Transcript Highlights:

• Licenses and the Executive Officer for the Contractor Registration Board.
• and Professional Licenses to present Rule Docket 24-211-2501.
• , and real estate bureau at the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses.
• Professional Licenses.
• This fee raises fees for the board by 15 to 20%, depending on the license type.

Committee: House Business

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a licensed EMT, RN, and APRN, and board certified as a family nurse practitioner and psychiatric
• I still have my active nursing license, unless it gets revoked by the board for some reason now.
• All nurse practitioners in Texas hold a state license and are nationally board certified, undergoing
• Hours of experience, that's what they're saying: the board would decide the criteria to license them
• I took a test to get my license; I'm board-certified. I'm board-certified in plastic surgery.

Bills: SB1888 , SB3003 , SB2417 , SB2459 , SB3055 , HB1393 , HB2884 , SB2943

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, DCCA Contractors License Board in support.
• </c> Um I've been on the Contractors License Um I've been on the Contractors License Board<00:15:46.640
• uh Board the Contractors License uh Board the executive<00:17:52.440><c> committee.
• </c><00:40:26.240><c> Board,</c> Sula, to the Contractors License Board, Sula, to the Contractors License
• </c> Contractors Licensing Board. Contractors Licensing Board.

Summary: The Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee heard a series of gubernatorial nominations to boards and commissions under the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. The chair explained the 90-minute agenda, the 2-minute testimony limit, and that written testimony had been reviewed in advance. Testimony was generally supportive for each nominee, with agency boards, professional associations, and individuals submitting written or oral support. For the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, Michael Basta Jr. described his 40 years in the industry, ownership of two salons, and experience training educators. For the Board of Dentistry, Christopher Woo said he had served as an interim board member since July 1 of the prior year, and Jerry Young said she was a retired pediatrician and former Hawaii Medical Board member; in response to questions, she identified a potential conflict through her role with Pu'ulu Lapa'au and said she would recuse herself when appropriate. For the Board of Psychology, Sean Scanlon and Sherry Takuishi Sara both emphasized long careers in the field and service to the community. Several members questioned psychology and medical nominees about interstate licensing compacts and access to care. Scanlon said he supported expanding the profession but would need to recuse himself on compact issues because of his role at Chaminade University, and he noted growth in local training programs. Sara said her main concern with compacts was cultural sensitivity and Hawaii’s unique cultural milieu, though she acknowledged the need for more psychologists. Pediatrician Robert Watring, nominated to the Hawaii Medical Board, said he supported local providers and was cautious about compacts, emphasizing the need to ensure qualified care in Hawaii; he said he had not seen much change from temporary licensing measures on Kauai. For the Contractors License Board, Jerry Nishik said backlog problems were driven by staff shortages and board vacancies, noting the board lacked quorum for upcoming meetings and needed more members and staff. Other nominees included Albert Dennis and Nolan Miyahara for the Motor Vehicle Repair Industry Board, both of whom said they wanted to continue public service and help ensure legitimate, certified repair shops; Miyahara described his career path from apprentice to automotive technology professor. The committee also heard support for Robert Woltering’s nomination to the Hawaii Medical Board, with Woltering saying he wanted to help ensure quality health care providers, especially for children on Kauai. The transcript does not show any final votes or confirmations during the excerpt provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Today I present AB 1598, which updates licensed statutes for mental health professionals, as a regular
• AB 1598, which updates licensed statutes for mental health professionals regulated by the California
• Board of Behavioral Sciences, to become licensed in California.
• At a time when California faces a shortage of licensed mental health professionals, these barriers can
• professionals. ...and these activities are held to the same standards as licensed professionals.

Committee: House Business and Professions

Transcript Highlights:

• Allison Carval Hall, Board of Nurse Practitioners Network, waiving in support.
• Aaron Ballas, Board of Nurse Association, waiving in support.
• Licensed physicians and nurses must complete a one-time, two-hour board-approved continuing education
• Licensed physicians and nurses must complete a one-time, two-hour board-approved continuing education
• I have been told by medical professionals that I don't have the...

