviewers reported that 15 of 21 districts were active and six inactive, with common findings including outdated or missing performance plans, weak web presence, inadequate meeting notices, and limited management mechanisms. They said staffing levels often correlated with the ability to meet statutory requirements, and they recommended updates to district governance and transparency practices. On enforcement, staff reviewed local governments and special districts that had failed to file required financial reports or had submitted audit reports missing required information. The committee approved staff recommendations to proceed under the statutory enforcement process for the noncompliant entities, with flexibility for the chair and vice chair to delay action if additional information is provided in good faith. The committee also voted to send a letter to the Union County Legislative Delegation encouraging a local bill to dissolve the Town of Rayford, based on staff’s view that the town lacked employees, services, debt, and a clear reason to continue existing as an incorporated municipality.

Transcript Highlights:

• This report is the outcome of AB 625, which required OSPD to evaluate California's...
• This report is the outcome of AB 625, which required OSPD to evaluate California's.
• The report is the outcome of AB 625, which required OSPD to evaluate California's public defense workload
• aware of their needs, and we factor those needs as we build the governor's budget and as we're evaluating
• and we are and we factor those needs as we build the the governor's budget and as we're as we're evaluating

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This includes reviewing and approving general educational curriculum, evaluating or denying top-level
• I'm here to speak up for students who haven't had an opportunity to evaluate select ideas because they
• So the evaluation...
• The evaluation that we've looked at in this bill of courses that are needed, measures that are needed
• Tuesday's readings, or they might point out gaps in an author's logic, or they might ask how to evaluate

Bills: SB 37

Committee: House Higher Education

Keywords: fetal development, education, public health curriculum, middle school, age-appropriate instruction, 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We appreciate having this opportunity to speak with you and to talk about performance-based funding and
• The third piece is really the performance piece.
• Again, that performance can provide a mechanism for that.
• But we also want to establish performance metrics. Again, that's an important part of this.
• Some states have some sort of a performance funding component in their model.

Committee: House Joint Committee on Education

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• need some assistance, and therefore we are asking for the financial and operational audit to be performed
• Is this a situation where the county has frustrated the clerk's ability to be able to perform her task
• Is this a situation where the county has frustrated the clerk's ability to be able to perform her task
• The county has frustrated the clerk's ability to be able to perform her task, in which case, basically
• Instead, the community is in complete disarray, with landscaping being only performed three times in

Summary: The Legislative Auditing Committee heard several local-government audit requests and unanimously approved each one. The first item was Baker County, where county commissioners asked for an operational and financial audit because of repeated late audits, concerns about the finance office, and lack of confidence in county financial reporting. The county clerk supported an audit but argued it should be countywide and include all constitutional officers; she also described a dispute over access to the county finance system and pending litigation. After brief questions, the committee adopted a 9-0 motion directing the Auditor General to perform an operational audit of Baker County’s financial operations and records, with scope to be finalized during the audit. The committee then approved an audit request for the Concord Estates Community Development District in Osceola County. Senator Arrington said residents alleged excessive board compensation, large unexplained spending, missing financial reports, and refusal to provide records or hold open meetings. Residents and a board member testified about rising assessments, deteriorating amenities, and lack of transparency. The committee voted 10-0 to direct an operational audit of the CDD. It also approved, by 10-0 votes, operational audits of the town of Melbourne Beach, based on allegations of fiscal and operational improprieties and lawsuits that had cost the town more than $150,000, and the city of Apalachicola, where Senator Simon said longstanding water utility failures, grant issues, and consent-order problems warranted review. The final request was for a financial and operational audit of Cape Coral’s Building Department. Representative G. Lombardo said building-fee revenues appeared to be transferred for non-building purposes, permit processing was inconsistent, and the department relied heavily on a private firm while the building official had prior ties to that firm. Industry representatives testified that building funds were being diverted, service levels were suffering, and private-provider inspections were not always reflected in fee reductions. The committee adopted the motion 10-0. After completing all agenda items, the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, our bread and butter is performance audits, where we assess the performance of programs that
• Happy to answer questions about my office or our budget anyway. performance audits where we assess the
• performance audits where we assess the performance<00:13:35.079><c> of</c><00:13:35.360><c> programs
• </c><00:13:35.920><c> that</c><00:13:36.040><c> the</c> performance of programs that the performance
• which includes how program performance which includes how efficiently<00:13:45.639><c> and</c><00:13

Committee: House Finance

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the performance of DCF.
• the performance of DCF.
• That is the the performance of DCF.
• So it was done performance audit.
• Either a performance audit from here or a performance audit from the legislature—both go directly to

