Transcript Highlights:

• I want to see our reef stay healthy. And so we support this bill wholeheartedly. Thank you.
• I want to see our reef stay healthy. And so we support this bill wholeheartedly.
• What is a healthy reef, and how do you define that?
• What is a healthy reef, and how do you define that?
• is looking at water quality, how healthy is is<00:24:48.400><c> the</c><00:24:48.559><c> the</c><00:

Bills: SB2341, SB2306, SB2782, SB2161, SB17, SB2358, SB2367, SB2240, SB2547, SB2401, SB3031, SB1406, SB521, SB3247, SB1654, SB1112, SB1301, SB2443, SB2996

Keywords: historic preservation, Hawaii Revised Statutes, construction, state review, burial sites, cultural artifacts, development review, phased review, administrative fees, bureau of conveyances, land court, transaction fees, public services, cost recovery, notary public, fraud, real property, Bureau of Conveyances, title recording, property rights

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several measures related to hunting, trespass enforcement, conservation banking, coral reef resilience, and search and rescue. SB 2130 would require DLNR to increase the percentage of public land acreage designated for public hunting areas; DLNR offered comments, the Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council expressed concern, and a Game Management Advisory Commission member urged adequate funding for both study and maintenance of any expanded hunting areas. SB 2128 would require forfeiture to the state of firearms or motor vehicles used in hunting trespass on private land; the Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council supported the bill, and another signer testified without additional detail. The committee also heard SB 3053, which appropriates funds to DLNR’s Division of Aquatic Resources for mangrove removal and shoreline/stream maintenance in the Westlock and Middleock shorelines and watersheds. DLNR supported the measure and noted staff involved in mangrove removal work; no other testimony was offered. On SB 20005, which authorizes conservation banks for compensatory mitigation in habitat conservation plans and incidental take licenses, DLNR supported the bill but said a House measure, HB 1802, would place key safeguards in statute rather than administrative rules. Earthjustice opposed SB 20005 for lacking statutory safeguards and said it would support incorporating the House language, while CARES supported the bill as a modernization that could reduce permit processing time and provide more predictable costs. A lengthy discussion followed on SB 3201, which would direct DLNR to prioritize coral reef resilience and set performance targets for coral cover and herbivore biomass. DLNR said it supported the intent but wanted more flexibility because outside factors such as climate and emissions policy affect reef conditions; the Nature Conservancy shared that concern and asked for more flexible language. For the bill, For the Fishes strongly supported stronger protections and suggested adding abundance as a metric, while NOAA and DLNR discussed the difficulty of setting universal benchmarks because reef conditions vary by location. Randy Kosaki and CARES supported the bill, emphasizing coral decline and the need for measurable goals, while committee members asked about restoration projects, benchmarks, and whether the bill’s deadlines were meant to require a plan rather than immediate achievement. Finally, the committee took up SB 2937, which would create a search and rescue card program and special fund to reimburse state, county, and volunteer search-and-rescue operations. DLNR’s wildlife division said it stood on its written testimony, and the Hawaii SAR Alliance supported the concept but said Hawaii first needs a stronger search-and-rescue framework, including a state coordinator, before implementing such a program. No votes or final actions were taken on any of the measures in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> [clears throat] >> Um, while most platforms technically require a minimum age of 13, there's no
• platforms, and an astonishing 40% of children ages 8 to 12 are on it.
• uh of technically require minimum age uh of 13,<00:29:36.760><c> there's</c><00:29:36.920><c> no</c>
• With younger children aged 10 lifetime.
• </c> my age feel disconnected and lonely. my age feel disconnected and lonely.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Parkinson's disease, sleep deprivation, and these individuals deserve the opportunity to pursue a healthy
• So while we want to support the industry, we also want to make sure it's a healthy industry.
• It's a challenge for us because we have to kill a bug on top of another bug and keep the food chain healthy
• I, you know, the last time I was vice chair of Ag for a while, and now I just really miss this committee
• I, you know, the last time I was vice chair of Ag for a while, and now I just really miss this committee

Bills: HB147

Keywords: government contracting, business program, discrimination, state procurement, equity, underutilized businesses

