Transcript Highlights:

• But we also have to talk about the cost to operate a high-quality child care facility.
• sustainable range that still allows the business to cover fixed costs and plan responsibly for growth in emergencies
• of the home care agency vendor rate designated to support administrative functions and essential operations
• While Washington's agency parity law has been a success since 2006, a critical loophole has emerged.
• A critical loophole has emerged.

Summary: The Appropriations Committee held a public hearing on several bills. Senate Bill 5109 would raise the mortgage lending fraud prosecution surcharge on recorded deeds of trust from $1 to $5 and remove the 2027 sunset on the surcharge and account. Committee staff said the change would generate additional revenue for county auditors and the Department of Financial Institutions to contract with prosecutors; King County and the Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys testified in strong support, saying the current funding has eroded and the bill would better sustain mortgage fraud prosecutions. A question was raised about whether other budget funding could serve a similar purpose, but supporters said the dedicated surcharge/account structure was the best fit. No vote was taken. The committee also heard Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5500, which would require DCYF’s biennial child care report to include a current cost-of-quality study in addition to the market rate survey. Testifiers from Child Care Aware of Washington, child care providers, and the early education design team supported the bill, saying the market rate survey alone does not capture the true cost of providing quality care. Staff said the bill would have a small fiscal impact for DCYF. The committee then heard Substitute Senate Bill 5834 and Senate Bill 5835, both Department of Retirement Systems request bills: one would broaden use of pension fund interest earnings for fund-protection expenses beyond the 2025-27 biennium, and the other would raise the threshold for lump-sum payment of small monthly benefits from $50 to $250. Neither bill drew public testimony, and staff said the fiscal impacts were minimal. Later, the committee heard Engrossed Senate Bill 5872, which would create the Pre-K Promise Account for ECAP funding and allow gifts, grants, and donations to be used solely to expand the program. Supporters including rural health coalitions, the Balmer Group, and Snohomish County said the account would help expand access to early learning, especially in child care deserts; DCYF estimated staffing costs to administer the account. Substitute Senate Bill 6007 would direct WSIPP to study DCYF’s child welfare screening tools and their effects on outcomes, with a reported cost of about $234,000; there was no public testimony. Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6019 would clarify home care agency rate-setting and require that no more than 20% of Medicaid home care rates go to administrative costs, with DSHS saying there would be no fiscal impact. Labor and caregiver witnesses supported it as a parity and accountability measure. Finally, Senate Bill 6065 would allow school districts in binding conditions or enhanced financial oversight to use transportation vehicle funds more flexibly, including temporary loans or permanent transfers with approval; a rural education representative supported the bill, and staff said OSPI would incur only modest administrative costs. The committee took no final action and adjourned after the hearings.

Transcript Highlights:

• machines being what we used to call dumb terminals, just high-capacity dumb terminals that will only operate
• It's going to modernize secure services for agencies and citizens, reduce risk of failures and emergency
• need for emergency fixes.
• And basically, they look at today's economy, the inflation, the tariffs, the day-to-day operation of
• So it's basically an emergency relief fund—I'm sorry, equipment relief fund. What about this?

Bills: SB132 , SM16 , SM17

Committee: Senate House Rules & Order Of Business

Keywords: SB132, DOIT, Department of Information Technology, software replacement, equipment replacement, technology funding, revolving fund, capital equipment, enterprise services, state IT budgeting, software budgeting, amortization, depreciation, State Treasurer, Department of Finance and Administration, New Mexico, information technology, IT infrastructure, fund accounting, legislative appropriation

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 132, a Department of Information Technology modernization measure sponsored by Senator Padilla. The bill would update state IT statutes to explicitly include software and cloud-based services alongside hardware and equipment, with the goal of improving planning, procurement, security, and efficiency. Secretary Manny Budettas said the change would help modernize secure services, reduce emergency fixes, and better align state purchasing with current software-as-a-service models. Members asked about centralized integration across branches of government, cybersecurity protections, the revolving fund, and agency billing; the bill was reported out with a do pass on the committee substitute. The committee then considered Senate Memorial 16, which asks Higher Education to convene a task force on parenting students in New Mexico’s higher education system. Senator Harmeo and witnesses described barriers such as child care, transportation, flexible scheduling, and financial hardship, and said the memorial would gather data and recommendations rather than create a new program. Members discussed how the survey would be administered, whether it would include full-time and part-time students, and how online or out-of-state students would be handled; the memorial was approved with a do pass. Finally, the committee heard Senate Memorial 17, sponsored by Senator Lopez, directing DPS and the New Mexico Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs to study the current state of sexual assault examination kits. Witnesses reviewed the 2016 task force that addressed a backlog of more than 5,000 untested kits and said a new backlog of 1,419 kits is now beyond the 180-day testing target. Members expressed strong concern about the delays, asked about lab capacity, possible use of private or additional labs, and the lack of penalties for missing the deadline. The memorial passed with a do pass, and the committee then recessed.

