Transcript Highlights:

• The bill would require HHSC to complete the biannual report and include additional reporting information
• The bill would have HHSC contact the family to SNAP-enrolled children, and if the family consents, enroll
• directories of kidney health providers and financial assistance resources to help sustain the program at HHSC
• HB 2298 addresses this urgent public health issue. by establishing a grant program administered by HHSC

Bills: HB514, HB1652, HB2117, HB2298, HB3269, HB46, HB46

Keywords: maternal health, maternal care, pregnancy, labor and delivery, postpartum, doula, birth worker, midwife, obstetric care, women's health, rural health, health workforce, workforce development, trauma-informed care, public outreach campaign, health equity, minority health, underserved communities, Texas Department of State Health Services, HHSC

Bills: HB25, HB38, HB997, HB 1119, HB25, HB38

Keywords: HB 25, Texas nutrition, nutrition education, healthy living, public health, school physical activity, recess, physical education, nutrition and wellness course, health curriculum, State Board of Education, Texas Nutrition Advisory Committee, ultra-processed foods, artificial colors, food additives, chronic disease, metabolic health, culinary medicine, functional medicine, dietary guidelines

Bills: HB25, HB38, HB997, HB 1119, HB25, HB38

Keywords: HB 25, Texas nutrition, nutrition education, healthy living, public health, school physical activity, recess, physical education, nutrition and wellness course, health curriculum, State Board of Education, Texas Nutrition Advisory Committee, ultra-processed foods, artificial colors, food additives, chronic disease, metabolic health, culinary medicine, functional medicine, dietary guidelines

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill provides legal authority for HHSC to rehabilitate the property at the Terrell State Hospital
• The committee substitute added language that permits HHSC to award a one-time pass through grant to an
• However, this only applies if the legislature appropriates money to HHSC for that express purpose.
• Strikes the provision requiring they Senator Cook: Annually file this plan with HHSC.
• We removed this section basically because after the hearing, HHSC told us they kind of reversed their

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the Chief Policy and Regulatory Officer at HHSC.
• We administer it at HHSC, and our federal agency is the...
• It explains that HHSC was created in 2003 by House Bill 2292.
• This is a centralized hub for HHSC analytics.
• And when this body sits up here, HHSC, you should all.

Bills: HB150, HB869, HB876, HB 1043, HB1494, HB1522, HB150

Keywords: cybersecurity, state command, information resources, data protection, incident response, information technology, classification officer, job descriptions, state positions, competency-based, information sharing, government efficiency, public sector, private sector, distributed ledger, title registry, real estate, property liens, pilot program, healthcare

Transcript Highlights:

• We do have resource witnesses from HHSC for any questions.
• We do have resource witnesses from HHSC for any questions.
• HHSC will launch a public awareness campaign.
• HHSC will launch a public awareness campaign.
• of State Health Services shares staffing data with HHSC, which oversees hospital enforcement.

Bills: HB 107, HB742, HB1639, HB1700, HB2071, HB2187, HB2402, HB2516, HB3211, HB4529, HB5342, HB694, HB923, HB4655

Keywords: sickle cell disease, registry, health data, confidentiality, healthcare access, human trafficking, first responders, health care, training, reporting, protection, cancer, female firefighters, health study, state health services, fire protection, telemedicine, teledentistry, telehealth, health records

Summary: The committee heard testimony on a series of health and human services bills and left each one pending after public testimony. HB 4655 would expand financial literacy instruction for youth aging out of foster care to include credit scores, predatory lending, scams, banking, budgeting, and related consumer topics; the sponsor and Buckner International described the need to protect foster youth from financial pitfalls. HB 923 would add three public members and one physician to the Texas Medical Disclosure Panel; supporters said it would improve informed consent and patient voice, while a witness raised concerns about a House amendment requiring a physician majority for decisions and senators questioned scope-of-practice limits. HHSC said the panel is an independent body and the bill expressly bars it from changing scope of practice.

Transcript Highlights:

• As you can see on slide five, HHSC was transformed into the agency they that you see today.
• Direct client services were streamlined into HHSC.
• Folded into HHSC.
• I'm the Associate Commissioner for Child Care Regulation within HHSC.
• Those investigations are conducted by HHSC. APS services are completely voluntary.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Health and Human Services system, we also established the Women's Health Advisory Committee to advise HHSC
• providers that it was incredibly helpful for facilitating collaboration between program providers and HHSC
• targeted approach to offering that technical assistance and be a mediator between these programs and HHSC
• So I actually think this saves HHSC a tremendous amount of money over time, and I know that the managed
• Uh, it will be interesting to figure out what HHSCs.

