Transcript Highlights:

• This is a slice of data that we also share on our website externally, but I think it is important to
• We also share on our website externally, but I think it is important to ground us in that overall trend
• Interventions we've put in place: external resource support.

Summary: The Senate Human Services Committee held a work session on child welfare dependency, focusing on implementation of HB 1227 (Keeping Families Together) and SB 6109 (the fentanyl response bill), along with related data and system updates. DCYF first reviewed the dependency process, explaining intake, shelter care, fact-finding, disposition, and review hearings, and emphasized that removal standards are separate from service provision and that children may be in-home or out-of-home at different stages. DCYF said 1227 raised the removal threshold to imminent physical harm and strengthened kin placement, with nearly 60% of children now placed with relatives or suitable others. The department also said 6109 directs courts to give great weight to fentanyl’s lethality and added legal liaisons to support staff in court preparation. DCYF presented data showing that entries into out-of-home care declined after 1227 but rose again after 6109, returning close to pre-1227 levels. The agency also reported a sharp increase in reviewable critical incidents in 2022-2025, especially near-fatalities, which it linked to the opioid and fentanyl crisis, parental stress, and system complexity. DCYF said it has responded with statewide Safe Child Councils, staff consultations, hotspot monitoring, and additional training, and noted that some contracted services authorized under 6109 were not implemented because of fiscal constraints. Senators asked about where children are in the process, who participates in court, the timing of data releases, age breakdowns, and geographic hotspots. Advocates and lived-experience witnesses from LCYC and a family intervention clinic argued that 1227 has not prevented courts from removing children when necessary and said the law appropriately requires the state to show a causal link between home conditions and risk. They said 6109 appropriately highlights fentanyl’s danger, but stressed that the larger issue is lack of prevention and treatment resources, inconsistent county-by-county practice, and insufficient supports such as inpatient beds, family treatment, housing, transportation, and third-party safety plan participants. A parent ally described how early support, peer guidance, and kin placement helped her achieve recovery and stability after losing parental rights in an earlier case. The committee also heard an update on SB 6068 from the Administrative Office of the Courts and K Implementation and Evaluation. The report identified 15 dimensions of relational permanency and child well-being, found that some data already exist while other measures need development, and recommended a phased data collection plan, a restored data-sharing agreement between AOC and DCYF, and a standing cross-agency work group. AOC said its dependency data system lapsed when the prior agreement expired in June 2025 and needs to be rebuilt. The meeting also included a brief update on bridge housing for youth exiting inpatient treatment, with presenters saying two programs are now open, one in King County and one in Spokane, and a short introduction to juvenile rehabilitation capacity updates before the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• And that all lives on our external website on a colorful, easy-to-use dashboard.
• We try to clean them out just to make sure that we have our most active reports living on our external
• c><00:20:50.960> living<00:20:51.200> on<00:20:51.440> our<00:20:51.600> external
• active reports living on our external active reports living on our external page,<00:20:52.880><

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• LSPs continue to champion this issue, because we believe homeowners who use oil heat should be automatically
• group focusing on this in the early 2000s determined that the best funding solution would be to automatically
• companies paid for the internal prosthesis, the knee replacement, but they wouldn't pay for a sports external

