Transcript Highlights:

• 1041 now— The Senate, excuse me, 1041 now was subject to a strike-everything amendment, now titled Health
• benefit plans insurance, pool the retention risks of losses for health or accident claims, or provide
• health and medical services.
• It exempts any school district that has a self-insurance program that is provided by a nonprofit health
• of a drone delivery service to consult with the airport to confirm proper regulations in operation.

Summary: The caucus reviewed a long list of Senate and House bills, many of them on consent or with strike-everything amendments. Early items included SB 1457 on advanced air mobility for border security, SB 1519 raising the off-highway vehicle weight limit to 3,500 pounds, and HB 2383, which now cites the 2014 trampoline court safety law known as Ties Law. Members also discussed SB 1041 on electronic monitoring in health care facilities, with supporters emphasizing resident safety and accountability and opponents from assisted living facilities arguing it could function as a mandate. SB 1168 on dental school complaint jurisdiction, SB 1713 on pharmacist testing authority and HIV prevention, SB 1497 on school district self-insurance procurement, HB 2203 on reducing redundant education reporting, and several other measures were briefly described, with some members requesting bills be pulled from consent or noting support or opposition. The caucus also covered a series of strike-everything bills on housing, labor, licensing, and insurance. These included SB 1118 on historic neighborhood middle housing design standards, SB 1189 on late-payment protections in revitalization district construction contracts, SB 1274 creating a separate timeshare salesperson license, SB 1428 on workers’ compensation notice and recordkeeping, HB 2120 on property tax disability exemptions and widow eligibility, HB 2174 on insurance predictive modeling oversight, SB 1582 on HOA rules for pets and backyard chickens, SB 1503 expanding first responder death benefits to certain law enforcement pilots, and SB 1286 changing prescription lengths for virtual veterinary visits. Members raised questions about the scope and practical effects of several bills, and in some cases noted changes in support, such as unions backing SB 1189 and some members supporting SB 1582’s limits on HOA restrictions. On the second calendar, members reviewed HB 2176 on health facility complaint investigations, HB 2050 on radiologic technologist and assistant supervision rules, HB 2010 on digital goods seller refund requirements, HB 2875 on local regulation of unmanned aircraft and drone delivery near airports, HB 2428 on county emission reduction credit permits, and HB 2877, which was amended in the Senate to create a supervised work route for veterinary technician certification rather than the original timeshare licensing language. Several sponsors were said to intend to concur with Senate amendments, while HB 2010 was headed to conference because the sponsor intended to refuse the Senate’s five-year refund window amendment. The meeting ended after the chair announced the caucus was adjourned, with no formal votes taken in the transcript beyond references to prior floor and committee votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• For example, HIPAA permits disclosures without consent for treatment, payment, and health care operations
• care operations.
• care provider related to mental health issues?
• It doesn't matter if it's in mental health, something related to mental health.
• It doesn't matter if it's in mental health, something related to mental health, or it's just related

Committee: Senate Criminal Justice

Summary: The committee convened with a quorum present and heard a presentation from FDLE Deputy Commissioner Vaden Pollard on homicide investigations, blood evidence, toxicology, medical records, and mental health records. Pollard explained that autopsy toxicology and medical examiner records are often critical in death investigations, but access to hospital blood tests, medical records, Baker Act records, and substance abuse treatment records is restricted by Florida law, HIPAA, and 42 CFR Part 2, usually requiring subpoenas, court orders, or consent. He also noted that autopsy reports are generally public, while photographs are confidential, and that medical examiners can access relevant prior medical history of decedents. Members questioned Pollard about what toxicology panels include, whether medications can be tested for, and whether medical examiner reviews can help determine if a deceased person had stopped taking prescribed psychiatric medication. Pollard said toxicology can include alcohol, drugs, and specific medications when relevant, but routine access to living suspects’ medical information is limited. He also discussed FDLE’s behavioral threat assessment work and said investigators may follow leads involving mental health treatment or facility releases when relevant to a case, though he could not speak to regulatory follow-up. The committee also discussed risk protection orders, with Pollard saying FDLE has used them effectively and that they can help prevent violence and connect individuals to services. The discussion then shifted to FDLE laboratory turnaround times and public safety impacts. Pollard said the average DNA turnaround time was 208 days for some cases, while sex assault kits are prioritized and generally remain under 90 days, with rush cases sometimes completed within 24 hours. He said backlog is tied to staffing and analyst capacity, and that faster processing is especially important in unsolved violent and sexual assault cases because delays can leave offenders on the street. The committee also noted that increased toxicology demands would affect toxicology staffing and workload, though not DNA processing. No votes were taken, and the meeting adjourned after the presentation and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• health operational coordinator for disasters, and then the RDMHCs, RDMHS, which is regional disaster
• and statewide progress through health and mental health equity?
• Behavioral health, it's early on.
• see how their input matters, and we can tie it to some of these health measures and health areas as
• Public health is prevention. So how do we prevent? And for behavioral health services...