Bills: HB231

Keywords: HB 231, Texas Water Code, TCEQ, permit exemption, dam, reservoir, erosion control, flood control, floodwater control, sediment control, watershed protection, Natural Resources Conservation Service, NRCS, Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act, local sponsor, water appropriation, small dam, water diversion, maintenance, rehabilitation

Transcript Highlights:

• HHSC, okay, and support. Okay, any others wishing to testify? HHSC, okay, and support.
• Okay, HHSC can support any others wishing to testify? Seeing none, members...
• Okay, we have support testimony from BNF, United Public Workers, as well as HHSC.
• We have a written testimony in support from BNF, HGA, as well as HHSC.
• Okay, this is BU14. and support from BNF hga as well as hhsc and support from BNF hga as well as hhsc

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Committee on Labor and Technology heard several labor and personnel measures. Senate Bill 1567 would require the Department of Human Resources Development to conduct a comprehensive review of the executive branch classification and compensation system and allow it to contract with a third party outside normal procurement rules. Director Brana Hashimoto testified in support, saying the state has more than 1,400 classes of work and limited staff to keep the system current; she said outside vendor help and market data are needed to update class specifications, minimum qualifications, and pay structures. She noted the project scope and timeline would depend on funding, and said the governor had approved about $1 million for the effort. Members asked about vendor scope, comparisons to the private sector and other public employers, consolidation of obsolete classes, and whether the exemption from procurement rules would speed the work. The committee also heard Senate Bill 326 on defense of state employees, with testimony in support from HGEA, the Hawaii State AFL-CIO, and the Hawaii State Teachers Association. Senate Bill 337 would expand the pool of interest arbitrators used in collective bargaining disputes by allowing the Hawaii Labor Relations Board to request a list from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service and to use arbitrators from both FMCS and the American Arbitration Association; HGEA supported the bill, saying the broader pool would improve selection and address communication issues. Senate Bill 1233 would create a State Internship and Workforce Development Program within DeHerd. The University of Hawaiʻi, HGEA, the Hawaii Primary Care Association, and the Chamber of Commerce supported it. DeHerd said the program could help place interns into vacancies and convert them to civil service jobs, but said it would need about five FTE and roughly $330,000 in salaries to administer a program serving about 50 to 75 interns at a time; members questioned whether the positions could be filled and whether the program could proceed without added resources. The committee then heard Senate Bill 1359, which would increase the employer-based composite monthly contribution to the Hawaii EUTF Benefits Trust Fund beginning in January 2026 and then tie future increases to Medicare Part B premium changes with a lag. The EUTF administrator testified, and a member noted the measure resembled a bill that had died in conference the prior year. Senate Bill 1454 would give the Labor and Industrial Relations director authority to issue wage payment violation orders, establish penalties and appeals, and broaden the definition of wage; the department supported it, explaining it would align procedures under chapter 387 with existing chapter 388 enforcement and make investigations easier. Finally, the committee moved through a series of collective bargaining cost-item bills for various bargaining units and related entities, with testimony generally in support from Budget and Finance, HGEA, UH, HHSC, UPW, and other unions and associations. One amendment request was to include bargaining units 1 and 10 in the temporary hazard pay funding bill, and the Hawaii Fire Fighters Association noted its airport firefighters unit was still in arbitration and would provide final numbers later.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill provides legal authority for HHSC to rehabilitate the property at the Terrell State Hospital
• The committee substitute added language that permits HHSC to award a one-time. pass-through grant to
• However, this only applies if the legislature appropriates money to HHSC for that express purpose.
• Services Council, which has a similar advisory duty and was reconstituted when DFPS was removed from HHSC
• We remove this section basically because after the hearing, HHSC told us they kind of reversed their

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As always, we are happy to provide your offices with information. any programs HHSC offers.
• House Bill 12 requires HHSC to provide Medicaid for women who are eligible during their pregnancy to
• The HHSC LAR has caseloads of 25,900. for that. HB 1 has. 27,000 for healthy Texas women.
• The HHSC LAR has. $51,300.
• Has there been an analysis by HHSC, HHSC-OIG, or anybody else that has said, hey, look, during the entire

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Than just if HHSC is the Medicaid. Is somebody from Medicaid here? Okay, sorry. Are you registered?
• Director HHSC, neutral on the bill, as a resource witness, correct? I'm on the bill as a resource.
• It added this definition for the intensive behavioral therapy and allows HHSC to conduct utilization
• I served as the medical director for Medicaid and CHIP at HHSC from 2000 to 2007.
• Remove Section 2 of the bill, which would accept HHSC or not appropriated.

