Transcript Highlights:

• 24, special education costs totaled 24, special education costs totaled $977.1 $977.1 $977.1 million
• >> No, not totally.
• <01:22:51.040> or<01:22:51.280> reading, disability in language arts or reading, disability
• excitedness coming up as a disability excitedness coming up as a disability for<01:30:19.520>
• Is it, you know, have a math disability?

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The commission met to approve the November 21, 2025 minutes, making several clerical corrections before adopting them as amended. The edits included adding the date, correcting a misspelled name, clarifying references to a scholarship fund representative’s title, removing an incorrect “DOE” reference, and fixing a few wording errors. The minutes were approved with one abstention from members who were absent. The bulk of the meeting focused on organizing the commission’s work under SB 57 and identifying which special education cost issues should be prioritized for research and reporting. Members discussed a long list of topics, including student referral rates, why students are classified as other health impaired, increases in referrals since school closures, interventions before referral, costs of non-medically necessary services in IEPs and 504 plans, differences between federal and state requirements, reporting of special education costs, out-of-district and residential placements, dispute resolution, Medicaid and insurance use, graduation rates, and adult learning participation. Several members emphasized the need to combine or narrow topics and to gather better data before the report due July 1, 2026. Representative Ames highlighted HB 742, which would eliminate prorated special education aid payments when state appropriations fall short, and explained that the Education Funding Committee recommended interim study. He argued that local districts are bearing too much of the cost and that the state and federal governments should provide more support. Other members raised concerns about rising special education identification rates, possible overidentification, school climate and mental health factors, bullying, staffing, speech therapy access, and residential placements. One member cautioned that DOE website numbers may be inflated or at least difficult to interpret because of how students are counted. Department of Education staff then explained how special education data and costs are monitored. They said student counts are tied to IEPs and SASIDs in the state system, districts are checked through both desk audits and on-site monitoring, and billed services are compared against IEP requirements. They also described IDEA funding, noting that most DOE special education staffing is federally funded, with a large share of federal money flowing through to local education agencies and the remainder supporting administration, monitoring, and training initiatives. Members discussed whether more staff and more robust oversight would improve accuracy and accountability.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's one-time fiscal impact based on system changes of $96,800 total. Happy to take any questions.
• The second change is to comply with Act 875 in 2025, which raised the disability onset age for able account
• saw on the financial impact that's going to be $1.1 million year one, $1.9 million year two, for a total
• What is the difference in total cost? We do know. We do know. I'll have to get that for you.
• parks that come in that don’t necessarily need all the accoutrements of...” “...temporary parks that

Summary: The committee reviewed a series of Arkansas Medicaid and Department of Health rules, many implementing 2025 acts. Early items covered presumptive eligibility and Medicaid policy updates, including adding a definition of fictive kin for foster children and changing the disability onset age for ABLE accounts from 26 to 46. Another rule clarified that continuous glucose monitors may be billed by both pharmacies and durable medical equipment providers, with committee members questioning prior authorization timing, system lag, and a fiscal impact estimate of about $3 million over two years; the rule was reviewed, but members requested additional cost breakdowns. Other Medicaid-related rules addressed an RSV vaccine administration fee increase, an ET3 telemedicine exemption for ambulance treat-triage-transport services, a dental rate increase under Act 1025, expanded physical therapy access, and the Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies package covering doulas, lactation consultants, remote monitoring, and expanded prenatal testing. Most were reviewed without objection after brief discussion or no questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• It includes the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, and the Temporary Assistance for
• It includes the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP and to the Temporary Assistance for
• My question is, how does the Department of Labor determine Florida's allocation of their total funding
• And so we had a client who we were working with, who has a disability, and we're trying to help support
• So all businesses covered under unemployment insurance provide the employment counts and the wage, total

