Transcript Highlights:

• <01:59:07.119> may evidence-based treatment for PTSD may evidence-based treatment for PTSD
• in HB 573 at that time to remove PTSD in HB 573 at that time to remove PTSD from<02:00:08.520>
• The most common use of cannabis, therapeutic cannabis, is actually for pain, not PTSD.
• The most common use of cannabis, therapeutic cannabis, is actually for pain, not PTSD.
• The most common use of cannabis, therapeutic cannabis, is actually for pain, not PTSD.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It helps people manage pain, anxiety, PTSD, and more.
• It worsens PTSD symptoms. It worsens anxiety and depression.
• Like many veterans, I battled chronic pain, PTSD, and sleep issues.
• I too suffer from CPTSD and secondary PTSD from being a caretaker for my husband.
• PTSD and was so afraid. afraid of him to the point that she...

Bills: HB 28, SB 3

Keywords: hemp regulation, consumable products, cannabinoids, state health, youth protection, licensing fees, criminal offenses, HB28, public testimony, committee decorum, bill substitute, legislative process

Summary: The meeting featured significant discussions regarding HB28, where the chair outlined the plans to bring forward a substitute for the bill. The chair emphasized the importance of maintaining order and decorum during the proceedings. Members engaged in deliberations, and a number of public witnesses were invited to testify, thereby enriching the discussion around the bill. This interaction provided valuable insights into public sentiment regarding the issues at hand.

Transcript Highlights:

• to the person who's experienced the PTSD.
• This is an experienced the PTSD.
• We really don't know at what point PTSD invaded our lives.
• We really don't know at what point PTSD invaded our lives.
• We really don't know at what point PTSD invaded our lives.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Businesses like mine... ...like sleep, pain, PTSD, anxiety, and a lot more.
• It helps people manage pain, anxiety, PTSD, and more.
• Like many veterans, I battled chronic pain, PTSD, and sleep issues.
• I, too, suffer from CPTSD and secondary PTSD from being a caretaker.
• I battled chronic pain, depression, anxiety, PTSD, and suicidal attempts.

Bills: SB 3, HB28, SB3

Keywords: flash flood, flood warning, outdoor warning siren, emergency alert, disaster preparedness, flood mitigation, Hill Country floods, Texas Water Development Board, municipalities, counties, local government mandate, public safety, grant program, backup power, weather siren, emergency management, flood-prone area, warning system, hemp regulation, consumable products

Transcript Highlights:

• addiction recovery as well uh as PTSD addiction recovery as well uh as PTSD especially<00:19:44.000
• PTSD. PTSD.
• One treatment he was going through severe<00:24:23.679> PTSD severe PTSD severe PTSD and<00:24
• reduction of PTSD symptoms. reduction of PTSD symptoms.
• <00:25:32.400> Um PTSD and severe depression. Um PTSD and severe depression.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: Senate File 4612, a state government bill affecting the Department of Health, Human Services, and Children, Youth, and Families, was taken up with a House language amendment adopted at the outset. The bill’s authors gave sharply different perspectives: one described it as a limited, reactive measure tied to federal Medicaid changes and said it fell short of needed health care improvements, while the other argued it would avoid large federal penalties, add Medicaid work requirements, save taxpayer money, and help certain rural and disability-related services. Members then debated several amendments. A technical House research amendment was offered, followed by a contested amendment on the all-payer claims database. Supporters of that change argued the bill expanded data access and could allow sensitive health data to be sold or used outside the United States, raising privacy and jurisdiction concerns; opponents said the data would remain deidentified, access would be limited to researchers, and the fee structure was a cost-recovery mechanism rather than a sale. The amendment to the amendment failed on a 67-67 tie, and the underlying amendment was not adopted. The committee also adopted an amendment updating mortuary science rules for natural organic reduction and another that would automatically enroll certain people into medical assistance if they did not choose a program themselves. A later amendment creating a therapeutic psilocybin pilot program for mental health and PTSD treatment drew strong bipartisan support, especially from members citing veteran suicide, trauma, and promising research; it was adopted after discussion. The transcript ended while discussion continued on how the program would be administered, including questions about using the Office of Cannabis Management rather than the Department of Health.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:06:15.440> and<00:06:15.560> is disorder known as PTSD and is disorder known as
• And this is how PTSD damages the brain. And here is depression.
• For PTSD, ibogaine raises the remission rate from 30% to 86%.
• PTSD, and severe depression. PTSD, and severe depression.
• In this case, ibogaine is being confused with MDMA because both can be used to treat PTSD.

