Transcript Highlights:

• That reimburses our responders that we send out of state.
• If we do end up getting reimbursement, then great.
• Otherwise, that's where that fund is where any of our money for our agency is reimbursed too.
• Our training increased by 92% over this past year.
• We also want to ensure the number of trainings, guidance releases, and stakeholder updates.

Transcript Highlights:

• This reimbursement program for transportation of local agriculture will help producers with these high
• </c> &gt;&gt; So, it's a it's a simple reimbursement &gt;&gt; So, it's a it's a simple reimbursement
• </c><00:28:29.279><c> program</c><00:28:29.600><c> on</c><00:28:29.760><c> the</c> cost reimbursement
• program on the cost reimbursement program on the federal<00:28:30.159><c> level</c><00:28:30.559><c>
• that's being um, proposed reimbursement that's being um, proposed in<00:29:04.320><c> this</c><00:29

Bills: HB1602 , HB2246 , HB1707 , HB2216 , HB2594 , HB2595 , HB2155 , HB2113 , HB2207 , HB1832 , HB2015 , HB2152 , HB2548

Committee: House Agriculture & Food Systems

Transcript Highlights:

• , training, and certification.
• </c> to access addressing reimbursement to access addressing reimbursement training<01:15:25.560><c>
• and</c> training and training and certification<01:15:27.760><c> this</c><01:15:27.960><c> important<
• Yet barriers such as workforce shortages, lack of standardized training, and inadequate reimbursement
• training and inadequate reimbursement<01:24:28.679><c> continue</c><01:24:29.080><c> to</c><01:24:29.280

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• rates. ...very well that we'll probably get into the reimbursement rates portion of that or doctor's
• So when you're looking at the average reimbursement rates, the only way to account for the difference
• I did my training in Fulton, and I'm also a graduate of our rural scholars program.
• And like me, many graduates of that program train and choose to stay in practice in rural areas.
• ... ...to workforce shortages, rising costs, inadequate reimbursement, and regulatory and cybersecurity

Committee: House Special Committee on Rural Issues

Summary: The committee first met in executive session on House Bill 1714, adopting an amendment that clarified the bill would not apply to hunting dogs or animals not under direct control of the hunter and would not affect a specified section of law. The committee then rolled the amendment into a House Committee Substitute and voted the substitute do pass, with the roll call showing passage. The committee then heard House Bill 317, which would authorize MU Health Care to collaborate with hospitals and providers in a 25-county area and seek state-action antitrust immunity for those transactions. The sponsor and MU Health Care testified that the bill is intended to help preserve rural hospitals and keep care local, citing multiple hospital closures in Missouri and examples from Alabama and other states. Supporters from MU Health Care, rural hospitals, and local business and health leaders described the bill as a way to stabilize struggling facilities, maintain emergency access, and protect rural economies. Opponents, including the Missouri Insurance Coalition and the Missouri Health Plan Association, warned that the bill could codify monopoly power, raise prices, and reduce competition, and argued that the language was too broad and not limited to distressed hospitals. Some committee members also raised concerns about antitrust immunity, facility fees, market share, and whether the bill should be tightened to ensure voluntary participation and clearer limits. No vote was taken on House Bill 317 before the hearing adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's almost like the reimbursement rates for health care.
• But we we are training initially.
• </c> training Kentucky trainers. training Kentucky trainers.
• On those programs to establish reimbursement rates.
• </c> reimbursing them. Yeah. And this um Mr. reimbursing them. Yeah. And this um Mr.

