Transcript Highlights:

• That's the intermediate care ICF.
• under Medicaid care management as well.
• payments into directed payments to the hospitals.
• manner instead of trying to change the formula on uncompensated care, which is a little harder to direct
• System of care: $400,000 for Friends of Annie peer-to-peer grief support.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Summary: The Legislative Budget Assistant staff presented an overview of the Senate changes to the House-passed budget, focusing on revenue estimates, appropriations, and ending balances across the general fund and education trust fund. The presentation emphasized that the Senate’s budget reflected higher revenue assumptions than the House, driven in part by updated April revenue figures, changes to business, tobacco, and real estate transfer tax splits, and different assumptions about video lottery terminal revenue. The Senate also adjusted lapse estimates upward, especially for HHS, after receiving updated information that lapses could be much larger than originally assumed. The presenter walked through the major differences in the surplus statements for fiscal years 2025 through 2027. Compared with the House, the Senate budget generally showed higher revenues, lower or different appropriations in some areas, and larger balances carried forward, including a larger education trust fund balance and a different rainy day fund transfer. The Senate’s approach also changed several policy assumptions, such as maintaining liquor revenue dedication, removing the House’s meals-and-rooms distribution cap, changing the treatment of unique revenue, and altering the process for meeting a targeted revenue amount by giving the governor more flexibility. On the appropriations side, the Senate removed or modified several House reductions and added funding or adjustments in areas including the judicial branch, corrections, HHS, the Human Rights Commission, and certain settlement costs. The presenter also highlighted Senate changes in House Bill 2 and related budget provisions, including a new arts tax credit, a nursing home bed fee, changes to Medicaid premium assumptions, and differences in how motor vehicle inspection repeal and BLT-related revenue are handled. No votes were taken in the portion shown; the discussion was informational and comparative, aimed at explaining the Senate budget changes before conference committee negotiations.

Transcript Highlights:

• Again, if you're forewarned is forearmed and allows you to take care of it. Thank you.
• Some require emergency medical care. Others don't.
• /c><00:34:37.359><c> across</c><00:34:37.760><c> the</c><00:34:37.879><c> the</c> take care take care
• of it across the the take care take care of it across the the state. state. state.
• I just have a follow-up, that direction.

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• These are direct investment dollars that we work with cities and towns to make.
• So I will say that's still, everything's still moving in the right direction.
• The immigration service that provides online direct information.
• So, as you know, I'll be careful because the matter is still in litigation. Yes, yes.
• LeBlanc, you sat here so patiently, so I'm going to direct it to you.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Ways and Means held a hearing at UMass Amherst on Governor Healey’s fiscal year 2027 budget, focusing on energy/environment-related transportation issues and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. The chairs and members opened with thanks to UMass, university leadership, court officers, and legislative staff, and Chancellor Javier Reyes highlighted UMass Amherst’s research, workforce, sustainability, and transportation contributions, including energy research, transit operations, and partnerships with MassDOT. The hearing then moved to MassDOT and MBTA testimony on the administration’s transportation funding package, including House 2, the FY26 Fair Share supplemental, and a proposed four-year Chapter 90 authorization. MassDOT officials described the budget as part of a broader multi-year transportation investment strategy, citing funding for operations, snow and ice removal, regional transit authorities, the MBTA, the Merit Rating Board, sustainable aviation fuel credits, micro-transit and last-mile grants, unpaved road improvements, bridge and pavement work, and housing-related transportation infrastructure. They emphasized workforce expansion, capital delivery capacity, safety improvements, and local aid, including the new lane-mile-based Chapter 90 formula intended to benefit rural communities. Officials also discussed major projects and programs such as Grant Central, culvert and unpaved road grants, work zone speed cameras, congestion hotspot fixes, the Sagamore and Bourne Bridge projects, and MBTA operating support and safety upgrades. Testimony from the MBTA and rail/transit staff focused on improved ridership, service frequency, accessibility, and safety, including progress on the Green Line Train Protection System, reduced delays, expanded bus and commuter rail service, and the South Coast rail extension. Regional transit authorities reported increased ridership and described new fare-free, connectivity, and community transit grants. Aeronautics testimony covered airport capital work, drone and data programs, sustainable aviation fuel efforts, and workforce development in aviation maintenance. Committee members then asked questions, especially about Western Massachusetts priorities, Chapter 90 funding, bridge repairs, snow and ice costs, Cape Cod bridges, Buzzard’s Bay rail, and Compass Rail/West-East Rail. Officials said several federal rail grants were moving forward, that Sagamore Bridge procurement would begin soon, and that the administration remained committed to pursuing federal funding and multi-year transportation investments.

