Transcript Highlights:

• be a better parent, it would all be better.
• Also, a parent of two children who have PANS/PANDAS.
• Recently, like other parents in our group who have already spent thousands of dollars to fix or protect
• It could restore childhoods and protect parents and children from the agony of not being believed when
• The anguish these parents feel is profound.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Financial Services

Summary: The Joint Committee on Financial Services held a lengthy public hearing with more than 70 people signed up to testify, focusing mainly on health insurance and health care access bills. Early testimony centered on H.1257/S.712, which would require insurance coverage for medically necessary treatment of genetic craniofacial conditions. Supporters included legislators, dentists, and medical experts who said these conditions are not cosmetic, can severely affect eating, speech, pain, and social functioning, and often create major financial hardship because insurers deny coverage. A related dental bill, H.1262/S.676, drew technical testimony from the Life Insurance Association of Massachusetts about implementation issues with the 2022 dental loss-ratio law, while the Massachusetts Dental Society supported H.1306/S.696 on transparency in dental network leasing and opposed H.1262. Representative Gentile also testified for H.4013, which would ban for-profit acute care hospitals and for-profit health insurers in Massachusetts, arguing that profit incentives undermine patient care. A major portion of the hearing was devoted to H.1261/S.799, a bill to protect patients from surprise ambulance bills. Municipal fire chiefs, Boston EMS, nonprofit ambulance providers, and the bill’s Senate sponsor said the measure would require insurers to pay ambulance providers directly and promptly, cap patient out-of-pocket costs, and reduce confusion caused by out-of-network billing. Witnesses described ambulance services as essential public health infrastructure and said current billing practices can discourage people from calling 911 or leave municipalities and nonprofits unable to recover costs. Committee members asked about unpaid debt, municipal billing burdens, and how the bill would affect rates and reimbursement. No votes were taken during the hearing. The committee also heard extensive testimony on H.1249/S.805, which would require screening for PANS/PANDAS in medical and clinical settings. Legislators, clinicians, parents, a teen with the condition, and educators described PANS/PANDAS as an infection-triggered inflammatory illness that can present as sudden psychiatric symptoms and is often misdiagnosed as a mental health disorder. Supporters said routine screening at well visits, emergency rooms, and other clinical settings would help identify children earlier, reduce unnecessary psychiatric treatment and hospitalizations, and improve outcomes. Testifiers repeatedly urged favorable action, emphasizing the personal and financial toll on families and the potential for early treatment to prevent long-term harm. The hearing concluded with continued testimony on these bills; no committee action or votes were announced.

Transcript Highlights:

• The word protection means care, guardianship. Who are you trying to protect?
• The word protection means care, guardianship. Who are you trying to protect?
• The word protection means care, guardianship. Who are you trying to protect?
• We do it all the time, and we even protect children from their parents sometimes when they're doing something
• We do it all the time, and we even protect children from their parents sometimes when they're doing something

Committee: House Health, Human Services & Elderly Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> child's parent had passed away. child's parent had passed away.
• Parents have a choice.
• Parents should not need a legal team to understand what protections exist, what risks remain.
• </c> year will protect is meant to protect year will protect is meant to protect them<02:16:22.159><c
• </c> need talk to even your parents. need talk to even your parents.

Transcript Highlights:

• That eliminates the equal protection argument.
• So it just protects the children that have been left behind without the parent.
• That's really what this bill does: it protects the children that have been left behind without parents
• It will not restore a parent. It will not erase trauma.
• relieved of our parenting duties.

Committees: House Judiciary , House Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence

Transcript Highlights:

• We are parents. I know it's is children. We are parents.
• If it was created to protect women, then protect women.
• If it was created to protect women, then If it was created to protect women, then protect<02:54:39.680
• </c> parental rights. parental rights.
• a foster parent.

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• And finally, very quickly, as a parent of a student with disabilities, Finally, very quickly, as a parent
• Please protect it going forward. ...but only available to a public school student when it's protected
• If you move the program, you must move protections.
• Gifted in New Mexico deserves explicit protections, and we request that those protections be added in
• Gifted in New Mexico deserves explicit protections, and we request that those protections be added in

Bills: SB64 , SB19 , SB44 , SB83 , HB40 , HB100 , HJR1 , SB64 , SB19 , SB44 , SB83

Committees: Senate Senate Education , Senate House Education

Keywords: special education, office of special education, deputy secretary, public education department, IEP, individualized education program, students with disabilities, IDEA, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, dyslexia, dyslexia screening, structured literacy, reading intervention, multilayered system of supports, MTSS, student assistance team, free appropriate public education, FAPE, special education compliance, charter schools

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> strongly in favor of parental strongly in favor of parental responsibility<00:13:56.240><c> for<
• If it helps parents, you know, again, if there's such a filter, I think parents that care about this
• That's on the parents.
• That's on the parents.
• That's on the parents. And under 18. That's on the parents.