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The hearing opened with the Senate and House chairs of the Joint Committee on Financial Services explaining that the day’s agenda would focus on health insurance and other insurance matters, with a large number of witnesses and a request for brief testimony. Legislators were taken out of order to accommodate their schedules, and the committee heard testimony on several bills, including coverage for hair prostheses for alopecia (H. 1223/S. 832), medically necessary oral and dental care for head and neck cancer survivors (H. 1258), modernizing fertility and family-building coverage (H. 715/H. 1190 and related bills), coverage for prosthetic devices to support physical activity for people with limb loss (the “So Everybody Can Move” bill), remediation coverage for home heating oil releases (S. 813/H. 1302), and expanded access to physical therapy for Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (H. 1170). A separate bill on sickle cell care and registry development (S. 788) was also discussed by Senator Liz Miranda. Witnesses largely offered personal stories and expert testimony in support of the bills. Advocates for alopecia coverage described the medical and emotional impact of hair loss, the high cost of quality wigs, and the argument that scalp and facial hair prostheses should be treated like other medically necessary prosthetics. Cancer survivors and supporters of H. 1258 said oral and dental care after head and neck cancer treatment is a quality-of-life issue and often not covered despite major out-of-pocket costs. Fertility specialists, LGBTQ+ advocates, and legislators supporting the modern family-building bills said the current infertility definition is outdated and discriminatory, excluding same-sex couples, people needing donors or gestational carriers, and others with medical barriers to conception. For the limb-loss bill, parents and adults with prosthetic needs stressed that activity-specific prostheses are essential for children and adults to run, swim, play sports, and stay healthy, but are often excluded from coverage. The home heating oil testimony focused on the financial devastation caused by residential oil spills and the need to make spill coverage automatic in homeowners policies. Environmental professionals and homeowners described cleanup costs ranging from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars, the strict liability homeowners face, and the fact that many policyholders do not know the rider exists. The insurance industry testified in opposition to the mandatory-coverage approach, arguing for clearer distinctions between first- and third-party coverage, risk-mitigation standards, a delayed effective date, and more emphasis on education and notification rather than mandates. Committee members pressed the industry witness on why agents do not routinely tell customers about the rider and suggested that the issue may require broader disclosure by insurers, agents, and fuel dealers. No votes were taken during the hearing; the committee heard testimony and discussed possible compromise language and future action.

Transcript Highlights:

• So when we cut off one route, contraband traffickers automatically pivot to other lanes.
• where an individual can actually reach out for help—not for us to go write them a disciplinary automatically
• But if you don't know about these external third-party Cash Apps, it becomes a problem.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This proposal makes implementation of the required alignment between Medi-Cal and IHSS eligibility automatic
• includes a $20 million one-time general fund for the Department of Finance to contract. act with an external
• We're one of the only ones who don't receive an automatic COLA, which has been delayed by almost 10 years

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, revenues noted by the comptroller in December 2023 and automatically. appropriated to the Parks and
• include additional language and authority changes in Writer 14. tax requested by the agency to require automatic
• exceptional item requesting $7.75 million for needs to. capabilities and create efficiencies for better external

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, in Rochester, probably a couple years ago, we had a trial, um, automatic vehicle, like little taxi
• you know, to not take responsibility and internalize some of that consequence means it's just externalizing
• 01:40:08.760> means<01:40:08.920> it's<01:40:09.040> just<01:40:09.320> externalizing
• effects means it's just externalizing effects means it's just externalizing and<01:40:10.440>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• adverse childhood experiences and the effects such experiences have on children to not confound external
• experiences have on children to not experiences have on children to not confound<01:42:57.760> external
• <01:42:58.239> factors<01:42:58.560> like<01:42:58.800> abuse confound external
• factors like abuse confound external factors like abuse with<01:42:59.360> more<01:42:59.600>
• This would prevent them from automatically shipping all their patients to Main Med when we have a hospital

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the 25% property tax exemption for owner-occupied homes, and beginning, um, and that was applied automatically
• This case demonstrates the urgent need for mandatory external review of all vulnerable adult exploitation
• need This case demonstrates the urgent need for<02:11:55.040> mandatory<02:11:55.599> external
• <02:11:56.239> review<02:11:56.880> of<02:11:57.199> all for mandatory external
• review of all for mandatory external review of all vulnerable<02:11:58.320> adult<02:11:59.119

Bills: HB0101, HB0062, HB0109

Keywords: guardianship, monitoring, ward protection, financial independence, case management, governmental claims, liability limits, inflation adjustment, public safety, local government insurance, property tax, tax exemption, homeowner, armed forces, residency requirement, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• My transparency statement: there is no external funding for this presentation.
• transparency statement um there<01:15:25.199> is<01:15:25.320> no<01:15:25.560> external
• <01:15:25.920> funding<01:15:26.239> for<01:15:26.480> this there is no external
• funding for this there is no external funding for this presentation<01:15:27.840> not<01:15:28.040
• legalization, there's a very real chance there could be interstate commerce that it might just be automatic

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• OK, we passed House Bill 3320 last week, which eliminates the automatic expiration of agencies, boards

