Transcript Highlights:

• like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program
• As a reminder, please programs.
• /c><01:04:02.400><c> is</c> program and so that program is program and so that program is unaffected<
• </c> of the program is about $24,000. of the program is about $24,000.
• WIC is not just a program.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to thank UCF and the Legislative Scholars Program for connecting us with such a talented student
• You talked about the Guardian program now with our child care facilities.
• in the same way that a school may take advantage of the Guardian program.
• in the same way that a school may take advantage of the Guardian program.
• They're eligible for loan forgiveness in the frame program.

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a series of member introductions recognizing interns, pages, volunteers, and the retirement of Pastor Gary Austin from the sergeant’s office. Leadership also announced that budget talks with the House were continuing and that senators would not need to plan on being in next week, suggesting progress toward a budget framework. After routine floor business, the chamber took up a major third-reading measure on citizen initiatives and several education bills, followed later by returning messages from the House on health and school-safety measures. The most extensive debate centered on the citizen initiative bill, which sponsors said was intended to protect the constitutional amendment process from fraud and abuse based on election-crime investigations and a large state report on petition fraud. Supporters argued the bill would add reasonable guardrails, prevent misuse of public funds, and preserve integrity while still allowing grassroots participation. Opponents from both parties argued it would make citizen-led amendments much harder by adding costs, deadlines, criminal penalties, and administrative burdens that would chill participation and favor wealthy or corporate interests. After lengthy debate, the Senate voted 28-10 to pass the bill. The chamber then passed several education measures with little or no opposition, including bills tied to Bright Futures, dual enrollment, Florida ABLE, teacher preparation, and other education policy updates, all by 38-0. Later, the Senate concurred in House amendments on a stem cell therapy bill, an EKG requirement for student athletes, and a cardiac emergency bill, each passing 37-0. The House also sent back a school safety bill with amendments affecting child care facility partnerships with law enforcement, temporary door locks during active assailant incidents, supervision windows, and funding for panic alarm systems; the transcript ends as that bill is being explained.

Transcript Highlights:

• During the interim, OSA also provides support to the GIT program in WACA.
• During the interim, OSA also provides support to the GIT program and WAL CARES.
• I'm needing—I've asked staff to look at other programs that are mandated programs to be considered in
• Programs to be considered in our budget every year.
• And there are other programs where that is the case, and I want to see how they are written up, because

Committee: Joint Select Committee on Pension Policy

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• During the interim, OSA also provides support to the GIT program and WAL CARES.
• During the interim, OSA also provides support to the GIT program and WAL CARES.
• I've asked staff to look at other programs that are mandated programs to be considered in our budget
• Programs to be considered in our budget every year.
• And there are other programs where that is the case, and I want to see how they are written up, because

Committee: Joint Select Committee on Pension Policy

Summary: The executive committee approved the May minutes by roll call vote, then received an actuarial update from Sarah Baker of the State Actuary’s Office. Baker explained the office’s annual work, including the DRS pension actuarial evaluation, support for state financial reporting, cash flow analysis, a six-year pension contribution outlook, interim support for GIT and WAL CARES, and an upcoming actuarial evaluation of the volunteer firefighters pension plan. She also responded to questions about bills allowing members to transfer into PERS, noting that such transfers have historically increased PERS costs and that any added cost would be borne by PERS members and employers depending on bill structure and affected demographics. Kate Adams of the Attorney General’s office reported no new developments in the cases the committee is monitoring. She said the Dawson case is still in its early stages, with a judge assigned and a discovery plan due at the end of July. The committee asked for continued updates on that litigation. The committee then discussed interim work planning, focusing first on animal control officers’ eligibility for PERS and asking staff to continue researching definitions, comparable treatment in nearby states, and the cost and service-credit implications for affected employees. Members also discussed Plan 3 issues, including comparisons of Plan 2 and Plan 3 membership and data, and possible future briefing topics. The largest discussion centered on Plan 1 COLAs: members and retiree representatives debated whether to pursue a permanent COLA or an ad hoc COLA, and whether budget language should require future budget writers to consider a COLA. Retiree groups said they preferred a permanent COLA but were open to further discussion; staff was asked to continue work on possible language and policy options. The committee reviewed correspondence on four topics: Plan 1 COLA requests, a request to study LEOFF 2-style medical reimbursements for Washington State Patrol survivors, and a request to allow certain members to change survivor option elections after the federal Social Security Fairness Act. The committee agreed to bring the State Patrol medical reimbursement issue and the Social Security Fairness Act issue back for July, with staff to gather more information and provide an informational briefing. The July agenda was approved and includes the OSA annual update, the LEOFF 2 Board annual update, a PERS/TRS Plan 1 ad hoc COLA item, and the two survivor-related topics.

