Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, currently they are examining uh a byproduct within uh SE 70 to schedule that drug.
• Uh, currently they are examining uh a byproduct within uh SE 70 to schedule that drug.
• Part of my job as a drug intelligence officer is to stay abreast of emerging drug trends and threats
• </c> under federal law, the US Food and Drug under federal law, the US Food and Drug Administration<00
• ><c> toxicology</c> others were mixed drug toxicology others were mixed drug toxicology toxicity.<00:

Bills: HB0103, HB0070, HB0091

Keywords: First Amendment, free speech, lawsuits, immunity, public participation, strategic lawsuits, foreign censorship, digital innovation, constitutional rights, Wyoming GRANITE Act, extraterritorial laws, civil actions, speech protection, legal jurisdiction, joint liability, artificial intelligence, social scoring, biometric data, privacy rights, government regulation

Transcript Highlights:

• Those bills are scheduled for executive session on the next Tuesday.
• B-10 requires an abortion medication from DOC to have a warning label affixed that reads, “This drug
• When drugs come from the manufacturer, there's strict control of those drugs, strict handling of those
• drugs, and not to say that our Department of Corrections isn't doing an absolutely... ...amazing job
• And by just giving these drugs out, you're violating that constitutional requirement.

Summary: The Senate Human Services Committee heard public testimony on Senate Bill 5977, which would require DCYF to publish child near-fatality review reports within 180 days and post them publicly, with confidential information redacted as allowed by law. Senator Nikki Torres said the bill is intended to improve transparency, accountability, and child protection. There was no public testimony on the bill, and the hearing was closed. The committee then heard Senate Bill 6184, an Office of Homeless Youth request bill sponsored by the chair. The bill makes technical and policy updates to OHY programs, including replacing the term “street youth” with “unaccompanied homeless youth,” allowing certain flexible funds to go directly to youth or vendors, renaming and making permanent the H-Sync program, expanding eligibility and housing options in the Independent Youth Housing Program, and clarifying shelter and reporting provisions. Testifiers from Commerce, advocates, school support organizations, and a youth advocate all supported the bill, emphasizing that the changes would improve access, consistency, and housing stability for unhoused youth. The hearing was then closed. The committee moved into executive session on seven bills. SB 5681, concerning intellectual and developmental disability services at age 20, had Amendment A1 fail and the proposed substitute was adopted and sent to Ways and Means. SB 5917, regarding abortion medication in DOC, saw one amendment adopted and multiple Christian amendments rejected before the bill was sent to Rules. SB 5942, renaming the DCYF Oversight Board as the DCYF Accountability Board and revising its duties, had only Amendment C16 adopted; the amended bill passed to Rules. SB 6024, on duplicative audits for community residential providers, passed without amendment. SB 6036, concerning adult family homes and foster care licensees, had Amendment D1 adopted and the bill passed to Rules. SB 6085, on the DOC institutional welfare account, had Amendment E1 adopted and the bill was sent to Ways and Means after several other amendments failed. In each case, the committee voted to advance the bill after considering amendments, with most of the proposed changes from Senator Christian failing except where noted.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 5916 concerning non-opioid drugs for treatment of pain.
• Specifically, plans may not design a non-opioid drug as a non-preferred drug if other opioid drugs are
• Specifically, plans may not design a non-opioid drug as a non-preferred drug if other opioid drugs are
• That will come off of a preferred drug list.
• It also increases drug-related risks.

Bills: SB5845, SB5916, SB6102, SB6071, SB6103, SB6159, SB5877, SB5967, SB5904, SB5915, SB6025

Keywords: health insurance, health carrier, insurance carrier, prompt pay, timely payment, claims processing, clean claim, remittance advice, provider reimbursement, hospital billing, medical billing, prior authorization, claims denial, interest on late claims, administrative penalty, Washington insurance commissioner, RCW 48, public employees benefits board, school employees benefits board, Medicaid managed care

Transcript Highlights:

• PBMs, drug companies, and wholesalers are all making tons of money.
• PBMs, drug companies, and wholesale are all making tons of money.
• I specialize in formulary management and drug policy.
• on has been the same chemotherapy drug for the last 50 years.
• drug for biomarkers.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Financial Services held a lengthy public hearing with testimony on a wide range of health insurance and access-to-care bills. Early testimony focused on prescription drug pricing and pharmacy reimbursement, with supporters of H. 1326 arguing that pharmacy benefit managers and MassHealth managed care arrangements reimburse independent pharmacies too little, contributing to pharmacy closures and “pharmacy deserts.” The committee also heard repeated support for H. 1151/S. 742 on cognitive rehabilitation for acquired brain injury, H. 1288/S. 716 on telehealth parity for nutrition counseling, H. 1309/S. 761 on full-spectrum pregnancy care without cost-sharing, H. 1312 on insurance coverage for doula services, H. 309 on prompt access to health care by removing deductibles for certain services, H. 809/H. 1227 on biomarker testing, H. 1162/S. 810 on reducing inequities in access to medical procedures by limiting insurer cuts tied to Modifier 25, and S. 726 on insurance coverage for mobile integrated health. Testifiers included legislators, physicians, pharmacists, dietitians, emergency and rehabilitation clinicians, and patients and family members. Supporters of the brain injury bill said cognitive rehabilitation is medically necessary, improves long-term outcomes, and can reduce institutional care and public costs; they noted the bill has been heard repeatedly and has support from the Brain Injury Commission and prior favorable committee action. Supporters of the pregnancy care and doula bills described out-of-pocket costs as a barrier to maternal health and shared personal stories of high bills and unmet support needs. Biomarker testing advocates and cancer patients said coverage gaps deny patients access to precision treatment, can lead to avoidable suffering, and should be standardized across insurers; several speakers said insurers often deny claims despite clinical benefit. Dermatology witnesses said insurers’ use of Modifier 25 cuts reimbursement for same-day evaluation and procedure visits, forcing separate appointments and increasing patient burden. Mobile integrated health supporters described home-based care as a way to reduce emergency department use and hospital readmissions, especially for patients with transportation or mobility barriers. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the hearing itself.

Transcript Highlights:

• We pay, as I think every American knows, the highest prices in the world for prescription drugs.
• We developed the drug and then we end up paying ten times more than other countries for the drug that
• I will be looking forward to working with you. to see if we can schedule a hearing with Mr. Musk.
• the same drug that people in other countries pay.
• The NIH should fund research on off patent, off label use of off patent drugs, inexpensive drugs.

Keywords: NIH funding, healthcare research, chronic diseases, scientific integrity, public trust, pandemic response

Summary: The meeting of the committee focused on various healthcare and scientific issues, with significant discussions surrounding the impact of recent administrative actions on the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and its research agenda. Senators expressed concerns over funding cuts and personnel reductions, particularly the reported termination of over 1,200 NIH staff members, which could jeopardize ongoing and future research projects. The session included testimonies on the importance of supporting early-stage researchers and restoring public trust in scientific institutions following pandemic-related controversies. Additionally, the potential for future healthcare management based on diverse scientific ideas was emphasized as crucial to tackle chronic diseases effectively.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> scheduling of the hearing. scheduling of the hearing.
• not allow them to schedule beyond the 72-hour time frame."
• drug in our<02:19:56.640><c> constitution?
• Drug dealers are known to have thing.
• </c><02:36:50.240><c> because</c> the family carry their drugs because the family carry their drugs because

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The next quarterly report is scheduled for May, which you'll be getting from Callie and her team.
• But this is sort of the core schedule.
• Chair, in regards to the drug-related overdose deaths related to drugs.
• Do we have more people that are dying from drug overdose?
• So, are we Or is somebody looking into whether the drugs are more dangerous?

Transcript Highlights:

• For those of you who are here for HB 32, that is going to be at the end of the line, just scheduling
• It's like a drug. I mean, we have marijuana started. And it just came across. It's the same thing.
• The most recent drug abuse treatment outcome study conducted. by the National Institute of Drug Abuse
• After high school, she remained active up until the very first time she used the worst drug I feel has
• We don't have a very long floor schedule today.