Summary: The House Committee on Agriculture and Livestock met with a quorum present and heard several bills, all of which were left pending. HB 1113, by Rep. Cain, would update Texas hemp law to keep state rules aligned with federal changes, require timely rule amendments by the Department of Agriculture, and create hemp research permits for universities and nonprofits. Supporters from the Texas Hemp Coalition said it would improve research, licensing, testing, and enforcement while helping the industry stay compliant and competitive; the author said the bill was intended to reward good actors and deter bad ones. HB 1203, by Rep. Gonzalez, would create an Office of Food System Security and Resiliency within the Department of Agriculture to address food insecurity and coordinate local food access efforts. Gonzalez said the office would build on a prior Department of Agriculture study and help connect farmers, agencies, schools, and local governments; members asked about the fiscal note, consumer costs, and whether the office would overlap with existing programs. HB 1269, HB 1276, and HB 1277 focused on plant disease and pest prevention, including a grant program and studies to identify gaps and track outbreaks. Gonzalez emphasized the need for a more intentional state response, citing crop losses from pests and a recent cotton disease outbreak in his district. HB 1437 would create a pollinator task force to address threats to Texas honeybees and related pollination industries. A Texas Beekeepers Association witness described major recent colony losses, emerging threats such as mites and hornets, and the need to bring agencies and researchers together; Gonzalez noted prior work adding a bee specialist at AgriLife Extension. Finally, HB 147, by Chairman Guillen, would modernize cattle brand registration by moving it to an electronic system at the Texas Animal Health Commission while keeping county clerks involved. Supporters said it would improve efficiency, accuracy, and access for ranchers and law enforcement, while an opponent warned about possible electronic tracking implications and costs for small producers. The committee took no final votes and adjourned after leaving HB 147 pending as well.

Transcript Highlights:

• About 5.9 million Americans age 12 or older struggle with opioid use disorder.
• I have my first real encounter with an addict at the young age of eight.”
• “I have my first real encounter with an addict at the young age of eight.
• “Over a third of needle exchange individuals are women, age 34 to 54.
• We run the risk of putting paraphernalia in young adults’ hands, high school-age kids.

Bills: SB274, SB301, SB249

Keywords: healthcare, life-sustaining treatment, patient preferences, POLST, advance directive, medical orders, hospital discharge, pregnancy, patient care, discharge planning, healthcare policy, substance use, harm reduction, syringe services, needle exchange, overdose prevention, naloxone, opioid antagonist, drug paraphernalia, syringe

Summary: The committee heard and advanced several measures related to health care, public health, and patient protections. House Concurrent Resolution 148, urging a statewide educational strategy on menopause, was presented as a workplace awareness measure and received supportive comments from members before being released. Senate Bill 274, updating Delaware’s MOST program to POLST and clarifying capacity determinations and documentation for end-of-life orders, also drew supportive testimony from medical and nursing groups and was released. House Bill 458, limiting local backflow preventer requirements for certain low-hazard buildings, was presented as a cost-relief measure for homeowners and small businesses; DHSS expressed concerns but said it was willing to work on amendments and a sunset provision, and the bill was released. Senate Joint Resolution 18, designating August 31, 2026 as International Overdose Awareness Day and ordering flags at half-staff, was released after brief supportive remarks. The committee then considered Senate Bill 339, a technical correction to the advance health care directive form clarifying that an agent’s authority for voluntary mental health admission cannot exceed 72 hours, consistent with existing law. Members asked detailed questions about how the 72-hour limit works and whether it applies to voluntary directives; the sponsor and a Disability Rights Delaware witness explained that the bill only aligns the form with current statute and does not expand authority. The bill was released. House Bill 301, requiring hospitals to create discharge plans for pregnant patients discharged while showing signs of labor, prompted extensive discussion. The sponsor and supporters said it would improve safety, transportation planning, and aftercare, while some members noted Delaware hospitals already do much of this work and questioned whether codifying it was necessary; supporters emphasized maternal mortality disparities and the need for guardrails. The bill was released. Senate Bill 196, creating ownership disclosure requirements for long-term care facilities and resident notice rules after ownership transfers, was presented as a transparency measure for seniors and families and was released after supportive testimony from the Delaware Nurses Association and elder-care advocates. Senate Bill 320, expanding pharmacists’ independent prescriptive authority for certain non-controlled medications and allowing opioid use disorder medications under standing order, with added malpractice reporting requirements in Senate Amendment 2, was supported by pharmacists and nurse practitioners as an access-to-care measure and was released. Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 161, establishing a unified licensing and oversight framework for adult behavioral health providers under DSAM, was presented as a patient-protection measure; providers supported the goal but cautioned that regulations must be workable, and the substitute was released. Senate Joint Resolution 19, directing DHSS to study strategies to reduce health care costs, was released with a note reflecting concerns about broadening the analysis to include additional cost drivers and alternatives. Finally, Senate Bill 249 with Senate Amendment 2, modernizing harm-reduction programs and paraphernalia laws, generated the most extended debate: supporters framed it as life-saving public health policy, while opponents raised concerns about needle litter, community impacts, and whether the approach facilitates addiction. Despite the objections, the bill was released.

