Transcript Highlights:

• the YMCA movement in England with a mission to put Christian principles into practice by building healthy
• its reputation as the first employer of many young people, and whereas the YMCA serves people of all ages
• It is a vibrant, diverse group of people, diverse politically, diverse racially, diverse in terms of age
• And they all deserve a place where they can go and be included and be safe and be healthy and be active
• ... ...and be safe and be healthy and be active in the summer and after school, and I thank the YMCA

Bills: SB5223, SB5993, SB5831, SB5928, SB6183, SB6071, SB5995, SB5966, SB5841, SB5840, SB6061, SB6058, SB5931, SB5944, SB5520, SB6011, SB6087, SB6076, SB5916, SB6016, SB5936, SB6137, SB5185, SB5956, SB6025, SB6009, SB5833, SB6161, SB6188, SB5890, SB5917, SB5820, SB5973, SJM8015, SB5816, SB6136, SB6091, SB6024

Keywords: criminal offense, fingerprinting, law enforcement, state regulations, public safety, medical debt, interest charges, consumer protection, healthcare, financial burden, mortgage modification, uniform regulations, homeowners, financial stability, foreclosure prevention, wildfire risk, disclosure, safety, environmental policy, risk assessment

Summary: The Senate opened with routine proceedings, including the roll call, approval of the previous day’s journal, referral of committee reports and gubernatorial appointments, and the removal of Senate Joint Memorial 8003 from the consent calendar to the regular calendar. The chamber also received and referred Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1604 to the Committee on Human Services, and later took up several gubernatorial confirmations. The Senate adopted Senate Resolution 8682 recognizing the YMCA’s 150th anniversary in Washington. Senators spoke in support, describing the YMCA’s role in child care, swim lessons, youth programs, civic engagement, camps, and community health, and guests from YMCA organizations were recognized on the floor. The Senate then confirmed Jeffrey P. Fairchild to the Whatcom Community College Board of Trustees, Randall V. Scott to the Lake Washington Institute of Technology Board of Trustees, and Anna M. Franklin to the Community Colleges of Spokane Board of Trustees, each by unanimous or near-unanimous roll call votes. The chamber also observed a moment of silence for the family of Representative Tom Dent after his wife suffered a stroke. After caucuses, the Senate returned to floor action on two major bills. Substitute Senate Bill 5185, creating a pilot pathway to physician licensure for international medical graduates, was advanced to final passage and approved 39-1. Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5993, lowering the interest rate on medical debt, drew extensive debate about affordability, charity care, and the impact on rural hospitals; amendments were considered, including one to make the bill prospective rather than retroactive, which was adopted, while a rural-hospital differential-rate amendment failed. The bill ultimately passed 29-19. The Senate then adjourned until Monday, February 9, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• payments to prohibited entities, and extends SNAP work requirements for able-bodied adults from the ages
• Reduces the parental exemption to parents with children under the age of 14 as opposed to 18.
• Their age requirement is after 60; they don't have the age requirement.
• Permanent residents to be able to apply for KidCare, including Medicaid and Title 21 Healthy Kids.
• From my understanding, the age increase requirement to age 65 in the federal law appears in one place

Transcript Highlights:

• inspired in part by a lawsuit brought by Attorney General Rob Bonta against ExxonMobil, in which the AG
• in regard to agriculture, something to strongly consider, as the economic engine for my district is ag
• done since being here relates to that, which is why I fought in the climate bond for a sustainable ag
• portion, which is why I'm carrying this bill because I recognize the contributions of the ag community
• And so ag is near and dear to my heart. With that, I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Yeah, so these top metabolites here are very highly expressed in patients who are healthy, whereas these
• are not expressed in patients who are healthy.
• Who are healthy, whereas these are not expressed in patients who are healthy.
• And so now it knows that that is one of the top features for depression diagnosis or healthy diagnosis
• I was just going to say, when I was your age, my research project was racing a rat and a haystron for

