Transcript Highlights:

• HB 1415, Parkinson's Disease Registry. You are recognized.
• for Parkinson's Disease within the University of South Florida.
• Parkinson's Disease performance measures to the registry.
• solely dedicated to the Parkinson's Disease Registry.
• Public Records Exemption for Parkinson's Disease Registry. You're recognized. Thank you.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:27:20.440><c> So,</c> potential for spreading the disease.
• So, potential for spreading the disease.
• diseases, and some farm chemicals.
• diseases, and some farm chemicals.
• diseases, and some farm chemicals.

Bills: HF3548

Keywords: farm assistance, down payment, agriculture, state funding, loan modification, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• device, diagnostics, and digital technology manufacturers transforming health care through early disease
• device technologies, we are what doctors, nurses, and patients really rely on every day to prevent disease
• The other type of pathology is known as anatomic pathology, and that's the diagnosis of disease through
• , more advanced cancer. causes them to present with higher stage disease, more advanced cancers, which
• By 2060, we expect the 7 million people that are just diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and 10 million

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Today we recognize February 6th as National Wear Red Day to bring awareness to heart disease.
• Heart disease does not always look the way we expect it, and it does not discriminate by age.
• of heart disease and women's health.<00:59:18.160><c> Representative</c><00:59:18.720><c> Rmmer,</c>
• But behind this color are real disease.
• Heart disease does not waiting for hope.

Keywords: Convene 00:00:00 Senate Message 00:05:34 Calendar/2nd Readings 00:06:28 Orders of the Day 00:08:10 HB 542 00:08:34 HB 565 00:23:06 HB 611 00:25:32 HB 657 00:28:39 HB 762 00:31:07 HB 108 00:34:54 HB 67 00:39:02 Motions, Petitions, and Communications 00:46:48 Introduction of New Bills and Resolutions 00:58:42 Recess for ConC/Rules Meeting 00:59:12 ConC/Rules Report 01:02:18 Floor Amendments 01:03:42 Adjournment 01:04:02, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Diseases like this can show signs in the mouth long before they are detectable in other parts of the
• We teach subjects that include anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, diseases, motion palpation, ethics,
• I will make a one-word statement with regards to a disease we all know about and use it as an example
• I will make a one-word statement with regards to a disease we all know about and use it as an example
• That example is animal disease reporting.

Bills: SB6138, SB5899, SB6072, SB6094

Keywords: dental procedures, sedation, patient safety, multiprovider system, healthcare regulation, chiropractic, animal care, veterinary medicine, license endorsement, nonhuman animals, veterinarian-client-patient relationship, VCPR, veterinary telehealth, telemedicine, teletriage, teleadvice, animal health, licensed veterinarian, Washington veterinary board, prescription drugs

Transcript Highlights:

• His son has gone because of the same disease that my daughter has.
• There are as many as 10,000 known rare diseases.
• Bide from the FSU Institute for Pediatric Rare Diseases. Dr. Bede, you're recognized for...
• I'm a professor at FSU and also the director of the Institute for Pediatric Rare Diseases.
• But I'm building a rare disease center in University of Miami. I would love to work with you.

