Transcript Highlights:

• This funding limitation also prevents Hopkinton from purchasing land or installing cisterns in developments
• per month, in addition to whatever expenses you have to pay for the unit, because you will have purchased
• "This improves adherence to medication, it lowers costs, because physicians can purchase medications
• virtually impossible for any of the stakeholders to know what these medications actually cost to purchase

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Financial Services

Summary: The Senate Committee on Financial Services held a public hearing on late-filed matters, chaired by Senator Paul Feeney and Representative Jamie Murphy. The committee heard testimony on several bills, including S. 2738 on rising insurance costs for manufactured home residents, S. 2739 on creating a fire cistern program, and S. 2732 on direct primary care. Members were reminded to keep testimony brief, and several legislators and local officials testified out of turn as they arrived. The hearing ended with a motion to adjourn, which passed unanimously. On S. 2738, Senator Kelly Dooner, Representative Lisa Field, Taunton Mayor Sean O’Connell, Taunton City Council President Barry Sanders, and several residents and local officials described sharp premium increases, limited carrier options, and confusion over coverage for manufactured home communities. Testifiers said many residents are seniors, veterans, or low-income households on fixed incomes, and urged creation of a special commission to study the market and recommend solutions. Some asked that residents themselves be included on the commission and suggested more immediate relief if possible. On S. 2739, fire chiefs from Hopkinton and East Hampton supported a state fund for fire cisterns, saying many communities lack municipal water or hydrants and need reliable year-round water sources for structure fires, wildfires, and newer hazards such as lithium-ion battery fires. They said cisterns improve response and can affect insurance ratings, but maintenance and installation costs are difficult for local departments to cover. The Massachusetts Insurance Federation opposed the funding mechanism, arguing that insurance assessments are being used as revenue generators and warning that the proposal would add to policy costs and trigger retaliatory taxes. The committee also heard strong support for S. 2732 from physicians and specialty groups, including Dr. Jenny Labonte, Dr. Wendy Cohen, Dr. Rica Nair, and the Massachusetts GI Association. They said the bill would allow direct primary care physicians to make referrals for HMO patients and permit in-office dispensing of medications, which they argued would improve access, continuity of care, medication adherence, and affordability. No votes were taken on the bills during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• This funding limitation also prevents Hopkinton from purchasing land or installing cisterns in developments
• per month, in addition to whatever expenses you have to pay for the unit, because you will have purchased
• This improves adherence to medication, it lowers costs, because physicians can purchase medications at
• virtually impossible for any of the stakeholders to know what these medications actually cost to purchase

Bills: S2732 , S2738 , S2739

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Financial Services

Keywords: healthcare, direct primary care, insurance, referrals, network providers, payment denial, insurance costs, manufactured homes, homeowners insurance, affordability, state regulations, insurance market, consumer protection, mobile homes, firefighting, water supply, cistern program, rural areas, urban interface, state funding

Transcript Highlights:

• They'll purchase that fuel. They'll deliver it to the Rio Grande Valley.
• They'll offload it into these commercial vehicles and let's say it's 93 octane that they purchased.
• The only person that is allowed to claim that exemption of federal taxes is the ultimate purchaser.
• And none of these carriers, entities that are moving this fuel are the ultimate purchaser.

Committee: House Energy Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• the ability for us to get funds at that time, or did the process in putting those bonds out for purchase
• Just to follow up, you said you purchased that this morning? No, someone else...
• Sure, if I remember from last year, this device was supposed to be number one, you could not even purchase
• Okay, so that would be the first prerequisite to even purchase this product.