Summary: The subcommittee work session focused on House Bill 293, which would prevent minors from accessing obscenity on certain internet-connected electronic devices. Chair Pardell opened by noting the bill had been discussed several times and that the goal was to find language acceptable to the committee. Representative Coutab argued the bill is important for child safety, said parents vary in technical ability, and pointed to Apple as evidence that filtering tools can be implemented. He asked whether the other members saw a path forward and what it might look like. Representatives McFarland and Tur both said they support the underlying concern but questioned the bill’s structure and practicality. McFarland emphasized parental responsibility and individual liberty, said any final language should avoid infringing on rights or creating indirect pressure on corporations, and suggested looking at other states’ approaches and Apple’s closed ecosystem as a limited example. Tur said the bill may solve one problem while creating others, especially by placing the burden on device manufacturers and browsers rather than on the content providers; he cited the recent Texas Paxton decision as an example of a more targeted age-verification approach aimed at websites. Both expressed concern that a broad device-level mandate may be difficult to implement consistently across different platforms. Chair Pardell responded that the bill is intended to add protective measures rather than impose a blanket ban, and compared it to existing restrictions on minors accessing alcohol, tobacco, or pornographic magazines. She said the proposal is meant to ask for the user’s age during device setup, not to require identification or database checks, and stressed that parents would still be responsible for entering accurate information. Members also discussed whether Apple’s tools are generalizable to Android and other ecosystems, whether the market is already developing solutions, and whether a parent-facing filter or device-level controls would be the best route. Pardell said the committee had received public feedback and that another work session would likely be held in October; no vote or final action was taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• If the parent is unable to discharge parental duties for some reason, such as incarceration or incapacitation
• They could be referred for parental support.
• stress, and parenting attitudes and behaviors.
• , or the biological parent—a place to appeal.
• Who represents his parents?

Transcript Highlights:

• I know this is a concern for many parents.
• I consider myself a well-informed and attentive parent.
• My oldest grandchild has a cell phone with parental controls.
• I'd like to speak now not only as a parent but as a special needs parent and one who advocates professionally
• ELL teacher and a parent.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Education

Summary: The committee opened a public hearing on 41 bills related to school climate and safety, with chairs Jason Lewis and Ken Gordon outlining procedures and noting more than 125 witnesses. The first major topic was the “Study Act” on cell phones in schools and related social media restrictions (House 666/Senate 335). Secretary of Education Pat Tutwiler and Attorney General Andrea Campbell testified in strong support, arguing that bell-to-bell phone-free policies would improve student focus, reduce anxiety and distraction, and support mental health. Several legislators also supported the approach, though Representative Jeff Turco and Senator John Keenan emphasized narrower bills focused only on school-day phone restrictions rather than broader social media regulation. Senator John Velis likewise backed a comprehensive school-hours restriction, citing student distraction and mental health concerns. Representative Tarsky described successful implementation of a Yondr pouch system in a school where he served as principal, saying it improved engagement and reduced bullying and discipline issues. The committee then heard testimony on a bill to prohibit Native American mascots in public schools (Senate 312/House 575). Senator Joe Comerford, Brittany Wally, and Rhonda Anderson all urged passage, saying Native mascots are dehumanizing, harmful to Native youth, and inconsistent with civil rights and educational values. They described support from tribal nations and noted that many Massachusetts schools have already changed mascots, but some still resist. The hearing also included testimony on school start times (House 647/Senate 360), where middle school students Caroline Duffy and Emery Jarvis described exhaustion and survey data showing widespread sleep deprivation. Former educator Telia Jacobs, former principal Rep. Tarsky, and others argued that later start times would improve health, learning, and student well-being, while acknowledging transportation and scheduling challenges. Zoriana Petrosian, who helped write one of the bills as a student, said the state already has enough research to act now. Additional bills drew testimony on related school issues. Dr. Raul Fernandez supported a bill promoting racially integrated schools (Senate 324), citing a recent advisory council report showing large disparities in segregated schools and urging DESE to develop a statewide integration strategy. On safe firearm storage education (House 548/Senate 397), multiple witnesses from Grassroots for Gun Violence Prevention and school communities supported annual school-based education about secure storage, saying it would help prevent child access to unsecured firearms and build on local resolutions already adopted in some districts. The committee also heard testimony on bills to expand career and academic plans (House 533/Senate 438), with speakers saying more structured planning would help students make informed college and career choices. Later, testimony on child sexual abuse prevention and survivor support bills described the prevalence of abuse, the need for training in schools and youth-serving organizations, and the importance of extending compensation and prevention measures. Throughout the hearing, chairs repeatedly closed bills with no witnesses and moved the agenda forward, but no votes were taken in the portion of the transcript provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:17:44.040><c> and</c> and the lives of so many parents and and the lives of so many parents and
• But I do believe we all want to protect children. I do believe we all want to protect children.
• </c> government has to protect ourselves. government has to protect ourselves.
• </c> protect your home? No. protect your home? No. Absolutely<01:09:19.160><c> not.
• How do we protect make these decisions. How do we protect ourselves? ourselves? ourselves?

