Transcript Highlights:

• </c> and expanded therapeutics procedures. and expanded therapeutics procedures.
• </c><00:37:19.200><c> work</c> expanded therapeutic procedures work expanded therapeutic procedures work
• </c> whether changes to education, procedural whether changes to education, procedural competency,<00
• Those are just ongoing procedures.
• Most of the time procedural deficiency.

Committee: Joint Health Services

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• She was in the waiting room, stressed out that she was burning a day of leave at the second procedure
• I was in the waiting room procedure I was in the waiting room stressed<00:08:40.279><c> out</c><00:08
• </c><00:08:46.080><c> when</c><00:08:46.279><c> we</c> leave at the second procedure when we leave at
• the second procedure when we learned<00:08:46.720><c> it</c><00:08:46.839><c> was</c><00:08:46.959><
• </c> failed procedure failed procedure Judy<00:09:01.240><c> was</c><00:09:01.360><c> born</c><00:09:

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We also provide endodontic and periodontal treatments as well as surgical procedures.
• Sometimes they need anesthesia in order to have a simple procedure done.
• I could say, anecdotally, certain dental procedures cost more than others.
• So things like cleanings and x-rays are less costly than a surgical procedure with anesthesia at the
• operating room is considerably lower for dental procedures than for medical procedures.

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services heard a base budget overview for the 2025-26 fiscal year, which was presented as a $46.8 billion starting point for the silo. Staff explained that HHS accounts for about half of the state base budget and roughly 36% of general revenue, with AHCA and Medicaid making up the largest share. The committee then reviewed the PACE program for the elderly, including its eligibility, service model, growth in applications, slot funding and reversions, and the agency’s plan to move from the federal three-way agreement to a more detailed two-party contract to improve accountability, transparency, and reporting. Members raised concerns about unfilled slots, reversions, rural access, and the need for clearer return-on-investment data; the agency said it would follow up on some of those questions. The committee also heard from the Agency for Persons with Disabilities on its statewide dental program. APD described its history of appropriations, the failed January 2024 solicitation, and a new up-to-$11.5 million solicitation focused on preventive care, community partnerships, teledentistry, and coordination with other services. Members questioned overlap with Medicaid dental coverage, the effect of Medicaid unwinding on APD clients, and whether state dollars were duplicating federally supported services; APD said it tries to act as payer of last resort and that services would continue during procurement. Public testimony from an APD stakeholder and the Florida Dental Association emphasized Medicaid eligibility problems for waiver recipients, low reimbursement rates, limited access to anesthesia and hospital-based dental care, and concerns that proposed Medicaid changes could reduce access for special-needs patients. The Department of Veterans’ Affairs then presented on state veterans service officers and benefits assistance. FDVA highlighted its role in helping veterans access federal benefits, reporting about $27.9 billion in federal dollars flowing into Florida and a high return on state investment. The department said it has increased outreach, claims processing, and services, and has trained staff to identify mental health concerns through its Overwatch program. In response to questions, FDVA discussed plans to expand adult day health care at a new veterans nursing home and possibly at existing locations with additional state funding. At the end of the meeting, the committee completed its presentations and adjourned without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's also consistent with the 2021 California Water Commission white paper on where we should be investing
• It's also consistent with the 2021 California Water Commission white paper on where we should be investing
• Is the administration proposing any changes procedurally to couple it with the dollars that are being

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Just to reiterate that what they did was within keeping with standard operating procedures of departments
• The Department of Cannabis Control commissioned a report that was published last year that used other
• There was a regulatory change at the California Public Utilities Commission that has given assessment

