Video & Transcript : 'nursing program' :
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OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Health and Human Services Oversight REVISED: SB1304 - Added Apr 15th, 2026
Health and Human Services Oversight
Transcript Highlights:
- the Board of Nursing on the implementation.
- We happen to be fortunate enough to have a phenomenal nurse practitioner.
- Nurse practitioners are also...
- We happen to be fortunate enough to have a phenomenal nurse practitioner.
- Nurse practitioners are awesome. Yes, they are. And she did blood analyzation.
Bills:
SB1983, SB444, SB1503, SB1561, SB592, SB1501, SB1946, SB1567, SB1833, SB2026, SB904, SB2178, SB1651, SB1558, SB1565, SB1553, SB1257, SB65, SB1749, SB1242, SB1642, SB640, SB667, SB1436, SB1484, SB1562, SB1794, SB1644, SB1533, SB933, SB1555
Keywords:
SB1983, foster care, resource family partner, resource family partners, Department of Human Services, DHS, child welfare, foster homes, foster children, placement data, data sharing, de-identified data, aggregated data, sibling groups, placement disruptions, foster parent recruitment, foster parent retention, private child-placing agency, Title 10A, Oklahoma
Summary:
The committee opened with prayer and then heard a long series of Senate bills, many of them agency request or cleanup measures. Early bills included SB 1983, directing DHS to provide foster care data to resource family partners to better identify foster family needs; SB 444, allowing hospice personnel to control or destroy controlled substances after a patient’s death; and SB 1503, a PCS related to pregnancy resource center outreach and in-state referrals, which drew discussion about virtual versus face-to-face support and was reported out after members agreed to continue working on the language. Other measures advanced included SB 1561 on progressive discipline for certain M.T.M.S. personnel, SB 592 and SB 1946 on alcohol-related licensing/sales issues, SB 1501 and SB 1567 as cleanup or implementation bills, and SB 1833 codifying a SNAP waiver barring candy and soft drinks purchases.
The committee also considered several health and human services bills. SB 2026 expanded access to military discharge papers to grandchildren; SB 904 addressed public funds and state facilities, with members raising concerns about legislative interference in medical decision-making and liability; SB 2178 modified alcohol licensing insurance requirements; SB 1651 updated Oklahoma Medical Board license language; SB 1558 clarified the definition of a child for level E group homes; SB 1565 promoted Food is Medicine efforts to improve maternal and infant outcomes; and SB 1553 required psychologist review of appealed adverse determinations involving mental health claims. SB 1257, with a policy recommendation, expanded THC/controlled substance language to align with federal guidelines, and SB 1749 made a cleanup change related to food trailers and LP gas inspections.
Later in the meeting, the committee advanced SB 65 with a policy amendment adding fentanyl and xylazine test strips; SB 1242, which included OMMA education and abandoned grow cleanup provisions; SB 1642, allowing shorter acute prescriptions to help reduce addiction risk; SB 640, treating abandoned grow facilities as public nuisances so local governments can abate them; SB 667, clarifying accreditation language for chiropractic programs; SB 1436, requiring hospitals to provide information on obtaining records after stillbirth or miscarriage; SB 1484, codifying medical examiner practices in infant or child deaths; SB 1562, addressing hospice patient solicitation; SB 1794, creating a mental health bed-availability database; SB 1644, seeking data on alpha-gal syndrome to support federal research funding; SB 1533, ensuring burial assistance for Oklahoma veterans who die out of state; SB 933, creating a right-to-try pathway for individualized treatments; and SB 1555, aligning the definition of intellectual disability with federal law. Most bills were reported out do pass, with recorded votes ranging from unanimous to a few nays on some measures. SB 1304 was laid over, and the committee adjourned at the end of the meeting.
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Senate Legislative Session Feb 16th, 2026 at 01:30 pm
Oklahoma Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Her leadership experience also includes directing the large-scale health and readiness programs for the
- Would you please recognize Senator Guthrie to introduce the nurse of the day.
- Senator Guthrie, you are recognized to introduce the nurse of the day.
