Video & Transcript : 'aging facilities' :
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MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Human Services Finance and Policy Committee 2/11/25
Human Services Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- </c><00:04:54.320><c> ma</c> disabled ma long-term care facilities ma disabled ma long-term care facilities
- facilities.
- </c> delivery record requirements facility delivery record requirements facility licensure<00:33:40.399
- <00:33:44.559><c> alternative</c><00:33:45.200><c> licensing</c> facilities alternative licensing facilities
- treatment facilities sud licens treat treatment facilities including<00:37:28.640><c> Provisions</c>
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Aging and Long-Term Care Committee Jun 24th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- That facility will only be reimbursed about $93 a day, but someone at Tier 4, the facility will be reimbursed
- inoperable facility.
- inoperable facility.
- Additionally, for child care facilities. Fees on the inoperable facility.
- Additionally, for child care facilities and adult day health facilities, which are paid based on daily
Summary:
The Assembly Aging and Long-Term Care Committee met on June 24 with a substitute chair presiding and considered three measures. SB 352 by Senator Reyes was placed on the consent calendar and approved unanimously, 7-0, to be re-referred to the Committee on Emergency Management. SB 433 by Senator Wahab, presented on behalf of Senator Stern, was heard next and focused on room-and-board protections for participants in the assisted living waiver and CalAIM assisted living transition community support programs. Supporters, including Justice in Aging, CANHR, the Western Center on Law and Poverty, the California Commission on Aging, and the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Association, argued the bill would prevent low-income Medi-Cal residents from being charged unaffordable rates and losing their housing. Opponents, including the California Assisted Living Association, LeadingAge California, and Six B’s, said they remained concerned about the bill’s rent-control implications and statutory scope, though they acknowledged recent amendments addressed some eligibility issues. After committee discussion, SB 433 was approved 5-1 with one abstention and re-referred to the Committee on Human Services.
The committee also heard SB 582 by Senator Stern, presented by Senator Wahab, which would allow state departments to issue disaster suspensions of active licenses for facilities rendered inoperable by declared emergencies, waive some licensing fees, and provide temporary flexibility for community-based adult services, child care, and evacuation planning requirements for skilled nursing and residential care facilities. Support came from the California Assisted Living Association, LeadingAge California, the California Commission on Aging, the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Association, CANHR, and a child care resource center, all describing the bill as helpful for rebuilding and continuity of services after disasters. There was no recorded opposition, and SB 582 passed unanimously, 7-0, to the Committee on Health. The meeting then adjourned.
TX
Texas 89th Regular
Trade, Workforce & Economic Development Mar 19th, 2025
Trade, Workforce & Economic Development
Transcript Highlights:
- This reflects a larger trend of adapting to the digital age.
- Or availability for storage facility owners to send out notices. for lean sales.
- And so the federal law deal with under the age of 13. So.
- Under the age of 18. I'm sorry, under the age of 18. I'm sorry. Yes, ma'am. I'm sorry. Yes, sir.
- So the state law would be, if this passes, would be under the age... of 18.
Keywords:
social media, children, account verification, data privacy, parental control, property owners' association, residential watering restrictions, vegetation, fine limitations, drought, technology, innovation, economic development, grants, Texas Economic Development, business funding, HB 1395, private passenger vehicle rental, car rental, vehicle rental
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Our average age is 42.
- to a mid-level psychiatric facility.
- state facility or a facility to be built, you're going to be adding to your per diem rate the cost of
- We began with one facility and in 1997, began to add additional facilities to the portfolio, where today
- It's a treatment facility MTC built and owns. It's a 200 or 2,236 bed treatment facility.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
Senate Health and Human Services (01/22/2025)
Health and Human Services
Transcript Highlights:
- </c><00:09:58.560><c> food</c> homes Child Care Facilities food homes Child Care Facilities food protection
- </c> of a system of care for healthy aging of a system of care for healthy aging and<00:56:16.599><c>
- In this day and age, is there any talk of increasing that limitation so people who, in this day and age
- </c> woman when the probable gestational age woman when the probable gestational age has<01:45:56.400
- </c> requires a physical address a facility requires a physical address a facility name<02:34:12.279>
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Appr/Sub-Natural Resources REVISED Jan 8th, 2026 at 09:00 am
Transcript Highlights:
- So, we had 41 new facilities that came online at that time, and I'm glad to say that those facilities
- The more regenerative ag that we have in place.