Transcript Highlights:

• I've run the admissions program as provost at the University of Alabama for the five years prior to this
• in that is our desire to build a first-class NCI-designated cancer center that brings innovative treatments
• Thank you so much for your support of the TOPS program. Okay, members, we're going to first hear...
• What we found, the sunset expired, and so what I'm looking to do is to reinstitute the program.
• And so it does not upset specialized institutional accreditation or specialized program accreditation

Committee: House Education

Summary: The House Education Committee met on May 6 and first welcomed LSU President Wade Roos and Chancellor Jim Dalton, who outlined LSU’s goals of becoming an elite, accessible flagship university, increasing research expenditures, improving student recruitment and retention, and expanding pathways that keep Louisiana students in-state. Members praised the new leadership and LSU’s workforce and research direction, and a representative from LSU enrollment reported gains in TOPS Excellence commitments for the coming fall. The committee then advanced several education bills. SB 105 by Sen. Kathy, which reinstates TOPS Tech eligibility for honorably discharged veterans, was reported favorably without objection. SB 374, also by Sen. Kathy, creates a uniform framework for college economic development districts; members adopted an amendment adding a legislator to each district board, and the bill was reported favorably with amendments. SB 304 by Sen. Edmonds, which authorizes the Board of Regents to establish a list of eligible accreditors and allows institutions to seek different accreditors, was reported favorably. SB 522 by Sen. Edmonds, allowing vocational and technical charter schools to apply directly to BESE as Type 2 charters with Commerce and Industry support, drew discussion about whether the authority should extend to public schools as well; it ultimately passed 9-1. The committee also approved SB 290 by Sen. Abraham, a cleanup bill requiring school system concurrence before student exit-code changes in the data system, and HCR 81 by Rep. Freiberg, which asks the Department of Education to study options for districts facing declining enrollment and related financial pressures. HCR 175 by Rep. Larvadain, a study resolution on possible TOPS Tech changes, was deferred by the author because it overlapped with another measure. Several members also used personal privilege to welcome local mayors and community guests to the committee room.

Transcript Highlights:

• At this point, we believe there are about 66 cities that fall under this program.
• It's a 10-year rebate period and Right now, there are about 22 cities under this program.
• The center hotel tax rebate program to the City of South Padre Island.
• Usage by entities entitled to portions of that revenue in the treatment of hotel occupancy tax revenue
• Does the substitute do something with respect to the prohibition on the use of funds for programs that

Bills: SB1071 , SB1444 , SB1483 , SB1556 , SB1703 , SB1756 , SB1854 , SB2036 , SB2133 , SB2297 , SB2622 , SB2779 , SB2955 , SB2979

Committee: Senate Economic Development

Keywords: municipality, tax revenue, hotel project, convention center, economic development, hotel tax, municipal authority, local governments, local authority, convention centers, hotel occupancy tax, municipal finance, local tax revenue, tourism, hotel and convention center project, Tax Code Chapter 351, city revenue, special district, Texas municipalities, venue financing

Transcript Highlights:

• One, we added nuclear to the credit program to help incentivize nuclear, and nuclear would receive a
• One, we added nuclear to the credit program to help incentivize nuclear, and nuclear would receive a
• because they aren't readily available, but we could not figure out how to place them into the credit program
• Uh, the credit program one for one with other dispatchables because they don't run 24/7.
• It defines a federal match program as a cooperative funding agreement where federal dollars are contingent

Bills: SB213 , SB378 , SB610 , SB681 , SB918 , SB1172 , SB1252 , SB1343 , SCR8

Committee: Senate Business & Commerce

Keywords: SB 213, Texas insurance, Insurance Code, Chapter 551, Chapter 541, bundling, tying arrangement, cross-selling, homeowners insurance, residential property insurance, auto insurance, personal automobile insurance, consumer protection, unfair trade practice, deceptive insurance practice, property and casualty insurer, Lloyd's plan, county mutual, reciprocal exchange, farm mutual

