Transcript Highlights:

• The proposed bill removes providing intellectual disability services and providing personal care services
• That means other entities are free to provide, apply to be a provider agency.
• And you can look at any county aging provider in the state. I am a Medicaid personal care provider.
• That means other entities are free to provide, apply to be a provider agency.
• That means other entities are free to provide, apply to be a provider agency.

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The committee met, approved the March 5, 2026 minutes, and then took up several health- and human-services-related bills. House Bill 5086, concerning peer support programs for covered caregivers, was explained as creating training and testimonial privilege protections; the committee adopted an amendment clarifying that boards may still require participation in a board-designated professional health program, and then reported the bill to the full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass. House Bill 5004, an educational bill on PANS and PANDAS, was supported by the sponsor, who described his family’s experience and the importance of earlier diagnosis; it was reported to the Senate without amendment. House Bill 5327, which would require the Department of Human Services to create an ALS services program, also received supportive testimony from the sponsor and members, but the transcript reflects the bill being reported as House Bill 537; it was moved forward without amendment. The committee then considered House Bill 5096, which would remove personal care and intellectual/developmental disability waiver services from certificate-of-need review. The sponsor argued the change would reduce regulatory burden and expand access, while a county aging-program director testified that certificate-of-need revenues help fund senior meals and services and that eliminating the requirement would reduce important support for aging providers. After a division vote, the motion to report the bill failed 3-9. House Bill 4695, allowing PEIA patients to switch to an alternative medically appropriate covered treatment without new prior authorization if it costs no more than the original treatment, was explained as carrying an estimated $13 million annual cost to PEIA and was reported to the Senate. The committee also advanced House Bill 5582, enacting the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact, after discussion of a committee amendment removing a new-background-check-at-initial-licensure provision; the amendment was adopted and the bill was reported. Another House Bill 5582, concerning the TANF drug screening program, was described as removing the sunset date and allowing oral fluid testing in addition to urine samples; it too was reported. Finally, House Bill 5466 renamed the batterer intervention program as an abuse intervention program and allowed live synchronous virtual delivery with an in-person option; the sponsor said the change would expand access statewide, and the bill was reported to the Senate. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• new providers.
• In those instances, they provided a 20% reduction of principal interest for services provided to indigent
• Again, the contract for services provides an additional incentive for child care providers to increase
• To providers.
• We provide the financing that our.

Committee: House New Mexico Finance Authority Oversight Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• and benefit payments; providing distribution for the Soil and Water Conservation Commission; providing
• and benefit payments; providing distribution for the Soil and Water Conservation Commission; providing
• ; providing distribution for the Soil and Water Conservation Commission; providing reappropriation authority
• and benefit payments; providing distribution for the Soil and Water Conservation Commission; providing
• ; providing distribution for the Soil and Water Conservation Commission; providing reappropriation authority

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, the concern is department just um provide comment on department just um provide comment on the<00
• unfortunately unscrupulous providers unfortunately unscrupulous providers when<00:04:22.479><c> they<
• So notifying the provider for 90 days."
• . provider. provider.
• . providers. providers.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: House File 3542 was heard in committee and moved forward with a recommendation to be re-referred to the Children, Families, Finance, and Policy Committee. The bill would change current law so that the commissioners of Human Services and Children, Youth, and Families must disclose the existence of an investigation, rather than may disclose it, with the stated goal of increasing transparency to the public and legislature. Members and agency officials discussed concerns that mandatory disclosure could tip off subjects of investigations, especially in fraud cases, allowing them to destroy evidence, coordinate stories, or otherwise interfere. The Department of Human Services and the Inspector General said disclosure can compromise investigations and noted that providers are typically notified when payments are reduced, suspended, or withheld, though federal law can sometimes require delayed notice. Representative Pinto offered an A2 amendment to require disclosure within 30 days unless it would compromise an investigation, but it was rejected. Representative Hudson then offered an oral amendment stating that disclosure would be required if the commissioner has taken action to reduce, suspend, or withhold payments to the subject of the investigation. The chair waived the rule to allow the oral amendment, and it was adopted. Staff clarified that the bill would only require disclosure of the existence of an investigation, not underlying details, and would not address trade secret redactions. After the amendment, the committee approved the motion to re-refer the bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> um</c> of a provider [snorts] provider type um of a provider [snorts] provider type um program<00
• It applies to a provider type.
• It applies to a provider type.
• It applies to a provider type.
• If there's some remote providers, maybe. But the center uh look A legacy provider.