- You know, and ag isn't the sexy jet airplane.
- If we get Tom Cruise to make a movie about Ag, we'd be ok.
- But our good ag producers out there have been doing it forever.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 5 on Corrections, Public Safety, Judiciary, Labor and Transportation Apr 9th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- So we're dealing with an aging population.
- CHCF, which we delegated April 3rd, is a huge medical facility.
- “I would say the health care facility in Stockton concentrates a lot of those more challenging age population
- How many beds are at the health care facility in Stockton?”
- But on the main facility, it’s 722 inpatient beds.” “Okay.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 5 on Corrections, Public Safety, Judiciary, Labor and Transportation Apr 9th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- So we're dealing with an aging population.
- Is it like a dedicated facility for people who need?
- I would say the health care facility in Stockton concentrates a lot of those more challenging age population
- How many beds are at the health care facility in Stockton?
- But on the main facility, it's 722 inpatient beds. Okay.
Summary:
The committee heard an overview from the Office of the Inspector General and California Correctional Health Care Services on prison oversight, medical care, reentry, and related budget requests. The OIG requested $275,000 General Fund for two additional intake analysts, citing a sharp rise in complaints from 3,200 in 2022 to 7,860 in 2025 and explaining that the unit reviews and routes complaints, including PREA and staff misconduct allegations, within 30 days. Its medical inspection unit reported on cycle seven prison health inspections, noting generally adequate case-review performance but weak policy-compliance results, especially in medication management and health care environment indicators, and said it was beginning cycle eight with revised inspection methods.
Members questioned the OIG about what kinds of complaints were driving the increase, whether the office tracks validity or systemic patterns, and how it distinguishes duplicative complaints from those already handled by CDCR. OIG said the largest categories were prison conditions and staff misconduct, that it does not determine whether complaints are “valid” in a statistical sense, and that it forwards issues to CDCR or other entities as appropriate. Senators also asked about the medical inspection findings, the remaining prisons not yet delegated back from federal receivership, and whether more detail should be provided in future reports. LAO and Department of Finance staff said they had no concerns with the OIG proposal.
The committee then reviewed the correctional health care budget, including staffing, pharmacy, contract medical costs, and the state’s progress toward ending the Plata medical receivership. CDCR said it is trying to reduce vacancies through hiring events, social media outreach, new classifications, and more on-site care, while also using CalAIM to improve reentry services; CalAIM officials reported 89% Medi-Cal activation at release, 87% managed care assignment, 88% reentry care plans, and 59% warm handoffs, with about $14.7 million in reimbursements to date. Members pressed staff on the cost of receivership, the pace of delegation, whether more care could be consolidated into fewer facilities, and whether the state should seek more federal reimbursement or alternative staffing models.
Finally, the committee discussed the new mental health receivership and a telemental health staffing proposal. The receiver’s office requested $33.9 million from the Mental Health Special Deposit Fund, including $8.2 million for the receiver’s office and $25.3 million to make court-ordered bonus payments permanent; CDCR also sought about $8.9 million for telemental health staffing, growing to $13 million ongoing. LAO recommended approving the action plan and portions of the telehealth request, but urged the Legislature to monitor progress, consider out-of-state recruitment and expanded telehealth, and avoid across-the-board salary increases; Finance cautioned that out-of-state licensure would require major statutory changes and that staffing-ratio changes would need receiver approval. Senators raised concerns about the high cost of receiverships, vacancy-driven fines, the need for more detailed benchmarks, and whether the state should consolidate mental health populations and better target recruitment to fill hard-to-staff positions.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Conference Committee on SF3045 5/9/25
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> registration in residential facilities. registration in residential facilities.