Bills: S0006 , S0036 , S0560 , S0778 , S0844 , S0864 , S1002 , S1016 , S1022 , S1030 , S1630

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services heard and advanced a series of health, child welfare, aging, disability, and public records bills. CS/SB 1002, on child welfare and parental substance abuse, was described as clarifying that acute or chronic parental drug abuse can constitute harm or neglect when it creates an ongoing risk to a child; it passed after limited questions and supportive testimony from Florida Smart Justice Alliance. CS/SB 1630, a broad aging and long-term care modernization bill, would streamline eligibility screenings, allow temporary DOEA services during emergencies or lead agency failures, tighten oversight of area agencies on aging, permanently establish the Florida Alzheimer’s Care Center of Excellence, and expand guardianship training and enforcement tools; it drew support from AARP, area agencies, and the Alzheimer’s Association and was reported favorably. The committee also approved SB 1022 to add Bay County and Pompano to the Florida Children’s Initiatives, and CS/SB 1030, via strike-all amendment, to streamline regulation of substance abuse and behavioral health providers and clarify background screening and privacy rules. Several bills focused on health care practice and patient access. CS/SB 36, with an amendment, allows nurses with doctoral degrees to use appropriate titles while requiring clear identification as nurses and making misuse grounds for discipline; nursing organizations supported it and it passed. CS/SB 844 requires physicians and nurses to complete a one-time, board-approved continuing education course on sickle cell disease care management, with multiple patients and advocates testifying about delayed care, bias, and the need for better provider education; the bill was reported favorably after an amendment aligning it with the House version. CS/SB 560 streamlines procedures for psychotropic medication for children in DCF custody by reducing duplicative reports, clarifying evaluator qualifications, limiting repeated background checks, and simplifying consent documentation; an amendment removed postsecondary education language, and the bill passed. The committee also approved a public records exemption bill for a uterine fibroids research database (CS/SB 864). The committee also advanced measures affecting disability services and forensic care. SB 6, a claims bill, would pay $3.8 million to a trust for a child who suffered severe abuse-related injuries after DCF involvement; it passed without opposition. SB 778 updates the definition of forensic clients so certain individuals with intellectual disabilities or autism found incompetent to proceed can be housed in the same secure forensic setting, reducing duplicative staffing and space needs; it was reported favorably. CS/SB 1016 codifies the Working People with Disabilities Program, allowing eligible developmentally disabled adults to work while retaining Medicaid waiver benefits and requiring notice to enrollees; advocates described the bill as essential to employment and independence, and it passed. Throughout the meeting, most bills received supportive public testimony, few questions, and unanimous or near-unanimous favorable votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chiropractic Licensing Boards.
• Next the board is requesting funding to update Adobe licenses and purchase Tableau licenses.
• board, marriage and family therapy and professional counseling board.
• The board issued 56% more licenses and 40% less time.
• National license like that is the only form that's the only governing board that licenses the social

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

Transcript Highlights:

• I myself am licensed in 43 different states, echoing what John has said.
• I've been a licensed hearing aid specialist since the very early 1980s.
• licensed audiologists, as their legislative liaison.
• professionals to make these decisions, the Board of Hearing and Speech should not have their ability
• reflection of the board at all.

Bills: SB5915 , SB6025 , SJM8002

Committee: House Health Care & Wellness

Keywords: SB 5915, health technology assessment, HTA, clinical committee, medical technology review, coverage determination, state-purchased health care, Washington health care, RCW, evidence-based medicine, cost-effectiveness, safety and efficacy, Medicare coverage, national coverage determination, clinical guidelines, patient advocacy, public comment, medical necessity, rare disease, life-threatening disease

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill did come to Professional Licensing and Registration, and as the gentleman said...
• This is not a new board of professional registration? Yeah. So the board is new.
• Yeah, so if you're talking about a licensed... that would be handled strictly by the board.
• This bill went through your committee on Professional Registration and Licensing.
• This did go through your committee, I think, on Professional Registration and Licensing.