- She has served in the Saint Francis healthcare system as an ICU registered nurse, community volunteer
- , and Oklahoma Nurses Association board member who advocates for patients, nurses, and equitable access
Bills:
SB1323, SB1863, SB1932, SB1950, SB1956, SB1970, SB1599, SB1312, SB1776, SB1858, SB1985, SB1302, SB1809, SB1401, SB2053, SB1503, SB1553, SB1427, SB1642, SB1421, SB1837, SB1566, SB1567, SB1794, SB1484, SB1557, SB1564, SB1591, SB1395, SB1456, SB1562, SB1613, SB1983, SB1550, SB2065, SB2152, SB2159, SB2172, SB2110, SB2111, SB2114
Keywords:
memorial designation, highway, Sheriff Marty Grisham, transportation, Oklahoma Statutes, memorial highway, road designation, John Skelley, motor carrier, administrative hearing, legal representation, corporate liability, aviation, aircraft, surveillance, regulations, fees, Oklahoma statutes, memorial, highway designation
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Senate Legislative Session Feb 16th, 2026
Oklahoma Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Jewel Fleming, who holds a doctorate in clinical psychology and is a professor of psychology and a program
- Would you please recognize Senator Guthrie to introduce the nurse of the day?
- Senator Guthrie, you are recognized to introduce the nurse of the day. Thank you, Mr. President.
- She has served in the Saint Francis Health Care System as an ICU registered nurse, community volunteer
- , and Oklahoma Nurses Association board member, and advocates for patients, nurses, and equitable access
Bills:
SB1323, SB1863, SB1932, SB1950, SB1956, SB1970, SB1599, SB1312, SB1776, SB1858, SB1985, SB1302, SB1809, SB1401, SB2053, SB1503, SB1553, SB1427, SB1642, SB1421, SB1837, SB1566, SB1567, SB1794, SB1484, SB1557, SB1564, SB1591, SB1395, SB1456, SB1562, SB1613, SB1983, SB1550, SB2065, SB2152, SB2159, SB2172, SB2110, SB2111, SB2114
Keywords:
memorial designation, highway, Sheriff Marty Grisham, transportation, Oklahoma Statutes, memorial highway, road designation, John Skelley, motor carrier, administrative hearing, legal representation, corporate liability, aviation, aircraft, surveillance, regulations, fees, Oklahoma statutes, memorial, highway designation
Summary:
The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and pledges, and recognized several guests and Senate family members, including the psychologist and nurse of the day. Members then moved to the agenda, laying over items 1 and 4 before taking up several bills. Senate Bill 1395, a recommendation from the Incentive Evaluation Commission, would eliminate the tax credit portion of the investment and new jobs tax credit incentive and limit carry-forward of the investment portion to seven years; it passed 48-0.
Senate Bill 1456, as amended, extended the sunset of the Board of Tests for Alcohol and Drug Influence, with the amendment changing the sunset date to 2031; it passed 48-0 and was also approved as an emergency measure. Senate Bill 1562, requested by the Oklahoma Hospice and Palliative Care Association, was described as protecting terminally ill patients and families from aggressive hospice marketing practices; it passed 48-0. Senate Bill 1613, requested by the Oklahoma Liquefied Gas Association, was revised to remove language the governor had previously objected to regarding vehicle ownership and leasing outside OMES; it passed 48-0.
Senate Bill 1983 directed the Department of Human Services to provide de-identified foster care data to resource family partners, including information on children without placement, demographic and geographic trends, areas of high need and low availability, placement disruptions, sibling separations, and distance from original homes. After a question from Senator Deevers about the scope of the data, the bill advanced and passed 48-0. The Senate then heard announcements about committee meeting times and adopted a motion to adjourn until Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at 1:30 p.m.
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Appropriations and Budget 3rd Reviion: SB1427 added to agenda Apr 21st, 2026 at 04:30 pm
Appropriations and Budget
Transcript Highlights:
- Member of Senate Bill 985 codifies the local school local food for schools program and.
- Authorize ODev to continue to build the program to get fresh locally produced food in the schools.