Summary: The Committee on Science and Technology met to hear a presentation from Ananya Lakaraju, a Hamilton High School junior, on her research into the biology of major depressive disorder. She described a project using saliva metabolomics and machine learning to identify potential biomarkers of depression from a UCSD dataset of 261 patient samples, explaining that the goal was to move beyond subjective screening toward more objective, biology-based diagnosis. She also discussed using multiple statistical methods and an ensemble AI model, along with SHAP and permutation importance, to identify top metabolites and related pathways, and said her work suggested some novel biomarkers and possible links to depression-related pathways. Lakaraju further explained a drug-discovery component of the project, in which she used pathway analysis and molecular docking software to identify a potential target protein and test candidate compounds, saying flupinazine showed the best binding energy in her simulations. She noted that the model achieved about 90% accuracy and a 97% AUC, and said she also built an app to collect mood and activity information to complement the biological data. Members asked questions about the metabolites, whether the findings were novel, how the saliva data were obtained, and how the app and future at-home testing might work. She said the biomarkers were computationally identified, the saliva data came from an online UCSD dataset rather than direct collection, and the app was intended to support more holistic diagnosis rather than replace clinicians. Committee members praised the presentation as impressive and timely, especially in light of the growing role of AI in medicine and the need for AI regulation. Lakaraju also spoke about her interest in coding and biology, her experience in robotics, and receiving the Governor’s Future Innovator of the Year Award. No formal votes or legislative actions were taken, and the meeting adjourned after the presentation and discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• groceries by ensuring that the Californians living in food deserts communities have access to affordable, healthy
• Residents of food deserts must travel long distances often to find grocery stores with healthy food options
• today to lead by creating meaningful change and ensuring families in food deserts have access to healthy
• It builds on our existing work to increase fresh food in corner stores through the healthy refrigeration
• We do have a lot of Children who are just not getting healthy meals.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I know there's a big effort. to make America healthy again and we're going to work to make Texas healthy
• And Healthy Texas Women Plus. So that has been stalled out at the federal level. level.
• But you say they're aging and we all women we sit in here day after day.
• Very few, a number of them are below the age of 10, and usually when they are it's.
• It is just over 16,000 16,000 in Terms of aging out.

Bills: SB1, SB 1

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• outcomes for children utilizing healthy outcomes for children utilizing center-based<00:41:09.680><c
• </c> negatively impact their healthy negatively impact their healthy development. development. development
• They are healthy. They are safe.
• We had a state that was preparing for this tsunami of aging, and so they wanted assisted living.
• </c> for the adult children and the aging for the adult children and the aging seniors<01:08:47.920><

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Local aging and disability action plans.
• in a state that supports aging in place.
• The master plan is for all ages and abilities.
• The California Department of Aging serves as a state unit on aging, and we administer the Older Americans
• , C4A, representing the network of area agencies on aging... ...agencies on aging, C4A, representing

Summary: The Budget Subcommittee on Health and Human Services heard a series of budget items focused first on the California Department of Aging and then on the Department of Social Services. For Aging, the director reported the state is at the midpoint of the Master Plan for Aging, with about 300 initiatives launched and roughly three-quarters completed, nearly $1 billion invested, and expanded local planning, research, and stakeholder engagement. The committee also discussed HICAP modernization, which would add ongoing funding from the Special HICAP Fund to expand Medicare counseling capacity, and senior meal programs, including support for virtual congregate/to-go meals and the use of prior one-time nutrition investments. The chair raised concerns about federal H.R. 1 and its downstream effects on older adults, food assistance, and other safety-net programs, and the department said its direct budget was not affected but that other programs serving older adults could be under pressure. The committee then reviewed multiple CDSS proposals. These included implementing the federal Medicaid Access Rule by creating a statewide grievance process and critical incident reporting system for IHSS and other home- and community-based services; housing and homelessness programs such as CalWORKs Housing Support, Housing and Disability Advocacy, Home Safe, and Bringing Families Home, where the department described strong outcomes but warned that one-time funding is expiring and services are scaling back; and permanent position authority for the Housing and Homelessness Division. Members also heard about the facility management system modernization for Community Care Licensing, home care services branch solvency and regulation work, child care centers in multifamily housing, the Seizure Emergency Response Act, licensing during emergencies and disasters, the Family Preparedness Plan Act, and social services automation projects including CalSAWS, the enterprise data pipeline, and CalWORKs child support notices. The LAO and Department of Finance generally had no additional comments or were still reviewing several requests. A notable exchange occurred on the Community Care Licensing item, where Senator Grove pressed the department about the Autumn Oaks facility in Tulare County, citing dozens of complaints and severe conditions affecting seniors. The department said it had worked with the county and ombudsman on relocation, was reviewing what went wrong, and had authority to pursue administrative action even after a license surrender. The hearing ended with a stakeholder presentation from the California Association of Area Agencies on Aging supporting a $62.3 million Older Californians Act request, followed by public comment from advocates for housing, Meals on Wheels, HICAP, Home Safe, and H-DAP. The subcommittee adjourned without taking votes, and all items were held open.

