Transcript Highlights:

• Bonding is the most important developmental phase for a newborn, and when you have a situation where

Bills: HB163, HB216, HB721, HB2035, HB2038, HB3057, HB3153, HB3233, HB3595, HB3801, HB3812, HB4076, HB4129, HB4377, HB4535, HB4666, HB4730, HB4743, HB4903, HB5149, HB5155, HB1534

Keywords: epinephrine, healthcare, emergency response, administration, medical policy, health care, itemized billing, patient rights, provider regulations, Texas Health and Safety Code, cost disclosure, insurance, benefit plan, administrators, chemical dependency, treatment facilities, minor admissions, parental notice, mental health, medical licensing

Summary: The committee met without a quorum at first, then established a quorum with five members present. Members heard and left pending several House bills, including HB 4743 on allowing hospitals to license mobile stroke units under a hospital license, HB 4129 on earlier DFPS enforcement tools for single-source continuum contractors in community-based foster care, HB 4903 creating a Quad Agency Child Care Initiative to coordinate child care regulations across state agencies, HB 3812 revising the gold card/prior authorization process for physicians, HB 4535 requiring written informed consent before COVID-19 vaccination and a standardized state information sheet, and HB 4666 reducing the frequency of some HHSC reports to the legislature. The chair also noted HB 35 would be voted on later after a subcommittee back was received, and that a large number of bills would be heard the next day. Most of the testimony focused on HB 4535 and HB 4730. On HB 4535, supporters argued the bill would strengthen informed consent for COVID vaccination by requiring written consent and clearer state-level information about risks, manufacturer liability protections, and adverse-event reporting; opponents, including a pediatrician and medical groups, said existing federal and state informed-consent materials already cover these topics and warned the bill could create duplicative paperwork and penalties. On HB 3812, the Texas Medical Association supported changes that would extend the gold-card evaluation period to one year, raise transparency, and make prior authorization exemptions easier to administer, while health plans said they were neutral and viewed the bill as a balance between reducing burden and preventing fraud or unsafe care. HB 4730 drew extensive testimony from adoption professionals, birth mothers, adoptive parents, and child welfare advocates. The bill would require DFPS to create a relinquishment form, train child-placing agency staff, and extend the minimum waiting period for voluntary relinquishment from 48 hours to seven days. Supporters of the current law argued the 48-hour period aligns with hospital discharge, allows informed decisions, and helps birth parents and adoptive families begin healing and bonding without pushing children into foster care or creating legal and Medicaid complications. The author said the bill would be revised and that the seven-day provision was a work in progress. No votes were taken on the bills during the meeting; each bill was left pending after public testimony closed.

Transcript Highlights:

• Some of them also had diagnoses of ADHD, developmental delay, or emotional disabilities.
• <00:09:44.160> delay diagnosis of ADHD, developmental delay diagnosis of ADHD, developmental
• Um of the or emotional disabilities.
• <00:10:38.240> Law advocates at Minnesota Disability Law advocates at Minnesota Disability
• <00:18:42.160> of used against boys with disabilities of used against boys with disabilities

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The Seclusion Working Group approved the minutes from its November 5, 2025 meeting and then heard presentations from Jessica Heiser and Aaron Sansmark of Solutions Not Suspensions and the Minnesota Disability Law Center on the misuse and illegal use of seclusion in schools. They described illegal seclusion as including use outside emergencies, for discipline or noncompliance, beyond the emergency period, in unregistered rooms, without parent notice, without required observation or documentation, for students outside the grade-limit rules, when meals/restroom/water are withheld, or when staff are not properly trained. They emphasized that Minnesota lacks a single reliable data source for identifying illegal seclusion and that families often learn about incidents late, if at all, making complaints and legal action difficult because of barriers such as time, cost, language, and access to advocates. The presenters summarized Minnesota Disability Law Center records, saying they receive about one seclusion-related case per month during the school year, statewide, and that in the cases reviewed over the last year the children were all boys with disabilities, including autism, ADHD, developmental delay, or emotional disabilities; three were white and two were children of color, and four of the five were age 10 or younger. They said all of those families pulled their children from school afterward, and that five of five cases potentially had valid illegal-seclusion claims, though only three pursued legal action. They also noted PACER reports many discipline and behavior calls involving seclusion but does not keep hard records. The presenters proposed better statewide data collection, including identifying school buildings, staff, or students involved, reporting incident duration, and adding a checkbox on MDE complaints to flag restraint/seclusion allegations. A substantial portion of the discussion focused on disproportionality. The presenters cited national research showing students with disabilities and students of color, especially Black boys, are disproportionately restrained or secluded, while acknowledging Minnesota does not have a single statewide racial aggregate for seclusion. Members discussed whether banning seclusion would reduce misuse and disproportionality, whether it could increase physical holds or injuries, and whether the issue should be viewed in the broader context of emergency interventions. Heiser argued Minnesota is moving in the same direction as federal actions and other states that have restricted or banned seclusion, and noted that the current birth-through-third-grade ban has reportedly reduced seclusion by 40%. Other members agreed disproportionality is a serious systemwide problem, but emphasized the need to keep the conversation focused on seclusion and emergency use. No additional votes or formal actions were taken beyond approval of the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• In Article 2, we deal with the disability services areas.
• For those of you that don't know, this is about helping adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities
• CADI stands for Community Access for Disability Inclusion.
• She advocates for our disability services.
• Article 1 is our Aging and Disability Services piece.