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> more parent but but this doesn't work. more parent but but this doesn't work.
• However, if that<00:19:47.520><c> parent</c> that parent that parent chooses<00:19:50.120><c> to</c><
• This protects that family and this protects...
• . parents. parents.
• ><c> this</c><00:26:00.320><c> protects</c> Protects that family, and this protects that child. >> Can

Committee: Senate Children and Family Law

Transcript Highlights:

• And I want my foster parents, our foster parents, to be able to recognize that.
• And I want my foster parents, our foster parents, to be able to recognize that and be able to provide
• Anytime we can protect children, I'm with you.
• I know parents that probably could have protected their child from three years' worth of grooming and
• No parent should have to hear.

Committee: House Children and Families

Transcript Highlights:

• That eliminates the equal protection argument.
• So it just protects the children that have been left behind without the parent.
• That's really what this bill does, is it protects the children that have been left behind without parents
• It will not restore a parent. It will not erase trauma.
• relieved of our parenting duties.

Committee: House Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence

Summary: The committee held public hearings on House Bill 3144 and House Bill 3160, both dealing with appeals of preliminary injunctions. The sponsors said the bills would allow a party to appeal a preliminary injunction more broadly, rather than limiting that right to the Attorney General, and they described the measure as a response to prior litigation and equal protection concerns. Supporters, including a Campaign Life Missouri lobbyist and Attorney General’s office counsel, argued the change would align Missouri practice with federal interlocutory appeal rules and protect both sides from harm while litigation is pending. Some members questioned whether the bills were aimed at pending Amendment 3 litigation and raised concerns about fairness and whether the language should apply evenly to all parties; the sponsors said one bill would be amended to match the other. No vote was taken on these bills during the hearing. The committee then heard House Bill 1910, “Bentley and Mason’s Law,” which would require a person convicted of driving while intoxicated or drug-impaired driving that causes the death of a parent or guardian to pay child maintenance to the surviving children, with support continuing until age 18 or longer if the child is in college, and with arrearages addressed after release from incarceration. Representative Williams and several family members and victims testified in strong support, describing the bill as a deterrent and a way to hold impaired drivers financially accountable for the children left behind. Supporters said similar laws have passed in other states and cited a Tennessee case as an example of the law working in practice. Committee members asked about how maintenance would be calculated, whether the offender’s income would be considered, how civil judgments would interact with the maintenance order, and whether arrearages should accrue during incarceration; the sponsor said the bill could be refined and that those issues could be worked out. Opposition to HB 1910 was limited, but one law enforcement witness said he supported the concept despite being listed as opposition, and another witness from MADD strongly endorsed the bill. The hearing ended with no action on HB 1910. In executive session, the committee voted HJR 130 do pass by a vote of 13-0. It then considered HB 2086, a bill relating to the practice of law, which drew constitutional and separation-of-powers concerns from several members; the final vote was 7-7, and the bill was reported as due pass despite the tie.

Transcript Highlights:

• We joked that she was the third parent.
• And this is what you're trying to protect.
• I was not there to protect her.
• These are basic protections that all parents should expect when they entrust their child to a camp.
• Kerrville, and I have to say the parents.