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on State Administration heard several budget proposals from CDTFA, the Board of Equalization, and the Franchise Tax Board. The first panel focused on cannabis, hemp, flavored tobacco, and related enforcement. CDTFA requested ongoing funding to implement cannabis tax changes, enforce the new intoxicating hemp restrictions and flavored tobacco seizure authority, and continue compliance work. The department said it is targeting illicit product, protecting licensed businesses, and using referrals from the public and lawmakers to focus inspections. The LAO supported some of the proposals but urged the Legislature to treat them as part of a longer-term enforcement strategy and raised concerns about the use of General Fund support for cannabis enforcement. Public testimony on the cannabis item largely supported stronger enforcement and funding for the legal market. The committee also heard CDTFA’s request to reappropriate funds for an upgrade to the CROS tax collection system, which would improve taxpayer services, security, and software maintenance without adding new money. A separate CDTFA proposal would make all delivery network companies, such as DoorDash and Uber Eats, marketplace facilitators for sales tax purposes. CDTFA said the change would reduce confusion for restaurants and improve compliance, while the LAO questioned whether the proposal functioned more like a tax increase because it would also capture service fees. Members raised affordability concerns, but the proposal was framed by the administration as a parity and compliance measure. The subcommittee then considered a governor’s proposal for a sustainable aviation fuel tax credit. Finance argued the credit would help decarbonize aviation and support in-state production, while the LAO recommended rejection, citing cost, uncertainty about environmental benefits, possible diversion of diesel excise tax revenues from transportation programs, and concerns about consistency with voter-approved transportation funding rules. Testimony from airlines, labor unions, airports, and refinery workers strongly supported the credit, emphasizing union jobs, refinery conversions, and emissions reductions, while fuel retailers and some others warned about fiscal risk and higher fuel prices. The chair and some members expressed support for the proposal despite the funding concerns. Finally, the BOE presented an IT modernization project for state-assessed property administration, saying the current system is outdated and manual and that a new system is needed to improve accuracy, cybersecurity, and workflow efficiency, especially with a likely increase in workload from new VoIP assessments. The LAO asked for more justification for the timing, but BOE said the urgency stems from aging systems and growing workload. BOE also requested modest funding to implement SB 293 changes to intergenerational property transfers and wildfire relief guidance, which the LAO did not oppose. The Franchise Tax Board began its presentation on the final phase of its Enterprise Data to Revenue modernization effort, describing the project’s rollout across audit, collections, legal, and filing enforcement workloads and noting it is now in a warranty period.

Transcript Highlights:

• So with this bill, then, would it change any things or procedures that are in place that could probably
• They are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education, and they follow
• the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education, and they follow the same accreditation

Committee: House Health and Mental Health

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So with this bill, then, would it change any things or procedures that are in place that could probably
• They are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education, and they follow
• Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education, and they follow the same accreditation education

Committee: House Health and Mental Health

Summary: The committee first heard House Bills 2365, 2490, and 2249, a bipartisan version of Elijah’s Law, which would require child care facilities to receive training and guidance on recognizing and responding to food allergies and anaphylaxis. Sponsors described the bill as a response to the death of Elijah, whose daycare did not administer epinephrine quickly enough after a food exposure. Witnesses in support, including a parent and food allergy advocate, said the measure would improve preparedness and save lives. Committee members asked about whether the bill should use broader epinephrine terminology, whether the requirements could also be handled through child care licensing rules, and whether the bill was already included in a larger measure. No opposition was presented, and the hearing on those bills was closed. The committee then heard House Bill 1965, which would require insurers to reimburse athletic trainers for covered services and add athletic trainers to the practitioner definition for billing purposes. The sponsor and athletic training witnesses said the bill would recognize athletic trainers as licensed health care providers, improve access in rural and underserved areas, and allow reimbursement when trainers work in clinics, hospitals, or other non-school settings. Committee members raised repeated questions about the difference between athletic trainers and physical therapists, whether school-based services were already paid through contracts, whether the bill would increase costs or create double payment, and how diagnosis and billing would work under the current scope of practice. Opponents from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City and the Missouri Insurance Coalition argued the bill would create a mandate, increase costs, and expand billing before clarifying the underlying scope of practice. No vote was taken in public hearing. The committee then moved into executive session and voted several bills do pass. A substitute was adopted for House Bill 1826 and the committee substitute for House Bills 1826, 2560, 2349, and 2194 passed 17-0. House Bill 1783 also passed 17-0. House Bill 2372, which incorporated multiple related provisions including changes to epinephrine terminology and other committee items, passed 17-1 after a substitute and amendment were adopted. House Bill 1827, the occupational therapy bill related to disabled placards and license plates, passed 18-0. The committee then returned to public hearing and heard House Bills 1941 and 2279, which would prohibit copay accumulator programs for fully insured plans so that third-party assistance counts toward a patient’s deductible and out-of-pocket maximum. Sponsors and a rheumatologist testified that the bills would prevent patients with serious illnesses from being forced to pay the same deductible twice and said similar laws have been enacted in many other states. Opponents from America’s Health Insurance Plans argued the measure would affect only a minority of plans, raise costs in the individual and small-group market, and could worsen affordability for remaining enrollees. The hearing ended without a vote on those bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• declarations and start describing what that actual concern is so that courts and others, and this Commission
• Julie Snyder representing the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and Association of Bay Area Governments
• have been driving down the cost by removing unnecessary permitting, removing unnecessary other procedural

