Transcript Highlights:

• lacks the precise definitions, due process protections, and First Amendment safeguards needed to prevent
• And it also helps prevent a bad situation from becoming substantially worse because every day someone's
• It's going to prevent emergency room visits, not just save a lot of dollars, but save a lot of lives.
• If you look at what he not only did for the university, but a lot of us, we can look at how we're measured
• What demonstrated harm is this meant to prevent? What demonstrated harm am I trying to prevent?

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, quorum calls, and introductory remarks, including recognition of former Representative Ardian Zika and law enforcement officer of the day Representative Chuck Brannan. Members also unveiled a portrait of Speaker Daniel Perez, with extended remarks praising his leadership and the institution of the House. The Speaker then explained the process for taking up returning messages from the Senate, noting that the House would consider Senate amendments to bills already passed by both chambers. The House first concurred in Senate amendments and passed CS/CS/HB 1503 on computer science education and certification, which adds computer science and artificial intelligence content to high school instruction and creates a teacher certification program, with implementation delayed to give the Department of Education time to develop curriculum. The chamber then considered CS/CS/HB 1085 on local government cybersecurity, adopting a House amendment to allow local governments to buy into the cyber grant program whether or not they receive a grant, add a five-year sunset, and keep the program under the Florida Digital Service rather than a university. The House concurred in the Senate amendment and passed the bill 104-1. Members also refused to concur in Senate amendments to CS/HB 351 on concurrent legislative jurisdiction over military installations and HB 6011 on reporting gifts or honoraria, sending both bills back to the Senate. The most extensive debate centered on CS/CS/HB 1471, which would create a process for designating domestic terrorist organizations and related restrictions. Supporters said the Senate amendment clarified the definition of “promote,” refined notice and timeline requirements, and aligned the bill with federal-style procedures; opponents argued it lacked due process, could chill speech, and gave the governor and cabinet unprecedented power without adequate evidentiary standards or judicial review. Members also debated a related public records bill, CS/CS/HB 1473, which would exempt certain records tied to the designation process; critics said the exemption would further reduce transparency and due process. Despite objections, the House adopted the amendments and passed HB 1471 by 80-25, while the public records measure was taken up as a technical companion to align with the newly amended bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• And our office is ready to fight to prevent those rules from going into effect.
• DMHC track the adequacy of provider networks for the delivery of gender-affirming care, and what measures
• Transgender surgeries reverse damage from unwanted puberty, and puberty blockers prevent the need for
• And puberty blockers prevent the changes for which there is no surgery.
• And puberty blockers prevent the changes for which there is no surgery.

Summary: The joint hearing focused on access to gender-affirming care in California, with opening remarks from the subcommittee chairs emphasizing the importance of protecting transgender, gender-diverse, and intersex Californians and asking for decorum during public comment. The first panel from the Department of Justice, Department of Managed Health Care, and Department of Health Care Services described existing state protections, including nondiscrimination rules, privacy protections, shield laws, and Medi-Cal and commercial coverage requirements for medically necessary gender-affirming care. State officials also outlined ongoing litigation against federal actions and against hospital decisions to end or restrict care, including the Rady Children’s case and challenges to federal proposed rules and declarations affecting Medicaid, Medicare, and provider participation. Members questioned state agencies about why some hospitals that had stopped providing care had not been sued, how network adequacy is measured, whether the state can track actual access to gender-affirming care, and what legislative changes might strengthen protections. DMHC said it monitors complaints and independent medical reviews but does not track gender-affirming care as a separate provider category or collect utilization data, while DHCS said Medi-Cal continues to cover medically necessary care and that the state is preparing for possible federal rule changes. Finance staff said the previously approved $15 million for gender-affirming care was still being implemented through Covered California. The second panel featured a physician, clinic leaders, a parent, and a transgender teen describing how care is delivered and the effects of hospital closures and federal pressure. Dr. Johanna Olson-Kennedy described the history and medical basis for gender-affirming care, said minors need parental consent for medical interventions, and argued that care should be individualized and supported by families. Providers and families testified that hospital closures and insurance barriers have disrupted continuity of care, forced patients to travel farther, and shifted demand to community clinics that lack sufficient funding and contracting support. Several witnesses asked the Legislature to provide new funding, strengthen insurance enforcement, and stabilize access to care for transgender youth and families.

