Transcript Highlights:

• structure to demand any term they want and exploit workers and prevent them from leaving their jobs.
• And these are exactly the reason we need to prevent them is this prevents that movement on purpose, right
• Apprenticeship programs and uh >> Yep.
• They prevent people from leaving and they uh they interrupt the freedom of the labor market.
• <c> leaving</c><00:37:31.520><c> and</c> They prevent people from leaving and They prevent people from

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• welding and automotive and electrical systems, as well as some allied health programs in phlebotomy and
• the practicum for our early childhood development program. our early childhood development program.
• Another popular program is our Certified Nursing Assistant and Phlebotomy program.
• I'm also known as DJ, and I am the program manager. for the Mining Act Reclamation Program for the state
• and our state safety program in Socorro.

Committee: House Radioactive & Hazardous Materials Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• kind</c> Clarity and and Senator Richardson kind Clarity and and Senator Richardson kind of<00:19:18.960
• and Equitable care and accessing timely and Equitable care and the<00:32:14.600><c> Senate</c><00:32
• </c> children and adults die of cancer and children and adults die of cancer and AIDS<00:35:15.240><c
• </c><00:43:23.839><c> and</c><00:43:24.160><c> economic</c> inequality and and economic inequality and
• I'm the staff attorney with the Kentucky Association of Sexual Assault Programs, and I'm Caroline Michelle

Keywords: Discussion on SB 132 - 00:06 Vote on SB 132 - 04:41 Discussion on HB 219 - 43:49 Vote on HB 219 – 49:00 Discussion on HCR 20 – 50:08 Vote on HCR 20 – 51:28, 958, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 132, which would create conscience protections for health care professionals who object to participating in certain procedures or services on religious, moral, or ethical grounds. Senator Donald Douglas and several supporters argued the bill is a recruitment and retention tool for Kentucky’s health care workforce, emphasizing provider shortages, maldistribution, and the need to protect individual conscience rights. Supporters said the bill would not apply to emergency care, would not permit denial of care based on a patient’s identity, and would mainly protect professionals from being forced to perform procedures they believe are unethical. They also cited similar laws in six other states and said the bill would have a cause of action to give it enforcement teeth. Supportive testimony came from an emergency physician, a registered nurse, and others who described personal experiences or examples involving objections to abortion-related care, opioid prescribing, and pressure to participate in procedures that conflicted with conscience. They said conscience protections would help attract providers, preserve ethical integrity, and allow clinicians to make professional judgments without corporate or institutional coercion. In questioning, senators asked about practical examples, the scope of the bill, whether it would cover hypothetical cases involving patients of particular religions or identities, and which states have similar laws. The sponsor and supporters repeatedly said the bill is about procedures, not patients, and that it should not be read to allow discrimination against individuals. Opponents, including pediatricians and a registered nurse/minister, warned that the bill is overly broad and could allow refusals of care by not only physicians but also pharmacists, clerks, and ambulance drivers. They argued it could delay treatment, increase discrimination, and worsen access problems in rural areas, especially for contraception, Plan B, blood transfusions, and other services. Critics said existing professional ethics already require patient care and that the bill could undermine evidence-based medicine and worsen Kentucky’s provider shortage. The committee took testimony and questions; no final vote or disposition was announced in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• workforce in early care and learning.
• It covers base funding for the early learning scholarships program and many critical grant programs that
• So we have included a number of Fraud prevention and program integrity measures, the funding for electronic
• We use the savings to address steps for success, implementing an early and often training program, and
• The layaway program was instituted back in the early '90s to try and incentivize getting rid of beds.

Transcript Highlights:

• There are two pillars to our safety philosophy: prevent and protect.
• jobs, and how to create safety net programs to support worker transitions.
• Communities Program, and bicycle and pedestrian grant program recipients when there are changes to state
• , the creation and installation of road signs, and safety improvements in crash prevention zones.
• , and safety improvements in crash prevention zones.

