Transcript Highlights:

• And then we do an individual assessment that looks at the algorithm and looks at the client.
• What we have is the first phase assessment, which looked at the existing algorithm, and it looked at

Summary: The Human Services Subcommittee met to receive an update from the new director of the Agency for Persons with Disabilities on implementation of House Bill 1103. The director said APD is working to update the funding algorithm through a contracted study due November 15, 2025, expand transparency on its website, launch an online crisis application by the end of 2025, improve client choice in qualified organizations and waiver support coordinators, and coordinate with AHCA on the managed care pilot and Florida HealthFinder listings for APD providers. He also said APD is working on family resource materials, a monthly newsletter, and stronger transition planning with DCF. Members asked about whether the new algorithm would include transportation and what services might change, but the director said the replacement model is still being developed and any new methodology would be implemented through rulemaking. Questions also focused on Family Care Councils, including the statewide council’s membership and appointment process; the director said the statute sets the process and APD is helping councils recruit and organize. On transparency, members praised the website improvements and asked for more interactive data tools. The director said APD would consider suggestions and continue expanding public reporting. The committee also discussed eligibility and waiver notices, including concerns about outdated language in APD letters and how autism cases are reviewed. The director said clinicians and behavioral analysts review cases and asked to see the specific letter. On the pre-enrollment list, the chair asked about the wait list, and the director said APD recently sent 5,612 service offers to people on the list and is working to better distinguish those who truly need services from those who do not. No votes were taken, and the meeting adjourned after the presentation and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• and annually thereafter to support implementation of the exemption review and reporting penalty assessment
• To adjust and assess what's happening with DTSC's fees and the under-collection of fees that were assumed

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Being eligible does not guarantee release, and these individuals undergo a rigorous assessment to determine
• Being eligible does not guarantee release, and these individuals undergo a rigorous assessment to determine

Summary: The Assembly Appropriations Committee met on April 23, 2025, with a large regular-order agenda and first approved a consent calendar covering many bills. Several measures were then heard individually, with most receiving support from sponsors and stakeholder groups and no formal opposition in the room, though some bills drew respectful opposition or no votes. The committee also read and deemed approved a lengthy suspense calendar before taking up additional bills and public comment. Among the bills discussed, AB 263 would extend temporary flow regulations on the Smith and Shasta Rivers for five years or until permanent rules are completed; AB 309 would remove the sunset on pharmacists’ ability to provide sterile syringes without a prescription to support HIV and hepatitis prevention; AB 631 would require animal shelters to post intake and outcome data online; AB 792 would allow consolidation of bargaining for court interpreters; AB 867 would ban cat declawing except when medically necessary; AB 1206 would require pre-approved housing plans for small residential projects; AB 787 would require health plans to better help patients find in-network providers; AB 596 would protect workers’ right to wear face coverings unless unsafe; AB 282 would allow housing providers to prefer voucher holders without violating source-of-income discrimination law; AB 738 would create a limited rebuilding exemption for disaster survivors from newer solar requirements; AB 566 would require browsers and mobile operating systems to make global privacy opt-outs easier; and AB 622 would clarify CDCR’s authority to award credits to people serving indeterminate sentences who complete rehabilitation programming. Most of these bills were reported out on roll calls, often with bipartisan or limited dissent. AB 309, AB 631, AB 792, AB 867, AB 1206, AB 787, AB 596, AB 282, AB 738, AB 566, and AB 622 all advanced, while AB 263 also moved forward despite opposition from the Siskiyou Board of Supervisors and the California Farm Bureau. AB 622 generated the most extensive debate, with supporters emphasizing rehabilitation, parole-board review, and cost savings, and opponents warning about public safety and the impact on serious violent offenders. The meeting ended after brief public comment on several other bills on the suspense file and then adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• decades and my colleague Senator Schiff has opened the aperture I join in his remarks about the need to assess
• the bill and force the FTC to prove from the many of the same facts that were already weighed and assessed

Bills: SB1040 , SB1041 , SB1095 , SB1096 , SB1097 , SB527

Committee: Senate Senate Judiciary

Keywords: drug competition, product hopping, generic drugs, biosimilars, federal regulations, FTC Act, patent, biological products, healthcare access, affordable prescriptions, Medicare, Federal Trade Commission, sham petitions, competition, public health, unfair competition, healthcare, pharmaceutical, antitrust law, pay-for-delay

Summary: The meeting focused on addressing the high cost of prescription drugs and the abusive practices that contribute to elevated prices affecting American families. Several bills were presented, including proposals to end pay-for-delay deals and to enhance transparency in the operations of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). The discussion was notable for its emphasis on consumer protection and ensuring that cheaper generic drugs reach the market more effectively. Members expressed frustration over past attempts to pass similar legislation stalling in the Senate, leading to renewed efforts to push these bills forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• I don't like looking at the final trial prep and what we've really got until I've assessed what it is
• At that point in time, once I can assess the strength of the case, we look at the filings.

