Transcript Highlights:

• For example, if I prescribe a medication for a patient, For example, if I prescribe a medication for
• Before you prescribe? Yes.
• Before you prescribe?
• I'm the prescriber.
• You have to be a prescriber. Number one, I'm a prescriber. You have to have your BNDD and your DEA.

Committee: House Joint Committee on Administrative Rules

Summary: The Joint Committee on Administrative Rules met with a quorum and approved the minutes from the prior meeting. Members announced that two Department of Natural Resources rules had been withdrawn, leaving only the Missouri Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) rule proposal for consideration. Public testimony focused on a proposed expansion of PDMP access to additional licensed behavioral health professionals, including licensed clinical social workers, licensed master social workers, marriage and family therapists, professional counselors, and psychologists, along with related clarifications to delegate access categories such as medical assistants and clinical nurse specialists. Testimony from the PDMP director and supporters from Compass Health and the Department of Mental Health argued the changes would improve care coordination, medication reconciliation, and overdose prevention within multidisciplinary behavioral health teams, especially in CCBHC settings. They said access would remain limited to licensed Missouri professionals working under supervision or collaboration with a prescriber or dispenser, and that the system is intended for treatment-related, view-only use. Opponents and skeptical committee members raised concerns that the rule would expand access beyond the original statutory framework without legislative change, could create privacy risks or misuse in non-treatment contexts such as custody disputes, and might exceed the committee’s rulemaking authority. One public witness opposed the rule, warning it could deter patients from seeking counseling and arguing the change should be made, if at all, by statute. After testimony, committee members debated whether the proposal was a permissible clarification or an impermissible substantive expansion of the law. Supporters of disapproval said the issue was legality, not the merits of PDMP access, and urged the department to seek a bill sponsor if it wanted the change enacted. A motion was made and seconded to disapprove Rule 1 CSR 60-1.010 on the grounds of lack of statutory authority, conflict with state law, and arbitrariness/capriciousness. The committee then took a roll-call vote and approved the motion by 7 ayes to 1 no, disapproving the rule and adjourning with no further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• Medication prescribed by other providers.
• Before you prescribe. Yes.
• I'm the prescriber.
• , which I am a prescriber, but a non-prescriber, and I am licensed in the state of Missouri.
• I am a prescriber, but a non-prescriber, and I am licensed in the state of Missouri.

Committee: House Joint Committee on Administrative Rules

Transcript Highlights:

• to the list of categories the election officials must maintain specified counts for requires the prescribed
• It requires only an officer in charge of elections, rather than a county recorder, to maintain prescribed
• No phone call, no lawyer, no medical care, even though my skin burned from the chemicals.

Summary: The Senate met in multiple Committee of the Whole sessions and later took third-reading votes on several measures, with the day dominated by election administration bills, immigration-related bills, public safety measures, and a series of bills affecting transgender youth and health care. The chamber also heard ceremonial remarks recognizing Lutheran Day at the Capitol, introduced the Doctor of the Day, and handled routine appointments, messages, and committee reports. Several bills were retained on the calendar, including SB 1431 and SCR 1005. Among the major policy items, senators debated and advanced SB 1049 on spousal maintenance, SB 1053 on concealed weapons permits, SB 1415 on insurance adjuster license eligibility, SB 1015 on health care actions related to gender transition procedures and provider liability, SB 1095 on gender transition care for minors, and SCR 1006 on school-related sex and privacy requirements. Members opposing the transgender-related bills argued they were discriminatory, harmful to youth, and an intrusion into family and medical decisions; supporters said the measures protected children, parental rights, privacy, and medical judgment. The chamber also considered election and campaign finance measures including SB 1003, SB 1006, SB 1037, SB 1040, SB 1057, SB 1168, SB 1237, SCR 1002, SCR 1010, SCR 1013, and SCR 1014, with debate centering on transparency, ballot procedures, voter registration, and disclosure thresholds. Additional bills addressed immigration enforcement and foreign influence concerns, including SB 1055, SB 1058, SB 1093, SB 1152, SB 1289, and SB 1308. Supporters framed these as public safety, election integrity, or enforcement measures, while opponents warned they would chill reporting to police, harm asylum seekers and immigrants, or expand punitive government power. The Senate adopted Committee of the Whole reports and assigned bills accordingly throughout the day, and several measures later received third-reading passage votes, including SB 1049, SB 1053, SB 1415, SB 1015, and SB 1095, with recorded roll-call outcomes and transmission of passed bills to the House.

