Transcript Highlights:

• And when I say kids, they were older than 18, that had a traumatic brain injury.
• And I just don't think that the fee for giving somebody traumatic brain injury...
• And when I say kids, they were older than 18, that had a traumatic brain injury.
• You know, I just am very nervous about, you know, how much money that may or may not be.
• I just am very nervous about, you know, how much money that may or may not be.

Summary: The committee heard a presentation from Nucor Corporation on its Arizona operations, including the Kingman steel facility, recycling-based electric arc furnace production, workforce development, safety improvements, veteran hiring, and recent investments. Nucor emphasized that its Arizona materials support local infrastructure and manufacturing jobs, and members asked about scrap sources, annual tonnage recycled, average pay, safety practices, and future expansion. No formal action was taken on the presentation. The committee then considered HB 2574, which would require ADOT to hold off on enforcing a civil traffic judgment while an appeal is pending if a stay is granted. The sponsor and a witness argued the bill would close a due-process gap by preventing penalties from taking effect before appeals are resolved. The committee voted 7-0 to give HB 2574 a due pass recommendation. HB 2057, which lowers the fee for Arizona Centennial special plates on fleet vehicles and directs the fee split to administration and the Centennial Plate Fund, also passed 7-0 after discussion about possibly expanding the discount to other specialty plates. HB 2109, which raises penalties for repeat distracted-driving violations and adds an enhanced penalty when such conduct causes a motorcycle crash, drew extensive testimony and discussion. Supporters argued stronger fines are needed to change behavior and improve road safety, while members raised concerns that the bill lacked an education component and discussed possible committee-of-the-whole amendments. The committee voted 7-0 to pass the bill. HB 2317, which would bar local governments from prohibiting cruising, generated significant testimony both for and against; supporters framed cruising as a cultural practice tied to lowriding, while opponents described neighborhood congestion, blocked access, trash, and public-safety problems. The chair held HB 2317 so the sponsor and stakeholders could work on amendments. The committee also heard HB 2003, which would lower the minimum age for an instruction permit to 15 and extend permit validity and supervised-driving time for teen drivers; the sponsor argued the changes would improve safety by increasing supervised practice, but the transcript cuts off before any vote on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• These courts address service-related issues such as PTSD, traumatic brain injury, or substance abuse
• Traumatic brain injury, or substance abuse that contributes to criminal behavior.
• injuries.
• injuries.
• injuries.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and heard several introductions and announcements before moving to a long special-order calendar. Early bills passed included a trust law measure allowing a nonjudicial process for trustee settlement and discharge, a military affairs bill expanding leave protections and retirement eligibility for certain Guard and Coast Guard-related public employees, a penny-rounding bill for cash transactions, a podiatric medicine bill restricting certain cellular/tissue-based products and adding notice and consent requirements, a veterans’ courts bill expanding access to those courts statewide, an RV assessment clarification bill, a military-installation jurisdiction bill giving juveniles on bases access to state juvenile justice resources, an alcohol-tax deduction bill restoring DBPR’s authority to allow deductions for unsellable alcohol, a bail bonds bill revising training, fees, remission timing, and electronic procedures, an eyewear insurance bill updating definitions for modern products, a nursing education fund bill expanding support to health science programs, a recovery residences bill streamlining regulation and background-check rules, a felony battery bill adding resisting an officer with violence as a qualifying prior offense, a child welfare bill extending visitor definitions, making the Step Into Success program permanent, and creating a best-practices repository, and a candidate qualification bill tightening party-affiliation requirements and, via the House version, adding a name-change disclosure provision. Most of these bills were substituted with House companions where applicable and passed on near-unanimous votes, with one recorded dissent on the bail bonds bill. Several measures drew brief debate or explanation. Senator Wright’s military affairs bill was amended to restore two Florida National Guard special project officer positions to retirement eligibility, and Senator Gates’ veterans’ courts bill was described as a way to better address PTSD, brain injury, and substance-abuse-related offenses through problem-solving courts. Senator Trunow’s bail bonds bill prompted questions about charitable bail bonds, with the sponsor saying the current statute would remain in place and that further discussion could occur later. Senator Massullo’s podiatric medicine bill was framed as a bipartisan patient-protection measure, and Senator Leak’s felony battery bill was presented as closing a loophole that allowed repeat violent offenders to avoid enhancement. The chamber also took up a candidate qualification bill that would create an enforceable party-affiliation requirement and, in the House version, restrict recent petition-based name changes for candidates. A major portion of the meeting was devoted to a farewell ceremony for Senator Lori Berman, with family, staff, former colleagues, and guests in attendance. Senators from both parties offered extended remarks praising her leadership, collegiality, policy work, and advocacy on issues including voting rights, women’s rights, Israel and antisemitism, school safety, breast cancer, Everglades restoration, and other constituent services. Berman’s own remarks reflected on her 16 years in the Legislature, her family, and her belief in dignity, respect, and practical problem-solving. The Senate then adopted a motion to spread her remarks upon the journal and recessed before returning to continue the calendar.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a brain injury survivor from Apollos, Louisiana.
• I'm a brain injury survivor from Apollos, Louisiana.
• A few years back, a traumatic brain injury flipped my world around.
• I’m sorry, I’m a little nervous.
• And then I get a little nervous. We appreciate that clarity.

