Transcript Highlights:

• . facilities. facilities.
• <00:10:41.040> charity eligible under the facilities charity eligible under the facilities
• facility providing a similar service? facility providing a similar service?
• <00:37:26.960> they they upgrade facilities they they upgrade facilities they uh<00:37:28.400
• , cuz you heard a testimony of a nurse, cuz you heard a testimony of a nurse, is<01:23:48.280>

Bills: HF4343

Keywords: sales tax, use tax, advertising tax, taxable services, digital advertising, online marketing, marketing services, search engine marketing, lead generation, internet advertising, ad agency, media buying, campaign planning, Minnesota tax law, service tax, broadening tax base, web advertising, promotional services, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• It requires certified nursing assistant serving in a nursing home to receive training on recognizing
• So the seeing as in the nursing homes that you need to the nursing homes, not the ALS, because again,
• They'll capture the patient's age, zip codes, sex residency with the nursing home facility.
• , pickleball courts ball fields and similar facilities.
• You know, if you're going to go ahead, put in those facilities, others are reading it that those facilities

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• in a long-term care facility.
• The nurse who may be caring for an entire floor in a long-term care facility could now have some help
• There's never a downtime for nurses in an ER department, and having friends who are nurses just share
• Care facilities that are open 24 hours?
• And we'll be reporting out data... ...metrics for skilled nursing facilities and their related management

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Ways and Means held a Health and Human Services budget hearing in Clinton, with opening remarks from Chairs Meg Kilcoyne and Robin Kennedy, local officials, and many House and Senate members introducing themselves. The hearing focused on Governor Healey’s FY27 EOHHS and MassHealth budgets, with repeated themes of rising health care costs, federal funding uncertainty, workforce shortages, and access to care in underserved regions. Members also raised concerns about primary care shortages, rural and regional disparities, behavioral health access, maternal health, food insecurity, and the impact of federal policy changes on Massachusetts programs. EOHHS Secretary Kiame Mahaniah said the FY27 EOHHS budget totals $33.7 billion, reflecting mostly non-discretionary growth from health care costs, labor costs, caseload increases, and provider rate pressures. He highlighted targeted investments in foster care, family resource centers, maternal health, youth services, nutrition programs, immigrant legal services, and human service workforce rates, while warning that federal actions could strip roughly $3.5 billion annually from the state’s health care funding. In response to questions, he defended the administration’s cooperation with federal audits and program integrity efforts, discussed the primary care crisis, and said the state is trying to preserve core services while preparing for a more difficult FY28 budget cycle. MassHealth Undersecretary Mike Levine then described two major FY27 challenges: double-digit cost growth and the expected effects of the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act. He said MassHealth’s proposed $22.7 billion gross budget includes a 7.5% increase and relies on a moratorium on new expansions plus targeted reductions, including a $1,000 annual adult dental cap, ending GLP-1 coverage for weight loss only, reducing care management to peer-state levels, and work groups to slow growth in PCA, adult foster care, and adult day health spending. Members questioned the impact on Boston Health Care for the Homeless, preventive care, and regional access; Levine said the changes are meant to preserve sustainability, that children and certain disabled populations remain protected, and that the administration will continue working with providers, advocates, and the Legislature on implementation and longer-term reforms.

Transcript Highlights:

• facilities.
• . facility. facility.
• <01:05:00.040> So,<01:05:01.080> nursing<01:05:01.640> facility The next proposal
• modifies the nursing home facility level of care eligibility for CADI and BI.
• So, nursing facility level of care is the criteria that establishes eligibility for CADI and BI waivers

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• facility payment rates.
• <00:03:42.680> Facility<00:03:43.200> payment governing Nursing Facility payment governing
• Nursing Facility payment rates<00:03:45.879> if<00:03:46.040> there<00:03:46.159> aren't
• <00:04:18.479> Services Conformity supplemental nursing Services Conformity supplemental nursing
• Agency updates assisted living facility Agency updates assisted living facility updates<00:04:22.560

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Nursing Practice in Nurse Anesthesiology program at USF.
• CRNAs are advanced practice nurses who begin with a four-year Bachelor of Science degree in nursing,
• Nurse anesthetists have a four-year undergraduate nursing degree in basic nursing.
• That is the PA equivalent of a nurse anesthetist.
• Or perhaps that physician or nurse is not used to...