Transcript Highlights:

• in terms of protecting our name and our reputation.
• So thanks to your parents.
• Would you be open to adding parental control to this?
• Would you be open to adding parental control to this?
• Parental control. Now, just remember, this is for Bessie. Staff, if you can. Parental control.

Committee: House Education

Summary: The committee first took up HB 987, which would move the Louisiana Geological Survey under the LSU Energy Institute to streamline energy-related programs. The author and members described it as an efficiency measure, and the committee reported the bill favorably without objection. Members then heard HB 513 on name, image, and likeness rules for intercollegiate and interscholastic athletes. The bill was presented as a product of a task force and was supported by the Attorney General’s office, coaches, and a student athlete, who emphasized the need for guardrails, education, and protections against exploitation by agents or third parties. Questions focused on high school enforcement, parental consent, and what students may legally do; the committee ultimately reported the bill favorably. The committee also considered HCR 26, which asks BESE to incorporate the science of human growth and development, including prenatal development, into science or health standards and to provide instructional materials. Supporters said it would improve science education and show fetal development more clearly, while opponents raised concerns about medical accuracy, political influence, and lack of safeguards. An amendment requiring parental consent for instruction was offered but failed on a roll call vote, and the resolution was then reported favorably. Later, the committee reported HB 608 favorably as amended to protect confidentiality of documents tied to intercollegiate athletics revenue-sharing, while preserving public disclosure of overall institutional spending. It also advanced HB 380, creating a pilot program to expand CDL workforce training through a community college and school partnership, and HB 392, which would require suicide hotline information on school websites, student ID cards, and, through amendment, visible signs in schools. The committee then reported HB 476 as amended, requiring Safe Haven law flyers in school restrooms, and began discussion of HB 682 to authorize veterans as school resource officers, with amendments addressing qualifications and training.

Transcript Highlights:

• The First Amendment guarantees us free exercise of religion, and the 14th protects parental rights to
• Protect parents' authority, uphold religious liberty, and let families decide.
• </c><00:53:37.280><c> our</c> protects parental rights to direct our protects parental rights to direct
• Protect parents' authority, uphold bill.
• Protect parents' authority, uphold religious<00:54:16.240><c> for</c><00:54:16.359><c> liberty</c> religious

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• Fifty percent of parenting foster youth... ...are African American.
• We believe that no protective survivor parent should be penalized for having experienced domestic violence
• A vote against it, frankly, a vote to protect crime. We all should share.
• Many people may still be eligible for protection from deportation.
• Yes, so I am the daughter of immigrant parents. And how is that process?

Committee: House Human Services

Summary: The Assembly Human Services Committee met as a subcommittee while waiting for quorum and heard several bills related to homelessness, housing, foster youth, domestic violence, disability services, and immigrant legal aid. AB 790, by Assembly Member Avila Farias, would require cities, counties, and continuums of care receiving homelessness funds to develop systems specifically supporting women and children; it drew supportive testimony from New Economics for Women and others and passed unanimously after committee amendments. ACA 4, the Housing Opportunities Made Equal Act by Assembly Member Jackson, would dedicate 5% of the state general fund to affordable housing and homelessness solutions; supporters argued more stable funding is needed, while opponents questioned whether more spending would help, and the measure passed on a 5-2 vote. AB 349, by Assembly Member Dixon, would index the infant supplement for parenting foster youth to inflation, with testimony emphasizing the needs of teen mothers and babies in foster care; it passed unanimously after amendments. AB 779, by Assembly Member Lackey, would expand a domestic violence consultant model in child welfare offices statewide to better support survivors and keep families together; it also passed unanimously after amendments. The committee also heard AB 1335, by Assembly Member Gonzales, which would remove the CARF outside accreditation requirement for regional center vendored employment programs for people with disabilities and shift oversight to state standards. Supporters said the current accreditation process is costly, duplicative, and a barrier to expanding employment services, while the chair expressed concern about reducing quality checks; the bill was left on call and later reported out on a 5-2 vote. AB 1066, by Assembly Member Castillo, would bar state-funded immigration legal services for undocumented immigrants convicted of specified serious felonies; supporters framed it as a public safety and fiscal responsibility measure, while opponents said it would undermine due process and align California with mass deportation efforts. After extended debate, the bill failed on a 2-2 vote, and a motion for reconsideration also failed. Two bills were pulled by the author and not heard: AB 277 and AB 318. After the roll was reopened for absent members, the committee finalized the votes on the measures heard earlier, confirming passage of AB 790, ACA 4, AB 349, and AB 779, while AB 1066 remained failed. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Parents Union. Parents Union.
• Our job as parents is to protect our kids. students, as many of you testified, are students, as many
• Our job as parents is to their parents.
• Our job as parents is to protect<01:46:53.520><c> our</c><01:46:53.760><c> kids.
• </c> protect our kids. protect our kids.