Committee: Senate Rules

Summary: The Senate Committee on Rules convened with quorum and first approved several governor’s appointments not required to appear, including Courtney Welsh to the California Housing Partnership Corporation Board, Janessa Goldbeck to the California Veterans Board, and Tom Huntington to the State Parks and Recreation Commission, each by 3-0 vote. The committee also approved reference of bills to committees, the 2026 committee chair and membership appointments, the 2026 session schedule, the 2026 Senate holiday schedule, and floor acknowledgments, all by 4-0 votes. The committee then heard confirmation testimony from Hernando Garzon, M.D., nominated as Chief Medical Officer of the Emergency Medical Services Authority. Senators asked about EMSA’s strategic plan, data integration, local flexibility in statewide standards, ambulance patient offload regulations, stakeholder engagement, disaster response, rural access, and alternatives to transporting 9-1-1 callers to emergency departments. Garzon emphasized data-driven decision-making, technical assistance to local EMS agencies, collaboration with hospitals and providers, and the use of community paramedicine, telehealth, and pre-positioned resources in disasters. Public commenters and members supported his confirmation, and the committee approved the appointment 4-0 for referral to the full Senate. The committee also heard from Stephanie Weldon, nominated as Deputy Director of the Office of Health Equity at the Department of Public Health. She described her tribal background, prior state, county, tribal, and nonprofit experience, and her focus on serving communities facing health disparities. Senators questioned her about how the office sets priorities, measures outcomes, balances equity work amid political opposition to DEI language, and tailors technical assistance to rural and tribal communities. Weldon pointed to work on tribal consultation, behavioral health, youth mental health, the California Reducing Disparities Project, gender-affirming care, reproductive health, housing and climate-related supports, and community advisory boards. Numerous public witnesses, including tribal and health equity advocates, spoke in strong support, and the committee approved her appointment 4-0 for the full Senate.

Transcript Highlights:

• It reauthorizes health care districts that own or operate a hospital or clinic to use the design-build
• process when contracting for construction of a health facility.
• It reauthorizes health care districts that own or operate a hospital or clinic to use the design-build
• As the Assembly Member mentioned, AB 533 is necessary to ensure that health care districts that operate
• clinics and hospitals can secure financing and To ensure that health care districts that operate clinics

Summary: The Local Government Committee met on March 26 and heard four bills, beginning as a subcommittee until quorum was established. The chair opened with housekeeping rules, including that testimony would be in person only and that disruptive conduct would not be tolerated. AB 59 by Assemblymember Aguiar-Curry was heard first; it would remove the sunset on Reclamation District 108’s authority to participate in hydropower projects. The author, Colusa County representatives, and water district officials said the change would support long-term financing, lower energy costs, and help the district continue water stewardship. No opposition was presented, and the bill was later reported out 7-0. AB 417 by Assembly Member Carrillo was then presented as a measure to streamline and clarify laws governing enhanced infrastructure financing districts (EIFDs) and community revitalization and investment authorities (CRIAs). Supporters, including the sponsor and planning, city, and flood control representatives, said the bill would improve local governments’ ability to fund affordable housing, climate adaptation, transit, fire mitigation, and other infrastructure without raising taxes. One opponent objected to the CRIA provisions, arguing that CRIAs retain eminent domain authority and asked for an amendment to remove that authority. The bill was passed after quorum was established, with the chair noting it would improve functionality while preserving transparency and public participation. AB 533 by Assembly Member Flora reauthorized health care districts that own or operate hospitals or clinics to use the design-build process for construction projects after the prior authority sunset on January 1, 2025. The author and supporters from the Association of California Health Care Districts, the Design-Build Institute of America, and engineering and hospital groups said the measure would restore a useful financing and construction tool without changing public contracting requirements. There was no opposition, and the bill passed 7-0. The committee also approved AB 1030 on the consent calendar, and after roll calls on the remaining items, all measures were reported out of committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> integrity unit at department of health integrity unit at department of health and<00:21:11.120><
• ><c> structure</c><00:22:10.320><c> and</c> operate within a larger structure and operate within a larger
• </c> them based on our uh our operational them based on our uh our operational rules<00:28:02.640><c>
• </c> in the community can continue to operate in the community can continue to operate and<01:08:56.560
• &gt;&gt; um the rural health transformation &gt;&gt; um the rural health transformation grants grants