Summary: The committee held a work session on autonomous vehicles, beginning with an overview from the Washington State Transportation Commission on the state’s five-year AV work group. The commission described its 2018 legislative mandate, the 35-member executive committee and seven subcommittees, and the resulting 29 recommendations and “roadmap to the future.” The presentation emphasized six policy “building blocks” for Washington: agency readiness, public outreach, equity, safety, testing and pilots, and a path to deployment. It also noted current Washington law requires AV testing companies to self-certify with the Department of Licensing, carry $5 million in liability insurance, report collisions and violations, and notify local law enforcement before testing; three companies are currently certified. State regulators from California and Arizona then outlined their AV frameworks. California described its long-running permit system for testing with and without a safety driver and for commercial deployment, its current rulemaking to expand use cases to heavy-duty trucks and passenger shuttles, and new requirements for mileage, operational assessments, and more detailed crash and incident reporting. California also said it is creating a new enforcement tool allowing citations to be issued to manufacturers for moving violations by AVs. Arizona described its executive-order-based approach, later codified by statute, which allows testing and driverless operations through self-certification, law enforcement interaction plans, quarterly meetings with companies, and reporting of crashes or near misses; Arizona also said it tracks crashes monthly and has not recorded fatalities attributed to AVs. Industry representatives from Waymo, Zoox, and the Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association argued that AVs can improve safety, accessibility, and mobility while creating jobs. They described extensive sensor systems, community outreach, first-responder engagement, and current operations in multiple cities. Waymo cited more than 127 million rider-only miles and said its data show large reductions in injury-causing and pedestrian crashes; Zoox said it operates in Las Vegas, San Francisco, and Seattle and stressed its purpose-built electric robotaxi and local jobs; AVIA said its members have driven more than 145 million autonomous miles and that 26 states now expressly authorize driverless operations. Members asked about public education, crash and fatality tracking, enforcement, weather, school zones, first-responder interactions, and labor impacts. Labor and public-safety witnesses from the Teamsters, firefighters, and driver unions opposed commercial AV deployment without stronger safeguards. They argued Washington should not be an unregulated testing ground, especially for heavy trucks and hazardous materials, and warned of job losses for drivers, taxi and rideshare workers, and related occupations. Firefighters and driver representatives raised concerns about AVs interfering with emergency scenes, blocking responders, and creating risks in dynamic roadway incidents. Committee members also asked for comparisons to human-driven vehicles, data on citations and crashes, and more information on how AVs interact with pedestrians, first responders, and workers.

Transcript Highlights:

• THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE SAYING IT IS NEAR AND DEAR TO SOME AND PEOPLE'S HEART BUT THAT THIS IS NEAR AND
• WE ARE PROUD OF THAT PROGRAM. RULE AND FAMILY LAND. WE CAN'T SAY ENOUGH.
• AFTER THE HURRICANES LAST YEAR, THE LEGISLATURE PUT IN PLACE A LOAN PROGRAM, AND EMERGENCY LOAN PROGRAM
• UTILIZING THIS LOAN PROGRAM, AND WORKING WITH THE TEAMS WITH PUMPS AND GENERATORS AND THINGS LIKE THAT
• A LOT OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE ROLE IN THE FAMILY LANDS PROGRAM AND IT CERTAINLY WILL BE SOMETHING

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Oh, and we have to sleep and eat during Oh, and we have to sleep and eat during that<00:42:45.440
• </c> just come up and fill the chairs and just come up and fill the chairs and we'll<00:50:00.000><c>
• </c> and uh I believe it's a a doable do and and uh I believe it's a a doable do and I<00:50:53.359><
• and I and I the tool belt or toolbox and I and I would<00:53:53.119><c> argue</c><00:53:53.359><c> that
• </c> and Friday. and Friday.

Bills: SF0028 , SF0030 , SF0031 , SF0032

Committee: House Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions

Keywords: voting, elections, electronic voting systems, transparency, public testing, voter registration, qualified elector, residency requirements, voting rights, mortgage modification, priority, electronic signatures, real property, financial covenants, 911 services, emergency response, grant funding, next generation technology, government accountability, public safety

Transcript Highlights:

• With universities being an early target of policy and politically motivated federal grant delays and
• And so you’re familiar with the Voluntary Income Tax Assistance Program, that is an IRS program that
• And what we look at is communicating out early.
• And so these outreach programs, training programs, canceled right, left, and center.
• And, you know, when you're talking about equity and inclusion, cutting programs because of equity and

