Transcript Highlights:

• IT HAS BEEN A MINUTE IN THE NURSING HOME OPENED WHEN I LEFT. BUT I KNOW FOR A FACT. >> Sen.
• IT WILL BE OUR TENTH STATE VETERAN NURSING HOME. IT WILL BE IN COLLIER COUNTY.
• THE NUMBER OF BEDS WE PROVIDE FOR SKILLED NURSING BUT ALSO ASSISTED LIVING.
• WE KNOW WHO THEY ARE BECAUSE THEY ARE IN OUR NURSING HOMES AND I LOVED CONNECTING WITH THEM.
• THEY ASSIST US WITH PROGRAMS OF VETERANS IN OUR NURSING HOMES THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF FLORIDA.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We're making excellent progress on the new skilled nursing facility at our Yountville home.
• [Speaker continues] Skilled nursing facility at the Veterans Home.
• This is a 240-bed skilled nursing facility, all one building, that...
• Patient hour per day, or the HPPD, that we're required to maintain within skilled nursing and RCFE.
• It's not a nurse assistant; it's just a thing on a piece of paper.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The subcommittee heard a budget item on vehicle license fee backfill funding, where the Department of Finance said the administration was not proposing the requested $119 million for San Mateo County, Alpine, and Mono, arguing the payment is discretionary and that existing excess ERAF formulas should remain unchanged. Senator Becker and former Senator Jackie Speier testified that the money is owed under the VLF swap arrangement and that San Mateo County faces major service cuts without the backfill; Senator Cabaldon raised broader policy questions about county boundaries and the structure of the formula. The chair held the item open after public comment. The committee then reviewed Secretary of State budget proposals. The department requested funding for SB 851 implementation, including additional duties related to election litigation notice, voting system standards, and vendor reporting, with $1.1 million General Fund in 2026-27 and $807,000 ongoing for four positions and software. Members asked about election security, federal HAVA funding, staffing, and implementation timing; the department said current federal funds are expected to run out in 2027-28 and that it hopes to hire quickly once funded. The item was held open. The Secretary of State also presented the Cal Access Replacement System (CARS), seeking $11.8 million General Fund to finish the project and begin operations, and the notary automation replacement project, seeking $9.795 million in Business Fees Fund for continued development of the outdated notary system. Members focused on project delays, stakeholder input, and whether the funding requests matched prior plans; the department said both projects were still on their original funding tracks but had shifted timelines due to planning needs and election-related workload. Both items were held open. CalVet presented its department overview and then discussed the new 240-bed skilled nursing facility at Yountville, which is nearing completion and will replace the aging Holderman Hospital building. Members asked about the future of Holderman, other campus capital projects, and a payroll/fringe-benefit issue affecting some employees; CalVet said Holderman will continue to house some functions, the roofing and steam projects remain in progress, and the tax issue has been addressed with new procedures and repayment arrangements. The committee also discussed eliminating vacant positions under Control Section 4.12, with CalVet saying the positions were long-vacant CNA and related jobs and the LAO noting the Legislature had not concurred; Senator Cabaldon said he had no objection, and the item was held open. Finally, the California Arts Council gave an overview of its work and its cultural districts program, describing grants and technical assistance in all 58 counties and citing examples of local impact. Senator Smallwood-Cuevas strongly supported additional funding, including a proposed $50 million General Fund investment and a $10 million carve-out for cultural districts, arguing the program supports economic development, preservation, and community identity; council staff said the program is currently unfunded and has only been able to designate a fraction of applicants. Senator Cabaldon noted that many parts of the state still lack cultural districts and urged broader geographic representation. The item was informational and no vote was taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• A bill to be entitled an act relating to the linking industry to nursing education fund.
• We have some nurses from the Florida Nurses Association.
• The Florida Nurses Association is a voice for over 440,000 nurses in each of our districts. 440,000 nurses
• Nurses are the most trusted profession in America, and we all know that, our nurses and our medical professionals
• Nurses Association, as well as Sandra Falk, a retired operating room nurse.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opening prayer, Pledge of Allegiance, several introductions, and an announcement that there would be no weekend conference. The chamber then took up a long special-order calendar of bills, generally moving each measure through third reading and final passage, often by substituting House companion bills. Early measures included trust law modernization (SB 786/HB 895), military affairs changes and Guard retirement corrections (SB 474), rounding rules for cash transactions as pennies phase out (SB 1074), podiatric medicine regulation and informed-consent requirements (SB 1092), veterans court expansion (SB 50/HB 199), RV park special assessment clarification (SB 118), concurrent jurisdiction for juvenile offenses on military installations (SB 502/HB 351), alcoholic beverage loss deductions (SB 678/HB 1137), and bail bond/pretrial release revisions (SB 600). Most passed unanimously or near-unanimously; SB 600 passed 36-1 after questions about charitable bail bonds and an amendment aligning with the House version and prosecutors’ concerns. The Senate also considered bills on portable electronics and eyewear insurance (SB 772), the linking industry to nursing education fund and health science workforce programs (SB 1246), recovery residences and behavioral health licensing (SB 1030, with a technical amendment on background checks and probationary licenses), felony battery enhancements for repeat offenders and offenses against law enforcement (SB 436), and child welfare changes including foster-home visitor screening, a permanent statewide Step Into Success program, and a best-practices repository (SB 1718). These measures were explained by sponsors as efforts to streamline regulation, improve workforce and health-care training, strengthen public safety, and reduce administrative burdens while preserving safeguards. Votes on these bills were overwhelmingly favorable, with final tallies typically 36-0 or 37-0. A major portion of the meeting was devoted to a farewell tribute to Senator Lori Berman. Members from both parties praised her leadership, collegiality, policy work, and advocacy on issues including voting rights, women’s rights, Israel and antisemitism, school safety, breast cancer, and family law. Berman delivered a lengthy farewell reflecting on her 16 years in the Legislature, her caucus leadership, and the importance of dignity, respect, and public service. The Senate adopted a motion to spread her remarks upon the journal and then recessed before returning to continue the calendar.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is for nursing investigations upon request from the Board of Nursing.
• This is for workers' compensation telephonic nurse triage.
• This is for the Nursing Assistant competency evaluation program.
• This is for the Nursing Assistant competency evaluation program.
• requested by the Board of Nursing on nurses.