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from the March 6, 2026 meeting and then received updates from the Legislative Budget Assistant audit staff on several ongoing audits. Christine Young reported that the special education audit was in report-writing stage with 39 of 80 observations completed and a draft expected in the second quarter, the education freedom accounts audit had 27 of 42 observations completed with a draft also expected in the second quarter, and the Doorway program audit had a draft report with 15 observations sent to DHHS on March 30, with responses due April 24 and presentation expected at the May fiscal committee meeting. Members asked about the size of the special education report, and staff estimated it would be over 800 pages and roughly three pounds. The committee then reviewed prior audit responsiveness from the Human Rights Commission. The commission reported that 22 observations had been completed, with remaining issues focused on timely case processing, a formal risk assessment, and a performance measurement system. Officials said staffing shortages were improving, a risk assessment manual had been drafted, a scorecard system was nearly complete, and the commission’s rules were moving through the public hearing process. Members asked about the timeline, and the commission said case processing was averaging 20 to 22 months and that the remaining items were expected to be resolved over time. Police Standards and Training also reported progress on prior audit items. The director corrected one status designation and said the job task analysis for curriculum development was substantially resolved, with findings and recommendations being prepared for the council. He said work on fitness testing was on hold pending legislative action, the performance measurement and strategic planning item remained a priority, and the council was focusing first on updating administrative rules. He also said the corrections advisory committee likely needed a statutory amendment to better reflect members with practical corrections experience. In response to questions, he said the council does not certify county correctional officers but reviews county curriculum annually, and he said the agency would be open to discussing consolidation or a pathway for county officers to become state-certified. The Department of Corrections then updated the committee on parole board-related audit items, saying 11 of 13 DOC-related findings were resolved. The remaining issues involved implementing a structured decision-making process for the parole board and improving data collection for recidivism tracking; the board had applied to the National Institute of Corrections for training, and manual data collection was underway. DOC also said it had created a HIPAA-compliant release form to share substance use disorder treatment information with the parole board. Finally, OPLC reported on the mental health workforce audit, saying six findings were fully resolved and six substantially resolved, with most remaining items tied to rulemaking and application processing. The office expects to complete its backend system migration and improve timeliness metrics by the end of the year, and it recently launched a jurisprudence exam for the mental health board. Under potential audit topics, staff said two items remained suspended because of litigation, and the committee discussed whether to keep DHHS contract management on the list. Representative [name unclear] proposed adding two new education freedom account audit topics: verification of residency and eligibility, and a record of educational attainment while preserving student privacy. Members supported adding them, but staff warned the expanded scope could delay the report and would require coordination with the Department of Education and approval by the Fiscal Committee. The chair said staff would work with the commissioner and LBA to draft the revised scope for further committee action.

Transcript Highlights:

• And they are all showing very consistent performance on the HLB greening intolerance. Anyone else?
• For over 30 years, David has worked serving public sector entities to improve performance and enhance
• They had some type of goals and objectives and performance measures.
• Primarily, most of the recommendations were in the performance management category, nearly half.
• So, we talked a lot a bit about the performance measures, and that was one that jumped out.

Committee: Senate Agriculture

Summary: The Senate Committee on Agriculture heard an update on the Florida citrus industry from Matt Joyner of Florida Citrus Mutual and Shannon Shepp of the Department of Citrus. Both described the industry’s steep decline over the past two decades due to citrus greening (HLB), hurricanes, freezes, and aging groves, but emphasized ongoing recovery efforts through research, replanting, and new therapies. They highlighted promising tools such as plant growth regulators, protective screens and covers, direct oxytetracycline application, CRISPR-based breeding, and the CRAFT program, which has expanded to more than 10,000 acres of solid-set plantings and over 20,000 acres including resets. Members discussed disaster relief, property tax pressures, grower participation, and the need for assessment relief and other state support. No votes were taken on the citrus presentation. Shepp also outlined the Department of Citrus’s marketing and research role, noting strong consumer demand for Florida orange juice, global advertising efforts, and clinical research tied to health messaging. She said the industry remains a major economic contributor, with thousands of jobs and billions in economic impact, and that the department is working to maintain demand while growers replant and reset groves. Senators asked about the CRAFT program, new grower participation, and how advertising and state policy could help sustain the industry. The committee then received a performance review of the Opa-locka Soil and Water Conservation Districts from David Jahossky of Malden and Jenkins. The review found wide variation among the 49 districts studied, with many lacking recurring revenue, staffing, proper meeting notices, records retention, formal performance goals, and timely financial reports. The report identified nearly 400 recommendations and noted that some districts had already dissolved or were considering dissolution. Senators questioned whether the districts were duplicative of other agencies and whether they still served a useful purpose; the presenter said there was overlap and collaboration but no duplication. A public commenter from Jefferson County argued that local boards still provide trusted, community-based support for producers and help connect them to cost-share and best management practice programs. The chair indicated the review would inform possible legislation to improve or restructure the districts, and the committee adjourned without taking a vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• summer, the state paid hundreds of thousands of dollars for Opaga to review the operations and performance
• I want you to explain to me, if you can please, what performance reviews you're eliminating for every
• That OPAGA study justified and reviewed the performance of all these soil and water districts and found
• In the performance reviews that we are removing... ...in the performance reviews that we are removing
• We have performed We have monitoring and reporting on critical waterways for flood issues.