Transcript Highlights:

• Specifically, H.R. 1 expands the ABOD age range to include adults up to age 64, lowers the dependent
• So the exemptions that are available are not specific to age.
• They would be available to everyone between the ages of 18 and 64.
• I'm trying to find which ones that that age group might qualify for.
• This is Johnny Pineda with the Latino Coalition for Healthy California.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill grants patients under the age of 65 the same access to Medigap coverage as those 65 and older
• There are six New England states that have access to Medigap for those under age 65.
• There are six New England states that have access to Medigap for those under age 65.
• So you said 30 states provide Medigap for this particular population under age 65? Yeah, yeah.
• ages 0 to 3 years up to 9 hours for youth and young adults ages 4 to 21 years. from the 2023 TMSS data

Bills: H4353, H4425, H4453, H4623, H4770, S2587, S2737

Keywords: behavioral health, Medicaid, reimbursement rates, healthcare providers, service delivery, accreditation, Medicare, end-stage renal disease, healthcare access, patient coverage, renal failure, MassHealth, asset limit, personal vehicle exemption, vehicle value, healthcare, autism, ABA services, assistive technology, children

Transcript Highlights:

• in our industry where there's a little bit of a paradigm shift happening, and we'll always have a healthy
• We'll always have a healthy potato industry here in Idaho.
• And we're pretty happy about that because we've been at odds with Washington, D.C. and the healthy aspects
• agreed to a deal with the American Diabetes Association where we can say that Idaho potatoes are a healthy
• Age is just a number. There’s more. This is not my real hair. I knew that.

Summary: The committee approved the minutes from January 26, 2026, and announced a brief follow-up meeting on Friday morning at 8:30 a.m. with one agenda item and a public hearing. The main presentation was from the Idaho Potato Commission, with Jamie Hyer and chairman Darren Bitter introducing the commission and reviewing its finances, promotion efforts, research spending, and export activities. Hyer said the commission is financially sound, described its budget categories, and noted strong revenue from the new Idaho potato license plate, which he said has already generated about $2 million for the highway fund. Members asked about research partnerships with the University of Idaho, the potato seed building, and the value of public-domain breeding versus private control. Hyer explained that new potato varieties can take 10 to 12 years to develop and that public research helps keep seed access broad while still supporting royalties to fund future work. He also discussed market pressures, including rising competition from China and India, labor and input costs, weather, disease, farm succession, and the effects of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs and changing dietary trends on potato consumption. A substantial portion of the discussion focused on trade and exports. Hyer said Mexico and Canada are the commission’s primary export markets, with Japan seen as the best potential new market, while Taiwan, Vietnam, Singapore, and some Southeast Asian markets remain important but challenging. He said tariffs have had limited direct effect on potatoes because of USMCA, though they affect inputs and some other markets. Members also asked about quality control and mislabeling in stores; Hyer said the commission has staff across the country monitoring retail and food service quality and that many problems stem from poor store handling rather than intentional shipping of bad product. The meeting ended after a promotional video and closing remarks, with no votes other than approval of the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• , marital status, or the age of their children.
• , marital status, or the age of their children. someone's life be determined by their age, marital status
• , or the age of their children.
• And thank you to President Passidomo for Live Healthy last year.
• And thank you to President Pasadomo for Live Healthy last year.