Summary: The subcommittee held its first meeting of the 2025-2026 term, took attendance, confirmed a quorum, and heard introductory remarks from members and staff. Chair Anderson outlined the subcommittee’s jurisdiction over access and affordability issues, including health facility regulation, insurance, Medicaid, CHIP, and state employee health coverage. The main agenda item was an update on implementation of HB 391, which created a family home health aide program for medically fragile children. Representative Tramont, the bill sponsor, explained that the law was intended to let trained family caregivers be paid through Medicaid to care for their children, reduce reliance on private duty nursing, and relieve families. He and several members expressed frustration that implementation had taken nearly two years and that families still faced barriers. Deputy Secretary Brian Meyer of AHCA and Bridget Royce of DCF said the program was implemented October 1, 2024, with billing available, but no home health agencies had yet launched the required 80-hour training program and no claims had been paid. They described the program’s requirements, including agency employment, background screening, training, a $25-per-hour Medicaid rate paid to the agency, and an annual assessment report. A major issue discussed was that income earned by family caregivers counts toward Medicaid eligibility and could cause families to lose coverage. AHCA and DCF outlined two possible fixes that would require CMS approval: disregarding the income for eligibility purposes or treating the child as a family of one. Members and public witnesses strongly urged changes to avoid forcing families to choose between income and coverage. Several providers said they had begun preparing training programs, but asked for clearer approval processes and more patient-specific training requirements. The committee then heard extensive public testimony from parents and caregivers of medically fragile children, who described the financial, emotional, and logistical strain of caring for children with severe disabilities and argued that the bill should be expanded to include Florida KidCare families and others in the coverage gap. They also raised concerns about the eight-hour-per-day limit, low pay, and the need for simpler rules and direct support. Home health providers and associations supported the concept but asked for modifications, including more targeted training and clearer implementation guidance. The meeting then shifted to a second agenda item on the Andrew John Anderson Rapid Whole Genome Sequencing Program, which was funded in the 2023 budget. Deputy Secretary Meyer said the program has been implemented since January 1, 2024, but utilization has been lower than expected, with only about 60 claims paid and many denials occurring through managed care. Public testimony from a lab, a hospital, and a pediatric rare disease expert said the program is clinically valuable and cost-saving, but managed care billing barriers, prior authorization issues, and DRG-related denials are limiting access; they urged direct billing to Medicaid and possible expansion to all newborns.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I think if you've had any experience at all with Alzheimer's disease, it's difficult to hide.
• Alzheimer's disease, it's difficult to hide.
• You remember it because it is such a devastating disease.
• They're and adults with rare diseases. So thank you for your work with that.
• So he’s got motor nerve disease, so he’s weak. He’s got sensory nerve disease.

Summary: The committee first heard and favorably reported SB 255, which expands eligibility for psychosocial rehabilitation services by adding health sciences and therapeutic recreation degrees to the list of acceptable educational backgrounds. Supporters said the change would help address workforce shortages and improve access in rural areas. SB 314 was then reported favorably; it cleans up prior law so a limited scope certified social worker license can still be used for community psychiatric support and treatment services even if the application is filed after the CSW license has expired, rather than being barred by a timing restriction. The committee next took up several bills by Chairman McMath. SB 26, which repeals facility need review requirements for opioid treatment programs, was reported favorably after members and witnesses said Louisiana has too few OTPs and that removing the review would improve access, especially in rural areas. SB 29, requiring review and reporting of a child’s immunization records in certain unexpected death autopsies, was reported favorably despite questions about whether the bill should refer more broadly to medical records; supporters said the data could help evaluate vaccine-related concerns, while opponents raised concerns about singling out immunizations. SB 30, dealing with telehealth for obesity/weight management, was amended and reported favorably; the committee adopted technical amendments and a conceptual amendment replacing “metabolic condition” with “weight management services,” while witnesses debated patient safety, board authority, and whether the bill should limit agencies’ ability to restrict telehealth in the future. The committee also reported favorably SB 219, which creates an Office of Health and Nutrition within LDH. Supporters from the department, the Alzheimer’s Association, and Pennington Biomedical said the office would strengthen coordination on nutrition, physical activity, and brain health, and cited high Alzheimer’s costs and prevalence in Louisiana. SB 222, which streamlines Medicaid behavioral health administrative requirements and expands telehealth for psychosocial rehabilitation, was reported favorably with amendments after supporters described workforce and rural access barriers. SB 195, the “Danny’s Dose EMS Treatment Act,” was reported favorably; it would allow EMS personnel to administer a patient’s own prescribed time-critical medication in emergencies, and testimony from a parent and physician described life-threatening delays under current practice. The committee also adopted SCR 2, updating hospital architectural standards to the most recent Facility Guidelines Institute edition, and SCR 22, requesting a more detailed legislative auditor report on opioid settlement expenditures; members said they wanted clearer outcome data and planned to refine the language before floor debate. Finally, HB 1093 on naturopathic medicine was introduced and heavily amended, with the bill shifted under LSBME oversight and a large set of changes discussed, but no final action was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• In addition to skin cancer, dermatologists treat chronic inflammatory skin diseases.
• A switch in therapy can flare disease due to gaps or inferior efficacy, even if slight.
• In addition to skin cancer, dermatologist treat chronic inflammatory skin diseases.
• A switch in therapy can flare disease due to gaps or inferior efficacy, even if slight.
• Some of us are in remission or with no evidence of disease. This does not mean we are cured.