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• using them and where they are going—indicate that the state of Florida continues to focus on our nursing
• Both practical nursing and the program are the top recipients of Open Door Scholarships.
• And even our nursing programs continue to see increases in enrollment.
• It has been a phenomenal to see these kinds of enrollments in our cybersecurity and nursing programs,
• I do want to brag on our college a little bit; our nursing program's pass rate is 92.45%.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• 1368 by representative Jones relating to notification requirement if a public school does not have a nurse
• , and librarians are equally indispensable to a child's overall development. school nurse, the first
• While we have approximately 9,000 public school campuses, there are only about 6,500 school nurses.
• I'm a nationally... certified school nurse and the executive director for Texas School Nurses Organization
• It's no surprise for y'all to hear how much school nurses value emergency preparedness.

Bills: HB367, HB497, HB549, HB983, HB 1188, HB 1290, HB1368, HB2243, HB2310, HB2849, HB3099, HB3546, HB3629, HB3627

Keywords: education, absences, severe illness, life-threatening, school policy, verification, healthcare, insurance, affordability, coverage, patient rights, school health, respiratory distress, airway clearance devices, medication training, public health, HB 983, Texas Education Agency, TEA, educator privacy

Transcript Highlights:

• So nursing, social work, addiction studies.
• We'll switch to nursing. Dr. Amy Lee is our chair of our nursing department at Minot State.
• So we have two different tracks for our nursing program.
• Like this week, we had, I think, 26 nursing students.
• Five hold a doctorate degree in nursing, and the rest of them hold a master’s degree in nursing.

