Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome to the February 19th Senate Health and Long-Term Care Committee.
• Specialty care transports provide care for patients who are critically injured or ill and require care
• This is a term that is typically reserved for critical care transport medicine like rotor or fixed-wing
• Nurses are highly skilled and essential members of our health care system.
• Our health care system. My concern today is not about comparing the professions.

Bills: HB2340, HB2155, HB2531

Keywords: HB 2340, nursing assistants, nurse aide, substance use disorder monitoring program, monitoring program, credentialing, licensure, disciplinary records, enforcement action, public disclosure, privacy, third-party website, stipend program, financial assistance, treatment costs, drug testing, peer support, recovery, rehabilitation, board-approved program

Summary: The committee heard public testimony on six House bills related to health care, cannabis, licensing, emergency transport, veterinary practice, and nursing workforce support. Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2242 would preserve access to preventive services and vaccines by allowing the Department of Health to issue immunization guidance, tying insurance coverage to federal preventive-service recommendations as of June 30, 2025, and directing JLARC review in 2032. Supporters, including the Governor’s office and the Insurance Commissioner, said it would prevent gaps in coverage and maintain affordable vaccine purchasing; opponents argued it politicizes vaccine policy and expands state influence. The committee also heard Substitute House Bill 2152, which would allow terminally ill patients in hospitals, nursing homes, and hospice to use medical cannabis under facility policies that prohibit smoking/vaping and require secure storage and documentation. The sponsor and several advocates described it as a dignity-and-compassion measure, while testimony noted the need for safeguards and caregiver flexibility. The committee then heard Substitute House Bill 2088 on the dietitian licensure compact, which would let Washington join an interstate compact for dietitians. The sponsor and multiple witnesses, including military spouses, health professionals, and veterans groups, said it would reduce licensure barriers, help workforce mobility, and improve access to nutrition care, especially for military families and rural patients. House Bill 2110 would allow a registered nurse without EMT certification to staff certain inter-facility specialty care transports when no paramedic is available, provided an EMT is also on board and the nurse has appropriate competencies. Rural hospitals supported the bill as a way to reduce dangerous transfer delays, while nursing and EMS opponents raised concerns about training, accountability, and patient safety; the committee also heard a request to change “should” to “shall” for ambulance orientation. Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2247 would update Washington’s veterinary-client-patient relationship and telemedicine rules, allowing ongoing telemedicine care after an in-person exam and setting conditions for prescriptions and commercial-animal oversight. The state veterinarian testified that the bill could conflict with federal FDA/USDA requirements that rely on an in-person exam for prescribing certain drugs and for regulatory work, while supporters said it would expand access to veterinary care and reduce delays for low-income and rural pet owners. House Bill 2340 would add nursing assistants to the substance use disorder monitoring and stipend programs; the sponsor, a nurse in recovery, said the bill would help low-paid nursing assistants afford treatment and monitoring costs. In executive session, the committee waived the five-day notice rule for HB 2247, then voted do-pass on House Bills 2155 and 2531 and sent them to the Rules Committee.

Bills: SB3123, HB1853, HB1961, HB1965, HB1962, HB1959, HB2505, HB2576, HB1801, HB1804, HB1864, HB2319, HB2314, HB2115, HB1854, HB2062, HB1511, HB1535, HB2614, HB2282, HB1870, HB1695, HB1626, HB1643, HB1972, HB1550, HB1974, HB1966, HB1973, HB2545, HB1946, HB1939, HB1721, HB1741, HB1700

Keywords: conditional gifts, private education, scholarships, donor conditions, Hawaii education law, HB1853, dementia, Alzheimer's disease, cognitive impairment, memory care, memory clinic, Hanai Memory Network, Executive Office on Aging, aging services, kupuna, caregiver support, long-term care, elder care, geriatrics, public health

Transcript Highlights:

• Health care sector.
• </c> fairness within our legal system. fairness within our legal system.
• </c> system for the broader community. system for the broader community.
• The folks who get paid, but the folks who just come because they believe in the system and they care
• The folks who get paid, but the folks who just come because they believe in the system and they care

Bills: SB3123, HB1853, HB1961, HB1965, HB1962, HB1959, HB2505, HB2576, HB1801, HB1804, HB1864, HB2319, HB2314, HB2115, HB1854, HB2062, HB1511, HB1535, HB2614, HB2282, HB1870, HB1695, HB1626, HB1643, HB1972, HB1550, HB1974, HB1966, HB1973, HB2545, HB1946, HB1939, HB1721, HB1741, HB1700

Keywords: conditional gifts, private education, scholarships, donor conditions, Hawaii education law, HB1853, dementia, Alzheimer's disease, cognitive impairment, memory care, memory clinic, Hanai Memory Network, Executive Office on Aging, aging services, kupuna, caregiver support, long-term care, elder care, geriatrics, public health

Transcript Highlights:

• and I have adopted through the foster care system.
• The question I get, I'm from Southern Arizona, is that we can't take care of roads in Arizona.
• budget will increasingly feel that impact in long-term care, crisis services, and Medicaid expenditures
• Primary care providers are ill-equipped to do much with this in our system.
• long-term care services, she was able to do that.