- Aging is a public health issue and a bipartisan concern for our aging demographics.
- Aging is a public health issue and a bipartisan concern for our aging demographics.
- </c> the aging challenges of Minnesota. the aging challenges of Minnesota.
- The impact of aging every stage.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Transportation Dec 4th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- This obviously raises risks due to these aging vessels and aging systems.
- One of the other challenges with our facilities is the age and the lack of ongoing maintenance activities
- facilities.
- I know, though, that as we get into this and we start seeing the fact that the age of the facilities
- I know, though, that as we get into this and we start seeing the fact that the age of the facilities
Summary:
The committee received a detailed staff presentation on Washington State Ferries’ capital needs, current fleet status, and long-range funding outlook. Staff described the current service pattern, ridership recovery since the pandemic, the aging fleet, and the state’s plan to add three new hybrid-electric Olympic-class vessels under the 2025 budget, with delivery expected around 2030-2032. Members also heard that the fleet is operating with no reserve vessel, that preservation time is below the desired level, and that terminal electrification and vessel conversion plans face timing, cost, and procurement risks. Questions focused on ridership trends, biofuel supply, design-risk allocation in vessel contracts, sequencing of terminal electrification with new vessel delivery, and the cost and feasibility of restoring international Sidney service, which would require a SOLAS-certified vessel.
Staff then outlined ferry capital funding, saying recent spending and programmed needs are far above regular ferry-specific revenues and that the system relies on a mix of dedicated accounts, transportation package money, federal grants, and transfers. They said the near-term budget is balanced through 2027-29, but the longer-term capital outlook shows a shortfall of roughly $250 million to $300 million per biennium, with broader unmet needs much higher. The presentation estimated costs for future vessels, life extensions, terminal electrification, and additional Jumbo Mark II conversions, and noted that the current enacted plan does not fully fund fleet replacement, full electrification, or life extension of older vessels. Members asked for follow-up information on terminal seismic/environmental issues, contract options for additional vessels, and the timing and cost of alternative vessel designs.
The committee then shifted to WSDOT maintenance and preservation. Pascoe Focktich described maintenance operations, including winter response, guardrail repair, facilities, equipment, and the effects of underfunding and inflation. He said most of the maintenance budget is fixed cost and labor, that material prices have risen sharply, and that many facilities are in poor condition with asbestos issues and deferred upkeep. He also noted growing guardrail damage, increasing pavement claims, and the burden of maintaining aging bridges and facilities. Members asked about prior planning for these needs, the role of asbestos, and whether more proactive sequencing could help budget decisions.
Troy Suing then presented the highway preservation program, saying WSDOT is in the early stages of critical failure and has stretched preservation dollars as far as possible. He explained the distinction between pavement, bridge, and other highway asset preservation, said the department is largely reactive, and estimated that delaying work can make it three to five times more expensive later. He said about 40% of roadways are currently due or overdue for preservation, bridge conditions are nearing the federal poor-bridge threshold, and the department’s 10-year preservation need is about $8 billion. Members asked about the cost of deferring work, whether the department could do more if funded, how priorities are set, and whether other states face similar problems.
Finally, Evan Grimm and Mike Fay briefed the committee on bridge strikes by overheight vehicles. They described recent incidents on I-90 near Cle Elum and SR 410 near White River, the damage and closures caused, and possible countermeasures such as public outreach, improved trip-planning tools, and a pilot warning system with sensors and flashing beacons. Fay explained the state’s financial recovery process for third-party damage, saying WSDOT recovers roughly $20 million per biennium and about 78% to 80% of billed damages, with money going to the motor vehicle fund. Members asked about prevention, insurance recovery, and whether the state uses claim data to inform future design or safety changes.