Transcript Highlights:

• care, which we all know needs protection.
• and non-health care settings.
• Health care AI used properly can allow us to improve the quality of our care, but when used improperly
• Diagnostic testing accounts for 70% of health care decisions.
• Californians care about what is happening in our state's shelters.

Summary: The Assembly Business and Professions Committee held its first regular bill hearing of 2025 and considered a wide range of measures on health care access, professional regulation, animal welfare, and consumer protection. Early in the hearing, the committee adopted its rules and then approved a consent calendar of several bills, including measures by Chen, Caloza, Carrillo, Arreguín, Berman, and Flora. The committee also took up AB 1082, which would allow California nursing students enrolled in out-of-state programs to complete clinical training in California; supporters said it would help address the nursing shortage and keep students closer to home, while opponents warned it could worsen already limited clinical placement capacity and reduce oversight. The bill passed on a do pass recommendation to Appropriations after a quorum was established. The committee then heard and advanced several health-related bills. AB 50, by Assembly Member Bonta, would ease Medi-Cal access to over-the-counter hormonal contraception by removing the need for a prescription for coverage purposes; pharmacists, reproductive health advocates, and medical groups supported the bill, and it passed unanimously to the Committee on Health. AB 489, also by Bonta, would prohibit AI systems from misrepresenting themselves as licensed health professionals; supporters from medical, psychiatric, behavioral health, and other professional groups said the bill would protect patients from misleading chatbot advice, and it passed to Privacy and Consumer Protection. AB 481, by Assembly Member Rubio, would expand the tasks that federally qualified lab personnel can perform under CLIA supervision to help address lab staffing shortages; labor groups raised concerns about training, certification, and supervision, but the bill passed to Appropriations with an amended do pass recommendation. The committee also considered animal welfare and access-to-care measures. AB 631, by Assembly Member Lee, would require animal shelters to post intake and outcome data online; supporters said the reporting would improve policy and resource allocation, while members discussed how the requirement would work for shelters without websites, and the bill passed to Appropriations. AB 867, also by Lee, would prohibit cat declawing except when medically necessary for the animal; animal welfare groups strongly supported the bill, while the veterinary association opposed it as an improper legislative regulation of veterinary surgery, and the bill passed to Appropriations. Finally, AB 1307 would create a pilot program allowing a limited number of qualified dentists trained in Mexico to practice in underserved California areas; supporters framed it as a cost-neutral way to address major dental access gaps, the California Dental Association remained opposed unless amended, and the bill passed to Appropriations. Several members later added their votes on the various items after the hearing, and the committee kept the hearing open briefly to allow additional add-ons.

Transcript Highlights:

• villain, but under the standards, first graders like my son would identify examples of how people care
• </c> choose to speak today because I care choose to speak today because I care deeply<00:25:54.640><c
• It seems like the idea is that we can't do anything without state direction.
• </c><01:46:04.840><c> our</c> anything without State Direction our anything without State Direction our
• , and it's all of health care.

Committee: House Education Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• All right, I want to take care of a little housekeeping. All right.
• We continue to have health care shortages.
• Whether you're in health care, ag business, you need to have cyber literacy.
• So that has a direct impact, and those individuals go on to make decent money.
• “Was that directed to me, Mr. Chair?” “No, you’re just with a lucky one next.

Committee: House Appropriations

Summary: The committee met on March 17 to review the FY27 budgets for the Department of Education and several special schools and commissions. Fiscal staff outlined the Department of Education’s roughly $6.4 billion budget, noting that most funding goes to the Minimum Foundation Program and subgrantee assistance. Major changes discussed included the removal of one-time teacher pay stipends, increases for the LA GATOR scholarship program, and projected adjustments in early childhood funding. Members also reviewed the constitutional amendment proposal tied to using about $2 billion to pay down teacher retirement obligations and provide future teacher pay raises. Dr. Cade Brumley testified that Louisiana’s education outcomes have improved and answered questions on math performance, charter school funding, the LA GATOR scholarship, and the special education Choice program. Members pressed the department on the sustainability and balance of funding between LA GATOR and Choice, the number of applicants and current recipients, and outreach efforts. Brumley said charter schools are funded through the MFP like other public schools, that LA GATOR currently serves about 5,500 students with applications recently reaching about 17,000, and that the Choice program serves about 500 students with a waiting list of about 700 applicants. He also said the department would implement whatever funding levels the legislature approves. The committee then heard the special schools and commissions budget, including the Special School District, Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts, Thrive Academy, École Pointe-au-Chien, Louisiana Public Broadcasting, and BESE. Testimony focused on facility needs, enrollment, and program outcomes. LSU? No—LSM leaders described urgent roof and ceiling repairs estimated at about $800,000, while Thrive Academy highlighted student achievement, community service requirements, and economic impact. LPB said it is facing a federal funding loss of about $2.5 million and is responding with higher Passport fees, underwriting, and private fundraising. BESE’s small staff and administrative role were also explained, with members asking about board operations and the use of statutory dedication funds.

