Transcript Highlights:

• VHS operates in 14 western states.
• We must have a rate increase to continue to operate.
• We must have a rate increase to continue to operate.
• Allowable and attributable portions of facility operations costs are not currently captured in the cost
• Allowable and attributable portions of facility operations costs are not currently captured in the cost

Bills: SB1 , SB 1

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• GSHA members own and operate more than 55 hydroelectric facilities located in 40 towns throughout the
• I represent Brookfield Renewable Energy, which operates eight hydroelectric facilities in New Hampshire
• eight um hydroelectric which operates eight um hydroelectric facilities<01:52:56.920><c> in</c><01:52
• them and others about the operation of the facilities so the committee can augment its knowledge even
• </c><02:41:19.720><c> that</c><02:41:19.920><c> we</c> operation of your facilities so that we operation

Committee: House Science, Technology and Energy

Transcript Highlights:

• This is to construct a new university police facility.
• According to the letter, the current facility has operational limitations. C is a letter from UAPB.
• This is to construct a new university police facility.
• According to the letter, the current facility has operational limitations and constrains the university's
• Those are all in our operating appropriation section.

Committee: All ALC-PEER

Transcript Highlights:

• So, as you know, we operate facilities based on a classification system that puts individuals at different
• And then custody staffing relief operating 24/7 facilities—you have to have people in shifts no matter
• So, as you know, we operate facilities based on a classification system that puts individuals at different
• And then Cussi's staffing relief operating 24-7 facilities, you have to have people in shifts no matter
• How many of your facilities have units like this? Yeah.

Summary: The committee began with a Department of Corrections update focused on agency culture, staff safety, reentry, and health services. Secretary Tim Lang highlighted DOC’s “Washington Way” approach, expanded visitation reforms, safety summits, community-corrections sanction changes, education and transportation improvements, partial confinement expansion, and efforts to increase volunteer and peer-led programming. Assistant Secretaries Danielle Armbruster and David Flynn described progress on Pell Grant implementation, reentry transportation, partial confinement, behavioral health standards, HIPAA compliance, the 1115 Medicaid waiver, telehealth expansion, and budget requests for opioid use disorder treatment, close-custody capacity, and staffing relief. Members asked about veterans’ units, telehealth for substance use treatment, women’s placement on the east side, correctional industries, and firefighting training. The new Office of Correction Ombuds director, Jeremiah Bourgeois, then outlined the office’s mission and limited resources, saying he would focus on the most serious complaints and continue building accountability with DOC. He described recent OCO reports, including findings of excessive force at the women’s prison, and said DOC had agreed to implement all recommendations. He also noted a new process for referring possible criminal misconduct to DOC leadership and law enforcement. Committee members praised the DOC-OCO partnership and Bourgeois’s appointment. The committee then heard Senate Bill 5895, which would add a new basis for extraordinary medical placement when DOC cannot meet an incarcerated person’s basic medical care needs. Senator Saldana said the bill is intended to provide a compassionate, workable path for people with serious or end-of-life medical needs while maintaining public safety. Testifiers in support included family members, Disability Rights Washington, and the League of Women Voters, who said the current EMP process is too restrictive and rarely results in release. DOC testified that it supports the EMP framework but has concerns about the bill’s definition of “basic medical care.” A former DOC physician suggested extending the qualifying time period and adding “approximately” to the language. The committee also heard Senate Bill 5873, which would expand escorted leaves of absence to include reentry-focused outings and broaden the family definition for funeral or bedside visits. Senator Wilson said the bill is meant to support a “slow release” and better prepare people for community reentry. DOC supported the concept, and witnesses from public defense, DOC reentry, and Amend said escorted reentry outings are consistent with evidence-based and international correctional practices. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 5945, which would limit persistent offender sentencing to convictions occurring after age 18 and require resentencing for affected people. Supporters argued the bill aligns with youth brain-development research and would address racial disparities; opponents, including prosecutors, victim advocates, and sheriffs’ representatives, said it would reopen painful cases, undermine finality, and impose costs. The hearing on that bill was still underway when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• facilities.
• And this amendment would create serious operational challenges. And also in our local facilities.
• facilities.
• And also in our local facilities. And this amendment would create serious operational challenges.
• facilities.