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
Governor's Capital Budget Hearing (06/16/2026)
Transcript Highlights:
- assessment on all of our facilities.
- The projects are prioritized within each facility, and then those facilities are all blended together
- is starting to show its age.
- All of the bathroom and shower facilities are in need of some level of renovation due to the age and
- wear of those facilities.
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
Administrative Regulation Review Subcommittee (7-8-26)
Transcript Highlights:
- </c><00:02:01.600><c> compliance</c> control over the facilities compliance control over the facilities
- Is there an age limit on this, um, child waiver? >> Up to age 21. >> Up to age 21. Okay.
- Is there an age limit on this, um, child waiver? >> Up to age 21. >> Up to age 21. Okay.
- Is there an age limit on this, um, child waiver? >> Up to age 21. >> Up to age 21. Okay.
- Is there an age limit on this, um, child waiver? >> Up to age 21. >> Up to age 21. Okay.
Keywords:
• 0:00 - Roll Call
• 0:19 - Approval of June 2026 meeting minutes
• 0:36 - Fish & Wildlife (301 KAR 1:201 and 301 KAR 2:178)
• 1:35 - Board of Veterinary Examiners (201 KAR 16:767)
• 4:10 - State Board of Elections (31 KAR 4:240 Emergency)
• 4:50 - Office of the Attorney General, Regulatory Relief (40 KAR 12:300, 12:610, 12:400, 12:420 and 12:600)
• 7:03 - Department of Revenue (103 KAR 43:341 Emergency)
• 8:05 - Kentucky Public Pensions Authority (105 KAR 1:001 and 1:440)
• 9:19 - Finance and Administration Cabinet, Office of the Controller (200 KAR 38:080)
• 10:10 - Board of Physical Therapy (201 KAR 22:010 and 22:070)
• 11:06 - Kentucky Department of Education (702 KAR 3:220 and 6:110)
• 12:43 - Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Department for Public Health (902 KAR 1:400)
• 13:47 - Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Department for Medicaid Services (907 KAR 2:720 and 2:725)
• 28:11 - Next meeting and adjournment, 958, all
Summary:
The subcommittee met with a quorum present, approved the minutes without objection, and then reviewed a series of administrative regulations from multiple agencies. Most of the regulations received staff-suggested amendments and were approved without objection, including fish and wildlife rules on fishing limits and deer hunting on local government property, veterinary board changes to responsible party and veterinary manager requirements, election procedures for safe-at-home voters, attorney general regulatory relief rules, emergency gasoline tax pricing, public pensions updates, controller fraud-prevention policies, physical therapy licensure and English proficiency standards, school nutrition and fee-waiver rules, public health conference procedures, and Medicaid waiver regulations.
Several agencies briefly identified themselves and answered procedural questions, but most items drew no substantive opposition. The Board of Veterinary Examiners regulation included an agency amendment that removed a proposed limit on the number of facilities a veterinary manager could oversee. The Department of Education regulations updated fee waiver and meal program procedures, while the Department of Public Health regulation clarified notification and conference-request procedures. The Department of Revenue and Kentucky Public Pensions Authority items were largely technical or conforming changes, including a special-needs trust definition added for consistency with Senate Bill 85.
The most extensive discussion involved the Department for Medicaid Services’ 1915C child waiver regulations. Kentucky Protection and Advocacy testified in opposition to the waiver’s lack of participant-directed services, arguing that consumer-driven services such as respite and community living support are required and especially important in rural areas and for higher-acuity children. Cabinet representatives responded that the waiver is intended to provide wraparound services to keep children in homes and communities, that it has CMS approval, and that the program is limited to 100 slots with about 21 participants already enrolled. Members did not move a deficiency motion, and the chair indicated the regulations would continue through the process. The meeting adjourned after setting the next meeting for Tuesday, August 11 at 1:00 p.m.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Early Learning & Human Services Jan 21st, 2026 at 01:30 pm
Early Learning & Human Services
Transcript Highlights:
- I learned this last interim when I was touring the Denny Juvenile Detention Facility.