Summary: The Criminal Justice Committee met on March 24, 2026, and heard a series of bills, with members generally expressing support for measures aimed at public safety, corrections, and criminal procedure. The committee first amended and reported HB 957, which removes the 72-hour advance notice requirement for sheriffs transferring prisoners, while adding notice to the prosecuting authority as well as the court. Testimony from the Louisiana Sheriffs Association said the change would help with overcrowding and security-related inmate moves, and the bill was reported favorably as amended. The committee then heard HB 106, which prohibits giving children non-prescription melatonin without parental consent. After debate over whether consent should be written, the committee rejected an amendment requiring prior written consent, but adopted a broader amendment making the bill apply to any person rather than only child care centers. Testimony from Gretna Police Chief Brett Lawson described a case involving a nanny and a one-year-old child, and child care representatives said licensed centers already require parental consent forms. HB 106 was reported favorably as amended. The committee also reported HB 111, which adds associate’s degrees to the existing sentence-reduction credits for incarcerated people who complete higher education programs; DOC said the programs are accredited and monitored, and supporters framed the bill as part of workforce reentry. Several other bills were advanced. HB 64 clarifies that judges may recall arrest warrants and requires notice to law enforcement when a warrant is recalled; former Rep. Joe Marino testified in support, describing problems with old or mistaken warrants remaining active. HB 53 adds certain gambling offenses as predicate acts under Louisiana’s racketeering law, with the Attorney General’s office citing illegal gambling operations and prison-based gambling rings. HB 152 updates the state controlled dangerous substances schedules to match federal changes, adding 13 opioids. HB 102 creates second-degree cruelty to elderly persons and persons with infirmities, with amendments adding the offense as a predicate felony and refining the penalty and affirmative-defense language; the bill drew emotional testimony from advocates and family members describing abuse and neglect of vulnerable adults, and it was reported favorably as amended. The committee also reported HB 137, which strengthens penalties for threats against schools and adds a civil cost component for false threats; the Speaker Pro Tem said the bill is meant to deter school threats and reduce disruption and emergency response costs. HB 57 was reported favorably to clarify that courts may consider criminal histories in ex parte temporary restraining order proceedings. HB 337 increases from two to four the number of special charitable bingo events allowed each year for licensed nonprofits. Finally, HB 100 was substantially amended so that driving 100 mph or more is treated as reckless operation rather than a new felony speeding offense, and HB 155 expands the prohibition on unlawful drone use to additional Capitol grounds locations; both were reported favorably as amended. The committee adjourned after reporting all measures favorably, with several bills supported by law enforcement, prosecutors, and advocacy groups and a few receiving limited opposition or informational cards.

Transcript Highlights:

• When someone gets so close that they in turn become susceptible to injury, the officer now has to worry
• but does that, in your experience, make it difficult for law enforcement, either by way of being nervous
• But when you're talking about crowd control, you're always nervous, as well you should be.
• but does that, in your experience, make it difficult for law enforcement, either by way of being nervous
• But when you're talking about crowd control, you're always nervous as well you should be.

Summary: The committee first met in executive session on Senate Bill 982. Members adopted a House committee substitute and two House committee amendments. The substitute updated the bill to incorporate cleanup language from recently enacted sex offense legislation, added changes related to sexually violent predator housing so the Department of Mental Health could contract with the Department of Corrections for bed space, and made registry-related changes so offenders would remain listed under the name and biological sex associated with the offense. After questions about civil commitment procedures, registry identity, and age-related language, the committee voted the House committee substitute do pass by a roll call of 14 aye, 1 no, and 1 present. The committee then heard and passed House Bill 3414, which received a do pass recommendation by roll call. It also took up House Bills 3434, 3460, and 2628 together in a combined House committee substitute. Testimony focused on emergency contraception for sexual assault survivors, including a definition clarifying that emergency contraception does not terminate a pregnancy, and concerns were raised about religious objections by providers and whether rural facilities would be covered. After adopting an amendment and rolling it into the substitute, the combined bill package was voted do pass by 11 aye, 4 no, and 1 present. In public hearing, the committee heard Senate Joint Resolution 87, which would place the election of sheriffs in the Missouri Constitution. The sponsor and supporting witnesses argued it would protect local control, preserve accountability to voters, and prevent removal of sheriffs for political reasons, while exempting St. Louis City, St. Louis County, St. Charles County, and Jackson County because of their different local structures. Witnesses from the Missouri Sheriffs’ Association and the St. Louis sheriff’s office supported the measure. The committee also heard House Bills 1868 and 3257, identical proposals creating a Class D misdemeanor for impeding, threatening, or harassing first responders after an oral warning to stay back; supporters said the measure would protect officers, EMS, and firefighters during calls and crowd situations, and some witnesses suggested technical wording changes. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 3017, which would create the felony offense of permitting a public nuisance on property used for repeated illegal activity and authorize authorities to secure abandoned or nuisance properties after repeated documented complaints. Members questioned the felony penalty, landlord notice, and funding for boarding up properties, but Kansas City police supported the bill and the hearing concluded without any recorded vote on it.