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The committees resumed discussion of amendments to a bill dealing with licensing moratoria, change-of-ownership rules, and related provider oversight issues. Amendment A8 would prevent a licensing moratorium for certain intermediate care service settings from blocking a new license when the change is due to a change of ownership, including temporary licenses and transitional licenses. Department of Human Services staff said they were still reviewing the language but explained the department’s concern was maintaining program integrity and ensuring owners go through full change-of-ownership review so the agency can see who owns a provider and check compliance history. Senators supporting the amendment argued it would keep legitimate businesses from being harmed by a moratorium and could help preserve providers when ownership changes or family members take over after a death. A8 was adopted on a roll call, with both committees voting in support. Amendment A9, also on the moratorium topic, would exempt a change of ownership from the moratorium so long as it does not increase license capacity or service scope. The department said it needed more analysis to avoid unintended consequences, but the amendment was added to the working bill. Amendment A10 proposed a more detailed, data-driven framework for the moratorium and included a provision about refunds after implementation; department staff said the language would add cost and would require technical assistance, while senators emphasized the need to address licensure backlogs and avoid making provider delays worse. A10 was approved by the committees, though not unanimously. Amendment A11 would have set standards for how the commissioner designates provider types or program areas as moderate or high risk, with added transparency criteria. The department said the commissioner already has that authority and raised concerns about federal requirements and the state’s corrective action plan, and Senator Hoffman withdrew the amendment. Amendment A12, offered by Senator Fateh, would preserve remote supports by removing bill language that repealed the service and would add safeguards for remote overnight supervision, including staffing ratios to ensure emergency response times can be met. Several senators supported keeping remote services as an important, cost-effective option amid workforce shortages, while the department said it had program integrity concerns and supported the governor’s proposal to remove the service. The committee nevertheless advanced A12, with members noting the need to balance safety and integrity with access to services.

Transcript Highlights:

• And whereas, for providers, Louisiana's only provider-led early care and education organization is leading
• Yes, this is just clarifying that it's an internet service provider, cloud provider, cybersecurity provider
• , or any providers of information services as defined in U.S.
• This is just clarifying that it's an internet service provider, cloud provider, cybersecurity provider
• , or any providers of information services as defined in U.S.

Keywords: 974, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> provider that is requesting the review. provider that is requesting the review.
• </c> commissioner and the provider. commissioner and the provider.
• </c><00:03:22.239><c> this</c> provider that was requesting this provider that was requesting this appeal
• Um, and so the idea here was to provide some accountability for DHS as well as for the providers.
• That provides some due process to the provider.

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They provide services at all of those locations.”
• “We provide 24-7 nursing, primary care.
• I actually know an individual who provides...
• That hopefully provides some context.
• So if you could provide us more of that detail.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Finally, providing services to ineligible recipients Finally, providing services to ineligible recipients
• One example would be looking closer at the provider level to determine when a provider is requesting
• The provider or the department does have a responsibility to monitor its providers, but I don't have
• If they are not, they're going to a provider that is actually providing services for eligible child care
• You did attend eight meetings and provided 14 of the requested documents, but only six of them were provided

Committee: Joint Joint Legislative Audit Committee

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's about providing additional notification requirements. It's about providing transparency.
• It's about providing additional notification requirements. It's about providing transparency.
• It provides information to families. It provides broader transparency.
• It provides information to families. It provides broader transparency.
• It provides broader transparency.