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• of the programs that has been identified something's very personal to me is the National Center for PTSD
• For us to have PTSD, this is extremely important because we know that it's an evolving field of research
• not just us, but also end up saving us money in the long run if we can find better treatments for PTSD
• through deliberative multilevel review I have no idea how someone look at the National Center for PTSD
• at it, and we'll have the focus on our veterans. and women having to do their treatments and their PTSD

Bills: SB124, SB201, SB275, SB410, SB478, SB607, SB610, SB611, SB654, SB702, SB787, SB831, SB892

Keywords: Department of Veterans Affairs, disciplinary procedures, accountability, personnel actions, whistleblower protection, cancer, military, aircrew, veterans, health study, toxins, morbidity, mortality, service members, mental health, community care, accessibility, treatment programs, substance abuse, appointments

Summary: During the meeting, various members engaged in extensive discussions surrounding 15 proposed bills related to veterans' affairs. Notably, concerns regarding recent VA workforce changes sparked debates, particularly about potential cuts and their implications for veterans' care and benefits. Chairman Moran emphasized the need for thoughtful reforms and coordination with stakeholders, urging responsible measures to prevent negatively impacting service delivery. The meeting highlighted a significant bipartisan effort to enhance veterans' access to essential health services, particularly in light of recent challenges faced by the VA workforce. Senator Blumenthal's assertions about the urgent plight of veterans due to cuts in personnel drew strong reactions, showcasing the deep concern among committee members regarding the current state of veteran services.

Transcript Highlights:

• Meanwhile, PTSD rates among first responders such as EMS can reach to nearly 20%.
• Meanwhile, PTSD rates among first responders such as EMS can reach to nearly 20%.
• Meanwhile, PTSD rates among first responders such as EMS can reach to nearly 20%.
• <00:13:35.960> Meanwhile,<00:13:36.520> PTSD impact of those events.
• Meanwhile, PTSD impact of those events.

Bills: HCR92, HCR46, HCR172, HCR147, HCR112, HCR100, HR84, HR42, HR139, HR104, HR92

Keywords: automated external defibrillator, AED, cardiac arrest, state buildings, health education, public health, lifeguards, first responders, public safety, ocean safety, emergency response, Hawaii, workers' compensation, auditor, procurement audit, compliance, Department of Human Resources Development, transparency, accountability, medical care

Transcript Highlights:

• Second, it adds PTSD and trauma-related PTSD to a list of qualifying diagnoses.
• And so it really should be PTSD, but if they diagnose someone with PTSD, they won't then qualify for
• , and PTSD.
• ,<00:46:08.400> and<00:46:08.960> uh um on trauma, PTSD, and uh um on trauma, PTSD,
• Um, audio only tellaalth has PTSD.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:53:38.200> who<00:53:38.280> have<00:53:38.360> suffered<00:53:38.680> PTSD
• <00:53:39.240> and people who have suffered PTSD and people who have suffered PTSD and trauma
• current available treatments that we have have have to<01:00:31.320> treat<01:00:31.680> PTSD
• , traumatic brain injury, treating PTSD, traumatic brain injury, substance<01:02:38.760> use<01
• 8 years ago, taking research and PTSD 8 years ago, taking note<01:13:47.600> but<01:13:47.800

Bills: HB1626, HB1643, HB1668, HB1550, HB1974, HB1858, HB1871, HB1966, HB1972, HB1973

Keywords: youth penalties, juvenile justice, community service, fees and fines, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, reform, court costs, cultural connection, pharmacy, pharmacist, pharmacy audit, audit reform, pharmacy benefit manager, PBM, recoupment, extrapolation, claims audit, pharmacy reimbursement, dispensing fee