- From ages 11 to 12, I went in and out of order. From 12 to 14, I was sent to Echo Glen.
- We recognize that people are peer validated at this age.
- that looks a lot like a community facility or is a community facility.
- In talking to our members, around 150 to 160 youth per facility is ideal.
Keywords:
juvenile justice, youth sentencing, juvenile rehabilitation, DCYF, Department of Children Youth and Families, community supervision, community transition services, suspended disposition, less restrictive alternative, sentencing grid, juvenile confinement, juvenile prison, rehabilitation, recidivism, mental health treatment, substance use disorder, chemical dependency, trauma-informed care, racial disparities, equity
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
January 15, 2025 - 01:00 PM
Transcript Highlights:
- who are aging with us.
- to form Florida's aging network.
- Florida's Aging Network.
- In the vast and oftentimes complex aging space, In the vast and oftentimes complex aging space, the department's
- , but age well in our great state.
Summary:
The Health Care Budget Subcommittee met to organize the new term, take roll, and hear introductory presentations from the six agencies under its jurisdiction: the Agency for Health Care Administration, Agency for Persons with Disabilities, Department of Children and Families, Department of Elder Affairs, Department of Health, and Department of Veterans’ Affairs. The chair outlined the committee process, including assigning members to review agencies and make budget recommendations. Each agency head gave a high-level overview of their budget, staffing, major programs, and priorities, with recurring themes including Medicaid, long-term care, disability services, child welfare, mental health, aging services, public health, and veterans’ health care.
Several agency leaders highlighted recent initiatives and funding priorities. AHCA emphasized Medicaid managed care, provider regulation, Hope Florida, hospital-at-home, and cancer-related efforts; APD discussed iBudget services, Hope Florida, a managed-care pilot, online applications, and forensic care costs; DCF focused on child protection, foster care, adult protective services, food/cash/medical assistance, mental health, and opioid treatment; Elder Affairs highlighted Alzheimer’s services, community-based senior care, guardianship, ombudsman services, and disaster outreach; DOH covered cancer innovation, maternal telehealth, cybersecurity, HIV/hepatitis/syphilis screening, and school nursing; and Veterans Affairs described benefits and health care access for veterans, long-term care, and federal reimbursement. Several speakers also raised concerns about rising costs, provider rates, disaster response, and access to services.
The committee heard two public comments from disability advocates about Medicaid redeterminations affecting iBudget waiver recipients and provider payment delays. In response, AHCA and APD said they were coordinating on data sharing, early outreach, escalation processes, and efforts to reduce disenrollments and make recertification smoother. Members then asked questions about provider rates, opioid settlement spending, managed care quality measures, pediatric rare disease grants, group home transparency, senior outreach, ABA services moving into managed care, annual Medicaid recertification, veterans’ service utilization, waiting lists for elder services, and prevention spending. No formal votes were taken during the meeting.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
Senate Health and Human Services (03/19/2025)
Health and Human Services
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> for healthy aging. for healthy aging.
- It hits all ages.
- It hits all ages. This aneurysm, etc. It hits all ages.
- </c><00:23:55.440><c> an</c><00:23:55.679><c> age</c> multis- sector plan for aging an age multis- sector
- plan for aging an age well<00:23:56.159><c> and</c><00:23:56.320><c> age</c><00:23:56.559><c> plan</
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Our average age is 42.
- Seven of those are Texas facilities. facilities, we own it. Excuse me.
- We began with one facility.
- It's a treatment facility, MTC built and owns. It's a 200, or a 2,200. 236 bed treatment facility.
- They're state-owned facilities.
AR
Transcript Highlights:
- But that's how those phones are getting inside our correction facilities.
- Division of Ag affects every county in the state through the extension office, and the Division of Ag
- funding, that does not necessarily go to Division of Ag.