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and first approved the minutes from its May 13 meeting. Members then reviewed a deferred contract with the Kentucky Board of Pharmacy for the Kentucky Pharmacist Recovery Network (KYPRN), a program that provides monitoring and support for pharmacists and pharmacy interns with substance abuse or mental health issues. Board representatives explained that the contract is a long-running arrangement, renewed periodically, with an option for two additional two-year renewals. Senators asked about the program’s structure, participation trends, follow-up, and consequences for noncompliance. The board said enrollment has remained fairly consistent at about 52 participants, with roughly 500 participants over the life of the program, weekly and monthly check-ins during the five-year typical enrollment period, and possible additional sanctions if participants fail to meet obligations. The committee then approved the contract. The committee next considered a group of economic development contracts, including items from the Cabinet for Economic Development. Secretary Jeff Null and general counsel Matt Wingate testified about contracts tied to regional innovation and entrepreneurship hubs. Members focused on the large differences in funding between regions and pressed for more support for rural and eastern Kentucky. Null said the cabinet is working on a more tailored, non-one-size-fits-all approach, including possible changes to capital support, build-to-suit options, and additional resources for rural areas. He said the hubs have helped 193 startups over the last two years and helped attract nearly $350 million in private capital, and he agreed to provide a written report by hub district on startup viability. The committee approved the economic development contracts. The Kentucky Lottery Corporation then presented its contracts with vendor IGT for retail and internet sales systems. Lottery officials said the contracts are mission-critical, cover both the traditional retail system and iLottery, and are structured as a percentage of sales so no payment is made until revenue is earned. They described planned equipment upgrades, including refreshed terminals, new ticket checkers, cashless vending and bill acceptors, and connected-play features that would link retail and online wallets. Officials said keeping the same vendor reduces the risk of business disruption and that the arrangement has already produced cost savings. They also said the lottery continues to see year-over-year growth and expects to meet its annual contribution target of $360 million for scholarships and grants. The committee approved the lottery contract after discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:54:55.040><c> and</c> naturopathic doctors are um trained and naturopathic doctors are um trained
• So, again, reimbursement is at a lower level than an MD, let's say.
• </c> on whether or not they would reimburse on whether or not they would reimburse me<02:17:09.439><c
• </c><02:17:43.200><c> that</c> whether or not they'll reimburse that whether or not they'll reimburse
• </c> figure out later how to be reimbursed figure out later how to be reimbursed for<02:26:54.560><c>

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• State grant to reimburse school districts for the cost of providing IEPs for scholarship students.
• It'll include funds for infrastructure, equipment, and teacher training.
• , to include certain nonprofits and provides reimbursements for nursing students.
• Thank you. ...provides reimbursements for nursing students. That, Mr. Chair, is the bill.
• It requires the department to develop a uniform reimbursement and invoicing system.

Summary: The Appropriations Committee met for Budget Day and heard presentations on the Senate’s proposed 2025-2026 budget, SPB 25-200, totaling $117.4 billion. Chair Hooper said the plan reduces overall spending from the prior year, keeps strong reserves, includes a 4% pay raise for state employees, maintains employee health care contributions, and makes major investments in water quality, transportation, and education infrastructure. Committee chairs then summarized their budget silos, including K-12 education, higher education, health and human services, criminal and civil justice, transportation/tourism/economic development, and agriculture/environment/general government. Members asked questions mainly about school funding, AP and dual enrollment support, voucher and scholarship impacts, and the My Safe Florida Home program. The committee adopted a large consent package of amendments and then approved three late-file amendments: funding virtual college tours for high school students, funding the FSU Sunshine Genetics program, and providing money for the Port of Fernandina customs facility. The committee then voted to report SPB 2500, the General Appropriations Bill, as a committee bill. It also favorably reported SPB 2502 (implementing bill), SPB 2504 (state employees placeholder), SB 7022 (Florida Retirement System contribution rates and DROP changes), CS/SB 1320 (recreating the Resilient Florida Trust Fund), SPB 2506 (gaming compact revenue distributions, including water projects and rural lands), SPB 2508 (29 new judgeships), SB 7014 (ending the court mediation and arbitration trust fund), SPB 2510 (K-12 conforming bill), SPB 2512 (higher education conforming bill), and SPB 2514 (health and human services conforming bill). The committee also took up several policy bills. It approved SB 7028 on cancer research, creating grant parameters, reporting requirements, a five-year pediatric cancer research incubator, and the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute VisionGen Initiative. It approved CS/CS/SB 170 on nursing home quality, adding resident satisfaction surveys, medical director standards, safety culture reviews, electronic health record requirements, financial reporting penalties, and a study of best practices. It approved CS/CS/SB 168, the Tristan Murphy Act, which expands mental health diversion options, adds Hillsborough County to a forensic hospital diversion pilot, expands grant uses, and creates a behavioral health data repository. It also approved SB 114 creating the Florida Center for Excellence in Insurance and Risk Management at FSU and moving the public hurricane loss model there. The committee then began considering SB 180 on emergency preparedness and response, including a late-file amendment, but the transcript cuts off before final action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• , reimbursement, and reimbursement.
• And reimbursement, and reimbursement.
• This is a bill that just does training for them and allows them to be able to get reimbursement on those
• This is a bill that just does training for them and allows them to be able to get reimbursement on those
• And what it does is give them reimbursement on their tuition when they go out and pay tuition for training

