Transcript Highlights:

• non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, multiple myeloma, malignant myeloma, and renal cell carcinoma as occupational diseases
• comprehensive list, emergency services service members continue to face denials for occupational diseases
• Benefit coverage is, is extremely important because these diseases are the result of years of duty and
• Diseases and conditions that are directly contracted by firefighters or police officers service do not
• develop, um, you, you're not necessarily gonna know, uh, if you, if you have that disease on, on the

Transcript Highlights:

• Nutrition education: poor nutrition drives chronic disease, yet most doctors receive little training
• Equipping physicians with nutrition education can help prevent disease, reduce healthcare costs, and
• Currently, there are minimal nutritional standards for meals provided. ...to those with chronic diseases
• , and kidney disease.
• I want to say that we support the bill promoting healthier living and reducing chronic disease in Texas

Bills: SB 25, SB25, SB314

Keywords: attorney ad litem, indigent parents, parent-child relationship, legal representation, Texas Family Code, court procedures, nutrition, health standards, food labeling, education, dietary guidelines, medical education, food safety, school meals, child nutrition, food additives, public health, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm having a little trouble reading that section: any plant disease-causing organism and that goes through
• Perhaps I could share a little insight on plant disease-causing organism.
• You have both the vectors, which are the insects that come in and bring this disease with them.
• And so that's actually really well written to cover those different aspects of plant disease.
• But if we eliminate threats because of the diseases they carry.

Summary: The Agricultural Affairs Committee first approved the minutes from March 18, 2026, and then took up Senate Bill 1335 as amended, which would require Idaho veterinary students whose out-of-state tuition is underwritten by the state to return and practice large-animal veterinary medicine in Idaho for four years. The sponsor said the bill is meant to address the state’s shortage of licensed veterinarians and does not create new funding. Idaho Farm Bureau, the Idaho Cattle Association, and the Idaho Wool Growers Association supported the bill; the Idaho Veterinary Medical Association said it was neutral but supportive of the concept. The committee voted to send the bill to the floor with a due pass recommendation. The committee then heard Senate Bill 1270 as amended, a labeling bill for cell-cultivated animal protein. The sponsor said it is intended to ensure transparency for consumers by requiring clear labeling, restricting use of meat terms such as steak or brisket unless authorized by USDA, and requiring restaurant menu disclosure. Supporters included Idaho Farm Bureau and livestock groups, who said consumers should know what they are buying and that the bill aligns with similar laws in other states. Food Northwest opposed state-by-state labeling requirements, arguing they increase costs and that labeling should be handled nationally. The committee approved the bill and sent it to the floor with a due pass recommendation. House Bill 781, dealing with county authority to declare rats and related pests as agricultural pests, drew the most discussion. The sponsor said the bill was intended to clarify existing law and respond to Norway and roof rat problems, but members raised concerns about broad county authority, private property rights, and whether the language could be overbroad or better handled in other parts of code. Several members said the issue may be more appropriate for local governments or another statutory framework. After motions to send the bill to the floor, hold it in committee, and send it to general orders, the committee adopted the motion to send House Bill 781 to general orders. The meeting ended with thanks to the Department of Agriculture director and notice of a brief final meeting to wrap up committee business and recognize the page.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, all types of invasive plants, all types of invasive, uh, diseases.
• Language within that statutory authority to provide that funding for animal disease emergencies.
• Uh, or, uh, manage this disease in a way and we know that we can move animals safely, uh, as we do in
• The foreign animal disease response plan that's in this is based upon a foot and mouth disease response
• Foot and mouth disease is very different than New World screw worm.

Transcript Highlights:

• In cases, it can actually lead to granulomatous disease that looks very similar to a disease called sarcoidosis
• But it's typically bad for people that have underlying lung diseases.
• You mentioned fibrotic lung diseases.
• If you have a fibrotic lung disease, you're in trouble already.
• So, you know, I think part of it... ...disease pretty soon.

