Transcript Highlights:

• We're seeing a lot of requests for assistance in that arena.
• We're seeing a lot of requests for assistance in that arena.
• And we've gotten good support and assistance from our partners over at EDGETAC.
• We procured, as DPI, a vendor specifically to assist the districts in that effort.
• So we really want to make sure that they're getting technical assistance.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Budget Section met with a quorum, approved the December 10, 2025 minutes, and received a general fund and revenue update from the Office of Management and Budget. OMB reported the state was about $2 million ahead of forecast biennium-to-date, with an estimated ending general fund balance of about $397.5 million. Joe Morset also reviewed balances in major funds, oil tax revenues, interest income, federal grant reporting, fiscal irregularities, the voluntary separation incentive program, vacancy savings, and the FTE pool. Members asked about the higher-than-forecast interest income, the effective oil tax rate and stripper-well production, the impact of temporary pay adjustments and vacancy savings, and whether the voluntary separation program could reduce institutional knowledge or shift duties to remaining staff. The committee then approved four Emergency Commission requests: $5.26 million for DPI to support an AI-enabled tutoring platform, $105,000 from the general fund contingency for Corrections GPS monitoring, about $1.963 million for HHS SPACES eligibility system upgrades tied to Medicaid work requirements, and about $1.2 million for SNAP eligibility IT improvements. Legislative Council reported remaining interim spending authority after those approvals, and NDIT gave an update on digital accessibility compliance efforts, saying the state has made substantial progress on websites and PDFs but that applications will take longer to remediate. NDIT also reported on the Infinite Campus student information system rollout, noting data migration remains the biggest challenge and that a supplemental vendor is being brought in to help get districts ready for summer go-live. Greg Hoffman then gave a brief update on NDIT’s operational fund, saying cash remains negative in PeopleSoft but accounts receivable keeps the fund functioning within federal limits. The Supreme Court reported on its new and vacant FTE funding pool, saying it has filled 7 of 10 new positions and has realized some vacancy savings, and Legislative Council provided a similar report for the legislative branch along with a reminder that budget action reports are available online. The Department of Transportation presented its Flexible Transportation Fund, explaining the fund’s allocation formulas and ranking process, and sought Budget Section approval for two projects over the $10 million threshold: a Medora city streets and sidewalk project and a Cass County bridge replacement. Members questioned whether funding Medora streets could set a precedent for city street reconstruction and whether the bridge application process fully reflects statewide needs. DOT said the projects were scored competitively and that the bridge list does not capture all deficiencies statewide.

Transcript Highlights:

• Did you we may be able to assist there.
• </c> interventions and assistance interventions and assistance &gt;&gt; Yeah.<00:58:25.480><c> are</c
• </c> died via suicide. died via suicide.
• And so, we had assisted in license."
• </c> but we did assist in drafting that. but we did assist in drafting that.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation New Dawn, and those who died by suicide
• needed to include a component dedicated to honoring those who lost their lives subsequently due to suicide
• Frankly, I've been before this legislature for years asking for additional assistance on utilities and
• As a reminder, House Bill 2470 is the bill that relates to providing a school construction assistance
• And the proposed substitute also provides that the computed state funding assistance percentage, which