Summary: The Senate Committee on Business and Commerce met with a quorum and took up several pending bills, first reporting SB 1006 favorably after adopting a committee substitute that adds quarterly ZIP-code-level reporting to TDI on insurer declinations, cancellations, and nonrenewals. The committee also adopted substitutes and favorably reported SB 388, which adds nuclear to a credit program and excludes batteries from the dispatchable definition; SB 917; SB 504, which narrows reporting requirements for certain local entities, raises a salary threshold, and authorizes AG injunctive relief; SB 925, which clarifies that federal match dollars are included in a PLA-related prohibition; and SB 815, which removes downcoding references and focuses on AI use in prior authorization. SB 815 advanced on an 8-2 vote, while SB 388 advanced 6-3 and the others were reported 9-0 or 6-0 as noted. The committee then heard testimony on SB 378, which would prohibit aestheticians and cosmetologists from administering injections or using prescriptive medical devices unless legally authorized and would clarify TDLR disciplinary authority. The author and a retired neurosurgeon testified that unsafe, unauthorized injections pose real patient risks, and a TDLR witness said the bill addresses a long-standing regulatory gap. SB 378 was left pending after testimony. The committee also heard SB 1252, aimed at reducing municipal permitting barriers for residential backup power systems; the author and industry witnesses said city permitting is costly and inconsistent, while municipal utility representatives and advocates said the substitute preserved safety and utility oversight. That bill was also left pending. Additional bills heard but left pending included SB 1172, which would let LPs and LLCs sell their own property without a real estate license; SB 681, which would extend engineer license renewal periods and apply similar flexibility to engineering firms; SB 918, a TDLR cleanup bill for orthotics and prosthetics exemptions; SB 1343, which would require data brokers to post a clear link explaining Texans’ privacy rights and how to exercise them; SB 213, which would prohibit forced bundling of residential property and auto insurance while preserving voluntary discounts; SB 610, which would codify TDLR’s anti-trafficking unit; and SCR 8, expressing opposition to a central bank digital currency over privacy, security, and financial-stability concerns. Public testimony on SB 1343 and SB 213 was generally supportive, with consumer and advocacy groups emphasizing privacy, competition, and survivor safety, and the committee closed the day with those measures and others left pending.

Transcript Highlights:

• This next rule does two things in the Medicaid program.
• This next rule does two things in the Medicaid program.
• What is currently allowed under the federal regulation for the Vaccines for Children program.
• The vaccine itself is gotten through the Vaccines for Children program by the provider, and so we do
• This was another act that was passed by the legislature in 2025, and the rule, the ET3 program, treat

Summary: The committee reviewed a series of Arkansas DHS and Department of Health rules, most tied to 2025 legislation. Early items covered Medicaid changes including presumptive eligibility application timing, adding a fictive kin definition for foster child eligibility, raising the able account disability onset age to 46, allowing continuous glucose monitors to be billed by both pharmacy and DME providers, increasing the RSV vaccine administration fee for children, a telemedicine exemption for ET3 ambulance services, and a physical therapy access rule that also included occupational therapy. Members generally asked limited questions and most rules were reviewed without objection. A major portion of the meeting focused on the dental rate increase rule under Act 1025. DHS said it implemented rate increases for certain pediatric, special-needs, and oral surgeon services, but not orthodontics, and it interpreted the act as applying only to oral and maxillofacial surgeons, not general dentists. The Arkansas State Dental Association and legislative sponsors testified that the intent was to cover general dentists performing oral surgery procedures for special-needs patients, estimating the broader interpretation would add about $1.5 million annually. Committee members debated the plain language of the act versus legislative intent, and the rule was reviewed, but with testimony noting the issue should be fixed in future legislation. Later items included the Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies rule adding doula and lactation consultant billing and remote monitoring benefits; an adverse decisions rule extending provider appeal time from 35 to 65 days; CNA training program updates; PASSE network-status disclosure rules; certification rules for community-based doulas and community health workers; cosmetology, massage therapy, lead-based paint, radiation, radiologic technology, and RV park rule updates. Most of these were described as technical, statutory, or federally driven changes and were reviewed without objection. The committee briefly reopened the CGM rule after a motion to expunge the prior vote, and Representative Wardlaw said he would hold the rule for further review because he believed the billing changes did not match the law’s intent. The meeting ended with no further business and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• believe that inserting this broad-sweeping regulation into this bill does not provide a thorough treatment
• , ...some third-party social-emotional learning program, and I asked, I said, how's this data going to
• So the licensing program now is just in the direct-to-consumer context.
• So the licensing program now is just in the direct-to-consumer context, but just to answer your question
• yourself to exclude certain... ...drop program yourself to exclude certain data brokers, but I assume