Transcript Highlights:

• During both encounters, I noticed the officers may become nervous due to my size.
• During both encounters, I noticed the officers may become nervous due to my size.
• , seizures after head injury, short stature child, tight heel cords, acquired bilateral...
• And one that doesn't, should there be an injury and or a claim? You recognize? Thank you, Chair.
• It is a concentration of power that should make us all very, very nervous.”

Summary: The committee took up a series of bills and reported several of them favorably, often after brief sponsor presentations, supportive public testimony, and unanimous or near-unanimous votes. Early measures included PCS for CSHB 1069 on background screenings for athletic coaches and qualified entities, CS/HB 365 on law enforcement interactions with individuals with autism spectrum disorder, and CS/HB 269 plus its linked public-records bill CS/SB 298 on domestic violence and dating violence. The domestic violence package focused on using NG-911 technology for discreet help-seeking, expanding protections to dating violence victims, and preserving confidentiality for participants in related programs. The committee also approved HB 6507, a claims bill for injuries involving DCF negligence, after limited discussion. Members then considered PCS for CSHB 1159, which increases penalties and updates terminology for sexual offenses involving minors, child sexual abuse material, and related crimes. The bill was amended to replace “child pornography” with “child sexual abuse material” and to address childlike sex dolls, and it passed unanimously. The committee also heard CS/HB 529 on community-based care lead agency and subcontractor liability insurance. That bill would remove a statutory liability-insurance requirement for certain child welfare providers amid an insurance market crisis; it drew extensive debate, with supporters saying it would prevent agencies from shutting down and opponents warning it would reduce accountability and leave children vulnerable. It passed 15-4 as amended. The committee next approved PCS for CSHB 277 on domestic violence and protective injunctions. The bill creates a Pinellas County pilot for electronic monitoring with victim notification, raises the victim relocation allowance, strengthens penalties for repeat injunction violations, and adds protections involving military orders and pets. Testimony was strongly supportive, including from survivors, and the bill passed 18-0 as amended. CS/HB 1009 on government publication of advertisements and public notices also passed, after an amendment requiring notices to remain publicly accessible; newspapers and press groups opposed it, arguing it would fragment access to notices, while the sponsor said it modernizes outdated posting rules. Finally, the committee heard PCS for CSHB 1471 on systems of law and terrorist organizations, which would create a state process for designating domestic terrorist organizations and bar public support for them; the bill drew sharp constitutional objections from civil liberties, press, labor, and advocacy groups over due process, free speech, and viewpoint discrimination concerns.

Transcript Highlights:

• Crime victims who respond with a gun are less likely to avoid injury and more likely to lose property
• </c><00:07:56.879><c> have</c> and general gun-related injuries have and general gun-related injuries
• It also shows that firearm injuries are the leading cause of death among children and teens.
• </c> and the self-inflicted injury. and the self-inflicted injury.
• </c><00:23:49.679><c> are</c> It also shows that firearm injuries are It also shows that firearm injuries

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to share why this My son's first hospital stay after his brain injury lasted nearly six weeks,
• During that hospitalization, he sustained a life-altering traumatic brain injury and received a diagnosis
• He was badly assaulted and received a head injury, had a serious suicide attempt by hanging, and eventually
• I'm sorry, I'm nervous and I'm trying to go fast, so please excuse me, and I will allow myself to slow
• Don't want to make you nervous. But you have... Fifteen seconds. Don't want to make you nervous.

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 2307, as amended by a strike-everything amendment, which would require the Department of Health Services to contract with an out-of-state facility when a person found dangerous and incompetent under a court commitment order cannot be placed in an Arizona secure mental health facility. Supporters, including the sponsor and Senator Angus, said the measure was a temporary stopgap to prevent dangerous individuals from being released because Arizona lacks secure behavioral health beds. Opponents raised due process, disability rights, family access, cost, and interstate-legal concerns, and DHS said it had no fiscal estimate and little experience with such contracts. The committee adopted the amendment and then passed the bill 6-5. The committee then took up House Bill 2083, which updates diabetes-related insurance coverage to include items such as continuous glucose monitors, insulin pumps, smart insulin pens, and certain injectable medications. Supporters said the bill reflects modern diabetes care and can prevent serious complications, while an insurer representative warned that putting the coverage in statute could create state-mandated costs and raised concern that the language might be read to include GLP-1 drugs. The committee adopted the amendment and passed the bill 11-1. House Bill 2673, dealing with mental illness screening and treatment for incarcerated people, would require sheriffs to ensure prisoners showing symptoms of mental disorder are examined within 24 hours and, if appropriate, referred for evaluation and treatment. Representative Hernandez said she intended to revise it into a study committee-style measure after stakeholder feedback, and a family member testified about her son’s death after untreated psychosis in jail. Opposition focused on competency and civil-commitment concerns, costs, and the burden on jails, but the committee passed the bill 12-0. House Bill 2923, which revises timelines and notice procedures for judicial review of court-ordered mental health treatment, also passed 12-0 after supporters said it would clarify outdated language and improve communication with families and guardians; opponents argued it shifted burdens onto patients and could prolong confinement. The committee next passed House Bill 2251, as amended, which expands licensed midwives’ authority to dispense certain medications and devices, adds reporting and oversight requirements, and creates an advisory committee. The sponsor said the amendment narrowed the medication list, clarified transfer-of-care triggers, strengthened oversight, and added sentinel-event reporting after stakeholder discussions with medical groups. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 2914 on electronic monitoring in resident rooms at nursing care and assisted living facilities, with the sponsor’s statement emphasizing the bill as a protection against abuse or neglect and noting similar laws in other states; the transcript cuts off before testimony or a final vote on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• Three out of the 19 victims died more than an hour later due to their injuries, which could have been
• Alongside this, ...injuries which could have been treated.
• The cost is what makes me nervous.
• The cost is what makes me nervous.
• So that's the part that makes me nervous.