Transcript Highlights:

• Nobody else seems to care about it.
• Nobody else<00:00:29.359><c> seems</c><00:00:29.679><c> to</c><00:00:30.160><c> care</c><00:00:30.400
• Uh would the governor's office care<00:26:18.880><c> to</c><00:26:19.039><c> jump</c><00:26:19.200><c
• </c> know, I I think we have to be careful know, I I think we have to be careful anytime<00:46:16.480
• I think he heard all the direct testimony.

Bills: HB0086

Committee: Senate Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions

Keywords: county officials, election code, misconduct, removal, government accountability, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I know you care about the Iron Range, you care about my members, and I guess we'll go a different path
• I know you care about the Iron Range, you care about my members, and I guess we'll go a different path
• </c> conversation because all of us do care conversation because all of us do care about<01:19:56.719
• ><c> about</c><01:19:57.880><c> the</c> about the range we care about the about the range we care about
• Morgan Park and I cared for many of Morgan Park and I cared for many of those<01:22:07.719><c> people

Bills: HF3023 , HF3078 , HF107 , HF2171 , HF3079 , HF689 , HF1316

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

Keywords: unemployment benefits, iron ore mining, economic support, workforce development, Minnesota, unemployment insurance, deferred resignation, employment, worker rights, benefits eligibility, Ellsworth Independent School District, ISD 514, school construction, school renovation, sales tax exemption, use tax refund, construction materials, HVAC replacement, boiler replacement, window replacement

Transcript Highlights:

• Stormwater care... To govern how cities and counties can reduce their stormwater pollution.
• So you have to be careful about generalizations such as, you know, the contribution in body burdens in
• They're still reviewing the proposed amendment to the bill, and while appreciative of the direction,
• The bill simply directs state officials to establish...
• We have to be real careful to find a balance.

Committee: House Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I don't know that I have a direct answer of what isn't, per se.
• So please make sure that when you bring us numbers, that it takes care of all the needs that we have
• We have a plan in place there to take care of those. Representative Riggs, please proceed.
• I mean, there's so much. ...a direction that's contrary maybe to what the intent was.
• But still, I think we're headed in the right direction. I think we've got to stay the course.

Committee: House Subcommittee on Appropriations - General Administration

Summary: The subcommittee held an informational hearing on the Information Technology Services Division (ITSD) within the Office of Administration, with no quorum present and no formal action taken. Chair Voss said the purpose was to review ITSD’s programs, budget needs, and future plans, and members emphasized the value of an informed appropriator. Representative Riggs cautioned that the state should avoid jeopardizing federal broadband funding and asked that AI-related work remain consistent with federal expectations. ITSD leadership, including CIO John Loren and Deputy CIO Tara Damp, outlined the division’s scope and recent modernization efforts. They said ITSD supports 15 executive agencies plus the governor and lieutenant governor, manages about 1,200 production software solutions, handles roughly 35,000 help desk requests per month, and defends against billions of cyberattacks monthly. They highlighted investments in layered security, data center and network redundancy, a unified Microsoft 365 environment, modern development tools, and portal platforms. Damp reviewed the history of IT consolidation, noting budget reductions after 2007, then increased investment beginning in 2020 and especially with ARPA funds in fiscal 2023. Members asked about spending projections, subscription-based licensing, procurement modernization, and the role of non-consolidated agencies such as MoDOT and Conservation. The committee also discussed future funding needs and benchmarking. ITSD said its current spending is about $287 million, with a projected ongoing need of about $345 million to maintain and modernize services, while Gartner comparisons suggested Missouri spends less per employee and as a share of operating budget than peer states. Members asked for more detailed fiscal-year spending profiles for major initiatives and for clarification on what is and is not included in the projections, including Social Services and HR1-related work. ITSD said it would provide additional detail. A major portion of the hearing focused on AI strategy and governance. Tim Marsheski, ITSD’s director of AI and innovation, described a cautious, pilot-based approach centered on secure use, human oversight, and data governance. He cited examples such as an internal HR chatbot that reduced average response time from about 45 minutes to two minutes, pilots with DESE data transformation, and efforts to use AI for code assistance, document scanning, and workflow support. Members asked about workforce impacts, training, closed versus open models, and whether AI could help with auditing and fiscal analysis. ITSD said it is still early on workforce forecasting, but it is building governance, acceptable-use policies, and feedback loops to test tools, measure results, and scale only when they provide value and remain secure.