Summary: The Health and Human Services Committee heard a lengthy agenda of health care and public health bills. The first major item was HB 649, which would remove the paper supervision protocol for certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) and allow autonomous practice. The sponsor and supporters argued it would improve access, especially in rural areas, address workforce shortages, and reduce costs, while opponents from the medical community raised patient safety concerns and argued it would weaken physician oversight. After extensive testimony and debate, the committee reported the bill favorably by a vote of 18-7. The committee then unanimously advanced several other measures. HB 259, creating a special observance for fentanyl awareness and education, passed 23-0. HB 791, which codifies infant safety devices as an option for surrendering newborns and amends safe-haven law, passed as amended 25-0. HB 355, allowing schools to use FDA-approved emergency opioid antagonists rather than only naloxone, passed 26-0. HB 1119, requiring hospitals with emergency departments to adopt pediatric readiness policies, training, coordination, and assessment requirements, also passed 26-0 after two amendments. HB 431, changing the date for level-two background screening of athletic coaches to July 1, 2026, passed 26-0. Later, the committee approved CS for HB 907, the Florida Institute for Pediatric Rare Diseases or “Sunshine Genetics Act,” which would establish an opt-in newborn genome sequencing program at FSU and a statewide consortium for rare disease research; supporters emphasized earlier diagnosis and cost savings, and the bill passed 25-0. CS for HB 519, aligning state law with federal law on controlled substances for paramedics, passed 25-0. Finally, CS for HB 723, requiring the Department of Health to provide early-detection materials for type 1 diabetes to families of young schoolchildren, passed as amended 26-0. The meeting adjourned after all bills were reported favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• Through the chair to Senator Davis: So the CNAs in the nursing homes, that's unique to the nursing homes
• Living facilities is within the scope of what assisted living facilities are capable of doing and are
• courts, ball fields, and similar facilities.
• courts, ball fields, and similar facilities.
• Similar facilities. It specifically excludes them.

Summary: The committee took up a series of criminal justice, health, and public safety bills, with several measures reported favorably after brief sponsor presentations and mostly no opposition. CS for SB 1782 on dangerous excessive speeding, CS for SB 306 on Medicaid provider network access, CS for SB 716 on mandatory minimums for certain sexual offenses by registered offenders, CS for SB 1084 on intimate image dissemination and digitally forged images, and CS for CS for SB 1604 on corrections-related litigation and sentencing changes all passed the committee. Members also approved CS for SB 1838, which increases protections for court officials from tampering, harassment, and retaliation, and CS for SB 1252, which directs FDLE to study a statewide pawn data database. CS for SB 468 on fleeing or eluding, CS for SB 490 on off-duty concealed carry for certain officers, and CS for SB 890 on blood clot screening and treatment also received favorable votes, with SB 890 drawing supportive testimony from the bill sponsor, medical and patient advocates, and family members affected by blood clots. The most extensive debate centered on CS for CS for SB 1804, which would create a capital offense for adults trafficking children under 12 or mentally incapacitated persons for sexual exploitation. Senator Martin defended the bill as a response to especially heinous crimes and argued it fit within constitutional punishment principles, while several members raised concerns about the Eighth Amendment, the risk of lengthy and costly litigation, and the possibility of retraumatizing victims. The Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers testified in opposition, citing moral objections, due process concerns, and constitutional precedent; the bill nevertheless was reported favorably. The committee also approved CS for CS for SB 572, the “Pam Rock Act,” which tightens dangerous-dog rules, adds enclosure, microchip, insurance, and penalty requirements, and allows stronger enforcement actions after serious attacks. The Rock family and animal control supporters testified in favor, describing the bill as a response to fatal dog attacks and urging stronger accountability for owners. For SB 572, members discussed insurance requirements, the role of local authorities in classifying dangerous dogs, and whether the bill would affect ordinary pet insurance or only liability coverage after a serious attack. The sponsor said the measure is not breed-specific and is aimed at dogs that have already caused significant harm. The committee also heard testimony from family members of Pam Rock and other victims, along with supporters from animal control and sheriff’s offices. All of the bills taken up in the meeting that were voted on were reported favorably, and no roll-call votes failed.

Transcript Highlights:

• Nurses, doctors, and home health care... Most likely mothers.
• I'm also a nurse practitioner. I'm here today in strong support of SB 675.
• I'm also a nurse practitioner. I'm here today in strong support of SB 675.
• I'm also a nurse practitioner. I'm here today in strong support of SB 675.
• of whether those facilities comply with applicable law.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• feet of a park or childcare early learning facility.
• Victoria Zepp with Florida Association of Nurse Practitioners waiving in support.
• Victoria Zapp with Florida Association of Nurse Practitioners waiving in support.
• nurses to every kind of nurse and philosophically, I think that's going way too far.
• Joe Puckett with Florida Association of Nurse Practitioners waiving in support.