Summary: The committee heard several bills, beginning with SB 1312 by Senator Richardson on abandoned endowed-care cemeteries. Richardson described vandalism, theft, and neglect at abandoned cemeteries and said the bill would define abandonment, create a process for local governments to declare a cemetery abandoned, and allow the Bureau to act as conservator of endowment funds. Support came from Marin County, while county and special district groups opposed or had concerns, arguing the bill could shift burdens to local governments or public cemetery districts without enough safeguards. Members expressed general support but noted the need for further work; the bill was discussed but no final vote was taken in the excerpt. The committee then took up SB 758 by Senator Umberg, which would restrict retail sales of nitrous oxide to curb misuse. Supporters, including the League of California Cities, narcotic officers, counties, pediatricians, and other local governments and health groups, said easy access at smoke shops and convenience stores has fueled recreational abuse and health harms. There was no opposition testimony, and members voiced strong support for a statewide approach over city-by-city bans. The bill was well received, with the author closing in support. Dr. Weber-Pierson presented SB 1094, a health care affordability bill on biosimilars and biologic substitution. The bill would allow pharmacists to substitute biosimilars under certain conditions, require advance notice to providers and patients, and add reporting on savings; the author said amendments would strengthen provider notice and preserve the ability to mark prescriptions “do not substitute.” Supporters from health plans, insurers, pharmacies, labor, business, and some provider groups argued the bill would lower costs and expand access. Opponents, including dermatology and rheumatology groups and biotech interests, warned about non-medical switching, prior authorization delays, and patient harm. After extensive discussion, the committee voted 13-0 to pass SB 1094 to the Committee on Health. The committee also passed SB 849 by Dr. Weber-Pierson, which would bar reinstatement of physicians who surrendered their licenses while a sexual misconduct accusation was pending. The Medical Board and California Medical Association were generally supportive or neutral, and members praised the bill’s patient-protection focus. SB 993 by Senator Ochoa Bogh, which limits routine disclosure of identifying information for mental health professionals in correctional and psychiatric settings while preserving complaint processes, also passed unanimously to Appropriations. SB 1002 by Senator Niello, extending the David Hall Act to allow certain patients in remission to continue telehealth care with out-of-state specialists, drew strong patient support but opposition from the Medical Board and CMA over licensure and oversight concerns; the committee voted it out on a split roll with some members not voting. Finally, SB 1263 by Senator McGuire, aimed at protecting wildfire survivors and workers by requiring licensed, trained contractors for post-disaster residential debris removal, received support from labor and the Contractors State License Board, with contractors raising a narrower amendment concern about scope.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's key, as most of you know, with any disease, but especially with Alzheimer's. That's key.
• , and really helps, you know, clarify. longevity, both for the person suffering from the disease, and
• Earlier, 120,000 people deal with the disease within Missouri, 223,000 caregivers.
• Because as someone continues, as they progress with this disease, their needs become greater.
• My disease progressed too badly.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony and took executive action on several health-related bills. House Bill 1681, along with identical bills 1941 and 2279, would require health carriers and pharmacy benefit managers to count amounts paid by or on behalf of an enrollee for certain medications toward out-of-pocket maximums when no generic substitute is available. A committee substitute was adopted, including an ERISA-related labor exemption, and the House Committee substitute for HB 1941, 2279, and 1681 was approved by a vote of 15-2. The committee also adopted a substitute and passed the House Committee substitute for House Bills 2365, 2490, and 2249 by a vote of 18-0. The substitute changed terminology to “delivery systems.” Later, House Bill 2149, the dementia care coordinator bill, received extensive testimony but no vote. Supporters, including the sponsor, the Alzheimer’s Association, and family caregivers, argued the position would help coordinate services, improve early detection, connect families to resources, and reduce confusion in a fragmented system. Several members raised concerns about cost, duplication with existing Area Agencies on Aging and Alzheimer’s Association services, and whether two FTEs could effectively serve the whole state; the sponsor said he would seek appropriations language and provide more data on outcomes. House Bill 2309, which would prohibit Missouri insurance coverage for organs transplanted from communist China or from prisoners of conscience, especially Falun Gong practitioners, also received testimony without a vote. The sponsor said the bill was intended to prevent Missouri from supporting organ harvesting abuses abroad. Finally, House Bills 1975 and 1850, both pharmacy benefit manager reform bills, drew extensive testimony from sponsors and supporters who argued they would increase transparency, protect independent pharmacies, and lower drug costs, while opponents warned about higher costs being passed to consumers and employers, limits on plan flexibility, and added administrative burdens. The hearing on those bills was recessed after testimony and was not concluded in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we're talking about testicular cancer, kidney cancer, thyroid disease, immune deficiencies.
• ,</c><02:38:28.960><c> immune</c> kidney cancer, thyroid disease, immune kidney cancer, thyroid disease
• I just want to say, you know, ulcerative colitis is one of the diseases that comes out of PFAS, and the
• </c><05:35:46.480><c> uh</c> is it allows the uh the fungal uh is it allows the uh the fungal uh diseases
• to get uh to not uh continue in diseases to get uh to not uh continue in the<05:35:52.000><c> soil</