Summary: The House first established a quorum, then heard a presentation from Debbie Huang of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Denver. Huang thanked Missouri lawmakers for their annual Taiwan resolutions and described Taiwan as a democratic and economic partner of the United States, emphasizing cooperation with Missouri in agriculture, manufacturing, logistics, semiconductors, and AI, while also warning about pressure from China and the need for stronger Taiwan-U.S. ties. The chamber then took up House Bill 311, which would move oversight of bail bondsmen under the existing board for private investigators and fire investigators, add bail bondsmen to that board, and increase training and oversight. Members said the bill was industry-requested, had unanimous committee support, and carried no fiscal note. The House adopted the committee substitute and perfected and printed the bill. Lawmakers also debated and adopted a committee substitute for House Bill 3009, a pharmacy bill aimed at clarifying rules for pharmacies serving low-income and underserved patients, emergency medication dispensing, and out-of-state pharmacy accreditation. Amendments were adopted to update the title and align Missouri law with national pharmacy board accreditation standards. The bill was described as a response to access problems during the 2025 St. Louis tornado and was said to have no state cost. A large block of floor action followed on a combined package of bills and amendments covering public safety, criminal law, health, and licensing. Measures discussed and adopted included changes to the sex offender registry and related corrections, an offense for impeding first responders, Mason’s Law to flag drivers with disabilities in law enforcement databases, a hands-free cell phone law update, Highway Patrol equipment purchasing authority, psilocybin language for first responders and veterans, AI-generated explicit material and child pornography provisions, gift card fraud penalties, stronger fentanyl trafficking penalties, Melanie’s Law on ignition interlock/DUI penalties, a domestic violence registry, boiler inspection and Missouri fire/life safety standards, Kansas City police retirement age corrections, and a commercial driver English proficiency bill with stronger penalties for drivers and carriers. One amendment on the sex offender registry was withdrawn after debate, and the House ultimately adopted the remaining amendments and referred the combined House Bills 368 and 3049 substitute to the Committee on Legislative Review.

Transcript Highlights:

• Some have expressed concern that this bill could set a precedent for other licensing boards.
• Some have expressed concern that this bill could set a precedent for other licensing boards.
• First, existing law establishes the Court Reporters Board of California for the purpose of licensing
• ongoing financial obligation for many California professionals beyond the initial licensing process.
• Sorry, lead opposition: Rebecca May, on behalf of the Contractors State License Board.

Committee: Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:

• professionals here.
• </c><00:36:21.839><c> mental</c><00:36:22.160><c> health</c><00:36:22.320><c> professionals</c> are licensed
• mental health professionals are licensed mental health professionals as<00:36:23.040><c> well</c><00
• </c> professionals in general in the state. professionals in general in the state.
• </c> mentioned the lack of licensed mentioned the lack of licensed professionals<00:37:28.079><c> here