Transcript Highlights:

• issue simply by requiring pharmacists to disclose the lowest cash price available for medicine prescribed
• Senate Bill 2510 by Kolkhorst and Eckhardt, relating to the establishment of a temporary prescribed burn

Bills: SJR12 , SCR39 , SB27 , SB29 , SB241 , SB406 , SB414 , SB464 , SB568 , SB578 , SB609 , SB660 , SB689 , SB693 , SB785 , SB857 , SB879 , SB921 , SB922 , SB955 , SB985 , SB993 , SB996 , SB1008 , SB1035 , SB1036 , SB1059 , SB1098 , SB1120 , SB1122 , SB1147 , SB1188 , SB1197 , SB1209 , SB1227 , SB1245 , SB1267 , SB1307 , SB1321 , SB1332 , SB1386 , SB1396 , SB1453 , SB1484 , SB1494 , SB1536 , SB1537 , SB1596 , SB1610 , SB1664 , SB1741 , SB1814 , SB1822 , SB1841 , SB1948 , SB2065 , SB2155 , SB2188 , SB2230 , SB2406 , SB2407

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum present, heard an invocation, and approved the previous day’s journal. The chamber then adopted Senate Resolution 358 honoring the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley on its 10th anniversary, with senators highlighting the university’s growth, medical school, research expansion, and role in serving South Texas. The Senate also adopted Senate Resolution 368 honoring outgoing Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp, with numerous senators praising his long public career, leadership in higher education, and statewide impact. Senate Resolution 361 recognizing Texas HBCU Day and Senate Resolution 362 recognizing Denton County Days at the Capitol were also adopted, along with other routine recognitions and gubernatorial appointments being read into the record. The Senate then took up several bills. Committee Substitute Senate Bill 27, relating to rights and support for public school educators, was debated and amended to shorten vacancy posting requirements, allow bilingual certification candidates to retake only failed test sections, give teachers more flexibility with paid leave, clarify classroom removal procedures, and ensure parents are informed of appeal rights. The bill passed to engrossment, the three-day rule was suspended, and it was finally passed unanimously. Senate Joint Resolution 12, proposing a constitutional amendment to establish a parent’s right to direct a child’s education, was also brought up and passed to engrossment after a contested suspension vote. The Senate next passed Committee Substitute Senate Bill 1741, which would require reporting of foreign funding at public universities, bar gifts from adversarial governments, and require training and reporting systems to prevent foreign influence and intellectual property theft in higher education. Committee Substitute Senate Bill 29, the so-called “Dexit” bill, was debated at length for its corporate governance changes, including codifying the business judgment rule and altering internal corporate litigation and records rules; it passed to engrossment, the three-day rule was suspended, and it was finally passed by a 30-1 vote. Senate Bill 857, allowing law enforcement discretion to tow vehicles driven by unlicensed or uninsured drivers, passed after discussion of towing abuses during flooding and disaster conditions. Committee Substitute Senate Bill 1536, requiring dementia and Alzheimer’s training for certain guardians, passed with broad support, and Senate Bill 922, addressing delayed electronic disclosure of sensitive medical test results so physicians can discuss them first, was taken up and passed to engrossment as the chamber continued through its calendar.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, my name is John Burns. I'm a person in recovery. I'm a family member.
• Burns, Miss Lennon, so many in this room, we are making real progress.
• Burns, Miss Lennon, so including Mr.
• Burns talked a little while heard Mr.
• :15.920><c> that</c><01:01:16.319><c> the</c> burns through taxpayer monies that the burns through taxpayer

Committee: House Criminal Justice and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• If you took a drug that was prescribed to you for a reason other than it was prescribed to you, you misuse
• </c><01:40:35.040><c> to</c> you took a drug that was prescribed to you took a drug that was prescribed
• to you you misuse that and prescribed to you you misuse that and that<01:40:39.719><c> is</c><01:40:
• ><04:23:32.040><c> like</c><04:23:32.279><c> the</c> Foreskins are used to make dermal patches for burn
• Skins are used to make derap<04:23:50.479><c> patch</c><04:23:50.720><c> for</c><04:23:50.880><c> burn

Committee: House Health, Human Services & Elderly Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• you're prescribed to do.
• I'm licensed as a prescribing psychologist.
• Psychologists prescribing would not be effective.
• Already, physicians can prescribe these drugs. Nurse practitioners can prescribe these drugs.
• Physician assistants can prescribe these drugs.