- that does not go to Division of Ag.
- And you have to specifically make the funding go to Division of Ag.
Summary:
The committee first received a report on the executive protection detail, which was filed without questions. Members were then given a long advance list of House and Senate bills ready for consideration, followed by several amendment requests from agencies. The committee adopted amendments for the Auditor of State to increase special deputy expense allowance, the Administrative Office of the Courts for court interpreters and substitute court reporters, and several other items including local sales tax refunds, county property tax redistribution, and local law enforcement funding. It also held one amendment on House Bill 1034 and moved a Northwest Arkansas Community College cash fund increase tied to tornado-related campus repairs.
The committee then considered a series of member amendments and appropriation items, including increases for the Public Defender Commission and deputy prosecuting attorneys to cover higher bar license fees, and a $12 million federal appropriation-only item. A lengthy discussion followed on a proposal from Senator Wallace and Representative Tosh to fund a pilot program for prison cell-phone detection/jamming technology at two correctional facilities. Sponsors and Department of Corrections officials said the system would target illegal contraband phones, would be procured through an RFP, and would be a two-year pilot; members raised questions about legality, cost, scope, data, and whether the department should use existing budget authority. The committee ultimately advanced the item by motion.
The committee also took up an amendment from Senator Caldwell for the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, seeking a $4 million appropriation increase. Testimony emphasized that the division’s extension offices and research functions are underfunded, that salaries are not competitive, and that the request would help with staffing and flexibility; other members questioned why the division needed more appropriation authority when it already had room under current limits and noted that the request exceeded the higher education board’s recommendation. The amendment was adopted after extended debate.
Finally, the committee began acting on governor’s letters, adopting amendments for a $150 million increase to the homestead property tax credit, a $23,000 reallocation for the Insurance Department’s conference costs, $100,000 for property appraisal review work, $1.5 million for career and technical education professional development, $300,000 for DFA regulatory federal spending, $5 million for Inspector General fraud investigations, a consolidation of appraiser/abstractor/home inspector appropriations, deletion of a completed Fort Chaffee readiness center appropriation, and a revised reappropriation for corrections capital projects that would add special language restricting use of the $73.7 million prison-expansion reappropriation. The committee also heard a summary of a supplemental appropriations package involving fund transfers for pregnancy resource centers, senior centers, assistance grants, used tires, and UAMS pregnancy/stroke programs.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> the separate aging footprints of the St. the separate aging footprints of the St.
- </c><00:08:42.320><c> they</c> the modern high-tech facilities they the modern high-tech facilities they
- So, it is an aging building.
- Based on the fact that cat facility.
- </c><00:31:27.840><c> old</c> aging infrastructure, 75-plus years old aging infrastructure, 75-plus years
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Early Learning & Human Services Jan 21st, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- Juvenile courts have jurisdiction over persons under age 18 who are alleged to have committed a crime
- From ages 11 to 12, I went in and out of juvenile detention.
- We recognize that people are peer validated at this age.
- that looks a lot like a community facility or is a community facility.
- In talking to our members, around 150 to 160 youth per facility is ideal.
Summary:
The committee heard testimony on House Bill 2456, which would create a juvenile firearm early intervention alternative for youth charged in juvenile court with unlawful possession of a firearm in the second degree. Staff explained that the program would require prosecutor agreement, intensive community supervision, random suspicionless searches, therapy and mentoring services, periodic court review, and dismissal of the charge upon successful completion. The bill would also raise concealed pistol license fees by $100 each and dedicate the revenue to a new account funding the alternative. Representative Davis said the bill is intended to fill the gap between firearm possession charges and later juvenile sentencing, and to fund evidence-based services; one member questioned whether the fee increase functions more like a tax than a fee. The chair then paused testimony on HB 2456 to return to the other bill.