Summary: The Higher Education Institutions Committee met on the Minot State University campus for presentations on campus operations, enrollment, and new academic initiatives. President Shirley reviewed recent audits, noting mostly clean results with only minor technical findings, and highlighted MSU’s broad academic offerings, specialized accreditations, athletics, and partnerships with Minot Air Force Base and the MSU Development Foundation. Members asked about declining interest in teacher education, tuition waivers for athletes, dual credit incentives, and how MSU decides when to launch new programs and avoid duplication within the university system. Shirley also discussed several workforce-focused initiatives supported by the Legislature’s Workforce Education Innovation Funds, including the purchase of the Trinity Health Center West building for a downtown health sciences hub, a new daycare/preschool partnership near campus, the Aspire program to recruit rural students into teaching, and a paraprofessional-to-special-education degree pathway. Enrollment data showed overall headcount was flat at just under 2,750, but full-time equivalent enrollment rose slightly and new student numbers increased, including the largest freshman class in 15 years. The committee also discussed Minot State’s in-state tuition rate for all students, its dual credit “Emerging Scholars” scholarship, and concerns about the share of high school graduates who do not immediately pursue postsecondary education. Faculty then presented two new programs funded in part by WEAF: an Innovation Engineering degree and a master’s program in counseling with an integrated addiction studies focus. The engineering program was described as industry-driven, designed with broad early coursework, hands-on learning, and local employer input to prepare students for western North Dakota workforce needs; officials said it had already drawn more applicants than expected and would use renovated library space and donated or grant-funded equipment. The counseling program will be mostly face-to-face with hybrid options, aims to address shortages in mental health and substance use providers, and is structured to help students meet licensure requirements. Committee members asked about startup costs, licensure supervision hours, and whether the programs would be on campus rather than online, and presenters said both programs had recently received required approvals and were moving forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have a situation where three nursing homes have had reduced funding, and like I said, I'll have Chester
• The nursing homes are in our districts here, so I'll turn it over, if I could, Mr. Chairman, to Mr.
• We are nonprofit nursing homes that were affected by some timing issues with the moratorium exception
• We are nonprofit nursing homes that were affected by some timing issues with the moratorium exception
• homes um that were affected by nursing homes um that were affected by just<00:01:48.560> some

Bills: HF958, HF688, HF702

Keywords: mental health, behavioral health, psychiatric care, collaborative care model, healthcare funding, service dog, service animal, service dog in training, assistance dog, guide dog, disability rights, housing accommodations, fair housing, landlord, rental housing, homeowners association, HOA, Minnesota human services, accessible housing, reasonable accommodation

Transcript Highlights:

• ,<00:26:46.200> cashiers, sales, uh, registered nurses, cashiers, sales, uh, registered nurses
• ><00:26:50.080> heavy um, nursing assistants, uh, heavy um, nursing assistants, uh, heavy tractor
• Um, maybe they were going to be a nurse and now they're a CNA at a nursing home.
• I would like to make sure nursing home.
• , They become the teachers, nurses, They become the teachers, nurses, engineers,<01:04:03.520>

Bills: HF2634, HF2241, HF2649, HF2520, HF2610

Keywords: North Star Promise, scholarship, higher education, Minnesota Office of Higher Education, in-demand jobs, workforce development, career training, job market, high-demand occupations, high-demand industries, college aid, state financial aid, FAFSA, student eligibility, program of study, degree program, certificate program, community college, university, labor market data

Transcript Highlights:

• Our nursing home is set up that four residents in the nursing home share one bathroom that is a toilet
• um our our hospital and our nursing um our our hospital and our nursing home.<01:35:35.440> Our
• four residents in the nursing home share four residents in the nursing home share one<01:35:40.880>
• is that even though we're an old nursing is that even though we're an old nursing home<01:36:11.120
• where really you're seeing a nurse where really you're seeing a nurse practitioner practitioner