Transcript Highlights:

• Foundation, through the leadership of Jude Voss, works tirelessly to alleviate the pain of others, to prevent
• Speaker and gentlemen, nothing in the bill prevents teachers and school personnel from intervening when
• the student is... ...prevents teachers and school personnel from intervening when the student is in
• What is there to prevent it from happening again and again and again and again and again?
• We can actually de-escalate and prevent the situations from happening again.

Bills: HB111 , HB103 , HB60 , HB108 , HB120 , HB145 , HB154 , HB164 , HB291 , HJR6 , HR1 , HJM2 , HJM3 , HJM1 , HM7 , HM17 , HM4 , HM22 , HM23 , HM24 , HM26 , HM2 , HM16 , HM32 , HM13 , HM47 , HM11 , HM14 , HM21 , HM34 , HM50 , HB38 , HB47 , HB63 , HB64 , HB127 , HB165 , HB184 , HB200 , HM20 , HM51

Keywords: water law, state engineer, civil penalty, compliance order, water rights, overdiversion, illegal diversion, groundwater storage and recovery, well license, permit violation, water enforcement, New Mexico water code, irrigation district, conservancy district, water diversion, unauthorized water sales, measuring device, district court appeal, water resources, water compliance

Transcript Highlights:

• Congress must act to ensure accountability and to prevent millions of Americans from being left behind
• This would rightfully build up VA's fraud prevention and response efforts across VA, so this problem
• THIS WOULD RIGHTFULLY BUILD UP VA'S FRAUD PREVENTION AND RESPONSE EFFORTS ACROSS VA.
• The SAFE Act should strengthen accountability and improve prevention, and give veterans the support and
• All fraud prevention efforts by providing veterans with more consistent guidance on how to identify,

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It actually means Nipperkin, which is a measuring unit; that's the origin of the word.
• It just seeks to prevent additional entities from being enrolled in the future and instead make the APS
• Once again, your moral courage is needed to prevent woody biomass power plants.
• it's the poor people who live in the city who are getting increasingly demented, and if you could prevent
• And if you could prevent that, that would be great.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The hearing focused mainly on two subjects: expansion of the Massachusetts bottle bill and bills to remove woody biomass from state clean-energy and greenhouse-gas programs. On the bottle bill, supporters from municipal, environmental, public health, and local government groups argued that the 5-cent deposit is outdated, redemption rates have fallen, and expanding coverage to more beverage containers—especially water, sports drinks, and small alcohol bottles—would reduce litter, cut plastic waste and microplastics, and save cities and towns money. Several speakers also backed raising handling fees for retailers and redemption centers, and some supported restoring a Clean Environment Fund so unclaimed deposits would support recycling-related purposes. Opponents, including the Massachusetts Beverage Association and the National Waste and Recycling Association, argued that curbside recycling and transfer-station systems are more convenient, that the targeted containers are valuable to local recycling programs, and that the proposal would shift costs onto consumers and municipalities. Committee members questioned witnesses about redemption rates, handling fees, the 2014 ballot question, and whether the bill had changed from prior sessions. The biomass portion drew strong support from Springfield officials, state legislators, environmental advocates, and public health groups. They said woody biomass should not count as clean energy because burning wood produces particulate pollution and carbon emissions, and they warned that current law contains a loophole that could help finance the proposed Palmer Renewable Energy biomass plant in Springfield. Witnesses emphasized Springfield’s air-quality and asthma burdens, the public health impacts of PM2.5, and the need to close the loophole before a January 1, 2026 deadline. One forest-industry witness supported a separate bill promoting modern wood heat with pollution controls, arguing it is cleaner than older wood systems and has minimal ratepayer cost, while noting that those credits would be affected if the governor’s broader energy affordability bill repeals the alternative energy portfolio standard. No votes were taken during the hearing. The chairs managed testimony by alternating between the bottle bill and biomass topics, asking speakers to keep remarks brief and to note when they agreed with prior testimony. Several legislators also testified in support of the bills, and committee members asked follow-up questions on deposit levels, retailer handling fees, recycling economics, and the public-health rationale for the biomass restrictions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Hurley, medical director from the Bureau of Substance Abuse Prevention and Control at the Los Angeles
• County Department of Public Health. ...from the Bureau of Substance Abuse Prevention and Control at
• Kodabash was talking about, the measurement of 7-OH, the standardization to allow to quantify it, has
• trying to protect Californians by just banning 7-OH or capping products at 2%, it really doesn't prevent
• their own customers about their products: 'This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, prevent