Committee: House Privacy and Consumer Protection

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• origin, and the other is sewer utilities, in which wastewater is removed from the site, generally for treatment
• also referred to as private service laterals, sewer mains, sewage pump stations, and wastewater treatment
• origin, and the other is sewer utilities, in which wastewater is removed from the site, generally for treatment
• also referred to as private service laterals, sewer mains, sewage pump stations, and wastewater treatment

Bills: SB6211 , SB6234 , SB6242

Committee: Senate Local Government

Keywords: real estate, excise tax, growth management, uniformity, local government, sewage, grinder pumps, residential buildings, regulation, construction, shared stewardship, counties authority, land management, environmental agreements, local governance, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I've practiced optometry for 38 years and have witnessed tremendous advancements both in treatment and
• advancements have witnessed tremendous advancements both<00:12:33.279><c> in</c><00:12:33.519><c> treatment
• </c><00:12:33.839><c> and</c><00:12:34.000><c> in</c><00:12:34.240><c> patient</c> both in treatment
• and in patient both in treatment and in patient outcomes<00:12:35.120><c> during</c><00:12:35.440><c>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• of all of the nominees, I was moved and impressed by their commitment and passion for the proper treatment
• their commitment and passion for the their commitment and passion for the proper<00:10:09.839><c> treatment
• <c> the</c><00:10:11.200><c> Eva</c><00:10:11.680><c> Capuna</c><00:10:12.399><c> and</c> proper treatment
• of the Eva Capuna and proper treatment of the Eva Capuna and the<00:10:12.720><c> Native</c><00:10:13.040

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill ensures that every teacher in Kentucky will receive equal treatment with 10 sick days and
• teacher in Kentucky will<00:09:31.640><c> receive</c><00:09:32.120><c> equal</c><00:09:32.440><c> treatment
• </c><00:09:32.839><c> with</c><00:09:33.040><c> 10</c> will receive equal treatment with 10 will receive
• equal treatment with 10 sick<00:09:33.560><c> days</c><00:09:33.760><c> and</c><00:09:33.920><c> two

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Senate State and Local Government Committee met and first took up Senate Bill 193, described as a simple measure to restore a wallet card for jailers to carry when outside the jail. The chair noted the fiscal impact was essentially zero, there were no questions, and the committee voted to pass the bill 9-0. The committee then heard Senate Bill 9, a proposal focused on the Teachers’ Retirement System (TRS). The sponsor argued TRS remains underfunded despite large state contributions, cited rising unfunded liability and negative cash flow, and said the bill is intended to standardize and limit what sick leave, personal leave, and annual leave can count toward retirement calculations. The bill would generally cap TRS retirement credit at 10 sick days and 2 personal days per year, prevent annual leave from being rolled into sick leave, require more uniform reporting and oversight from participating districts and agencies, and shift costs to districts that offer benefits beyond TRS limits. The sponsor also said the bill would add 30 maternity leave days, allow voluntary supplemental contributions for Tier Four teachers, and include a floor amendment directing the state auditor to audit TRS and report on agency leave policies. During the presentation, the sponsor emphasized fairness, transparency, and accountability, and used a hypothetical high-salary administrator to illustrate how leave payouts can increase retirement benefits and create additional unfunded liability. Senator Mills thanked the sponsor and said members had been working to understand the issue, but no committee action on Senate Bill 9 was completed in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so basically what my program.
• </c> is the game check program. is the game check program.
• </c><01:16:22.239><c> We</c> program is in place. It works. We program is in place. It works.
• </c> treatments and cures for rare diseases. treatments and cures for rare diseases.
• program? program? &gt;&gt; No,<04:48:43.680><c> lady.