Summary: The Alabama Senate convened with prayer, the pledge, and a quorum present, then adopted a resolution honoring Dr. Todd Freeman, Superintendent of Vestavia Hills City Schools, as Alabama Superintendent of the Year. Senators praised his leadership in public education and noted the recognition was especially meaningful as one of the last such honors in the current chamber. The Senate also adopted a resolution commending the 2026 Alabama Law Institute Senate interns for their service, and members offered personal remarks thanking the interns and encouraging them to remain and contribute to Alabama in the future. The chamber then took up several conference committee and House messages. The Senate concurred in the conference report on Senate Bill 341 after extended remarks, and later concurred in the conference report on Senate Bill 32, described as a veterans-related bill that would make benefits automatic for those under the federal poverty level and allow cities and counties to opt in for veterans above that level. The Senate also received House amendments to Senate Bill 199, concerning sex offenders, and voted to non-concur and send the bill to conference, naming conferees. In resolutions from the Rules Committee, the Senate adopted an amended House Joint Resolution 198 establishing the Alabama Mental Health Task Force. It also adopted House Joint Resolution 326, which recognizes the need for a north-south transportation route in East Alabama. Throughout the meeting, senators made extended floor remarks about slowing down on legislation, focusing on rural hospitals and other priorities, and the importance of treating children, seniors, and low-income residents fairly.

Transcript Highlights:

• They can be used for for training.
• So, as you study the reimbursement.
• </c><00:16:42.639><c> I</c> they're trained and working there. I they're trained and working there.
• Well, I think if we look at our reimbursement rates and we actually start checking those reimbursement
• </c> think if we look at our reimbursement think if we look at our reimbursement rates rates rates and

Transcript Highlights:

• bill does is make sure that the staff doing that work gets the fair share of the increased work reimbursement
• The state pays a premium reimbursement rate that is 150% for the two clients or 200% for the three clients
• The state pays a premium reimbursement rate that is 150% for the two clients or 200% for the three clients
• </c> the state is paying higher reimbursement the state is paying higher reimbursement rates<00:09:19.760
• Um, you know, it's reimbursement rates.

Transcript Highlights:

• As the director said, over 80% of our 1 million patient visits that they provide annually are reimbursed
• We have had multiple conversations for many, many years about Medicaid reimbursement rates, the need
• to increase our Medicaid reimbursement rates, and utilization of the MCO tax for something like that.
• Planned Parenthood is not receiving reimbursement at all without those FMAP dollars.
• Many of them have a slightly different model of reimbursement than we do.

Summary: The joint informational hearing focused first on the impacts of H.R. 1 on Medi-Cal and California’s health care system. Department of Health Care Services Director Michelle Bass outlined provisions including work requirements, semiannual redeterminations, reduced retroactive coverage, new cost-sharing, limits on provider taxes and state-directed payments, reduced federal matching for emergency services for some immigrants, restrictions on lawful immigrant coverage, and a one-year ban on Medicaid funding for certain abortion providers. She said the law could put tens of billions of federal dollars at risk, with estimates of up to 3 million members losing coverage from work requirements, about 400,000 from more frequent redeterminations, and major pressure on hospitals, clinics, and rural providers. She also noted the state is considering implementation timelines, possible delays, and planning for communications, county systems, and a rural health transformation fund. Testimony from Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, the California Hospital Association, and the Western Center on Law and Poverty echoed those concerns. Planned Parenthood said the federal defunding provision would immediately threaten access to reproductive health care, with possible clinic closures, reduced hours, and workforce cuts if injunctions are lifted; it estimated about $305 million in annual federal matching funds are at stake in California. The hospital association warned that reduced provider taxes and state-directed payments could cut hospital revenue by an estimated $66 billion to $128 billion over 10 years, risking service reductions and closures, especially in rural areas. The Western Center argued the changes would reverse ACA-era coverage gains, increase churn and administrative burden, and disproportionately harm working poor people and those experiencing homelessness. Committee members asked about implementation, notification, state mitigation options, and the effect on hospitals and patients; no votes were taken. The second panel addressed community health impacts of recent immigration enforcement actions. CHIRLA described raids as a public health crisis that creates fear, trauma, family separation, and avoidance of health care. Los Angeles County Department of Health Services reported declines in emergency, urgent care, and clinic visits in immigrant-heavy areas after enforcement actions, and said it has responded with multilingual outreach, patient navigation, telehealth, and assurances that patient information remains protected. The Children’s Partnership said enforcement also disrupts children’s access to early childhood education and schools, citing increased absences and fear among families, and urged stronger protections, legal services, and funding for child care and school-based supports. Members asked for more data on visit declines, the effects on children and families, and how to reduce the chilling effect on care-seeking and benefit enrollment.