Bills: HB32, HB15, HB171, HB421, HB581, HB644, HB745, HB349, HB917, HB204, HB923, HB15, HB171, HB204

Keywords: eviction, landlord rights, tenant rights, justice court, property law, court procedures, chemical dependency, court-ordered treatment, mental health, health care, treatment facility, juvenile justice, criminal justice reform, deep fake, digital impersonation, age verification, private cause of action, explicit content, consumer protection, HB 581

Transcript Highlights:

• As clinicians, we are already operating under DEA oversight, prescription drug monitoring programs, a
• As clinicians, we are already operating under DEA oversight, prescription drug monitoring programs, a
• seekers. ...resulting in unnecessary suffering and discrimination, labeling patients unfairly as drug
• And instead of being misunderstood, I have now been labeled a drug seeker.
• And instead of care, I was met with suspicion, labeled as a drug seeker. Treatment delayed.

Summary: The Health Professions and Program Subcommittee met with a quorum and considered seven bills, all of which were reported favorably. HB 497 would create a neurofibromatosis research grant program within the Department of Health; an amendment removed automatic recurring funding and made the program subject to annual appropriations. Proponents described the disease burden and the need for Florida-based research support. The bill passed 14-0. The committee also approved HB 223, which creates a licensing and regulatory framework for naturopathic medicine, including a Board of Naturopathic Medicine under the Department of Health. Supporters argued licensure would improve patient safety, transparency, and access, while the Florida Osteopathic Medical Association and Florida Medical Association waived in opposition. The bill passed 15-0. HB 683 modernizes physician assistant and APRN prescribing rules by removing certain administrative notice and prescription-labeling requirements and allowing a 30-day course of psychotropic medication; an amendment removed language that would have allowed practice without physician supervision during declared emergencies. It passed 15-0. The committee then approved CS for HB 121, which updates Florida’s seizure action plan law by extending protections to charter school students, requiring schools to accept physician-submitted plans, clarifying training duration, expanding training to regular bus drivers, and requiring seizure-response posters in schools. HB 353 adds sickle cell disease education to existing pain-management continuing education for health professionals, prompted by extensive testimony from patients and advocates about bias, delayed treatment, and lack of provider knowledge; it passed 15-0. HB 1175 directs the Florida Building Commission and State Fire Marshal to develop updated safety design standards for office surgery suites, with an amendment delaying the effective date to January 1, 2027; it passed 14-0. Finally, HB 251 creates a public records exemption for current emergency physicians and their families, narrowed by amendment to current physicians and children up to age 26 and made subject to sunset review; it passed 15-0. The meeting adjourned after all agenda items were completed.

Transcript Highlights:

• State 1505 does not add criminal penalties for this federally illegal schedule and drug, but will create
• Anything above that is marijuana, which... which is still classified as a Schedule I drug and illegal
• These are not drug dealers.
• drug. life-threatening drug.
• Was it to this or Was it some other drug use? It was drug use. Okay.

Bills: SB3, SB810, SB965, SB1073, SB1119, SB1505, SB 3

Keywords: Texas Education Code, public schools, school district, open-enrollment charter school, teacher speech, employee speech, biological sex, pronouns, gender identity, retaliation, discipline, workplace protections, school personnel, education policy, LGBTQ, transgender, charter schools, SB 965, religious speech, prayer

Transcript Highlights:

• We have a group that, because of scheduling, the Chair calls... ...because of scheduling.
• Ketamine is a Schedule 3 drug used in surgery.
• Whenever Ketamine is a Schedule 3 drug used in surgery.
• It's a very dangerous drug.
• It's a good drug for what we use it for, but there is no drug that's going to neutralize it.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• What about these other programs, community alcohol safety, alcohol and drug abuse prevention?
• And then we send that back out to the provider to provide those drug court or those drug and alcohol
• Yes, ma'am, that specific alcohol and drug abuse prevention is primarily federally funded. Okay.
• The appropriations for all the adequacy recommended items are included in this schedule.
• But it allowed school districts to develop salary schedules on their own.