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Jones: Sickle cell disease affects hemoglobin, which is the major protein that carries oxygen
• a thousand people in the United States and 8 million people worldwide are affected by sickle cell disease
• . 90% of people who have sickle cell disease are non-Hispanic Black or African-American, with one in
• in sickle cell, many healthcare professionals receive little to no formal training for sickle cell disease
• of all ages, continued patient and family education, periodic governance of evaluations and other disease

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 844, a bill entitled an act relating to sickle cell disease care
• Sickle cell disease affects hemoglobin, which is the major protein that carries oxygen in red blood cells
• a thousand people in The United States and 8 million people worldwide are affected by sickle cell disease
• . 90% of people who have sickle cell disease are non-Hispanic, Black or African-American, with one in
• Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 844, a bill entitled an act relating to sickle cell disease care

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Poor nutrition drives chronic disease, yet most doctors receive little training in diet's role in health
• Equipping physicians with nutrition education can help prevent disease, reduce healthcare costs, and
• To those with chronic disease, mostly elderly Medicaid beneficiaries, proper nutrition is a cornerstone
• , and kidney disease.
• I want to say that we support the bill promoting healthier living, reducing chronic disease in Texas.

Bills: SB 25, SB 314

Keywords: nutrition, health standards, food labeling, education, dietary guidelines, medical education, food safety, school meals, child nutrition, food additives, public health

Transcript Highlights:

• He led the Columbia University Surgical Labs. where he pursued cutting-edge solutions to heart disease
• Because of chronic disease.
• Sixty percent of us have a chronic disease.
• So I'm just gonna ask you about prevention in chronic disease and what reforms, if confirmed, that you
• where there was a large study recently showing that you could arrest a progressive disease.

Keywords: Michael Falkender, Deputy Secretary of the Treasury, IRS, taxpayer privacy, nomination process, committee hearing

Summary: The committee convened to discuss critical issues surrounding the nomination of Michael Falkender for the position of Deputy Secretary of the Treasury. This meeting included a series of remarks from committee members who expressed divergent views on Falkender's qualifications and the implications of his appointment. Senator Wyden voiced strong opposition, arguing that Falkender represents harmful policies expected to be perpetuated under the current administration, especially concerning taxpayer privacy and IRS tactics. Meanwhile, other members defended Falkender, noting his extensive experience, including a commitment to transparency in government operations if confirmed.