Bills: HB2014, HB2111, HB2156, HB2165, HB2202, HB2305, HB2321, HB2399, HB2403, HB2416, HB2418, HB2446, HB2601, HB2615, HB2620, HB2812, HB2939, HB2940, HB2955, HB2957, HB2960, HB2992, HB4026, HB4049

Keywords: air emissions, fuel blends, environmental quality, feasibility study, Arizona Department of Agriculture, driver license, examinations, motorcycle awareness, public safety, traffic laws, livestock, compensation, funding, ranching, agriculture, veterans, state parks, admission fees, military exemption, recreation access

Transcript Highlights:

• This plan identifies immediate near-term actions that we must take to achieve our long-term goals, those
• This plan identifies immediate near-term actions that we must take to achieve our long-term goals, those
• <00:26:15.360><c> long-term</c><00:26:16.039><c> goals</c><00:26:16.840><c> those</c><00:26:17.080><c
• > goals</c> achieve our long-term goals those goals achieve our long-term goals those goals uh<00:26:
• </c><00:53:08.200><c> Mr</c> that that's a 20-year-old system Mr that that's a 20-year-old system Mr

Bills: HF276, HF413, HF411

Keywords: human services, Medical Assistance, Medicaid, long-term services and supports, LTSS, public assistance, application process, eligibility determination, customer service survey, wait times, form complexity, lead agencies, Department of Human Services, Department of Children Youth and Families, streamlining, administrative reform, case management, reassessment, intake system, adaptive eligibility form

Bills: SCR96, SCR164, SCR172, SCR166, SCR182, SCR7, SCR59, SCR58, SCR60, SCR89, SCR184, SCR11, HB2296, HB2315, HB2343

Keywords: electric reliability, renewable energy, interconnection, Hawaii Electric Reliability Administrator, Public Utilities Commission, capacity shortfalls, energy policies, critical infrastructure, foreign influence, local control, energy dependence, economic resilience, energy analysis, cost reduction, financial risk, Hawaii PUC, energy self-sufficiency, natural gas, energy transition, ratepayer protection

Bills: SCR96, SCR164, SCR172, SCR166, SCR182, SCR7, SCR59, SCR58, SCR60, SCR89, SCR184, SCR11, HB2296, HB2315, HB2343

Keywords: electric reliability, renewable energy, interconnection, Hawaii Electric Reliability Administrator, Public Utilities Commission, capacity shortfalls, energy policies, critical infrastructure, foreign influence, local control, energy dependence, economic resilience, energy analysis, cost reduction, financial risk, Hawaii PUC, energy self-sufficiency, natural gas, energy transition, ratepayer protection

Bills: SCR96, SCR164, SCR172, SCR166, SCR182, SCR7, SCR59, SCR58, SCR60, SCR89, SCR184, SCR11, HB2296, HB2315, HB2343

Keywords: electric reliability, renewable energy, interconnection, Hawaii Electric Reliability Administrator, Public Utilities Commission, capacity shortfalls, energy policies, critical infrastructure, foreign influence, local control, energy dependence, economic resilience, energy analysis, cost reduction, financial risk, Hawaii PUC, energy self-sufficiency, natural gas, energy transition, ratepayer protection

Bills: SCR96, SCR164, SCR172, SCR166, SCR182, SCR7, SCR59, SCR58, SCR60, SCR89, SCR184, SCR11, HB2296, HB2315, HB2343

Keywords: electric reliability, renewable energy, interconnection, Hawaii Electric Reliability Administrator, Public Utilities Commission, capacity shortfalls, energy policies, critical infrastructure, foreign influence, local control, energy dependence, economic resilience, energy analysis, cost reduction, financial risk, Hawaii PUC, energy self-sufficiency, natural gas, energy transition, ratepayer protection