Summary: The Committee on Rules met with a quorum and heard extensive debate on SB 734, which would repeal Florida’s wrongful-death medical malpractice exception that bars certain adult children and parents from recovering noneconomic damages. Senator Yarborough presented the bill as a fairness and accountability measure, while many family members testified in support, describing deaths they believed were caused by medical negligence and arguing the current law denies equal justice. Opponents, including physician and insurer representatives, warned the bill could increase malpractice exposure, premiums, defensive medicine, and physician shortages. The committee also considered two late-filed amendments: Senator Burton’s amendment would make Department of Health investigative findings admissible in court, and Senator Martin’s amendment to that amendment would broaden admissibility/discoverability to additional disciplinary and prior-adverse-incident records and insurance coverage facts. After debate, the Martin amendment was adopted, but the Burton amendment as amended failed on a roll call vote. The committee then reported SB 734 favorably without the amendment. The committee next unanimously reported CS for SB 86 favorably. That bill, by Senator Burgess, expands peer support protections for first responders to include support personnel; there was little debate and several law-enforcement-related organizations indicated support. The committee also took up SB 316 on series limited liability companies. Senator Berman explained that the bill creates rules for series LLCs in Florida, and a late-filed amendment, requested by the Secretary of State, delayed implementation by one year. The amendment was adopted and the bill was reported favorably. Finally, the committee considered CS for CS for SB 384, which requires municipalities seeking to annex state-owned land to notify the relevant county legislative delegation when the first public hearing is advertised. Senator Burton presented the bill briefly, there was no opposition or debate, and the committee proceeded to vote on the measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• Whether it's promoting healthy lifestyles, everyone of us has a role to play. Mr.
• WHETHER IT'S PROMOTING HEALTHY LIFESTYLES, EVERYONE OF US HAS A ROLE TO PLAY. MR.
• THOSE BLIND, DISABLED OR AGE 65 OR OVER WHEN BEING TESTED FOR FEDERAL MEANS-TESTED BENEFITS.
• H.R. 4 WOULD ADDRESS THIS OVERSIGHT AND EXCLUDE THE AMOUNT OF BENEFITS DISTRIBUTED TO AGED, BLIND OR
• They eat, dig, and trample healthy wetland habitats, causing significant erosion and habitat damage.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Adolescents aged 15 to 19 account for 7% of Minnesota's population but nearly 24% of chlamydia cases
• Adolescents aged 15 to 19 account for 7% of Minnesota's population but nearly 24% of chlamydia cases
• Just like consistent access to healthy meals, we know access to health education will improve student
• They just hear we need age-appropriate health education. Of course we do.
• Of age appropriate health education. Of course<01:44:33.360><c> we</c><01:44:33.600><c> do.

Bills: HF751, HF3550, HF3764, HF1490

Keywords: parental notification, school safety, bullying, harassment, violence, prohibited conduct, student discipline, charter school, school district, data practices, student privacy, parent rights, guardian notification, school incident reporting, cyberbullying, restraint, reasonable force, anti-bullying policy, school administration, student conduct

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:24:27.240><c> Optical</c> addiction biology of Aging Optical addiction biology of Aging Optical
• Discovery team on the biology of Aging Discovery team on the biology of Aging um<00:31:47.760><c> and
• </c> have at least two diseases of old age have at least two diseases of old age whereas<00:32:37.240
• </c> population uh ages population uh ages that<00:37:28.560><c> neurodegenerative</c><00:37:29.560><
• </c> that maybe you could give a healthy that maybe you could give a healthy person's<01:13:32.400><c

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• 4 and is second in children's age 5 through 14.
• We have an aging fleet and we have 40 you know 46 CNGs. We want more CNGs. They're harder to get.
• We all agree that we and we all want our California youth to be happy and healthy, right?
• The suicide rate for people aged 15 to 19 increased 57% from 2009 through 2017.
• In the United States, 46% of students ages 13-17 report being cyberbullied.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And I came of age in the 2000s or maybe in the early 2010s.
• I also came of age and came out on social media and in the age of social media.
• eligibility, an age ban, or an age block.
• An age ban, an age block. That is very much a place we are concerned about.
• versus not healthy.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• DOT is addressing aging networks.
• I think that's a healthy process.
• Also, talk to me a little bit about raising the pilot age.
• And as you know, keeping the pilot age where it is, is pretty much a giveaway to the pilot union.
• And some artificial age limitation or required retirement age may not be in the best interest of the

Keywords: transportation, air traffic control, safety regulations, Boeing 737 MAX, Department of Transportation, infrastructure funding, public safety, legislative oversight

Summary: The committee meeting addressed several pressing issues concerning transportation, particularly focusing on the need for improved safety standards and efficient management at the Department of Transportation. Specific discussions revolved around air traffic control, with members highlighting the urgency for a significant upgrade in systems and personnel. Notably, concerns were raised regarding past practices, especially the handling of safety regulations during the Boeing 737 MAX incidents. The committee expressed a clear intent to ensure rigorous safety oversight moving forward, emphasizing that the health and safety of the public must remain the top priority in all legislative and funding decisions.