Bills: HB30 , HB263 , HB357 , HB359 , SB60 , SB102 , HB30

Committee: House Ways and Means General Fund

Keywords: elections, post-election audit, election audit, risk-limiting audit, ballot audit, election integrity, voter confidence, Secretary of State, judge of probate, canvassing board, poll watchers, ballot containers, manual tally, recount, county election, statewide election, general election, absentee ballots, provisional ballots, election transparency

Transcript Highlights:

• The legislature gave us the authority last year to up to a $5 million purchase.
• So we... ...last year to up to a $5 million purchase. We do not have to go through the cabinet.
• So if they have less sales revenue, perhaps they're changing all the purchases that they're making.
• lot of those have been impacted by these particular storms, so they need to replant the crops or purchase

Committee: Senate Agriculture

Summary: The Florida Senate Committee on Agriculture convened with a quorum present and heard two presentations. Commissioner Wilton Simpson, head of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, outlined department accomplishments and funding needs, including IT modernization, expansion of the Rural and Family Lands program, updated best management practice manuals, growth of the Fresh From Florida marketing campaign, hurricane recovery loans for farmers, clearing concealed-weapons permit backlogs, construction of the Conner Complex headquarters, forestry equipment upgrades, and youth agriculture programs such as FFA and 4-H. Senators asked about water policy, citrus greening, FAMU partnerships, staffing efficiencies, and interdiction stations used to stop invasive species, stolen goods, and diseased or banned agricultural products from entering the state. Dr. Krista Court of the University of Florida/IFAS presented a preliminary economic assessment of the 2024 hurricane season’s agricultural impacts from Hurricanes Debby, Helene, and Milton. She explained that the estimates are based on wind, rainfall, flooding, crop location, and survey data from extension agents, industry groups, FDACS, and producers, and that the figures do not include many asset losses, supply-chain effects, forestry losses, or some insurance-covered damages. Her preliminary estimates placed total 2024 agricultural production losses between about $402.3 million and $975.8 million, with the hardest-hit commodity groups including field and row crops, vegetables, melons, potatoes, greenhouse/nursery products, and animals and animal products. Members discussed the importance of accurate survey participation and baseline data, including use of USDA Farm Service Agency information, to improve future disaster estimates and federal relief decisions. Several senators emphasized agriculture’s importance in their districts and statewide. No bills were considered and no formal votes were taken; the only action was adjournment by motion of Senator Burton.

Transcript Highlights:

• athlete, every high school across the state?
• </c> purchase price adjustments. purchase price adjustments.
• House Bill 326, Maryland Center for School Safety Anonymous Reporting System.
• </c><01:41:13.320><c> Um</c> School Safety. Okay. Um School Safety. Okay.
• </c> 30 years as a DC public school teacher. 30 years as a DC public school teacher.

Keywords: House streaming session for Monday, March 23, 2026, 957, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• law for decades, again, we're really kind of upending all of the law that I learned about in law school
• we're really doing with a lot of this is upending all of the law that I've been trained on in law school
• And two, we don't want defendants in these cases to benefit from that injured patient having purchased
• The way the PRC regulates P&M, you know, P&M gets fees from the electrical purchasers and spreads that

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 61, which would raise aggravated battery on a peace officer from a third-degree to a second-degree felony in cases involving great bodily harm or a deadly weapon. The sponsor and supporters said the bill fixes an inconsistency in current law, where aggravated assault on an officer can be punished more severely than aggravated battery causing serious injury. Law enforcement representatives, the Chiefs Association, CBRC, and chamber representatives testified in support, and the New Mexico Sentencing Commission was noted as having endorsed the bill by a 6-3-4 vote. After questions about proportionality and plea bargaining, the committee voted due pass on HB 61 without objection. The committee then returned to House Bill 99, a medical malpractice reform bill, and several members made conflict-of-interest disclosures before debating amendments. The discussion focused heavily on the patient compensation fund, surcharge setting, and whether an advisory board or the superintendent should control rates. Amendments to segregate future fund money, require surcharges no lower than the advisory board’s recommendation, and create a commission with more actuarial and financial expertise were debated at length; the committee rejected the first two amendments. Members and witnesses argued over whether past undercharging of hospitals and doctors led to insolvency and taxpayer bailouts, and whether the bill should require more transparency and oversight. The committee also debated amendments on punitive damages. One proposal would have delayed punitive damage claims until after substantial discovery; opponents said it would conflict with civil procedure, prolong litigation, and likely be struck down. Another would have tied punitive damages to a multiple of compensatory damages or a percentage of net worth; supporters said that would better deter harmful conduct, while opponents said it would create uncertainty and more discovery. That amendment also failed. A final punitive-damages amendment would have removed caps in cases involving sexual assault or intoxication by a health care provider and protected the first $5 million of an independent provider’s personal assets; it too was rejected after members said it would shield egregious misconduct and go beyond the bill’s purpose.