Summary: The joint committee met with a quorum present and first received an overview of its jurisdiction and duties related to appointing the Florida Public Counsel. Staff explained the committee’s authority under joint rules and state law, noted that the current Public Counsel’s term expires February 28, 2025, and that applications for the next four-year term were open with a February 6, 2025 deadline. The committee then heard an extensive update from Public Counsel Walt Truerweiler on the Office of Public Counsel’s work representing utility ratepayers before the Public Service Commission and in appeals. Truerweiler described the office’s caseload and priorities, including electric, gas, water, and wastewater rate cases; storm recovery dockets; cost-recovery clauses; rulemakings; and customer service hearings. He emphasized that the office seeks to challenge unsupported or imprudent costs, find value for customers, and use expert analysis and customer testimony to shape outcomes. He highlighted recent and ongoing matters, including major Duke, TECO, Sunshine water/wastewater, and hurricane recovery proceedings, and said the office had fully litigated four of its last five rate cases, while also achieving a major settlement in Duke that reduced a requested increase and imposed cost controls on solar projects. Members praised the office’s work and asked about the benefits of settlements, staffing and compensation, and how the office decides when to fully intervene versus provide guidance or monitor a case. Truerweiler said settlements can create predictability, reduce uncertainty and expense, and produce tangible value for both customers and utilities. He also acknowledged recruitment challenges, including lower pay than comparable agencies and difficulty attracting attorneys who do not want in-person litigation work. The committee took no substantive action beyond receiving the presentations, and adjourned after a motion was adopted.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:14:28.000><c> whether</c><00:14:28.320><c> grant</c> and we wanted to assess whether grant and
• we wanted to assess whether grant managers<00:14:29.279><c> felt</c><00:14:29.519><c> that</c><00:14
• Um, so last session we worked with the legislature to institute a pre-enrollment risk assessment.
• </c><01:26:00.880><c> This</c><01:26:01.040><c> has</c> pre-enrollment risk assessment.
• This has pre-enrollment risk assessment.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So my assumption is that those fees are, if they are assessed, are they being assessed?
• </c> through different that are assessed through different that are assessed through<00:53:14.960><c>
• </c><00:54:00.800><c> or</c> those fees are if they are assessed or those fees are if they are assessed
• </c><00:54:02.720><c> number</c><00:54:02.960><c> two</c> one are they being assessed number two one
• are they being assessed number two are<00:54:03.520><c> they</c><00:54:03.760><c> being</c><00:54:04.079

Committee: Joint Appropriations

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 216, 15 January, 2026; 2:00 PM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If the<01:00:12.640><c> cost</c><01:00:12.880><c> assessed</c><01:00:13.280><c> in</c><01:00:13.520><
• in this bill is not the cost assessed in this bill is not sufficient,<01:00:15.280><c> the</c><01:00
• Meanwhile, day in and day out, we continue to meet with clients, assess their needs, and provide them
• Um, what we are assessing the cost for is a 2.2% 2% multiplier age um for unreduced retirement age of
• But this is a assess a $250 penalty.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:30:15.919><c> on</c> authority to impose assessments on authority to impose assessments on insurers
• The bill attempts to define these<00:30:52.480><c> assessments</c><00:30:53.039><c> as</c><00:30:53.360
• ><c> medical</c><00:30:54.240><c> benefit</c> these assessments as medical benefit these assessments
• </c> excuse me, assess excuse me, assess not<00:41:58.880><c> just</c> not just not just kids<00:42:00.800
• Speaker. regarding the structure of the bill, the regarding the structure of the bill, the assessment

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And administratively, I don't know how we would ever assess whether they're complying with that 500,000
• And administratively, I don't know how we would ever assess whether they're complying with that 500,000
• We send in information based on our clinical assessment of the patient who is right before us.
• of the patient who clinical assessment of the patient who is<04:13:08.800><c> right</c><04:13:09.040
• </c><04:52:08.320><c> It</c> assess the service under review. It assess the service under review.