Transcript Highlights:

• , Reimbursement for all costs affiliated with the property that may be closed to be reimbursed by the
• So this is only for job training. So those, and that's training.
• , job training, and that type of thing.
• ..no longer possible, we are seeking state reimbursement.
• Speaker and gentlemen, I've been trained in the law. Mr.

Bills: HM3 , HM11 , HM14 , HM15 , HM21 , HM25 , HB9 , SB2 , SB19

Transcript Highlights:

• And while state programs such as Medi-Cal and Family PACT reimbursed for clinical care provided by some
• I think the most effective approach we've experienced over the years is really around the training and
• We've found that if we're able to bring individuals in for the training, they generally would like to
• We have also created additional training and technical assistance opportunities via recorded trainings
• for will be able to submit those claims in time to receive that reimbursement?

Summary: The hearing opened with remarks from the chair and members about recent federal cuts to public health, mental health, family planning, and Title X funding, with strong concern about the impact on California programs and providers. The committee then turned to the Department of State Hospitals, which presented its 2025-26 budget proposal of $3.4 billion, including new positions, capital improvements, and funding tied to increased patient costs and incompetent-to-stand-trial services. DSH reported major progress in reducing the IST waitlist and wait times, said it had met the court’s 28-day treatment benchmark for those without extenuating circumstances, and described workforce recruitment and retention efforts such as residency programs, fellowships, outreach, and hiring streamlining. Members asked about future IST referral trends, SB 1323’s effect on diversion and community treatment, and workforce lessons in high-cost regions; public comment urged reconsideration of county IST growth cap methodology in light of new criminal justice initiatives. The committee next received an informational overview of Proposition 1 and its changes to behavioral health funding and governance. The Legislative Analyst’s Office explained that Prop. 1 restructured county MHSA funding buckets, expanded the Commission for Behavioral Health, shifted prevention and early intervention responsibilities, and authorized a $6.4 billion bond, including $4.4 billion for behavioral health facilities through BHCIP. DHCS said it had released guidance for county integrated plans and was receiving extensive public comment. Members focused on BHCIP application requirements, especially letters of support and tribal projects, and raised concerns about whether DHCS’s implementation matched statutory intent. DHCS said it had authority to set application requirements and that tribal entities were treated differently because of sovereignty and funding structure. DHCS then updated the committee on BHCIP, the Behavioral Health Bridge Housing Program, and related bond implementation. The department said BHCIP had awarded about $1.7 billion across five rounds, with more than 130 projects and 223 distinct facilities funded, and that it was preparing to award the new bond funds after receiving nearly $8 billion in applications. The LAO’s assessment found that more than half of awards served at least 80% Medi-Cal enrollees, but also raised concerns that the regional allocation model could reinforce inequities, that the program had not sufficiently addressed the highest-need regions such as the southern San Joaquin Valley, and that smaller counties and less launch-ready applicants faced barriers. For bridge housing, DHCS said more than $1.1 billion had been awarded, serving over 5,000 people and supporting more than 2,000 operational beds, but the Governor’s budget proposes to eliminate Round 4 funding as the administration weighs other statewide investments and Proposition 1 implementation workload. Public commenters and members urged more accountability, better regional equity, stronger labor and community involvement, and caution about funding for for-profit psychiatric facilities. Finally, the committee heard on the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative. CalHHS and DHCS described CYBHI as a broad prevention- and equity-focused effort with more than 1,300 organizations funded, over $2.1 billion awarded, and multiple work streams spanning schools, community programs, workforce, and digital supports. DHCS highlighted school-based services, the fee schedule rollout, and digital platforms BrightLife Kids and Soluna, which it said are reaching users statewide and providing low-barrier access to coaching and support. Members and public commenters raised concerns about delays in school fee schedule implementation, the large share of funding going to digital tools, the need for more in-person services, and whether the initiative is sufficiently tracking outcomes and equity impacts. No formal votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Or is there a curriculum purchase that's required to trigger the reimbursement?
• There are some instances where we will reimburse, and again, as Mr.
• It's supported by federal reimbursements and private burial funds. G5 is the last item.
• They have to have a representative go through the training. I know.
• I've attended the training myself, so I could learn more about how to identify problem areas.