Transcript Highlights:

• I was in high school one day, and my dad was superintendent of the school, and all of a sudden a Navy
• ><c> of</c> superintendent of the school and all of superintendent of the school and all of a<01:45:37.920
• </c> whether it's property that schools own. whether it's property that schools own.
• district and 17% of Denver public school district and 17% of Denver public schools.
• Schools.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We've been able to build our own schools. And that's with the ability to tax property.
• You have communities in Selawik and Shungnak that had to close their schools.
• Speaker, we just closed four schools on the Kenai.
• Speaker, we just closed four schools on the Kenai.
• ...just through high school from the perspective of a restaurant that my family owned.

Keywords: 905, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Francis High School.
• Francis High School, Kelly Ketchum. Members, please join me in welcoming these guests. Thank you.
• Senate Bill 1140 by Senator Ashby and an act relating to school safety.
• Since 1966, California has experienced the most school shootings compared to any other state.
• Kennedy High School in Granada Hills, where he was a student now. And more.

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, guest recognitions, and several ceremonial presentations. Members welcomed Jack and Jill of America’s Far West Region and a large education bus trip from Senate District 15. The body also adopted SCR 151 designating May 2026 as ACL Injury Awareness Month, SR 105 declaring May as National Tennis Month, SCR 175 recognizing Behavioral Health Awareness Month, SCR 176 designating May as Small Business Month, and SCR 178 recognizing Jewish American Heritage Month. These resolutions drew broad support, with many senators speaking to the health, civic, economic, and cultural themes in the measures, as well as concerns about anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, and solidarity across communities. The Senate also confirmed three gubernatorial appointees unanimously: Siva Gunda to the California Energy Commission, Tony Sertich as Executive Director of the California Housing and Finance Agency, and Craig Snellings to the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board. In addition, the chamber approved a motion to suspend Joint Rule 62(a) so the Committee on Local Government could hear AB 1768, after debate over the procedure and a roll call vote. On legislation, the Senate passed a series of bills on unanimous or near-unanimous votes, including SB 922 on local cost recovery for street damage from public service operations, SB 932 on litigation transparency, SB 1311 on updates to consumer affairs boards and licensing rules, SB 1143 on access to forensic interview recordings in child abuse cases, SB 1307 on clearing forged real estate documents, SB 1177 on high-speed rail reporting, SB 971 on community networks for older adults, SB 1400 on Alameda Health System governance, SB 1228 on existing outdoor advertising displays in former redevelopment areas, SB 997 on lien authority for a groundwater sustainability agency, SB 1115 on public cemetery district governance, SB 1088 on advance care planning forms, SB 1242 on family participation in CARE Court, SB 1364 on parental rights in rape-related custody cases, SB 993 on protecting mental health professionals’ identifying information, SB 1094 on prescription drug biosimilar use, SB 1117 on ADU fee calculations, SB 1244 on broker compensation disclosures for public agency health plans, SB 1315 on automated driving system software update reporting, and SB 1398 on recognizing Green Globes as an equivalent state building certification. Earlier, a motion by Senator Strickland to withdraw SB 1035 from committee failed on a 22-22 vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• And the reason for that is an even higher percentage of teachers and school counselors are unaware as
• Is it high school? Is It, you know, middle school?
• And we need to build the relationships among our youth, all youth, and with our school district.
• Or is it the portion of the tax that's generated by Dona Ana and Sierra, and then those school districts
• And a lot of exciting things are happening, even now, with Virgin employees purchasing properties in

