Transcript Highlights:

• </c> significant investments in elderly significant investments in elderly waiver<00:48:50.480><c> the
• I'm also pleased to see that House File 1419 provides an annual update to elderly waiver rates.
• </c><01:02:36.960><c> waiver</c> homes the 2023 um elderly waiver homes the 2023 um elderly waiver investment
• </c><01:04:01.960><c> waiver</c> important rate update to elderly waiver important rate update to elderly
• I value the elderly people. I value the safety board for valuing our safety.

Bills: HF1419 , HF500

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• I think that's important to say because a lot of times we think solely of our elderly population.
• So definitely the elderly population, but we do have a lot of guardianships that we are involved with
• </c><01:02:09.520><c> So</c><01:02:09.839><c> definitely</c><01:02:10.240><c> the</c> elderly population
• So definitely the elderly population.
• So definitely the elderly<01:02:10.880><c> population,</c><01:02:11.440><c> but</c><01:02:11.680><c>

Bills: HB0101 , HB0062 , HB0109

Committee: House Revenue

Transcript Highlights:

• The doctor advised me to get my affairs in order and learn to cope. That moment changed everything.
• in order and learn me to get my affairs in order and learn to<01:31:04.880><c> cope.
• For me, it meant I could step away from my career with integrity, put my legal and financial affairs
• They tried to hand it to an elderly gentleman that was walking down the street who had first took it
• </c><01:42:10.080><c> gentleman</c><01:42:10.400><c> that</c> to hand it to an elderly gentleman that

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• We have a joint agenda with the Committee on Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs at 1:00.
• So we'll be taking the joint agenda with Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs first, followed by the
• Welcome back to the Joint Committees on Housing and Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs.
• However, in Hawaii, we do see a lot of families needing to buy a second home to help house their elderly
• </c> to help to to house their elderly to help to to house their elderly parents<01:13:40.320><c> or<

Summary: The committees heard testimony on five housing-related measures. SB 2232 would create a three-year tiny home grant pilot program within HHFDC, with annual reporting to HHFDC and the Legislature; testimony was mixed, and the bill was later recommended for passage with amendments, including a full-time housing development specialist, a residential-use-only restriction for the tiny homes, and a blanked appropriation. SB 2192 would bar county down-zoning that reduces housing capacity unless equivalent capacity is added elsewhere in the county; it drew support from housing advocates and comments from planning officials, and was also recommended for passage with amendments. SB 2378 would clarify insurance requirements for single- and multifamily projects seeking expedited county permitting; engineers and housing groups supported it, while one testifier opposed it, and it was recommended for passage with a technical amendment. SB 2524 would appropriate funds to the City and County of Honolulu for housing-related departments to comply with prior acts; the Honolulu department supported it, and members asked about prior spending and funding sources. SB 2398 would require residential housing utility availability maps; the Honolulu Board of Water Supply opposed the bill as written, citing infrastructure security, accuracy, liability, and administrative burden concerns, while supporters said it would improve transparency for developers. The chair proposed amendments to make the maps broad and geographic rather than parcel-specific, remove contested-case and reliance provisions, allow disclaimer language, and change the date; the bill was then recommended for passage with amendments, with one member noting reservations. All five measures were ultimately passed out of committee with amendments, with votes recorded and some members excused.

Transcript Highlights:

• 26:41.360><c> policy</c><00:26:41.679><c> and</c><00:26:41.919><c> government</c><00:26:42.159><c> affairs
• </c> work on policy and government affairs work on policy and government affairs for<00:26:42.799><c>
• has been running around here since before I was born, and she would like to do so much more in her elderly
• much more<01:04:24.319><c> in</c><01:04:24.559><c> her</c><01:04:24.880><c> uh</c><01:04:25.039><c> elderly
• age, but uh can't more in her uh elderly age, but uh can't find<01:04:27.680><c> the</c><01:04:27.920