Bills: HB2453 , HB2590 , HB2445 , HB2386 , HB2585

Committee: House Civil Rights & Judiciary

Keywords: psychiatric pharmacists, mental health, pharmacy regulations, healthcare, pharmacological treatments, limited equity cooperatives, common interest ownership, housing, exemption, community ownership, probate, estate administration, inheritance, heir finder, heir locator, beneficiary interest, transfer of inheritance rights, probate for profit, personal representative, executor

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 195 provides protections for physicians' personal assets, House Bill 195 provides protections
• The definition of independent provider is different from the definition of independent provider in the
• You said it provides personal... oh, that a provider, right?
• However, the provider information is. So it's a significant breach of security for the provider.
• I'm curious, what data is provided now? You gave a list earlier of the data that was provided.

Bills: HB195 , HB279 , SB30 , HB234 , HB292 , SB100 , SB23 , SB221 , SB261 , SB264

Committee: House House Judiciary

Keywords: medical malpractice, judgments, independent providers, insurance, personal assets, settlements, healthcare, healthcare privacy, electronic medical records, reproductive health, gender-affirming care, data protection, location tracking, confidentiality, SB30, induced abortion, abortion reporting, vital statistics, public health reporting, medical records

Transcript Highlights:

• So I don't know, are we trying to mandate the housing providers provide it, or are we trying to allow
• to provide cooling.
• to provide cooling.
• HB 2452 provides a practical and reasonable solution.
• HB 2452 provides a common-sense change to the manner in which a housing provider serves a rent increase

Summary: The committee heard public hearing testimony on House Bill 2265, which would expand tenant protections during extreme heat. Staff explained that the bill would bar landlords from restricting portable cooling devices, require written notice of tenant rights and landlord immunity for tenant-installed devices, add a cooling duty under the Residential Landlord-Tenant Act, and prohibit sheriffs from physically evicting tenants during defined extreme heat periods. Representative Mena said the bill responds to the 2021 heat dome and is intended to address a gap in housing law, while committee members and the sponsor discussed unresolved questions about what “reasonably required” cooling means, how the eviction pause would work, and whether the bill could raise rents or create liability and operational burdens for landlords. Supporters, including climate, public health, tenant, and clean energy advocates, said extreme heat is a growing health threat and that renters need a right to cooling; opponents from multifamily housing, property management, and rental housing groups argued the bill is too vague, could effectively mandate costly cooling upgrades, create safety and insurance issues, and complicate eviction enforcement. The hearing also included testimony from landlords and housing providers who said the bill should be narrowed or amended, and from tenants and advocates who said it does not go far enough because it mostly permits tenant-installed cooling rather than requiring landlords to provide it. The committee then heard House Bill 1974, a proposed substitute authorizing land banks. Staff described the bill as allowing public corporations, housing authorities, and nonprofit corporations to acquire, hold, improve, lease, transfer, or dispose of property for affordable housing, with 30-year affordability requirements, annual reporting, tax exemptions, and priority transfer of certain tax-foreclosed properties. Vice Chair Hill said the bill was scaled back from earlier versions and is meant to create a flexible tool for turning difficult parcels into housing-ready land aligned with local housing plans. Testifiers from the Spokane Regional Land Bank, housing authorities, developers, youth shelter providers, and housing advocates supported the bill as a way to lower land costs, clear title issues, reduce displacement, and create a pipeline of permanently affordable housing. A counties representative also supported the concept but said they would like the grant program restored. One committee member raised a question about whether the tax-foreclosed property language could bypass the normal surplus distribution process, and staff said the provision is placed in the chapter governing properties that have already gone through foreclosure and auction, though the wording may need further review. Finally, the committee opened House Bill 2452, which would change how rent increase notices are served. Staff said the bill would remove the current requirement that rent increase notices be served like unlawful detainer notices and instead allow service by personal delivery, mail, or posting on the dwelling unit, with service by mail complete when deposited in the mail; the manufactured home version would follow the general notice rules under that act. Representative Connors said the bill responds to problems created when prior legislation required certified mail, which she said has led to tenants not receiving notices and housing providers facing higher costs and administrative burdens. Housing provider and industry witnesses supported the bill, saying certified mail is expensive, inefficient, and often not actually received, while tenant advocates opposed it, arguing that mail-only service weakens notice protections and can cause missed rent increases and displacement; they urged the committee to preserve stronger in-person or posting requirements. Some witnesses also suggested broader changes, including electronic notice, while others said the bill should be expanded to fix certified mail requirements for more than just rent increase notices.