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If you think of it like grades in school, if you got a 50 on one test and a 100 on another, your average
• if you got a of it like grades in school if you got a 50<00:54:41.280><c> on</c><00:54:41.520><c> one
• by people with that can be purchased by people with pre-diabetes pre-diabetes pre-diabetes okay<01:12
• So if the insurance company needs to put on a deductible, depending on what kind of plan you purchased
• </c><01:31:05.800><c> so</c><01:31:06.639><c> um</c> her ready for school so um her ready for school

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee held a public hearing on House Bill 552, which would remove the “full-time student” requirement for children ages 19 to 25 covered under the state retiree health insurance plan. The prime sponsor said the change would align retiree coverage with state employee and ACA plans, would not cost taxpayers because retirees pay the premiums, and could even reduce administrative burden and possibly state costs. The chair noted the bill simply removes the words “if full-time student” from statute and said the proposal affects very few retirees and has no cost to the state. No opposition was presented, and the chair closed the hearing on HB 552 after no further testimony. The committee then opened a public hearing on House Bill 648, which would require commercial insurance coverage for glucose monitoring devices and supplies for people with diabetes. The prime sponsor, a retired dietitian and diabetes educator, gave extensive testimony describing diabetes as common, costly, and serious, and argued that continuous glucose monitoring is important for managing type 2 and gestational diabetes, preventing hypoglycemia, and improving safety and decision-making. She said CGMs can alert users to dangerous blood sugar changes, help people understand how food, activity, and medication affect glucose, and save lives while offering a strong return on investment. During questions, a committee member asked whether the bill should specify that the monitoring be tied to prescribed treatment, and the sponsor agreed that adding “prescribed” would be appropriate. The member also asked about the proper threshold for coverage and whether the bill should be tied to fasting-test diagnosis; the sponsor responded that A1C is only one measure of control and does not show daily fluctuations, and said she was not prepared to recommend a specific threshold but could provide clinical guidelines later. No vote was taken during the hearing, and the sponsor indicated support for the bill’s general approach to broader CGM access.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:51:01.920><c> local</c> Department of Education, all local Department of Education, all local school
• districts, all county social school districts, all county social service<00:51:04.680><c> agencies</
• An example of that might be our work in special education and with schools during the summertime would
• A PCA is forging the client's name on timesheets and pressuring the client to purchase items for them
• </c> purchase items for them. purchase items for them.

Committee: Senate Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Like he said, um, no school in Tennessee offers meteorology, and out of all the other surrounding schools
• So we lost our courthouse, fire department, police station, post office, school bus garage.
• I mean, because when it happens, we're on the phone calling, trying to see if we can use the school,
• We have the contract in the purchase area with that.
• </c><01:30:25.440><c> area</c> the contract in the in the purchase area the contract in the in the purchase

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Disaster Prevention and Resiliency Task Force met with a quorum, adopted the minutes from the previous meeting, and heard a presentation from Western Kentucky University’s Disaster Science Operations Center. WKU described its multidisciplinary disaster science effort, including meteorology, emergency management, the Kentucky State Climate Center, the Kentucky Mesonet, and the Disaster Science Operations Center, which was created in 2021 and serves as an operational hub for forecasting, emergency planning, crisis management, training, and decision support. Speakers emphasized applied learning, student field work, partnerships with industry and event venues, and a five-year NSF/UK-led research project focused on weather hazards, disaster preparedness, and building a statewide disaster database to improve mitigation and resilience. Members asked about flooding, the relationship to EKU’s program, Tennessee’s capabilities, and the timeline and goals for the research project; WKU said the data collection is underway and that the evidence suggests tornado risk is shifting east and occurring more at night. A WKU graduate student also described the value of hands-on storm-chasing and operational forecasting experience, saying it helped prepare her for work in forecasting and emergency management. Members asked about her motivation for joining the program and about the practical realities of storm chasing. The discussion also touched on whether Kentucky’s tornado risk is shifting east; WKU said the evidence from tornado observations and other studies points in that direction, with added concern about nighttime events and communicating warnings to vulnerable communities. The task force then heard from Amy Shaquinn of the Mayfield Graves County Long-Term Recovery Group, who outlined the county-level recovery process after the 2021 tornadoes. She said Kentucky ranks among the top states for federally declared disasters, has seen a high number of tornadoes in recent years, and also faces major flood risk and earthquake concerns along the New Madrid fault. Shaquinn stressed the distinction between immediate response and long-term recovery, explaining that response covers rescue, cleanup, temporary housing, and short-term assistance, while recovery is the longer effort to restore survivors to safe, sanitary, and secure housing through local long-term recovery groups. She said community-led recovery is essential and that preparedness and mitigation follow once immediate recovery needs are addressed.