Summary: The committee heard testimony on SB 847, which would create a Kauai pilot program allowing qualified psychologists limited authority to prescribe psychotropic medications. The Board of Psychology supported the bill’s intent but asked for amendments to delay the effective date or extend the pilot so rules could be written first, and to clarify the education/training language. Supporters, including the Hawaii Psychological Association, Hawaii Mental Health Coalition, and several psychologists, argued that prescribing psychologists have long safety records in other jurisdictions and that the pilot could improve access to care on Kauai, especially amid ongoing mental health needs and storm-related stress. They cited studies and examples from New Mexico, Louisiana, the Department of Defense, and other places. Opponents, including the Hawaii Medical Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, Queen’s Medical Center, and a Department of Health representative, said the bill needed substantial work, raised concerns about training, liability, and workforce impacts, and urged a team-based model with psychiatrist oversight rather than independent prescribing. Some testimony also referenced a GAO report, with witnesses disagreeing over its meaning and cost-effectiveness. No vote was taken during the discussion, and members asked questions about how the bill would address the workforce shortage and whether a psychiatrist on Kauai could already meet the need. The committee then moved to SB 2271 on hospital licensing and SB 2272 on home health care licensing. The Department of Health, the Healthcare Association of Hawaii, and the Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities supported both measures, which were described as streamlining and clarifying licensing oversight by relying on accreditation or certification reports. A member asked whether the bill language on hospital accreditation reports was duplicative, and the response was that the second provision was intended to strengthen enforcement by requiring hospitals to provide the actual report to DOH. The committee did not take final action in the portion of the hearing provided, and the chair noted that all bills on the agenda would later be considered for decision-making.

Transcript Highlights:

• look at a vital step forward by passing legislation that provides access to care and treatment for PTSD
• This bill ensures that all first responders have access to care and treatment for PTSD under the workers
• More specifically, it defines PTSD as first responders under Chapters 501, 502, 503, and 505 of the Labor
• and hopefully I've made it through my career without, unfortunately, having to undergo some of the PTSD
• officers under these same provisions to protect those peace officers or first responders who suffer PTSD

Bills: HB322, HB331, HB673, HB 1147, HB 1154, HB2488

Keywords: JET Grant Program, career education, technical education, community colleges, technology solutions, high demand jobs, first responders, acute myocardial infarction, stroke, benefits, compensation, presumption of disability, emergency services, healthcare, Medicaid, mental health, substance abuse, treatment access, cost, insurance coverage

Transcript Highlights:

• He got into the T-Cup program to deal with the PTSD.
• Sergio—I know her purpose is, it’s alleviating some PTSD symptoms.
• When they go, 'You've got two minutes,' it is a PTSD and I get rattled.
• I was in the original PTSD study with Dr.
• This is $75 with a veteran discount. ever since it started for PTSD.

Summary: The House Committee on Public Health heard House Bill 5, a proposal to ban THC products outside the Texas Compassionate Use Program while allowing non-intoxicating CBD and CBG products under tighter regulation. Chair Van Deaver gave a lengthy background on the 2018 federal Farm Bill and Texas’s 2019 hemp law, arguing that the lack of guardrails allowed a large, unregulated THC market to develop. HB 5 would impose licensing fees, product registration, testing and inspection requirements, and restrictions intended to keep products away from children. Invited witnesses from law enforcement strongly supported the bill. Steve Dye of the Texas Police Chiefs Association and Brian Hawthorne of the Sheriffs’ Association of Texas argued that THC consumables are widely mislabeled, often far more potent than advertised, and linked to youth access, impaired driving, and organized crime. Both said regulation would be ineffective and would amount to legalization, while a ban would be easier for officers to enforce. They also emphasized support for the Texas Compassionate Use Program and said medical THC should remain available. Dr. Peter Stout of the Texas Association of Crime Lab Directors and Alice Amelot of Texas DPS testified as resource witnesses about forensic testing. They said current lab resources are already stretched thin, that quantitative testing for THC and related cannabinoids is expensive and time-consuming, and that a ban would simplify enforcement because labs could focus on presence/absence testing rather than concentration. Amelot said DPS labs are neutral on the bill but explained that mislabeled products and inaccurate certificates of analysis are common. Committee members asked about traffic safety, impairment, youth use, and the costs of enforcement and lab testing; witnesses repeatedly said the bill would reduce complexity for law enforcement but that any approach would still require more resources for labs.