Bills: HF333 , HF2712 , HF1064 , HF1069 , HF1113 , HF2207 , HF204 , HF2867 , HF2924 , HF746 , HF1530 , HF2587 , HF1078

Committee: House Capital Investment

Transcript Highlights:

• And I've used the term elderly. I think aging population is the correct terminology? Okay.
• elderly elderly uh<00:29:45.200><c> developmentally</c><00:29:46.000><c> disabled</c><00:29:46.480><
• </c><00:29:53.520><c> I</c> I I have I've used the term elderly.
• I I I have I've used the term elderly.
• </c> adding the word shift, changing elderly adding the word shift, changing elderly to<00:41:31.920>

Summary: The committee approved the previous meeting minutes and then reviewed a draft preliminary report on long-term managed care. The chair explained the report is intended to frame issues and outline legislative options, not make a final recommendation, especially given unresolved questions about the federal One Big Beautiful Bill (OB3). The report’s key issues included the current financing of county and private nursing homes through Medicaid rates, ProShare, MQUIP, and related funding mechanisms, and the concern that those payments could be affected or eliminated under a managed care model. Members also discussed managed care organizations’ role in Medicaid and cited other states’ experiences, noting examples of savings in Florida and Tennessee but higher costs in California. One member raised Indiana as another important comparison, and the committee agreed to add it to the report’s state examples. The committee also reviewed sections on dual eligibility, D-SNP, PACE, and CFI waivers. The chair raised concerns about whether OB3 creates incentives for states to move toward D-SNP and whether federal changes could affect provider taxes, state-directed payments, and intergovernmental transfers. Henry Litman, the state Medicaid director, said he would confirm details on D-SNP incentives and explained that ProShare is based on certified public expenditure rather than an IGT, while county cap financing is the relevant intergovernmental transfer issue. He said IGTs are not going away and that the main risk is whether current financing mechanisms could be preserved if the state later changed course. Members discussed the possibility of a waiver not being granted or renewed and the high fiscal impact that could have on counties and property taxes. The committee then discussed the population that any long-term managed care model should cover. Members agreed that there is no appetite to move developmental disability or acquired brain disorder populations into long-term managed care at this time, and the chair changed the report’s terminology from “elderly” to “aging population.” The chair also noted that the status quo option should reflect the recent shift toward home and community-based services and reduced nursing home utilization since earlier county reports. The report’s four policy options were summarized as: maintain the status quo; pursue D-SNP for dual eligibles, with DHHS potentially submitting an application as early as 2027; adopt an HCBS carveout; or move fully to managed care for the aging population. No final policy recommendation was made, and the committee discussed making edits to the draft before circulation, including adding Indiana, clarifying OB3-related issues, and changing the report title from “final” to “preliminary” or “interim.”

Transcript Highlights:

• Think about it as you go into different places; you see elderly people working at counters and CVSs and
• I didn't see any carve-out or any attention given to the elderly population.
• The elderly remembered when the bridge was first built.
• The elderly felt it first. Each step across the bridge became slower, more painful, more uncertain.
• But the elderly knew it better.