Transcript Highlights:

• In a survey of Florida OR nurses last fall, 95% reported their facility already has the equipment, yet
• In a survey of Florida OR nurses last fall, 95% reported their facility already has the equipment, yet
• And the supervising nurse must have been a registered nurse.
• The Florida Nurses Association supports the Board of Nursing in its critical role in ensuring that nursing
• nursing programs must meet.

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services met with a quorum present and took up several health-related bills. CS/SB 1110, covering Medicaid and insurance coverage for medically necessary orthotics and prosthetics, including activity-specific devices without lifetime or continuous-use caps, received emotional testimony from families and athletes describing high costs and the importance of access for children and adults with disabilities. Members voiced strong support, and the bill was reported favorably. The committee also heard SB 1574, which would add biliary atresia screening to the newborn screening program using the existing birth blood specimen. The sponsor and a parent testified that earlier detection could prevent severe liver damage, transplants, and deaths, and the bill was reported favorably. CS/SB 794, dealing with background screening for employees at residential facilities and day training programs for people with developmental disabilities and a review of waiver support coordination, was amended to align with the House companion and then reported favorably after testimony emphasizing the importance of strong support coordinators for APD waiver families. Members then considered SB 162, requiring hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers to adopt policies for smoke evacuation systems during procedures that generate surgical smoke. Nurses and other supporters described surgical smoke as a serious occupational hazard, while the Florida Hospital Association said hospitals are already regulated in this area and the bill was somewhat prescriptive; an amendment was adopted and the bill was reported favorably. CS/SB 254, which tightens oversight of nursing education programs, adds preceptorship and provisional licensure pathways for graduates awaiting NCLEX results, and increases transparency and accountability for low-performing programs, drew support from nursing advocates and opposition from private nursing schools concerned about workforce impacts; after amendment, it was reported favorably. Finally, SB 688 to reestablish licensure and regulation of naturopathic doctors in Florida was heard with testimony both supporting expanded health care choices and opposing the bill over safety and scope concerns, and it too was reported favorably. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• , talk a little bit about nursing, but that'll be another shared service. that when I get into the nursing
• He said facilities are a limitation.
• We have our PN nurses, those are the current ones, and then our associate degree nurses.
• Questions on nursing? Dr. Govind. Oh, practical nurse. My apologies. Yeah, practical nurse.
• I put facilities on there— When it comes to our student body, I put facilities on there just throughout

Summary: The committee met at Dakota College at Bottineau, approved the January 15, 2026 minutes, and heard an extensive campus update from Dean Corey Gorder and other DCB leaders. Gorder described the college’s affiliation with Minot State and its growing use of shared services, including business office functions, HR, institutional research, Title IX, printing, financial aid support through UND, and payroll support through NDSU. He said the arrangement lets DCB focus on its core mission while relying on system partners for specialized administrative work, and noted that accreditation concerns were not believed to limit those shared-service arrangements. He also highlighted DCB’s mission, enrollment growth, dual-credit reach across rural schools, and the college’s emphasis on nursing, dental, paramedic, farm management, and other workforce-oriented programs. Committee members asked detailed questions about dual credit, program delivery, and whether DCB’s partnerships were exclusive. Gorder said the relationships are generally collaborative rather than exclusive, that schools can choose other providers, and that many partnerships began through personal outreach and ongoing relationships with rural schools. Lisa Johnson of the university system added that transfer complaints are rare and that dual credit generally transfers well within North Dakota, though highly selective out-of-state institutions may treat credits differently. Members also asked about stipends for high school instructors, the share of K-12 versus DCB instructors, and the capacity limits in dental hygiene and other programs. Gorder said dental hygiene is capped by space and staffing, that there were more applicants than seats, and that expansion is being considered; he also said he would provide follow-up information on the paramedic program and instructor breakdowns. Gorder closed by identifying long-term challenges, including aging residence halls, recruiting faculty and staff, and the need to review low-enrollment programs. He said DCB should consider expanding into more high-demand trades such as welding, HVAC, and electrical work, and should streamline dual credit and strengthen its Minot programming. The committee then heard from the North Dakota Student Association, whose leaders outlined student priorities from the last session and the interim. Their main concerns included campus housing quality and affordability, food insecurity and food pantries, mental and physical health resources, student-led research funding, academic and career readiness, internships, and campus collaboration. They also discussed dual credit, saying it is valuable but uneven across the state, and raised questions about how to better retain students in North Dakota through the system. Members asked follow-up questions about housing, transferability of dual credit, and whether incentives could be used to encourage students to stay in-state for higher education.