Summary: The committee first took up a consent calendar of multiple bills, moving them forward mostly to Appropriations, with AB 1531 sent to Insurance. It then heard AB 645, requiring emergency medical dispatch training for public safety dispatchers who handle medical calls. Supporters said standardized dispatcher training would improve CPR and other pre-arrival instructions, especially in rural areas with long response times; there was no opposition, and the bill was moved to Appropriations. AB 716, on statewide hydrogen fire safety standards and a State Fire Marshal hydrogen expert, also drew support and was sent to Utilities and Energy. AB 783, aimed at lowering disaster rebuilding costs by allowing state contracting for construction materials in declared disaster areas, was supported by housing and building groups and moved to Appropriations. AB 591, creating a public works mutual aid plan for disasters, and AB 1200, expanding disaster preparedness through tabletop exercises, a State Lifelines Council, and CERT training, both received supportive testimony and were sent to Appropriations. The committee also heard AB 300, which would require regular updates to fire hazard severity zone maps; witnesses from fire agencies and cities supported moving the review schedule to every five years, and the bill was sent to Appropriations as amended. AB 986 would add landslides and climate-change-exacerbated conditions to the definition of state and local emergencies; supporters from Rancho Palos Verdes and the League of California Cities described severe land movement and major costs, while members raised concerns about overbroad emergency declarations. The bill nonetheless advanced to Appropriations. AB 478, requiring local emergency plans to include pet rescue procedures and longer holding periods for rescued animals, was supported by the author, a mayor, and animal advocacy groups; members suggested revisiting the 90-day reclamation period and transfer rules, but the bill moved to Appropriations. Later, AB 598 proposed school mapping technology for K-12 campuses so first responders can access accurate layouts during emergencies. The sponsor and dispatch representatives said the maps could reduce response times and improve coordination, while committee members asked about costs, vendor neutrality, rural school funding, and coordination with the 911 Advisory Board; the bill was moved to Appropriations with members noting possible follow-up amendments. Throughout the meeting, several votes were left open for later addition, and the committee eventually recorded additional aye votes and one no vote on AB 783 and a not-voting position on AB 986 before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm sorry, I'm getting nervous.
• So Jennifer, I think she's just getting a little nervous.
• the practice and procedure that you're going to follow with these HDCs to prevent a death or other injury
• I was a little nervous presenting today, but I'm glad that all these questions came up.
• I was a little nervous presenting today, but I'm glad that all these questions came up.

Summary: The Joint State Agencies committee met to approve the October 8, 2025 minutes and then held an extended hearing on the death of Zachary Moore at the Southeast Arkansas Human Development Center. DHS officials Lori McDonald, Jennifer Brise, and Melissa Weatherton described the HDC system, staffing and resident needs, and said Moore died after being held in a prone restraint for about 13 minutes, followed by a delayed chemical restraint and delayed CPR. They said the family settled a wrongful death claim for $725,000, 13 staff were terminated, the facility leadership was changed, and at least five staff had been criminally charged, with the death certificate later described as homicide and the cause of death as physiologic stress associated with struggle and prone restraint. Members pressed DHS on why the family was not kept informed, whether there was a written restraint protocol, how staff are trained, and why the agency did not have more complete information ready for the hearing. DHS said staff receive CPI restraint training, annual restraint training is mandatory, and a consultant is reviewing policies, retraining staff, and conducting a root cause analysis under a directed plan of correction from the Office of Long-Term Care. Legislators also raised broader concerns about low pay, staffing shortages, use of float and contract staff, and a waiting list of about 2,000 people for home- and community-based care. DHS said it is working on a retention and recruitment plan and a rate report for certain PASS services, but that the PASS rate study does not cover CNA pay. Several members said the incident reflected both a failure of restraint practice and a broader staffing and oversight problem. DHS acknowledged that prone restraint should not have been used, that the chemical restraint was given at the wrong time, and that multiple breakdowns occurred in supervision, communication, and equipment use. The committee also discussed whether there should be more regular independent audits of HDC policies, and DHS said it does not currently have a separate annual policy audit beyond existing oversight. At the end of the meeting, the committee asked DHS to keep it updated on recruitment, consultant reports, and to contact Moore’s mother about the communication she had been promised. The meeting adjourned without any additional formal action beyond approving the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• 438, or 54%, of our residents have complex behaviors that lead to aggressive, destructive, or self-injurious
• I'm sorry, I'm getting nervous.
• I'm sorry, I'm getting nervous.
• So Jennifer, I think she's just getting a little nervous.
• I was a little nervous presenting today, but I'm glad that all these questions came up.