Summary: The House met with a quorum, opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and prayer, and then moved to second reading of House Bill 1604, a bill addressing standards for strip searches in local jails and related correctional procedures. The bill was described by supporters as implementing and clarifying existing federal law and providing local jails with clearer rules, while opponents argued it would create liability, staffing, bargaining, and operational problems, and would force female correctional officers to perform searches they objected to on privacy, consent, or religious grounds. Members debated a series of amendments, most of which were rejected. Amendment 1470, changing the implementation date from 2025 to 2026, was adopted. Amendment 1492, which would have added intent language and liability protections, failed. Amendment 1494, requiring same-sex staff for invasive searches with a medical exception, failed. Amendment 1493, creating a religious accommodation process for staff, failed. Amendment 1491, focused on consent and boundaries for female officers, failed on a recorded vote of 37 yeas and 50 nays. Amendments 1495, 1496, and 1497, which would have expanded exigent circumstances, limited repeated gender-identity changes, or allowed temporary restraint when no appropriate search staff were available, also failed. A striking amendment to replace the bill entirely was likewise rejected. On final passage, supporters said the bill would help local officials comply with federal and state requirements while protecting dignity and safety for incarcerated people. Opponents repeated concerns that the bill would be difficult to administer and would burden or endanger staff, especially women officers. The House then passed engrossed House Bill 1604 by a vote of 56 yeas to 39 nays, with three excused, and adjourned floor action for the day.

Transcript Highlights:

• The transloading facilities are supposed to operate where it can come in in one mode and leave in another
• We align in order to get a terminal operator license, which is a person that operates. the facility,
• operator.
• The CBP operates the bridge, correct? The CBP operates the port itself? Yes.
• We lease that land to the operator. Okay, and the operator is?

Bills: SB2199 , SB2200 , SB2201 , SB2949 , SB2332

Committee: Senate Border Security

Transcript Highlights:

• There's a variety throughout the. state that are operated ones operated by Texas Tech in West Texas and
• And the last three are more operational or facilities based.
• double the size of that facility.
• Yeah, in the captive facility, in a permitted facility.
• and FTEs to operate those inspection facilities. including mobile inspection stations 24-7 and related

Committee: House Appropriations - S/C on Articles VI, VII, & VIII

Transcript Highlights:

• There was a question earlier on fees for facilities. There is a bill...
• I am not sure I can comment on that for any specific facility.
• one of those facilities.
• There's also nothing in the... ...and operate one of those facilities.
• Barely positive, break-even, lose a little bit from operations.

Committee: House Special Committee on Rural Issues

Summary: The committee first met in executive session on House Bill 1714, adopting an amendment that clarified the bill would not apply to hunting dogs or animals not under direct control of the hunter and would not affect a specified section of law. The committee then rolled the amendment into a House Committee Substitute and voted the substitute do pass, with the roll call showing passage. The committee then heard House Bill 317, which would authorize MU Health Care to collaborate with hospitals and providers in a 25-county area and seek state-action antitrust immunity for those transactions. The sponsor and MU Health Care testified that the bill is intended to help preserve rural hospitals and keep care local, citing multiple hospital closures in Missouri and examples from Alabama and other states. Supporters from MU Health Care, rural hospitals, and local business and health leaders described the bill as a way to stabilize struggling facilities, maintain emergency access, and protect rural economies. Opponents, including the Missouri Insurance Coalition and the Missouri Health Plan Association, warned that the bill could codify monopoly power, raise prices, and reduce competition, and argued that the language was too broad and not limited to distressed hospitals. Some committee members also raised concerns about antitrust immunity, facility fees, market share, and whether the bill should be tightened to ensure voluntary participation and clearer limits. No vote was taken on House Bill 317 before the hearing adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Their facility was much more home-like.
• Page 23: Why are the secure facilities not fully staffed?
• This can really differ from facility to facility, whether it's an animal-inclusive wing or maybe.
• Maybe it's just one room in a facility.
• Continuing to add co-sheltering facilities to that network.

Committee: House Legislative Health & Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• It also requires the owner or operator of an EITE to provide facility-specific emissions and production
• DCYF is to contract for the operation of the program, and they may operate part of the program that is
• not operated by a third party.
• Under this bill, if a facility releases that person, the facility must notify the relevant prosecutor
• And this new requirement would make it even harder to open these much-needed facilities in our of facility

Bills: SB6346 , SB6347 , SB6147 , SB6246 , SB5940 , SB5882 , SB6223 , SJR8206 , SB5762 , SB5828

Committee: Senate Ways & Means

Keywords: millionaires tax, wealth tax, income tax, state revenue, tax reform, Washington estate tax, estate tax, inheritance tax, death tax, probate, decedent, gross estate, taxable estate, exclusion amount, tax rate, estate planning, heirs, beneficiaries, RCW 83.100, Department of Revenue

Transcript Highlights:

• But you're a non-licensed facility. You're not even licensed as a medical facility.
• They are operating under the...
• So first, facility licenses versus operating under the license of a medical director.
• First, facility licenses versus operating under the license of a medical director.
• like a medical facility?