Transcript Highlights:

• grant's request for payment for a given period with supporting documentation to that request, such as purchase
• that request supporting documentation to that request such<00:14:32.800><c> as</c><00:14:33.120><c> purchase
• /c><00:14:33.519><c> orders,</c><00:14:34.320><c> receipts,</c><00:14:34.800><c> and</c> such as purchase
• orders, receipts, and such as purchase orders, receipts, and payroll<00:14:35.680><c> records.
• think of a grant from the community I represent, it was very clear: we're going to train through high school

Committee: House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• participating lenders who originate the loans on our behalf, and then once they close those, we purchase
• Obviously, when you move into a home, there are lots of things you need to purchase, freeing up some
• Okay, so our mortgage loans purchased—you'd probably remember some of these graphs from before.
• Some of these borrowers would not be able to purchase a home.
• And then thus far, the purchase column is what we’ve expensed.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee met as the Regulatory Division of the budget section and received updates on several Industrial Commission-related agencies and programs. Legislative Council first reviewed base budget materials, then the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency reported on its current appropriation and staffing, noting that its new FTEs were being filled gradually and that it remained largely funded through special and federal funds. Agency leaders described homeownership lending, loan servicing, and housing incentive fund activity, including below-market mortgage rates, down payment assistance, and a growing servicing portfolio that has increased workload but not yet required additional FTEs. Housing Finance also detailed use of the Housing Incentive Fund and homeless grant dollars. Officials said the multifamily HIF round drew more than $73 million in requests and awarded $25 million, while the single-family program supported rural development and community land trusts. Homeless grant funding was split between emergency shelter, prevention, and rapid rehousing, with performance-based scoring used to renew or reallocate awards. Members discussed housing affordability, aging households, rental assistance, and the need to coordinate housing and site-preparation messaging with Commerce. The agency asked that HIF, single-family, and homeless funding be maintained or increased in the next session. The Department of Mineral Resources then presented its budget and operations update. Staff said the agency was on track financially, had filled most of its new reclamation FTEs, and was not expecting major litigation costs beyond normal late-biennium invoices. The director reviewed agency initiatives including Project North Star IT modernization, organizational restructuring, succession planning, rulemaking, and implementation of the development incentive well tax program and critical minerals rules. He also discussed oil and gas activity, explaining that longer laterals, especially three- and four-mile wells and the first five-mile spacing case, are helping keep production relatively flat even as rig counts ease. Members asked about gas capture, hedging, break-even prices, and the effects of Iran and Venezuela on oil markets. The committee also heard about enhanced oil recovery grants and the Pipeline Authority. The EOR program’s $25 million appropriation was fully allocated to six projects, with total awards reaching about $45.1 million when other fund balances were included, subject to a possible 5% reduction if federal DOE money does not materialize. Officials said the projects are public, reimbursement-based, and will produce results over the next several years. Finally, the Pipeline Authority outlined natural gas transmission projects, including the imminent Bakken Express line and the proposed Bakken East project, which WBI was selected to advance after an Industrial Commission RFI process. The project is moving through open season, survey permission, and regulatory work, with in-service dates projected for 2029 and 2030.