Bills:
SB44, SB237, SB248, SB985, SB1204, SB1239, SB1307, SB1360, SB1390, SB1400, SB1405, SB1427, SB1428, SB1732, SB1832, SB1859, SB1989, SB2018, SB2143
Keywords:
sales tax exemption, nonprofit organizations, contractors, charitable purposes, state law, ad valorem tax, manufacturing facilities, exemption, battery energy storage, employment, payroll, state tax regulation, tourism, revolving fund, Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department, real property, fund management, Oklahoma Local Food for Schools, school meals, local food procurement
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- In high school, he joined the DeSoto Police program and at the young age of 17 he was a night dispatcher
- The MetroCrest leadership program was created by the MetroCrest Chamber of Commerce serving the city
- the three cities and in cooperation with their own economic development departments, the leadership program
- the Chamber since 2023 and continuing to improve the local economy through leadership development programs
Bills:
HR34, HR36, HR38, HR39, HR41, HR42, HR43, HR67, HR68, HR73, HR77, HR81, HR104, HR166, HR201, HR202, HR223, HR226, HR233, HR234, HR246, HR264, HR266, HR268, HR271, HR280, HR282, HR286, HR291, HR292, HR296, HR298, HR319, HR326, HR329, HR348, HR354, HR373, HR376, HR381, HR385, HR386, HR387, HR391, HR394, HR395, HR396, HR399, HR400, HR402, HR403, HR404, HR408, HR409, HR410, HR413, HR414, HR417, HR418, HR419, HR422, HR424, HR429, HR435, HR439, HR440, HR22, HR88, HR94, HR136, HR194, HR231, HR302, HR397, HR416, HR420, HR421, HR423, HR430, HR431
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- As its Qualified Allocation Plan, as required under the federal LIHTC program.
- The Qualified Allocation Plan that we have governs the rules. for the tax credit program, that lists
- If it's a program rule, then the Governing Board could. And so it's a program rule? Yes, sir.
- Any nurse would know the difference between the two. All right.
- Everyone has floodplain, regardless of whether you do a small lot program, a large lot program, or a
Bills:
HB22, SB250, SB375, SB536, SB845, SB1633, SB1944, SB1957, SB2081, SB2137, SB2262, SB2299, SB2419, SB2452, SB2522, SB2549, SB2594, SB2605, SB2631, SB2639, SB2675, SB3029, SJR60, HB22, HB1392, HB2525
Keywords:
emergency communication, broadband, funding, natural disasters, technology, HB 22, Texas broadband development office, comptroller, emergency communications, early warning systems, disaster alerts, natural disaster notifications, interoperable communications, interoperable emergency radio, public safety communications, 9-1-1, next generation 9-1-1, NG911, broadband grants, low-interest loans
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- In 2003, through legislation, we came up with our program, the Homes for Texas Heroes program.
- We call it the TBA program, "to be announced."
- I may add this program was created for Texas heroes, and that's the name of the program: Homes for Texas
- Senator Nichols is adding the nurses to the same program.
- We have a shortage of nurses here in.
Bills:
SB250, SB375, SB536, SB845, SB1633, SB1944, SB1957, SB2081, SB2137, SB2262, SB2299, SB2419, SB2452, SB2522, SB2549, SB2594, SB2605, SB2631, SB2639, SB2675, SB3029, SJR60, HB22, HB1392, HB2525, HB22
Keywords:
municipal annexation, railroad, adjacent areas, local government, property rights, healthcare provider, Harris County Hospital District, hospital funding, healthcare services, public health program, home loans, nurses, veterans, public servants, Texas Heroes program, low-interest loans, social workers, housing assistance, SB 1633, Texas Tax Code
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- Nursing home or whatever, we pick up the deceased.
- The key to this program, we're asking for $5 million.
- But the key to this program is that we need a program that is efficient.
- Many good programs started off with a pilot program that became expanded and became better across the
- Many good programs started off with a pilot program that became expanded and became better across the
Bills:
HB2118, HB2181, HB2308, HB2309, HB2402, HB2476, HB2682, HB2698, HB2875, HB2877, HB2903, HB2910
Keywords:
mobile food vendors, licensure, food safety, statewide regulations, health standards, zoning, temporary vendors, HB2181, death certificate, death certificates, vital records, funeral establishment, funeral home, human remains, medical certification of death, death registration, state registrar, local registrar, county medical examiner, alternate medical examiner
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- I ask because there's a lot of cooperation around the state with using rideshare programs to get people
- This will also affect taxi programs and public transportation.
- And also to say that a person from a nursing home is going to go out there and try to request and help
- Have you been to a nursing home? Have you noticed how understaffed they are?