Transcript Highlights:

• Disabilities to assist us with creating that scorecard. 90-day time frame to turn that around 90-day
• and Intellectual Disabilities.
• exempted are your age, blind, disabled exempted are your age, blind, disabled children,<00:25:35.720
• <00:31:42.720> I disabled, pregnant women, children.
• I disabled, pregnant women, children.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Budget Review Subcommittee for Health and Family Services met for its first meeting, established quorum, and heard a presentation from Department for Medicaid Services Commissioner Lisa Lee and CFO Steve Becktold. The department reviewed its compliance with House Bill 695, which requires legislative approval before certain Medicaid eligibility, service, benefit, or waiver changes, along with fiscal impact reporting to the Legislative Research Commission. They described current waivers, including home and community-based waivers, managed care and transportation waivers, and the 1115 re-entry waiver, and said the community engagement waiver is in public comment and on track for submission to CMS. They also said required reports and other HB 695 tasks, including a pharmacy rebate fund, budget analyses, expenditure reports, and a behavioral health scorecard, are underway or completed as required. The CFO outlined Medicaid’s budget, saying the department has two appropriation units and projecting near-full use of state funds while leaving some federal funds unspent because of matching-rate differences. They reported roughly 211 filled positions and 11 vacancies. Members asked about the vacancy makeup, the behavioral health scorecard, and whether a provider involved in quality metrics could have a conflict if used in the scorecard process; the department said it would follow up. Members also asked about the community engagement waiver and its interaction with federal policy, and the department said CMS guidance is still pending and that it will proceed under HB 695. A substantial portion of the discussion focused on federal Medicaid policy changes under a reconciliation bill, including possible limits on provider taxes, directed payments, cost-sharing, and community engagement requirements. Department officials said the final federal impact is still uncertain because the Senate bill is not finalized, but they have modeled several scenarios and warned that any reduction in federal support or benefits would be harmful, especially for hospitals and rural hospitals. They estimated Medicaid benefits are funded about 80% federal and 20% state overall, with expansion populations closer to 90% federal funding, and said administrative costs would also rise if federal requirements change. Members also asked about work requirements and eligibility. The department said the community engagement waiver would mainly affect the expansion population, which they estimated at about 450,000 people out of roughly 1.5 million total Medicaid enrollees, and that many groups are exempt, including children, the aged, blind, disabled, and people in substance use disorder treatment. Officials said they can provide data on how many enrollees are working or work-ready and explained that their eligibility system is designed to prevent duplication by automatically placing people in the correct category and correcting errors quickly. They also noted a federal proposal to require expansion eligibility reviews every six months, compared with current annual renewals.

Transcript Highlights:

• , developmental status, or educational needs.
• , regardless of ability, disability, regardless of ability, disability, developmental<01:35:16.239
• <02:06:18.960> disabled<02:06:19.520> children<02:06:19.920> as to developmentally
• disabled children as to developmentally disabled children as defined<02:06:20.480> in<02:06:20.639
• So that is, I don't think it's because of the disability.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• group to study the recommendation. on certain services needed by individuals with intellectual or developmental
• disability.
• Metcalfe relating to increasing the criminal penalty for the offense of indecent assault against a disabled
• exemption from the ad valorem taxation bar to the market. value of residence homestead of a partially disabled
• veteran or their surviving spouse as such veteran based on the disability rating for of the veteran.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Children's Justice Task Force, Foster Advocates, the ombuds office for families, for mental health, for developmental
• disabilities, youth prize, and so many more.
• for Families, for mental health, Offices for Families, for mental health, for<00:03:42.080> developmental
• <00:03:42.640> disabilities,<00:03:43.760> youth for developmental disabilities, youth
• for developmental disabilities, youth prize,<00:03:44.799> and<00:03:45.040> so<00:03:

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• These are disabled children with physical, developmental, or cognitive disabilities.
• These are disabled children with physical, developmental, or cognitive disabilities.
• I would hate to see disabled children. physical, developmental, or cognitive disabilities.
• disabilities.
• I'm the policy director with Disability Rights, Education, and Defense Fund. Thank you.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• disabilities, intellectual disabilities, and senior citizens like me.
• as well as persons with developmental as well as persons with developmental disabilities, disabilities
• , disabilities, intellectual<00:31:16.880> disabilities intellectual disabilities intellectual
• <00:32:29.440> Rights the director of the Disability Rights the director of the Disability
• importance for those with disabilities importance for those with disabilities like<00:37:33.680>

Bills: HB2392, HB2462, HB2423, HB1771, HB2081, HB2334, HB2336, HB1666, HB2375, HB2415, HB2451, HB2373, HB1641, HB1694, HB1695, HB1986, HB1797, HB1879, HB2034

Keywords: transportation, tax credit, employer incentives, commuting, environmental impact, flexible work arrangements, carpooling, bicycling, public transportation, consumer protection, subscription services, motor vehicles, ownership expectations, transparency, biodiesel, renewable diesel, diesel blend, B5, blending mandate, clean energy

Summary: The committees heard testimony on several transportation-related measures. SB 2356, relating to parking, drew support from the Office of Planning, the Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission, Appleseed Center, Realtors, and the Hawaii Bicycling League. Members discussed the bill in the context of the planned stadium-area mixed-use development, with questions about whether parking would be built in structures rather than as large surface lots. Senators expressed support and noted the measure’s broader housing and parking-reduction goals, but no vote was taken during the hearing. The bulk of the hearing focused on SB 2699, which would create a fare-free youth transit program, a special fund, annual evaluations, and appropriations tied to the environmental, energy, and food security tax. The Attorney General’s office raised technical concerns about whether the special fund met statutory requirements. The Department of Education and Department of Health supported the bill, as did the City and County of Honolulu DOT, Appleseed Center, Hawaii Youth Transportation Council, Public Health Institute, Hawaii Children’s Action Network, Hawaii Bicycling League, Our Children’s Trust, and numerous youth testifiers. Supporters emphasized reduced family transportation costs, better school attendance, improved health and mobility, and environmental benefits. One senator raised emergency-planning concerns about how children using free transit would be handled during events like tsunamis; DOT and DOE responded that emergency procedures are being developed. The chair said the committee would work on language changes, including a delayed effective date to July 2027, and defer decision-making until the 12th. The final measure discussed was SB 2470, which would require leading pedestrian intervals, accessible pedestrian signals, and other safety improvements at state-controlled intersections, and create a process for community requests for accessible pedestrian signals. Appleseed Center, the Hawaii Association of the Blind, and the Disability Rights Center supported the bill, citing pedestrian safety, reduced collisions, and the need for audible cues for blind and low-vision pedestrians. Testifiers urged a phased-in approach that prioritizes high-traffic intersections. The hearing ended with the bill still under consideration and no final vote announced.

Transcript Highlights:

• public educator, I've been responsible for ensuring district compliance within the Individuals with Disabilities
• public educator have been responsible for ensuring district compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities
• I've worked with children with a variety of developmental, behavioral, and learning...
• I've worked with children with a variety of developmental, behavioral, and learning diagnoses, including