Committee: All ALC-PEER

Summary: The committee met to consider a series of appropriation, reserve transfer, and grant requests. Early items included temporary appropriations for the Department of Education’s Educational Freedom Account program ($32 million), the State Crime Lab ($476,000), and DFA Assessment Coordination ($90,000), along with a $1 ARPA return from the Department of Health. The committee approved these items after brief questions, including a discussion about contract cost increases at Assessment Coordination and a clarification that the $1 ARPA item was simply an unused-funds return. The most extensive discussion centered on the Department of Education’s EFA funding. Members questioned the growth in participation, the use of one-time funds and restricted reserves, and safeguards against fraud or improper purchases. Agency officials said about 44,000 students were being funded, that purchases are reviewed and flagged for unusual activity, and that homeschool students are not required to buy a curriculum so long as purchases are eligible and approved. The committee approved the EFA appropriation and related reserve transfer, and officials said the governor’s proposed budget would include the program in the RSA going forward. The committee also approved a DHS reallocation request and reviewed a building authority loan for a data center power supply replacement. In the federal grant section, members discussed a Department of Agriculture request for Central Arkansas Water to acquire land in the Maumelle watershed. Debate focused on the environmental benefits versus local property-tax and development concerns in Perry County, with testimony from the agency, Central Arkansas Water, and Potlatch about watershed protection, public access, and potential development impacts. After extended discussion, the committee adopted a motion to defer the item to the full Legislative Council and asked the department to remove the Perry County portion from the request, limiting the grant-funded purchase to Pulaski County property. The committee then reviewed remaining items, including a Veterans Affairs pay-plan appropriation, and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• There are some instances where we will reimburse, and again, as Mr.
• It's supported by federal reimbursements and private burial funds. G5 is the last item.
• They have to have a representative go through the training. I know.
• I wrote the... ...to get that funding, to have a representative go through the training. I know.
• I've attended the training myself, so I could learn more about how to identify problem areas.

Committee: All ALC-PEER

Summary: The committee met to consider a series of temporary appropriation requests, reserve fund transfers, federal grant appropriations, and review items. Early items included a $32 million appropriation and matching reserve transfer for the Department of Education’s educational freedom account program, a $476,000 request for the State Crime Lab, and a $90,000 assessment coordination request from DFA. Members asked questions about the assessment contract costs, and the item was approved. The committee also approved a $1 ARPA return to the CDC and a Department of Human Services reallocation package that moved general revenue and positions among divisions to meet client needs. The most extensive discussion centered on a $32 million restricted reserve transfer for the educational freedom account program. Members questioned the growing number of participating students, the program’s long-term funding needs, and safeguards against improper purchases. Agency representatives said about 44,000 students were being funded, that reimbursements and marketplace purchases are reviewed, and that reporting and audit controls are in place, though not every instance of fraud can be prevented. The committee approved the transfer after discussion. Members also approved smaller cash and federal grant items, including funding for a teacher shortage data dashboard, All Kids Bike grants, crime lab outsourcing, veterans cemetery operations, and a podiatric medicine licensing investigation fund. The most contentious item was a $7 million federal Forest Legacy grant request for Central Arkansas Water and the Department of Agriculture to acquire land in the Maumelle watershed, including acreage in Perry County and Pulaski County. Members debated water quality, development pressure, property tax impacts, local support, and whether Perry County had been adequately consulted. Agency and company representatives argued the acquisition would protect drinking water, preserve forested watershed land, and support recreation, while some legislators emphasized the county’s tax and development concerns. Senator Davis moved to defer the item to the full Legislative Council and to request removal of the Perry County portion; that motion passed. The committee then reviewed the remaining items, including a Veterans Affairs pay plan request, and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Could you further explain or talk about how the PRC reimbursement from the state impacts budgets?
• And that a county would be eligible for up to $15,000 maximum for the reimbursement.
• The costs incurred at the local level would be reimbursed.
• The costs incurred at the local level would be reimbursed.
• Incurred at the local level would be reimbursed.