Summary: The Capital Budget Committee heard briefings and testimony on several bills. Substitute House Bill 2281 would require state agencies to avoid imposing an undue burden on Indian tribes’ traditional cultural practices at tribal traditional cultural places, and would create a Superior Court cause of action for tribes. The prime sponsor and tribal witnesses said the bill is needed to protect sacred sites and cultural resources, while an industry witness asked for narrower, more predictable language. Some testimony criticized the bill as too expansive and likely to increase litigation. The committee also heard testimony on House Bill 2514, which would create a Global War on Terror memorial work group to plan and recommend details for a memorial on the Capitol campus; the sponsor emphasized honoring Washington service members and said private fundraising would be central to the project. House Bill 2551 would let school districts with very low ending fund balances seek OSPI approval to sell district real property and use the proceeds to restore financial stability, rather than depositing the money into capital or debt service funds. The sponsor and Tacoma School District testified that the bill is a safeguard for districts nearing binding conditions, while members raised concerns about possible impacts on local land use and whether the bill could be misused in urban or rural areas. Substitute House Bill 2668 would require the Department of Fish and Wildlife to identify alternate locations for the Bob O’K Game Farm and request future capital funding to relocate and remediate the site because of nitrate contamination affecting the Centralia area aquifer. Local officials, public health staff, and tribal representatives supported relocation, citing public health risks and the potential cost of inaction, while the sponsor stressed that the bill is about moving, not closing, the game farm. In executive action, the committee took up House Bill 2470, as amended by a proposed substitute, which would increase state school construction assistance for schools on military bases by adding 15% to the calculated state match percentage. Members discussed the role of federal funding and the need for safe, equitable facilities for military-connected students. The committee approved the substitute bill and reported it out with a due pass recommendation by a vote of 15-1, with three excused.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> we've heard some examples of assisted we've heard some examples of assisted suicide,<01:07:57.000
• I heard you, Doctor, give a very, very example of physician-assisted suicide, which of course is not
• </c><01:12:52.320><c> suicide,</c> example of physician-assisted suicide, example of physician-assisted
• You know, I want to address the lovely young woman who talked about her patient wanting assisted suicide
• </c> about her patient wanting assisted about her patient wanting assisted suicide.<01:25:12.080><c>

Keywords: 00:00:00 Call to Order/Roll Call 00:01:10 Discussion of 25RS HB 414 00:44:26 Roll Call Vote on 25RS HB 414 00:50:25 Discussion of 25RS SB 27 00:53:44 Roll Call Vote on 25RS SB 27 00:55:49 Discussion of 25RS SB 93 00:57:57 Roll Call Vote on 25RS SB 93 00:59:29 Discussion of 25RS SB 132 01:37:39 Roll Call Vote on 25RS SB 132 01:40:55 Discussion of 25RS SB 153 01:42:05 Roll Call Vote on 25RS SB 153 01:43:46 Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The Health Services Committee met with a quorum and took up House Bill 414 with a committee substitute. The bill, described by sponsors and supporters as a continuation of prior maternal-health legislation, was framed as a clarification of medical standards and an effort to improve care for women and families facing complicated pregnancies. Representative Tate, Representative Nemes, Adair Wushar of Kentucky Right to Life, and Dr. Jeff Goldberg of ACOG Kentucky all testified in support, saying the substitute was developed collaboratively to reduce confusion in the law and help physicians provide evidence-based care without fear of criminal penalties. Supporters said the committee substitute was intended to define what is not an abortion under Kentucky law and to spell out medical treatments for conditions such as miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, molar pregnancy, sepsis, hemorrhage, preeclampsia, premature rupture of membranes, and fetal demise. Dr. Goldberg said current statutes contain significant ambiguity and have created unintended barriers to treating pregnancy complications, including emergency situations, and he gave examples of patients who were delayed or harmed because physicians were uncertain about what the law allowed. Representative Nemes said the measure was the result of unusual cooperation among groups that do not usually agree and described it as a first step toward fixing a discrete problem. Representative Wilner raised concerns that the language could effectively require a patient to be in severe distress before treatment is clearly permitted and that it was too prescriptive about how physicians should manage miscarriages. In response, Dr. Goldberg and the sponsors said the substitute was not perfect, was meant as a short-term solution, and was designed to give doctors more confidence in providing routine, medically necessary care for pregnancy complications. The transcript indicates the committee substitute was adopted, but no final vote on the bill itself is shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:20:12.320><c> just</c> we've had two deaths by suicide just we've had two deaths by suicide just
• </c> the there is a decrease in uh suicide the there is a decrease in uh suicide attempts<00:20:41.520
• </c><00:21:13.919><c> deterrent</c> the cost for the suicide deterrent the cost for the suicide deterrent
• </c> Pollution Control Agency's Assistant Pollution Control Agency's Assistant Commissioner,<00:42:49.040
• I'm assistant commissioner with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.