Summary: The Assembly Health Committee held an informational hearing on the health impacts of wildfires and the effects on health care systems and access to care. The first panel focused on public health consequences, with testimony from UCLA and UCSF physicians, a community organizer, and an Altadena recovery leader. Witnesses described acute and long-term physical harms from wildfire smoke and ash, including asthma and COPD exacerbations, cardiovascular and stroke risks, pregnancy impacts, infection risk, and possible added hazards from lithium-ion battery fires. They also emphasized mental health effects such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, “firebrain,” and the need for psychological first aid, trauma-informed community networks, and youth-focused resilience programs. Community advocates stressed that Latine, Indigenous, undocumented, and Black communities face disproportionate harm because of language barriers, unsafe work conditions, lack of insurance, and exclusion from disaster aid, and they called for stronger language access, worker protections, permanent disaster relief, and better outreach. Committee members asked about air monitoring, masks, wind events, lithium-ion batteries, and how to reach communities with translation and emergency information. Panelists said AQI is useful but incomplete, that N95s help for smoke but P100 masks are needed for ash/asbestos exposure, and that communities should be warned to stay indoors and avoid windy dust-ups after fires. They also discussed the importance of building relationships during non-emergency periods, using text alerts and trusted community organizations, and providing culturally and linguistically appropriate information. Several members and witnesses highlighted the need for more research on long-term health effects, especially for people with chronic lung disease, workers who cannot stay indoors, and residents exposed to repeated disasters. The second panel addressed health care system response and access to care. DHCS and DMHC described emergency flexibilities used during the Southern California fires, including federal waivers, extended Medi-Cal renewal deadlines, reinstated coverage for some disenrolled members, suspension of prior authorization and prescription refill barriers, out-of-network access at in-network cost-sharing, and communication through websites, toll-free numbers, and social media. Hospital and community health center leaders described major operational strain: emergency room surges, canceled surgeries, dialysis disruptions, staff displacement, temporary housing needs, and financial losses. Huntington Health and AltaMed reported using incident command systems, temporary care spaces, bilingual and culturally tailored services, mobile clinics, infection control measures, and community health workers to keep care going. Members and witnesses also discussed the need for better disaster staffing pools, more flexible facility rules, stronger mental health coverage, child care planning, and statewide coordination for future emergencies; no formal votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:34:19.119><c> and</c> at risk for Alzheimer's disease and at risk for Alzheimer's disease and
• It's a disease that's invisible until often it's too late and progresses too far.
• </c><00:37:50.000><c> that's</c> and Care um it's a disease that's and Care um it's a disease that's
• </c><00:42:41.920><c> as</c><00:42:42.079><c> it</c> manage this disease as it manage this disease as
• <00:42:59.880><c> uh</c> disease uh disease uh caregiving<00:43:01.960><c> is</c><00:43:02.319><c> complex

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several health-related bills. HB 72 on pharmacy drew only support, with testimony from the University of Hawaiʻi system, the Board of Pharmacy, pharmacists, and others; no questions were raised. HB 237 on peer support programs also received broad support from the Department of Health, DHS, early learning officials, families, and advocates, with testimony emphasizing the value of peer-to-peer mentoring and support for parents, youth, and people with disabilities; no opposition or questions were noted. HB 250, the prior authorization bill, generated the most discussion. SHPDA supported a revised version focused on reporting prior authorization practices and creating a nonbinding working group to develop automation standards, while PCMA, HMSA, Kaiser Permanente, and others raised concerns about duplicative pharmacy requirements, unintended consequences, and alignment with federal timelines and reporting. Several medical groups and individual patients supported the measure, describing delays and burdens caused by prior authorization. A committee member asked whether the bill’s working group differed from a similar group in Senate Bill 1449, and the witness said it was intended to be the same. HB 303 on health care preceptors was supported by the Department of Health, University of Hawaiʻi, nursing and health care organizations, and the Hawaii Pharmacists Association, which asked that pharmacists’ residency programs be specifically tied to national accreditation standards. HB 341, relating to issuance of SPURS to assist the Hawaii Island Community Health Association, drew support from the health center and related groups. HB 692 on Preschool Open Doors received extensive support from early learning, education, family, labor, and community organizations; testimony stressed the shortage of child care and preschool slots, especially on Kauai, and the need to expand access for families. Committee members asked about adding family child care providers and about licensing/certification barriers, and DHS said the bill was focused on current licensed child care facilities and that certification issues were a separate, broader problem. HB 700 on cognitive assessments also drew strong support, with the Department of Health, the Executive Office on Aging, disability advocates, the Alzheimer’s Association, caregivers, and others urging use of a validated cognitive assessment tool during annual wellness visits and asking that the age 65 threshold be removed; some witnesses supported keeping the data-collection portion as a pilot and emphasized early detection and reporting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Cigarettes are still the leading cause of preventable disease and death.
• </c><00:17:32.880><c> and</c> leading cause of preventable disease and leading cause of preventable disease
• 27.280><c> Control</c><00:22:27.600><c> and</c> Centers for Disease Control and Centers for Disease Control
• ><c> other</c> lung cancer, heart disease, other lung cancer, heart disease, other conditions<00:32:59.519
• By raising from addiction and disease.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint Health, Human Services, and Higher Education hearing took up HB 441 HD2, a measure to increase cigarette taxes and dedicate the revenue to the University of Hawaii Cancer Center. The Department of Taxation said it had no substantive objection but requested an effective date of January 1, 2026 if tax rates change so it can order new stamps. The Department of Health, the Deputy Attorney General/tobacco enforcement, the University of Hawaii Cancer Center, the Hawaii Public Health Institute, the American Cancer Society, the Hawaii Medical Association, and several other health organizations and youth advocates supported the bill, arguing that higher cigarette prices reduce youth initiation, encourage cessation, and help fund cancer research and care. Several supporters asked for a larger increase, including at least $1 per pack, while opponents from retail, wholesale, and tobacco-related groups argued the tax would be regressive, burden low-income smokers, and drive sales to the illicit market. The Tax Foundation and other opponents also criticized reliance on sin taxes and said smoking rates are already at historic lows. After testimony and questions, members discussed how the revenue should be used and whether higher taxes change smoker behavior or push people toward vaping or other alternatives. The chairs announced they would pass HB 441 HD2 with amendments, replacing the contents with SB 528 SD1 except for changes reflecting the Department of Taxation’s request and a provision directing all proceeds from the tax increase to the Hawaii Cancer Center’s debt reduction, with an effective date of December 31, 2025. The House Health, Human Services, and Higher Education committees then voted to adopt the recommendation; the Health, Human Services committee vote was adopted with Chair and several members voting aye and one member voting no in the Higher Education committee vote. The hearing also briefly covered HB 1334 on meat donation, which drew support from the Department of Agriculture, Hawaii Farm Bureau, food industry, and community groups, though no action was taken in the excerpt. The committee then heard HB 1098 on crimes against protective services workers. The Honolulu Prosecutor’s Office and Honolulu Police Department supported the bill, saying assaults on protective services workers can have chilling effects and deserve stronger deterrence; a committee question raised whether the bill should instead be part of a broader, more proactive approach to assault statutes. The Department of Human Services also described safety steps such as panic buttons and phone apps for social workers. The excerpt ends before any final vote on HB 1098.