Transcript Highlights:

• 00:10:25.399><c> pet</c> instead such banss merely Drive pet instead such banss merely Drive pet purchases
• online or through less purchases online or through less regulated<00:10:28.480><c> channels</c><00:10
• We will not purchase if there are violations in two consecutive years from any breeder, and we actually
• </c><00:15:58.319><c> we</c><00:15:58.480><c> will</c><00:15:58.680><c> not</c><00:15:59.120><c> purchase
• </c><00:15:59.639><c> if</c> We will not purchase if there are violations in two consecutive years from

Keywords: Intro: 00:00 Attendance Roll Call: 00:31 Discussion of SB 122: 02:30 Roll Call Vote on SB 122: 26:47, 958, all

Summary: The Senate Agriculture Committee took up Senate Bill 122, a measure dealing with pet stores, breeders, and the scope of local regulation. The chair explained the bill was intended to balance private business rights with local control, and said he wanted to clarify definitions such as qualified breeder, local authority, and where fees and fines would go. He also said he would work on a floor amendment and noted concerns about whether the bill would allow localities to outright ban pet stores or instead only regulate them. The committee first adopted a committee substitute by motion and voice vote. Supporters of the bill, including representatives from Petland and an attorney who had worked on animal-related regulation in Ohio, argued that the bill would create statewide standards, protect responsible pet retailers from what they described as politically motivated local bans, and preserve consumer choice. They said local governments would still be able to inspect, require documentation, and enforce licensing, but not shut businesses down without due process. A senator from Campbell County asked whether the bill would interfere with strong local ordinances; supporters responded that the bill would set standards higher than USDA rules and still allow local regulation, while opposing local bans. Opposition came from the Kentucky League of Cities and representatives of Kentucky animal care and control agencies. KLC said local decisions should remain at the local level and noted that several cities and one county already had ordinances that could be affected; it also said the bill was opposed by its board and might overlap with pending litigation. Animal control representatives said the bill did not clearly define breeder verification or enforcement responsibility, could restrict local authority, and did not address animal care conditions or consumer transparency. After questions and debate, the committee voted on the bill; the roll call ended in a 5-5 tie, and Senate Bill 122 failed to pass out of committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• The sales tax, obviously, through the exemption, is not going to be there, but our schools and local
• , and we will purchase that from them.
• I actually think it benefits the state and the communities and the school system, right?
• </c><00:26:01.760><c> system,</c> communities and the school system, communities and the school system
• </c> to our state economy, to our schools. to our state economy, to our schools. uh<00:26:33.440><c>

Keywords: Meeting Start - 00:00 Roll Call – 00:15 Approval of Minutes of the July 15, 2025, Meeting 00:55 Helping Power Kentucky’s Growth – 01:25 Powering and Deploying AI – 41:00 Fueling America’s Intelligence – 56:12 Adjournment – 01:10:37, 958, all

Summary: The Artificial Intelligence Task Force met with a quorum, adopted prior meeting minutes, and then focused on energy policy and economic development as they relate to AI and data centers. John Bevington of LG&E and KU, introduced by Caroline Clark of LG&E/KU and PPL, described the utility’s Kentucky-only service territory, vertically integrated system, 1.3 million customers, and about 7.5 gigawatts of generating capacity. He said the company has supported 76 Kentucky projects in 2024 totaling about $3 billion in announced investment and roughly 3,000 jobs, with a large share of statewide announcements occurring in its service area. Bevington said LG&E and KU’s current project pipeline is unusually strong, totaling about 170 projects and 8.5 gigawatts of requested power, with data centers accounting for about two-thirds of that demand. He broke the pipeline into existing customer expansions, new-to-Kentucky projects, and 20 data center projects representing about 5.6 gigawatts of potential load. He highlighted a Louisville data center project by PO Development Company and Powerhouse Data Centers that has announced a 400-megawatt facility and may expand to 525 megawatts, estimating that such a project could represent about $4 billion in investment. He also explained that large data centers generally must locate near transmission lines and that utilities must conduct studies, order long-lead equipment, and secure reimbursement commitments before proceeding so other customers are not harmed. Members asked about how Kentucky compares with other states, the size of data center projects, and whether regulatory reform is needed. Bevington said the 20 projects reflect current Kentucky interest, which he attributed in part to the state’s sales tax exemption for data centers, and noted that states like Ohio have had similar incentives for years. In response to questions from Senator Thomas, he confirmed that data centers can vary in size and said the state should have a regulatory environment that supports economic development, while emphasizing that the benefits would flow to the state, local communities, and schools rather than just the utility. He also cited national and regional data suggesting data centers generate indirect jobs and tax revenue, and said LG&E and KU are investing in transmission, reliability, solar, and gas generation projects, including proposed additional 645-megawatt natural gas units and other system upgrades, to meet expected demand.