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Accountability and Transparency held a hearing focused on three issues: federal funding cuts and delays, possible state revenue impacts from reduced IRS enforcement, and the fiscal effects of AB 218 on local governments. The Franchise Tax Board described how state and federal tax systems are closely linked, how most returns are filed electronically through software, and how FTB relies on IRS information sharing for compliance, fraud prevention, offsets, and nonfiler work. Members raised concerns that federal staffing cuts at the IRS could weaken audits of large corporations and reduce California revenue, and asked about VITA and ITIN filers; FTB said it was not aware of VITA reductions, noted ITIN returns are processed the same as other returns, and said ITIN filing appeared slightly down this year. The Department of Finance said it is monitoring federal developments, summarized the continuing resolution and reconciliation process, and noted that California lost nearly $940 million in earmarked federal projects under the CR, while major federal budget decisions remain uncertain until the President’s budget and later congressional action. The University of California reported substantial federal pressure on research, student aid, and health care. UC said hundreds of millions of dollars in federal awards have already been canceled, with additional threats to NIH and DOE facilities-and-administration rates, graduate fellowships, student loan repayment plans, international student visas, Pell Grants, and Medicaid/Medi-Cal funding. Committee members pressed UC on the effects of DEIA-related federal restrictions, the loss of clinical trials and research staff, and the impact on low-income students and patients. UC said it is pursuing litigation with the Attorney General and other institutions, but emphasized that court action is only a temporary solution and that sustained state and private support may be needed. The second panel addressed the fiscal consequences of AB 218, which extended the statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse claims against public agencies. FCMAT presented a report with 22 recommendations, including better statewide data collection, financing mechanisms, a possible victims compensation fund, and prevention measures. Los Angeles County described a tentative $4 billion settlement tied to AB 218 claims, saying it will require reserves, borrowing, and long-term annual payments through 2050, while also forcing curtailments and cuts to vacant positions to preserve services. Members discussed insurance pools, retroactive premiums, unidentified future claims, and the need for a compensation fund or other financing tools. No formal votes were taken; the hearing concluded with public comment, including testimony from local health officials about nearly $400 million in terminated federal public health grants and the resulting layoffs and service impacts.

Transcript Highlights:

• Communities Program, and bicycle and pedestrian grant program recipients when there are changes to state
• , the creation and installation of road signs, and safety improvements in crash prevention zones.
• , and safety improvements in crash prevention zones.
• , the creation and installation of road signs, and safety improvements in crash prevention zones.
• , and safety improvements in crash prevention zones.

Committee: House Transportation

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• like TAFDC and EAEDC, if we continue to neglect the child care voucher program, and otherwise balance
• budget and prioritize funding for state programs that lift Massachusetts children and families out of
• us smarter about early childhood education and all the work that you do.
• And I'm here today to help advocate for continuing the program.
• We integrate behavioral health, we coordinate across primary and preventative services, and we connect

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Keywords: 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• with early child care and affordable child care.
• Members, this bill is about prevention and responsibility.
• This is about prevention, accountability, and local control.
• He went to Texas, and something that when they came and spoke to me, I looked at this program and it's
• , very similar to the Texas program that all he needed was a chance and to get on track, and now he's

Committee: House House Government Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee heard a series of bills and resolutions, many of them on property, local government, and memorial topics. HB 2079, authorizing a memorial for journalist Don Bolles at Wesley Bolin Plaza, passed unanimously after sponsor testimony about the 50th anniversary of his assassination and the memorial’s no-cost nature. HB 2080, as amended, advanced 7-0 on deed and title fraud prevention measures, including photo ID requirements, notarization and deed-filing safeguards, an assessor alert program, and a felony penalty for knowingly submitting false or forged real-property claims. HB 464, which moves the petition process for municipal improvement districts earlier in the process, passed 5-2 after testimony from Camp Verde, the Yavapai Apache Nation, developers, and the League of Arizona Cities and Towns; opponents argued it could force property owners into infrastructure they do not want, while supporters said it improves transparency and financing certainty. HB 2048, a proposed constitutional referral to withhold pay from state elected officials if the budget is not enacted by April 30, passed 4-3, with supporters saying it would create accountability and opponents saying broader process reforms are needed first. The committee also heard HB 2324, which would allow municipalities with their own fire codes to petition for county-owned buildings inside city limits to be exempt from separate state fire code inspections when conditions are met. County and state fire officials supported the concept, saying it would resolve conflicting statutes and formalize intergovernmental agreements, and the bill passed 7-0. HB 4087, authorizing a memorial plaque for former legislator Barbara Leff, also passed unanimously, with the sponsor noting her service in both chambers and her work on veterans and health care issues. HB 2239, creating a child care grant program and infrastructure fund for underserved and low-income communities, drew extensive testimony from rural parents, child care advocates, and early childhood experts describing child care deserts, workforce losses, and safety concerns with unregulated care. Supporters said the bill would fund the facilities and infrastructure needed to expand regulated child care, especially in rural Arizona; the committee approved it 5-1 with one member present and one not voting. Members also discussed HB 2375, a historic-preservation-related middle housing bill, but the transcript cuts off before final action is shown; testimony reflected a sharp divide between preservation advocates supporting exemptions for historic districts and housing advocates warning the bill could worsen exclusion and housing shortages.