Summary: The committee held an informational hearing on kratom and 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), focusing on public health risks, overdose deaths, and regulatory gaps in California. The chair opened by noting that FDA and CDPH consider kratom and 7-OH products unlawful, yet they remain widely sold in smoke shops, vape stores, gas stations, and convenience stores. Members referenced AB 1088, which would be considered later, and said the hearing was intended to clarify the science, medical perspective, and whether stronger safeguards are needed. The first panel featured a toxicology expert, state and local public health officials, an emergency/addiction physician, a medical examiner, and county health representatives. Witnesses from CDPH and Los Angeles County described rising deaths and enforcement actions, including statewide advisories, retailer letters, and product removals from manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers. Medical testimony emphasized that 7-OH acts much more like an opioid than traditional kratom leaf, can cause dependence, withdrawal, and respiratory depression, and may require naloxone, buprenorphine, or methadone in overdose or withdrawal cases. Local officials said enforcement is difficult because packaging is inconsistent, testing capacity is limited, and counties lack resources and statewide infrastructure; they generally favored a centralized state framework if regulation is pursued. Committee members asked about testing, age restrictions, scheduling, and whether a distinction between kratom and 7-OH could be enforced. Witnesses said forensic labs can potentially test for 7-OH but validated assays are not routine, emergency departments cannot readily distinguish exposures, and local health departments do not have the lab capacity to verify product labels. Several officials warned that a ban or abrupt scheduling could push products into the black market and discourage research, while others argued that current prohibition and enforcement are the most protective approach because legalization or age-limited regulation could create confusion about legality and safety. The second panel included kratom and 7-OH advocates and industry representatives, who argued that natural kratom leaf and concentrated or synthetic 7-OH are different products and should be regulated differently. They supported age-gating, labeling, testing, and packaging rules for kratom leaf while opposing a ban on the botanical. They said 7-OH is used by many adults for pain relief or harm reduction, and that prohibition would drive consumers to illicit markets and worsen harm. Committee members pressed them on whether 7-OH is more potent than kratom, the availability of testing, and whether any safe dose is known. The hearing ended without a vote or formal action, with the chair noting the issue will continue to be considered in future legislation.

Transcript Highlights:

• These medications are essential in preventing vision loss that can occur over the course of just a few
• It's not being asked for, and I think interrogating on that measure for that question is, uh, out of
• on that measure for that question<00:48:39.440><c> I</c><00:48:39.680><c> think</c><00:48:39.839><c>
• Nationally, 80% of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable.
• The majority of these maternal deaths are preventable.

Committee: House Health Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The funding is also used to support sexual violence prevention efforts on the campus level, including
• Minnesota Statute 135A.15 requires new students to receive sexual violence prevention training within
• </c> to support sexual violence prevention to support sexual violence prevention efforts<00:28:26.120
• Our overall financial position improved from 2.3 to 3.6 with a measure we call the CFI.
• we call the CFI it's it's a measure we call the CFI it's it's a higher<00:51:23.960><c> ed</c><00:51

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: Minnesota State Colleges and Universities presented an overview of the system and several budget riders. Board Chair George Soul described the system’s structure, noting 26 colleges and seven universities governed by a 15-member board, and emphasized that Minnesota State serves about 270,000 students annually, including many students of color, adult learners, Pell-eligible students, first-generation students, and veterans. He highlighted the system’s workforce role, saying it offers more than 4,000 programs, extensive employer partnerships, and that 86% of graduates find jobs in their field or a related field. He then turned the presentation over to system staff to discuss specific funding requests. Associate Vice Chancellor Kim Lynch focused on the Z-degree textbook program, which supports zero-textbook-cost courses and degrees. She said prior legislative support has produced about $3.1 million in savings in academic year 2024 and more than $12.6 million in aggregate savings, with 10 colleges now offering Z degrees and 12 more on track or exploring implementation. She described the program’s use of open educational resources, instructional design support, and library resources to fill gaps where free materials are not available, and said students save roughly $7 to $10 for every $1 invested. Members praised the program and asked about its expansion. Associate Vice Chancellor Paul Shepard discussed student support funding, including a centralized basic needs resource hub, the Mantra Health mental health platform, and the emergency grant program. He said student surveys showed significant food, housing, and homelessness insecurity, and that the basic needs hub has served over 2,400 students with a 97% positive response rate. He said Mantra provides telecounseling, peer support, self-paced courses, and crisis support, and clarified in response to questions that it is not AI-driven and does not sell student data; general usage data is collected, and follow-up with campus counselors occurs only at the student’s request. He also said the emergency grant program has distributed over $3 million to more than 4,800 students, with grants averaging just under $700, and that campuses use application review and recordkeeping to manage repeat requests. Members asked about counselor staffing, data privacy, and grant safeguards. The final item addressed sexual assault reporting and prevention funding. System staff said the appropriation supports technology infrastructure for statutory reporting, case management for investigations, campus prevention training, and professional development for Title IX coordinators and related staff. They noted that the statutory student training requirement is funded by individual colleges and universities, not by this appropriation. No formal votes were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Probably those grant oversight measures we're trying to put into place as we're working on it, but happy
• :52.800><c> those</c><00:02:53.440><c> Grant</c><00:02:53.879><c> oversight</c><00:02:54.280><c> measures
• </c> probably those Grant oversight measures probably those Grant oversight measures we're<00:02:54.800
• She said the goal is to prevent a flood of complaints and gripes about something someone does not like
• intent of legislative proposals like House File 779 is to reform the K-12 tax credit in order to prevent