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Summary: The HHS committee met in Room 224 and announced the hearing was being streamed live, with a one-minute limit on testimony. The chair explained that written testimony had already been reviewed and that speakers should either add new comments or stand on their written testimony. The committee first heard SB 2211, an emergency appropriation to the Department of Human Services. Testimony was overwhelmingly in support, including DHS, Aloha United Way, the Hawaii Food Industry Association, the Hawaii Public Health Institute, Catholic Charities, and many individuals. Supporters emphasized the importance of maintaining SNAP-related food assistance and emergency food delivery, while Catholic Charities raised a question about whether the bill’s language would also reach food banks serving food-insecure households that are not on SNAP. No opposition was heard and the bill was moved on without questions from members. The committee then heard SB 2025, which would exempt actively practicing advanced practice registered nurses from jury duty. Testimony was broadly supportive from nursing and health organizations, including the Hawaii American Nurses Association, the Hawaii affiliate of the College of Nurse Midwives, the Hawaii State Board of Nursing, and others. One witness from Kaiser Permanente requested an amendment to include physician assistants, and a committee member asked the Board of Nursing to review that request. The bill otherwise drew no opposition and no further member questions. SB 2038, relating to medication labeling, drew the most extended discussion. The measure would change labeling requirements for certain abortion medications, and testimony was split between supporters who framed it as a privacy and access issue and opponents who raised patient safety, ethics, and transparency concerns. The Department of Health supported the intent but requested an amendment to allow quicker access to private information during investigations without a subpoena. The Board of Pharmacy said it supported the written comments but noted operational challenges and possible cost impacts, while Kaiser said compliance would likely require manual workarounds and could slow pharmacy processes. The chair and members questioned whether patients could simply remove labels themselves, but witnesses said there could still be safety and access issues if the patient is not the one receiving the prescription. The committee then moved on to SB 2050, relating to chiropractic, which received support from the Hawaii Board of Chiropractic and the Hawaii State Chiropractic Association, with no substantive opposition noted. The hearing later turned to SB 201, relating to insurance, which appeared to be a new mandated-benefit measure tied to infertility/IVF coverage. The Hawaii Civil Rights Commission provided comments, while Hawaii Family Forum opposed the bill, arguing it went beyond medical infertility and raised ethical and public policy concerns. Kaiser and the Hawaii Association of Health Plans both asked for a study or audit, saying the measure could create new insurance mandates and increase costs for residents and employers. Private Work Hawaii strongly supported the bill as an equity issue. The committee noted there was no quorum for decision-making and deferred action on the measure to a later hearing, then recessed.

Transcript Highlights:

• Along the way, it had gathered some other provisions dealing with professional licenses.
• Along the way, it did incorporate licensing for occupations and professionals in other states.
• You've been part of the conversation this morning, too, because you, as a licensed professional, I believe
• Gentlemen, I'm a licensed professional. I'm a licensed attorney. I did attend Rolla.
• the licensed professional is responsible for those services, and it's their job to make sure that those

Transcript Highlights:

• Senators, CS for Senate Bill 36 on professional nursing titles.
• Aaron Ballas, Board of Nurse Association, waiving in support.
• Licensed physicians and nurses must complete a one-time, two-hour board-approved continuing education
• Licensed physicians and nurses must complete a one-time, two-hour board-approved continuing education
• Jill Puckett, Board Association of Nurse Practitioners, waiving in support.

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• medical professional under chapters 147 or 148 or 150A and is exempt from needing a city license.
• </c><00:25:58.040><c> medical</c><00:25:58.400><c> professional</c><00:25:58.960><c> under</c> a licensed
• medical professional under a licensed medical professional under chapters<00:25:59.760><c> 147</c><00
• The AMTA advocates for fair and consistent professional licensing in all 50 states, promotes public education
• That's a licensed, you know, hair cutter. They're driven by the Board of Cosmetology.

Committee: Senate State and Local Government

Transcript Highlights:

• I’m the executive director of the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board, otherwise known
• Educator Standards and Licensing Board.
• standards and professional educator standards and Licensing<01:04:10.720><c> Board</c><01:04:11.599>
• Board the bill before us today Licensing Board the bill before us today seeks<01:04:13.359><c> uh</c
• <01:07:15.319><c> board</c><01:07:15.680><c> for</c> licensing board for licensing board for teachers

Committee: House Education Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• It should be personal, and it should be professional.
• At what point would your bill require licensing?
• You limit that to licensing and so forth.
• They're professional, if you want to call it that, activities.
• Again, it only represents that one structure of a COA board when, in fact, most boards across the state