Committee: House Commerce and Consumer Affairs

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• that day, if it's an excused assessment that day, if it's an excused absence,<00:31:55.120><c> you</
• So, it's posting things like assessment scores, attendance data, enrollment data, graduation rates.
• So, it's posting things like assessment scores, attendance data, enrollment data, graduation rates.
• So, it's posting things like assessment scores, attendance data, enrollment data, graduation rates.
• </c><04:19:47.600><c> the</c> coordinated plan to prevent assess the coordinated plan to prevent assess

Committee: House Education Policy and Administration

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• um<01:14:33.600><c> and</c><01:14:34.239><c> utility</c><01:14:34.719><c> assessments</c><01:14:35.280
• </c><01:20:47.040><c> and</c><01:20:47.360><c> so</c><01:20:47.520><c> forth</c> transmission assessments
• and so forth transmission assessments and so forth and<01:20:47.920><c> so</c><01:20:48.159><c> on.
• process by which the assessment process by which the department<05:16:11.760><c> collects</c><05:16:
• which had already been set uh assessment which had already been set uh for<05:16:38.120><c> collection

Committee: House Science, Technology and Energy

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So we also assess their risk.
• on on that they um assess I assessments on on that they um assess I don't<07:06:19.840><c> like</c><
• but I will at least assure you that at the DOJ we're working with all of our various agencies to assess
• We're still working to assess and get our arms around it, but I don't think they're a somewhat narrow
• but I will at least assure you that at the DOJ we're working with all of our various agencies to assess

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard an overview from the Agriculture Commissioner on the department’s major divisions and staffing. He described the Office of the Commissioner, Agricultural Development, Pesticides, Regulatory Services, Weights and Measures, Animal Industry, Plant Industry, and Soil Conservation, noting that many programs are federally funded or supported by dedicated fees and fines. He said the department has 44 full-time positions plus one DoIT employee shared with other agencies, and that HR services are now contracted through Administrative Services. He also explained that Soil Conservation is administratively attached to the department and funded through Moose Plate grants and county contributions, not direct state funding. Members asked about specific program functions and issues, including weights and measures inspections, animal health, bird flu response, internships, invasive species, and the Big E/New Hampshire building. The commissioner said weights and measures covers nearly all commercial measuring devices and products sold by weight, and that inspectors are currently part-time police officers, though the department is discussing removing that requirement. He said the department is actively involved in bird flu monitoring, including regular calls with USDA and the state veterinarian and collecting milk samples from dairy farms. On invasive species, he focused on Japanese knotweed and bittersweet, saying the department has only one staff person working on the issue, mainly as a coordinator with DOT and towns, and that eradication is extremely difficult. He also said the department does not run student internships and refers inquiries to UNH Cooperative Extension. The committee discussed budget and revenue issues, including three new general fund positions, one of which is the assistant commissioner and another a biological scientist for invasive species. The commissioner said the department had been in “triage mode,” that an assistant commissioner was needed because of workload, and that the department is a net positive to the General Fund each year. He said some fees and fines have not been updated in decades and would require legislation to change, including a proposed $5 fee for each animal database certificate to help fund a system that costs about $250,000 annually to maintain. In response to questions about budget reductions, he said the department protected personnel, reduced the cost-of-care fund, fair grants, and land preservation funding to about $25,000 each, and did not plan to buy new vehicles or computers. He also said he could not support including the $50,000 Conservation District resilience grant program in his budget under the current reduction targets, though he remained hopeful it might be funded another way.

Transcript Highlights:

• more reference to it, was very much sort of front of mind for us because of the recent suicide assessment
• . ...was very much sort of front of mind for us because of the recent suicide assessment report by Dr
• This individual has been recognized through assessments of what they're in, why the criminogenic factors
• So we never get—we never fall off of that individual assessment plan, even though they're off campus
• , they know exactly what the assessment is on that person's needs.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The commission opened an informal discussion focused on developing recommendations for its September report on correctional consolidation and cooperation. Chairs Dan Hunt and Senator Brownsberger emphasized that the group is still in an information-gathering phase, but should begin putting ideas on the table, including possible written recommendations, further hearings, and additional facility tours. Members discussed whether the commission should seek more input from frontline stakeholders such as sheriffs, probation, parole, reentry centers, unions, and the judiciary, and whether recommendations should be organized around specific issue areas like medical costs, programming, reentry, and facility operations. A major theme was the need for a more integrated and consistent correctional system. Participants raised concerns about fragmentation across DOC, county sheriffs, probation, and parole, and suggested exploring step-down pathways, minimum security, pre-release, day reporting, and regional reentry hubs to improve outcomes and reduce recidivism. Several speakers stressed the importance of uniform standards, evidence-based programming, better data on outcomes and spending, and clearer alignment between custody conditions and rehabilitation goals. There was also discussion of looking to other states and international models, as well as revisiting older reports and plans, including the 2009 commission report and the 2010 corrections master plan. Facility-specific issues were also raised, including the need to examine women’s facilities such as Framingham, Bridgewater, and restrictive housing practices in light of suicide concerns and mental health needs. Members discussed the relationship between correctional custody and behavioral health, the role of the judiciary in sentencing and reentry planning, and whether judges should be better informed about available programming and step-down options. There was broad agreement that collaboration, transparency, and accountability should be strengthened, with some members urging that recommendations be based on firsthand facts and data rather than opinion alone. The meeting also included presentation of a written set of eight high-level recommendations compiled by advocacy and legal organizations, which focused on clearer and more consistent programming, equitable application of rules, and reducing punitive conditions that function like solitary confinement. The chairs said the document would be shared with members and posted online. No formal votes were taken during the discussion, and the meeting ended with plans to continue the conversation at a future session, including possible follow-up on reentry centers, restrictive housing, and other systemwide reforms.