The bulk of the hearing focused on House Bill 2389, which would expand suspended disposition alternatives, reduce some juvenile robbery sentencing ranges, add a midpoint review for certain youth committed to DCYF, and create new rules for juvenile rehabilitation capacity and emergency transfers. Supporters, including youth currently or formerly in juvenile facilities, defense advocates, restorative justice providers, and some judges, argued the bill would reduce overcrowding, improve rehabilitation, address racial disparities, and give judges more individualized options. Several testified that youth need treatment, family connection, and incentives for progress rather than long confinement, and that current sentencing practices are outdated and underuse suspended dispositions.
Opponents, including sheriffs, prosecutors, county officials, victim advocates, and some judges, argued the bill would shift costs and responsibility to counties, require resources that do not exist, and weaken accountability for serious offenses such as robbery, assault, and trafficking. They raised concerns about expanded appeals, added court workload, the need for more staffing and programming, and the impact on victims and public safety. DCYF said it supports reducing overcrowding but wants clearer emergency transfer authority for Green Hill; facility staff described improved conditions as population has fallen, but said overcrowding still creates safety and programming problems. No vote was taken in the portion of the hearing provided.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
Health and Human Services Oversight Committee (11/21/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- years of age.
- </c> designated receiving facilities. Wow. designated receiving facilities. Wow.
- </c> to the designated receiving facility. to the designated receiving facility.
- </c> a state that is age ready? a state that is age ready?
- and age-friendly initiatives.
Summary:
The committee first handled routine business, approving the prior meeting minutes with one abstention from a member who had been absent. It then received an update from DHHS Commissioner Lori Weaver on the department’s rural health transformation grant submission. Weaver said the grant was submitted ahead of the deadline, reflected input from communities and providers statewide, and would now enter a CMS review and negotiation phase. She explained that the governor’s office will oversee the grant with DHHS, that some proposals may be limited by federal parameters, and that the department may need to hire some staff to administer the grant, within the grant’s administrative cap.
Members also discussed DHHS budget pressures and staffing. The department’s CFO, Nathan White, reviewed the agency’s budget mix, noting that DHHS accounts for a large share of the state’s operating and general fund budgets, and explained projected general fund lapse estimates, which he said are currently just under $20 million for the department. He also described why lapse projections are difficult to predict in DHHS because many costs are driven by utilization and because some funds are statutorily non-lapsing. White reported that vacancy rates have risen, citing about 400 unfunded positions in the current biennium and the department’s hiring freeze, while emphasizing that direct-care positions are being prioritized. Committee members raised concerns that back-of-the-budget cuts and weak revenue collections could affect the department’s ability to manage lapse projections.
The committee then heard from Division of Public Health Director Ian Watt on vaccine policy and federal changes. Watt said New Hampshire continues to support access to safe and effective vaccines, including through the universal purchase program and seasonal respiratory virus guidance. He explained a recent CDC change regarding the MMRV vaccine, which now discourages the combined shot for the first dose in children under four because of febrile seizure risk, while still allowing it for the second dose. Watt said New Hampshire’s school and child care vaccine mandates remain stable, with nine vaccines required for schoolchildren and 10 for child care, and that the state continues to review federal recommendations cautiously. He also said there have been no supply or funding disruptions affecting vaccine access, and that childhood vaccine funding through commercial insurers remains intact.
Finally, the Permanent Subcommittee on Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Related Dementias presented its annual report. The subcommittee said it met about six times, heard presentations on state services, silver alerts, brain health awareness, and palliative/hospice care, and began work on updating the state’s Alzheimer’s plan, which had last been updated in 2015-2016. To gather more direct input, the subcommittee formed a needs-assessment work group to develop a survey for people living with dementia, caregivers, and service providers. It recommended integrating Alzheimer’s and dementia materials into chronic disease, aging, and public health outreach; embedding cognitive health into systems of care and the state health improvement plan; adding cognitive health measures to BRFSS; and continuing partnerships with aging and advocacy organizations. Members praised the report and suggested it should clearly identify the subcommittee and include page numbers in future versions.