Transcript Highlights:

• In California, home to the largest Native population in the country, Native youth ages 10 to 25 experience
• Native youth ages 10 to 25 experienced the highest suicide rate from 2016 to 2021, according to the State
• When Native communities are healthy, resilient, and supported, our entire state is stronger.
• When native communities are healthy, resilient, and supported, our entire state is stronger.
• youth under the age of 25 had the highest rate of suicide of all age groups.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And prepare all of our children for healthy, productive, fulfilling lives.
• Language and developmental gaps tied to SES emerge as early as seven to nine months of age.
• At CHA, we work diligently to keep patients healthy in addition to caring for their sickness.
• So a child born with a heart defect can go on to live a normal, healthy life.
• Our hospital has funded community partners who are our partners in keeping kids healthy...

Bills: S3022, H5187

Keywords: ENOUGH Act, ENOUGH fund, anti-poverty, poverty reduction, community development, place-based grants, distressed neighborhoods, economic mobility, housing and livable communities, community schools, cradle-to-career, child poverty, intergenerational poverty, social services, workforce development, education equity, public health, behavioral health, mental health, affordable housing

Transcript Highlights:

• He was perfectly healthy when he was born with no conditions, contrary to what the doctor believed.
• Who knows how many babies, healthy or not, have had their little lives ended due to doctors who don't
• birth outcomes, healthy child outcomes, economic self-sufficiency, and family formation.
• We also encourage providing a healthy family life for the child as well.
• We see clients; it doesn't matter their age or income. First of all, I want to thank...

Bills: SB397, SB481, SB596, SB760, SB855, SB1195, SB1196, SB1233, SB1257, SB1318, SB1368, SB1388, SB1398, SB1524, SB1558, SB1589, SB1677, SB1792, SB2034

Keywords: SB 397, telemedicine, telehealth, teledentistry, remote care, virtual care, consent documentation, patient consent, data collection, data sharing, audio-only telehealth, in-person examination, irreversible medical procedure, health professional regulation, Occupations Code, Texas Health and Human Services, medical records, provider compliance, data privacy, consumer rights

Transcript Highlights:

• At my age, I think I'm a little too late. My patience is...
• Or up to age 13, excuse me.
• It's important that we have a healthy child care sector.
• age five to 12.
• You're talking about the ones prenatal to age one through age one. Thank you for that question.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And she thinks it's healthy. It's not. It's going to die in three or four months.
• The average age of a beginning farmer is 47 years old.
• Only 24% of beginning farmers are under the age of 35.
• We're making progress on the issue of monoculture under Make America Healthy Again.
• Giving people a chance to really have healthy food.

Bills: SB34, SB119, SB261, SB532, SB1035, SB1245, SB1247, SB1267, SB1442, SB1930, SB1948, SB2078, SB2112, SB2143, SB2155

Keywords: wildfire, wildfire mitigation, wildfire prevention, volunteer fire department, Texas A&M Forest Service, West Texas A&M University, prescribed burning, fuel loading, fuel reduction, firefighting equipment database, emergency communications, disaster preparedness, rural fire protection, asset hardening, natural resource management, emergency management, large wildfire risk, fire grant funding, fire suppression, Texas Legislature

Transcript Highlights:

• I think this is healthy as this policy continues to move through.
• It's like Shakira, with that the age. Secura, Muscal, I get that one right? 50%.
• Paul Poister, with Nutrien Ag Solutions, respectfully opposed. Good afternoon.
• They represent the non-ag pesticide manufacturers, as well as CalChamber. Thank you.
• Costs from ag-nitrogen pollution to the national economy are $60 to $330 billion per annum.