Bills: HF3220

Keywords: school safety, school security, emergency access, law enforcement access, master key box, secure key box, entry device, school grants, education finance, Department of Education, charter schools, school districts, cooperative units, appropriation cancellation, one-time appropriation, school safety plan, emergency preparedness, public safety, school building security, 1183

Transcript Highlights:

• students throughout the United States with empirically validated Tool to enhance their ability to assess suicide
• risk and manage chronic suicidal behaviors in clinics.
• So, Coach Bacon, my assistant, has been with me as a coach for the entire almost 20-year coaching career

Bills: SB1423, SB1426, SB1502, SB1377, SB1983, SB1466, SB1645, SB1647, SB1847, SB1565, SB1562, SB1329, SB1383, SB1833, SB1555, SB1344, SB1839, SB1280, SB1832, SB2001, SB1405, SB2143, SB1989, SB1393, SB1392, SB1395, SB1400, SB1220, SB1516, SB1239, SB1531, SB1349, SB1221, SB1538, SB1309, SB1434, SB2108, SB2121, SB2171, SB2061, SB2112, SB2138

Keywords: Oklahoma Hospital Advisory Council, hospital licensure, public health, State Department of Health, State Board of Health, hospital regulations, healthcare regulation, hospital standards, hospital construction, hospital operations, stroke care, stroke system, emergency medical services, EMS transport, psychiatric treatment, chemical dependency treatment, substance use disorder, drug storage, pharmacy, quality indicators

Transcript Highlights:

• Kyle Wise said that by age 18 he had attempted suicide twice.
• I'm the state assistant adjutant for the Texas VFW.
• I battled chronic pain, depression, anxiety, PTSD, and suicidal attempts.
• Veteran suicide will increase.
• Our suicide rates are out of line and out of hand.

Bills: SB 3, HB28, SB3

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

Transcript Highlights:

• associated with a 60% reduction in moderate and severe depression and a 73% reduction in self-harm or suicidal
• I'm the Senior Assistant Attorney General for the Health Care Rights and Access Section.
• I never tried to commit suicide. I never turned to drugs or anything like that.
• All the doctors told me that she would commit suicide if I did not transition her.
• My mom was pushed into agreeing with this by threats of suicide by my doctors.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• For our LGBTQ youth, nearly one of every two young people seriously consider attempting suicide.
• Far too many LGBTQ youth contemplate suicide, and there is a reason for that.
• you're not real, that you're a scam artist, dehumanizing you, it is no wonder that so many contemplate suicide
• , Ariana founded the Unity Day Conference to connect local communities with LGBTQ plus resources, suicide
• made history within the Los Angeles Unified School District as a co-writer of the district's first suicide

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• He is the founder of Bridging the Gap, an anti-suicide or suicide-awareness organization to help our
• The practice of beef-on-dairy also assists in increasing our national beef supply, a supply that has
• Today is an American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Idaho Advocacy Day here at the State House.
• There are advocates here today to discuss suicide prevention in Idaho, and hopefully you'll get a chance
• done such a good job in our state over the years to really recognize the unfortunate high rates of suicide

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In the video training, the teachers are taken through the process of reporting neglect, abuse, suicide
• In the video training, the teachers are taken through the process of reporting neglect, abuse, suicide
• We need to change the way our staff, our school staff members, report incidences of abuse, suicide attempts
• Gavin Snow, he committed suicide. Thank you. Mr. Gavin Snow committed suicide.
• I'm an assistant professor of education at the College of Idaho, where I direct the Master of Education

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• On December 5th, 2021, my oldest son, Carter, died from suicide.
• </c><00:11:31.600><c> I</c> sons to suicide because of sextorion.
• I sons to suicide because of sextorion.
• They do not all end in suicide, thank goodness.
• </c> healthcare and social um assistance healthcare and social um assistance sectors<00:47:11.839><c>

Bills: HF2358, HF3496, HF3504, HF2169, HF3440

Keywords: public safety, coercion, criminal penalties, law enforcement, victim protection, HF3496, supervision abatement, earned compliance credit, earned compliance credits, conditional release, supervised release, corrections, Minnesota Department of Corrections, restitution, willful nonpayment, probation-like supervision, release supervision, community supervision, lifetime conditional release, early termination of supervision

Transcript Highlights:

• The use of AI by California hospitals and health systems assists licensed professionals.
• Since 2001, over 125,000 veterans have died by suicide in America.
• We lose between 17 and 44 veterans to suicide every single day.
• It seemed like every Friday another Marine died by suicide, and they were in my circle.
• like an appropriate task for the panel to assist with.