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I live with a traumatic brain injury from an accident in 2011 when I was 19 years old.
• After my injury, I've had to take a different path.
• Well, I'm a little nervous. I'm feeling a little nervous. Kyle, can I ask you a question?
• Are you still nervous, Kyle? You're doing great. I'm okay now. Okay, good. Thank you.
• Kind of nervous. Okay.

Summary: The meeting was a 14(c) Task Force hearing focused on employment experiences of Oklahomans with disabilities and the state’s use of subminimum wage. Numerous self-advocates and workers testified about their jobs, accommodations, pay, transportation barriers, and the importance of community integration. Several speakers described positive experiences in competitive or community jobs, while others recounted being underused, fired without explanation, or paid by piece rate or minimum wage in sheltered or enclave settings. Many emphasized that fair pay, independence, ABLE accounts, and supportive employers matter to them, and several said they want future careers, promotions, or even to own businesses and help others with disabilities find work. Task force members discussed recurring themes from the testimony: transportation as a major barrier, the importance of community and self-advocacy, employer misconceptions and stigma, the need for better transition services from school to work, and the difficulty families face navigating benefits and employment systems. Members also raised concerns about people being fired without explanation and about the need for meaningful options for those not ready for competitive employment. Suggestions included more employer education, reverse job fairs, job coaching, benefits planning, better coordination between DDS and DRS, and stronger transition supports in schools and through programs like Project SEARCH. Staff then presented research on how other states have phased out or eliminated 14(c) certificates. Examples included Kansas, Illinois, Indiana, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Washington, with common approaches such as phase-out timelines, technical assistance, provider transition plans, and support for competitive integrated employment. The presenters noted that Oklahoma still has 40 entities using 14(c), most of them DDS providers, but many providers are already moving away from it. Members discussed potential unintended consequences, the need for a clear timeline, the possibility of blending or braiding services, and whether Oklahoma should create a more one-stop, employer-friendly system. No votes were taken, and the group agreed to continue gathering information and return in June to begin shaping priorities and possible policy directions.

Transcript Highlights:

• And even if they are revived, it makes a difference between an anoxic or hypoxic brain injury.
• And even if they are revived, it makes a difference between an anoxic or hypoxic brain injury.
• Getting their heart beating again doesn't necessarily mean. brain injury.
• I'm a little bit more nervous than Laura. It's okay.
• I'm very nervous. My name is Lily Compton.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The Special Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs first took up House Bill 2901. The sponsor’s committee amendment set a five-year expiration date for the bill and clarified where required reports must be filed, with the sponsor explaining the changes were intended to avoid an indefinite or too-short sunset and to make the reports easier to locate. The committee adopted the amendment, rolled it into a committee substitute, and then voted the House Committee Substitute for HB 2901 do pass by a roll call of 13 ayes and 0 nos. The committee then heard House Bill 3000, which would change the signature-counting date for petition audits so the required number is fixed based on when the petition process begins, rather than potentially changing during the signature-gathering period after a gubernatorial election. The sponsor and the State Auditor’s office supported the bill, citing a real example in St. Louis where the required signature threshold shifted during the process and arguing the change would provide consistency and fairness. No vote was taken on HB 3000 in the transcript. The final and longest hearing was on House Bill 3113, a fentanyl-poisoning response bill. The sponsor said it would require naloxone in public buildings, designate October as Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Month, require fentanyl education for students in grades 6 through 12, and require training and investigation standards for law enforcement handling drug-related deaths. Multiple family members and advocates testified in strong support, describing personal losses, urging broader education, suggesting opioid settlement funds as a source for implementation, and arguing that drug-related deaths should be investigated more thoroughly, often as homicide scenes. Committee members generally expressed sympathy and support, while asking questions about the definition of public buildings, how schools would implement the education requirement, and funding; no opposition testimony was presented and no vote was taken on HB 3113 in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• So I'm real nervous about that piece.
• So I'm real nervous about that piece.
• So I'm real nervous about that piece.
• So I'm real nervous about that piece.
• So I'm real nervous about that piece.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Primary and Secondary Education Committee met and first considered Senate Concurrent Resolution 43, a proposal tied to the Southern Regional Education Board’s crisis recovery network. Senator West and Dr. Puit explained that, for an additional $10,000 in dues, Kentucky would help create a network of 40 trained counselors in each of the 16 Southern states to provide post-crisis stabilization and psychological first aid after events such as the Marshall County shooting. They emphasized that the effort would be complementary to local and state response, would run through the school district, would not replace therapeutic services, and would allow districts to coordinate parent notifications and other protocols as usual. Members asked about parent involvement and whether pastoral counselors could participate; the presenters said local districts would remain in charge and that pastors could be included if properly credentialed. The committee then voted, and SCR 43 passed with the expression of opinion that it should pass. The committee next took up Senate Bill 207, the School of Innovation Act, with a committee substitute. Senator West described the bill as creating an optional path for districts to contract with an outside education service provider for a three-year school-of-innovation model, aimed at turning around low-performing schools or supporting other schools that want to innovate. He said the model would preserve core district functions such as transportation, facilities, and SEEK funding, while allowing waivers from certain statutes and regulations inside the school building. The committee substitute also added a high-quality instructional materials component, creating a vendor-supported repository of vetted instructional materials that KDE would still control, with testing data used to evaluate whether the materials were improving outcomes. Members questioned how the proposal differed from existing district-of-innovation law and what safeguards would exist for students. Senator West said the bill would repeal the unused district-of-innovation framework and replace it with a clearer process and guardrails, including KDE oversight, attendance rules, and authority to shut down a school arrangement for financial malfeasance. He also said the model could work with local partners, including superintendents’ associations, and could be used by magnet or other schools, not only low-performing ones. The discussion also touched on whether the bill would allow more flexibility in choosing third-party providers and whether it could support longer-term recovery and even philanthropy in schools. The transcript ends during the discussion of SB 207, with no final vote shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• J.R. suffered a catastrophic injury shortly before her delivery to Memorial West Hospital on January
• Unfortunately, J.R. suffered a devastating neurological injury due to the lack of oxygen in the period
• find a cure for Parkinson's, which is a progressive neurological disorder that impacts individuals' nervous
• find a cure for Parkinson's, which is a progressive neurological disorder impacts in individuals' nervous
• It's a chance to lead nationally, protecting vulnerable families already burdened by injury and exclusion