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:

• 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:

• and to know that that is a very disease and to know that that is a very serious<01:00:57.920><c> disease
• , has multiple rare diseases right now.
• ,</c> parent with a child with a rare disease, parent with a child with a rare disease, know<02:46:08.240
• </c> the rare disease community as a parent. the rare disease community as a parent.
• Um, disease is now up to a type four.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• diseases, petty theft, and, yes, even rape and murder.
• We're blaming them because you guys can't get corporate greed and on a side that is a disease that is
• We're blaming them because you guys can't get corporate greed and on a side that is a disease that is
• Robert from Waxahachie seeks peace and patience as his mother bravely battles Alzheimer's disease.
• Emily from Red Oak ask for disease Emily from Red Oak ask for encouragement<08:07:17.840><c> and</c>

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I often say if the pandemic taught us anything, it's that disease does not discriminate and that everyone
• Disease does not discriminate.
• Although HIV is now a manageable chronic condition, every person diagnosed with the disease must take
• As you were talking about statistics from the Center for Disease Control and that they look at these
• I mean, as a physician, Obesity and cardiovascular disease.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• this from a fatal disease to a chronic disease that we can manage. be difficult for us um internally
• this from a fatal disease to a chronic disease that we can manage.
• to a chronic disease that we can disease to a chronic disease that we can manage.<01:06:06.000><c> And
• </c> pipeline, this will be a chronic disease pipeline, this will be a chronic disease very<01:06:10.880
• Um, I strongly support this bill because my own personal connection with the disease.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint HHS and LBT meeting opened with accessibility concerns, as several blind attendees arrived after the general public had already been seated. The chair apologized and said future hearings would try to seat blind members earlier. The committee also announced the hearing was being streamed on YouTube, testimony would be limited to one minute, and written testimony was available online. The first bill heard was SB 2281, relating to the use of artificial intelligence in healthcare. The Department of Health supported transparency for patients but preferred disclosure through provider websites and office signage rather than a new regulatory program. The Hawaii Medical Association and Healthcare Association of Hawaii generally supported the bill’s intent but raised concerns about administrative burden and suggested a working group or model policies. Hawaii Pacific Health said it already uses AI for note-taking and patient portal functions and worried that written notice requirements could create too much consumer information. In response, the chair emphasized that patients should be informed when AI is used, especially if it affects diagnosis or consequential decisions, and said AI should not be making medical decisions. The committee later voted to recommend SB 2281 pass with amendments, including narrowing the definition of consequential decisions, removing certain language requested by DOH, adding a two-year implementation period, and setting a far-future defective date for further discussion; both committees adopted the recommendation, with the chair voting aye and the vice chair voting with reservations. The second major bill was SB 2852, a civil rights measure focused on digital access for people with disabilities. The Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Hawaii Civil Rights Commission, Hawaii Disability Rights Center, and the National Federation of the Blind of Hawaii all supported the bill, arguing that existing law clearly protects physical access but should also make digital access explicit. Blind testifiers described how accessible technology, such as VoiceOver on iPhones, allows them to participate independently in public processes and warned that inaccessible digital systems can create barriers for thousands of blind residents. One testifier, an attorney with disability-law experience, supported the bill’s intent but said the draft had flaws, including no exceptions for archived materials, no distinction between small and large businesses, and concerns about the timing and choice of accessibility standards; he suggested delegating regulatory authority to the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission. The bill’s sponsor said he supported DAB’s proposed amendments, and the committee indicated those amendments would address many of the concerns raised. No final vote on SB 2852 was taken in the portion provided. The committee then took up SB 2751, which defines compounded prescription drugs for workers’ compensation purposes. The Department of Labor and Industrial Relations supported the bill but requested clarifying amendments to keep pharmacists as the primary professionals authorized to compound in licensed pharmacies and to limit any physician compounding authority to the physician’s own patient. Supporters included the Work Injury Medical Association of Hawaii, while Solera Integrated Medical Solutions opposed the measure, arguing the current definition was already broad enough and warning about cost inflation, especially with 503B bulk compounding facilities and physician dispensing. In questioning, members asked about rural access, reimbursement for 503B products, and late testimony suggesting definitions for 503A and 503B facilities, limits on physician dispensing to 30 days post-injury, and pre-approval for non-FDA-approved drugs. DLIR said not every rural community has licensed pharmacists available, that products with a national drug code are reimbursed at 140%, and that 503B facilities raise concerns because they are bulk manufacturers rather than patient-specific compounding operations. The meeting then moved into decision-making on SB 2281; the chair’s pass-with-amendments recommendation was adopted by both committees, with the vice chair voting with reservations.