Keywords: MS House Floor - 12 February, 2026; 10:00 AM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So the next program we'll talk about is the North Star Promise program.
• year of the program.
• program.
• The next program I'd like to talk about is a pilot program, a temporary funded program, and that's the
• </c><01:26:27.960><c> program</c> our direct admissions programs program our direct admissions programs

Committee: Senate Higher Education

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to make sure to note that this program and this participation in the pilot program is completely
• people enrolled in the pilot program.
• The pilot program, there is limited data on the pilot program.
• The pilot program is a voluntary program to allow people to get the much-needed services that some of
• If they don't like the program, they can come off the program, go back on the wait list, and wait for

Summary: The committee met with a quorum present and heard six bills, all of which were reported favorably. HB 1567, relating to insulin administration by direct support professionals, was amended to clarify the type of insulin that may be administered and to allow supervision of self-administration of an insulin pen. Supporters described the bill as a way to keep people with developmental disabilities in group homes rather than forcing institutional placement; the amendment and bill both passed unanimously, 17-0. PCS for HB 1103, on services for persons with disabilities, would expand the APD managed care pilot statewide in phases, require more transparency on waitlist data, create a statewide family care council, and address transition services for young adults leaving foster care. Testimony was mixed: supporters emphasized the long APD waitlist and the need for a voluntary option, while some witnesses and members raised concerns about the accelerated rollout, limited data, and preserving consumer-directed care. The committee adopted the bill 17-0. CS for HB 127, on exceptional student education, would create micro-credentials and coordinate with the Florida Center for Students with Unique Abilities and OSHA to support students with disabilities transitioning to work; it passed 17-0 after testimony from a parent and advocates. HB 989, concerning licensure of family foster homes, was amended to streamline license transfers for foster parents moving within Florida while maintaining oversight and directing DCF rulemaking. A teacher and other supporters said the bill would reduce bureaucracy and help children remain in stable homes; it passed 17-0. PCS for HB 1091, on substance abuse and mental health care, updates processes related to the 988 crisis line, methadone treatment needs assessments, and forensic evaluators, and adds data/reporting requirements for DCF managing entities. After one amendment and testimony from supporters and one opponent, it passed 16-0. Finally, HB 633, on behavioral health managing entities, was amended and then approved 17-0; it requires more structured data and reporting from managing entities to increase accountability and transparency in the behavioral health system.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, I think that's what's going on with the alternative treatment. Okay.
• </c> ...on with the alternative treatment center.
• Happy to answer Cannabis Program.
• Um, when I think about the program.
• I would agree the department, uh, the program has four people in it.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 118, as amended, which contains several unrelated provisions with a modest fiscal note. Nathan White of the Department of Health and Human Services explained that section 1 would change the personal needs allowance for Medicaid-eligible residents of private and county nursing homes from an adjustment every five years to an annual adjustment, increasing the state cost by about $50,000 per year. He also described section 2, a one-time appropriation of about $160,000 to make certain Hampstead employees whole for missed bonuses and lost leave during the state’s transition of the facility to Dartmouth management. White then outlined sections 3 through 5, which would create a dedicated fund for Hampstead lease revenue to cover the state’s contractual obligation to match Dartmouth capital improvements dollar-for-dollar up to $3 million. He said the state receives about $1.141 million in lease revenue in the first year, with a 3% annual escalator, and that the fund would hold lease revenue until needed for reimbursement. Members questioned how the matching arrangement would work, what happens if Dartmouth spends before the fund has enough money, and whether the state could refuse to match certain improvements. White said Dartmouth has final determination under the agreement if disputes arise, and that if the bill does not pass the state could face difficulty meeting the obligation without cutting services or finding other general funds. Several members also raised policy concerns about the personal needs allowance becoming an automatic cost driver. Brian Clark, attorney for the Bureau of Adult and Aging Services, clarified that current law requires the allowance to be updated at least every five years, but the legislature could change it in an off year if it chose. He also explained that the allowance is money residents retain from their own income, such as Social Security, as part of Medicaid cost-of-care calculations, and that the department does not regulate how residents keep those funds. No vote was taken during the discussion, and the committee paused to correct the bill copy before continuing testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• bill mainly makes changes to the Uniform Probate Code, that's Title 15, Chapter 5, and the care and treatment
• They're taken into the hospital to get treatment, to determine whether or not that is truly a UTI that's
• They're taken into the hospital to get treatment, to determine whether or not that is a truly a UTI that's
• Like you said, with treatment and so forth.
• state and local agencies that may be working with that individual either in a probationary or a treatment

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Rules

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We also added the new water and sewer treatment facilities grant that was created through Act 812 in
• So a lot of general cleanup, new program, and repeal of two rules and combining of some rules.
• The vaccination is provided and paid for by the Vaccines for Children program.
• I am before you this morning regarding changes to the rules for our nurse aide training program.
• The insurance program law in the 2025 session.