Bills: SB2024 , SB227 , SB268 , SB1467 , SB1580 , HB5537 , SB1313 , SB1677 , SB918 , SB331 , SB2207 , SB2721

Committee: House Public Health

Keywords: e-cigarettes, marketing prohibition, youth protection, criminal penalties, public health, school funding, education reform, state budget, property taxes, equity in education, health care, licensing, complaint procedure, disciplinary action, law enforcement, death records, vital statistics, healthcare, trauma facility, Medicaid

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> according to the new prescribed according to the new prescribed hierarchy<01:30:52.400><c> according
• all prescribers not just those<04:31:33.560><c> who</c><04:31:33.920><c> report</c><04:31:34.279><c>
• It requires the prescriber to use FDA materials that may or may not be in production, the medication
• </c> is given by parents for the prescribing is given by parents for the prescribing of<04:38:48.279>
• </c><04:39:03.199><c> to</c> psychotropic drugs uh prescribed to psychotropic drugs uh prescribed to

Summary: The House opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, the national anthem, leaves of absence, guest introductions, and memorial remarks honoring former Representative Carolyn Gargas of Hollis, who was remembered for her long House service, work on child and family issues, and community involvement. The House then adopted a consent calendar and approved a motion to withdraw House Bill 431, which would have created a commission to review draft rules on minimum standards for public school approval and state academic standards; the motion failed after a roll call vote, so the bill remained in play. The House next took up House Bill 109-FN, relative to false reports to law enforcement. The majority supported the bill as a way to add penalties for knowingly false reports about law enforcement officers, arguing officers deserve protection from false accusations and that the knowingly standard is a high bar. The minority opposed it as duplicative of existing law and warned it could chill legitimate complaints against police. After debate and a division vote, the majority committee report of ought to pass was adopted, 198-173. The House also considered House Bill 218-FN, which would provide victims of crime a free police report. The committee amendment changed the bill so victims would receive a written confirmation that a crime occurred rather than the initial police report, to avoid conflicts with right-to-know law and active-investigation confidentiality. Supporters said the change was a small but important clarification agreed to by law enforcement and domestic violence advocates, while opponents argued the original language was already workable and that the floor amendment was unnecessary. A division vote was requested on the amendment, and the transcript ends during that debate before the final outcome on HB 218 is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• Just as a hypothetical, let’s say that the prescribing provider prescribes a brand-name drug, and the
• And then specific clinical rationale as to why that drug was prescribed by that original prescriber.
• And I have examples in there for you. ...was prescribed by that original prescriber.
• by that original prescriber.
• We prescribe the form.

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 2401, which would require physicians to complete continuing education on nutrition and metabolic health as part of the state’s rural health transformation effort. HHS supported the bill, saying it would help physicians better address chronic disease and preserve federal grant points tied to the state’s application. A member of the public also testified in favor, arguing that better nutrition education could improve diabetes outcomes and reduce costs. The committee then adopted an amendment to add the Board of Occupational Therapy Practice to the background-check statute so the occupational therapy compact could proceed, and it passed the bill as amended on a roll call vote. The committee next heard House Bill 1621, which would require the Presidential Fitness Physical Fitness Test in elementary, middle, and high school physical education courses. HHS said the bill was part of the rural health transformation application and could help preserve federal funding, but members raised many questions about the test’s criteria, adaptive options for students with disabilities, equipment needs, and whether the bill should apply to non-public schools. Senator Clemens offered an amendment to limit the requirement to public schools, but it failed. Senator Hogan then offered an amendment to clarify exemptions and allow DPI to align implementation with federal guidance; that amendment passed. A further amendment adding language allowing DPI to establish criteria for and exceptions to the test also passed. The committee then approved the bill as amended on a roll call vote. The committee also considered House Bill 1622, which joins North Dakota to the physician assistant licensure compact. HHS said the compact would improve access to care, especially in rural areas, support military families, and help preserve rural health transformation funding. Members noted the compact had been discussed in a prior session and that many earlier concerns had been resolved. After brief discussion about the compact process and its consistency with other interstate compacts, the committee voted to do pass the bill. Finally, the committee began Senate Bill 2402, which expands pharmacists’ prescriptive authority and therapeutic substitution powers. HHS and the Board of Pharmacy supported the bill as a way to improve access to care and maintain rural health transformation funding. Senator Roers introduced a detailed amendment negotiated with the Board of Medicine and Board of Pharmacy to narrow and clarify the bill, including notification requirements, limits on certain drug categories, and patient-protection language for therapeutic substitution. The Board of Pharmacy then testified in support of the broader bill and explained the CLIA-waived testing provisions and the repeal of the older, narrower pharmacist-testing language. The hearing and amendment discussion were still underway when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a prescribed drug and you're not allowed to prescribe.
• So could you, because to me when I hear 'prescribed,' that's a doctor prescribing something to a patient
• So could you, because to me when I hear 'prescribed,' that's a doctor prescribing something to a patient
• And so I think it kind of, when you hear prescribe, for generally somebody that doesn't have prescribing
• So does this new addition to the statute, the prescribed piece, enable them to prescribe to their patients