- You know, and it's like if I'm in the nursing home and this person is, you know, my beautiful daughter
Keywords:
voting access, polling place, disability, caretaker provisions, ballot delivery, election code, HB 2253, Texas Election Code, bond election, bond issuance, local government, election cancellation, disaster declaration, natural disaster, emergency election, county election officer, polling place notice, open meeting, election workers, voter safety
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- So since we are no longer participating in Eric, we're no longer a member of that program, our office
Keywords:
voting access, polling place, disability, caretaker provisions, ballot delivery, election code, HB 2253, Texas Election Code, bond election, bond issuance, local government, election cancellation, disaster declaration, natural disaster, emergency election, county election officer, polling place notice, open meeting, election workers, voter safety
TX
Texas 89th Regular
S/C on Disease Prevention & Women's & Children's Health Mar 20th, 2025
S/C on Disease Prevention & Women's & Children's Health
Keywords:
HB 25, Texas nutrition, nutrition education, healthy living, public health, school physical activity, recess, physical education, nutrition and wellness course, health curriculum, State Board of Education, Texas Nutrition Advisory Committee, ultra-processed foods, artificial colors, food additives, chronic disease, metabolic health, culinary medicine, functional medicine, dietary guidelines
TX
Texas 89th Regular
S/C on Disease Prevention & Women's & Children's Health Mar 20th, 2025
S/C on Disease Prevention & Women's & Children's Health
Keywords:
HB 25, Texas nutrition, nutrition education, healthy living, public health, school physical activity, recess, physical education, nutrition and wellness course, health curriculum, State Board of Education, Texas Nutrition Advisory Committee, ultra-processed foods, artificial colors, food additives, chronic disease, metabolic health, culinary medicine, functional medicine, dietary guidelines
AL
Alabama 2025 Regular Session
Alabama House Military and Veterans Affairs Committee Feb 26th, 2025
Military and Veterans Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- We are going to have a program today that I think is going to be fun from Alabama Archives and History
- I think it's, uh, it will be a nice short program that you go very much.
- back and became the first helicopter pilot for the Department of Public Safety when its aviation program
- Those nurses at Camp Sheridan, right here in Montgomery, were providing critical care to troops stationed
- We've got members of the chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear unit at a nursing home in Mobile
Keywords:
veterans affairs, Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs, State Board of Veterans Affairs, commissioner, Governor appointment, oversight board, veterans services, veterans benefits, state veterans homes, veterans cemeteries, Alabama Veterans Home Trust Fund, veteran service officers, district managers, assistant commissioners, county veterans offices, military veterans, disabled veterans, elderly veterans, veterans organizations, American Legion
TX
Texas 89th Regular
Disaster Preparedness & Flooding, Select Aug 22nd, 2025
Disaster Preparedness & Flooding, Select
Transcript Highlights:
- Again, Cliff Kaplan, Program Director for the Hill Country Alliance in support of the bill.
- I'm Stephanie Morris, a fourth-generation Texan, nurse, and beekeeper.
- Going on, but we need a government program.
- That's the kind of program that will make the most sense.
- I'm also a nurse. I have been for 25 years. I know about Santana Livingston.
Keywords:
HB 48, Texas alert notification systems, emergency alerts, public warning systems, alert fatigue, notification fatigue, Texas Division of Emergency Management, Department of Public Safety, DPS alerts, emergency management, State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry, STEAR, disaster notifications, weather alerts, Amber Alert, Silver Alert, Blue Alert, missing persons alerts, accessible alerts, hearing impaired
HI
Hawaii 2026 Regular Session
EIG DEFER Public Hearing 04-21-2026
Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- The next resolution is HCR 154, requesting the County of Hawaii to expand the Heleon shared ride program
Keywords:
pedestrian safety, raised crosswalks, Honolulu, traffic infrastructure, school zone, HCR154, Hele-On, Hele-On Shared Ride Program, County of Hawaii, Hawaii County, Mass Transit Agency, shared ride, paratransit, accessible transportation, ADA, mobility devices, wheelchair accessible, kupuna, seniors, elderly
Summary:
The Committee on Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs reconvened on April 21 and took up a series of House Concurrent Resolutions, with no public testimony. Members first approved HCR 43, urging raised crosswalks near Ala Wai Elementary at University Avenue, Malkiki Street, and Kamoku Street to improve student safety, and HCR 154, asking Hawaii County to expand the Heleon shared ride program islandwide, including rural and underserved areas. They also passed HCR 165, calling for permanent pickleball nets and court lighting at Kamilo Iki Community Park, and HCR 186, urging the U.S. Department of Defense and Defense Health Agency to extend health care authorization renewals for people affected by the Red Hill water contamination crisis.