Summary: The committee heard several housing-related measures, beginning with SB 222 by Senator Wiener, the Heat Pump Access Act. The bill would streamline permitting for heat pump water heaters and HVAC systems, allow virtual contractor participation during inspections, and limit HOA barriers to installation. Supporters, including Spur, a contractor, and several clean-energy and environmental groups, said the measure would lower costs, reduce pollution, and speed replacements. The League of California Cities opposed the bill over the permit fee cap and concerns about virtual inspections, while committee members raised questions about HOA authority, electrical panel upgrades, and whether the bill could create unintended costs for local governments. SB 222 was approved 10-0 and sent to Local Government. The committee then considered SB 677, a follow-up to SB 79. The author announced the bill had been narrowed to two items: mobile home exemption language and a future SB 79 cleanup bill in the next session, with the larger set of implementation issues to be handled separately. Local governments and counties said the reduced bill still needed clearer definitions and more implementation guidance, while several housing and transit advocates supported the narrowing and the decision to revisit the broader cleanup later. After the amendments were accepted, SB 677 passed 10-1 and was sent to Local Government. The main debate centered on SB 417, a proposed $10 billion affordable housing bond for the 2026 ballot. Supporters, including the California Housing Consortium, labor, housing nonprofits, local governments, and many advocacy groups, argued that the state’s existing housing bond funds were exhausted, that thousands of shovel-ready projects were waiting for financing, and that the bond would leverage federal tax credits and private capital to produce and preserve affordable homes. Opponents and skeptics focused on state debt levels, the cost of housing production, and whether another bond was the right approach, with Habitat for Humanity asking for a dedicated CalHome allocation. Committee members discussed debt capacity, affordability, homeownership, and the need to keep funding flowing to existing programs. SB 417 passed 8-1 to Appropriations. The committee also heard SB 492, a youth housing and youth center bond proposal, which the author said was intended to be folded into the larger housing bond package; testimony from Covenant House California emphasized the need to house transition-age youth and prevent long-term homelessness. No vote on SB 492 was shown in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, members of the Commission.
• I think you should be a pro at our procedure, whichever chair you choose.
• I'm a commissioner on the Public Education Commission. I have a grandson who also attends NMIS.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, again, that was the liquor commission should respond to.
• In speaking to Cynthia Jones Brier, we asked her, you know, how this happened, how the liquor commission
• The other two, on the first page of this, it's a developers' procedures to decision-making criteria.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee reviewed follow-up status on several prior audit observations. For the Department of Liquor Commission item tied to a DAS audit, staff explained that the commission had been listed as observation 8 because it participated in a recycling program, but the required response had been missed because DAS did not notify the commission. After the committee raised it, the commission contacted DAS and submitted the response, and members agreed the observation could be marked complete, making the audit 9 for 9 resolved. The committee then heard from the Department of Employment Security about the remaining open item from a 2016 audit of the former Department of Resources and Economic Development concerning the Work Ready New Hampshire program. The deputy commissioner said the issue had been addressed by 2019 statutory changes that moved the job training program to Employment Security, increased funding, and specifically recognized Work Ready New Hampshire in statute. Members indicated the item should be treated as resolved and moved to green. The Adult Parole Board also reported on its 2019 audit follow-up. Chair Roger Phillips said 18 of 26 recommendations had been completed, with eight still open, including structured decisionmaking, a tracking/performance measure system, records retention, and access to inmate mental health and substance abuse information. Committee members said the board needed to submit an updated