Bills: HB3407, HB1242, HJR1081, HB3443, HB3781, HB1939, HB4237, HB3430, HB3321, HB3905, HB3329, HB4253, HB4421, HB4311, HJR1046, HB2015, HB3244, HB4265, HB3941, HB4203, HB2941, HB3695, HB3380, HB3132, HB3673, HB3134, HB3383, HB4490, HB4058

Keywords: property rights, abandoned homes, manufactured homes, notification, salvage, real estate, Oklahoma Tax Commission, landowner liability, redemption, HB1242, cervidae, deer, elk, sales tax exemption, agricultural exemption, livestock, ranching, farm tax, agricultural sales tax, agriculture

Transcript Highlights:

• So that is a huge amount of data that we collect, and that does not include all of the external data
• In other cases, it will automatically generate a task for a worker.
• In other cases, it will automatically generate a task for a worker.
• And just for reference, that's automatic. That is automatic. That's a cost we absorb. That's right.
• And that basically means if you qualify for one program, do we automatically qualify you for others?

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So automatically, there's two savings at that point, if I understand correctly, and I'm sure there would
• For the record, my name is Alec Oma, and I am the Director of External Affairs at Unitil.
• No other state allows external entities from different states to control membership of their government
• entities from different states external entities from different states to<04:02:46.439> control
• rather than seeding control to external rather than seeding control to external entities<04:03:49.720

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The hearing focused on House Bill 610, which would fold the Office of the Consumer Advocate into the Department of Energy rather than fully eliminate consumer advocacy functions. The prime sponsor argued the current office is small, funded by a special assessment on ratepayers, and duplicative of DOE work. He said moving the function to DOE would streamline energy policy review, reduce bureaucracy, and better focus the larger agency on lowering residential energy costs. He also disputed claims that the Consumer Advocate is independent, saying the office is appointed through a political process similar to DOE leadership. Committee members and the sponsor discussed whether the bill would actually relocate existing positions or replace them, and whether the Department of Energy would absorb the cost of the transferred staff. The sponsor said the fiscal note shows roughly a million-dollar reduction in both revenue assessment and spending, and that the bill would effectively reduce the office from five positions to three. He also defended his cost estimates for energy-code-related housing impacts and said the Consumer Advocate has sometimes supported policies he считает increase costs, such as energy-efficiency measures and building code changes. He argued the office should focus more on energy supply and generation, including natural gas and nuclear, rather than efficiency alone. Representative Wendy Thomas testified in opposition, saying the Consumer Advocate is an important, fair, and impartial voice for ratepayers and warning that the bill was fiscally irresponsible because the incumbent could still be owed salary and benefits if the office were repealed. She also said the bill’s drafting was confusing and that the Consumer Advocate’s role is to push back on utilities on behalf of consumers. Other members raised questions about whether the DOE would simply inherit the same political appointment structure and whether the bill would meaningfully lower bills. No vote was taken in the excerpt; the chair indicated additional testimony would follow, and the Department of Energy was present to answer questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have internal and external actuaries. We use our own claims experience to set our premiums.
• And so when these came on the market, automatically they weren't covered.
• you showed, showed 200,000 Texans signed up for ACA, but did that include those that were just automatically
• ...for ACA, but did that include those that were just automatically re-enrolled? Yes, that does.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so Preventing external financial influence from steering election outcomes towards foreign interests
• the back side of the driver's license. a non-citizen license someplace else, it wouldn't scan it automatically
• I mean, it'd be just another little step of, it wouldn't work automatically. in this system type deal
• number of votes is eliminated, and the voter who selected that candidate as their number one choice automatically

Bills: SB16, SB76, SB310, SB311, SB396, SB505, SB827, SB964, SB1209, SB1210, SB1386, SB1470, SB2035, SJR37, SB 16

Keywords: voter registration, proof of citizenship, Election Code, criminal offenses, limited federal ballot, transportation, infrastructure, funding, public safety, state regulation, election, polling places, voter access, state oversight, electronic voting, voting, polling place, elections, countywide program, election integrity

Transcript Highlights:

• change their internal environment so that they could fight and be responsible citizens in their external
• fight and be responsible citizens in fight and be responsible citizens in their<00:13:03.800> external
• <00:13:05.280> From<00:13:05.480> those their external environment.
• From those their external environment.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Research projects recommended for funding then underwent external scientific peer review to ensure they
• > underwent recommended for funding then underwent recommended for funding then underwent external
• scientific<00:13:22.960> peer<00:13:23.200> review<00:13:23.839> to external
• scientific peer review to external scientific peer review to ensure<00:13:24.200> they<00:13:

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our unity is greater than any underminings of the enemies from external or within.
• 00:03:55.360> the<00:03:55.599> enemies<00:03:56.879> from<00:03:57.280> external
• of the enemies from external or within. of the enemies from external or within.