Summary: The committee heard AB 1795, which would create statewide standards for testing, inspection, remediation, and insurance handling of wildfire smoke damage in homes. The author and Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara said the bill is needed because survivors face inconsistent claims practices and no enforceable standards for determining when homes are safe. Supporters included the City of Los Angeles and a wildfire survivor who described health problems and disputed remediation results; opponents from the insurance industry said the bill could create broad new exposure and worsen affordability, though they continued to negotiate amendments. The committee recommended the bill do pass with urgency, and it passed on a 4-0 vote, with the roll held open for additional votes. The committee also heard AB 1612, which would create a centralized process for law enforcement to transfer seized controlled substances such as fentanyl, methamphetamine, and heroin to the Department of Justice for disposal after the state’s last in-state incineration facility closed. The author said the bill would address unsafe storage and inconsistent disposal pathways. There was no opposition in the room, and the committee sent the bill to the Assembly Public Safety Committee on a do pass vote. AB 2322 would standardize the definition of commercial, industrial, or institutional sites for municipal stormwater permits by tying it to assessor land-use codes and excluding residential parcels. Supporters said the bill would reduce patchwork enforcement and improve consistency, while stormwater and city representatives asked to keep working on regional flexibility concerns. The committee approved the bill 4-1 and sent it to Appropriations. The committee then heard AB 2245, a producer responsibility bill for vehicle lubricant products and their containers, intended to expand collection and recycling using existing household hazardous waste and used oil infrastructure. Supporters said it would reduce landfill disposal and align with existing EPR frameworks, while retailers and industry groups raised concerns about overlapping obligations, unclear definitions, and compliance costs. The author said negotiations would continue, and the committee sent the bill to Natural Resources on a do pass vote. The committee also heard AB 1603, which would phase out PFAS-containing pesticides over time and require disclosure and permitting for their use. Supporters argued PFAS pesticides contaminate food and water and pose health risks; agricultural and chemical industry opponents said the bill could remove many products from the market and lead to harmful substitutions. The chair expressed support for reducing PFAS but raised concerns about replacement chemicals, and the bill was sent to Appropriations on a do pass vote. Finally, AB 2034 was introduced to increase transparency around food additives and GRAS ingredients by creating a state database of chemicals that bypass FDA premarket review; supporters said it would close a federal loophole, while consumer brands opposed a duplicative state system and warned of costs and confusion.

Transcript Highlights:

• What I'm hearing now is that on the younger ages, daycares regularly lose money, and they have to make
• it up with some of the older ages.
• They're going to lose money, and they have to make it up with some of the older ages.
• be, I don't know that daycare is where a lot of learning is taking place, especially on the younger ages
• So we know it's healthy food.

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 2949, as amended by a PCS, which would relax child care staffing ratios in an effort to improve the economics of day care centers and expand availability. Representative Tedford said the bill came from an interim study on child care deserts and that he was open to further changes, including tightening the infant ratio back to 4:1 and possibly reducing the toddler ratio. Members raised concerns about safety, learning, and the lack of data on how the changes would affect staffing and children. After discussion, the committee vote ended 2-2, and the bill did not pass. The committee then heard House Bill 3052, the Sir Major White Bullock Child Protection and Family Notification Act, which would require a more structured DHS response when there are repeat fentanyl-related births, including broader family notification and earlier involvement of extended family. Representative Stewart emphasized that the bill was narrowly focused on fentanyl, did not criminalize mothers, and did not mandate automatic removal. Members discussed whether the bill should also address drug dealers or other drugs, but Stewart said separate legislation would address penalties for fentanyl suppliers. The bill passed unanimously, 5-0. Finally, the committee considered House Bill 3638, with a PCS, to create a summer EBT program and revolving fund to help provide food support for children during the summer months when school meals are unavailable. Vice Chair Guys said the program would supplement existing SNAP benefits and summer meal efforts, and would be funded through a mix of public and private sources. Members asked about overlap with food pantries and school meal programs, and about federal matching and administrative costs. The committee approved the bill 5-0. The meeting then adjourned after all House bills were heard.

Transcript Highlights:

• We want them to be a healthy mom. We want there to be a healthy baby.
• I think the gentleman who just testified wants there to be a healthy mom and a healthy baby.
• We want a healthy mom and a healthy baby, and that's what this bill is about. Right.
• To have a healthy mom and a healthy baby.
• Yeah ages. That's, that's wrong. That's telling us, OK.