Transcript Highlights:

• functional needs" is the appropriate language when referring to people with disabilities, particularly in emergency
• functional needs" is the appropriate language when referring to people with disabilities, particularly in emergency
• functional needs" is the appropriate language when referring to people with disabilities, particularly in emergency
• functional needs" is the appropriate language when referring to people with disabilities, particularly in emergency
• Committee on Government Operations. Let's set back moving this as a Senate draft 1, shall we?

Committee: Senate Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint committees on Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs and Health and Human Services heard Senate Concurrent Resolution 58 and Senate Resolution 42, which urge counties to install special-needs recreational playground equipment in parks and playgrounds. Testimony came from the Disability and Communication Access Board, the Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities, the Disability Rights Center, Autism Moms of Kona, and a Pacific Disability Center representative, all supporting the resolutions. Several testifiers asked that the term “special needs” be replaced with “access and functional needs,” and one requested language broadening the measure to explicitly include developmentally and intellectually disabled youth. A committee member also discussed the need for inclusion and the benefits of accessible play for all children. After questions, the chairs said they would adopt amendments from the Disability and Communication Access Board, Autism Moms of Kona, and Tina Marie Kira, along with technical, non-substantive changes. Both committees then voted to recommend passage of SCR 58 and SR 42 with amendments, with members voting aye and some excused. The committees then heard Senate Concurrent Resolution 163 and Senate Resolution 132, which request counties to adopt flexible setback requirements for state buildings and facilities to improve land use efficiency and public service delivery. Testimony in support came from the Grassroots Institute and the Department of Accounting and General Services. The chairs moved the resolutions forward with technical, non-substantive amendments, and both committees adopted recommendations to pass SCR 163 and SR 132 with amendments before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> then would present to the emergency then would present to the emergency department<00:36:08.200>
• </c> where he would go into the emergency where he would go into the emergency department,<00:36:37.840
• </c> of operation. of operation.
• We face already operating in the red.
• </c><01:37:45.640><c> medical</c> hospitals, and emergency medical hospitals, and emergency medical services

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• by a private, nongovernmental entity and operating pursuant to a contract or agreement with a federal
• A private detention facility means a detention facility that is operated by a private, nongovernmental
• entity and operating pursuant to a contract or agreement with a federal, state, or local government.
• It would be the operator of the private detention facility, which is a private company, correct?
• The accountability is most urgently needed with respect to private detention facilities that operate

Bills: SB5979 , SB6308 , SB6319

Committee: Senate Human Services

Keywords: opioids, substance abuse, dependent children, child welfare, caregiver substance use, court orders, shelter care, judicial discretion, family law, early childhood, family services, diversion programs, court-ordered assessments, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That work focuses both on existing sectors, but also on the emerging sectors that will give rise to the
• But in essence, having an emergency delegation to go to Washington, I know the governor is working. on
• They're not, but the way they operate is the same.
• It includes $25 million for NatCast, the operator of the National Semiconductor Technology Center, to
• That's remarkable for a business operation that.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Speaker, the emergency thing I know, this is truly an emergency. Mr.
• Speaker, the emergency is around affordability.
• Speaker, this is truly an emergency.
• Speaker, well, if there were an emergency, the bill would say emergency. It doesn't.
• Speaker, if there's no emergency—Mr. Speaker, or I'm sorry, if there is an emergency—Mr.

Summary: The House debated a series of amendments to a major income tax bill, with repeated arguments over tax fairness, affordability, administrative feasibility, and the role of the Department of Revenue. Early motions to reconsider a failed child care amendment were rejected, and Amendment 2561, which would have restricted data sharing with the IRS, was also defeated after debate over privacy, federal relationships, and whether the proposal was administrable. Amendment 2579, which would have required annual reporting on the tax’s effects on filers, businesses, and charitable donations, likewise failed, with supporters emphasizing transparency and opponents arguing DOR was not the right agency and the report was too speculative. Amendment 2598, proposing to use half of new revenue for a broad sales tax cut, was rejected despite arguments that it would reduce regressivity and provide immediate relief; Amendment 2556, expanding sales tax exemptions for diapers and other child-care essentials to include adult diapers and earlier implementation, also failed after debate over scope and timing.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's how they operate.
• It's an audit of regional security operations center, okay?
• So we are For every dollar invested in our operations.
• These include construction contracts, professional service agreements, grant programs, emergency operations
• In our normal operations, that would be within district operations.