Committee: House Health and Welfare

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 611 by Rep. Freeman, which would require pregnancy-related service centers that provide health care services to be licensed or, as amended, to clearly disclose that they are not a licensed medical facility regulated by the Louisiana Department of Health. Rep. Freeman and supporting witnesses argued the bill was prompted by a legislative auditor report and concerns that some centers provide ultrasounds, STI testing, pregnancy tests, and related services without clear medical oversight. The Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners’ executive director testified that interpreting ultrasounds and performing certain tests can constitute the practice of medicine, while opponents argued the centers already operate under medical directors and that the disclosure requirement was unconstitutional under the NIFLA case. The committee adopted an amendment, but after debate on the amended bill, a motion to report favorably failed on a roll call vote, and the bill was voluntarily deferred. The committee then heard House Bill 902 by Rep. Marcelle, which directs the Louisiana Department of Health to develop trauma-informed training. Supporters said the bill grew out of a task force on student behavior, mental health, and discipline, and that educators need a more consistent, evidence-based trauma-informed curriculum than what is currently available online. Some members raised concerns about cost and whether the bill would mandate new school obligations, while a witness from the Louisiana Baptist Convention opposed the measure as mission creep and argued trauma-informed care is too specialized for general teacher training. Other members supported the bill as a way to help educators identify and respond to children facing trauma. The bill was amended with technical changes and then discussed further, but the transcript ends before a final vote on HB 902 is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• He said it is also important that the facilities stay up and running, and that means staff in those facilities
• to</c><00:35:50.359><c> take</c> means staff in those facilities to take means staff in those facilities
• </c><01:04:28.160><c> predict</c> has found that 89% of facilities predict has found that 89% of facilities
• </c><01:30:56.000><c> who've</c> the effect of punishing operators who've the effect of punishing operators
• </c> thing uh while rewarding operators thing uh while rewarding operators who've<01:31:00.400><c> been

Bills: HF1419 , HF500

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Keywords: nursing facilities, reimbursement rates, elderly care, minimum wage, healthcare funding, nursing home, employment standards, worker rights, Minnesota Statutes, labor compensation

Transcript Highlights:

• Our emergency preparation includes our own facilities and properties.
• Each facility creates its own site-specific emergency plan.
• These plans are integrated into our continuity of operations plan.
• We try to get to those annually during the operation, primarily.
• We have those site and facility requirements. The first one in A is safety of camp facility.

Committee: House Culture, Recreation & Tourism

Transcript Highlights:

• treatment facilities.
• </c><00:34:11.040><c> treatment</c><00:34:11.639><c> facilities</c> for State operated treatment facilities
• for State operated treatment facilities such<00:34:12.879><c> situations</c><00:34:13.359><c> are</c
• </c><00:35:32.119><c> treatment</c><00:35:32.400><c> facilities</c> and state operated treatment facilities
• and state operated treatment facilities and<00:35:33.200><c> in</c><00:35:33.320><c> community</c><00

Bills: HF2196 , HF2586 , HF2187 , HF2037

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Keywords: mental health, emotional disturbance, terminology update, statutory cleanup, conforming amendments, children's mental health, serious mental illness, severe emotional disturbance, case management, residential treatment, outpatient services, crisis services, health plan coverage, antipsychotic drugs, medical assistance, Medicaid, foster care, juvenile court, school discipline, county board

Transcript Highlights:

• , including cleaning bathrooms and facilities and other like facilities there.
• Bathrooms, fire cooking facilities, and campfire facilities.
• That's the group camp or facility.
• , and campfire facilities.
• So quickly, we'll talk about some of the new updated facilities.

Committee: House Resources and Conservation

Transcript Highlights:

• Data centers operate 24/7, 365, and there are an estimated 5,300 facilities in the United States.
• these facilities.
• these facilities.
• Generation facilities are allowed to operate in emergency situations.
• the facilities are being built and hundreds of permanent jobs when the centers are operational.

Committee: House Energy Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• . operations. operations.
• The project is managed by our Office of Facilities and Operations, and Darling Company is our project
• That was a new build that the Office of Facilities and Operations undertook.
• </c> of facilities and operations undertook. of facilities and operations undertook.
• ><c> for</c> to thank facil our facilities office for to thank facil our facilities office for um<01:

Transcript Highlights:

• Seth here represents workers who build these facilities, and I represent workers who operate and maintain
• these facilities.
• of this facility.
• My son, Jesse, is the third generation to help operate GC's.
• We haul it to our facility, okay?

Bills: HB1069 , HB2091 , SB6355 , HB2104 , SB6003 , HB2441 , HB2124 , HB2610 , HB2338

Committee: Senate Ways & Means

Keywords: collective bargaining, retirement benefits, employee rights, public sector, supplemental benefits, public employers, employee information, bargaining representatives, labor relations, union representation, electric transmission, energy policies, infrastructure, regulatory framework, transmission systems, aviation, wildland fires, funding, disaster relief, emergency response

Transcript Highlights:

• operations.
• </c><00:13:16.520><c> The</c><00:13:16.640><c> not-to-exceed</c> facility operations.
• The not-to-exceed facility operations.
• </c> operating standards. operating standards.
• </c> for operational for operational &gt;&gt; operational<01:04:33.800><c> credit.