Committee: Senate Fiscal Policy

Summary: The Committee on Fiscal Policy heard and advanced a series of bills covering transportation, unemployment benefits, public records, education, law enforcement, and health. Senator Massullo’s SB 488, the DHSMV agency package, would update fuel tax and motor carrier definitions, raise the crash-reporting damage threshold from $500 to $2,000, expand email use for certain DHSMV transactions, and align tank vehicle definitions with federal rules; SB 490 would create a related public records exemption for certain email records. Both bills were reported favorably. The committee also approved SB 892, revising enhanced sentencing procedures for repeat offenders, and SB 124, which cleans up and clarifies Florida Virtual School statutes without changing day-to-day operations. The most debated measure was SB 216, which would tighten reemployment assistance eligibility by adding work-search and interview requirements, requiring more frequent identity and eligibility verification, and expanding fraud reporting and information sharing. Supporters said the bill targets fraud and improves program integrity; opponents, including labor advocates and several senators, argued it would create burdens for legitimate claimants, especially rural residents, seniors, and workers facing layoffs, and could sharply reduce access to benefits. Despite those concerns, the bill was reported favorably. The committee also approved CS/SB 382 on e-bike safety, requiring riders to yield to pedestrians, sound an audible signal before passing, and limit speed near pedestrians, while creating a task force to study broader regulation. Testimony from a parent who lost her son in an e-scooter crash prompted discussion about whether scooters should be included in the bill. Additional bills advanced included SB 584, strengthening oversight of commercial driving schools and giving DHSMV and county tax collectors more enforcement tools; CS/SB 656, formally codifying the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force within FDLE and renaming the related grant program; and SB 816, establishing the University of Florida Diabetes Institute in statute to support research, treatment, education, and outreach. All were reported favorably with support from law enforcement, advocacy groups, and institutional representatives. At the end of the meeting, senators requested to be recorded on specific bills, and the committee adjourned without further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• When an elderly or disabled Missourian is exploited, delays benefit the abuser, not the victim.
• A real-world example, if I can talk: You have an elderly adult.
• question is: you're talking about public safety and law enforcement, and oftentimes when there's elderly
• Oftentimes when there's elderly abuse or some sort of abuse going on within areas of my community, I
• adult definition, we would have the other... ...way to crime against the elderly disabled that would

Committee: House Corrections and Public Institutions

Transcript Highlights:

• When an elderly or disabled Missourian is exploited, delays benefit the abuser, not the victim.
• A real-world example, if I can talk: you have an elderly adult.
• question is: you're talking about public safety and law enforcement, and oftentimes when there's elderly
• Oftentimes when there's elderly abuse or some sort of abuse going on within areas of my community, I
• So, yeah, ...involve crimes perpetrated against elderly and disabled.

Committee: House Corrections and Public Institutions

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 2708, which would increase penalties for bringing or possessing unauthorized electronic communication devices in prisons and jails, raising the offense from a misdemeanor to a Class D felony and clarifying the statutory language. Representative Hovis said the bill is intended to deter contraband cell phones and similar devices that can be used to coordinate criminal activity, threaten victims, or continue gang operations from inside facilities. Department of Corrections staff supported the bill, saying cell phones are dangerous contraband and that current administrative sanctions are not always enough. Members asked about notice to visitors, current DOC discipline, whether the bill applies to inmates, staff, and visitors, and whether the language should be tightened to cover devices “capable of” communication; the sponsor agreed to have House Research review the wording and potentially offer a committee substitute. No opposition testimony was presented. The committee then heard House Bill 3038, which would place the Department of Health and Senior Services’ Office of Special Investigations into statute and give it limited authority to assist investigations of abuse, neglect, and exploitation of eligible adults. Representative Cook said the office already exists and the bill mainly codifies its role, allowing limited subpoena and search warrant authority to speed investigations, especially financial exploitation cases, while preserving local law enforcement and prosecutorial control. DHSS witnesses supported the bill, explaining that their investigators have long worked on vulnerable-adult cases and often need quicker access to records; they said the office has law enforcement experience and coordinates with Adult Protective Services and public safety agencies. Committee members asked about the fiscal note, vacancies, the definition of exploitation, whether the office can investigate public administrators or guardianship cases, and whether investigators have arrest authority; witnesses said the bill is not intended to create a new police force or expand arrest powers, but to formalize existing functions and improve access to records. No witnesses testified in opposition, and the hearing concluded without a vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• Good morning, everyone, and welcome to the House Committee on Health, Human Services, and Elderly Affairs
• Good afternoon, everyone, and welcome back to the House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs Committee
• Thank you, Chair McDonald and members of House Health and Human Services and Elderly Affairs.
• Affairs.
• I Human Services and Elderly Affairs.