Transcript Highlights:

• So examples of this would be schools converted to senior housing, churches converted to a daycare center
• 00:01:39.240><c> uh</c> uses so examples of this would be uh uses so examples of this would be uh schools
• c> converted</c><00:01:40.520><c> to</c><00:01:40.880><c> senior</c><00:01:41.360><c> housing</c> schools
• converted to senior housing schools converted to senior housing churches<00:01:42.840><c> converted<
• </c> we're putting kids back in our schools we're putting kids back in our schools and<00:59:06.319><

Committee: House Housing Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• High school, but he wanted me to make sure I recognized you.
• But he wanted me to make sure I recognize you. high school, but he wanted me to make sure I recognized
• Also, the schools had some concerns, so we exempted the schools. The schools were taken out.
• So HB 1041 would not impact any of the schools or any of the hospitals.
• Again— Schools, colleges, or universities from mandating medical intervention.

Committee: Senate Health & Welfare

Keywords: 974, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on Health and Welfare met on May 13 with a quorum present and approved the prior meeting minutes. The committee first heard HB 971, which would equalize Medicaid reimbursement rates between independent clinics and hospital-owned rural health clinics; supporters said independent clinics are disadvantaged by a large payment disparity, and the bill was reported favorable without objection. The committee also recognized visiting Alpha Phi Alpha members and other guests during personal privilege remarks. Members then considered HB 414, which would bar hiring certain health care workers and direct support professionals with serious disqualifying convictions from other states and address background-check issues for therapeutic group homes. After adopting three amendment sets, the bill was reported as amended. HB 740, creating an independent review process for Medicaid behavioral health claim disputes in the coordinated system of care, was amended to clarify applicability and CSOC definitions and then reported as amended. HB 288, which would place the term “miscarriage” alongside “spontaneous abortion” in medical documentation, drew emotional testimony from affected parents and advocates; the committee reported it favorable. The committee also advanced several more bills: HB 405, updating the name of the national acupuncture certifying body, was reported favorable; HB 786, prohibiting extrapolation in certain managed-care claims recoupments, was reported favorable; HB 1095, allowing alternative backup power sources for nursing homes, was reported favorable; HB 403, raising the cottage food gross-sales cap, was amended from $50,000 to $150,000 and then reported favorable; HB 930, modernizing cosmetic-product regulation and creating a small-producer exemption, was reported favorable; HB 557, defining long-term pharmacies for policy purposes, was reported favorable; HB 779, on expedited partner therapy for sexually transmitted diseases, was reported favorable; HB 915, setting utilization-management timelines and standards, was reported favorable; HB 546, expanding criteria for peace officers to take someone into protective custody during a mental health crisis, was reported favorable; HB 796, creating a chiropractic preceptorship program, was reported favorable; and HB 933, authorizing commemorative birth certificates, was reported favorable. The final major item was HB 1041, a “no-mandate” bill barring discrimination based on medical intervention status. The sponsor and Surgeon General said it was aimed at healthy, asymptomatic individuals and not at public health quarantine powers, but Senator Boudreaux objected to exemptions for schools and hospitals and offered an amendment to restore broader coverage. That amendment failed on a roll-call vote, and the bill remained under discussion as the transcript ended, with no final committee disposition shown in the excerpt.