Transcript Highlights:

• They also focus on healthy living and nutrition, fitness, mental well-being, and they engage in a lot
• of thousands of kids, I think between 30,000 and 40,000, that belong to this program, between the ages
• Also, tomorrow night is Ag Fest. So that's another very exciting thing.
• As a teenager, she immigrated to the U.S. and was naturalized at the age of 16.
• An act relating to children, amending the Aging and Long-Term Services Department Act. to create the

Transcript Highlights:

• I noticed there's an age on page two, age seven. Could you speak to that just a little bit?
• I noticed there's an age. for children.
• We were looking, I noticed there's an age on page two, age seven.
• So I appreciate the age, and can you speak to that age discrepancy right there?
• The age is already there, yeah. So that's already in current law.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• My husband was a strong, healthy, 41-year-old man, born and raised in Walpole.
• Further, many Massachusetts consumers rely on dietary supplements to maintain a healthy and balanced
• Massachusetts consumers rely on dietary supplements to maintain a healthy and balanced lifestyle.
• It would require age... ...supplements. This bill offers a practical and needed solution.
• No one asked my age.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Health heard testimony on a wide range of bills focused on environmental health, disease prevention, and access to care. Major topics included restricting polystyrene use, creating a pancreatic cancer awareness and early-detection initiative, improving indoor air quality through a task force and new regulations, expanding access to epinephrine in public places, improving access to health care for people with long COVID, creating an OBGYN loan repayment program for underserved areas, expanding access to hygiene products, modernizing licensure for dietitians and nutritionists, updating school postural screening requirements, and restricting harmful diet pills and muscle-building supplements. Several legislators also testified in support of their own bills, including measures on menstrual product access and ingredient disclosure, and surgical smoke protections. Testimony on the polystyrene bill emphasized local municipal bans and the need to reduce plastic pollution. Pancreatic cancer advocates and patients described the disease’s low survival rate, the difficulty of early diagnosis, and the need for an awareness campaign and implementation of commission recommendations. Indoor air quality supporters from environmental justice groups, public health organizations, and residents described asthma, mold, pollution, and the need for a task force with technical expertise; some witnesses urged adding remediation professionals to the task force. On epinephrine access, family members of a man who died after a bee sting and an allergy organization stressed that anaphylaxis can be sudden and fatal and that stock epinephrine in public venues could save lives. Long COVID advocates said the condition affects hundreds of thousands of residents and called for better surveillance and access to care, with a request to include MECFS in the bills’ scope. Other testimony focused on workforce and equity issues. Supporters of the OBGYN loan repayment bill said it would help address maternal health disparities and provider shortages, especially in rural and underserved communities. Hope and Comfort described widespread hygiene insecurity and a long waiting list for basic products, urging a task force to study statewide solutions. Dietitians and nutritionists supported modernization of licensure to clarify standards for medical nutrition therapy while allowing broader wellness counseling. School nurses backed reducing mandatory postural screenings, arguing the current law is not evidence-based, is not reimbursed by MassHealth, and takes time from other student health needs. On the supplement bill, the industry trade group opposed restrictions as overbroad and burdensome, while a public health expert cited research linking weight-loss and muscle-building supplements to serious harms and urged passage. The committee also heard support for menstrual product access and surgical smoke protections, with legislators and advocates describing those bills as longstanding priorities.

Transcript Highlights:

• As a reminder, the ACA Medicaid expansion eligibility group encompasses adults ages 19 to 65 who qualify
• Medi-Cal expansion recognized that healthy people means healthy communities and that low-income people
• One of our patients, who had been coming to this diabetes class for years, had gotten so healthy that
• The ag industry benefits from having farm workers on Medi-Cal.
• We can't solely rely on the ag industry to cover farm workers.