Transcript Highlights:

• The vote follows a program plan review, a district self-assessment, and discussions with the advisory
• Historically, this vote has been used to assess whether a school district is doing everything within
• vote has been Historically, this boat vote has been used<01:06:23.440><c> to</c><01:06:23.920><c> assess
• whether a school district used to assess whether a school district is<01:06:26.319><c> doing</c><01:
• 30.880><c> of</c><01:06:31.200><c> American</c><01:06:31.599><c> Indian</c> When using the self-assessment

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We believe this is more practical and can be easily assessed by both law enforcement and pedestrians.
• We believe this is more practical and can be easily assessed by both law enforcement and pedestrians.
• These reports shall include, at minimum, an assessment of the benefits and drawbacks of the pilot program
• These reports shall include, at minimum, an assessment of the benefits and drawbacks of the pilot program
• of the benefits and drawbacks assessment of the benefits and drawbacks of<01:35:03.840><c> the</c><01

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Transportation held a hearing on several traffic safety and transportation bills. HB 1163 would update commercial driver licensing rules to meet federal requirements and allow limited-term non-domiciled commercial learner’s permits and licenses; the Department of Transportation supported it as a fix to an FMCSA-identified issue, while Frank Schultz testified in opposition. HB 1166 would appropriate funds for the automated speed enforcement program; the Department of Law Enforcement, Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization, and Edgardo Diaz Vega supported it, while Chad Taniguchi opposed and Frank Schultz offered support. The committee then heard HB 1231, which would prioritize photo red light cameras in school zones and direct related fine revenue to the Safe Routes to School fund; DOT supported the intent but cautioned against limiting placement decisions, Judiciary raised concerns about added court workload, and several advocacy groups and individuals supported the bill as a pedestrian and school safety measure. The committee spent substantial time on HB 1471, which would fund traffic-actuated signals, including leading pedestrian intervals and accessible pedestrian signals, and add a $5 vehicle registration fee for the Safe Routes to School special fund. DOT supported the bill with comments, saying its older signal controllers make LPIs harder to implement but that statewide upgrades are underway; the Department of Health also supported the safety and Vision Zero goals and said it is working with counties on public education. Testimony in support came from Hawaii Appleseed, Hawaii Bicycling League, Ulupono Initiative, Hawaii Public Health Institute, Path People for Active Transportation Hawaii, the Hawaii Self-Advocacy Advisory Council, and others, with one opposition noted among many supporters. Members asked questions about whether LPIs would address “beg buttons,” how red-light and speed-camera programs interact with county roads, and whether speed humps might be more effective in school zones. DOT explained that LPIs improve visibility but do not solve every signal issue, that newer adaptive signals use camera-based sensing, and that the department coordinates with counties and communities on crash mitigation and enforcement priorities. Officials also discussed the status of Safe Routes to School programs, noting that the federal program remains but is difficult to use and that the state program had been moved out of DOT; county coordinators and related coalitions were said to still be active. No votes or final committee actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think, candidly, in my initial assessment here, is that I'd like to see recruits, before they step
• I said, there are some regulatory changes that will also assist the agency and better be able to assess
• and move cases upon filing in a more rapid way. ...and better be able to assess and move cases upon
• But they really help the survivor assess whether that is the right process?
• But they really help the survivor assess, is that the right process for them?