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee met to hear interim charges on higher education transparency and on preventing fraud, waste, and abuse in state government. The chair emphasized accountability for taxpayer dollars and asked witnesses to address financial reporting, audit practices, and whether more frequent or comprehensive audits would improve oversight. Legislative Budget Board staff described how public university systems and most community colleges respond to requests about internal audit practices, noting that university systems generally follow a similar annual audit timeline and that community colleges use a more varied mix of internal and external audit arrangements. Members focused on gaps in reporting, especially Texas Southern University’s missing submissions for several years and Collin County Community College’s nonresponse to the LBB survey. The State Auditor’s Office then outlined its higher education audit work, including mandatory statewide single audits, DEI compliance audits, HUB and State Use Program audits, benefits proportional audits, and discretionary audits based on risk. The auditor said the office has released 43 higher-ed audit reports since fiscal year 2021 and has two audits in progress, and explained that internal audit reports from institutions help guide future audit selection. Senators pressed the office on the lack of enforcement authority, the value of internal auditors at each institution, and whether community colleges should have more standardized reporting and audit requirements. The auditor and general counsel said the SAO can refer suspected fraud to law enforcement but cannot itself enforce findings, while several senators suggested stronger clawback authority and more robust internal audit structures. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board explained that it collects annual financial reports, sources-and-uses data, and community college finance reports, and uses them for funding formulas and other reporting. It also trains governing board members and said it has limited regulatory authority, though community colleges must certify compliance annually and can lose eligibility for state funds if they do not. Members questioned the reliability of self-attested data, the adequacy of board training, and whether a single reporting structure would be more efficient. During public testimony, a ScholarShot representative argued for clearer, student-facing financial transparency so students can see total cost of attendance and the gap they must cover before enrolling.

Transcript Highlights:

• understand how they're endeavoring to operate, and the department would have to approve those plans.
• Most importantly, are are operating.
• We should be really attentive to rural hospitals already are operating on thin margins.
• Will they see a change in their status and ability to operate?
• This is not preventing ambulatory surgical centers, emergency pop-up rooms, standalone emergency rooms

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Costs that otherwise fall on shelters, emergency rooms, courts, and schools.
• And has going through this process helped the overall court operations?
• And has going through this process helped the overall court operations?
• Has going through this process helped the overall court operations?
• It's only limited to their operations.

Summary: The committee heard budget and workload presentations from the Office of the State Public Defender, legal aid organizations, and the Judicial Branch. OSPD requested permanent funding for positions that had been temporarily funded to implement the Racial Justice Act, explaining that the work has become ongoing and now includes additional Supreme Court briefing, habeas proceedings, investigations, expert analysis, and data requests. The State Public Defender also presented the AB 625 public defense workload report, which found statewide staffing shortages, caseloads above recommended standards, and major gaps in investigators and support staff. Senators asked about racial bias claims, the volume of data requests, and the impact of Prop. 36, and OSPD said it would provide additional written information. The legal aid panel asked for a $50 million increase to the Equal Access Fund, $20 million to restart homelessness prevention services, and $10 million for health care access work, while also supporting Access to Justice Commission requests for loan repayment assistance, immigrant family preparedness services, and innovation grants. Witnesses described legal aid as homelessness prevention and cited examples involving eviction defense, domestic violence survivors, and immigration detention cases. Los Angeles Superior Court Presiding Judge Sergio Tapia discussed eviction data, low tenant representation, and court pilots in Compton and at Stanley Mosk that combine mediation, rental assistance, and legal help. Senators asked for service maps, outreach materials, and more detail on funding needs and federal funding losses. For the Judicial Branch overview, the Judicial Council and trial court representatives supported the Governor’s proposed budget, including $70 million for trial court operations, $21.7 million for employee health and retirement costs, and funding for appellate counsel, case processing, and courthouse construction. They said rising costs, staffing retention, and interpreter shortages continue to strain the courts, and described efforts to reallocate interpreter funds and recruit hard-to-find languages such as Mixteco. Senators pressed the branch and the Department of Finance on courthouse facilities, noting that the long-term need is far larger than the current budget proposal; Finance said the branch’s facility needs were estimated at about $22.5 billion over 10 years to start 68 projects and $29.4 billion to complete the remaining projects. The committee requested follow-up information on facilities, judgeships, and interpreter needs.