The committee then approved HCR 200, which urges the Department of Defense to reassess prior CERCLA-related closure decisions in light of evolving PFAS science. Members said the measure was intended to help keep PFAS out of the water system. HCR 202, establishing a legislative task force on Hawaii’s future energy pathways, was amended before passage to expand the task force’s scope to include separation of generation from transmission and distribution, add Senate leadership representation, and include representatives from the Agricultural Development Corporation and the Farm Bureau. Several members supported the amended version with reservations, expressing concern about possible cost impacts from separating generation and distribution.
Finally, the committee passed HCR 206 HD1, which requests the Hawaii State Energy Office to convene a working group to study the impacts of large data centers on utilities, ratepayers, natural resources, and climate goals. All measures were adopted by the committee, with HCR 202 passing with amendments and the others passing unamended. The meeting then adjourned.
LA
Louisiana 2026 Regular Session
Transportation, Highways and Public Works Apr 21st, 2026
Transportation, Highways & Public Works
Transcript Highlights:
- Bro... modifies certain operations within the Department of Transportation and the Highway Priority Program
- It cleans up when the department will report on the highway priority program and the progress of those
- the program.
- We ran a really good program. So did that...
- We ran a really good program, so did the city of Gretna.
Bills:
HCR32, HB493, HB679, HB745, HB896, HB1000, HB1024, HB1050, HB1159, HB1172, HB1173, HB1207, HB1208, HB1218
Keywords:
Saint Claude Avenue Bridge, Port of New Orleans, backup motors, infrastructure, traffic management, expropriation, property rights, Amite River Basin, drainage, East Feliciana Parish, St. Helena Parish, government authority, traumatic brain injury, identification card, law enforcement training, medical verification, disability rights, special permits, transportation, tandem loads
Summary:
The House Transportation Committee met on April 21 and considered a series of transportation, licensing, tolling, and public safety measures. It reported favorably House Bill 745, extending special permits for tandem loads hauling containers to and from port facilities; House Bill 1000, a DOTD cleanup bill that clarifies Highway Priority Program reporting and raises the letter-bid contract threshold from $1 million to $3 million; and House Bill 1050, which clarifies commercial driver’s license rules, including age and intrastate/interstate driving limits. The committee also approved House Bill 1172 naming a portion of U.S. Highway 165 in Oberlin the Coulin Brooks Manuel Memorial Highway, House Bill 1218 naming a portion of Louisiana Highway 1090 the Lewis Pat Miramon Memorial Highway, House Concurrent Resolution 32 urging backup motors for the St. Claude Avenue Bridge, and House Bill 1207 on public contracting standards and competition in public bidding.
A major portion of the meeting focused on House Bill 896, which responds to tolling issues at the Belle Chasse bridge project. The bill would require toll signage, local toll customer service centers, dispute procedures, and limits on administrative fees, with amendments addressing effective dates, in-person assistance, appeal deadlines, law-enforcement exemptions, and limits on certain charges. The author and witnesses described high administrative fees, long travel distances to customer service locations, and problems with toll bills, while committee members noted the issue was complex and ongoing. The committee reported the bill favorably as amended.
The committee also heard House Bill 1159, allowing Jefferson Parish municipalities to use automated speed enforcement devices again under local control. Supporters from Gretna, Westwego, Harahan, and Kenner said photo enforcement reduced crashes, improved safety, and helped limited police resources, while opponents were not emphasized in the transcript. After discussion about whether the measure should be voluntarily or involuntarily deferred, the committee ultimately deferred the bill. House Bill 493, which would prohibit expropriation by the Amite River Basin Drainage and Water Conservation District in East Feliciana and St. Helena Parishes, drew extensive testimony about reservoir fears and local opposition; the committee voluntarily deferred it. House Bill 679, as substituted, created a driver’s license designation for people with brain injuries and required related law-enforcement training; witnesses described personal experiences with brain injury and the need for officers to recognize communication and behavioral effects, and the committee reported the substitute favorably. House Bill 1173, which waives late fees for certain reinstatement-relief payment plans for driver’s licenses, was also reported favorably, and House Bill 1024 creating a Louisiana Democratic Party prestige plate was approved as well.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- We train the pipe fitters, we teach the welders, and we educate the nurses.
- Enrollment is growing in programs that matter to Minnesota and to St.
- If you think about our trained technical programs, our health science programs, our service programs
- We actually do have programs where you are required to be in person.