Committee: All ALC-ADMINISTRATIVE RULES

Summary: The Arkansas Administrative Rules Subcommittee met to review a large set of agency rules and reports. Early items were routine filings: emergency-rule reports, subcommittee review reports, and administrative directive reports were filed without objection. One rule from the Department of Agriculture on maternal health providers and remote monitoring was noted as pulled by the agency and not considered. The committee then reviewed and approved several Agriculture rules, including repeal of equine ID-chip rules after Act 703 of 2025, updates to finance rules adding a new water and sewer treatment facilities grant and consolidating revolving-fund rules, and a pesticide rule creating a Class J pesticide category for feral hog toxicant use. It also approved a Commerce/Insurance rule removing duplicative workers’ compensation plan provisions, and a Corrections rule creating a unified visitation rule for correctional facilities and community correction centers. A member asked about prison visitation hours during COVID, and staff said they would check on that. The committee next approved multiple Department of Human Services rules. These included marketing rules for provider-led organizations under Act 301 of 2025, a comprehensive revision of the DCFS policy manual, changes to Medicaid eligibility to include fictive kin placements and to expand ABLE account eligibility under Act 875, presumptive eligibility changes for pregnant women to align with federal rules, and a follow-up SNAP/TEA/Work Pays rule with updated work requirements, mandatory employment and training, alien eligibility changes, and job-search requirements for certain applicants. DHS also presented a rule implementing federal coverage for certain incarcerated youth before and after release, and the committee approved it. Another DHS rule updated nurse aide training requirements to match federal CNA hour standards and moved criminal-records-check procedures to the agency website. The most extended discussion involved DHS Division of Medical Services’ dental rate rule under Act 1025. The agency explained that it was increasing pediatric dental rates and certain oral-surgery-related rates, but not orthodontic rates or a broader special-needs benefit limit because CMS would not approve a diagnosis-based limit. Members debated whether the statutory language was intended to cover general dentists performing oral surgery procedures, with legislators, the Dental Association, and DHS discussing legislative intent, fiscal impact, and whether a future fix or emergency rule might be needed. Despite the disagreement, the committee approved the rule. The committee also approved other DHS medical rules: adverse-decision appeal changes and prior-authorization posting requirements, an increased RSV administration fee for children, expanded emergency treat/triage/transport ambulance authority, and clinic-based physical and occupational therapy coverage. Later, the committee approved permanent rules for the new state insurance program under Shared Administrative Services, procurement rule revisions recommended after an ACASO review, and commodity-management rule updates including a new revenue distribution model. Under Act 595 of 2021, the committee granted two Department of Commerce/Insurance requests to be excluded from rulemaking requirements: one for Act 772 on forced organ harvesting, and one for restorative reproductive medicine, with the department saying it would promulgate rules later when clinical guidelines are available. Finally, the committee accepted a recommendation to keep and extend the Department of Education, Division of Career and Technical Education rules, filed outstanding rulemaking updates, and adjourned without further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, is the RESHAB program.
• , 15% of each program every year.
• , 15% of each program every year.
• , 15% of each program every year.
• And when we continue to have this program and continuing to grow this program, we do see cuts for pediatrics

Summary: The House Health and Welfare Committee approved the February 2, 2026 minutes and then introduced RS 33180, the Prior Authorization Reform Act, sponsored by Representative Wheeler. Wheeler said the bill would set enforceable standards for insurer prior authorization, including public disclosure of criteria, electronic processes, decision timelines, specialty-appropriate reviews, and protections against retroactive denials. Members raised questions about whether the bill’s physician language could exclude advanced practice providers, and Wheeler said that language may need to be revisited before a full hearing. The bulk of the meeting was a wide-ranging budget discussion ahead of Health and Welfare’s budget presentation. Members debated possible Medicaid and department savings, including trimming optional services, reducing provider reimbursement cuts, using reserves, delaying or renegotiating contracts, expanding audits, and improving department efficiency. Several members argued against cutting disability, home- and community-based, and other vulnerable-population services, while others supported looking at Medicaid expansion, ResHab, and administrative overhead as places to find savings. There was also discussion of hospital rate reductions, work requirements, improper payments, and the use of Millennium Fund dollars. Representative Kaler presented specific ideas for the youth safety and permanency budget, including repealing the extended foster care expansion if participation remains low, reducing FTEs, and moderating benefit increases. Other members emphasized the need for evidence-based budgeting and stronger oversight of contracts and program integrity. No budget votes were taken; the committee mainly gathered ideas and directed members to provide more detailed numbers before the Health and Welfare budget hearing the next day.