Summary: The subcommittee met to receive an informational presentation from CareerSource Florida President and CEO Adrian Johnson, joined by Anthony Gagliano of CareerSource Suncoast, on the structure, funding, and services of Florida’s workforce development system. Johnson explained that CareerSource serves job seekers and businesses through 21 local workforce development boards and nearly 100 career centers, using federal and state funding streams such as WIOA, Wagner-Peyser, SNAP Employment and Training, and TANF. She described services including case management, training, wraparound supports, job matching, rapid response for layoffs and disasters, and business services such as recruitment, customized training, and on-the-job training. She also highlighted the REACH Act’s role in consolidating local boards from 24 to 21, creating the Master Credential List and Credential Review Committee, and implementing performance-based letter grades for local boards. Members asked detailed questions about funding formulas, letter grade metrics, apprenticeships, youth services, small business access, and the demand occupation list. Johnson said federal allocations are driven largely by unemployment and poverty formulas, which has reduced Florida’s WIOA funding by about $27 million over four years because of the state’s low unemployment rate. She explained the letter grades measure outcomes such as increased earnings, reduced public assistance, employment and training outcomes, work-based learning, business engagement, and service to individuals in certain programs, and said the system is being reviewed for possible changes, including removing extra credit and adjusting weights. On youth services, she said Florida has a waiver allowing a 50/50 split between in-school and out-of-school youth funding, and that local partnerships drive outreach. On the demand occupation list, she said it is based on state labor market data and projections, but local boards can submit evidence of local demand when data does not reflect conditions in their area. A substantial portion of the discussion focused on apprenticeships and workforce training grants. Johnson and Gagliano described apprenticeship navigators funded by the $7.75 million apprenticeship expansion allocation, which help employers navigate registration and expand apprenticeships into nontraditional fields such as IT, health care, education, and hospitality. Gagliano gave examples from CareerSource Suncoast and said navigators helped employers move faster through registration and develop programs with local education providers. Johnson also discussed Incumbent Worker Training Grants and Quick Response Training Grants, noting recent awards of nearly $3 million to 69 businesses and $6.5 million to 24 businesses, respectively, and said these programs are targeted toward high-skill, high-wage occupations and priority industries. The meeting ended with no votes or formal action; the chair thanked the presenters, invited follow-up questions, and adjourned the meeting without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• To be clear, it's just a temporary fix. That's correct, right?
• And that would just be the meaning of disability.
• How do you raise an intellectual disability claim?
• , someone that has an intellectual disability or has a claim for an intellectual disability could be
• I have a PhD in Disability Studies, and I'm here on behalf of Disability Rights Louisiana to provide

Bills: HB91, HB123, HB167, HB255, HB264, HB321, HB884, HB955, HB967, HB968, HB969, HB978, HB985, HB994, HB1005, HB1104, HB1107, HB1109, SCR3

Keywords: criminal procedure, disclosure, criminal records, witness protection, trial rights, electronic monitoring, GPS ankle monitor, ankle bracelet, pretrial release, post-conviction supervision, bail monitoring, house arrest, corrections, criminal justice, law enforcement, prosecuting authority, court reporting, provider registration, LCLE, Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Criminal Justice