Bills: HF1 , HF779 , HF1034

Committee: House Education Finance

Keywords: Office of Inspector General, inspector general, legislative audit, fraud prevention, waste and abuse, public funds, grant oversight, state grants, grant management, whistleblower protection, retaliation, subpoena power, data practices, government transparency, accountability, law enforcement referrals, sanctions, debarment, payment withholding, public assistance fraud

Transcript Highlights:

• They do secondary prevention, tertiary prevention, though that's a different story.
• It really is disease prevention.
• It really is disease prevention.
• We do it when there's a medical necessity for it, not as a preventative measure. overall just having
• </c> as a preventative as a preventative measure<03:56:03.439><c> uh</c><03:56:03.640><c> representative

Committee: House Health, Human Services & Elderly Affairs

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:25:06.880><c> the</c> money, and we can actually measure the money, and we can actually measure
• And prevention and electrical safety.
• And you prevention, we need to do that.
• And if it's preventable, we can do it.
• </c> and prevent that moving forward. and prevent that moving forward.

Committee: Joint Appropriations

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That's important because what it does is it prevents somebody from getting tuition into a school that
• That's important because what it does is it prevents somebody from getting tuition into a school that
• She said New Hampshire public-school students’ progress is measured in great specificity, and she was
• </c><06:17:44.718><c> of</c> disease uh the the force prevention of disease uh the the force prevention
• </c><06:28:28.160><c> them</c> there's nothing that's prevents them there's nothing that's prevents them

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Education Policy Committee opened a hearing on HB 748, which would establish a local education freedom account (EFA) program. The prime sponsor, Rep. Kevin Verville, described the bill as enabling legislation that would let local voters decide whether to create a local EFA program by petition and ballot vote, with a 60% threshold to approve or repeal it. He argued that public education is about funding rather than a specific school building, said the proposal would expand parental choice, and cited Deerfield’s move from a single high school option to multiple tuitioned options as an example of local flexibility. Verville said the local EFA would be funded at twice the state adequacy amount, with the district matching the state portion, while other aid categories such as free and reduced meals, English language learner, and special education aid would not be doubled. He said students using a local EFA would still count in average daily membership, that unspent EFA funds would revert to the district, and that the bill would prohibit double-dipping with other scholarship or EFA programs. He also said special education services would remain under district discretion and that local EFA participants would still take statewide assessments for accountability. Committee members pressed him on several issues, especially special education, transportation, and fairness. Rep. Woodcock and Rep. Murray asked whether districts would still have to provide special education and transportation services if a student used a local EFA; Verville responded that special education would remain in the local district at district discretion, while transportation would generally become the family’s responsibility unless already required in an IEP. Rep. Cornell raised an equity concern about no income eligibility cap, asking whether higher-income families should receive the same public support; Verville replied that New Hampshire does not means-test public education and that the local EFA is a public funding mechanism, not a tuition subsidy that would cover full private-school costs. No vote or committee action was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• And my measuring. Uh, good morning to everyone. Uh, State Senator, uh, Roberto Bobby J.
• And we set up a lot of mechanisms to help prevent foreclosures.
• We've been funded since 1997 to do syringe services, overdose prevention.
• So what do we do to prevent homelessness in that area, which is now a growing population.
• So to prevent homelessness of the elderly, how are we going to deal with that?