Transcript Highlights:

• in a manner consistent with to operate in a manner consistent with the<00:19:20.240><c> manufacturer's
• Just before his 18th birthday, my son collapsed at school and was rushed to the emergency room.
• One is for smoking cessation materials, and two are for emergency treatments.
• </c><01:24:01.120><c> medical</c> delivery models for emergency medical delivery models for emergency
• Speaker." emergency response is the best way to emergency response is the best way to ensure<01:26:27.360

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Cindy Chang, who, by the way, has had seven operations as opposed to your three, Senator Jones.
• Untreated behavioral health conditions can lead to worsening health outcomes, increasing emergency room
• Public service operations such as waste hauling.
• It allows a small number of existing outdoor advertising displays to continue operating under current
• It also extends the operations of the board until January 1, 2031.

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

Transcript Highlights:

• If there is a sole source best suited to carry on a project, that entity will emerge through the process
• If there is a sole source best suited to carry on a project, that entity will emerge through the process
• And once the public health emergency ended, the department did not continue as far as we know, either
• And he said that during this time when the COVID emergency was happening, the periodic data matching
• And he said that during this time when the COVID emergency was happening, the periodic data matching

Committee: House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Judicial officers will have greater oversight over JR operations, and the expanded judicial discretion
• In closing, Wachka respectfully asked the committee to carefully consider the operational realities of
• Most juvenile courts are operating with fewer staff and resources due to county budget cuts and last
• Operating capacity level. We've heard over the years that JR is a rehabilitative setting.
• With the emergence of Harbor Heights, it provided us an opportunity to breathe a little bit.

Summary: The committee heard testimony on House Bill 2456, which would create a juvenile firearm early intervention alternative for youth charged in juvenile court with unlawful possession of a firearm in the second degree. Staff explained that the program would require prosecutor agreement, intensive community supervision, random suspicionless searches, therapy and mentoring services, periodic court review, and dismissal of the charge upon successful completion. The bill would also raise concealed pistol license fees by $100 each and dedicate the revenue to a new account funding the alternative. Representative Davis said the bill is intended to fill the gap between firearm possession charges and later juvenile sentencing, and to fund evidence-based services; one member questioned whether the fee increase functions more like a tax than a fee. The chair then paused testimony on HB 2456 to return to the other bill. The bulk of the hearing focused on House Bill 2389, which would expand suspended disposition alternatives, reduce some juvenile robbery sentencing ranges, add a midpoint review for certain youth committed to DCYF, and create new rules for juvenile rehabilitation capacity and emergency transfers. Supporters, including youth currently or formerly in juvenile facilities, defense advocates, restorative justice providers, and some judges, argued the bill would reduce overcrowding, improve rehabilitation, address racial disparities, and give judges more individualized options. Several testified that youth need treatment, family connection, and incentives for progress rather than long confinement, and that current sentencing practices are outdated and underuse suspended dispositions. Opponents, including sheriffs, prosecutors, county officials, victim advocates, and some judges, argued the bill would shift costs and responsibility to counties, require resources that do not exist, and weaken accountability for serious offenses such as robbery, assault, and trafficking. They raised concerns about expanded appeals, added court workload, the need for more staffing and programming, and the impact on victims and public safety. DCYF said it supports reducing overcrowding but wants clearer emergency transfer authority for Green Hill; facility staff described improved conditions as population has fallen, but said overcrowding still creates safety and programming problems. No vote was taken in the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• He said health plans historically operate with a 1% to 3% margin.
• </c><00:20:32.919><c> with</c><00:20:33.039><c> a</c> Health Plans historically operate with a Health
• Plans historically operate with a 1<00:20:33.320><c> to</c><00:20:33.760><c> 3%</c><00:20:35.200><c>
• We agreed to get a waiver that will allow us to operate the program for five years, but the bill only
• the program for five years us to operate the program for five years but<00:54:10.359><c> the</c><00:

Bills: HF837

Committee: House Commerce Finance and Policy

Keywords: health insurance, premium security plan, federal funding, state innovation waiver, Minnesota, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• strengthening the university's academic enterprise, expanding strategic partnerships, advancing operational
• includes weekly educational trips across Louisiana to deepen their understanding of the state's operation
• is a resolution urging local governing authorities, with parish offices of Homeland Security and Emergency
• is a resolution urging local governing authorities, with parish offices of Homeland Security and Emergency
• So how many jumbo shrimp would it take in the saddlebags for the light to operate properly?