Summary: The committee first handled housekeeping by voluntarily deferring HB 123, HB 255, and HB 994 without objection. It then took up SCR 3 by Sen. Myers, which sought to delay implementation of a State Police rule change affecting criminal history background checks for certain health care workers and authorized agents until October 1, 2026, to avoid hiring delays. An amendment was adopted to remove language authorizing parish and local law enforcement to perform checks during the interim. After testimony from health care stakeholders who supported the delay, SCR 3 as amended was reported favorably. The committee next considered HB 978 by Rep. Lecombe, which as amended changed the bill from a town-of-Addis-specific exception to a broader adjustment in the population threshold for municipalities required to remit special costs to the district indigent defender fund, raising the threshold from under 5,000 to under 9,000 population. Supporters said the change would relieve small mayor’s courts and similar local courts of a $45-per-violation burden that was not well suited to those systems. The bill drew support from local officials and was reported favorably as amended. HB 967 by Rep. Moore, which would have expanded parole eligibility for certain long-serving offenders convicted before July 2, 1973 by removing language limiting eligibility to those who had pleaded guilty, generated extensive debate. Supporters argued the bill would only allow elderly prisoners to be considered by the parole board and would not guarantee release, while opponents, including district attorneys and the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, argued the 2022 law already covered those who pled guilty and that the bill would extend relief to people convicted at trial of serious violent crimes. After discussion, the motion to report HB 967 favorably failed on an 8-3 vote. The committee then heard HB 1107 by Rep. Melancon, a post-conviction procedure bill for capital cases involving claims of intellectual disability. The bill, as amended, raised the burden of proof to clear and convincing evidence, required expert reports and IQ information, applied Daubert-style reliability screening, and clarified that it only applies in death penalty cases. Supporters from the Attorney General’s office and district attorneys said the bill would create a clearer procedure and speed resolution of Atkins claims; opponents from disability-rights, criminal defense, and medical groups argued it would replace clinical standards with a rigid statutory definition, rely too heavily on a 75 IQ cutoff, and risk excluding people with genuine intellectual disabilities. Testimony continued through the end of the transcript, with no final committee vote shown on HB 1107.

Transcript Highlights:

• It is of utmost importance In regard to how people with disabilities are described.
• Law Center, the Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council, the Arc of Massachusetts, and Mass
• For this bill, who spent countless hours assisting the review of the bill, the Disability Law Center,
• the Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council, the Arc of Massachusetts, and Mass Advocates for
• Senate 2563, an act relative to individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The House first adopted several resolutions from the Committee on Rules, including congratulations to four Eagle Scouts and recognition of Sturbridge on the 250th anniversary of the United States. The chamber then took up a series of bills reported by Ways and Means and other committees, repeatedly suspending the rules to move them forward. These included the Massachusetts Consumer Data Privacy Act, a Fall River land conveyance bill, a Belmont alcohol licensing bill, a Reading senior property tax exemption bill, and a Linfield funding transfer bill, with each measure advancing by amendment or being passed to a third reading or engrossment. A major portion of the session focused on the Massachusetts Consumer Data Privacy Act, with multiple members speaking in support. Supporters described the bill as a broad consumer privacy framework that would limit data collection, require consent for sensitive data, ban the sale of precise location data, restrict targeted advertising to minors, create consumer rights to access, correct, delete, and opt out of data uses, and provide enforcement tools for the Attorney General and, in limited cases, a private right of action. Several members emphasized protections for reproductive health, immigrant communities, and neural data, while others argued the bill would not burden small businesses and would instead hold large data holders accountable. The House adopted the Ways and Means amendment and ordered the bill to a third reading, then later passed the bill to be engrossed and enacted. The House also considered and enacted Senate 2563, a bill updating language in the laws concerning individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Members described the measure as removing outdated and offensive terminology and replacing it with person-first language without changing substantive law. After debate, the House adopted an amendment, passed the bill to be engrossed, and then enacted it by roll call. In addition, the House enacted the fiscal year 2026 supplemental appropriations bill, House 5470, and approved a bill extending deadlines for Middleton and Milton, both by roll call votes with no opposition. Later, the House took up a temporary summer 2026 local-option pilot allowing municipalities to extend liquor license hours and permit public consumption in designated districts. Supporters framed it as an economic development and tourism measure tied to major upcoming events, and the House adopted an amendment, passed the bill to be engrossed, and then concurred with the Senate version. The session ended with the House adopting an adjournment order and adjourning to meet again the following Monday in informal session.