Committee: House Mortgage Finance Authority Act Oversight Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• They may have to wear a mask in patient-facing areas or other measures to help prevent transmission.
• /c><00:56:42.240><c> um</c><00:56:42.799><c> the</c> measures to help prevent the um the measures to
• constitutional balance, preventing constitutional balance, preventing future<02:09:00.480><c> overreach
• The system already has so many built-in protections to prevent that work and they prevent frivolous claims
• The system already has so many built-in protections to prevent that work and they prevent frivolous claims

Committee: House Judiciary

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• imperative for the financial It is imperative for the financial health of our state that we act quickly to prevent
• What we are looking for is that we hope that there are four measures that are addressed.
• These emergency measures helped prevent displacement and closures, but they are not a substitute for
• Thank you very much. measures helped prevent displacement and measures helped prevent displacement and

Committee: House Ways and Means

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a fundamental problem that the bill tries to mitigate, and I think it's a very measured set of
• This is a fundamental problem that the bill tries to mitigate, and I think it's a very measured set of
• This is a fundamental problem that the bill tries to mitigate, and I think it's a very measured set of
• </c> I've not seen any CPI metrics applied against asset measurements in any other statutory setting.
• that is I think a little prevent that is I think a little shortsighted<01:45:35.199><c> and</c><01:45

Committee: Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, repealing the co-payment and premium directives removes reasonable cost-sharing measures designed
• measures designed to provoke<00:58:28.080><c> personal</c><00:58:28.440><c> responsibility</c><00:58
• HB 1760 will also prevent the expansion of Medicaid premium charges to between 7,000 and 8,000 children
• HB 1760 will also prevent the expansion of Medicaid premium charges to between 7,000 and 8,000 children
• HB 1760 will also prevent the expansion of Medicaid premium charges to between 7,000 and 8,000 children

Committee: House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Please pass this measure, Chair.
• I support this measure.
• I support this measure.
• We will defer this measure.
• We will defer this measure.

Committee: House Public Safety

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Public Safety Committee held a hearing on House Bill 433, which would appropriate $4 million for Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation re-entry services to connect offenders with community-based services. Director Tommy Johnson said the department supports the bill’s intent but noted the governor’s executive budget already includes $4 million for the same purpose and asked that the measure defer to that budget. Supporters, including the Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission, Community Alliance on Prisons, and the ACLU, backed the funding but urged that it be tied to a clear re-entry plan, performance measures, transparency, and regular reporting to the legislature. They emphasized that re-entry should begin at intake and involve community partnerships, housing, treatment, employment, and family reunification services. Committee members questioned the department about current re-entry services, pre-trial detainees, and how the new funds would be used. Johnson said the department’s current statewide re-entry budget is about $1.5 million to $1.7 million, separate from the larger Corrections Program Services Division budget for in-facility programs. He described the proposed $4 million as supporting a mix of services, including a pilot apprenticeship program, substance abuse treatment, navigator or warm-handoff services, and short-term transitional housing. He also said the department already tracks performance outcomes in its annual report and can provide a matrix showing the intake-to-discharge process, program contracts, and volunteer organizations. The discussion also covered pre-trial detainees, electronic monitoring, and mental health services. Johnson said the department has limited jurisdiction over pre-trial detainees but works with courts to seek supervised release when possible; he noted that many requests are denied, though electronic monitoring has improved release rates somewhat. On mental health, he said the jail is not an ideal therapeutic setting for people found unfit to proceed and suggested a secure community-based step-down facility run by the Department of Health for those needing care above what the jail can provide but below forensic-level treatment. No vote or final action on the bill was taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• BRG also found that this bill can prevent more patients from spending down their hard-earned assets to
• However, confusion over funding has prevented these efforts from moving forward.
• However, confusion over funding has prevented these efforts from moving forward.
• The invoices have not been paid. has prevented these efforts from moving forward.
• So how might this measure impede timely responses to that?