Transcript Highlights:

• to have early voting because this is the way... ...to vote by mail and to have early voting because
• And what I've seen over the years is legislation coming forward trying to prevent and even divide the
• programs and training.
• We liked the program before, and now it's off the rails.
• SB 1196, technical correction and child hearing programs. Rules.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The loan program does engage and whether a charter school should exist. Excuse me, does not.
• In the early 80s, the legislature changed the code. department of Justice since 1972 and changed the
• So this gives a notice, and it also gives the opportunity to establish a grants program.
• Lay and Sobrato Early Academic Language.
• Your education committee has... as the opportunity to prevent and eventually eliminate this problem.

Committee: House Education

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• we did it early, early, early, um was introduce and move a package of small business relief um that
• Um when we think about Medicaid and SNAP, uh we did a lot of work to try and protect those programs um
• we did it the Minnesota Senate, and we did it early, early, early, um<00:03:54.200><c> was</c><00:03
• ><c> those</c> of work to try and protect those of work to try and protect those programs<00:04:27.440
• </c><00:04:28.600><c> a</c> programs um through this next year and a programs um through this next year

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The interview focused on the Minnesota Senate DFL’s end-of-session accomplishments and frustrations. The senator said the caucus entered the session expecting little to get done in a divided, election-year legislature, but instead passed a range of major measures, including emergency rental assistance, immigration enforcement, gun violence prevention, an independent Office of the Inspector General, consumer protections for homeowners associations, and a $1.2 billion bonding/infrastructure bill for water, roads, and bridges. He said the bonding bill was a success but criticized the limited funding for lead pipe replacement, noting only $15 million was included. He also discussed affordability measures, especially a vehicle tab fee reduction negotiated in connection with the bonding bill, saying Democrats wanted the relief to take effect sooner but Republicans pushed implementation to January. He described other unfinished or blocked items, including a small business relief package tied to Metro Surge and efforts to protect Medicaid and SNAP from federal changes. He said many Senate proposals were developed through committee hearings and were meant to be negotiated publicly, but argued the House often failed to do comparable work, leading to last-minute deals and more party-line votes. The senator was sharply critical of federal actions under the Trump administration, saying cuts and mandates were harming states, counties, Medicaid, and SNAP, and weakening the state-federal partnership. Looking ahead, he said interim work will likely focus on procedural changes and health care, including stabilizing HCMC and supporting rural hospitals. He said the session’s work was aimed at serving Minnesotans first, and expressed optimism about the upcoming election season and the possibility of changing legislative practices next session.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then do I turn in my receipts to the grant program to show that I bought the headstone?
• We all know we have the homes, the cemeteries, the veteran service program, and the veteran suicide prevention
• And they have a breeding program that we participate in.
• I'm Cindy Conling, and I am a member of the Firearms Suicide Prevention Grant.
• What we strive to do is provide education on firearm suicide prevention and mental health.

Committee: House Veterans and Armed Forces

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• early age-appropriate education has been a proven tool for prevention, recognition, and reporting.
• early age-appropriate education has been a proven tool for prevention, recognition, and reporting.
• , RTI programs lead to peer pressure and bullying.
• to enact legislation for the program to increase salaries and base salaries. reported to ADE and FY
• to enact a legislation for the program to increase the salaries and base salaries We've got. ...and