Committee: House Health, Human Services & Elderly Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• Most marginalized and vulnerable children without a lifeline, and elderly, non-English-speaking adults
• And actually, we have not been talking about the elderly as well, but we're seeing early results that
• elderly people are disadvantaged by the execution of age assurance measures.
• Kesh of Kumar with Lighthouse Public Affairs on behalf of Reproductive Freedom for All. Thank you.
• We are with Lighthouse Public Affairs on behalf of Reproductive Freedom for All. Thank you.

Committee: House Privacy and Consumer Protection

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Dana Bailey, and I'm the state and local government affairs director for Lumen Technologies
• This includes many elderly folks living on fixed incomes.
• This includes many elderly services.
• This includes many elderly folks<00:33:26.399><c> living</c><00:33:26.640><c> on</c><00:33:26.880><c>
• </c> I'm the director of regulatory affairs I'm the director of regulatory affairs for<00:49:40.559><

Committee: Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection

Transcript Highlights:

• My question is: what about the elderly housing providers that rely on regular rental income in order
• Or someone who's elderly, maybe they're looking to downsize into an ADU and rent out their primary house
• in rare situations the tenant actually has, and this comes up in life estate cases sometimes with elderly
• people. the tenant actually has elderly people. the tenant actually has a<03:16:20.560><c> claim</c>
• The Department of Business and Economic Affairs would be tasked with the responsibility of collecting

Committee: House Housing

Transcript Highlights:

• You're in the Committee on House and Government Affairs. Madam Secretary, please call the roll.
• We've heard a lot of discussion today about the elderly and whether they will have these documents.
• You look at someone who's elderly, they're probably, most likely, on Social Security somewhere.

Bills: HR118 , HR196 , HR237 , HR285 , HCR85 , HB442 , HB443 , SCR5 , SCR29 , SCR33 , SCR63 , SB25 , SB202 , SB319

Committee: House House and Governmental Affairs

Keywords: water utility, tax credit, excessive rates, residential service, subcommittee, fallen trees, property damage, insurance, property values, hurricanes, storm damage, local government, homeowners, risk management, committee study, census, military population, Department of Defense, representation, federal funding

Transcript Highlights:

• We didn’t build our prisons with elderly patients and the ADA needs that we’re seeing now for our population
• We didn't build our prisons with elderly patients and the ADA needs that we're seeing now for our population
• We worked with our Office of Legal Affairs to identify specific Prop. 36 qualifying offenses and to develop

Summary: The subcommittee heard an overview from the Board of State and Community Corrections on its budget change proposal for 11 additional permanent positions, which BSCC said are needed to manage a rapidly expanded grant workload, increase technical assistance, and strengthen oversight and audits. BSCC also updated members on its new In Custody Death Review Division, created under SB 519, reporting that it has begun collecting and reviewing local jail death investigations, has hired about one-third of its staff, and has received access to medical records and related documents. Members raised concerns about family notification practices, local jail deaths, and whether BSCC’s increased administrative use would reduce grant dollars; BSCC said the change is intended to be permanent but should not substantially affect local assistance. The LAO supported the position authority request but flagged a methodological issue in the administration’s Proposition 47 savings estimate, and Finance said it would update the estimate by May Revision. The committee then reviewed CDCR’s overall budget, population, and facility issues. The Secretary said the incarcerated population is holding around 90,000, parole around 33,000, and described major cost pressures from retirements, workers’ compensation, medical transport, violence, and aging infrastructure lacking air conditioning and ADA features. He defended prison closures as creating overcrowding and reducing programming capacity, while also highlighting successes such as declining recidivism, expanded college and reentry programming, and the completion of the San Quentin Rehabilitation Center. Members pressed CDCR on fiscal discipline, the effect of closures on savings, community impacts from prison shutdowns, vacancy and staffing issues, and climate-related facility needs. CDCR said it clusters medically vulnerable and ADA-needing populations at more suitable facilities, uses heat plans and temperature monitoring, and is developing a 20-year infrastructure plan. A separate item addressed CDCR’s request for $91 million ongoing for lump-sum leave payouts for correctional officers and nurses. CDCR said these costs have historically been covered by vacancy savings, but declining vacancies and facility closures have reduced that source. The LAO said the funding is reasonable in the near term but recommended limited-term approval with reporting, and urged the Legislature to scrutinize unallocated savings assumptions and the ongoing Boston Consulting Group efficiency contract. Finance argued the lump-sum request should be ongoing because the costs are recurring and vacancy savings are less reliable. Members questioned whether CDCR is doing enough to reduce leave liability and whether the department will actually achieve the budgeted savings from the consultant work. Finally, CDCR presented updated population projections through June 2030, estimating a 6.5 percent decline in the institution population and a 10.4 percent decline in parole, while revising its Proposition 36 methodology based on actual admissions data. CDCR said Prop. 36 admissions are increasing but at a lower level than previously projected, and that the law’s long-term effects remain uncertain. On the California Rehabilitation Center closure, CDCR projected about $99.6 million in net General Fund savings next year and roughly $150 million ongoing, with 522 positions eliminated. The LAO said the state could close another prison within a few years and identified the Correctional Training Facility in Soledad as a strong candidate, recommending against approving new capital projects there unless another closure is identified. Finance said the administration has not proposed any additional closure at this time.