Summary: The Assembly Health Committee heard a long agenda of health-related bills, beginning with AB 2651 by Bonta, which would require schools to notify parents when school vaccination rates fall below herd immunity thresholds. Supporters, including family physicians, PTA representatives, and medical groups, said the bill would improve transparency and help parents protect children and vulnerable family members. Opponents argued the data could be misleading, could identify medically exempt or conditional students, and might lead to stigma or discrimination. The bill was later moved out of committee on a due-pass-as-amended motion, with one no vote recorded on the roll call. The committee also heard AB 2123 by Aguirre-Curry on medical debt relief, AB 1570 by Wilson to eliminate out-of-pocket costs for medically necessary breast diagnostic and supplemental imaging, AB 2201 by Berner to restore Medi-Cal eligibility and renewal flexibilities, AB 2448 by Berman to strengthen privacy protections for reproductive and gender-affirming care records, AB 2034 by Addis on food additive safety and transparency, and AB 2598 by Krell to require better notification of next of kin when a patient dies in a hospital. Each bill drew strong support from authors, advocates, and affected individuals, while some drew opposition from insurers, industry groups, or transparency critics who raised concerns about cost, duplication, implementation, or unintended harm. Several bills were moved forward on due-pass-as-amended motions, including AB 2123, AB 2201, AB 2448, AB 2034, and AB 2598. The committee also heard AB 2551 by Elhawary, which would require health plans to collect and publish data on how often enrollees must go out of network for behavioral health care and why. Supporters said the measure would expose access barriers and high out-of-pocket costs, especially for communities of color and people with language access needs; opponents said it would add another reporting mandate and might not solve provider shortage problems. Members generally expressed support for the bill’s goals and several described personal or district-level experiences with behavioral health access problems. The bill was then moved out of committee on a due-pass motion. The committee also took up consent items and other procedural motions, with multiple bills reported out and some placed on call.

Transcript Highlights:

• reasonably consistent with our prior biennium requests that we've had, but we need that to help us, assist
• These include adoption of new investment policy statement guidelines, guidance, and tools. to assist
• Goal B allows the Texas the TBC's Fund for Veteran Assistance.
• The five items include enhancing TVCs, veteran mental health services, including suicide prevention,
• Health care advocates to assist Veterans to access the VA health care benefits. for business consultants

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• People have asked for our assistance, and we've reviewed the case, and the evidence has pointed to them
• The Native American community here in Washington State has some of the highest rates of suicidality.
• Some of the highest rates of suicidality.
• And I like to tell folks that it's not a crisis of opiates or suicidality or mental health.
• So this bill should be amended if it moves forward for those protections, and I can assist with that.