Committee: Senate Senate Education Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee heard and advanced several education-related bills. SB 1572, the Return to Civics Instruction Act, would require Freedom Week, civics instruction on the Declaration of Independence and Constitution, and a Declaration recitation for grades 3-12; it passed 3-2 after some members argued schools already provide civics instruction and that the legislature should not mandate curriculum. SB 1798, as amended, would require each high school to designate a FAFSA point person, post contact information, and implement a FAFSA awareness strategy; the Arizona Board of Regents supported it, while some members raised concerns about mandates on charter schools and staffing burdens. The committee also passed SB 1711, which directs the State Board of Education to develop and post age-appropriate resources on preventing and recognizing inappropriate contact, with testimony split between support for parent-accessible safety materials and concerns about sex-education compliance issues.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's about prevention, it's about healing, and it's about justice.
• AB 711 encourages early coordination and disclosure, helping prevent miscommunication and increasing
• AB 309 will reaffirm California's commitment to research-driven and effective HIV and hepatitis prevention
• prevention and awareness community: President and Founder of the Drowning Prevention Foundation, Nadina
• Lung cancer treatments and early detection can be improved through heightened awareness and ongoing investments

Summary: The Assembly convened after a quorum call, prayer, and pledge, then moved through a long Daily File with several major policy bills and multiple commemorative resolutions. The most debated measure was AB 379 on human trafficking and child exploitation. The bill was presented as a stronger, more comprehensive version that increases penalties for adults soliciting minors, adds a loitering offense tied to purchasing commercial sex, raises fines for businesses that facilitate trafficking, creates a Survivor Support Fund, and establishes grants for victim services and vertical prosecution. Several members spoke in support, while Assemblymember Sharp-Collins raised concerns that the loitering provision could be vague and disproportionately enforced against Black, Brown, and LGBTQIA+ people. The bill passed after debate, with the clerk reporting 72 noes and the measure still passing. The Assembly also passed AB 1415, which expands the Office of Health Care Affordability’s authority to review more health systems, private equity and hedge fund acquisitions, and managed service organizations in order to better track cost drivers and medical debt. Other policy bills approved included AB 711 on coordinating court reporters for motion hearings, AB 1142 on horse event entry fees, AB 309 on preserving access to sterile syringes for HIV and hepatitis prevention, AB 358 on allowing victims to consent to searches of hidden surveillance devices like AirTags and spy cameras, AB 592 on outdoor dining for restaurants, AB 1341 on clarifying contractor licensing violations, AB 752 on easing child care center siting, AB 1166 on extending debt-settlement rules to commercial financing, AB 806 on mobile home resident cooling rights, AB 972 on explicit sex discrimination protections in higher education, AB 416 on emergency room 5150 authority, AB 632 on expedited collection of penalties for serious local code violations, AB 672 on PERB notification and intervention rights, AB 876 on CRNA scope of practice, and AB 760 on temporary mobile home housing after disasters. Most of these measures passed with broad bipartisan support, though AB 672 drew sharp opposition from Assemblymember DeMaio over concerns about PERB and state bureaucracy. The chamber also adopted several resolutions recognizing May observances and public service groups. These included ACR 63 designating May as California Fairgrounds Appreciation Month, ACR 69 for California Physical Fitness and Mental Well-Being Month, ACR 76 for California Small Business Month, ACR 77 for Drowning Awareness and Prevention Month, HR 36 for Lung Cancer Action Week, HR 39 for National Public Works Week, and HR 41 for National Hospital Week. Members used the resolutions to highlight local institutions, public health, and community services, and each was adopted after co-author rolls and voice votes. The session ended after the Assembly completed the day’s file and moved through a series of routine procedural motions and adjournment-related business.

Transcript Highlights:

• I work for the Office of Program Research, Appropriations, and Capital Budget Committees.
• We also see diminished capacity in programs that minimize our risk and enable us to respond faster, like
• I'm a five-time startup founder and former chair of the startup programs of the Washington Technology
• QSBS was created as a national program to give citizens a reason beyond love and hope to support the
• Founders and early employees often accept lower pay, long hours, and years of uncertainty with no guarantee

Bills: SB5893 , SB6229 , HB1376 , SGA9306

Committee: Senate Ways & Means

Keywords: forest health, wildfire reduction, appropriations, environmental policy, natural resource management, capital gains, taxation, small business, state revenue, investment, economic growth, tax prepayment, tax regulation, financial planning, economic policy, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And this is the criteria for this grant program.
• their role in helping prevent and minimize these impacts.
• And finally in prevention, I want to talk about the Exotic Pet Amnesty Program, which, as mentioned,
• their role in helping prevent and minimize these impacts.
• And finally in prevention, I want to talk about the Exotic Pet Amnesty Program, which has mentioned continues