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The Select Subcommittee first took up adoption of three previously prepared nonpartisan committee summary reports dated October 15, November 13, and November 21. Senator Rasmusson objected to the lack of advance notice about the day’s testifiers and criticized the practice of having nonpartisan staff summarize what he described as a partisan agenda. The chair responded that the committee’s purpose is to gather information, not hear bills, and that the summaries were intended as neutral resources for the Senate. Senator Coopek moved adoption, the motion was opposed by Rasmusson and another member, and the motion passed. The committee then turned to the day’s hearing on federal impacts on Minnesota, with the chair focusing on federal funding threats and the effect of congressional budget actions on health care, especially in greater Minnesota. The first presentation came from the Minnesota Department of Health on the state’s rural health transformation work. Assistant Commissioner Carol Broom introduced the team and described the rural hospital transformation program as a major opportunity to invest in rural health, while acknowledging longstanding challenges such as demographics, transportation barriers, and the financing of care. Nitha Moibi outlined the state’s rural health chart book and data showing an aging population, workforce shortages, and many health professional shortage areas, and described proposed strategies including workforce pipelines, bridge payments for low-volume birth hospitals, telehealth access points, mental health urgent care, and chronic disease prevention. Acting Assistant Commissioner Anna Ashby of the Minnesota Management and Budget office explained the state’s application to CMS for the Rural Health Transformation Program, which was created in federal law and awarded Minnesota just over $193 million for federal fiscal year 2026. She said the application was shaped by public comments, stakeholder meetings, and legislative outreach, and included initiatives on preventive care, workforce, care access, behavioral health, and provider financial stability. She also reviewed implementation constraints, including a January 30 revised budget deadline, limits on administrative spending, restrictions on using funds to offset Medicaid losses, and the need to show measurable progress to remain eligible for future funding. The presentation noted that most year-one funding would go to rural hospitals, with additional support for federally qualified health centers, community mental health centers, tribal partners, and technical assistance.

Transcript Highlights:

• They protect nursing staff, delivering patient care and safeguard physicians during medical procedures
• Um, they<00:04:44.160> protect<00:04:44.400> nursing<00:04:44.800> staff,<00:04:
• 45.280> delivering they protect nursing staff, delivering they protect nursing staff, delivering
• penalty to assault a physician or nurse penalty to assault a physician or nurse working<00:10:09.360
• A lot of the time, obviously nursing staff and hospital staff are also included in this, right.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• If you're in a nursing home, we wanted to make sure that the staff who are working in that nursing home
• If you're in a nursing home, we wanted to make sure that the staff who are working in that nursing home
• If you're in a nursing home, we wanted to make sure that the staff who are working in that nursing home
• If you're in a nursing home, we wanted to make sure that the staff who are working in that nursing home
• Is it going to be our nursing homes and our elderly care?

Bills: HF2434

Keywords: healthcare, personal care assistance, worker retention, disability services, state funding, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• of their nursing home.
• I am real concerned about people in nursing homes because while those of you who say...
• But you should sell your asset to pay for the nursing home if it's not occupied by a spouse.
• mothers and... ...to nursing mothers and babies or what have you.
• home. supposed to have been in a nursing home for 30 days, so I don't know.

Bills: SB245, SB246, HB30, HB30

Keywords: SB245, public assistance, Medicaid, SNAP, food assistance, Alabama Medicaid Agency, Department of Human Resources, eligibility verification, self-attestation, data matching, fraud prevention, improper payments, program integrity, benefit eligibility, income verification, residency verification, asset verification, electronic benefit transfer, EBT, cross-checks

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, next we are going to take up HB 797, Veteran and Spouse Nursing Home Beds, by Representative
• home beds in a skilled nursing facility.
• services and will provide them with Medicaid-eligible children who receive skilled nursing services
• Expanding RN eligibility to allow all licensed and qualified registered nurses, including contract RNs
• The hospitals had the same kind of issue happen to them with nurses and nurses.