Transcript Highlights:

• <02:19:49.760> aid like food stamps and the temporary aid like food stamps and the temporary
• waiver, individuals aging out of aid to the permanently and totally disabled, and nursing home residents
• In Rockingham County alone, there are 34,000 people with disabilities.
• Have you ever seen disabilities.
• Imagine a little kid in a disabilities.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In recognition that there are often additional costs to serve students with disabilities, the budget
• So California serves 870,000 students with disabilities. That cost has been growing exponentially.
• The proposition authorized a total of $10 billion in state general obligation bonds.
• I'm here today representing nearly 12,000 students with disabilities that reside in our SELPA.
• I'm here today representing nearly 12,000 students with disabilities that reside in our SELPA.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Number 10: The latest statistics are 179 homes lost, 88 homes with minor damage, and 446 total homes
• Number 10: We have 179 residents who have received temporary housing assistance due to the storms.
• And we have distributed over 200 RVs to be utilized for temporary housing. Ms.
• Temporary trailers like you all were talking about.
• We made a decision after the storm to allow people to do that for 180 days with a temporary permit.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we're working on those amendments as well because we totally agree with the fire survivors on that
• I totally get both sides of the argument.
• Because someone who has a disabling injury is more prone to a subsequent injury, and employers are held
• It has since been expanded to apply to all disabled workers.
• Previously disabled workers a second chance.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So it talks about temporary permit and then it talks about a temporary license on line 139.
• current 30 days to 60 days for temporary current 30 days to 60 days for temporary licensing.<00:
• Um it it basically says a temporary Um it it basically says a temporary permit<00:09:19.360>
• it talks about a temporary license then it talks about a temporary license on<00:09:36.240> lines
• temporary permit? temporary permit?

Keywords: Public Health and Welfare - Room 216, 24 February, 2026; 3:00 PM, 925, all

Summary: The committee first took House Bill 1637 off the table and adopted a committee substitute amendment narrowing Public Records Act exemptions to records of the child death review panel, maternal mortality review committee, and fetal and infant mortality review panel. Supporters said the exemption was intended to let providers and hospitals speak candidly in closed-door reviews to identify mistakes and prevent future deaths, while critics questioned how the public and legislature would learn the outcomes. The amendment and then the bill as amended were adopted by voice vote. House Bill 479, which would extend temporary licensing timeframes for the psychology board and the board of licensed marriage and family therapists from 30 to 60 days, was then considered. An amendment was adopted clarifying that the bill does not alter existing education, supervised training, or examination requirements. Senator Hill raised concerns that the bill’s language could allow a temporary license to last 365 days even if licensure requirements were not met, and the committee ultimately tabled the bill subject to call so the language could be clarified. The committee also heard House Bill 514, the Mississippi Veterinary Practice Act, which updates the vet-client-patient relationship definition, adds a public member and a certified veterinary technician to the board, removes some fees, and adds title protection for certified veterinary technicians. Witnesses said the changes were meant to support the profession and keep more graduates in-state. The bill passed after questions about the certification’s scope. House Bill 612, authorizing intergovernmental agreements and involving Coast Guard training and installation support services, was tabled subject to call after members said they needed more explanation. Finally, House Bill 1152, the Right to Try the Medical Cannabis Act, was considered. The bill creates a process for patients with chronic, progressive, severely disabling, or terminal illnesses not already covered by the medical cannabis statute to petition the Department of Health for access, with the treating physician initiating the request. An amendment was adopted to clarify that out-of-state patients receiving care in Mississippi are not excluded if they meet the same process and standards. Members then debated unclear language near the end of the bill about which provisions control in case of conflict; the sponsor said the new right-to-try provisions would govern for the covered patients. The discussion continued with examples of conditions that might qualify, such as non-malignant chronic pain syndromes, and the bill remained under consideration as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• These are House-only provisions, and the totals are on lines 338 and 339.
• are house only provisions and the totals are house only provisions and the totals are<00:24:04.400
• Lines 376 and 377 at the top of the next page show the shift of revenue for a temporary modification
• about 83.6 million over the that totals about 83.6 million over the bienium.
• with a disability within the Senate<01:05:14.400> bill.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:54:24.480> FTE $150,000 so it's a temporary FTE $150,000 so it's a temporary FTE $150,000
• <01:04:15.279> to to get students with disabilities to to get students with disabilities to
• uh students with needs of disabilities uh students with disabilities<01:12:47.280> across<01:
• require every student with a disability require every student with a disability to<01:13:04.040>
• <01:15:41.320> across our students with disabilities across our students with disabilities