Transcript Highlights:

• For the record, my name is Jessica Hoppe, and I'm the Director of Government Affairs at the Washington
• clinics are not accepting new patients, who don't have a car, whose animals or they themselves are elderly
• noted that clinics are not accepting new patients, that some people do not have a car, and that for elderly

Summary: The Senate Health and Long-Term Care Committee held public hearings on several House bills and later took executive action on two others. The committee heard testimony on House Bill 2242, which would let the Department of Health issue immunization recommendations and tie preventive-service coverage to federal recommendations as of June 30, 2025, while preserving access to vaccines and other preventive services. Supporters, including the Governor’s office and the Insurance Commissioner, said the bill would protect access, affordability, and stable vaccine purchasing; opponents argued it politicizes vaccine policy and gives too much influence to state agencies and outside groups. The committee also heard testimony on House Bill 2152, allowing terminally ill patients in hospitals, nursing homes, and hospice facilities to use medical cannabis under facility policies, with supporters emphasizing dignity, symptom relief, and safeguards, and House Bill 2088, joining the dietitian licensure compact, which supporters said would help military spouses, telehealth, and workforce shortages. House Bill 2110, on ambulance inter-facility specialty care transports, drew support from rural hospitals seeking more staffing flexibility and opposition from nurses and EMS personnel concerned about training, accountability, and patient safety. House Bill 2247, on veterinarian-client-patient relationships and telemedicine, drew support from the sponsor and some stakeholders as a workforce and access measure, but also criticism from the state veterinarian and others who said it could conflict with federal VCPR requirements and public health protections. House Bill 2340, expanding substance use disorder monitoring program eligibility to nursing assistants and stipend support, was presented as a way to help low-wage health workers stay in the workforce; there were no in-person testifiers against it. In executive session, the committee considered House Bill 2155, concerning the use of nursing titles, and House Bill 2531, aligning the ambulance transport fund quality assurance fee with federal regulations. Both bills received do-pass recommendations and were sent to the Rules Committee. For the public hearings, no final committee votes were taken on the other bills in this transcript, and testimony concluded on each measure after the committee heard from sponsors, agency officials, advocates, and opponents.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm Molly Poffenroath, government affairs director for the Washington Food Industry Association, representing
• these people is a customer of mine who purchases tobacco and groceries, and he takes care of his elderly
• service. people is a customer of mine stand who purchases tobacco and groceries and he takes serve as elderly