Summary: The Health Care Facilities and System Subcommittee met with a quorum and considered five bills. HB 1101 on out-of-network providers drew the most discussion; Rep. Albert said it would require written notice when a patient is referred to an out-of-network provider and would count certain insurer payments toward deductibles. Several members and the Florida College of Emergency Physicians raised concerns about placing the burden on doctors’ offices, possible delays in referrals, and unclear enforcement, but the bill was reported favorably 16-2. Public testimony included support from AARP and concerns from emergency physicians about ER workflow and insurance-network transparency. The committee then unanimously approved PCS for HB 475, reducing fines for ambulatory surgery centers that violate good-faith estimate requirements from $1,000 to $250 per day, with a lower maximum penalty. The bill sponsor said the change was intended to right-size penalties for smaller facilities; witnesses from surgery centers and HCA supported it. HB 797, which would allow a nonprofit retirement community serving veterans and spouses to create veteran-and-spouse nursing home beds and transfer a certificate of need within 100 miles, also passed unanimously after members discussed whether it could affect access for veterans; the sponsor said it would create additional private beds rather than displace existing ones. HB 1085 on the Children’s Medical Services Program was amended and reported favorably 14-3. The bill would move managed care plan operations for medically fragile children from the Department of Health to AHCA, keep clinical eligibility at DOH, and shift PPEC services fully into managed care. The adopted amendment changed the waiver provision to require AHCA to develop and present a comprehensive redesign plan for the Medicaid model waiver for children receiving private duty nursing. Several members supported the goal but raised concerns about eliminating family choice and the impact on medically fragile children. Finally, HB 1353 on home health care services passed unanimously. The bill would remove geographic limits on home health administrators, allow more licensed RNs including contract RNs to perform visits, and revise the home health excellence award program. Supporters said it would address workforce shortages and improve access, while one member warned it could increase costs and competition for nurses. The committee adjourned after reporting all five bills favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm not objecting to nurse midwives who have made that a specialty choice.
• I'm not objecting to nurse midwives who have made that as a specialty choice.
• So that's a lot of the conversation that our nurses are having.
• My point is we look at the earnings of a nurse. Right. Right.
• The point is we look at the earnings of a nurse. Right, I think they're all under. Okay.

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

Transcript Highlights:

• 00:07:44.880> of galleries, we have the um a group of galleries, we have the um a group of nursing
• students from Alorn State nursing students from Alorn State University.<00:07:50.639> Let's<00
• And gentlemen, in the staff gallery amongst those amazing nursing students with Alcorn, I am fortunate
• to have one of my scholars from Educate, um, Sayia Hickinbottom, with those group of nurses.
• And in our north and south gallery among the Alcorn State University School of Nursing, we have some

Keywords: MS House Floor - 17 February, 2026; 2:00 PM, 925, all

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a quorum present. Members dispensed with the reading of the journal, and there were no reports from select committees, no resolutions or memorials, and introductions of bills and constitutional amendments were handled without reading. The chamber also recognized several guests and pages, including a large group of nursing students from Alcorn State University, along with other visitors and constituents in the galleries. A number of members used the announcements period to highlight events and personal matters. Representative Powell asked that the House adjourn in memory of Pat Husler, the mother of a committee assistant, and the request was accepted. Representative Bell also asked to adjourn in memory of the late Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, describing him as an inspiration. Representative Fondren announced a Mississippi Association for Justice event later that evening, and Representative Wallace gave an update on the Sale of Champions, noting scholarships awarded, animals sold, and funds raised. The only formal committee action mentioned was an announcement that Appropriations A would meet at 10:00 a.m. the next day in room 2011A, and that the appropriations committee would also meet five minutes after adjournment to consider a bill that had been omitted earlier. The House then adopted a motion to adjourn until 2 p.m. the following day.

Transcript Highlights:

• Hampshire School Nurses Association as chair of their legislative action committee.
• The school nurse uses best evidence to provide these services.
• school nurse school nurse Association<00:44:49.200> um<00:44:49.720> understanding
• <00:46:38.559> to probably fall to the school nurse to probably fall to the school nurse to
• Two days later, I received a phone call from the school nurse.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Nursing, auto tech, you pick it. Nursing, auto tech, you pick it.
• losing more nursing home beds.
• , including 10 county 33 nursing homes, including 10 county nursing<05:20:31.280> homes,<05:20
• sector and prevent losing more nursing sector and prevent losing more nursing home<05:20:48.638>
• of nursing home care in New Hampshire. of nursing home care in New Hampshire.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• c> Leaders in Nursing.
• As a nurse and Leaders in Nursing.
• If it's nurses that need this protection, it should be limited to nurses.
• limited to nurses.
• If it's nurses and limited to nurses.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• we have the contrast of our nursing we have the contrast of our nursing homes,<01:31:37.840>
• We're making cuts to nursing homes and long-term care facilities.
• We're making cuts to nursing homes and long-term care facilities.
• There are several million dollars of cuts to nursing homes just in my Senate district alone.
• homes just in my Senate to nursing homes just in my Senate district<01:45:05.280> alone.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all