Transcript Highlights:

• The FPCA carried the bill a few sessions ago in which we were able to change the law regarding PTSD and
• The PTSD bill opened the door for more opportunities for treatment.
• surely welcome to use that program—and generally 40 dives will help our veterans that are suffering PTSD
• They will no longer have PTSD after those 40 dives.”
• “Myself and a couple other people, we funded ourselves 2,100 veterans, and they’re all free of PTSD.

Summary: The committee heard presentations on domestic security and public safety priorities from Gulf County Sheriff Mike Harrison and Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Rebel. Sheriff Harrison outlined Florida Sheriffs Association priorities, including reclassifying xylazine as a Schedule I controlled substance with a veterinary-use exemption, expanding enforcement of pretrial release violations beyond domestic violence cases, providing tuition-waiver benefits for sheriff’s office personnel, advancing the Jason Rainer Act to increase penalties for violent offenses against law enforcement, extending sex-offender residency restrictions, improving access to mental-health-related databases, and continuing support for fusion centers and Florida model jail standards. Members asked questions about xylazine’s veterinary use, canine detection, and public records burdens on small agencies; no votes were taken on these items. Chief Rebel focused on the Florida Police Chiefs Association’s role in disaster response, officer training, and wellness. He described the association’s coordination through the state EOC and regional deployments during hurricanes, then emphasized officer suicide and the need for statewide wellness resources, peer support, and accessible behavioral health care for first responders. He also referenced prior PTSD benefits legislation and urged continued support for the PCIS program and other wellness initiatives. Committee members discussed related resources such as dispatcher support, the Restore program at UCF, hyperbaric chamber treatment for PTSD, and canine support organizations. On domestic security funding, Rebel said FPCA does not have a specific bill package but wants to preserve the Domestic Security Oversight Council and regional task forces, protect limited SHISGAP funding for new projects, and shift ongoing successful programs to state funding. He also supported fixing the long-gun carry loophole, continuing the Jason Rainer Act effort, allowing ethical law-enforcement use of AI with human review, addressing monetization of public records and body-camera footage, and maintaining the ability to investigate anonymous complaints. The committee adjourned after discussion; no formal action or votes were recorded.

Transcript Highlights:

• PTSD, anxiety, depression, and substance use disorders.
• There's national interest and on... ...with treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, and PTSD.
• And that’s a key to the effectiveness of any recovery, whether a substance use disorder or PTSD.
• And that’s a key to the effectiveness of any recovery, whether a substance use disorder or PTSD.
• Like everybody processes PTSD or whatever it may be differently.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery opened its first public hearing of the 2025–26 session with remarks from the Senate and House chairs outlining the committee’s priorities. They noted recent work on addiction and recovery legislation, the ongoing youth behavioral health crisis, and that members might need to leave periodically for floor votes. The chairs explained hearing procedures, including three-minute testimony limits, written testimony deadlines, and reporting deadlines for Senate and House bills. The hearing then focused on several bills related to youth mental health, overdose prevention, and psychedelic treatment research. A major portion of the hearing centered on bills to improve youth crisis response and overdose prevention. Testimony strongly supported bills to print the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline on student ID cards, with speakers from mental health organizations, crisis centers, and individuals sharing personal stories of depression, suicide attempts, and the importance of making 988 as familiar as 911. Another set of bills would require schools to stock naloxone and provide overdose prevention education. Physicians, harm reduction advocates, students, and grieving family members testified that school-based Narcan access and education could save lives, reduce stigma, and help students recognize overdoses and understand Good Samaritan protections. Senator O’Connor and Tamika Perry also testified for a bill to strengthen substance use prevention education and reduce overdose abandonment, emphasizing the need to teach students about overdose risks and the legal protections for calling 911. The committee also heard testimony on a bill to authorize a pilot program for psychedelic treatment in licensed facilities. Senator Friedman and several medical and behavioral health professionals argued the proposal was a narrow, research-based approach distinct from the broader ballot question rejected in 2024. They said the bill would allow only a small number of supervised clinics to use psychedelics for conditions such as depression, PTSD, anxiety, and substance use disorders, with data reporting and Department of Public Health oversight. Supporters described it as a cautious way to study promising treatments while avoiding unsupervised or commercialized use. Finally, the committee heard support for a bill to create a special commission and five-year strategic plan for children’s behavioral health services, with testimony that the current system is fragmented, difficult for families to navigate, and strained by workforce and funding challenges. No votes or final actions were taken during the hearing; the committee primarily received testimony and questions on the bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• Current law does not recognize PTSD as a compensable injury under the first responder workers' compensation
• HB 1667 allows first responders to file workers' compensation claims for PTSD as a work-related injury
• That PTSD suffered by first responders is a compensable injury under workers' compensation law based
• Code to improve clarity and consistency within the workers' compensation framework, recognizing that PTSD
• And so it will pick up those other officers and add them to the existing PTSD statute.