Summary: The committee heard budget presentations and took executive recommendations on several Department of Human Services divisions, including Aging, Adult and Behavioral Health Services; Children and Family Services; County Operations; Developmental Disability Services; and Medical Services, with most divisions showing little or no significant change in total appropriations. Staff and agency witnesses repeatedly explained that many large appropriations are maintained for flexibility, federal matching requirements, or contingency needs, even when actual spending is much lower than the authorized amount. Members also raised concerns about staffing vacancies, long-vacant budgeted positions, and the use of excess appropriation authority across DHS. In Aging, Adult and Behavioral Health, members questioned federal funding levels for mental health and substance abuse grants, the status of senior centers and Meals on Wheels, the Medicaid tobacco settlement program, community alcohol safety grants, and the veterans mental health grant. Agency officials said federal block grants are largely committed, that senior center funding had been delayed by shutdown timing but was now back on track, that the tobacco settlement program had been moved internally within DHS, and that the veterans mental health appropriation remains unfunded. Senators also criticized the adequacy of support for seniors and asked for more detail on how transportation, meal services, and local contributions are funded. In Children and Family Services, members asked about rising appropriation levels, foster care and adoption subsidies, professional fees, the number of children in foster care, and the Children’s Trust Fund. DHS said increases reflect added flexibility for residential treatment, adoption subsidies, and prevention services, while the foster care population has remained fairly steady at about 3,400 children. The Children’s Trust Fund was described as supporting primary prevention programs such as Baby and Me and community schools, and members asked whether it could be administratively combined with other efforts. Questions also covered TANF subgrants, with DHS explaining that it had reduced outside subgrants after discovering over-obligation and was rebuilding reserves. In County Operations, members focused on the summer EBT program, SNAP employment and training, the farmer’s market program, and the state’s TANF reserve position. DHS said summer EBT is still being funded through temporary appropriations because it is a newer program, SNAP employment and training is largely federally funded and may expand under a pending policy change, and TANF reserves were drawn down after prior over-obligation but are now being stabilized. In Developmental Disability Services, members asked about vacancies, human development center staffing, facility construction funds, and the Booneville work program, and DHS said the program has reopened and staffing recruitment continues. In Medical Services, members asked about FMAP, the Our Kids B CHIP program, school-based Medicaid reimbursements, nursing home distress funds, and several large appropriation lines that far exceed actual spending; DHS said these are maintained for claims payment, nursing home receivership contingencies, and other flexibility needs. Each division reviewed was adopted by executive recommendation after questions concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• AB 309 is sponsored by the California Pharmacists Association, The Drug Policy Alliance, Health Officers
• Pharmacists also offer guidance on how to access drug treatment, how to safely return syringes, and how
• The access enables pharmacists to engage with individuals and offer information about drug counseling
• Good morning, Glenn Backus for Drug Policy Alliance, co-sponsor, thank you.
• In 2024, the Board of Parole Hearings approved only 14.4% of cases that were scheduled for a hearing.