Summary: The joint informational hearing focused on the impacts of H.R. 1 on California’s Medi-Cal program and on community health effects from recent immigration enforcement actions. Committee leaders said H.R. 1 would sharply reduce federal funding, increase administrative burdens, and worsen access to care, especially for Medi-Cal enrollees, immigrant families, rural communities, and reproductive health patients. The second half of the hearing examined how ICE raids and related federal actions are creating fear, reducing clinic and emergency department use, and disrupting children’s access to schools and early childhood education. Department of Health Care Services Director Michelle Bass outlined the main H.R. 1 provisions affecting Medi-Cal: work requirements, semiannual eligibility redeterminations, shorter retroactive coverage, new cost-sharing, limits on provider taxes and state-directed payments, reduced federal support for emergency and lawful immigrant coverage, and a one-year ban on Medicaid funding for prohibited abortion providers. She estimated millions could lose coverage, with tens of billions of dollars in federal funding at risk. Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California warned the defunding provision could force clinic closures, service reductions, and loss of access to family planning, STI testing, and cancer screenings. The California Hospital Association said the financing changes could cut hospital revenue by tens of billions over 10 years and threaten access, especially for rural and safety-net hospitals. The Western Center on Law and Poverty argued the law would increase churn, paperwork, and uninsured rates, disproportionately harming working adults and people experiencing homelessness. Committee members asked about implementation timelines, notification systems, administrative costs, the effect on immigrant eligibility, and whether California could delay or mitigate some provisions. Bass said the state was still assessing federal guidance, planning county and provider outreach, and exploring a possible delay for work requirements and a transition period for provider-tax changes. Members also discussed how state budget actions may need to be revisited in light of H.R. 1, and how California might preserve access through state-only funding or other policy changes. In the second panel, CHIRLA, Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, and the Children’s Partnership described the health consequences of immigration enforcement. Speakers said raids and data-sharing fears are causing anxiety, trauma, and avoidance of care, with Los Angeles County reporting declines in emergency, urgent care, and clinic visits after enforcement actions. The Children’s Partnership said school and early childhood absences are rising in some communities and that enforcement is undermining children’s emotional well-being and access to education. Members asked for more data and discussed possible state protections, telehealth, mobile care, and legal and policy responses to reduce fear and preserve access to health and education services.

Transcript Highlights:

• Is your weight healthy? they optimized? Is your weight healthy?
• Um and I think and healthy decisions.
• What I and have families and be healthy.
• Um, that we can intervene at earlier ages with children when we see problems.
• earlier ages with children when we see earlier ages with children when we see problems. problems. problems

Bills: HF1758, HF4437, HF4353

Keywords: infertility, health insurance, fertility preservation, medical assistance, MinnesotaCare, prediction markets, sports betting, online wagering, event contracts, election betting, political betting, sportsbook, gambling regulation, lawful gambling license, Gambling Control Board, unauthorized gaming, esports betting, financial technology, payment processor, advertising restrictions

Transcript Highlights:

• There was a pretty healthy rate increase that was implemented back in 2022.
• Next one here is the rural health transformation program, or making rural Idaho healthy again.
• Legislature passed a bill around extended foster care last session, so it's supporting those up to age
• have a higher per member, you know, or per participant per month cost as compared to, you know, a healthy
• And this is for the aged, blind, and disabled program.

Summary: The House Health and Welfare Committee approved the February 5, 2026 minutes and then heard a lengthy budget presentation from Department of Health and Welfare Director Juliet Sharon and Medicaid Director Sasha O’Connell. The department outlined numerous supplemental and line-item requests across Medicaid, child and family services, welfare/self-reliance, and support functions, including funding for state hospital billing authority, Medicaid caseload and cost growth, rural health transformation staffing and program funds, child care capacity and program integrity work, kinship navigation, home visiting, and IT and procurement modernization. The committee also discussed the department’s reorganization and the need for additional procurement support for large Medicaid contracts. Much of the discussion focused on Medicaid spending growth, especially in disability services and behavioral health. Sharon said higher utilization and more intensive services, including residential habilitation, youth residential treatment, and substance use services, were driving costs. Members asked about safeguards against provider overuse or steerage; the director said the department uses annual assessments, internal reviews, data mining, and referrals to program integrity, and that some provider behavior had already prompted a proposed rate reduction for residential habilitation. She also explained that the department is seeking to maintain contractor support for disability assessments rather than absorb the work in-house. The committee also reviewed the department’s response to budget reductions and federal changes. Sharon explained the 4% provider rate reduction, the resulting savings, and the need for an additional $22 million in general funds to balance Medicaid, with options for further cuts still before the legislature. Other topics included the state’s Medicaid estate recovery and program integrity contractors, the impact of new SNAP administrative cost-sharing rules, Medicaid work requirements and more frequent eligibility reviews under state and federal law, and a request for three dedicated procurement staff in the Department of Administration to speed Medicaid contracting. No further votes were taken beyond approval of the minutes, and the committee adjourned to attend the floor session.