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:52:20.319> solution weeks ago, is a solid temporary solution weeks ago, is a solid temporary
• of students with disabilities secluded.
• , but not specifically Black and African American students with disabilities.
• generally on students with disabilities generally on students with disabilities but<01:38:51.040
• Um which you did have disabilities.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In total, we have roughly 500 FTEs.
• Our teachers are certified, uh, and a total of 1000 employees.
• It may not be a learning disability, it may be a gap in learning. It may be a learning disability.
• Uh, keep a close eye on that there may be a disability and that 60% it appeared to not be a disability
• We have 5 total tiers, Tiers 1 through 4 take place at the Texas Civil Commitment Center, which is a

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:15:55.679> Temporary at the heart of due process.
• Temporary at the heart of due process.
• but now I'm slapped with a temporary but now I'm slapped with a temporary herpo<01:19:44.400>
• now have a temporary order filed against<03:26:31.600> them.
• And the court issues a temporary HERPO.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 1914 by Cook, relating to the modification of a possession order and temporary possession of a child
• parole of certain inmates serving sentences for trafficking offenses involving child victims and disabled
• Now, how much total money are we talking about here that we're going to take away from TDI by virtue
• Are you aware that there are references to sexual activity on only five pages of the book total?
• SB 2001 by King, relating to the registration of vehicles, the issuance of disabled parking placards,

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, offered an invocation, led the pledges, and approved a series of routine motions, including excusing absent members and granting permission for several committees to meet while the House was in session. Members also adopted several memorial and recognition resolutions, including H.R. 1023 honoring Christian Beerbill, H.R. 1033 recognizing International Bereaved Mother’s Day, and H.R. 877 recognizing Urban League Advocates Day. The House also recommitted SB 17 and HB 4211 to committee and postponed SCR 27 and HB 2145 for later consideration. The chamber then took up a long third-reading calendar of bills covering a wide range of topics, including Sunset review measures, health care workforce and pricing, child custody and family law, Medicaid, rural ambulance grants, energy reporting, public information requests, trail development, virtual meeting disruptions, occupational licensing, protective orders, county leave pools, animal cruelty, infrastructure, and higher education. Most bills were explained briefly by their authors and passed with broad support, though several drew notable opposition, including HB 5265, HB 2402, HB 3000, HB 3237, HB 3326, HB 1056, HB 281, HB 3308, HB 1043, HB 1234, HB 1193, HB 294, HB 809, HB 334, HB 2037, HB 285, HB 1353, HB 3960, HB 4044, HB 4264, HB 2807, HB 3349, HB 4406, HB 1593, HB 1899, HB 1201, and others. Several bills prompted extended debate or amendments. HB 3237, extending public energy-use reporting for state and higher-education buildings, passed after questions about its public-sector-only scope and energy savings. HB 3326, addressing public service loan forgiveness credit for adjunct professors, initially failed on a 69-70 vote but later passed after verification and machine corrections. HB 3211, concerning optometrists in managed care plans, adopted a Buckley amendment before passing. HB 2213 on Texas Windstorm Insurance Association board composition adopted a Metcalf amendment requiring certain board members to be Texas residents. HB 412, dealing with harmful materials and sexual performance of a child, generated extensive questioning about its scope, existing legal standards, and effects on educators and medical professionals; the excerpt ends during that debate.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair and members, Senate Bill 1580 appropriates a total of $2,545,000 from the State General Fund in
• Chair and members, Senate Bill 1580 appropriates a total of $2,545,000 from the State General Fund in
• So the withdrawal fee, the total withdrawal fee, I don't know the... Mr. Chair, Senator Gabaldón.
• So the withdrawal fee, the total withdrawal fee, I don't know the answer to that.
• The portion that we're talking about is only one part of the total calculation.