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Education held a hearing on two late-file bills: H. 4867, concerning school choice, and H. 4927, concerning access to applied behavior analysis (ABA). For H. 4867, testimony focused on a DESE interpretation of M.G.L. c. 76, §12B(k) that would require small elementary-only districts with school choice students to pay secondary tuition when those students continue into high school. Superintendents, school committee members, parents, teachers, and a representative argued this creates large fiscal shortfalls for rural districts such as Hancock, Warwick, Richmond, and Worthington, which do not operate high schools and already rely on tuition agreements for their own resident students. Witnesses said the current interpretation has led some districts to stop accepting school choice students, reducing class sizes and limiting educational opportunities; they urged an exemption or amendment so these districts could continue school choice without assuming high school tuition obligations for nonresident students. Committee members asked about the number of affected districts, how the arrangement worked before 2023, and whether alternative statutory language might solve the issue more broadly. Representative Barrett described the bill as a simple fix to an unenforced provision that had only recently been raised by DESE, and the hearing later included testimony from both district officials and families supporting the bill. The committee closed testimony on H. 4867 and H. 4927 and then adjourned. H. 4927 drew testimony from educators, an ABA provider, and a parent of a child with autism in support of protecting in-school ABA access. Witnesses said the bill would clarify that qualified ABA providers, including BCBAs and RBTs under supervision, may deliver services in schools while allowing districts to maintain neutral safety and operational rules. They argued that inconsistent access to ABA can undermine districts’ obligations under IDEA, including free appropriate public education and placement in the least restrictive environment, and that school-based ABA can reduce removals from class, improve student progress, and support families. A parent testified that her young son needs ABA to function in school and that promised supports had been delayed or not delivered, while another witness said the bill would help ensure accountability and consistent services for students with autism.

Transcript Highlights:

• of low-income students, and only 14% 24% of low-income students, and only 14% of students with disabilities
• Dyslexia is the most common learning disability, affecting one in five children.
• middle son, just this week, as of Monday, started in the Sutton Public Schools on a full IEP for developmental
• Now, I'm fortunate in that journey that we caught ...developmental delays.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The House took up several procedural orders early in the session, including extending the reporting deadline for the Housing Committee on H.4655 and suspending Joint Rule 12 for a petition seeking to rescind prior Article 5 constitutional convention applications. It then advanced three Ways and Means bills on education-related topics: personal financial literacy education (H.4670), expanded access to the state seal of biliteracy (H.4671), and teacher preparation and student literacy (H.4672), each moving through amendment adoption and third reading or engrossment procedures. A major portion of the meeting focused on H.4670, which would require personal financial literacy instruction in middle and high school and establish a financial literacy trust fund for curriculum and teacher training. Members spoke in support, emphasizing budgeting, credit, student loans, and long-term financial planning, and the bill passed to be engrossed by a 154-0 roll call. H.4671, which broadens access to the seal of biliteracy for students in public and private schools, also drew support and passed to be engrossed 155-0. The most extensive debate centered on H.4672, a literacy bill requiring evidence-based reading instruction, DESE-approved curricula or approved local alternatives, screening and progress monitoring, professional development, and related implementation measures. Members described concerns about declining reading scores and argued for a shift away from three-cueing toward phonics-based, science-of-reading approaches. Several amendments were considered: a proposal to change intervention language from “significantly” to “at risk of falling behind” failed, while amendments adding funding language, stakeholder collaboration, and other implementation details were adopted. One amendment clarifying that pictures may be used as a supplement in literacy curricula was also adopted, and the bill ultimately passed to be engrossed 155-0. The House also observed moments of silence for former Judge Leslie Harris, former Representative Mark Carron, and former Representative Dennis Rosa, and adjourned to meet the next day at 11 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• to truly understand the depth of injustice it inflicts on people with severe intellectual and developmental
• disabilities.
• Our children and adults with cognitive delays may look grown, but many are developmentally like small
• Guardianship laws strip people with disabilities of all adult rights for their protection.

Summary: The Civil Justice and Claims Subcommittee considered one bill, HB 603, which would repeal section 768.21(8), the Florida medical negligence wrongful death exception often referred to by supporters as the “Free Kill” law. The sponsor argued the current statute unfairly bars certain families—especially adult children or parents of unmarried adults without minor children—from recovering non-economic damages when a loved one dies from medical negligence, while such damages are available in other wrongful death cases. Supporters, including family members, AARP, and some legal advocates, testified that the law is discriminatory and denies equal access to justice for grieving families and vulnerable adults. Opponents, including physicians, hospital and insurer representatives, and business groups, argued that repeal would increase malpractice exposure, raise premiums, worsen access to care, and accelerate physician retirements or departures from Florida. Several urged that if the bill moves forward, it should be paired with caps on non-economic damages to balance the impact on the health care system. Supporters countered that negligence must still be proven, that the law creates unequal treatment, and that existing tort reforms have not lowered premiums. The sponsor closed by rejecting claims that the bill is “jackpot justice” and emphasizing that families deserve court access and accountability. After debate, the committee voted on HB 603 and passed it 16-2. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• rights and disability needs across the state. across the state.
• It is an office within the Governor's Commission on Disability.
• . the Governor's Commission on Disability on whether, and what, if anything, is needed.
• Disabilities office, or the General Services Department.
• So this is also related to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), correct?