report to DAS with timelines and explanations for the remaining items, and the board said it would provide a timeline within 30 days. The committee then agreed to expect a follow-up report after the first of the year, likely by the end of March, to review the status of the eight open items. At the end of the meeting, members discussed future audit topics. They noted that the wetlands council’s responses had been included with the department’s answers, so no separate appearance was needed. They also raised possible future audits involving special education oversight, the Board of Naturopaths, OPLC-related boards, dental examiners, and police standards training, with a request that some of those entities provide status reports at a later meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• In this state, we take people's police commissions away if they fail to do that without passing go, without
• away if they fail to do that commissions away if they fail to do that without<01:35:14.880><c> passing
• You have on your desk the House of Representatives emergency and evacuation procedures.
• We ask that you familiarize your aides and any staff with the procedures in the manual as well.
• </c> the procedures in the manual as well. the procedures in the manual as well.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Do you support the formation of a Foundation Review Commission to take this on?
• Do you support the formation of a Foundation Review Commission to take this on?
• I think I fully support having a commission to look at it.
• I won't belabor the point too much on the review commission.
• We could go through all the commissions. So I just really wanted to say that.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The hearing was a Joint Committee on Ways and Means budget session held in Lawrence focused on the governor’s proposed FY27 education and local aid budget, with remarks from legislative co-chairs, local officials, and education agency leaders. Acting Mayor Giovanni Rodriguez and Superintendent Ralph Carrero emphasized Lawrence’s high-need student population, the importance of Chapter 70 and Student Opportunity Act funding, and the impact of state aid on schools serving many English learners and low-income families. Carrero highlighted Lawrence High School programs such as early college, dual degrees, career pathways, and early childhood classrooms embedded in the high school, while lawmakers introduced themselves and noted the importance of the hearing to their districts. Acting Secretary of Education Amy Kershaw, Commissioner of Higher Education Noi Ortega, Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education Pedro Martinez, and Commissioner of Early Education and Care Amy Kershaw outlined the administration’s FY27 priorities. They described investments in literacy initiatives, universal school meals, student mental health, early college and career pathways, higher education affordability, community college and university student-success supports, preschool expansion, child care subsidies, and workforce supports for early educators. The commissioners also discussed federal funding threats, equity gaps, and the administration’s efforts to improve outcomes for Black and brown students, multilingual learners, students with disabilities, and low-income students. Members questioned the panel about the local contribution formula study, the final year of Student Opportunity Act implementation, and the need to revisit Chapter 70 funding to better address rising costs such as special education, transportation, and health care. Officials said the local contribution study report is expected by the end of June, with a draft to be shared after data analysis and public comment. Commissioner Martinez said the Student Opportunity Act narrowed funding gaps but more work is needed, and he pointed to a proposed Accelerating Achievement Initiative to support the highest-need schools. Senator Oliveira also raised concerns about Chapter 70 disparities and asked about partnerships with libraries to support literacy, prompting discussion of broader early literacy collaboration.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we ended up paying $82,000 for that procedure.
• In my much smaller company, we've got a consultant that could tell me the average cost of that procedure
• To what facilities, of which certain procedures and so forth would be conducted because to me that's
• I mean, where you have the procedure done is not just the physician performing it.
• So if you had a procedure, they should be willing to say, hey, you know what, if you will actually shop