Committee: House Business

Transcript Highlights:

• intent of the mechanism and bringing it back to the bill, both in terms of what the bill language prescribes
• as carbon capture, which captures CO2 from the smokestacks of existing industrial facilities that burn
• As you are aware, ...of existing industrial facilities that burn fossil fuels.

Committee: House Utilities and Energy

Summary: The committee heard a series of energy and utility bills focused largely on affordability, reliability, wildfire costs, grid flexibility, and water rates. SB 254 by Senator Becker drew the most extensive discussion. Becker described it as a broad affordability package that would provide customer credits, create a Power Fund to move certain costs out of rates, tighten scrutiny of utility spending and profits, expand wildfire cost review, and use securitization and public financing to lower long-term costs. TURN and many environmental and public power groups supported the bill, while investor-owned utilities, labor, business groups, counties, and others opposed or opposed unless amended, arguing it did not adequately address underlying cost drivers and needed more analysis. The committee passed SB 254 on a 6-3 vote, with the bill held on call. SB 541, also by Senator Becker, focused on load flexibility and better use of existing grid capacity. Becker and economist Ryan Hledick said the bill would increase transparency on load-shifting progress and direct the CPUC to develop a strategy to capture distribution-level savings by shifting demand away from peak hours. Support came from labor, environmental, solar, storage, and demand-management groups, while CCAs, utilities, and public power agencies raised concerns that the bill could be read as a mandate and needed clearer amendments. After the author described amendments to remove language dividing the state goal among suppliers and to add cost-effectiveness and lessons learned from prior programs, the committee passed the bill 9-1 on call. The committee also approved SB 453 by Senator Stern, which would help return unspent ratepayer-funded microgrid money and support keeping the lights on in at-risk communities. PG&E expressed a concern about timing but no opposition, and local government and environmental groups supported the measure; it passed 12-0. SB 292 by Senator Svantes focused on PSPS and outage data reporting at the census-tract level to better target resilience investments. Supporters said more granular data would improve planning and equity, while utilities sought to avoid duplicative reporting; the bill passed 12-0. Finally, SB 473 by Senator Padilla addressed water affordability and conservation by requiring the CPUC to allow water utility decoupling. Supporters, including water utilities, labor, cities, and business and environmental groups, argued decoupling promotes conservation and can lower bills for low-use customers. The Public Advocates Office and the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District opposed, saying prior CPUC studies found no conservation benefit and higher costs under the full RAM mechanism. Members debated the evidence and rate-setting process, and the bill was moved out on a 12-0 vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> indications and it's been prescribed indications and it's been prescribed over<00:18:22.720><c>
• Um, and so patients have had issues either finding a prescriber, a prescriber willing to write it, or
• ,</c><00:23:55.039><c> a</c><00:23:55.280><c> prescriber</c> finding a prescriber, a prescriber finding
• a prescriber, a prescriber willing<00:23:56.080><c> to</c><00:23:56.240><c> write</c><00:23:56.559><
• prescribed prescribed &gt;&gt; in<00:25:28.640><c> most</c><00:25:28.880><c> places</c><00:25:29.360

Bills: HB161 , HB146 , HB289 , HB290 , HB31 , HB146 , HB289 , HB290 , HB31

Committee: House Health

Keywords: consumer protection, app store, age verification, parental consent, data protection, minors, HB146, ivermectin, pharmacist, standing order, prescription drug, non-patient-specific order, dispensing, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, licensed health care provider, pharmacy board, medical licensure, disciplinary action, drug access

Transcript Highlights:

• Whether it's how they dress, what pronouns they choose to use, the medical treatments prescribed by their
• Whether it's how they dress, what pronouns they choose to use, the medical treatments prescribed by their
• Whether it's how they dress, what pronouns they choose to use, the medical treatments prescribed by their
• Thank you all. burned.