Summary: The subcommittee met with a quorum, approved the prior minutes, and focused primarily on property tax statement issues tied to the primary residence credit and the 5% early-payment discount. North Dakota Association of Counties representatives said the current special-session language creates problems because the discount is being applied even when no taxes are ultimately owed, and because the discount is calculated before the PRC funds are actually received. They recommended reverting to the prior law so the discount is applied after the PRC, and noted that all four programmers said they could revert the software to the earlier version if needed. The committee also reviewed a bill draft to remove the legislative tax relief line item from the required contents of the property tax statement. Members agreed the current line item is not especially accurate or useful on the statement, and several members said the committee should go further by adding clearer taxpayer education, such as a pie chart or other supplemental breakdown of where property taxes go. County officials said some counties already provide supplemental charts or explanatory material, but others would need help with printing, mailing, or formatting. To support that idea, staff presented a second bill draft creating a grant program, administered through the Association of Counties with OMB as a pass-through, to reimburse counties for supplemental property tax statement information and related administration. After discussion, the committee voted unanimously to combine the two bill drafts into one recommendation and forward it to the full Tax Reform and Relief Advisory Committee. The subcommittee then voted to adjourn after directing staff to prepare its summary and recommended bill draft for the interim report.

Transcript Highlights:

• We've also taken some initial steps to unify our reimbursement rate structures, which were historically
• We've also taken some initial steps to unify our reimbursement rate structures, which were historically
• Reimbursement must reflect the actual cost to run programs.
• We have secured health care and a training fund and the first-of-its-kind retirement fund for family
• We talked about family fees and slots being reimbursement.

Summary: The California State Assembly Select Committee on Child Care Costs held its first hearing to examine the state of child care access, affordability, and provider compensation. Chair Cecilia Aguiar-Curry and other members described child care as essential infrastructure for working families and the economy, noting that costs are unaffordable for many households and that providers are underpaid. Early testimony came from a San Francisco parent, Quinn Chung, who described the difficulty of finding safe care and the financial and career sacrifices caused by lack of child care, and from Tuolumne County provider Anita Viscini, who detailed her monthly costs, low margins, and the need to work weekends and teach CPR classes to make ends meet. Assemblymembers also emphasized the crisis in rural communities and the need for a long-term strategy. The first policy panel featured Jennifer Troia of the California Department of Social Services, Laura Pryor of the California Budget and Policy Center, and Alexa Frankenberg of Child Care Providers United. Troia said the state has nearly doubled child care funding in five years, expanded subsidy slots, and reached a new tentative three-year agreement with providers that includes cost-of-living adjustments, stabilization payments, and continued work on an alternative rate methodology and single rate structure. Pryor argued that despite funding gains, child care remains too expensive, only a fraction of eligible children receive subsidies, and provider wages remain far below comparable jobs, worsening racial and gender inequities. Frankenberg said the tentative agreement is progress but not enough, calling for a true cost-of-care system, fair wages, paid time off, better support for emergency and nontraditional care, and stronger integration of family child care into the mixed-delivery system. Members asked about why the crisis persists, how the alternative methodology will work, how family fees and sliding-scale help are being used, and why middle-income families still struggle. The panel said the problem reflects long-term underinvestment, a broken market, and a system that still leaves many families without access. The committee also heard an economic panel from Ashley Hoffman of the California Chamber of Commerce and Sarah Bone of the Public Policy Institute of California. Hoffman described employer child care benefits and public-private partnership models in other states, including shared-cost programs and local chamber efforts. Bone said child care costs reduce family financial security and labor force participation, especially for mothers of young children, and estimated that if mothers of young children worked at the same rate as mothers of older children, more than 80,000 additional women could be in the workforce each year. In the final panel, parent and provider advocates, including Jennifer Greppie and Black Californians United for Early Care and Education co-founder Keisha Doyle, argued for fully funding child care, ending waiting lists, protecting culturally affirming care, and addressing racial inequities and private equity’s role in the sector.

Transcript Highlights:

• They're trained on what we know now to solve a problem or to work forward.
• </c><00:05:06.320><c> They're</c><00:05:06.479><c> trained</c><00:05:06.720><c> on</c><00:05:06.960><
• They're trained on what historical data.
• They're trained on what we<00:05:07.280><c> know</c><00:05:07.520><c> now</c><00:05:08.320><c> to</c>
• These are serious decisions that need to be made by a trained health care provider, not a computer.

Transcript Highlights:

• So thus far, there's been 74. or individuals trained through the consortium.
• Do you have any idea what the inpatient stay amount is that's reimbursed?
• We've tried to incorporate training into all the programs.
• reimbursed by the federal government since it's a...
• or is there somewhere where we can locate those reimbursement rates for facilities?

Committee: House Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• They've had the software, the hardware, the training come in to start moving in that direction.
• They've had the software, the hardware, the training come in to start moving in that direction.
• Another top-line ask from the committee was to also discuss ongoing FEMA reimbursement efforts.
• So I just hypothetically we... ...if it would be eligible to reimburse.
• But what did happen is that the reimbursement from FEMA didn't come.