Transcript Highlights:

• I am a person that Leo with substance use disorder disease, a disease that impacts my brain in my behavior
• Every 10 are disease if I is active, but you don't treat the disease and when you have something like
• But this dangerous for people like me, it's extremely dangerous and can trigger my disease.
• There is no out class we're almost forgotten about with this disease.
• There is no move in advocacy in a strong way for treatment centers to help with this disease.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c> pharmarmacology, and systemic disease, pharmarmacology, and systemic disease, plus<00:14:57.199
• Madam Chair, Representative Gilman, the oral antivirals are for a disease that, um, heretic eye disease
• Madam Chair, Representative Gilman, the oral antivirals are for a disease that, um, herpetic eye disease
• that um heretic eye for a a disease that um heretic eye disease<00:52:06.960><c> for</c><00:52:07.200
• </c><00:52:08.280><c> Um</c> disease for instance is one. Um disease for instance is one.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• ALS is commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease.
• It's a progressive, fatal neurodegenerative disease that robs people of their ability to walk, speak,
• Nearly 30,000 Americans are living with the disease at any given time.
• Additionally, every 90 minutes a person loses their life to this disease.
• I just respectfully ask for an aye vote so that we can give this terrible disease the recognition that

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, approved the journals, and removed SB 830 from the inactive file for return to the Assembly. It then took up several gubernatorial appointments, including Clint Kellum as Director of the Cannabis Control, Jennifer Osborne as Director of Industrial Relations, and two Medical Board of California appointments, Dr. Trinidad Solis and Dr. Gerald Tolbrook. Each appointment was confirmed by roll call, with broad support and no recorded opposition. The chamber also adopted SR 97 recognizing Asian and Pacific Islander American Heritage Month. Senators from multiple caucuses spoke in support, highlighting AAPI contributions to California, histories of exclusion and solidarity, and the importance of visibility and representation. The resolution passed 39-0. The Senate also recognized numerous AAPI community leaders and honorees on the floor, including Kay Buck and Mira Sorvino for anti-trafficking advocacy, and later several additional guests and community figures. Members then adopted several other resolutions by unanimous consent: SCR 168 designating Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, SCR 148 declaring GM1 gangliosidosis awareness day, SR 95 proclaiming ALS Awareness Month, SCR 156 for Stroke Awareness Month, and SR 110 recognizing Hospital Week in California. Floor remarks focused on public safety, rare disease awareness, stroke recovery and aphasia, and the role of hospitals and health care workers. The Senate also honored retiring California Professional Firefighters president Brian Rice with extensive tributes to his labor leadership, firefighter safety work, and disaster response advocacy. The meeting concluded with the remaining appointment confirmations and adjournment until May 14, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• And undertake steps to control disease.
• The bill enhances our ability to quickly identify and contain disease outbreaks, ensuring the safety
• Chair and Senator O'Malley, just to give some perspective, when we do pursue a disease investigation,
• This is part of the process of trying to identify where the disease is. Control it.
• First of all, because we didn't know what the disease was.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think treats the disease, but it ties I think treats the disease, but it ties in<00:36:09.440><c> very
• Uh when you disease.
• And you talk about the disease. I mean, I think the disease is in Washington with deficit spending.
• /c><00:40:34.200><c> think</c><00:40:34.440><c> the</c><00:40:34.560><c> disease</c> disease.
• I mean, I think the disease disease.