Summary: The Health Policy Committee met with a quorum and took up a long agenda of health care, Medicaid, and patient-access measures, along with confirmation votes. The committee first reconsidered and amended SB 1606 on patient access to records, clarifying portal obligations, deleting a section affecting nursing home facility records, and setting a January 1, 2026 effective date; the bill then passed favorably as a committee substitute. The committee also recommended confirmation of a block of appointees and separately confirmed Chavon Harris as Secretary of the Agency for Health Care Administration after Harris testified about priorities including financial accountability, managed care oversight, transparency, and quality improvement. Senators asked about audit findings and Medicaid managed care performance, and several witnesses and committee members voiced support for her appointment. The committee then advanced a series of bills, most of them with amendments, including claims bills SB 28 and SB 22 for South Broward Hospital District settlements, SB 772 on undesignated glucagon in schools, SB 998 on death certification by physician assistants and APRNs, SB 1412 on home health administration flexibility, SB 1800 creating a Parkinson’s disease research consortium at USF, SB 306 on managed care network access during holidays and after hours, SB 1768 on stem cell therapies by physicians, SB 1602 on pediatric readiness in emergency departments, SB 1156 on the home health aide program for medically fragile children, SB 1490 on Children’s Medical Services and managed care administration, and SB 1182 on Medicaid coverage of continuous glucose monitors. Most of these bills received support from industry, advocacy, or provider groups and were reported favorably as committee substitutes. The most debated measure was SB 1270, a broad strike-all amendment combining provisions on mRNA vaccine documentation, vaccination-status protections in the Patient Bill of Rights, medical marijuana reporting and background-screening definitions, compact language, and volunteer immunity. The committee heard extensive testimony both for and against the vaccine-related provisions, including concerns about discrimination, patient safety, provider discretion, and medical liability. After additional technical amendments and a time-certain motion, the bill passed favorably as a committee substitute, with Senators Davis and Osgood voting no and Senator Harrell expressing a weak yes. At the end of the meeting, senators recorded their votes on selected tabs, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman Hefner, the following are just some of the gun injuries and deaths perpetrated by shooters under
• That resulted in either injury or death among the highest trained military in the world.
• Unfortunately, the way things are right now, officers are extremely... nervous about the use of that
• I'm sorry, I'm really nervous. It's okay. This is the future you are enabling.
• Texas Gun Sense advocates for common sense, evidence-based policies to reduce gun injuries and deaths

Bills: HB259, HB259, HB 1128, HB1337, HB1506, HB1794, HB2215, HB2470, HB2771, HB2882, HB2993, HB3053, HB3428, HB3669, HB3789, HB3924, HB4201, HB4675

Keywords: redistricting, Independent Citizen Redistricting Commission, Texas Legislature, elections, district boundaries, voter representation, healthcare, insurance, patient rights, medical expenses, access to care, affordability, legislation, firearms, penal code, regulation, short-barrel firearms, ammunition, gun control, public safety

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a little nervous apparently. >> Chairman Elliott, I can't say digitization.
• </c><00:03:50.239><c> I'm</c><00:03:50.480><c> a</c><00:03:50.640><c> little</c><00:03:50.720><c> nervous
• I'm a little nervous apparently. get it. I'm a little nervous apparently.
• a demonstrated history or recent manifestation of criminal behavior that has endangered or caused injury
• a demonstrated history or recent manifestation of criminal behavior that has endangered or caused injury