Transcript Highlights:

• Greg Curran is here just to provide information. Just to provide information.
• It also allows us to provide for permanent benefit increases as provided for... ...or RS 11:2178.
• an increase, to provide for the calculation of the amount of any increase, to provide for the funding
• , to provide for employer contributions, to provide for an effective date, and to provide for related
• relative to the Board of Trustees, to provide for the election of trustees, and to provide for terms

Committee: House Retirement

Keywords: 965, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And again, the only thing we don't provide for are their streets, and by Texas law we can't provide for
• So you provide the water, sewer, who provides the police and fire and all?
• And they don't provide the services.
• The city's gonna provide water, wastewater and these services in exchange, we provide, uh, the community
• So a city, uh, can provide full services and has to provide full services, but that, that just means

Bills: HB24

Committee: House Land & Resource Management

Keywords: groundwater, conservation, water permits, sustainability, resource management

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:04:34.320><c> and</c> have over 69,000 enrolled providers and have over 69,000 enrolled providers
• , provide fiscal stability for providers, participants, and the state, and to create rate parity across
• </c><00:11:56.079><c> provide</c><00:11:56.480><c> fiscal</c> of our providers provide fiscal of our
• providers provide fiscal stability<00:11:57.320><c> for</c><00:11:57.720><c> providers</c><00:11:58.720
• </c> residential providers who provide residential providers who provide 24-hour<00:48:44.200><c> care

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Budget Review Subcommittee on Health and Family Services met with a quorum still coming together and first handled roll call and minutes. The main presentation came from the Department for Medicaid Services, with Commissioner Lisa Lee and CFO Steve Beckle giving an overview of Kentucky Medicaid, its federal-state financing structure, and the department’s 1915(c) home- and community-based waiver programs. They explained FMAP funding levels for traditional Medicaid, administration, IT, expansion adults, and CHIP, and noted the size of the program, including more than 600,000 Kentucky children eligible for Medicaid or CHIP, about 485,000 expansion adults, over 69,000 enrolled providers, and $18.5 billion in 2024 expenditures. A major focus was the waiver system, including the acquired brain injury waivers, model waiver, independence waiver, Michelle P. waiver, and Supports for Community Living waiver. The department said these waivers are intended to keep people with physical or developmental disabilities in home and community settings rather than facilities, and that many services are not covered by Medicare or commercial insurance. Officials described participant-directed services, interagency administration, and eligibility rules, including that some waiver programs use the child’s income only rather than family income. They also reported an unduplicated waiver wait list of 13,930 people and said the General Assembly had added waiver slots in the last budget, including 650 ABI slots and 1,275 more to be allocated July 1, 2025. The department also discussed a waiver rate study conducted by Guidehouse, explaining that CMS requires a defensible rate methodology because there is no Medicare or commercial benchmark for many waiver services. They said the study used cost and wage surveys, provider and stakeholder input, and aimed to improve transparency, provider stability, and rate parity. Officials reviewed prior COVID-era Appendix K rate increases and budget-driven increases, and said the budget ultimately funded rates at about 70% of the benchmark study, while preserving higher existing rates where needed so no provider would be cut. They highlighted larger differences in behavioral support and case management rates, and said a public report is available. Members asked several questions about the potential impact of federal FMAP changes, especially possible reductions in the enhanced match for expansion adults and Medicaid IT/admin activities. DMS said any FMAP reduction would require more state general fund dollars, estimating about $75 million for each 1% drop in the expansion match, while impacts on administrative IT funding would depend on the systems being built or implemented in a given year. Members also pressed for clarification on waiver wait-list procedures, funded versus filled slots, and what happens when someone on the wait list is later found ineligible. DMS said people on the wait list may not yet have been assessed, can be reevaluated if conditions change, and are still eligible for regular Medicaid state-plan services if they qualify, even if they are waiting for waiver services.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so we want to provide them Provide them recognition for their long service and to reward them for
• Greg Curran is here just to provide information. Just to provide information.
• , to provide for additional employer contributions to be credited to the account, and to provide for
• It also allows us to provide for permanent benefit increases as provided for... ...or RS 11:217.
• deposit account, to provide for employer contributions, to provide for an effective date, and to provide