Summary: The Joint Committee on Aging and Independence held a hearing on several bills, led by Chair Tom Stanley and Senate Chair Patricia Jehlen. The committee first heard testimony on H. 765/S. 487, an act relative to councils on aging, which would update outdated statutory language and allow directors of councils on aging to make staffing decisions when a council is structured as an advisory body. Representative Donahue and Betsy Connell of the Massachusetts Association of Councils on Aging said the change reflects how most councils now operate and would resolve conflicts like the one that arose in Sherborn. Members asked about whether the bill would affect town managers, volunteer roles, and whether the language should more clearly exempt informal volunteer help; supporters said the bill is aimed at municipal staffing structures, not unpaid volunteer assistance. The committee then took extensive testimony on H. 789/S. 470, an act to improve Massachusetts home care, which would create a statewide licensure system for non-medical home care agencies and entities. Julie Watt, Jay Krillovich, Betsy Krimmins, Lisa Gargoni, Tim Foley, and several providers and advocates supported the bill, arguing that licensure would establish baseline standards for background checks, training, service plans, insurance, complaint procedures, and labor-law compliance, while helping consumers identify legitimate providers and reducing fraud and abuse. Several witnesses described problems with unlicensed or poorly supervised providers, and family members and dementia advocates emphasized the need for dementia-specific training and better oversight for vulnerable clients. Tim Foley also raised concerns about private equity’s growing role in home care and said stronger regulation is needed to protect consumers and workers. Committee members focused on practical questions about the bill’s scope, including whether it would reach informal paid helpers, volunteers, or people doing occasional household tasks, and what agency would enforce the rules. Supporters said the bill is intended to cover entities advertising home care services, not unpaid volunteer help, though they acknowledged regulators would need to work out details. John Sneeth of Tribute Home Care offered a more cautious view, saying licensure should not unduly burden smaller providers or reduce competition, and that enforcement would be key. The hearing also included testimony from the Alzheimer’s Association and family caregivers, who strongly supported the bill’s dementia-training provisions and described how trained caregivers improved safety and quality of life for people living with Alzheimer’s and dementia. At the end of the hearing, the committee also heard support for H. 778/S. 473, regarding the Commission on LGBTQ Aging, with Lisa Krinsky urging funding for a full-time director and continued support for the commission’s strategic plan. After public testimony concluded, the committee adjourned the hearing by motion and voice vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill also removes language that allows county boards to use up to 25% of the allocation The bill
• also removes language that allows county boards to use up to 25% of the allocation for the improvement
• or insurance adjuster license.
• or insurance adjuster license.
• or insurance adjuster license.

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee met with a quorum present, approved the prior meeting minutes, and then considered a series of House bills and committee substitutes. House Bill 5438, dealing with changes to Step 7 of the school aid formula and allowable uses of certain education allocations, was amended to adopt the Education Committee’s changes and then reported to the full Senate. House Bill 4087 creating the West Virginia-Ireland Education Alliance was also reported, as was House Bill 4191, which expands child care tax credit eligibility for employer-sponsored facilities and changes subsidy payments from attendance-based to enrollment-based reimbursement; senators emphasized its workforce and economic development benefits. House Bill 5074, which reallocates medical cannabis fund balances and future revenues, was amended to increase the Child Protective Commission pilot funding from $3 million to $5 million and remove proposed ibogaine research funding for Marshall and WVU before being reported. House Bill 5353, regulating virtual currency kiosks and money transmission licensure, and House Bill 5527, creating licensure and oversight for wellness reimbursement program administrators, both received strike-and-insert amendments and were reported. House Bill 5687, which phases down the metallurgical coal severance tax and adds a temporary oil and gas tax reduction with county/municipal revenue adjustments, was amended and reported. House Bill 4418, creating an electronic system for municipal business and occupation tax filing and collection with a 1% administrative fee and a participation threshold, was also reported. The committee then took up House Bill 4245, the Revenue Rules Bundle, which bundles 26 legislative rules from the Department of Revenue and related agencies. The bundle included alcohol, banking, insurance, racing, and tax rules, with several sunset extensions and repeals of outdated rules; the committee adopted a strike-and-insert amendment affecting a lottery consumer protection rule and a pre-need cemetery company rule, then reported the bill. House Bill 5168, providing a $12 million lottery-funded stream for emergency medical services, was amended to clarify the uses of the funds, rename one fund, require a 30% county match for mental health treatment spending, and create two additional county-based EMS funds; senators described it as a needed permanent funding source for EMS, and it was reported. Throughout the meeting, members generally supported the measures, with some discussion on technical details, funding allocations, and the impact of the bills on local services and workforce needs. At the end of the meeting, the chair announced that Senate House Bills 4004, 4006, and 4009 would not be taken up that day, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, yeah, I served on previous boards, on the contractual license board, and I've lived all my life in
• Also, if there were some licensed representative at the board meetings, a lot of decisions are made there
• </c><00:18:35.919><c> and</c><00:18:36.160><c> board</c> licensed at the board meetings and board licensed
• Board. Board.
• GM752, Olivia Uchima to the Board Board.