Keywords: 916, all

Summary: The Joint Revenue committee met with a quorum and heard a series of interim topic proposals focused on tax policy. Representative Brown raised two ideas: reinstating an exemption reporting requirement for corporations and entities receiving tax exemptions, with loss of the exemption for the current and prior year if they fail to report, and revising property tax treatment for wind turbines and related infrastructure by shifting the taxed footprint from agricultural to industrial classification. Senator Case and others then discussed energy taxation more broadly, including a possible generation tax for electricity, how to handle large data-center electricity loads, and whether sales tax revenue from very large electrical loads should be shared statewide rather than concentrated locally. The committee referenced prior bills and studies, including House Bill 300 and Senate File 76, and discussed using a mechanism that would keep local electricity bills net neutral while redirecting revenue distribution. The committee also took up problematic gaming and program funding. Senator Case described personal experiences with gambling addiction and the lack of available resources, while the presenter said the topic had been requested in multiple committees and that the biggest concern from House Bill 171 was protecting county and municipal funding. Members discussed whether the issue belonged in Revenue, Health, Labor, or Transportation, and several suggested it should stay with the standing committee handling gaming. Ideas raised included using gaming-related revenue for prevention and treatment, fully funding the 988 lifeline, and creating a broader trust fund for addiction-related services and law enforcement. The committee appeared to agree to continue the topic for educational purposes and to examine taxation of HHR and other gambling activity. Senator Case then proposed a severance tax on wind energy, arguing that wind development creates permanent landscape impacts and that the state should be compensated similarly to coal, oil, and gas extraction. Curt Meier, the state treasurer, supported reviewing lease agreements and said Wyoming should get more from wind resources, noting the state’s unique wind potential and the loss of viewshed. Finally, the committee heard a proposal to reform property tax relief by extending it to motor vehicle registration. Former Revenue director Dan Noble argued that vehicle taxes should be treated like other property taxes, using fair market value, depreciation, the residential assessment ratio, and local mill levies, which he said could provide broad relief but would be expensive, with an estimated fiscal impact of about $120 million. Representative Chestek followed with a related reform proposal based on Pennsylvania’s base-year assessment model, arguing that Wyoming’s current statewide relief measures treat symptoms rather than the underlying problem of rapidly rising local valuations.

Transcript Highlights:

• What kind of therapeutics for other diseases such as...
• Lyme disease, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, tons of, many different kinds of cancers. disease?
• How many cures or therapeutics can we find for those disease?
• Taxpayer funded spending on specific diseases distorts markets.
• Vote for your constituents who are impacted with this disease.

Bills: SB5, SJR3, HB 11, HJR72, HB48, HB27, HB144, HB37, HB1481, HB581, HB1696, HB2216, HB 1035, HB1633, HB742, HB754, HB1689, HB1690, HB2669, HB391, HB517, HB1775, HB 1024, HB1607, HB252, HB1716, HB1562, HB4116, HB1866, HB1741, HB2103, HB2637, HB2884, HB3707, HB503, HB 1089, HB1757, HB2986, HB972, SB365, SB1786, SB5, SJR3, HB14, HB43, HB36, HB26, HB149, HB 121, HB206, HB136, HB3114, HB2733, HB1732, HB3700, HB467, HB 1130, HB1846, HB1442, HB 1147, HB2176, HB2701, HB805, HB2890, HB 1154, HB1644, HB2118, HB1718, HB2488, HB2596, HB2468, HB484, HB2578, HB3204, HB 1041, HB307, HB685, HB538, HB2525, HB3125, HB2027, HB2894, HB3077, HB 106, HB18, HB 11, HJR72, HB48, HB27, HB144, HB37, HB1481, HB581, HB1696, HB2216, HB 1035, HB1633, HB742, HB754, HB1689, HB1690, HB2669, HB391, HB517, HB1775, HB 1024, HB1607, HB252, HB1716, HB1562, HB4116, HB1866, HB1741, HB2103, HB2637, HB2884, HB3707, HB503, HB 1089, HB1757, HB2986, HB972

Keywords: dementia, research institute, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, funding, grants, state health initiatives, research funding, state budget, prevention, healthcare, medical research, Dementia Prevention and Research Institute, licensing, reciprocity, regulation, Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, interstate agreements, tax exemption, intellectual disability