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee approved the minutes of its June 10, 2025 meeting and then heard testimony on House Bill 198, “Angela’s Law,” sponsored by Representative Samara Hein. The bill would add a new aggravating circumstance in death-penalty cases when an offender abuses the corpse of a kidnapping or murder victim by engaging in deviate sexual intercourse, sexual intercourse, or sexual contact. Representative Hein and the victim’s parents described the case that prompted the proposal, saying the current law did not allow the conduct to be treated as an aggravating factor because the sexual act occurred after death. They emphasized that the bill would not require a death sentence or life without parole, but would give judges and juries another sentencing factor to consider. Doug and Angela Kerr gave emotional testimony about their daughter’s murder and said the current sentencing options were inadequate given the facts of the case. Several members expressed sympathy and supported the bill’s purpose. Senator Wheeler said the measure would signal that the Commonwealth will not tolerate such conduct, and Representative Petrie said he supported the concept but urged careful drafting so the language would not be too narrow or unintentionally reach co-conspirators or others whose conduct differed from the principal offender. The committee then received an informational presentation on KRS Chapter 202C from Judge Lisa Payne Jones and Shauna Mitchell of the Kentucky Judicial Commission on Mental Health. They explained that 202C was enacted in 2021 to address a gap in Kentucky’s civil commitment laws for defendants found incompetent to stand trial after serious offenses. The presentation outlined the process: a Commonwealth’s attorney must file a petition for qualifying offenses, an evidentiary hearing must be held quickly, and if the respondent is found by a preponderance of the evidence to have committed the offense, a commitment hearing follows with a higher burden of proof. They also described the 2024 amendment changing the commitment criteria from requiring all four factors to only one, and noted the statute’s review-hearing schedule and the availability of later review if circumstances change or new evidence emerges.

Transcript Highlights:

• Is there a reason why you chose to leave out the mental injury part?
• Is there a reason why you chose to leave out the mental injury part?
• Is there a reason why you chose to leave out the mental injury part?
• Constitute serious mental injury. Um, you only cover physical.
• The definition in the code includes psychological injury.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Kelly: So my son was cross-country, and he had an injury.
• So you go out, there's an injury. How this all works.
• At what point does someone diagnose, or who diagnoses the injury as far as what the injury is?
• It's an unpredictable disease of the central nervous system. There's currently no cure.
• It's an unpredictable disease of the central nervous system.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The committee first heard House Bills 2365, 2490, and 2249, a bipartisan version of Elijah’s Law, which would require child care facilities to receive training on identifying and responding to food allergies and anaphylaxis, with the bill updated to refer to epinephrine delivery systems rather than only EpiPens. Sponsors and supporters described the death of Elijah Silvera and argued the bill would help prevent similar tragedies by giving child care staff clearer guidance and training. Committee members asked about whether the bill should be incorporated into licensing rules or other legislation, and sponsors said they were open to working with the Office of Childhood and other bills to advance the measure. A support witness, Mandy Kearns, testified about her family’s experience with severe food allergies and urged passage; there was no opposition, and the hearing closed on those bills. The committee then heard House Bill 1965, which would allow athletic trainers to be recognized for insurance reimbursement when providing covered services. The sponsor and witnesses said the bill would let athletic trainers bill for services in appropriate clinical settings, improve access in rural and underserved areas, and reflect their education and licensure under Missouri law. Committee members raised repeated concerns about overlap with physical therapy, whether school or event-based trainers were already paid through contracts, whether the bill would increase costs or amount to double billing, and whether athletic trainers should be placed in the same statutory category as physicians and physician assistants. Supporters said the bill was limited to credentialing and reimbursement in clinical settings and would not change the physician-directed nature of diagnosis; opponents from Blue Cross Blue Shield and the Missouri Insurance Coalition argued the bill would create a mandate, increase costs, and expand billing before the underlying scope-of-practice questions were resolved. The hearing on HB 1965 then concluded. In executive session, the committee adopted a substitute and voted do pass on House Bills 1826, 2560, 2349, and 2194 by a vote of 17-0, and also voted do pass on House Bill 1783 by 17-0. The committee then adopted a substitute for House Bill 2372, which incorporated multiple changes including updated epinephrine language and several other bills, and voted it do pass by 17-1. House Bill 1827, relating to occupational therapy and disabled placards/license plates, was also voted do pass by 18-0. The committee later resumed hearings on House Bills 1941 and 2279, which would prohibit copay accumulator adjustment programs from preventing third-party assistance from counting toward a patient’s deductible or out-of-pocket maximum on fully insured plans. Sponsors said the bills would help patients with serious conditions afford life-saving medications and noted similar laws in many other states; a rheumatologist testified in support, describing patients who lose access to needed drugs when assistance is not credited. An insurance industry representative opposed the bills, arguing they would affect only a minority of plans, raise costs in the most fragile market segment, and could worsen affordability for some consumers.

Transcript Highlights:

• So my son was cross-country, and he had an injury.
• So you go out, there's an injury. wasn't necessarily a choice they've made.
• So you go out, there's an injury.
• At what point does someone diagnose, or who diagnoses the injury as far as what the injury is?
• MS is an unpredictable disease of the central nervous system.