Committee: Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection

Summary: The Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee heard and considered a series of gubernatorial nominations to boards and commissions. Early nominees included Falleno Vital for the Boxing Commission, Rebecca Moore for the Board of Nursing, and Alexander Smith and Zachary Johnson for the Board of Public Accountancy. DCCA and board representatives testified in support of each, and the nominees who were present briefly described their qualifications and willingness to serve. The chair noted the unusually large volume of written testimony in support of the boxing nominee and emphasized that these are voluntary positions and nominees had already been vetted through questionnaires and resumes. The committee then heard several nominations to the Hawaii Board of Optometry, the Motor Vehicle Repair Industry Board, and the Hawaii Medical Board. Ashley Porter and Katherine Mao spoke in support of their optometry nominations, Nathan Konishi supported his motor vehicle repair board nomination, and Gary Belchure discussed his reappointment to the medical board. A substantial portion of the discussion on the medical board focused on physician shortages, especially on the neighbor islands, and efforts to address them through the Interstate Medical Compact and pending legislation such as SB 1365. Board staff also discussed possible pathways for foreign medical graduates and the need for criminal background checks to fully participate in the compact. The latter part of the hearing shifted to real estate commission nominations, including Audrey Abbe and Denise Lacosta. Testimony and member questions focused heavily on condominium governance, deferred maintenance, reserve studies, insurance costs, and the need for better education and oversight of volunteer board members and property managers. Both nominees said older buildings, rising insurance premiums, and lack of expertise among volunteer boards are major challenges, and they suggested more training, clearer guidance, stronger enforcement against unlicensed property management, and better access to qualified consultants and financing. No votes were taken during the hearing; the committee heard testimony and moved through the agenda nominee by nominee.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:48:13.920><c> board</c> and it will expand our licensing board and it will expand our licensing
• </c><00:48:26.800><c> board</c><00:48:27.480><c> to</c> and it will allow the licensing board to and
• </c><00:54:21.600><c> professionals</c> that we got four licensed professionals that we got four licensed
• These guidelines can risk discipline by the licensing board, up to the non-renewal of their license.
• ><c> um</c> licensing boards have um licensing boards have um two<01:40:57.960><c> primary</c><01:40:

Committee: Senate Executive Departments and Administration

Transcript Highlights:

• Regulation in the form of a $100 license fee, which would be paid by approximately 50 professionals
• Ophthalmologists, who are currently the only professionals licensed to carry out the procedures expanded
• </c><01:15:59.760><c> By</c><01:16:00.080><c> placing</c><01:16:00.480><c> these</c> licensing boards
• By placing these licensing boards.
• They are most often recommendations from either the Office of Professional Regulation or the Board of

Transcript Highlights:

• This is why pest management professionals must be trained, licensed, and insured.
• Licensed pest management professionals carry insurance already and assume this liability privately as
• Pest management professionals are licensed by the state of Idaho and under strict pesticide and safety
• Pest professionals, we are required to be licensed even with non-restricted-use pesticides, over-the-counter
• boards.

Committee: House Agricultural Affairs