Bills: HB116

Keywords: film industry, incentives, economic development, state funding, media production

Transcript Highlights:

• She helped design Healthy San Francisco, the first local government program in the U.S. to provide health
• As a Swiss Mexicana who moved to the U.S. at age eight, she was inspired by a high school research project
• , 50% of children diagnosed with cystic fibrosis after 2020 are predicted to survive to 65 years of age
• progress, but there is more work ahead to ensure that every person has the opportunity to live a healthy
• The LGBTQ Caucus... ...every person has the opportunity to live a healthy life.

Summary: The Senate opened with a prayer and Pledge of Allegiance, then spent much of the session on recognitions and resolutions honoring community groups and observances. Members welcomed the Far West region of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and the Los Angeles South Bay alumni chapter, and later recognized the 2026 Latino Spirit Award honorees after adopting SR 86 on Cinco de Mayo Week. Senators from multiple caucuses spoke in support of the resolution, emphasizing Mexican history, Latino resilience, and shared struggles for justice. The Latino Spirit honorees included leaders in higher education, philanthropy, labor, health, advocacy, business, environmental justice, journalism, culinary arts, and music, along with a legacy award for Los Tigres del Norte. The Senate also adopted SCR 146 declaring May Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month, SCR 154 establishing Green Star Veterans and Families Day, SCR 123 honoring California Peace Officers Memorial Day, SCR 164 recognizing Black Health Equity Advocacy Week, and SCR 103 designating Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness Week. Testimony and floor remarks focused on health disparities, mental health, veteran suicide, and the sacrifices of peace officers, with several caucuses speaking in support of the health equity resolution. Each of these resolutions passed by unanimous or near-unanimous roll call votes. The chamber then took up several appointments from the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, confirming Kathleen Ratliff and Joseph Tuggle, Jason Johnson, Madeline McLean, Brian Bishop, and Sarah Larson, despite some protest votes from Senator Grove over the lack of action on another appointment. In third reading, the Senate passed SB 1159 on AI and public participation, SB 1416 on faster refunds for duplicate medical payments, SB 1273 on winery video advertising at instructional events, SB 941 limiting commissary markups in private detention facilities, SB 990 on a highway information sign near Ridgecrest, SB 1099 clarifying local authority to provide public benefits, and SB 1195 expanding tied-house exemptions for certain venues. The session concluded with adjournment memories for labor leader Kent Wong and Navy veteran-artist Vittaliano Victor Villar, and the Senate adjourned until May 7, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• This morning, breakfast was provided by Healthy Climate New Mexico.
• Healthy Climate New Mexico for our breakfast this morning. Madam Chair. Yes, Senator.
• I'm the co-founder of the New Mexico Healthy Soil Working Group.
• We are pleased as a triumvirate of ag guys to be here to present this to you, and we're honored to be
• And so we appreciate this being brought forward and all of those ag guys that are up there right now.

Bills: SB47, SB110, SB122, SB143, SB168

Keywords: food recovery, composting, waste management, solid waste surcharge, organic waste reduction, environment, grants, advisory group, bosque management, Rio Grande, environmental protection, water resources, fiscal appropriation, drinking water, well owners, water testing, water treatment, public health, agriculture, New Mexico Department of Agriculture

Transcript Highlights:

• Alliance for Nurses for Healthy Environments has authorized me to convey their support for the bill.
• Unfortunately, these disposable devices are incredibly popular and have become an accessory for several age
• These chemicals disrupt hormone function, which is essential for healthy pregnancies and reproductive
• Families Advocating for Chemical and Toxic Safety, The Last Beach Cleanup, Alliance of Nurses for Healthy
• Families advocating for Chemical and Toxic Safety, the Last Beach cleanup, Alliance of Nurses for Healthy