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Keywords: 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, the MPUC's assessments to ratepayers, in my view, is the most regressive tax we have here in Minnesota
• Uh, the MPU's<00:05:10.960><c> assessments</c><00:05:11.360><c> to</c><00:05:11.520><c> rateayers,</c
• ><00:05:12.320><c> in</c><00:05:12.560><c> my</c> MPU's assessments to rateayers, in my MPU's assessments
• </c><00:10:27.440><c> to</c><00:10:27.600><c> the</c> whether they should be assessed to the whether
• they should be assessed to the very<00:10:28.079><c> poorest</c><00:10:28.560><c> in</c><00:10:28.800

Bills: HF3298

Committee: House Energy Finance and Policy

Keywords: underground storage tanks, petroleum, reimbursement program, environmental regulation, pollution control, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• To get to know the kiddo, maybe some new assessments, because the team will say they did this and this
• cuz the team will say assessments cuz the team will say they<01:18:48.800><c> they</c><01:18:49.199>
• So the so those times I think I probably do say we got to look at some immediate assessments, but for
• So the so those times I think I probably do say we got to look at some immediate assessments, but for
• So those times I think I probably do say we got to look at some immediate assessments, but for the most

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The commission met to review and amend the minutes from its previous meeting, correcting the date, several spelling and wording errors, and clarifying references to a scholarship fund and a member’s title. The minutes were then approved as amended, with some members abstaining because they were not present at the prior meeting. The chair then turned to the commission’s work plan under SB 57, emphasizing the need to prioritize the statutory topics and identify which issues require additional research, documentation, and possible spreadsheets. Members discussed a broad range of special education cost drivers and policy questions, including student referral rates, why students are classified as other health impaired, whether referrals increased after COVID school closures, intervention processes before referral, the cost of services required under IEPs and 504 plans, differences between federal law, state law, and DOE rules, reporting of special education costs, out-of-district and residential placements, district sharing of resources, dispute resolution, graduation rates, and adult learning outcomes. Several members raised concerns that school environments, mental health, bullying, and possible overidentification may be contributing to rising special education numbers and costs, while others cautioned that some reported district percentages may be inflated or unclear because of how the data are counted. A major portion of the meeting focused on HB 742, which would eliminate prorated special education aid when state appropriations are insufficient and require the governor to draw a warrant to cover shortfalls. Representative Ames explained that the bill had been recommended for interim study because the commission is already examining special education costing, and he highlighted the gap between FY24 special education costs of about $977.1 million and state aid of $33.9 million for catastrophic aid, $67.4 million for differentiated aid, and $50.8 million in federal IDEA funds, leaving local districts to cover about $825.1 million. He argued the commission should ultimately make clear that both the federal government and the state should contribute more. The Department of Education, through Melissa White, answered questions about data and oversight. She said special education counts come from IEPs entered into the state system using SASIDs, that DOE monitors districts through both desk audits and on-site visits, and that billing is checked against the services listed in each student’s IEP. She also said DOE’s special education work is largely federally funded, with roughly $56.7 million received through IDEA this year and about $49.1 million flowing through to LEAs, while the department retains a small amount for administration and statewide support activities. Members also discussed how adequacy calculations use special education counts from the state system and how those figures are reported.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> assessment of the need going forward? assessment of the need going forward?
• of those management skills, and in those management skills is that facility management where you assess
• One of the things that I'll point out is in the most recent infrastructure needs and survey assessment
• One of the things that I'll point out is in the most recent infrastructure needs and survey assessment
• done uh and help condition assessments done uh and help these<01:21:05.199><c> systems</c><01:21:05.679

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The meeting began with roll call, adoption of the minutes, and brief remarks, including birthday recognition for Representative Maseroni and a moment of reflection for a soldier who died during training at Fort Knox. The committee then heard a presentation from Tony Hatton, commissioner of the Department for Environmental Protection and acting director of the Kentucky Division of Water, with Amanda Lefer, deputy commissioner, on the state’s water and wastewater programs and planning. Hatton described Kentucky’s water resources and the Division of Water’s responsibilities, including watershed and nonpoint source work, KPDES discharge permitting, PFAS response, engineering review of water infrastructure, inspections, public outreach, and sampling. He said Kentucky has 428 public water systems, 263 water treatment plants, about 1.9 million service connections, and nearly 97% of the population has access to municipally treated water. He also noted that the state has 43 systems receiving awards for EPA areawide optimization and emphasized operator training, regionalization, and use of GIS mapping and Kentucky Infrastructure Authority data to support planning and funding decisions. Members raised concerns about aging infrastructure, water loss, staffing shortages, and wastewater problems in local systems. Representative Blandon described severe failures in a city system, including major water loss and sewer backups, and asked whether the state could intervene; Hatton said the division inspects treatment facilities and provides compliance assistance but is not authorized to manage delivery systems, though third-party help and emergency funding can be used in some cases. Senator Smith and others shared similar experiences with line loss and system failures, while Hatton pointed to regionalization and funding support as the main tools available. The discussion also highlighted PFAS as an emerging issue, with Hatton saying the department is working with systems to meet anticipated federal requirements by 2029.