Transcript Highlights:

• disability spending.
• So, so when we looked at uh the uh<01:30:52.639> developmentally<01:30:53.560> disabled
• <01:30:54.560> and<01:30:54.880> the uh developmentally disabled and the uh developmentally
• the developmental disability spending. the developmental disability spending.
• developmentally disabled a patient with developmentally disabled a patient with both<01:37:04.080

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• For example, other health disabilities, what we call it in Minnesota.
• <00:04:24.560> And all suspected areas of disability.
• And all suspected areas of disability.
• We have to look at all potential areas of disability and concern.
• <00:08:51.600> and the early intensive developmental and the early intensive developmental

Bills: HF4893

Keywords: education finance, student support, aid allowances, appropriation, school funding

Transcript Highlights:

• Line 256, the A3 would cancel $500,000 in fiscal year 2025 from the specific learning disability criteria
• fiscal year 2025 from the specific fiscal year 2025 from the specific learning<00:24:06.640> disability
• disability criteria change allocation<00:24:09.120> for<00:24:09.400> rulemaking<00:24
• , and early developmental screening, and early childhood<01:00:00.640> family<01:00:00.960>
• Section 6 clarifies the developmental screening aid program.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Beverly Gibbs to be a member of the Board of Visitors of the Central New York Developmental Disabilities

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The New York State Senate Finance Committee met to consider a slate of roughly 30 gubernatorial nominations to state boards, authorities, commissions, and advisory councils. The nominations included appointments to the Advisory Council on Agriculture, the Dormitory Authority, the Power Authority, NYSERDA, the Public Health and Health Planning Council, the Gaming Commission, the Thruway Authority, the Buffalo and Fort Erie Public Bridge Authority, SUNY and Cornell boards, and several other entities. Senator O’Mara introduced the list, and Senator Liu presided in place of Chair Liz Krueger. During the meeting, Senator O’Mara asked whether Mark Schroeder listed for the Buffalo and Fort Erie Public Bridge Authority was the same person nominated to the Convention Center Operating Corporation; Senator Liu confirmed that it was the same individual. No testimony on the merits of the nominations was presented, and no discussion of the nominees’ qualifications was recorded beyond that clarification. Members were instructed to mark their vote sheets with aye, nay, or aye without recommendation for each nomination. After a brief period for voting, the committee adjourned. No roll-call results or final disposition of the nominations were announced in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• county ops to aging and adult behavioral health services, one DHS division administrator from developmental
• disabilities to aging adult behavioral health services, and one social services supervisor expert from

Summary: The committee met and considered several administrative personnel and compensation items. Item B approved a temporary extra-help hire at the University of Arkansas Community College Hope-Texarkana, allowing current Representative Dolly Henley to serve as director of Hempstead Hall, with the required council and governor approvals already provided. Item C approved a special compensation award bonus plan for employees at the Department of Shared Administrative Services and DF&A for work on specified projects and performance goals, and Item D approved a Department of Human Services reallocation of positions and related funding, including about $180,000 moved between divisions. The committee also received informational reports under Items E through H, including a provisional position report for higher education, reports on special compensation and recruitment/incentive awards across state agencies, personnel actions taken under previously approved legislative language, and a community correction quarterly caseload report. No questions were raised on the reports. All items were approved without opposition, and the meeting adjourned after no further business was brought before the committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• In New Mexico, Medicaid covers low-income individuals, including the elderly, disabled, families and
• Fee-for-service is about 11%, and then your DD waivers, the waivers for people with developmental disabilities
• disabilities.
• That is a grant through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
• And again, it's around professional development to improve outcomes for children with disabilities.

Transcript Highlights:

• Palmer had more disabilities coming to the surface, so it was clear we really needed to find him a place
• <00:26:34.200> coming like Palmer had more disabilities coming like Palmer had more disabilities
• Layer on top of that being a parent of a child with multiple disabilities, trying to work and keep up
• > multiple being a parent of a child with multiple being a parent of a child with multiple disabilities
• trying to work and keep up disabilities trying to work and keep up a<00:29:06.440> house<00:29

Keywords: 1187, senate, all