Summary: The committee first handled routine business, including a quorum call, approval of minutes, and informational items on school district financing and KCTCS equipment purchases. It then considered two KCTCS capital projects after initially rolling them together and later unrolling them: a Fire Commission Fire Academy maintenance building project that had grown from an original $2 million authorization to $4.7 million because of design changes, soil issues, and higher mechanical costs, and a $1.5 million renovation of the Blake Lee building at Somerset Community College for a health science simulation lab. Members questioned the large cost increase on the fire academy project and the adequacy of front-end due diligence, while KCTCS said the project was bid and ready to proceed and that a 15% contingency had been included. Both projects were approved by roll call vote, with the Blake Lee project ultimately approved after the committee unrolled the items and took them separately. The committee next heard and approved a University of Kentucky public-private partnership for the Hamburg East Medical Office Building, a five-story, 220,000-square-foot facility with a not-to-exceed budget of $275 million. UK said the project is intended to expand outpatient access, consolidate some services, and support projected growth in patient volume; the building will house multiple specialties, urgent care, therapy, imaging, and a retail pharmacy. Members asked about possible community uses, consolidation of services, and whether the project would free up other space, and UK said it hopes to consolidate some services and free campus space. The project was approved by roll call vote. The committee then approved three UK lease renegotiations: a specialty pharmacy and infusion services lease at Wellington Way in Lexington, a Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences lease at Conte Terrace, and a College of Social Work lease at McGrath Park Way. Members asked about rising lease rates, occupancy, and whether space needs should be reduced; UK and the lessor’s representative said the pharmacy space remains busy, the ophthalmology lease was lower than before, and the social work lease had been negotiated down from a higher request. The committee also approved a Department of Military Affairs project amendment for a Mutual Field Maintenance Shop Restoration project, increasing federal funding by $1 million to $4.5 million because of higher construction costs, and approved a Kentucky State University Shanty Hall renovation project funded by bond and HBCU Title III funds. Finally, it approved a new lease for the Office of Mines and Minerals in Pike County, a new lease for the Cabinet for Health and Family Services in Pulaski County, and a lease renewal for the Cabinet for Health and Family Services in Kenton County after questions about rent increases and office utilization; the cabinet said the Kenton County space still has limited vacancy and remains in use by field staff. The meeting ended as the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority began presenting six sewer and water loans and six cleaner water program grant reallocations, with members agreeing to roll those items for later consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• That facility, we don't receive taxes on it. Our police have to protect that facility.
• or maintaining that facility.
• or maintaining that facility.
• our transmission facility.
• My bigger members are to continue to build new facilities and upgrade facilities.

Summary: The Economic Infrastructure Subcommittee met with a quorum present and first heard HB 11 from Representative Robinson. The bill would address an unintended consequence in Florida’s municipal utility surcharge law by requiring the same water/utility rate for residents when a utility facility is physically located within one municipality but owned by another, rather than allowing the owning municipality to impose a 25% surcharge. The sponsor and several members described it as a fairness issue affecting residents who do not receive local tax support for the facility but still bear the surcharge. Public testimony included support from AARP and Miami-Dade County and opposition from North Miami Beach. The bill was reported favorably on an 18-0 vote. The committee then held a panel discussion on utility use of public rights-of-way and utility relocation. Panelists from FDOT, county government, gas, water, electric, and communications sectors described the permitting process, noting that FDOT uses a detailed utility accommodation manual and that local governments may use permits, franchise agreements, or ordinances depending on the utility type. They emphasized that utilities often must coordinate early with agencies using long-range work programs and project plans, and that the process differs by utility and jurisdiction. Communications witnesses discussed Chapter 337 and the 60-day local permitting shot clock, while others noted the role of Sunshine State One Call in locating facilities before excavation. A major focus was who pays for relocations when road or infrastructure projects require utilities to move. FDOT and several panelists said utilities generally bear the cost when they are in public right-of-way, with exceptions such as certain interstate/interchange projects and easement impacts. Utility representatives said relocations are often effectively new builds, can be costly, and are ultimately reflected in rates or customer costs. Members also asked about easements versus right-of-way, damage and disputes during construction, broadband workforce needs, and whether legislation could improve coordination. Panelists largely said the existing process works best when agencies, contractors, and utilities communicate early and continuously, and that more legislation may not be necessary compared with better planning, staffing, and use of technology.