- We will be able to use that additional money for maintenance programs and for other safety programs for
Bills:
HF2418, HF1666, HF232, HF344, HF402, HF431, HF468, HF547, HF583, HF1476, HF1711, HF2787, HF2788, HF3207
Keywords:
capital investment, political subdivisions, state assistance, funding, project grants, child care, Slayton, state bonds, economic development, extended time revenue, school funding, state aid, career and technical education, CTE, STEM, secondary credit, after-school programs, summer school, learning year program, extended day
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- We are deeply committed to nurses.
- </c><00:03:27.280><c> that</c> Enrollment is growing in programs that Enrollment is growing in programs
- If you think about our trade and technical programs, our health science programs, our service programs
- We also do have programs where you are required to be in person, and they're called our programs.
- </c> diesel technology program has for us. diesel technology program has for us.
Bills:
HF2418, HF1666, HF232, HF344, HF402, HF431, HF468, HF547, HF583, HF1476, HF1711, HF2787, HF2788, HF3207
Keywords:
capital investment, political subdivisions, state assistance, funding, project grants, child care, Slayton, state bonds, economic development, extended time revenue, school funding, state aid, career and technical education, CTE, STEM, secondary credit, after-school programs, summer school, learning year program, extended day
TX
Texas 89th Regular
Senate Committee on Health and Human Services Apr 8th, 2025
Health & Human Services
Transcript Highlights:
- specifically says it is not a food safety program.
- When my daughter was two. she decided she wanted to be a nurse.
- We need one million more registered nurses in this country by 2030.
- We have seen a collusion between. reimbursements of government programs and programs instigated by hospitals
- No nurse in a hospital is ever going to get sick.
Keywords:
SB 500, Texas adoption law, Family Code, DFPS, Department of Family and Protective Services, child-placing agency, prospective adoptive parents, adoption records, confidential information, nondisclosure agreement, child history report, health history, social history, educational history, genetic history, termination of parental rights, permanency plan, single source continuum contractor, privacy, redaction
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- The USDA, which runs the grading program, specifically says it is not a food safety program.
- And there were 23 families in that program.
- When my daughter was two, she decided she wanted to be a nurse.
- I am here because I'm a grandmother and because I'm a registered nurse.
- We have seen a collusion between reimbursements of government programs and programs instigated by hospitals
Keywords:
SB 500, Texas adoption law, Family Code, DFPS, Department of Family and Protective Services, child-placing agency, prospective adoptive parents, adoption records, confidential information, nondisclosure agreement, child history report, health history, social history, educational history, genetic history, termination of parental rights, permanency plan, single source continuum contractor, privacy, redaction
Summary:
The committee first took up several pending bills and reported them favorably: SB 968, SB 636 as substituted, SB 1137, and SB 1138 as substituted. Each was advanced by roll call vote, and the committee also recommended the approved bills for the local and uncontested calendar. The chair then moved to the posted agenda and heard SB 719, a mental health bed-capacity study bill by Senator Eckhart, with a committee substitute that refined the data collection to distinguish state and non-state beds, child and adult beds, include two point-in-time counts, and capture jail diversion data.
Testimony on SB 719 was largely supportive from Integral Care, NAMI Texas, and the Children’s Hospital Association of Texas, all of whom said Texas needs better data on inpatient psychiatric capacity, workforce needs, and future demand. Several witnesses described long waits for beds, especially for forensic restoration, and argued the study would help target future investments. Senator Perry and others noted the state has already made major investments in new beds and urged the bill to account for beds already coming online; the committee ultimately withdrew the substitute and left SB 719 pending after public testimony closed.
The committee then heard SB 1864, which would allow small egg producers to sell ungraded eggs more broadly, including to restaurants and retailers, with the substitute increasing the weekly sales threshold and addressing sanitation and labeling. Supporters said grading is about size, not safety, and that the bill would help small farms reach new markets; opponents from the Texas Poultry Federation argued grading and candling help identify cracks and defects that can affect safety and quality. The committee adopted the substitute and left the bill pending. It also heard SB 1467, requiring DSHS to share death record information with hospitals for record accuracy and quality review, and SB 912, which would modernize continuing education tracking for health licensing agencies; both bills drew supportive testimony and were left pending. Finally, the committee heard SB 2023, which would create an HHSC grant program to help counties pay for indigent burial costs, with county representatives testifying in support.