Bills: HB139

Committee: House Insurance

Keywords: ad valorem tax, tax rates, voter-approval, taxing unit, property tax, local government

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c><00:05:10.720><c> maintain</c> administrative procedures, maintain administrative procedures, maintain
• So, procedurally, if you once someone is arraigned, referral to specialty court can happen immediately
• &gt;&gt; and I would just procedurally um I'm &gt;&gt; and I would just procedurally um I'm sorry,<00
• So, procedurally, tidbit.
• So, procedurally, um<00:49:35.359><c> if</c><00:49:35.599><c> you</c><00:49:36.559><c> once</c><00:49

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The subcommittee received an overview of Kentucky’s specialty courts from Audrey Collins of the Department of Specialty Courts and the Administrative Office of the Courts, along with testimony from Christian County District Judge Foster Cutoff. Collins described the mission and structure of drug, mental health, and veterans treatment courts, emphasizing therapeutic jurisprudence, individualized treatment, judicial oversight, and multidisciplinary teams. She said Kentucky currently has about 2,991 active participants across the three court types, with drug courts in all 120 counties, mental health courts in 17 counties, and veterans treatment courts in eight counties. She also highlighted reported outcomes such as 7,658 entrants and 4,384 successful completions from 2020 to 2024, a five-year average completion rate of 57%, and lower recidivism among graduates than the statewide average. Collins also reviewed funding and costs, saying the department’s fiscal year 2025 budget was $18.6 million, with most of it from general funds, plus restricted and federal funds. She noted spending on personnel, treatment services, and drug testing, and said specialty courts allow participants to remain employed and meet obligations such as child support and restitution. She said participants paid more than $5.4 million in child support, restitution, and other court-related obligations over five years, and that a statewide evaluation by Morehead State University is underway. In response to questions, she said a dip in 2024 collections may have been affected by a case management system overhaul, and that court costs can be waived in some indigent cases while restitution is still required. Judge Cutoff described veterans treatment court and mental health court in Christian County, saying the programs are especially important because of the nearby Fort Campbell military community and because they help veterans with PTSD, traumatic brain injury, substance use, and related issues. He said the courts rely heavily on staff, treatment providers, and the VA, which helps connect participants to benefits and therapy. He also said mental health court participants receive housing, benefits, and medication support, and that the programs can keep people out of jail and help them stabilize. Committee members asked about the legal basis and history of the courts, and Collins explained that Kentucky’s specialty courts began as pilot programs in the mid-1990s, shifted from federal support to state funding around 2008-2009, and are now largely state funded. No votes or formal actions were taken during the discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• agreement in terms of whether you need to change the law or whether you can approach it through procedural
• agreement in terms of whether you need to change the law or whether you can approach it through procedural
• agreement in terms of whether you need to change the law or whether you can approach it through procedural
• Okay, thank you very much. or you know procedural things like that or you know procedural things like
• um you know agreements but it procedural um you know agreements but it seems<00:43:43.640><c> that</