Transcript Highlights:

• The protection of patient privacy is critical, especially when the provider of care needs to collect
• And, you know, they take care of that individual right then and there. They lay them out.
• And, you know, they take care of that individual right then and there. They lay them out.
• So this redaction, you know, just literally, again, blurring patient care and muting audio if needed
• If a client dies within a 30-day period, would they be required to return the cost of caring for that

Committee: House Public Safety

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator, you care to close. Will there be debate? Senator, you care to close.
• These things get more and more popular to take care of.
• Senator, you cared close. I do, sir.
• But I have been somebody that cares about the food supply and somebody that cares about rural Oklahoma
• That's because of the direct consumption through water, unlike biosolids.

Bills: HB3005 , HB3007 , HB3403 , HB1907 , HB3175 , HB3986 , HB3466 , HB3411 , HB4246

Committee: Senate Energy

Keywords: climatology, emergency declaration, Oklahoma Climatological Survey, environment, weather data, public policy, state governance, natural resources, advisory councils, sunset law, water quality, hazardous waste, solid waste, radiation management, public health, biosolids, land application, environmental quality, agriculture, wastewater treatment

Summary: The committee took up several measures dealing with environmental regulation, waste management, and energy. Early on, it passed sunset-extension bills for the Oklahoma Climatological Survey and several environmental advisory councils. It then heard extensive debate on HB 1907, the Battery Stewardship Act, which would create a battery recycling system for small and medium batteries through DEQ. Supporters argued it would reduce landfill and garbage-truck fires, protect the environment, and create recycling value, while opponents raised concerns about added regulation, costs shifted to producers and retailers, and the creation of a new state FTE. Despite those objections, the bill passed 8-3. The committee also considered HB 3403, a pilot study on biosolids and sewage sludge applied to farmland. Members debated a committee substitute that shortened the study timeline from five years to three years and added a phased rollback of land application. Supporters said the study was needed because of unresolved questions about PFOS, pharmaceuticals, heavy metals, and other contaminants, while critics argued the timelines conflicted and the bill could be hard to implement. The committee substitute was adopted, an amendment to delete key rollback provisions failed, and the bill ultimately passed 8-2 after testimony from Oklahoma City utilities officials and multiple rounds of questions about testing, health risks, and disposal practices. The committee then passed HB 3175 to establish the Oklahoma Advanced Nuclear Energy Office, with members noting it would have minimal fiscal impact and could help Oklahoma build nuclear expertise and jobs. It also passed HB 3986, expanding a gross production tax exemption for wells completed with recycled water, and HB 3466, which removes the statutory requirement that the Corporation Commission maintain a petty cash fund. Finally, HB 3411, another biosolids-related bill to buy testing equipment and provide information to landowners, and HB 4246, a rural water transparency/lowest-bid bill, both passed unanimously or near-unanimously. The meeting ended with the chair thanking members and adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• So these programs will undergo a careful review before any decisions are made.
• Ivy Tech's associate degree in teacher education, early childhood and child care.
• We have an infrastructure crisis when it comes to child care.
• And quite frankly, I don't care. That's not my job. That's for the folks.
• All these always do, and quite frankly, I don't care. That's not my job.

Keywords: 964, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And he will make sure that you're taken care of.
• We managed to spend it all every year with the exception of early in COVID, CARES Act.
• We are tasked to implement the directives that are given to us by the state.
• To try to provide health care for these many mentally ill people.
• So it was, uh, it falls into the be careful what you ask for category. That's exactly right.

Committee: House Intergovernmental Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> individuals who know use health care individuals who know use health care more<00:51:20.960><c>
• They still need care.
• So we are moving the cost of health care spending on health care faster than our income.
• care.
• </c> care or the emergency room environment. care or the emergency room environment.