Bills: SB2936 , SB2850 , SB2851 , SB2521

Committee: House Health

Summary: The joint hearing covered House Bill 251, which would require hospitals to report costs associated with Medicare and uninsured patients, and House Bill 1875, which would expand protections for gender-affirming health care services. On HB 251, the Department of Health said it supported the intent but described the bill as complicated and potentially impractical as drafted because the department lacks the expertise to produce the required analyses without outside help. Hawaii Health Systems Corporation echoed those concerns, while the Queen’s Health System said it was willing to work with the department to provide the information. In committee discussion, officials explained that hospital support in Hawaii includes public hospital appropriations and the provider tax program, which uses hospital and nursing home contributions to draw federal matching funds; a department witness estimated the net benefit at about $150 million for hospitals and $20 million for nursing facilities, though exact figures would be provided later. On HB 1875, the Insurance Division testified with concerns that the bill’s language on prohibited actions by malpractice insurers was broad and vague, and that a rate-increase prohibition could conflict with actuarially based insurance pricing. The division also noted it was not the primary enforcement agency for the statute. In contrast, many testifiers strongly supported the bill, including the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, the Hawaii State LGBTQ+ Commission, the Hawaii Public Health Institute, PFLAG Oahu, the ACLU of Hawaii, the Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii, the Hawaii County Democratic Party, and others. Supporters argued that gender-affirming care is medically necessary, evidence-based, and protected by privacy and bodily autonomy principles, and that the bill would protect patients and providers from outside political interference. No votes or final committee actions were taken during the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe
• :38:38.160><c> both</c> with a large fleet of vehicles, both with a large fleet of vehicles, both burning
• </c><05:38:40.320><c> Congress</c><05:38:41.040><c> cannot</c> burning and inoperable.
• Congress cannot burning and inoperable.
• You can do nothing but park them and watch them burn.

Transcript Highlights:

• Despite the 85% probability it was cancer, the PA prescribed warm compresses...
• Despite the 85% probability it was cancer, the PA prescribed warm compresses, a sports bra, and limited
• The Ventura County Mountain Fire that burned more than 20,000 acres and hundreds of structures pointed
• In short, AB 1709 seeks to burn the entire house down to cook dinner.
• We saw this firsthand when Louisiana sought to extradite a California physician for allegedly prescribing

Summary: The committee heard several bills, with most of the discussion focused on public safety, consumer protection, and youth harms. AB 1557 by Assemblymember Papin would clarify e-bike motor power limits and set lower speed-related standards for Class 1 and 2 e-bikes. Supporters, including the California Police Chiefs Association, cities, the California Medical Association, and the American Academy of Pediatrics, argued the bill would reduce severe injuries and deaths among young riders. Opponents from People for Bikes warned it could conflict with federal law, create legal uncertainty, and disrupt the bicycle market. The author and committee members acknowledged industry concerns and urged continued work on the bill. AB 1770 by Assemblymember Garcia would place large health care service plan arbitration under California Department of Justice oversight and require compliance with the California Arbitration Act. Supporters described cases where patients were forced into private arbitration with little transparency or accountability, arguing the bill would make the process fairer and more neutral. Kaiser Permanente and the Civil Justice Association of California said they were still reviewing amendments and had not settled on a final position. Committee members expressed sympathy for the personal stories shared and encouraged continued negotiations. The committee also heard AB 2075, which would require fire suppression equipment to be kept closer at hand during brush work, and AB 1864, which would require screening of gene synthesis orders to prevent misuse for bioterrorism. AB 2075 was presented as a response to a Ventura County wildfire, with support from the Ventura County District Attorney’s office and no opposition heard. AB 1864 was backed by the author, Stanford biosecurity expert Dr. Milana Trout, and Encode AI, while Biocom opposed unless amended and California Life Sciences remained neutral. Members discussed implementation details and the role of the Department of Public Health. A major portion of the hearing was devoted to AB 1709, which would set a minimum age of 16 for social media accounts on platforms with harmful features and create an e-safety advisory commission. Supporters, including youth advocates, parents, medical groups, and Common Sense Media, said addictive design features are harming children’s mental health and safety. Opponents, including EFF, the ACLU, TechNet, and other civil liberties and industry groups, argued the bill is overbroad, raises First Amendment and privacy concerns, and could limit access to important online communities. Despite those objections, the bill was moved forward after committee discussion, with members emphasizing the need to protect children while continuing to work on carveouts and implementation details.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:11:19.880><c> controlled</c><00:11:20.320><c> medications</c><00:11:20.959><c> as</c> prescribing
• That, um, prescribes specific, not so much nonopioid, but opioid.
• for them to prescribe what is necessary<00:16:00.880><c> for</c><00:16:01.160><c> patients</c><00:16
• </c><00:19:39.480><c> a</c> partner was already prescribing a partner was already prescribing a controlled
• They cannot be prescribed it.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• program was developed in 2019 to streamline CEQA for vegetation management projects, including prescribed
• burns, mechanical treatments, and manual treatments.
• months ago one of my colleagues remarked that No, no, no, we already allow the ability to do controlled burns
• In closing remarks, I would ask the author to address the issue of controlled burns in the California
• Such as homes falling. down and having people be evacuated out of them or a 90 acre burning landfill