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:

• Terry Walter, a family member of genetic disease cases, and I totally and completely support this for
• Supporters argue that genetic testing is different because a person may never develop a disease based
• Supporters argue that genetic testing is different because a person may never develop a disease based
• But consider that doctors use genetic tests to make medical disease based on genetics.
• There's no development or course of disease or a disorder manifested in a patient yet.

Summary: The committee heard several insurance-related bills. AB 69, AB 1554, and AB 1680 all focused on California’s insurance market and the Fair Plan. AB 69 would require clearer notices to Fair Plan policyholders about coverage options, quarterly public reporting on clearinghouse programs, and additional broker/agent training to help depopulate the Fair Plan while preserving consumer choice. AB 1554 would require the California Earthquake Authority to post its annual report online and send it to relevant committees, and would direct the Insurance Commissioner to convene a working group on incorporating hazard mitigation into risk-transfer recommendations. AB 1680 would require the Fair Plan to comply with CDI examination findings, hire more staff, and improve clearinghouse operations; the Fair Plan moved from opposition to neutral after amendments, and the department said the bill would strengthen accountability and consumer protections. These bills were held pending quorum or taken up later, with authors requesting aye votes. AB 2198, by Assemblymember Rodriguez, would clarify title insurance rate-filing rules by specifying that title insurers file title rates and underwritten title companies file escrow rates, reducing duplicative filings and requiring rate schedules to be posted online. The California Land Title Association supported the bill, saying it codified longstanding practice and improved transparency, while the department continued discussions about possible revisions. The bill was left open for further questions and a later vote. AB 1795, by Assemblymember Gibson, would create statewide standards for inspecting, testing, and remediating smoke damage in wildfire-affected homes. The author and the Department of Insurance said the bill would establish science-based standards, protect survivors from unsafe reentry, require training and certification for relevant professionals, and improve claims handling; the department also described serious gaps found in its Fair Plan examination and recent wildfire claims. Insurers and some residents opposed or opposed unless amended, arguing the bill was still too broad, could raise costs, relied too much on industry standards, and left unresolved issues about legal standards, timing, and coverage. The bill remained under discussion, with the author saying negotiations would continue. AB 311, by Assemblymember McKinnor, would create an optional telematics-based auto insurance program to reward safer driving and improve road safety. Supporters, including road-safety advocates, victims’ families, and some insurance representatives, argued telematics could reduce speeding and distracted driving and save lives. Opponents, including privacy and consumer groups, argued the bill would create opaque surveillance pricing, undermine Prop. 103, and raise privacy and fairness concerns. After extensive debate, the committee passed the bill on a 3-0 vote and placed it on call. AB 1798, by Assemblymember Wilson, would bar life and disability insurers from using non-diagnostic genetic information from direct-to-consumer or other predictive genetic testing to deny coverage or raise premiums, while preserving use of medical history and family history and allowing consideration of certain high-value policies above $1.5 million. Supporters said the bill would reduce genetic discrimination and encourage testing; insurers argued genetic information is relevant to underwriting and warned the bill could raise costs and create inconsistencies. The committee chair and members noted the bill was close to agreement but still needed work, and the bill was moved with a 3-0 vote and placed on call.

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