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The committee heard House Bill 2433, which would require insurers offering Medicare supplement policies to people 65 and older to also offer them to Medicare beneficiaries under 65 with ALS or end-stage renal disease, with enrollment periods and premium protections tied to 65-year-old rates. Supporters, including dialysis and ALS advocates, said the bill would help a small population facing high out-of-pocket costs and could improve access to transplants and care; opponents argued it would shift costs onto older seniors and raise Medigap premiums. The committee recommended the bill do pass on a 12-0 vote. The committee also heard House Bill 2593, appropriating $1.5 million to the University of Arizona for the Arizona Perinatal Psychiatry Access Line. The sponsor and physicians testified that the line helps obstetric and pediatric providers quickly consult on perinatal depression, postpartum psychosis, suicidality, and other mental health crises, improving outcomes for mothers, children, and families and reducing costly emergency and crisis care. The bill received a do pass recommendation on a 10-1 vote. House Concurrent Resolution 2013, proclaiming June 2026 as Celebrate Life Month, drew emotional testimony from a young woman with spina bifida and another speaker supporting the sanctity of life. Some members objected that the state should focus on practical supports such as paid leave, child care, and health care access, while others supported the resolution as a statement of human dignity. The resolution passed the committee 7-5. The committee then approved House Bill 4010, creating a Board of Genetic Counselors and licensure standards, after testimony from genetic counselors and a patient advocate about the need for qualified counseling and better access; it passed 11-1. Later, the committee approved House Bill 2196, which would require pharmacy benefit managers to reimburse non-affiliated pharmacies at least their acquisition cost and pay a dispensing fee, and establish an appeals process. Independent pharmacists and their coalition said PBM practices are driving closures and unfairly favor affiliated pharmacies, while PBM and employer representatives warned of major cost increases and said the bill would interfere with private contracts; the bill passed 11-1. The committee also adopted a strike-everything amendment to House Bill 2182 requiring insurers and health plans to report claims denial and prior authorization data to DIFI, and then gave the amended bill a 12-0 do pass recommendation. Finally, the committee approved House Bill 2189, directing the Board of Nursing to update rules for licensed health aides and collect annual data, with the sponsor and board staff saying it would help implement routine ventilator care in the home; it passed 12-0. The committee then began hearing House Bill 2404, a strike-everything amendment on inter-facility transports for behavioral health patients, but the transcript cuts off before action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's going to shift prevention funds.
• So it does, it will start July 1st, it's going to shift prevention funds.
• And the wait list for that is beyond measure.
• A lot of events that we do include our annual suicide prevention walk.
• A lot of events that we do include our annual suicide prevention walk.

Summary: The hearing focused on youth mental health and treatment access in California, with opening remarks emphasizing that youth distress, self-harm-related emergency visits, and difficulty obtaining care remain elevated, while workforce shortages and reliance on one-time funding continue to limit access. Assemblymember Lori Davies echoed concerns about unstable funding and said lawmakers need to hear directly from providers and families as they prepare for the budget and legislation. The chair framed the hearing as a chance to hear from county, school, provider, and student perspectives, especially in San Diego County, where needs are high and investments have not always matched demand. County and school officials described the current system and recent state initiatives, including the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative, school-linked fee schedules, payment reform, and the Behavioral Health Services Act transition. San Diego County Behavioral Health said it serves Medi-Cal youth with specialty mental health needs through a broad continuum of care, including outpatient clinics, school-based services, crisis response, residential treatment, and new crisis and residential facilities. San Diego County Office of Education and San Marcos Unified School District described efforts to expand school-based services and reimbursement through CYBHI, but said implementation is slowed by complex billing rules, insurance-data collection concerns from families, administrative burden, and uncertainty about sustaining staff positions funded by grants or soft money. School counselor testimony highlighted reduced stigma through campus outreach and clubs, but also noted that counselor-to-student ratios remain well above national standards and that budget cuts threaten supports. Provider testimony stressed that the system remains fragmented and that youth often move between emergency rooms, inpatient care, outpatient therapy, schools, and county programs without smooth handoffs. A child psychiatrist described crisis cases in which the main choices are brief hospitalization or discharge with limited follow-up, and argued for stronger warm handoffs, more outpatient and intensive outpatient options, better school-clinic coordination, and broader use of mobile crisis and 988. Rady Children’s Hospital and Aurora Behavioral Health described large increases in behavioral health demand, expansion of integrated care, and major barriers tied to low reimbursement rates, delayed payments, and administrative complexity. Across the panel, witnesses called for more stable funding, clearer reimbursement rules, better parent education on warning signs, and stronger collaboration among schools, counties, hospitals, and community providers to reduce stigma and improve timely care for youth.