Summary: The committee heard several public hearings on criminal justice and victim-related bills. SB 6087 would expand existing liability protections for donations of children’s items to include religious organizations and add strollers and car seats to the definition of children’s items; the sponsor said it would make it easier to donate usable baby equipment, and the Washington State Board of Health said it supported the goal but noted rulemaking and funding concerns under the original version. SB 5934 would change the standard for post-conviction DNA testing so courts must grant testing unless the state shows by clear and convincing evidence that the results could not demonstrate a likelihood of innocence; the Innocence Project and a DNA exoneree supported it as a way to reduce years of litigation, while prosecutors and sheriffs/police chiefs opposed it as a burden shift that could increase frivolous motions and strain lab and attorney resources. SB 5520 would revise Washington’s wrongful-conviction compensation law by broadening definitions, extending filing deadlines, removing the waiver requirement, and making other process changes; the sponsor and Innocence Project said it would reduce barriers and better fulfill the state’s promise to exonerees, and a DNA exoneree described years of litigation just to access compensation. The committee also heard SB 6017, which would expand victim-centered and trauma-informed protections. The bill would allow a court to appoint a representative to ask questions of victims when a defendant represents themself, extend forensic exam consent to minors 13 and older in non-fatal strangulation cases, add female genital mutilation survivors to protections similar to the Sexual Assault Survivors Bill of Rights, and reauthorize and broaden the Safe Advisory Group’s mandate. Survivors, advocates, the Attorney General’s Office, and the Office of Crime Victims Advocacy strongly supported the bill, describing courtroom questioning by self-represented defendants as retraumatizing and urging broader access to services for FGM survivors; defense advocates raised constitutional concerns about limiting a pro se defendant’s right to personally question witnesses and said the bill could be vulnerable to challenge without narrower guardrails. The hearing drew extensive survivor testimony, and the chair noted 108 people signed in support and one opposed. Finally, the committee heard SB 5890, which would create an alternative reckless-driving offense for driving more than 30 miles per hour over the posted speed limit. The sponsor, a former firefighter, framed the bill as an accountability measure aimed at preventing severe crashes caused by extreme speeding. A committee member asked about officer discretion in emergencies, and the sponsor said the bill targets excessive speed while acknowledging that some situations may still be problematic. A preliminary fiscal note had been received.

Transcript Highlights:

• Most of the time, they just say, unless you're suicidal, you can't go to mental health.
• So you have to say you're suicidal in order to go there.
• There's times where I wasn't suicidal, but, like, I know I didn't feel right and I needed some form of
• I know you have the suicide piece, but I'm wondering if that is a part of it at all. Thank you, Mr.
• And in that work, the medical assistants or telepresenters are not directly providing those services.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee hearing focused on the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s handling of mental health care in prisons and allegations of sexual abuse, retaliation, and excessive force in the state’s women’s facilities. CDCR officials described their PREA-based prevention and response efforts, including training, oversight, body-worn cameras, retaliation follow-up, and partnerships with outside groups. The Office of the Inspector General explained its monitoring role, noting increased authority under SB 1069, but also limited staffing and the ability to monitor only a portion of cases. The Legislative Analyst’s Office added that prison population trends could allow the state to close a prison and save over $100 million, with some savings potentially redirected to prevention or response efforts. Advocates and formerly incarcerated witnesses from Sister Warriors Freedom Coalition and the California Coalition of Women Prisoners testified that meaningful systemic change has not occurred and that retaliation, blocked programming, and unsafe reporting conditions remain widespread. They described alleged barriers to community-based services, forced or coercive treatment concerns involving Suboxone, and the need for survivor-centered reentry support, trauma-informed care, and more independent oversight. Sandra DeAnda gave detailed testimony about alleged staff abuse, retaliation, denial of mental health care, and a large use-of-force incident at Central California Women’s Facility, while Amika Mota and April Grayson urged release or resentencing for survivors housed with their abusers and greater investment in outside programs. Members of the committee pressed CDCR and OIG on accountability, use-of-force standards, criminal referrals, disciplinary outcomes, and whether investigations are completed within statutory timelines. CDCR acknowledged cultural problems at both women’s prisons and said it was retraining staff and working on reforms, while OIG said it had monitored 161 investigations and found most grievance routing appropriate, though some cases had lapsed due to time limits. Later exchanges revealed that CDCR has over 13,500 active cases and 109 investigators, and that some cases have exceeded deadlines, prompting concerns from members about whether the current system can adequately investigate misconduct and impose consequences. No votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• Did the Department of Finance bring in outside consultants to assist the state during that period?
• I am an assistant deputy director in human resources for... Hi, good morning. Cindy Ormichia.
• I am an assistant deputy director in human resources for CCHCS. Do you hear that? Is that good?
• I am an assistant deputy director in human resources for you. Hi, good morning. Cindy Ormichia.
• I am an assistant deputy director in human resources for CCHCS. Do you hear that? Is that good?