Bills: HB231, HB231, HB475, HB488, HB632, HB821, HB1786, HB1955, HB2036, HB2060, HB2659, HB2677

Keywords: HB 231, Texas Water Code, TCEQ, permit exemption, dam, reservoir, erosion control, flood control, floodwater control, sediment control, watershed protection, Natural Resources Conservation Service, NRCS, Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act, local sponsor, water appropriation, small dam, water diversion, maintenance, rehabilitation

Transcript Highlights:

• Unfortunately, HHSC did not officially confirm that they're unable to pass through any additional funding
• Doing the same for HHSC programs would be a matter of parity.
• At a minimum, we suggest specifying that TEA... with HHSC in developing its plan for the distribution
• that this is a joint program, mostly administered by the Health and Human Services Commission, or HHSC
• HHSC to take any steps they can to mitigate the immediate negative impacts of these cuts to our system

Bills: SB1, HB500, SB 1

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, state budget, mental health funding, education funding, infrastructure improvements, public safety, campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill also requires HHSC to develop informational materials and publish them on their website.
• Additionally, it will have HHSC publish a geographically indexed list of perinatal palliative care providers
• I also sit on the Interdisciplinary Advisory Council under HHSC here in Austin.
• HHSC to draft the standards for the integration of backup power sources.
• I'm with HHSC but not testifying for HHSC, and I represent... ...residents who live in nursing homes

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:

• Health and Human Services system, we also established the Women's Health Advisory Committee to advise HHSC
• providers that it was incredibly helpful for facilitating collaboration between program providers and HHSC
• Care Coalition, to organize regular meetings with them to facilitate conversations between them and HHSC
• approach to providing that technical assistance and serve as a mediator between in these programs, HHSC
• So I actually think this saves HHSC a tremendous amount of money over time, and I know that the managed

Bills: HB231, HB475, HB488, HB632, HB821, HB1786, HB1955, HB2036, HB2060, HB2659, HB2677, HB231

Keywords: food access, food deserts, communities of color, health disparities, socioeconomic impact, nutritious food, health effects, socioeconomic disparities, legislative recommendations, nutrition, access to food, Medicaid, multisystemic therapy, healthcare, reimbursement, mental health services, education, funding, local control, school system

Transcript Highlights:

• Yes, David Kostron with HHSC. Surrogacy agencies: is there any registration?
• They're not regulated by HHSC. We just regulate... [David Kostron:] They are not regulated by HHSC.
• For sure, if it is a foster-to-adopt situation, those are all regulated by HHSC.
• They also have to designate it... ...for them to notify HHSC.
• If HHSC determines noncompliance, we are able to assess penalties.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As always, we are happy to provide your offices with information. any programs HHSC offers.
• Mostly with HHSC for a large component of their funding, but they do not receive dollars. From me.
• The HHSC LAR has caseloads of 25,900. for that. HB 1 has. 27,000 for healthy Texas women.
• The HHSC LAR has $51,300. So I guess part of what I'm trying to figure out here is.
• Has there been an analysis by HHSC, HHSC-OIG, or anybody else that has said, hey, look, during the entire

Keywords: budget, House Bill 1, public education, healthcare, border security, federal funding, spending limits

Summary: The meeting primarily focused on reviewing the proposed budget for the upcoming biennium, with substantial discussions around House Bill 1 and its implications for public education, healthcare, and border security. The Comptroller presented a revenue overview indicating a total of $194.6 billion available for general purpose spending, which reflects a slight decrease compared to previous years due to fluctuating economic conditions. Members raised questions regarding spending limits and the impact of federal funding on state programs, highlighting concerns about the sustainability of funding in light of potential changes at the federal level.

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, we do have written testimony from HHSC in support. Any questions?
• Oh, we have written testimony and support from HHSC.
• Uh, we have written testimony and support from HHSC. Any questions?
• <00:11:34.920> and have Rich of testimony from hhsc and have Rich of testimony from hhsc and
• <00:11:56.200> any<00:11:56.440> members<00:11:56.800> any support from hhsc

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Item 4 at the bottom of the page, reallocate $7 million in general revenue to HHSC to partially offset
• You'll see a similar offsetting amount when I get to HHSC that It offsets both costs, so it's a net cost
• And item 13 at the bottom, add funding and amend rider to allow HHSC to provide a 10% increase in salary
• Item one, add a new rider to require HHSC to establish a residential treatment facility.
• 10.06, which is adopted to fund the Texas all Payer Claims database with $5 million allocated from HHSC

Bills: SB 1

Keywords: campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards

Transcript Highlights:

• HHSC must recoup these dollars provided to a facility under the program.
• I represent the Health and Human Services Commission, but I don't represent HHSC.
• So for this reason, we recommend that owner information collected by HHSC is made public. more available
• my understanding that a review process that's carried out by the provider finance department within HHSC
• The HHSC promulgated standards are already high.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all