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government

Summary: The committee meeting began with quorum, member introductions, and an overview of the Agriculture, Environment, and General Government budget process. The chair emphasized using the committee resource book and performance metrics to review the base budget and invited members to identify areas of interest for later discussion. Members were also reminded about appearance forms and speaking procedures. Wes Gregory of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services presented on agricultural best management practices and water policy. He said the office had updated all nine commodity BMP manuals and added a manual for small farms and livestock, expanded enrollment by 742 producers covering 677,000 acres, and used GIS and data analysis to target areas such as the Indian River Lagoon. He also described cost-share projects, a new field application for enrollment and inspections, cross-training staff, and a request for $20 million for regional water quality projects. Members asked about BMP enrollment, compliance, and enforcement; Gregory said noncompliance is uncommon and cases can be referred to DEP. Adam Blaylock of DEP reviewed environmental grant programs, saying the state has appropriated $2.9 billion since 2018 for water quality projects, with about 1,100 projects reducing nitrogen and phosphorus statewide. He described the Water Quality Improvement Grant, Indian River Lagoon, Biscayne Bay, Springs, Alternative Water Supply, and Resilient Florida programs, including a planned public dashboard and a water-quality monitoring portal. Senators asked about the application window, award timing, and the high cost of septic-to-sewer conversions, with Blaylock estimating a blended average of about $35,000 per home. Chief Conservation Officer George Worthing of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission then presented on invasive animal control. He discussed prevention, risk screening, law enforcement at ports, public outreach programs such as the Python Challenge, Lionfish Challenge, and Exotic Pet Amnesty Program, and early detection tools like the Ive Got One reporting system. He also described control efforts for Burmese pythons, tegus, and lionfish, along with research and partner coordination. Members asked about the most harmful invasive species and whether iguanas may be taken; Worthing said iguanas are open for take, subject to other laws. The meeting ended after members briefly identified priorities such as water quality, recreation water quality, sustainability, sea level rise, and septic-to-sewer infrastructure, and the committee adjourned without any formal votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• were extremely lucky to be able to go to Oahu and San Francisco and get an early diagnosis.
• And they're asking the state for money. And this is a whole new program. challenging year. It is.
• Many youth rely on clinics for education and preventative care, and intimidation, harassment, and blocking
• :37:20.600><c> care,</c><00:37:21.280><c> and</c> education and preventative care, and education and
• </c> programs for additional legal and programs for additional legal and administrative<01:17:55.560>

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee first took up gubernatorial message nominations. Margaret Jackson was heard for reappointment to the State Council on Mental Health, where she said her lived experience with family members facing schizophrenia, houselessness, and substance use issues motivates her service. Andrew Savaiano was heard for the Juvenile Justice State Advisory Council and said he wanted to continue elevating youth voice and lived experience. Tao Yan was heard for the Board of Certification of Operating Personnel in Wastewater Treatment Plants and emphasized the importance of wastewater treatment to public health and the environment. The Department of Health testified in support of the nominations, and the committee later adopted chair recommendations to advise and consent to all three nominations, noting Senator Favela’s excuse and no recorded objections. The committee then heard HB 1853 relating to dementia. Testimony was overwhelmingly in support from state agencies, advocacy groups, caregivers, and individuals with lived experience, including a person living with Alzheimer’s and his caregiver spouse, who described the value of early diagnosis and coordinated support. Supporters said the bill would expand memory care navigation and access, especially on neighbor islands and in rural areas, and help families connect to resources earlier. One member raised concerns about the cost and scale of the proposed program, asking about the number and cost of dementia specialists and noting broader budget pressures, but the bill remained under discussion with no final action shown in the transcript. The committee also heard HB 1591 relating to health care, which would expand the preceptor tax credit to additional health professions, including physician assistant students and PAs, with testimony in support from nursing, public health, medical, and provider organizations. Supporters argued the measure would help address workforce shortages and improve training opportunities for local and economically disadvantaged students. A committee member asked about the aggregate cost of the credit and whether the existing credit had been fully utilized; the chair noted the bill was being kept narrower than broader proposals because of fiscal concerns. The transcript then moved to HB 1961 relating to health care access near facilities, with supporters arguing it protects access to legal reproductive health care and opponents saying it is unnecessary, vague, and burdensome on free speech and protest activity. No final vote on the bills appears in the excerpt provided.