Committee: House Retirement

Summary: The Retirement Committee met on March 19, 2026, adopted prior meeting minutes without objection, and then heard a series of retirement-system bills. Representative Wiley presented three bills for the Louisiana Sheriffs’ Pension and Relief Fund: HB 33 would expand the back deferred retirement option program from four to five years for members with 35 years of service; HB 34 would allow certain members to retire at age 50 with an actuarially reduced benefit instead of waiting until 55; and HB 35 would allow up to 3% of employer contributions to be credited to the fund’s deposit account to help manage future costs and benefit increases. Witnesses for the sheriffs’ fund described its strong financial condition, including assets over $6 billion and a funded ratio above 90%, and said the bills were intended to reward long service, aid recruitment and retention, and provide flexibility in managing the fund. All three measures were reported favorably without objection. Representative Baralt presented HB 15 and HB 47 for the Assessor’s Retirement Fund. HB 15 sets procedures for correcting administrative errors in benefit payments, including interest on underpayments and repayment terms for overpayments. HB 47 revises the fund’s cost-of-living increase rules and funding deposit account provisions; Baralt noted the system has no unfunded liability and that the changes are tied to pre-funded COLAs. Both bills were reported favorably without objection. Representative Ilg presented HB 17, HB 18, and HB 19 for the District Attorneys’ Retirement System. HB 17 adds the Louisiana District Attorneys Association to the definition of employer and addresses reemployed retirees, with amendments removing a local funding restriction, requiring reporting of reemployed retirees, and adding a sunset in 2031. HB 18 staggers trustee elections so no more than two board seats are up in a year, and HB 19 removes references to the State Medical Disability Board because the system now works directly with physicians. All three bills were amended where applicable and then reported favorably. Representative Bacala presented HB 8, HB 48, and HB 22. HB 8 allows legislative staff designated by the committee to attend executive sessions of state and statewide retirement boards for a term-based authorization. HB 48 allows Louisiana Supreme Court court criers commissioned with the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office to participate in the Sheriffs’ Pension and Relief Fund, with amendments allowing an election between systems and clarifying employer responsibilities. HB 22 revises the Clerks of Court Retirement and Relief Fund’s COLA rules, raising the maximum COLA to 3% under certain funding conditions and tying increases to the fund’s deposit account; a technical amendment adjusted the timing language. All three bills were adopted favorably, with amendments where offered.

Transcript Highlights:

• ; and providing an effective date.
• providing an effective date.
• providing an effective date.
• , and our health care providers.
• providers.