Keywords: 974, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But during the pandemic, we saw emergency regulations promulgated to assist restaurants that were struggling
• This is extending current law, and in short, as you heard, during the pandemic, there were emergency
• you is an extension, and I would argue that this has been renewed a number of times since those emergency
• have a local ordinance that really establishes a strong safety net and prioritizes responsible operations
• effort in the past to provide direction to ensure that the state understands what it actually means to operate

Summary: The committee heard several bills, with testimony largely focused on alcohol licensing, billboard maintenance, equity planning, and recognition of Eid as a state holiday. AB 2663 by Assembly Member Rogers would extend the sunset on the “Cocktails to Go” program for restaurants; supporters from the California Restaurant Association and the Distilled Spirits Council said it has been successful and should continue, while one member raised concerns about beach communities and open-container enforcement. The bill was amended to add an urgency clause so the sunset would not lapse on New Year’s Eve, and it passed the committee. AB 2099 by Assembly Member Mark Gonzalez would define “customary maintenance” for outdoor advertising displays, including replacement or reinforcement of structural components. Supporters said the bill would provide clarity and consistency for the industry and state agencies, while opponents from Humboldt County and environmental groups argued it could weaken local enforcement, make nonconforming billboards effectively permanent, and increase public-safety and environmental concerns. The measure passed to Appropriations. AB 2731 by Assembly Member Addis would authorize 12 additional alcohol licenses in Santa Cruz County, split between Watsonville and southern county communities; local officials said the current cap is inequitable and forces businesses onto an expensive secondary market. The bill was amended to limit issuance to no more than five licenses per year and passed to Appropriations. AB 2017 by Assembly Member Haney would recognize Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha as state holidays and provide excused absences for students observing them. Support came from Muslim community organizations, public employees, and advocates who said the bill would improve inclusion and help students and workers observe their faith without penalty. Several committee members spoke in favor and asked to be added as coauthors, and the bill passed to the Committee on Public Employment and Retirement. AB 1823 by Assembly Member Jackson would require state agencies to incorporate racial equity into strategic plans and conduct racial equity analyses before budgets or regulations are implemented. Supporters said it would make equity efforts more durable and accountable, while some members opposed it; the bill passed to Appropriations. The committee also approved a consent calendar of multiple bills, and the meeting adjourned at 3:28 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• firefighters and police officers receive critical illness coverage for duty-related diseases that may emerge
• the needs of our state, including bolstering our state's IT and cybersecurity efforts, improving emergency
• operations centers around the state, $257 million for wildfire suppression areas, crafted through the
• This actually has to do with DFPS's... shortfall, and there were operational costs that were higher than
• Sorry, I didn't know which one was operating. Okay, well... You're on now. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• 275, Idaho Code, to revise provisions regarding Medicaid eligibility expansion, and declaring an emergency
• . to establish provisions regarding retroactive eligibility and declaring an emergency.
• 56-27, Idaho Code to revise provisions regarding Medicaid eligibility expansion and declaring an emergency
• Transformation Fund and to establish the Rural Health Transformation Committee, and declaring an emergency
• So it takes some approved rules that have been operating well and puts them into statute.

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• These plans, called cardiac emergency response plans, or CERPs, outline specific steps that should be
• taken during a heart emergency and can be shared with team members and displayed around the facility
• I won't be asked if I want an exorbitantly expensive life-saving operation.
• It's like when you're in the emergency room.
• I've seen it operate in different ways. My mother herself died from a stroke.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Public Health

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Health opened its first hearing of the session and heard testimony on bills in three areas: emergency medical services/AED access, athletic training and student safety, and end-of-life options. Committee chairs outlined testimony rules and noted that written testimony would also be accepted. Some bills had no live witnesses, while others drew extensive testimony from advocates, professionals, and legislators. On AED-related bills, the American Heart Association supported requiring automated external defibrillators at sporting events and athletic fields, citing sudden cardiac arrest survival rates and urging cardiac emergency response plans as an added safeguard. A parks and recreation professional supported AED access but raised concerns about the cost, staffing, maintenance, and feasibility for municipalities with limited resources. Athletic trainers supported expanding their scope of practice and removing workplace restrictions, arguing it would improve injury prevention, reduce costs, and help retain professionals in Massachusetts. The committee also took extensive testimony on end-of-life options legislation. Supporters included legislators, physicians, hospice volunteers, clergy, patients’ family members, and advocacy groups, who described the bills as allowing terminally ill, mentally capable adults to choose a peaceful death with strict safeguards and self-administration requirements. They emphasized personal stories of suffering, public support, and the claim that other states have not seen abuse. Opponents, including faith-based, disability-rights, and family policy representatives, argued the bills amount to physician-assisted suicide, could pressure vulnerable people, and may be influenced by prognosis errors, coercion, or financial incentives. No votes or final committee actions were taken during the hearing.