Transcript Highlights:

• thank you thanks ...just prescribing.
• I will not prescribe anything further now'?
• Well, I think we have guardrails right now with the 14-day prescribing and then the second 14-day prescribing
• We prescribe antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals already.
• You know, we do prescribe these drugs. They are doctors. They are licensed.

Bills: SB1021 , SB1144 , SB1164 , SB1178 , SB1181 , SB1241 , SB1247 , SB1286 , SB1415 , SCR1011

Committee: Senate Regulatory Affairs and Government Efficiency

Keywords: health profession, regulatory boards, criminal activity, notification, auditor general, investigations, veterinary technicians, certification, education alternative, Arizona Revised Statutes, veterinary education, ALTCS, providers, ownership change, healthcare, Arizona Long Term Care System, naturopathic physician, naturopathic medicine, naturopathic doctor, naturopathic physicians medical board

Transcript Highlights:

• I will not prescribe anything further now.'
• Well, I think we have guardrails right now with the 14-day prescribing and then the second 14-day prescribing
• We prescribe antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals already.
• You know, we do prescribe these drugs. They are doctors. They are licensed.
• They can already prescribe IVs, aye. Four ayes, three nays. You're not voting.

Summary: The committee first approved the January 28, 2026 minutes and held Senate Bill 1241 for a later hearing because a witness was unavailable. It then took up Senate Bill 1144, which would create an alternative pathway for veterinary technician certification through supervised on-the-job training and board-approved skills standards. Supporters, including the Arizona Humane Society, a high school student in a veterinary program, and other advocates, said the bill would help address workforce shortages, reduce student debt, and improve access to care, especially in rural and low-income areas. Opponents, including the Arizona Veterinary Technician Association and several veterinarians, argued the bill could weaken training standards, increase liability, and create safety risks; the Arizona Veterinary Medical Association ultimately moved to neutral after amendments added supervision and affidavit requirements. The committee adopted the amendment and then passed SB 1144 as amended on a 6-1 vote. The committee next passed Senate Bill 1247 unanimously. That bill would allow a person who does not receive care services to live with a resident in an assisted living center, and would bar the Department of Health Services from imposing requirements on that person that the resident would not face. Supporters said the bill was needed to fix a recent agency interpretation that could force spouses or other companions to separate or pay for services they do not use, and noted a possible floor amendment to extend the same treatment to assisted living homes. The committee then heard Senate Bill 1286, which would extend from 14 days to 60 days the period for veterinary prescriptions and renewals issued through telemedicine. Supporters said the change would improve access in underserved and rural areas and reflect how telemedicine is already used in human medicine, while opponents warned that longer telemedicine prescriptions could delay necessary exams and diagnostics, increase the risk of misdiagnosis, and create animal welfare and liability concerns. After testimony, the sponsor asked that the bill be held for a possible amendment next week, so no vote was taken. The committee also passed Senate Bill 1164, which would allow Medicaid claims to continue under a prior owner’s billing number during a skilled nursing or assisted living facility change of ownership until new enrollment is complete; supporters said this would prevent long reimbursement delays, while Access raised concerns about federal-law conflicts and said it needed advance notice to process ownership changes. The bill passed 6-0 with one member not voting. Finally, the committee passed Senate Bill 1181, which expands CPA licensure pathways by allowing combinations of degree and work experience and updates reciprocity and rulemaking provisions, and Senate Bill 1415, which creates a licensing path for salaried insurance adjusters with out-of-state credentials, subject to an amendment clarifying exam and employment requirements. Both bills were supported as workforce and mobility measures, and both were reported out of committee on unanimous or near-unanimous votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> The word is prescribe. The word is prescribe.
• . about the prescribing.
• </c> around the prescribing like that. around the prescribing like that.
• </c><03:01:49.640><c> prescribing</c> some limits on prescribing prescribing some limits on prescribing
• . prescribing. prescribing.

Committee: House Executive Departments and Administration