Transcript Highlights:

• out of incarceration and into facilities out of incarceration and into facilities thank<00:05:15.639
• our greatest concern in our facility our greatest concern with<00:05:37.520> the<00:05:37.680
• But that's for a Halawa correctional facility to expand and to expand a Consolidated Health Care unit
• <00:10:28.519> in just do provide a step down facility in just do provide a step down facility
• a facility where the and create a facility where the environment<00:10:44.279> is<00:10:44.399

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: On the deferred agenda, the Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs took up SB 1364, which makes emergency appropriations for law enforcement personnel costs, and SB 1452, which relates to the Uniform Controlled Substances Act. The chair recommended both measures pass with amendments, including technical corrections and a committee-report effective date of July 1, 2077. For SB 1364, the amendments included specified general fund and transfer fund amounts for DAGS, the Judiciary, and the Department of Law. For SB 1452, the chair said the bill was being corrected to fix a drug-name error that had been replicated from a federal mistake. Both recommendations were adopted by vote, with Senator Dort excused. The committee then discussed SB 1612, a joint measure on fitness to proceed that would require and appropriate funds for a five-year pilot program involving the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and the Department of Health, with interim and final reports to the Legislature. Testimony was mixed: the Judiciary and Department of Health were supportive, while the Office of the Public Defender and the Disability Rights Center opposed it, arguing it conflicted with best practices and the Clark consent order, and that people found not fit to proceed must be sent to the state hospital. DCR said its main concern was that the bill would still require patients to be housed in its facilities, which it said are not rehabilitative and are already strained by staffing shortages and limited access. The bill’s author argued the proposal was meant to create joint custody and reduce the high cost of state-hospital placement, but the committee did not take final action in the portion provided. In the joint hearing with Health and Human Services, the committees heard SB 1322, a broad rewrite of the state mental health code. The Attorney General supported the measure as a comprehensive cleanup and modernization effort, but many testifiers raised concerns. Queen’s Health System and Hawaii Health Systems Corporation supported the concept but warned about emergency-room impacts and asked for amendments; IHS supported the bill with a caveat about assisted community treatment procedures; and the Public Defender, Disability Rights Center, and others opposed parts of it, citing due process, privacy, HIPAA, counsel rights, liability immunity, and the reduction of an involuntary-treatment panel from three clinicians to one psychiatrist. The hearing also covered SB 951 on child protection, where the Department of Defense supported the bill and proposed technical amendments and MOUs with military components to clarify reporting and coordination procedures; DHS and the Attorney General said they were still working through possible changes. Finally, SB 228 on excited delirium was heard, with the Public Defender and Disability Rights Center supporting the bill and arguing the term has been misused and that better police de-escalation training is the real solution.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's not a specialization in clinical rotation when you're getting trained as physicians or as nurses
• Then there's a skilled nursing home, and then there's Home Health.
• They think Medicare pays for my mom to go into a nursing home, right? No, and people...
• In a nursing home, right?
• They're leveraging it with Med for smaller, more home-based oriented facilities. facilities.

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• those facilities.
• those facilities.
• So about $10 billion, or 46% of that spending, is in long-term care facilities, so nursing homes, um,
• <01:08:55.679> so<01:08:55.880> nursing long-term care facilities so nursing long-term
• care facilities so nursing homes<01:08:57.719> um<01:08:58.080> and<01:08:58.400> the

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee met for a Health and Finance Policy hearing, began with member and staff introductions, and noted that Representative Keeler was participating as a non-voting member. The chair outlined committee rules on decorum and then introduced the day’s first agency presentation from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), with Commissioner Cunningham appearing to present the department’s budget priorities. Commissioner Cunningham described MDH’s broad public health role and emphasized that public health is underfunded relative to health care, with significant reliance on federal dollars. The department’s main budget request was for infectious disease prevention and response to offset anticipated federal funding losses. MDH also outlined several fee increases tied to public water systems, wells, licensing and certification, assisted living and health care facilities, HMO regulation, food/pools/lodging inspections, radioactive materials, X-ray equipment, and asbestos abatement. The commissioner said these changes were needed because costs, workload, and regulatory complexity have increased, while many fees have not been updated in years. MDH also presented budget-neutral proposals, including continuing the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Advisory Committee, converting the Maternal and Child Health Advisory Task Force into a standing advisory committee, restoring some local and tribal public health cannabis and substance misuse prevention grants, creating direct American Indian Health Special Emphasis Grants, reauthorizing the State Trauma Advisory Council, and extending firefighter PFAS biomonitoring work. The department also requested an operations adjustment for rising employee, insurance, fuel, utility, and legal costs, and referenced additional Clean Water Legacy Fund proposals. No votes or formal actions were taken in the portion provided. Representative Bierman then offered supportive comments, praising MDH’s work and backing the funding and fee proposals, especially the restoration of local public health prevention grants.