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee chair opened by explaining that the committee has expanded from a traditional audit-follow-up role into an oversight role focused on whether audit recommendations are implemented and whether controls are in place to detect fraud. He said the committee was concerned about fraud uncovered in social service programs in other states and wanted to understand New Hampshire’s safeguards, especially around major contracts and program performance. Charles Buchanan, director of the New Hampshire Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, and investigator Tim Brackett described the unit’s structure and mission. Buchanan said the unit, housed in the Attorney General’s Criminal Justice Bureau, investigates and prosecutes fraud by health care providers serving Medicaid beneficiaries, as well as abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation of residents in health care facilities. He outlined common Medicaid fraud schemes such as billing for services not rendered, upcoding, using unqualified staff, drug substitution, kickbacks, supplemental charges, and inflated customary charges. He also described resident abuse/neglect and drug diversion in hospitals, nursing homes, and assisted living settings. Brackett said his role is financial investigator/auditor and noted the unit is grant-funded and must include a prosecutor, investigator, and auditor. The witnesses then explained how cases reach the unit and how they are handled. Most referrals come from the state Department of Health and Human Services’ program integrity unit and from managed care organizations’ special investigations units, which look for fraud, waste, and abuse and refer credible allegations. Other sources include qui tam whistleblower actions, the national Medicaid Fraud Control Units association, citizen complaints, provider referrals, adult protective services law-enforcement referrals, local law enforcement, and federal agencies. Once a referral is received, the unit can accept or deny it; accepted matters may be investigated criminally or civilly, while nonviable matters can be referred back to HHS or other agencies for administrative action, including repayment demands and reimbursement offsets. No votes or formal committee actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> between health and safety and quality. between health and safety and quality.
• </c> risk to the child's health and safety. risk to the child's health and safety.
• </c> managing health care for people. managing health care for people.
• </c><01:13:03.600><c> consultant</c> the um frequency of health consultant the um frequency of health
• </c> health and safety will be so welcomed. health and safety will be so welcomed.

Committee: House Children and Families Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• If there is a compelling health concern, which I agree that there is, sure, there is a compelling health
• care or the general health of people generally.
• Page 74 is their safety and operations, State Road... ...operations, State Road.
• This is $2 million to replace the electronic health records.
• It's operated by the FBI. That's one of the criteria.

Committee: House Commerce

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> forefeerture fees to our operations forefeerture fees to our operations budget.<00:07:56.639><c>
• </c> about addressing the mental health about addressing the mental health training<00:09:11.279><c>
• One of the changes is just health.
• And then holistic term mental health.
• </c> the bill as an institution that operates the bill as an institution that operates nationwide<00:

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> moving on to HB 815 relating to health moving on to HB 815 relating to health insurance<00:40:37.359
• Kyle Br with the Department of Health.
• I'm Alexis Chapman, director of operations for HFIA, testifying in Lauren's place.
• </c> vendors um and businesses that operate vendors um and businesses that operate nationally<00:45:33.760
• health health insurance<01:00:41.200><c> we</c><01:00:42.200><c> uh</c><01:00:42.319><c> will</c><01

Committee: House Labor

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Same thing with the health care cost coverage.
• You can operate as two separate entities.
• You can operate as two separate entities.
• Okay, and then from the health plan there.
• Okay, and then from the health plan there. 100% of rebates have to be passed through to the health plan

Committee: House Insurance

Keywords: 965, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So the Amtrak Heartland Flyer is a passenger rail service that operates that Amtrak operates between
• Contract lotteries to pay the operator contract from funds appropriated to strategy A16, lottery operator
• The employer operated program that we normally operate and as he you know more layoffs and you have more
• We operate a drop-in center.
• It is mental health services, physical health services provided through our medical clinic, is inside

Committee: House Appropriations - S/C on Articles VI, VII, & VIII

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And then, of course, there's the public health angle.
• And then, of course, there's the public health angle.
• I'm a health and safety with USW.
• Impact to EDR or FTB operations, as well as to taxpayers.
• Health seaweed produced in Korea.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• 1987 will help fund our state wildlife areas by making sure the fees they generate support their operation
• 1987 will help fund our state wildlife areas by making sure the fees they generate support their operation
• Bay is a coastal city whose economy, identity, and quality of life are inextricably linked to the health
• Bay is a coastal city whose economy, identity, and quality of life are inextricably linked to the health
• Rather, it ensures that water deliveries operating under an approved state control plan can continue.

Committee: Senate Natural Resources and Water

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So this will allow you to operate under your Missouri license in any other state.
• They're already playing a very important role in pre-operative and post-operative care.
• I support optometrists operating to the full extent of their licensure, right?
• They're going to operate in urban areas. So I get your sympathy.
• If our goal is patient safety, the right of state health policy, In governance and state health policy

Committee: House Professional Registration and Licensing

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• mental health and substance abuse.
• of the Central Valley Health Network and a previous...
• American Health Center and board member of the Central Valley Health Network and a previous board member
• Ben Avey with WellSpace Health, the region's largest community health system, serving people experiencing
• These included prevailing wage, health care, and apprenticeship standards.