Summary: The Assembly Appropriations Committee met on April 23, 2025, with a large regular-order agenda and first approved a consent calendar covering many bills. Several measures were then heard individually, with most receiving support from sponsors and stakeholder groups and no formal opposition in the room, though some bills drew respectful opposition or no votes. The committee also read and deemed approved a lengthy suspense calendar before taking up additional bills and public comment. Among the bills discussed, AB 263 would extend temporary flow regulations on the Smith and Shasta Rivers for five years or until permanent rules are completed; AB 309 would remove the sunset on pharmacists’ ability to provide sterile syringes without a prescription to support HIV and hepatitis prevention; AB 631 would require animal shelters to post intake and outcome data online; AB 792 would allow consolidation of bargaining for court interpreters; AB 867 would ban cat declawing except when medically necessary; AB 1206 would require pre-approved housing plans for small residential projects; AB 787 would require health plans to better help patients find in-network providers; AB 596 would protect workers’ right to wear face coverings unless unsafe; AB 282 would allow housing providers to prefer voucher holders without violating source-of-income discrimination law; AB 738 would create a limited rebuilding exemption for disaster survivors from newer solar requirements; AB 566 would require browsers and mobile operating systems to make global privacy opt-outs easier; and AB 622 would clarify CDCR’s authority to award credits to people serving indeterminate sentences who complete rehabilitation programming. Most of these bills were reported out on roll calls, often with bipartisan or limited dissent. AB 309, AB 631, AB 792, AB 867, AB 1206, AB 787, AB 596, AB 282, AB 738, AB 566, and AB 622 all advanced, while AB 263 also moved forward despite opposition from the Siskiyou Board of Supervisors and the California Farm Bureau. AB 622 generated the most extensive debate, with supporters emphasizing rehabilitation, parole-board review, and cost savings, and opponents warning about public safety and the impact on serious violent offenders. The meeting ended after brief public comment on several other bills on the suspense file and then adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, that being said, of course, we will never eliminate drug use. Humans have used drugs.
• Humans have always used drugs, and they will always use drugs. We do not always have to do.
• Humans have always used drugs, and they will always use drugs.
• There's a lot more drugs involved, also a lot more synthetic drugs.
• That's a drug policy, a supply side.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The task force opened with new leadership and a review of its statutory charge to study current and future substance use, explore solutions, draft legislation, and report recommendations. The chair outlined the year’s plan: hearings would focus first on field experts, then on alternative therapies such as psilocybin and ibogaine and on the Department of Mental Health, with an eye toward developing legislation for the next session. Members were told the goal was to identify practical policy ideas and to keep notes for possible future bills. Dr. Rachel Winograd gave the main presentation on Missouri’s overdose crisis. She said overdose deaths have declined for a third straight year, with preliminary 2025 data showing about 1,200 deaths, but emphasized that fentanyl remains the main driver and that the current crisis is now a “fourth wave” involving polydrug use and animal tranquilizers such as xylazine and medetomidine. She argued that policy should focus less on trying to eliminate supply and more on reducing harm and demand through evidence-based treatment, especially medications for opioid use disorder, naloxone, peer and family supports, housing, transportation, and care navigation. She strongly recommended expanding methadone access, including more take-home doses, use of the federal 72-hour hospital rule, and broader methadone delivery sites. Members also discussed tobacco, Medicaid coverage, peer reimbursement, and whether naloxone still works with fentanyl-laced drugs; Winograd said it does, because fentanyl is what is causing the fatal overdose. Dr. Heidi Miller, the state medical director, followed with a call to integrate substance use disorder care into whole-person health care and to follow the science on substance policy. She highlighted the state naloxone standing order, which leads to more than 11,000 Medicaid naloxone prescriptions annually, and recommended five best practices: integrating SUD care into primary care, maternal health, provider training, EMS administration of buprenorphine after overdose, public health prevention, and greater use of methadone. She also urged enforcement of parity between behavioral health/SUD and physical health reimbursement, and said team-based reimbursement models in Medicaid and value-based care should support community health workers, peers, and recovery specialists. Dr. Doug Burgess then emphasized care coordination and integration across the treatment continuum. Using heart attack care as an analogy, he argued that people with substance use disorders are often stabilized and then sent back into fragmented systems that do not connect them to the next level of care. He said Missouri should build a seamless system with standardized assessment, discharge planning from day one, transition coordinators, peer recovery coaches, and better information sharing, and he noted that treatment courts can be effective when they are staffed by people who understand addiction as a chronic disease. Members asked about remission, relapse, emergency department referrals, and how to standardize care; Burgess said remission is common, relapse is part of the disease course, and policy can help by incentivizing integrated, coordinated treatment models such as certified community behavioral health organizations.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, here's none, so ordered. relating to drug testing of parents who have had abuse and or neglect
• Ingrossed Committee substitute for House Bill 5214, relating to drug testing of parents who have had
• Administration's drug development trials with ibogaine.
• This change will allow DNR to adjust its fee schedules for inflation. I urge passage of the bill.
• Engrossed Committee Substitute for House Bill 5582, extending program for drug screening for...