Summary: The committee heard several environmental and consumer-safety bills. AB 405, the Fashion Act, would require fashion companies to disclose and manage toxic chemicals in their supply chains; supporters said it would reduce worker and consumer exposure and align with existing industry frameworks, while retailers and business groups argued it would duplicate existing laws and raise costs. After questions about DTSC workload, international standards, and affordability, the bill was moved on a due-pass-as-amended motion to Natural Resources and held on call with three votes. AB 762 would ban the sale and distribution of disposable vape devices; supporters emphasized battery-fire risks, recycling contamination, and waste impacts, while cannabis and convenience-store interests warned it would push consumers to illicit markets and harm legal businesses. The bill passed on a due-pass motion to Business and Professions with three votes and was held on call. The committee also adopted the consent calendar with six votes. AB 794 would direct California to keep in place the federal PFAS drinking-water standard if federal protections are weakened, with supporters citing health risks and the need for certainty, and water agencies opposing the emergency-rulemaking authority and potential costs. Members debated whether the bill was too broad and whether federal funds would cover implementation; the bill passed on a due-pass-as-amended motion to Appropriations with four votes and was held open. AB 1148, the Safer Food Packaging Act, would restrict certain chemicals in food packaging; supporters cited cancer and reproductive-health concerns, while chemical, beverage, and manufacturing groups argued the bill should go through existing regulatory processes and that some chemicals lacked feasible alternatives. The author said she would remove antimony trioxide later in the process after hearing opposition concerns; the bill passed on a due-pass motion to Judiciary with four votes and was held open. Finally, AB 1338 would allow local air districts to recover costs for implementing fence-line air monitoring at metal shredding facilities, building on prior legislation and local air district efforts in AB 617 communities. The author said the bill would preserve local control and improve efficiency, and the South Coast Air Quality Management District testified in support. The transcript ends as the district witness begins testimony, with no vote yet taken on AB 1338.

Transcript Highlights:

• so I'm very excited about spending your tax dollars effectively and efficiently to keep Floridians healthy
• hear from today; the Office of Insurance Regulation; the Division of Life and Health; the Florida Healthy
• So there's going to be a healthy debate on how much we help able-bodied people who have made decisions
• So there's going to be a healthy debate on how much we help able-bodied people who have made decisions
• I have a healthy 16-year-old. She is 15 and she is starting college at 16.

Summary: The subcommittee held its first meeting of the 2025-2026 term, took attendance, confirmed a quorum, and heard introductory remarks from members and staff. Chair Anderson outlined the subcommittee’s jurisdiction over access and affordability issues, including health facility regulation, insurance, Medicaid, CHIP, and state employee health coverage. The main agenda item was an update on implementation of HB 391, which created a family home health aide program for medically fragile children. Representative Tramont, the bill sponsor, explained that the law was intended to let trained family caregivers be paid through Medicaid to care for their children, reduce reliance on private duty nursing, and relieve families. He and several members expressed frustration that implementation had taken nearly two years and that families still faced barriers. Deputy Secretary Brian Meyer of AHCA and Bridget Royce of DCF said the program was implemented October 1, 2024, with billing available, but no home health agencies had yet launched the required 80-hour training program and no claims had been paid. They described the program’s requirements, including agency employment, background screening, training, a $25-per-hour Medicaid rate paid to the agency, and an annual assessment report. A major issue discussed was that income earned by family caregivers counts toward Medicaid eligibility and could cause families to lose coverage. AHCA and DCF outlined two possible fixes that would require CMS approval: disregarding the income for eligibility purposes or treating the child as a family of one. Members and public witnesses strongly urged changes to avoid forcing families to choose between income and coverage. Several providers said they had begun preparing training programs, but asked for clearer approval processes and more patient-specific training requirements. The committee then heard extensive public testimony from parents and caregivers of medically fragile children, who described the financial, emotional, and logistical strain of caring for children with severe disabilities and argued that the bill should be expanded to include Florida KidCare families and others in the coverage gap. They also raised concerns about the eight-hour-per-day limit, low pay, and the need for simpler rules and direct support. Home health providers and associations supported the concept but asked for modifications, including more targeted training and clearer implementation guidance. The meeting then shifted to a second agenda item on the Andrew John Anderson Rapid Whole Genome Sequencing Program, which was funded in the 2023 budget. Deputy Secretary Meyer said the program has been implemented since January 1, 2024, but utilization has been lower than expected, with only about 60 claims paid and many denials occurring through managed care. Public testimony from a lab, a hospital, and a pediatric rare disease expert said the program is clinically valuable and cost-saving, but managed care billing barriers, prior authorization issues, and DRG-related denials are limiting access; they urged direct billing to Medicaid and possible expansion to all newborns.