Committee: House Housing and Community Development

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'd like to call the Health and Welfare Committee to order at this time. Welcome, committee.
• Welcome to the Senate Health and Welfare Committee, and welcome, committee.
• I am a program director in the Health Professions Bureau.
• The division is anticipating that the cost to operate will continue.
• So that's the plan we've been operating under; that's the legislative direction we've been operating

Committee: Senate Health and Welfare

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• health care systems... ...the laws to reflect how health care systems are structured today, and it ensures
• of a health care profession or when someone is misled about a person's authority to practice a health
• They are operating as health practitioners can still operate or call themselves a doctor or use their
• If you are a health care practitioner, yes. If you, if I—I’m not a health care practitioner.
• I am not a licensed health care practitioner.

Summary: The committee took up a long agenda of bills, beginning with CS/SB 678, which would allow pawnbroker transaction forms to be printed or digital; it drew support from a business representative and was reported favorably. Members then heard several bills by Senator Leak, including SB 466 to designate St. Johns County as the site of the Florida Museum of Black History and create a board to work with the museum foundation and Florida Memorial University; the bill drew supportive testimony about preserving accurate Black history and the significance of the site, and it passed favorably. Leak’s CS/SB 578 would let Florida wineries use recyclable inserts and other alternative containers for larger wine sales, and it also passed favorably. SB 582 would increase penalties for unlawful demolition of historic buildings and structures, limiting the higher penalties to certain nationally or internationally recognized historic properties; it was supported by preservation advocates and reported favorably. CS/SB 1168 would create an aggravated offense for installing or using tracking devices or apps in furtherance of crimes such as murder, domestic violence, or robbery, and it passed favorably after a brief discussion about stalking and violent crimes. CS/SB 806 would make the Florida Attorney General the exclusive public official with standing to enforce Florida charitable trusts, limiting out-of-state attorneys general from suing over Florida-administered trusts; members debated whether this would burden out-of-state beneficiaries, but the bill was reported favorably. SB 1228 would advance spring restoration efforts for Ichetucknee Springs and Santa Fe spring flows and allow a utility compliance plan amendment to deliver reclaimed water to replenish the aquifer; it passed favorably. CS/CS/SB 304 would require a qualified medical opinion in child protective investigations involving infants and young children with possible genetic or medical conditions that can mimic abuse, and it drew emotional support from parents and advocates before passing favorably. SB 1286 would clarify that ordinary unsupervised childhood activities like biking or playing outside do not constitute neglect absent reckless endangerment, and it was reported favorably. SB 1318, the hands-free driving bill, generated the most extensive debate: it renames the texting-while-driving law, expands the prohibition to handheld device use, and adds penalties in work zones and school zones; supporters cited fatal crash statistics and personal loss, while opponents raised concerns about enforcement, civil liberties, racial disparities in traffic stops, and the need for broader distracted-driving and insurance reforms. Despite those concerns, the bill was reported favorably after amendments. The committee also approved two claims bills, SB 14 for the estate of Penao-Hanvier against Miami Beach and SB 20 for J.N. against Hillsborough County, both settled claims recommended favorably by the special master. Finally, CS/SB 68 would modernize health facilities authority financing for private not-for-profit health systems, and CS/SB 172 would restrict misuse of health care specialty titles while preserving titles authorized under existing practice acts; both were discussed with questions about doctors, optometrists, and CRNAs, and both were reported favorably after amendment and debate.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's the normal mode of operating because all these programs require it.
• And also that those agencies typically are heavily involved ...in operating because all these programs
• Delta was founded 60 years ago and operates in 15 states and the District of Columbia, with reported
• for a dental benefit that I thought provided the dental care and health care that I need.
• Our dental program offers out-of-state coverage, just like our health plans.

Committee: Senate Joint Legislative Audit

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It comes out of the operating contingency fund.
• You've created a behavioral health trust fund.
• Forensic Unit at the Behavioral Health Institute.
• Operating for community-based services and education.
• I'm at the Health Sciences Library and Informatics Center.

Transcript Highlights:

• Is this for the increase in mental health bed, mental health bed capacity? Yes, ma'am, ma'am.
• This will begin Department of State Health Services.
• State Health Services and local public health organizations responding to the, uh, measles outbreaks
• Page 86 for the Health and Human Services Commissioner.
• Is additional funding to maintain women's health, uh, program services.

Committee: House Appropriations - S/C on Article II