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Accountability and Oversight held a hearing on the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) budget, with a focus on prison population trends, spending, facility closures, and efforts to find savings. The Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) presented data showing the prison and parole populations have fallen sharply over the past 20 years while CDCR spending has remained high, driven largely by security, health care, litigation-related requirements, and aging infrastructure. The LAO also said the state is likely to have several thousand empty beds by 2030 and recommended closing another prison, identifying the Correctional Training Facility in Soledad as the strongest candidate, while also urging more transparency around facility deactivations and the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) efficiency contract. CDCR Secretary Jeff McCumber said the department faces structural budget pressures from retirement payouts, workers’ compensation, overtime, medical transport, aging facilities, and violence in prisons, but emphasized declining recidivism, expanding reentry beds, and the need for more single-celling and rehabilitation. Department of Finance representative Anthony Franzoa said the administration is not proposing another prison closure at this time, opposed new reporting requirements on deactivations, and said the BCG contract is intended to produce long-term savings even if near-term estimates are being revised downward. Amber Rose Howard of California United for Responsible Budget argued the state should close more prisons, redirect funds to community services, and stop spending on excess prison capacity. Members questioned why CDCR still relies on vacancy savings, why rehabilitation is only a small share of the budget, and whether the department should be more transparent about capacity reductions and legal liabilities. Several members criticized the $20 million BCG contract and the lack of competitive bidding, while others pressed CDCR on staffing levels, single-celling, suicide prevention, and health care costs for older incarcerated people. The hearing did not take a formal vote, but it ended with clear committee concern about CDCR’s budget transparency, the pace of prison closures, and the need to align spending more closely with the declining prison population and the department’s stated rehabilitation mission.

Transcript Highlights:

• Did the Department of Finance bring in outside consultants to assist the state during that period?
• Did the Department of Finance bring in outside consultants to assist the state during that period?
• I am an assistant deputy director in human resources for you— clinical social workers.
• I am an assistant deputy director in human resources for you. Hi, good morning. Cindy Ormichia.
• I am an assistant deputy director in human resources for CCHCS. Do you hear that? Is that good?

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Alaska has the highest suicide rate in the nation, and in many rural communities, suicide rates are nearly
• At a time when young Alaskans are struggling with anxiety, depression, isolation, and suicide at alarming
• As if this veto override happens, I will go from being a physician assistant to a physician associate

Summary: The Alaska Legislature met in joint session with a quorum to consider veto overrides on five bills: HB 52 on minors in psychiatric hospitals, SB 41 on mental health education, HB 314 on architects, engineers, surveyors, and interior designers, SB 21 on the Alaska Work and Save Program, and HB 195 on pharmacists and physician associates. Supporters of HB 52 argued it would improve transparency, family communication, oversight, and reporting in psychiatric treatment for minors; opponents were not recorded in the excerpt. The joint session voted 36-24 to sustain the governor’s veto, so HB 52 did not become law through override. For SB 41, supporters said the bill would create developmentally appropriate mental health education guidance for schools and help address Alaska’s high suicide rate, while the governor argued it would intrude on local control. The override failed 38-22. For HB 314, members said the bill was needed to extend the AELS Board and avoid disruption to professional licensing and oversight; the override passed 45-15, so the veto was overridden. For SB 21, supporters said the Work and Save Program would expand retirement savings access for workers and small businesses, including an option to direct PFD funds to retirement; the override failed 39-21. For HB 195, supporters said it would expand access to care by allowing pharmacists to provide more services under a standard-of-care model, especially benefiting rural residents and families seeking lower-cost treatment, while opponents raised concerns about abortion-related implications and scope. The joint session voted 43-17 to override the veto, so HB 195 was enacted over the governor’s objection. The session then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• And one of those jobs was to get people having a mental illness crisis the assistance they needed.
• One of those jobs was to get people having a mental illness crisis the assistance they needed.
• They need that assistance. They need that help. We want to get them the help they need.
• that the person being admitted has to verbally say that they are about to kill someone or commit suicide
• We understand. to verbally say that they are about to kill someone or commit suicide before they can

Keywords: 959, house, all