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• It's evidence that parents' voice work, but we can't leave the burden exclusively on parents.
• It's evidence that parents' voice work, but we can't leave the burden exclusively on parents.
• But most importantly, I am the parent of the parent. on my superintendent's advisory committee.
• Accessibility for parents.
• I've actually spoken with parents.

Summary: The committee heard several education-related bills, with the most extensive discussion focused on AB 2189, AB 2615, AB 2496, AB 1750, and AB 1644. AB 2189 would create an $800,000 grant program through the State Council on Developmental Disabilities to support a statewide parent network for special education advocacy and training. Supporters said families need stronger coordination and information to navigate special education, while an opponent argued the bill could duplicate existing family-led organizations. The bill passed 6-0 and was sent to Appropriations, held on call for add-on votes. AB 2615, a cleanup bill to AB 715 on antisemitism and instructional materials, drew the most controversy. The authors said it was intended to clarify prior commitments by removing references to professional responsibility standards, refining the “factually accurate” language, and clarifying how discriminatory materials are handled. Supporters said it would help protect students from discrimination, while many educators, civil rights groups, and other organizations opposed it unless amended, warning that the factual-accuracy language could chill teaching and be applied too broadly. The committee chair and members raised concerns about implementation but ultimately supported moving the bill forward; it passed 5-0 and was held on call. AB 2496 would streamline school accountability reporting by making the California School Dashboard the primary transparency tool, phasing out the School Accountability Report Card over time, and making mid-year LCAP reporting optional. Supporters said this would reduce duplication and administrative burden while preserving access to key data; opponents worried families could lose the simplicity and accessibility of the current SARC and that the mid-year update still serves an important purpose. The bill was approved 3-0 and held on call. AB 1750, which would extend full salary for an additional five months for school employees who exhaust sick leave due to illness or injury, was supported as a dignity and retention measure but opposed by administrators over staffing and cost concerns; it passed 4-0 and was held on call. AB 1644 would require a bell-to-bell smartphone ban in TK-8 and recommend it for high school, with exceptions for instructional and safety needs; supporters said phones are harming attention and learning, while opponents argued districts had just adopted local policies and needed more flexibility. The transcript ends during discussion of that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's the decision of a parent.
• Parents are very passionate about their children.
• Again, I think we should trust parents.
• You have to tie the dollars to the parent, and if a parent doesn't feel satisfied with the education
• And if we're going to be protecting our communities and protecting our residents, we have to look at

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Revenue and Taxation met under suspense-file procedures, with the chair explaining limits on testimony, position letters, and that bills with fiscal impacts of $150,000 or more would generally be sent to suspense rather than voted on immediately. Several bills were pulled from hearing, and a consent calendar of committee bills later passed 4-0. AB 761 by Addis, the only item initially slated for a vote, was ultimately held over to the next hearing. The committee heard testimony on a series of tax-related proposals. AB 232 would create catastrophe savings accounts for homeowners to save pre-tax money for wildfire, flood, or earthquake-related expenses; it drew support from the Department of Insurance and the California Bankers Association, but was sent to suspense. AB 1443 would exempt tips from state income tax for five years and was supported by the California Restaurant Association and a restaurant owner, but also went to suspense. AB 1435 would provide relief to businesses and property owners facing cleanup and security costs from unauthorized encampments and illegal dumping; it received broad support from business, real estate, trucking, retail, and local government representatives, and was referred to suspense. The committee also heard AB 1428, which would create a California Affordable Child Care Fund financed by a 0.5% tax on income above $10 million; child care workers and SEIU-backed witnesses supported it, while taxpayer and business groups opposed it as harmful to competitiveness and affordability. AB 691 proposed a tax credit for adopting shelter pets and covering veterinary costs, AB 1219 proposed a middle- and low-income personal income tax cut, AB 1354 proposed a credit for increased homeowners insurance premiums, AB 19 proposed an education savings account/voucher-style program, and AB 567 proposed insurance rate stabilization and related tax/fund changes; each drew testimony for and against where present, but all were referred to suspense. The meeting ended with the committee adjourning after the held-over AB 761 item was postponed.