Bills: SCR96, SCR164, SCR172, SCR166, SCR182, SCR7, SCR59, SCR58, SCR60, SCR89, SCR184, SCR11, HB2296, HB2315, HB2343

Keywords: electric reliability, renewable energy, interconnection, Hawaii Electric Reliability Administrator, Public Utilities Commission, capacity shortfalls, energy policies, critical infrastructure, foreign influence, local control, energy dependence, economic resilience, energy analysis, cost reduction, financial risk, Hawaii PUC, energy self-sufficiency, natural gas, energy transition, ratepayer protection

Bills: SCR96, SCR164, SCR172, SCR166, SCR182, SCR7, SCR59, SCR58, SCR60, SCR89, SCR184, SCR11, HB2296, HB2315, HB2343

Keywords: electric reliability, renewable energy, interconnection, Hawaii Electric Reliability Administrator, Public Utilities Commission, capacity shortfalls, energy policies, critical infrastructure, foreign influence, local control, energy dependence, economic resilience, energy analysis, cost reduction, financial risk, Hawaii PUC, energy self-sufficiency, natural gas, energy transition, ratepayer protection

Transcript Highlights:

• That brings us to SB 2247 in the Campaign Spending Commission filing system.
• :21:56.520><c> filing</c> Campaign Spending Commission filing Campaign Spending Commission filing system
• . system. system.

Bills: SCR96, SCR164, SCR172, SCR166, SCR182, SCR7, SCR59, SCR58, SCR60, SCR89, SCR184, SCR11, HB2296, HB2315, HB2343

Keywords: electric reliability, renewable energy, interconnection, Hawaii Electric Reliability Administrator, Public Utilities Commission, capacity shortfalls, energy policies, critical infrastructure, foreign influence, local control, energy dependence, economic resilience, energy analysis, cost reduction, financial risk, Hawaii PUC, energy self-sufficiency, natural gas, energy transition, ratepayer protection

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> insurance don't provide, such as care insurance don't provide, such as care for<00:12:03.080><c>
• </c> passage to the health care facility? passage to the health care facility?
• Thank you, Madam Speaker. access their health care. access their health care.
• </c> or behavioral health care. or behavioral health care.
• </c> for a long time to come. for a long time to come.

Bills: SCR96, SCR164, SCR172, SCR166, SCR182, SCR7, SCR59, SCR58, SCR60, SCR89, SCR184, SCR11, HB2296, HB2315, HB2343

Keywords: electric reliability, renewable energy, interconnection, Hawaii Electric Reliability Administrator, Public Utilities Commission, capacity shortfalls, energy policies, critical infrastructure, foreign influence, local control, energy dependence, economic resilience, energy analysis, cost reduction, financial risk, Hawaii PUC, energy self-sufficiency, natural gas, energy transition, ratepayer protection

Transcript Highlights:

• on travel and Indian health systems, often cannot access reimbursement for lactation care because Arizona
• It is the frontline safety net portion of our health care system.
• By bringing together legislators, health care professionals, and voices from across the health care system
• I'm a product of the Arizona public school system and a two-time graduate of Arizona State University
• There's not really a standard of care, but we've got to be careful with that term.

Bills: HB2049, HB2050, HB2051, HB2072, HB2082, HB2085, HB2177, HB2178, HB2179, HB2183, HB2195

Keywords: radiation therapy, particle accelerator, critical access hospitals, patient care, rural healthcare, radiologic technologist, radiologist assistant, radiology, imaging, x-ray, diagnostic x-ray, fluoroscopy, mammography, computed tomography, CT technologist, nuclear medicine technologist, bone densitometry, radiation safety, radiation licensing, scope of practice

Transcript Highlights:

• health care.
• health care.
• health care.
• CentraCare is a health system, a rural health care system located to the north and west of this metro
• The collaborative care model does improve mental health access to mental health care.

Bills: HF958, HF688, HF702

Keywords: mental health, behavioral health, psychiatric care, collaborative care model, healthcare funding, service dog, service animal, service dog in training, assistance dog, guide dog, disability rights, housing accommodations, fair housing, landlord, rental housing, homeowners association, HOA, Minnesota human services, accessible housing, reasonable accommodation

Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome to our final regularly scheduled Senate Health and Long-Term Care Committee of this 2026 legislative
• Second Substitute House Bill 2110 concerning personnel for ambulance service inter-facility specialty care
• 2384, sponsored by Representative Macri, related to increasing regulatory oversight of continuing care
• is one amendment before you, sponsored by Senator Cleveland, which amends the definition for a life care
• contract to specify that, within the additional recurring charges, it does not change based on care

Bills: HB2340, HB2540, HB2113

Keywords: HB 2340, nursing assistants, nurse aide, substance use disorder monitoring program, monitoring program, credentialing, licensure, disciplinary records, enforcement action, public disclosure, privacy, third-party website, stipend program, financial assistance, treatment costs, drug testing, peer support, recovery, rehabilitation, board-approved program