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The Senate met on March 11, 2026, with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, journal approval, and numerous guest and page introductions, including school groups, prayer caucus visitors, and advocates for Home Family Education Day and Women in Blue Day. The chamber then took up committee reports and a large number of House bills, most of them on third reading, along with several resolutions and referrals. Senate Resolution 62, designating March 12, 2026, as West Virginia Athletic Trainers Day, was adopted after remarks emphasizing the value of athletic trainers in preventing injuries and tragedies in school sports. Several other resolutions and concurrent resolutions were referred to the Committee on Rules or laid over under the rules. The Senate passed a wide range of bills addressing economic development, public safety, health, licensing, and state administration. Measures approved included bills on the West Virginia Collaboratory at Marshall University, the Business Ready Sites program, volunteer fire company spending authority, the Load Forecast Accountability Act, funeral service licensure, work zone fines, biennial business reporting, correctional officer retirement law, the Right to Try Act, quick claim deed tax exemptions, an ibogaine drug-development grant program, aggravated vehicular homicide sentencing, 529 savings plan definitions, opportunity zones, barber apprenticeship, municipal and county hotel occupancy fund uses, criminal-record licensing standards, intimate image disclosure remedies, executor training materials, contempt penalties, PEIA treatment flexibility, PANS/PANDAS information, the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact, capitation rate review expansions, convention and visitors bureau board membership, peer support services, cosmetology licensure compacts, natural resource police retirement, DNR fee indexing, ALS care services, the Neighborhood Investment Program, oil and gas well plugging and carbon capture-related provisions, DUI technical changes, abuse intervention program terminology, and a youth summer employment and career readiness program. Most bills passed overwhelmingly, with a few closer votes, including the Load Forecast Accountability Act and the DNR fee-indexing bill. Several bills were amended on the floor, including title amendments and strike-and-insert changes. The Senate also debated the work zone penalty bill, with supporters citing worker safety and fatalities and opponents arguing the bill increased fines too much without requiring removal of outdated work-zone signs. On the energy-related load forecast bill, senators discussed the inclusion of provisions from Senate Bill 420 and concerns about coal plant utilization and utility impacts. After debate, the Senate adopted amendments and passed the bill. In most cases, after passage the Senate ordered the bills communicated to the House, and for a few measures it also adopted title amendments or made bills effective from passage or on a specified date.

Transcript Highlights:

• Specifically, the bill requires medical examiners to conduct toxicology screenings for psychotropic drugs
• Specifically, the bill requires medical examiners to conduct toxicology screenings for psychotropic drugs
• And these are not illicit drugs; these are prescribed drugs.
• And those prescribed drugs that they find in their bloodstream will be transmitted to the Department
• Newport Milan Drug. Melaan drug-gova-va-va-ba-wave in support. You got a great name there.

Summary: The committee heard several bills and took favorable action on a number of them. CS/CS/SB 54 by Senator Sharif would require district medical examiners to perform toxicology screening for psychotropic drugs and intoxicating substances in autopsies of identified violent offenders, consult treating providers when available, document findings, and report results to state agencies; it passed after brief questions and one opponent waived against. CS/SB 176 by Senator Polsky would require public colleges and universities to publish clearer campus safety reporting and response procedures for threats to students, faculty, or staff; it also passed favorably with no opposition. CS/CS/CS/SB 290, the Florida Farm Bill by Senator Trumbull, was the longest item and drew extensive testimony. The bill covers fair association rules, preemption of local limits on gas- and diesel-powered farm equipment, surplus of certain state-owned lands for agricultural use, a food animal veterinarian loan repayment program, permanent funding for Farmers Feeding Florida, forest service training, signal jammer penalties, CDL exam cheating penalties, no-solicitation protections, inspector protections, biosolids rules, and contractor payment enforcement. Members adopted multiple amendments, including changes to contractor payment language, expanding vet loan repayment to equine vets, merging citrus research entities, technical updates to fair statutes and nonprofit definitions, and a late amendment removing the bill’s disparagement/free-speech section after significant public testimony and debate. A separate late amendment on biosolids delayed compliance timelines for Broward County, and the bill then passed favorably as amended. The committee also approved CS/CS/SB 834 on nonprofit religious organizations, which repeals a restriction on health care sharing ministries partnering with licensed insurance agents, while adding a disclaimer requirement through amendment; the bill passed with support from some faith-based and consumer groups and one waiver against. SB 936 on temporary door locking devices passed without opposition. CS/SB 50 would expand veterans’ courts statewide as an option in all judicial circuits for service-related issues such as PTSD, traumatic brain injury, and substance abuse; it received broad support from veterans and advocacy groups and passed favorably. CS/SB 1004, in strike-all form, would regulate dog and cat sales by requiring disclosure of medical records and financing terms, adding a three-day waiting period for financed purchases, and treating violations as unfair trade practices; an amendment removed an appropriation section, and the bill passed after questions about financing and pet retention. The committee then approved CS/CS/SB 178, which directs the Florida High School Athletic Association to adopt rules allowing coaches to provide good-faith support to student-athletes for basic needs like food, transportation, and recovery services, while requiring reporting and preserving anti-recruiting enforcement; members discussed possible parental-consent language, and the bill passed favorably. Finally, the committee began hearing CS/SB 198 on virtual currency kiosks, with Senator Rouson explaining that it would regulate crypto kiosks to combat fraud, require operator registration, fraud warnings, blockchain analytics policies, and transaction limits, but the transcript cuts off before further action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• Santa Fe County completed ours in January, and Los Alamos is scheduled to do theirs in June.
• Drug smuggling.
• And it broke my heart when I heard that one of the drugs being smuggled in was one of the treatment drugs
• . buy drugs and so they only invite parents in.
• And if you could please take your conversations outside so we can try and stay on schedule.