Committee: House Commerce Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And then care closer to home is $116.2 million.
• And then care closer to home is 116.2 million.
• How are we connecting coordination and care into those rural areas?
• Care into those rural areas.
• So if you look at that, using Alzheimer's as an example... ...care industry.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Joint Policy Committee met to hear an overview of North Dakota’s Rural Health Transformation Program before taking up the related policy bills. Department of Health and Human Services staff explained that the state received a $198.9 million CMS award, with funding focused on four pillars: strengthening rural workforce, bringing care closer to home, connecting technology and data, and improving population health through prevention. They emphasized that the program is intended to benefit rural and frontier residents statewide, including areas near urban centers when the project serves rural patients, and that CMS approval, provider readiness, and sustainability will drive what can be funded. Committee members asked about how the program would treat border communities, frontier counties, urban providers serving rural patients, multilingual outreach, tribal consultation, and whether there would be information sessions for applicants. HHS said the website will include sign-up and translation features, more listening sessions and training will be offered, and a rural health tribal liaison will work alongside the existing Medicaid tribal liaison. Members also raised concerns about reimbursement timing, cash flow for providers, and whether projects in urban areas could qualify; HHS responded that urban projects may be eligible if they clearly benefit rural residents. The department then outlined the four policy bills tied to the grant scoring: nutrition continuing medical education for physicians, the presidential fitness test, the physician assistant compact, and pharmacist scope of practice. HHS said these policy actions were incentivized in the federal funding opportunity and that failure to pass them could reduce future funding. The committee did not take final action on the bills in this portion of the transcript and recessed for lunch before moving on.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:52:45.839><c> of</c> their children will be taken care of their children will be taken care of
• </c> driving the cost of child care down. driving the cost of child care down.
• </c><00:52:59.440><c> SP419</c> care options across the state. SP419 care options across the state.
• I know that's really not care of that?
• I don't really care since it's an amendment.

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• To match the federal for the state-based health care exchange by January 1st of '26.
• I'm a single father of two children whom I care for full-time.
• </c> responsible Pet Care responsible Pet Care Community<00:27:56.120><c> thank</c><00:27:56.519><c>
• </c><00:33:21.200><c> thank</c> great step in the right direction thank great step in the right direction
• </c> there so I guess we want to be careful there so I guess we want to be careful how<00:38:11.280><

Bills: HF2543 , HF2566 , HF2627

Committee: House Commerce Finance and Policy

Keywords: garnishment, wage garnishment, earnings levy, bank levy, execution, judgment debtor, judgment creditor, exemption notice, exempt property, bank account freeze, financial institution levy, employer disclosure, garnishee, writ of execution, debt collection, consumer debt, collections, bankruptcy exemptions, public benefits, means-tested benefits

Transcript Highlights:

• and health care technology.
• in patient care and Health Care Care Care technology<00:28:06.159><c> the</c><00:28:06.320><c> scale
• </c><01:10:50.640><c> uh</c> metrics um and in uh and and careful uh metrics um and in uh and and careful
• Thank you for kind of pitching in and taking care of it before we head it up there.
• Representative Allen, is that more directed to the University of Minnesota or Mayo?

Committee: House Higher Education Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• providers develop nutrition care plans for the medically tailored meals.
• , then we have to treat food like it is health care.
• My mother had a health care worker who prepared the meals from her SNAP benefits.
• My mother had a health care worker who prepared the meals from her SNAP benefits. health care worker
• And when you think you've gotten one thing taken care of, you know...

Summary: The Senate Human Services Committee met on the first day of the 2026 session and heard a briefing and public testimony on Senate Bill 5966 concerning medically tailored meals. Committee staff explained that the bill would define medically tailored meals and set statewide standards for meals provided through state programs, emphasizing medical guidance, dietary and cultural accommodations, and prioritizing Washington-based nonprofit providers when possible. Senator T’wina Nobles, the sponsor, said the bill is intended to create a clear baseline for quality and accountability without expanding benefits or creating a new program, but rather to streamline and standardize existing efforts. Testifiers in support described existing medically tailored meal and food box programs already operating in Washington. Representatives from Meals on Wheels, Chicken Soup Brigade, Cascadia Produce, Emergency Food Network, and Meals on Wheels Spokane said these programs improve health outcomes for people with chronic conditions, support recovery, and help keep people stable in their communities. They also emphasized that local providers, volunteers, farmers, and food businesses benefit when state dollars stay in Washington. Several members asked whether the bill would create a new system; supporters said it would instead coordinate and standardize current waiver-based and contract-based services. Questions also touched on funding sources, delivery costs, and the role of Medicaid and other programs. The committee temporarily set aside the bill to hear from newly appointed DSHS Secretary Angela Ramirez, who outlined the department’s reorganization into new administrations and said the goal is to reduce silos, improve customer experience, and make services easier to navigate. She also briefed members on federal HR1-related changes affecting SNAP and Medicaid, including work requirements, immigrant eligibility changes, and tribal consultation, and said DSHS is developing a verification hub to reduce administrative burden. Members raised concerns about implementation, data collection, and how to avoid benefit loss due to paperwork issues. After the secretary’s presentation, the committee resumed testimony on SB 5966 and then adjourned without taking a vote.