Summary: The Senate Health and Long-Term Care Committee held its final regularly scheduled meeting of the 2026 session and moved into executive session to consider a slate of bills. Staff briefed members on measures dealing with the dietician licensure compact, ambulance transport staffing, substance use disorder monitoring for nursing assistants, hospital inspections, music therapy licensure exemptions, nursing regulation, EMT recertification, radiologic technologist supervision, continuing care retirement communities, and veterinarian-client-patient relationships. Several amendments were discussed, including changes to ambulance transport coordination requirements, clarifications to billing statements for motor vehicle accident ambulance bills, oversight language for continuing care retirement communities, and a striking amendment limiting commercial breeding language to livestock and clarifying veterinary prescription drug use. The committee adopted the amendments it considered and voted to give due pass recommendations to the bills before it. Bills advanced included Substitute House Bill 2088, Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2110 as amended, House Bill 2340, Substitute House Bill 2577, Substitute House Bill 2363, Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1187 as amended, Substitute House Bill 2339, House Bill 2540, House Bill 2113, Second Substitute House Bill 2384 as amended, and Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2247 as amended. Each bill was sent to the Rules Committee, and the committee reported the measures as passed subject to signatures. The chair also briefly explained the livestock-related intent of the amendment to the veterinary bill in response to a question about puppy mills. At the end of the meeting, the chair thanked committee staff and members for their work during the session, noted that interim work would begin in a few weeks, and moved to adjourn. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• I don't care.
• I'm the owner of Arizona Impound.
• have alcohol on your system.
• So the quality of the interlock provider care in Arizona has significantly increased since that time.
• This has come a long way.

Bills: HB2127, HB2257, HB2305, HB2573, HB2772, HB2941, HB2957

Keywords: special license plates, transportation, funding, nonprofits, charitable contributions, boating, watercraft licensing, law enforcement, safety fund, state funding, Arizona Revised Statutes, towing regulation, private towing carriers, vehicle impound, towing rates, preemption, DUI, ignition interlock, substance abuse treatment, driving privileges

Transcript Highlights:

• They're going into long-term care settings.
• They're going into long-term care settings.
• care settings they're they're long-term care settings they're going<00:39:15.480><c> into</c><00:39:
• For the record, my name is Aon Hbert, and I'm here on behalf of the Long-Term Care Imperative.
• I'm here today on behalf of the Long-Term Care Imperative in opposition to House File 2319.

Bills: HF2367, HF2319, HF2523, HF1742, HF671, HF2331, HF2722, HF2406, HF1674

Keywords: HF2367, Community First Services and Supports, CFSS, personal care assistance, PCA, consumer-directed community supports, CDCS, home and community-based services, HCBS, direct support professionals, direct care workers, caregivers, support workers, SEIU Healthcare Minnesota & Iowa, collective bargaining agreement, retention stipend, health care cost stipend, training stipend, orientation program, retirement trust

Transcript Highlights:

• So we accrued long-term storage credits after we stored that water.
• So one way we can increase our bank of credits is through the purchase of long-term storage credits.
• It is certainly one way of distributing long-term storage credits, those water credits, by distributing
• For those relying on the agency, this means better coordination, fewer conflicts, and smarter long-term
• Smarter long-term land use decisions that benefit both development and conservation.

Bills: SB1137, SB1176, SB1287, SB1335, SB1336, SB1445, SB1677

Keywords: underground utilities, utility locating, dig safe, call before you dig, 811, excavation safety, damage prevention, one-call center, locate request, white lining, large project coordination, buried infrastructure, subsurface utilities, utility marking, locator wire, locator strip, interactive positive response system, landlord duties, apartment community, mobile home park

Transcript Highlights:

• all this coming together, I believe it would ensure a steady pipeline of drivers that supports the long-term
• all this coming together, I believe it would ensure a steady pipeline of drivers that supports the long-term
• </c><00:51:18.559><c> um</c> long life resilient pavement system um long life resilient pavement system
• term in the back end. ...making those investments up front will save us long term in the back end.
• Investments up front will save us long Investments up front will save us long term<01:15:05.320><c> in

Bills: HF198, HF269, HF185, HF303, HF305, HF189

Keywords: HF198, shared time pupils, shared-time enrollment, nonpublic school, private school, public school, career and technical education, CTE, secondary credit, school funding, state aid, education finance, Minnesota Statutes 126C.01, compulsory attendance, school district, education policy, HF269, Spicer, Minnesota bonding bill, capital investment