Committee: Senate Labor and Technology

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint hearing covered Senate Bills 470, 828, 730, and 1383. SB 470 would create a deferred retirement option program for police officers. The Employees Retirement System warned it could worsen the system’s $14.1 billion unfunded liability by stopping employer and employee contributions during the DROP period, and the Attorney General raised possible tax-qualified status, Internal Revenue Code, and age-discrimination concerns. Police and other supporters testified in favor, but the committees ultimately recommended deferring the bill indefinitely. SB 828 would expand workers’ compensation medical benefits for firefighters to cover an additional respiratory condition. The Department of Labor and Industrial Relations and the Hawaii Firefighters Association supported the measure, citing occupational exposure and health risks. The committees recommended passage with amendments, and the motion was adopted by both committees. SB 730, which concerns allowance on service retirements, drew support from the Department of Human Resources Development and the Department of Law Enforcement, but also comments from the Attorney General and ERS. DHRD said the bill could help recruitment and retention but requested more time to work on language with ERS, Budget and Finance, and the AG’s office. The committees postponed decision-making until Friday, February 7, at 3:15 p.m. in Conference Room 225. SB 1383, relating to fire protection, received broad support from the Governor’s office, Department of Defense, DLNR, Hawaiian Electric, and others. The committees agreed to pass it with amendments, including language suggested by the Hawaii Insurance Council on wildfire-related insurance issues and a committee report link to the Lina fire forward-looking report, phase three. The amended recommendation was adopted by both committees. Later in the meeting, the committees also heard SB 1360 and SB 1361 on ERS administrative and reporting matters, SB 340 on HLRB enforcement authority, and SB 997 on energy; SB 1360 and SB 1361 were presented as housekeeping measures, SB 340 drew disagreement between the Attorney General and HLRB over enforcement authority, and SB 997 was amended to incorporate prevailing-wage renewable energy rate language from SB 743 and then passed with amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• state has an acceptable application processing timeline rate, payment error rate, and case and procedural
• </c><00:21:34.159><c> And</c> Case and procedural error rate.
• In this vein, I'm asking the members of this commission and ultimately the legislature this session to
• the commission and ultimately the legislature<01:20:51.679><c> this</c><01:20:51.920><c> session</c>
• </c> multiple manuals, guides, procedural multiple manuals, guides, procedural references<01:30:48.480

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, we'll have essentially the same procedures, actually, exactly the same procedures as we had last
• So, for the many members of the public who are watching, take a look at our procedures.
• For those who are watching, take a look at our procedures. They're on the Senate Rules web page.
• But take a look at those procedures; they might change throughout the session.

Committee: Senate Senate Rules

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• commission whom I work for, it is true, they are not elected to the Sentencing Guidelines Commission
• Finally, in 2015, my commission, the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission, developed a proposed
• </c><00:52:03.400><c> my</c> sentencing guidelines commission my sentencing guidelines commission my
• Minnesota sentencing commission the Minnesota sentencing guidelines<00:53:03.119><c> commission</c><
• </c> guidelines Commission guidelines Commission but<00:54:27.079><c> that</c><00:54:27.280><c> delegation

Committee: House Public Safety Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• WE ALSO PROVIDE AND ENDODONTIC TO DOMINIC AND PERIODONTICS TREATMENTS AS WELL AS SURGICAL PROCEDURES.
• SOMETIMES AND HE IN ORDER TO HAVE A SIMPLE PROCEDURE DONE SO WE DON'T WANT OUR MEDICAID DOLLARS THEY
• I COULD SAY ANA DODI NOTABLY CERTAIN DENTAL PROCEDURES COST MORE THAN OTHERS SO THINGS LIKE CLEANINGS
• AND X RAYS ARE LESS COSTLY THAN A SURGICAL PROCEDURES THAT SOME CLIENTS NEED.
• RATHER THAN MEDICAL PROCEDURES.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's private school commission. Accreditation commission. Okay. Mr.
• Laura Colangelo: ...in private schools when I was preparing for the Special Needs Funding Commission
• spent years putting together that indicates whether they meet each standard. of the accreditation commission
• demonstrates A, accreditation by an organization recognized by the Texas Private School Accreditation Commission
• What this legislation does is actually goes around those procedures and again streamlines and gives a

Bills: HB 3

Committee: House Public Education

Keywords: emergency communication, public safety, interoperability, Texas Interoperability Council, grant program, emergency communications, public safety radio, first responders, radio system, dispatch, 911, emergency management, Texas Division of Emergency Management, public safety infrastructure, Project 25, P25, broadband emergency alerting, outdoor warning sirens, homeland security, disaster response