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Wednesday, January 14, 2026, 960, senate, all

Summary: The Maryland Senate convened for the opening day of the 449th legislative session, with an invocation delivered by Reverend Amen Flowers and the prayer journalized without objection. The clerk then called the roll, establishing a quorum with 46 senators present and the Senate ready to conduct business. The first order of business was the election of a temporary presiding officer, followed by the election of the permanent presiding officer. Senator Ben Brooks nominated Senator Malcolm Augustine to serve as President Pro Tem, and Senator Karen Lewis Young seconded the nomination, both praising his policy knowledge, collaborative style, and ability to work across differences. The Senate then voted and elected Augustine as President Pro Tem, after which he was escorted to the rostrum and sworn in. Augustine thanked colleagues, his family, and the chamber, and said he looked forward to working through a challenging session together on behalf of Marylanders. The Senate next nominated and elected Senator William C. Ferguson IV as President of the Senate. Senator Charles Sydnor nominated him, and Senator Cory McCray seconded, describing Ferguson as an honest broker, steady leader, and compassionate presiding officer. Ferguson was elected with 46 affirmative votes, took the oath of office, and delivered extended remarks about the importance of federalism, the role of states in filling gaps left by the federal government, and the need for Maryland to lead through state-level action during a difficult political climate. He also thanked colleagues, staff, and his family, and emphasized that the session would require collaboration and focus on Marylanders' needs.

Transcript Highlights:

• When we make those assumptions, we're not taking into thought what happens on the external part of that
• ><00:08:52.959> happens<00:08:53.279> on<00:08:53.440> the<00:08:53.680> external
• thought what happens on the external thought what happens on the external part<00:08:54.399>

Keywords: 926, house, all

Summary: The meeting was a respect-in-the-workplace training led by Katrina Megs of Acer (formerly Hickok and Boardman), focused on bias, diversity, inclusion, respectful communication, and the importance of workplace culture in the Vermont General Assembly. She framed the session as a shift away from traditional harassment/discrimination training toward a broader emphasis on respect and kindness, explaining that bias is a normal brain function but becomes harmful when used explicitly against others. She used a short Scategories-style exercise to show how quickly people rely on patterns and assumptions, then connected that to the need to recognize the “whole person” beyond one-dimensional impressions. The training emphasized that diversity is not the same as inclusion: diversity means representation, while inclusion means people are heard, invited in, and feel they belong. Katrina also cited statistics about demographic change, the diversity of Gen Z, workplace stress, and the importance of inclusion to hiring and retention. She described a respectful workplace as one where people acknowledge others’ worth and dignity through everyday interactions, not just politeness, and discussed practical behaviors such as active listening, body language, avoiding microaggressions, using professional or respectful tone, owning mistakes, respecting boundaries, avoiding gossip and exclusion, and being present in both in-person and virtual settings. A participant raised concerns that “professional tone” and “professional attire” can be classist and can unfairly target people of color or people from different backgrounds. Katrina responded that the standard should be whether communication is respectful, noting that context and relationships matter and that raised voices are not always the same as disrespect. Another participant referenced a book, “I Am Not Yelling,” about Black women in the workplace and tone bias. The session closed with Katrina explaining why respect matters: it reduces stress, supports mental health and psychological safety, strengthens relationships, improves conflict resolution and problem solving, and increases engagement, morale, productivity, and retention.

Transcript Highlights:

• embedding risk oversight into every stage of the technology life cycle, including policies, internal and external
• internal<00:21:40.559> and including policies, internal and including policies, internal and external
• audits,<00:21:42.000> and<00:21:42.320> security<00:21:42.960> reviews external
• audits, and security reviews external audits, and security reviews for<00:21:44.080> procuring

Keywords: 1183, house