Transcript Highlights:

• The purpose of my bill is to allow more facilities to open up outside of that area.
• We have a case right now of a nurse who refused to treat a patient because he's a MAGA person.
• Anna Higgins with the Florida Association of Nurse Practitioners is waiving in support.
• This is a bill related to assisted living facilities. It does four simple things.
• Nurse Registries, you are recognized.

Transcript Highlights:

• We rely on Workforce Development to prepare our future workforce: the nurses, nursing assistants, dietary
• assistants and nurses.
• <00:09:18.839> assistance around the needs for nursing assistance around the needs for nursing
• They wanted to figure out a way to turn parts of the nursing home into a child care facility.
• They wanted to figure out a way to turn parts of the nursing home into a child care facility.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:43:55.079> facilities<00:43:55.559> nursing<00:43:55.920> homes<00:43:56.880
• > um<00:43:57.160> that nursing facilities nursing homes um that nursing facilities nursing
• Chair, and members, there are several sections of law that govern nursing homes and facilities, and I
• Additionally, federal law prohibits retaliation in nursing facilities, and to sections 14 and 15, we
• uh prohibits retaliation in nursing facilities<01:16:11.679> and<01:16:12.080> to<01:16

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Issue number one on distressed hospital and health facilities financing.
• I'm the executive director of the California Health Facilities Financing Authority, and Treasurer Ma.
• I'm joined by Dean O'Brien, our deputy director over our health facility finance programs.
• , traveling nurses, and that was a very high cost to them.
• , traveling nurses, and that was a very high cost to them.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The New Mexico State Veterans Home is a long-term skilled nursing facility.
• Our facility overview: our annex building holds five units, 59 beds.
• We just are having a wound doctor come to the facility once a week.
• They have nursing staff, so each unit is meant to feel like its own home.
• the location of the facility and workforce, right?

Transcript Highlights:

• Ashley Davis, Director of the Arkansas State Board of Nursing.
• I believe we're on D, advanced practice registered nurse, right?
• We did have a couple of comments from the Nurse Practitioner Association.
• to 503A facilities, according to Act 961 of 2025.
• to 503A facilities, according to Act 961 of 2025.

Summary: The Administrative Rules Subcommittee met to review a long agenda of agency rule changes, beginning with housekeeping on the order of business and then taking up rules from multiple state agencies. Early items included Department of Energy and Environment rules on landfill post-closure trust fund spending thresholds and liquefied petroleum gas standards, DFA’s odometer disclosure rule allowing electronic signatures and disclosures, and several Department of Health rules covering ionizing radiation, mobile home and recreational parks, lead-based paint, counseling licensure, hearing instrument dispensers, athletic training, dental specialties and compacts, nursing, pharmacy, physician assistants, medical compacts, speech-language pathology and audiology, radiologic technology, massage therapy, community health workers, doula certification, and cosmetology/body art. Most of these were described as technical updates, conformity with recent acts, federal standards, or compact participation, and nearly all were approved without objection after brief questions and, in many cases, no public comment. The committee also reviewed Department of Labor and Licensing rules on minimum wage/independent contractor standards, boiler rules, motor vehicle commission requirements for ATV/LSV dealers, professional wrestling regulation, appraiser qualifications, and military recruiting and retention programs. Testimony generally emphasized that the rules implemented recent legislation, updated fees or licensing standards, or streamlined existing processes. Members asked a few questions about fee structures, the rationale for regulating professional wrestling, and how the National Guard’s public-private partnership and incentive programs would work; the department said the recruiting incentives would be funded from existing appropriations and were intended to improve retention and force strength. These rules were also approved without objection. The most extensive discussion came on the Department of Education’s Arkansas Children’s Educational Freedom Account Program rule. The department said the revisions, based on Act 920 of 2025, were intended to add guardrails, clarify allowable expenses, and speed approval of core educational purchases. Changes included defining core educational expenses, limiting certain sports-related spending, adding an intentional misuse standard, restricting phone purchases except for disability-related needs, setting a $1,000 threshold for additional review of technology purchases, capping carryover funds at $8,500, and creating a reconsideration process for denied expenses. Members raised concerns about safeguards, appeals, sports equipment, provider credentialing, rural vendor access, and whether the department would be flexible or overly restrictive. The department said it would review every request, provide written explanations for denials, allow appeals up to the State Board, and refer suspected fraud to prosecutors if necessary. After hearing from 13 members of the public, the committee continued to discuss the rule, but the transcript ends before any final vote on the EFA rule is shown.