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, approved the journal, and received messages from the Governor and Senate. The Governor reported signing House Bill 624, while the Senate transmitted enrolled Senate Bill 1332 for the Speaker’s signature, sent Senate Bill 1361 to the First Reading Calendar, returned several House bills for enrollment, and reported House Bill 610 had failed in the Senate. Committee reports moved multiple bills forward, including appropriations measures and policy bills on elections, youth service organizations, agriculture, health and welfare, revenue and taxation, and general government. House Joint Memorial 19, calling for elimination of the U.S. Department of Education, was referred for printing. Several new appropriation and policy bills were introduced and referred, including House Bills 866 through 874 and Senate Bill 1361. The main floor debate centered on House Bill 822, a parental-notification bill concerning minors’ requests related to social or medical transition in schools, child care, and health care settings. Supporters argued it protects parental rights and prevents schools or providers from withholding important information from parents, while opponents said the bill’s definitions were vague, its notification standard was unclear, and the potential penalties—up to $100,000—would chill teachers, coaches, child care workers, and medical providers. Concerns were also raised about committee procedure and the burden on professionals, while supporters responded that the bill only applies when a minor requests help facilitating a transition and that existing processes would prevent the hypothetical problems raised. House Bill 822 passed the House on a 59-9 vote, with two abstentions and two excused, and was sent to the Senate. After passage, the House suspended Rule 27 by a 57-11 vote to prevent a minority report on the bill from being printed in the journal, prompting objections from minority members about procedural fairness. The House then held remaining third-reading bills one legislative day, made announcements, and adjourned until 10:30 a.m. on March 12, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• And health care providers.
• And frankly, provider, I've heard this from providers.
• I just heard representatives say only 20% of our providers are independent providers.
• I am talking about the rest of the providers that we see. I love our independent providers.
• It's another reason why many of our health care providers stop providing.

Committee: House House Health & Human Services

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• for definitions, to provide relative to veterans, to provide relative to charter schools, and to provide
• , to provide relative to children in foster care, to provide for exceptions, and provide for related
• for limitations, to provide for applicability and effective date, to provide for reporting, and to provide
• To provide for grade levels to be served, to provide for an effective date, and to provide for related
• To provide for representation for athletes, to provide for definitions, and to provide for related matters

Committee: Senate Education

Summary: The Senate Education Committee met to hear several education-related measures. It reported favorably, without objection, on House Bill 1215, which would transfer certain removed historical statues and monuments to the Office of State Parks, prohibit re-erection in the parish where they were removed, and require interpretive signage. The committee also advanced House Bill 682, which creates a school guardian program for honorably discharged veterans employed or contracted by local school systems or charter schools; testimony emphasized that guardians would be unarmed, trained, and used for mentoring and school safety. House Bill 1079, giving enrollment preferences in charter schools to children in early childhood programs, military families, foster children, and children in custody disputes, was also reported favorably, as was House Concurrent Resolution 81, directing the Department of Education to study options for districts facing declining enrollment. The committee then took up House Bill 1084, which would allow public postsecondary institutions to raise tuition and mandatory fees by up to 15 percent annually, with higher increases requiring Board of Supervisors approval. The bill drew extended debate over affordability, TOPS, student retention, and whether universities should have more autonomy to set prices. Members raised concerns about fee burdens on families and whether the state should first study the issue; supporters argued the bill would increase transparency and let institutions respond to funding needs and market conditions. Senator Mazzell offered an amendment lowering the cap from 15 percent to 10 percent, and the committee adopted the amendment before reporting the bill favorably as amended. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 342, which would shift the burden of proof in special education due process hearings from parents to local education agencies. The author and parents testified that the current system places an unfair burden on families of children with disabilities, who often lack access to records and legal resources, and that schools already control the documentation and should have to show compliance with IEP obligations. Jefferson Parish school officials opposed the bill, arguing it would increase legal costs, require more staff and attorney time, and potentially lead to more hearings; they also questioned the fiscal note. The Legislative Fiscal Office said the fiscal impact was indeterminable, and the committee continued hearing testimony from parents and school representatives as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:02:14.319><c> in</c> providers in providers in Minnesota<00:02:16.080><c> in</c><00:02:16.319><c>
• providers.
• And so this would provide a massive 50% reduction in property tax payment for a provider of this.
• </c> need to provide to child care providers need to provide to child care providers and<00:13:50.880
• </c><00:15:51.440><c> for</c> provide relief and provide capacity for provide relief and provide capacity

Keywords: 1183, house