Summary: The subcommittee heard testimony on a broad agenda of workforce, labor, and workers’ compensation bills. HB 4676 would require political subdivision workers’ compensation networks to follow the same notice, access, and complaint rules as certified TDI networks; supporters said public employees and first responders deserve equal access to care, while municipal risk pool representatives opposed added regulation and said existing 504 networks already perform well. HB 4479 would create a rural workforce development grant program at TWC to support college-and-career readiness and local workforce alignment, and HB 3844 would define “opportunity youth” in state law to improve data, coordination, and access to services for disconnected young Texans; both drew strong support from rural, education, and chamber witnesses. HB 5545 would clarify federal tax treatment for wage-replacement benefits in non-subscriber injury benefit plans, with proponents calling it a win for employers and injured workers. HB 5118 would direct TWC and DIR to study AI and automated employment decision tools in hiring, including bias and oversight concerns. HB 1667 would move existing PTSD workers’ compensation language into a broader Labor Code chapter so more first responders, including state and campus officers, could qualify for benefits; supporters called it a technical fix to extend coverage more evenly across agencies. The committee also heard several first-responder and workers’ compensation bills. HB 2369 would speed up claims handling for injured first responders by allowing a single medical evaluation, giving carriers 60 days to accept or deny a claim, and letting workers seek treatment while disputes proceed; law enforcement supporters said it would help injured officers return to work faster, while opponents warned it would revive extent-of-injury waiver problems and increase litigation. HB 4483 would reclassify certain workers’ compensation maintenance taxes as surcharges to reduce retaliatory taxes imposed by other states on Texas-domiciled carriers, and HB 875, as revised by committee substitute, would create a small-project exception to municipal workers’ compensation and bonding requirements for certain low-value construction contracts in small cities; both were presented as cost-saving measures for Texas employers and local governments. HB 4415 would extend anti-retaliation protections for workers’ compensation claimants from first responders to all public employees and expressly waive sovereign immunity for those claims, with supporters describing it as closing a loophole that leaves public workers without the same remedy available in the private sector. The committee also took testimony on HB 5400, which would expand remedies for sexual harassment victims by removing the requirement to first file an administrative charge, extending the filing deadline from 300 days to two years, clarifying retaliation, and eliminating current damages caps. Supporters, including employment lawyers and a parent of a victim, said the current deadlines and caps prevent many survivors from obtaining counsel or full relief, especially younger workers and those in small workplaces or franchises. Across the agenda, witnesses repeatedly emphasized access to care, fair treatment for injured workers, rural workforce development, and stronger protections for vulnerable employees. After each bill was laid out and testimony heard, the chair generally closed the public hearing and left the bill pending; no final votes were taken, and the subcommittee adjourned after completing the agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• of you addresses many of those things with officers and military personnel that are working through PTSD
• Our service is vital trauma care, including PTS, PTSD, moral injury, and MST (military sexual trauma)
• their depression symptoms, a 57% reduction in their anxiety symptoms, and a 58% reduction in their PTSD
• website, there's probably over 50 studies documenting the effectiveness of this specifically with PTSD
• Moderate to strong effect in improving quality of life, reducing anxiety, depression, and other PTSD-related

Transcript Highlights:

• PTSD actually does not yet have enough clinical evidence to include it on the list of conditions.
• An act decriminalizing psilocybin as a treatment for PTSD and certain other conditions.
• PTSD affects 6% of the general population, up to 29% of veterans.
• Secondly, on the benefits, there's not a single study, not one, of psilocybin and PTSD.
• There's not one study published, and yet you have a bill for psilocybin for PTSD in the title.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on a wide range of public health and emergency services bills, with many speakers focusing on EMS system failures, hospital service closures, trauma preparedness, epilepsy awareness, drink-spiking response, sudden cardiac arrest, and survivor financial assistance. Several legislators and advocates described the EMS system as underfunded and overstretched, citing long ambulance waits, staffing shortages, and the need for statewide oversight, a special commission, and clearer recognition of EMS as an essential service. A number of speakers also supported bills to preserve essential hospital services after closures such as Nashoba Valley Medical Center and birthing services in Leominster, arguing that current closure rules lack enforcement and leave communities without critical care. Multiple panels testified in support of bills requiring trauma kits in public buildings, public education on SUDEP and epilepsy mortality, and improved cardiac arrest response. Supporters of the trauma-kit bill said public buildings should have bleeding-control kits and trained staff, comparing them to AEDs and first aid supplies. Epilepsy advocates, clinicians, and grieving parents urged a public health campaign on SUDEP, saying families are often not warned about the risk and that awareness could improve medication adherence, reduce guilt, and save lives. On cardiac arrest, EMS professionals and the American Heart Association backed measures to improve telecommunicator CPR, create an AED registry, and strengthen dispatch and training standards. The committee also heard extensive testimony on a bill addressing illicit drink spiking. Senators, city officials, victims, physicians, and an international anti-spiking advocate described cases in which hospitals refused toxicology testing unless a sexual assault was reported, and argued for standardized testing protocols, better data collection, and coordination with law enforcement and licensed venues. Another bill drew a sharp exchange over local public health control and the SAFE 2.0 law, with one senator arguing for more local approval and voluntary participation, while committee members defended the earlier law as a response to inequities in local public health capacity. Finally, advocates from Jane Doe, Inc. supported legislation to provide flexible financial assistance to survivors of domestic and sexual violence, saying unrestricted cash helps survivors meet basic needs, escape abuse, and rebuild stability.

Transcript Highlights:

• One, people that were using marijuana before they were diagnosed with PTSD.
• Marijuana use may actually worsen PTSD symptoms.
• I know her purposes; it's alleviating some PTSD symptoms.
• It is PTSD, and I get rattled.
• I was in the original PTSD study with Dr. __________.

Bills: HB5

Keywords: hemp, cannabinoids, regulation, occupational licenses, consumable products, marketing, criminal offenses, labeling requirements, health and safety, 997, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We know that opioid dependency, PTSD, and traumatic brain injury are. taking a staggering toll on thousands
• We're also seeing extremely compelling data data on its treatment of PTSD, TBI, depression, and other
• Before the treatment, 23 had clinical PTSD, 14 had anxiety disorder. 15 had alcohol use disorder, 19
• PTSD symptoms dropped by 88 percent. Depression symptoms dropped by 87 percent.
• seen I've got a lot of buddies that I served with that are impacted with a lot of situations, TBI, PTSD

Bills: SB128, SB640, SB672, SB904, SB1141, SB1263, SB1525, SB1528, SB2041, SB2306, SB2308, SB2357, SB2446, SB2695, SB2857, SB2891, SB2583

Keywords: hospital reporting, child abuse, neglect, administrative penalty, medical ethics, child protection, SB 640, Texas Family Code, Department of Family and Protective Services, DFPS, child welfare, foster care, managing conservatorship, suicide attempt, youth suicide, mental health, child protective services, state custody, annual report, reporting requirements

Transcript Highlights:

• His doctors told us that he could not have PTSD because he was not deployed to a combat zone.
• He received intensive counseling, treatment for his nightmares, and was diagnosed with PTSD.
• a more intense treatment option for those veterans in need, including those with substance abuse, PTSD
• when I first got back from the war, I actually tried to go right to my VA and ask for services for PTSD
• For us veterans that use services, get PTSD services, or other services, we know the best way to deal