Summary: The Agriculture and Natural Resources Budget Subcommittee met and first took up CS/HB 973, a broad special districts bill focused heavily on soil and water conservation districts. The bill would dissolve 35 soil and water districts effective December 31, 2025, based on an OPAGA review that found widespread problems such as lack of revenue, inactive boards, poor notice practices, public records issues, and late financial reporting. It also would let special districts use state contracts, authorize FDLE background checks for district employees, preserve fire district taxing/service authority after annexation, extend liability protections for outdoor recreation on certain district lands, tighten eligibility for soil and water supervisors, and shift complaint review to the Commission on Ethics. Supporters argued the districts are often inactive, duplicative, and costly to review, while opponents said many districts provide local conservation, water quality, outreach, and volunteer services and should be given more time to remediate. Public testimony on HB 973 was mixed. Several soil and water district chairs and related advocates opposed the bill, saying their districts provide local conservation, flood, invasive species, education, and coordination services at little or no taxpayer cost, and that abolishing them would remove local representation and collaboration. The bill’s proponent, the Florida Association of Special Districts, supported the measure as a limited-government and accountability reform, arguing that districts with no revenue or contracts should not continue. Members debated whether the bill was relying on the OPAGA report while also eliminating future performance reviews, whether the Department of Agriculture could absorb the added responsibilities, and whether the districts should have been given more time to correct deficiencies. The committee ultimately voted the bill favorably, with one no vote from Representative Hinson. The committee then considered CS/HB 995, which applies to Monroe County and the Florida Keys. The bill would exempt Habitat for Humanity in the Keys from construction performance bond requirements for affordable housing, extend the Florida Keys land acquisition/set-aside authority in Florida Forever for 10 more years, and extend the hurricane evacuation time frame from 24 hours to 24.5 hours to allow up to 825 additional residential permit allocations, phased in over 10 years and directed largely toward vacant buildable lots and workforce housing. An amendment was adopted to codify the 825-unit allocation and the distribution framework. With no opposition offered on the bill, the committee reported HB 995 favorably by unanimous vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, the three things I wanted to highlight were the performance measures.
• So, the three things I wanted to highlight were the performance measures.
• </c> highlight were the performance measures. highlight were the performance measures.
• ><c> are</c><00:26:35.480><c> are</c> Uh the performance measures are are Uh the performance measures
• </c> those performance measures out there. those performance measures out there.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• One is a laser application to the lens capsule for... ...to perform.
• These procedures have been performed for over 20 years by optometrists in 14 other states.
• Oklahoma was the first state to allow optometrists to perform these procedures in 1998, and they have
• performed over 50,000 procedures in Oklahoma alone.
• Over 146,000 procedures have been performed in the last 20 years with an adverse outcome rate of less

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 120, which would revise New Mexico law on restraint and seclusion in public schools. The sponsor and supporters said the bill grew out of a year-long stakeholder working group and would clearly define terms such as chemical, mechanical, prone restraint, seclusion, timeout, de-escalation, and elopement; prohibit chemical, mechanical, and prone restraint; require continuous supervision during seclusion; update school safety plans and staff training; and improve reporting to parents and the state. Testimony from disability advocates, the Public Education Department, educators, and parents emphasized that students with disabilities are disproportionately affected, that clearer rules would help staff act safely, and that better reporting and de-escalation practices would reduce trauma. Committee members asked about the meaning of timeout, chemical restraint, data accuracy, and the juvenile detention facility exception, and the sponsor indicated an amendment on parent-notification timing would not be pursued to avoid delay. The committee then began House Bill 213, which would expand the Optometry Act to allow trained optometrists to perform certain laser procedures, including treatment for capsular clouding and glaucoma-related procedures. The sponsor said the bill adds training, certification, supervised live-procedure requirements, adverse-outcome reporting, and an Optometry Board member qualified to perform the procedures. Supporters argued the measure would improve access to care, especially in rural areas, and that the procedures are already performed safely in other states. Opponents, including ophthalmologists and the New Mexico Medical Board, argued the bill would move surgery outside the Medical Practice Act, lower the standard of care, and create regulatory and malpractice-accountability concerns because optometrists would not be subject to the same oversight and emergency-care authority as physicians. The committee did not reach a final vote on HB 213 before the transcript ended.