Summary: The committee first heard House Bills 2365, 2490, and 2249, a bipartisan version of Elijah’s Law, which would require child care facilities to receive training and guidance on recognizing and responding to food allergies and anaphylaxis. Sponsors described the bill as a response to the death of Elijah, whose daycare did not administer epinephrine quickly enough after a food exposure. Witnesses in support, including a parent and food allergy advocate, said the measure would improve preparedness and save lives. Committee members asked about whether the bill should use broader epinephrine terminology, whether the requirements could also be handled through child care licensing rules, and whether the bill was already included in a larger measure. No opposition was presented, and the hearing on those bills was closed. The committee then heard House Bill 1965, which would require insurers to reimburse athletic trainers for covered services and add athletic trainers to the practitioner definition for billing purposes. The sponsor and athletic training witnesses said the bill would recognize athletic trainers as licensed health care providers, improve access in rural and underserved areas, and allow reimbursement when trainers work in clinics, hospitals, or other non-school settings. Committee members raised repeated questions about the difference between athletic trainers and physical therapists, whether school-based services were already paid through contracts, whether the bill would increase costs or create double payment, and how diagnosis and billing would work under the current scope of practice. Opponents from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City and the Missouri Insurance Coalition argued the bill would create a mandate, increase costs, and expand billing before clarifying the underlying scope of practice. No vote was taken in public hearing. The committee then moved into executive session and voted several bills do pass. A substitute was adopted for House Bill 1826 and the committee substitute for House Bills 1826, 2560, 2349, and 2194 passed 17-0. House Bill 1783 also passed 17-0. House Bill 2372, which incorporated multiple related provisions including changes to epinephrine terminology and other committee items, passed 17-1 after a substitute and amendment were adopted. House Bill 1827, the occupational therapy bill related to disabled placards and license plates, passed 18-0. The committee then returned to public hearing and heard House Bills 1941 and 2279, which would prohibit copay accumulator programs for fully insured plans so that third-party assistance counts toward a patient’s deductible and out-of-pocket maximum. Sponsors and a rheumatologist testified that the bills would prevent patients with serious illnesses from being forced to pay the same deductible twice and said similar laws have been enacted in many other states. Opponents from America’s Health Insurance Plans argued the measure would affect only a minority of plans, raise costs in the individual and small-group market, and could worsen affordability for remaining enrollees. The hearing ended without a vote on those bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• They get nervous about changing election rules. Yeah. I agree with that.
• They get nervous about changing election rules. Yeah. I agree with that.
• seniors, and people with respiratory illness being particularly vulnerable to heat-related illnesses or injury
• seniors, and people with respiratory illness being particularly vulnerable to heat-related illnesses or injury
• You know, there could be catastrophic damages and, of course, injury or loss of life.

Summary: The Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee heard a full agenda of housing-related bills, with most measures receiving broad support and advancing on unanimous or near-unanimous votes. Early in the hearing, AB 2035 by Assembly Member Dixon was presented as a narrowly tailored fix for a large senior HOA in Laguna Woods Village, allowing a lower vote threshold to amend outdated CC&Rs after repeated failed elections; members raised questions about broader impacts, but the bill passed 12-0 to Judiciary. AB 1684 by Assembly Member Ward would bar HOAs from restricting homeowners’ ability to install or replace cooling systems; supporters cited heat-related health risks and a constituent’s experience, while HOA representatives sought amendments to preserve reasonable rules on drainage, electrical capacity, and common-area protection. The committee discussed those concerns and advanced the bill 8-0 to Judiciary. AB 1710 by Assembly Member Carrillo would extend SB 330-style vesting protections to state and regional permitting agencies so housing projects are not subjected to shifting post-entitlement standards, with supporters arguing it would improve predictability and speed housing production. Special districts and utilities opposed unless amended, warning about conflicts with changing state and regional rules, but the bill passed 9-0 to Local Government. AB 1738 by Assembly Member Crewe would require remote virtual inspections for certain simple home renovations; supporters from SPUR and Placer County described faster, lower-cost inspections already in use, while labor groups raised concerns and sought amendments. Members emphasized keeping inspections jurisdiction-based and not replacing safety oversight, and the bill passed 8-0 to Local Government. The committee also approved AB 1890 by Assembly Member Curry, which increases state matching support for Napa County farmworker housing centers from $250,000 to $500,000 annually through 2036; supporters described the centers as a successful public-private model providing housing and services for farmworkers, and the bill passed 8-0 to Appropriations. AB 2433 by Assembly Member Alvarez would modernize the density bonus law by improving notice, clarifying eligibility and ministerial approval, and adding incentives for for-sale affordable housing; it drew strong support from housing and business groups and passed 10-0 to Local Government. AB 1567 by Assembly Member Ta would allow assisted living communities to be counted in housing element reporting and RHNA-related planning, and it passed 10-0 to Local Government. The consent calendar, including AB 1573 and AB 2162, was also approved unanimously, and the committee adjourned after taking roll-call votes on the remaining items.