Transcript Highlights:

• When someone is incarcerated, their schedule is a lot Different than our schedule.
• As I was seeing as a drug on the streets, it is illegal for human consumption.
• It exempts certain substances from schedules I and III for veterinary uses.
• This bill addresses a drug that is being circulated on the streets.
• The drugs are being circulated on the streets and are being mixed with marijuana and other substances

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Already, scheduled appointments have been canceled.
• We anticipate more scheduled appointments for vaccinations to be canceled.
• Already, scheduled appointments have been canceled.
• We anticipate more scheduled appointments for vaccinations to be canceled.
• is worsening among an ADAP drug program rebate funds.

Summary: The subcommittee held an oversight hearing on federal actions affecting California’s public health and family planning systems, focusing first on the freeze to Title X family planning funds and then on broader CDC/public health grant terminations. Chair and members described the cuts as abrupt, harmful, and likely to create major gaps in disease surveillance, vaccination, contraception, STI testing, and other preventive services, while also criticizing the federal administration’s explanation that the actions were tied to DEI or civil-rights compliance. The chair thanked Attorney General Bonta for legal action and said the hearing was intended to document the real-world impacts and inform state budget responses. Witnesses from Essential Access Health, Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, a Central Coast clinic, and other providers said California’s Title X network serves more than half a million low-income patients annually and relies on the funds for staffing, outreach, training, mobile and school-based clinics, and confidential care. They warned that the freeze has already forced reserve spending, delayed services, and could lead to layoffs, reduced hours, longer waits, and fewer appointments, especially for sexual and reproductive health care. Public comment included support for a proposed state backfill of Title X losses, with advocates emphasizing impacts on low-income, LGBTQ+, and communities of color. On the public health side, CDPH, county health officials, and local health officers testified that the CDC’s rescission of $11.4 billion in grants would affect California by an estimated $840 million and threaten lab capacity, immunization programs, health disparities work, and data systems such as CalConnect and vaccine registries. Sacramento County and others described how the grants supported outbreak response, sequencing, community vaccination clinics, and equity-focused partnerships, and said terminations had already led to canceled appointments, stopped contracts, and layoffs. Several speakers urged the Legislature to preserve and expand state “future of public health” funding and to backfill federal losses, while public commenters from HIV, immunization, labor, and county organizations echoed concerns about workforce losses and worsening health outcomes.

Bills: HB1974, HB1853, HB1973, HB1574, HB2619, HB1966, HB1643, HB1671, HB2558, HB1854, HB2173, HB1575, HB2229, HB1535, HB1978, HB2508, HB1549, HB2187, HB1550, HB1977, HB2314, HB1871, HB2319, HB1591, HB1858, HB1898, HB2372, HB1765, HB2012, HB1706, HB1962, HB1963, HB1975, HB2009, HB2083, HB2224, HB1877, HB1959, HB1626, HB1665, HB2488, HB2456, HB2548, HB2207, HB1832, HB2079, HB1985, HB1618, HB2486, HB2242, HB2045, HB1703, HB2236, HB2480, HB1976, HB2287, HB2288, HB1777, HB276, HB1660, HB1676, HB1605, HB1751, HB1967, HB2383, HB2340, HB1946, HB2268, HB1950, HB2156, HB2118, HB1859, HB1863, HB1996, HB2114, HB2423, HB2429, HB2475, HB2534, HB2545, HB1813, HB1941, HB2474, HB2583, HB1576, HB1886, HB1939, HB2540, HB2590, HB2000, HB2163, HB2386, HB1691, HB1680, HB2516, HB1993, HB2442, HB1510, HB1958, HB1692

Keywords: HB1974, hearing loss, audiology, audiologist, hearing screening, hearing aids, cochlear implants, tele-audiology, communication access, assistive technology, speech-language pathology, deafness, hard of hearing, public health, kupuna, keiki, dementia, cognitive decline, fall prevention, State Health Planning and Development Agency