Summary: The committee heard briefings, sponsor presentations, and public testimony on several finance bills. HB 2038 would impose an additional B&O tax on businesses operating social media platforms beginning in 2027 and create a youth behavioral health account funded by the tax. The sponsor argued the bill would help address youth mental health harms linked to social media and support implementation of the Washington Thriving plan. Supporters in testimony, including youth advocates and some public health voices, said social media contributes to youth anxiety and addiction and that the revenue should be used for behavioral health services. Opponents, including technology and business groups, argued the tax unfairly singles out one sector, could be passed on to consumers, and may violate federal internet tax law. The hearing on HB 2038 was suspended and later reopened for public testimony; no vote was taken. HB 2297 would create tax incentives for grocery stores in underserved communities, including local B&O preferences, a sales tax exemption for security services, a 30-year property tax exemption program, a B&O tax credit, and a B&O exemption for certain locally owned or employee-owned stores. The sponsor and supporters said the bill is intended to preserve and attract grocery stores in food deserts, especially after recent store closures, and to help communities with limited transportation and access to healthy food. County representatives supported the goal but raised concern about the bill’s sales tax exemption and its effect on local revenues. Public testimony was largely supportive, with advocates, local officials, grocers, and residents describing grocery stores as essential community infrastructure. No action was taken. HB 2382 would raise cigarette taxes by $2 per pack, restructure vapor and other tobacco product taxes, and dedicate portions of the revenue to a time-sensitive emergency system, tobacco enforcement, and the foundational public health services account. The sponsor said the bill would generate needed revenue, support cancer research funding, and strengthen public health and enforcement. Supporters said higher tobacco taxes reduce use and help cover long-term health costs, while some public health witnesses supported the revenue but suggested directing more funds to existing tobacco prevention accounts. Opponents from retail and industry groups argued the proposal is regressive, could increase illicit sales and cross-border purchasing, and would hurt small businesses and low-income consumers. The committee also heard HB 2487, a Department of Revenue request bill that would narrow the B&O exemption for insurers to clarify that it applies only to premium income subject to insurance premium tax, and apply the change retroactively to 2019. The sponsor and supporters said the bill closes a loophole created by a recent Supreme Court ruling and preserves tax equity, while insurers and business groups objected to the retroactive application, warning of higher premiums and unfair taxation. Finally, HB 2018 would increase the solid waste tax by 0.5% per year for five years and direct the new revenue to a local government solid waste assistance account for county and city waste management plans. County officials supported the bill as a way to stabilize funding for solid waste systems, and testimony emphasized rising disposal and infrastructure costs. No votes were taken on any of the bills during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• I am the Southwest Regional Manager for Government Affairs for Google, which is the... ...things this
• managers do not know the law, some of them may do things that harm park residents, who often are elderly
• the individuals that live in many of these parks are some of our most vulnerable populations, from elderly

Bills: HB2010 , HB2192 , HB2199 , HB2279 , HB2310 , HB2459 , HB2501 , HB2555 , HB2690 , HB2693

Committees: House Commerce , House House Commerce Committee of Reference

Keywords: digital goods, advertising, ownership, license, consumer protection, refund policies, streaming services, minors, content creators, online platforms, compensation, trust accounts, child protection, video content, privacy, employment, mobile homes, recreational vehicles, landlord tenant laws, tenant rights

Transcript Highlights:

• maintain SNAP in the face of these harsh new work requirements, funding to maintain SNAP for the elderly
• Abbey from Associate Vice President Affairs at MSU.
• How will these funds flow through to make sure that we are taking care of our elderly, or our disabled

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• These panels will be composed of the DFPS General Counsel, the Chief Consumer Affairs and Accountability
• Many studies show that evacuations are very detrimental for the elderly.
• This can result in some people taking advantage of our elderly and disabled by registering them to vote

Bills: SB397 , SB481 , SB596 , SB760 , SB855 , SB1195 , SB1196 , SB1233 , SB1257 , SB1318 , SB1368 , SB1388 , SB1398 , SB1524 , SB1558 , SB1589 , SB1677 , SB1792 , SB2034

Committee: Senate Health & Human Services