Bills: SB1041, SB1363, SB1418, SB1419, SB1445, SB1447, SB1488, SB1519, SB1523, SB1560, SB1580

Keywords: electronic monitoring, nursing care, assisted living, resident rights, privacy, consent, surveillance, marijuana, rural opportunity, dispensary, economic development, licensing, social equity, unserved communities, Arizona, small modular reactors, energy regulation, environmental compatibility, utility construction, agricultural use

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a disabled single mother of three kids at home.
• I ended up permanently disabled. It was not the life I had planned for myself at all.
• As a result, I am now on disability.
• Prior to the last session, I could only get a total of $3 million credits total if I had... $3 million
• Those three properties represent $75 million, or 14 percent of my total tax evaluation.

Bills: SB434, SB844, SB898, SB1177, SB1214, SB1454, SB1920, SB1927, SB1935, SB1965, SB2010, SB2046, SB2068, SB2073, SB2183, SB2260, SB3034, SB907

Keywords: SB 434, Harris County Hospital District, hospital district police, peace officers, commissioned officers, law enforcement authority, Health and Safety Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, public safety, hospital security, county hospital district, local government, Texas criminal procedure, district police, armed security, SB 898, low income housing tax credits, LIHTC, affordable housing, Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• And the total number of officers in the state is just 37? Our officers, yes. 37.
• Jeff Miller, Disability Rights Texas. Bill, that's correct. Thank you, you may proceed.
• I totally understand what the bill is trying to do, and I'm in agreement.
• Rights Texas is the state's protection and advocacy organization. for folks with disabilities.
• CTD is a cross-disability advocacy organization advocating for Texans with disabilities to live and thrive

Bills: HB1531, HB2667, HB2809, HB2865, HB3589, HB3151, HB3748, HB3750, HB4419, HB4643, HB3597, HB4129, HB4130, HB4131

Keywords: workplace violence prevention, health and safety code, Chapter 331, facility definition, home and community support services agency, home health agency, home health care, nursing staff, registered nurses, health care workplace safety, hospital, nursing facility, ambulatory surgical center, freestanding emergency medical care facility, mental hospital, Texas health care regulation, provider compliance, occupational safety, senior living, referral agencies

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Governor, the aid to the disabled is being—we're moving $2 million. We're moving $2 million.
• And so where is the trend on aid to the disabled? What population does this line item help? Okay.
• Aid to disabled? Yeah, Senate. Yeah. No, that's Temporary Family Assistance. Oh, aid to disabled.
• How much were we allocated in total for TANF this year? Do you have any idea? This year?

Keywords: 962, all

Summary: The Finance Advisory Committee approved the minutes from its May 14, 2026 meeting and then considered four fiscal transfers. FAC 2026-9 for the Office of the State Controller transferred $4.345 million among fringe benefit accounts in the General Fund and Special Transportation Fund. Members questioned several employee benefit accounts, including active and retiree health care, Social Security, higher education alternative retirement, and OPEB; agency staff explained the transfers were based on updated year-end projections, with some accounts showing surpluses and others needing additional funds. The item was approved, with two no votes noted. FAC 2026-10 for the Military Department transferred $150,000 from the Honor Guards account to personal services and Governor’s Guard accounts to cover operational needs, and it was approved without opposition. FAC 2026-11 for the Department of Social Services transferred $3.3 million among accounts. Most of the discussion focused on a surplus in the substance use disorder waiver/reinvestment account, lower-than-expected TANF/TFA caseloads, federal family planning backfill requirements, and staffing challenges in eligibility operations. DSS said some funds remained unused because a residential care vendor did not enter into a contract, some reserves were intended for future multi-year investments, and eligibility staff require 12 to 18 months of training; the item was approved. FAC 2026-12 for the Department of Children and Families transferred $3.05 million among accounts for year-end operational needs. Members asked about closures of day treatment and community-based prevention programs, and DCF said children were transitioned to other providers without service interruption, with closures driven by provider decisions and financial viability. DCF also explained that some prior funding had been used as gap funding and that ongoing support had been built into the budget. The committee approved the transfer and then adjourned.