Transcript Highlights:

• IN THEORY ALREADY ADVANTAGE OF THE PROGRAM AND WHATNOT IS IN THEORY HAVE A LARGER PROGRAM IN FLORIDA
• THE NURSING HOME WORLD.
• ONE OTHER THING IS I JUST WANT TO ADDRESS THE PILOT PROGRAM, THE MANAGED-CARE PILOT PROGRAM AND I WOULD
• THE I CONNECT PROGRAM.
• THEN OF COURSE YOU HAVE THE OTHER PROGRAMS, THE MEDICAID PROGRAM PROVIDING SERVICES TO. >> Chair Andrade

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:14:23.079><c> in</c> Residential Treatment um programs in Residential Treatment um programs in
• as compared to the PCA program.
• </c><00:18:13.240><c> um</c> first services and supports program um first services and supports program
• year as part of that program.
• One is on the nursing homes.

Committee: Senate Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm Sandy Redding, a registered nurse and president of the California Nurses Association, a proud co-sponsor
• Nurses are not anti-tech. In fact, I'm an OR nurse. We save lives every day with technology.
• Nurses are not anti-tech. In fact, I'm an OAR nurse. We save lives every day with technology.
• Prevention is upstream: it's youth programming.
• them to do is establish and set up a brand-new program.

Committee: Senate Health

Transcript Highlights:

• My daughter required 24-7 home nursing, of which I spent more than 18 years learning to be a nurse with
• I was fortunate that... ...were the doctors, not nurses.
• We've heard nurses and doctors share their outrage.
• National Nurses United, the largest nurses union in the U.S., and the American College of Physicians,
• National Nurses United, the largest nurses union in the U.S. and the American College of Physicians,

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Health Care Financing

Summary: The Joint Committee on Health Care Financing held a public hearing on 16 bills, with the chairs noting a busy legislative day and asking speakers to keep testimony brief. The committee first heard testimony on Senate 860/House 1405, the Medicare for All bill, with Sen. Jamie Eldridge and many advocates, clinicians, municipal officials, and patients arguing that a single-payer system would make care a right, reduce administrative waste, lower costs, and protect residents from rising premiums, medical debt, and hospital closures. Several speakers cited the Steward hospital crisis, affordability problems, and polling or ballot questions showing public support for single-payer coverage. No vote was taken during the hearing. The committee then took testimony on S. 863, a bill on non-opioid options for chronic pain. Pain specialists, patients, and advocates said the bill would improve care coordination for MassHealth members, expand access to non-opioid medications, require provider education, and collect data on chronic pain. Testifiers described long delays in diagnosis and treatment, stigma toward pain patients, and the need for multidisciplinary care and transportation support. Again, the committee heard testimony only and took no action. A large portion of the hearing focused on H. 1360/S. 869, which would prevent discrimination against people with disabilities in health care. Disability advocates, clinicians, and patients described being denied or delayed care, pressured into DNR orders, or treated based on assumptions about quality of life rather than medical facts. Speakers referenced COVID-era crisis standards of care, discriminatory metrics, and personal stories involving canceled procedures, inadequate accommodations, and poor treatment in hospitals. Committee members thanked speakers for their testimony and said they would review the bill and its implications, but no vote was announced. The committee also heard testimony on H. 1399, an individual Medicare marketplace option for municipal retirees, where supporters said it would give cities and towns a lower-cost alternative for retiree health benefits through HRAs and individual Medicare plans. The hearing then returned to Medicare for All testimony, with additional supporters repeating arguments about cost, access, municipal budget pressure, and the need for global budgeting and universal coverage. The transcript ends with continued testimony and no recorded committee vote or final action on any bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• I am currently the medical program manager for the HFD Fire Department.
• I have 35 years in nursing and 20 of those as an advanced practice registered nurse, and I live on the
• </c> Council um I have 35 years in nursing Council um I have 35 years in nursing and<00:09:48.720><c>
• </c> Jessica Stevens I am a registered nurse Jessica Stevens I am a registered nurse and<00:16:25.720
• </c> and S SMP is a volunteer-based program and S SMP is a volunteer-based program that<00:18:49.840>

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Summary: The Committee on Health and Human Services heard a series of gubernatorial nominations and board appointments, mostly to health-related advisory councils and commissions. Nominees testified briefly about their backgrounds and reasons for serving, including Melanie Lao for the Fuel Tank Advisory Committee; Asana Saragosa Torres and Jessica Stevens for the State Council on Mental Health; several nominees for the Emergency Medical Services Advisory Committee, including S. Brian, Jacob Pelo, Patrick Winfield Lougher, Dr. An Young, Marin Anka, and Kenneth Faria; Roxanne Row for the Hawaii County Health Planning Council; Lewis Johnson and Susie Schulberg for the Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs; Mariah Nicholls and Evan Nakatsuka for the State Rehabilitation Council; and Co Woly for the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation board. Testimony in support came from the Department of Health, the Executive Office on Aging, the Department of Human Services, Hawaii Youth Services Network, Hawaii Family Caregiver Coalition, and other individuals and organizations, with several nominees emphasizing lived experience, rural health access, mental health advocacy, EMS experience, or community service. One nomination, GM 522 for Melanie Lao, drew favorable comments about her qualifications and written responses. GM 572, Roxanne Row’s nomination to the Hawaii County Health Planning Council, was the only item that raised concern because the committee had not received her questionnaire answers directly; after questioning, the chair deferred decision-making on that nomination until March 5 pending receipt of the answers. The committee also noted a title correction for GM 548, changing the reference from an advisory board to the Emergency Medical Services Advisory Committee. At the end of the meeting, the committee voted to advise and consent on all nominations except GM 572, which was deferred. The adopted recommendations covered GM 522, 523, 525, 526, 540, 541, 548, 575, 576, 577, 579, 629, 630, 631, and 633. The meeting then adjourned after congratulating the nominees and inviting them to remain for a group photo.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a licensed registered nurse, a former executive director of the Massachusetts Board of Nursing, and
• I'm a licensed registered nurse, a former executive director of the Massachusetts Board of Nursing, and
• PA program, the only public PA program in the Commonwealth.
• This program changes lives; it changed mine, and every student who went through the program will tell
• This program changes lives, it changed mine, and every student who went through the program will tell

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Revenue

Summary: The Joint Committee on Revenue held a public hearing focused largely on tax-credit proposals tied to children, families, caregivers, child care, health care workforce development, and public health. A major portion of the hearing concerned bills to expand the state earned income tax credit and child and family tax credit, including H. 3073/S. 1957 and S. 1975. Testimony from advocacy groups, legal services, tax assistance organizations, and health providers supported increasing the EITC match from 40% to 50% of the federal credit, expanding eligibility to immigrant and mixed-status ITIN filers, larger families, younger and older workers, and SSI recipients, and raising the child and family tax credit to $600 per child with inflation adjustments and possible advance payments. Witnesses said these changes would reduce poverty, improve health and educational outcomes, and help families meet basic expenses; committee members asked questions about ITIN filers and expressed support for the policy goals. The committee also heard extensive testimony on S. 1938/H. 3159, An Act Supporting Family Caregivers. Speakers described the scale of unpaid caregiving in Massachusetts and supported a package that would create a refundable tax credit, respite vouchers, workplace and housing protections, unemployment insurance access for those who leave work to care for relatives, a permanent advisory council, and a provision allowing spouses to be paid caregivers under MassHealth. Several witnesses shared personal caregiving experiences, and committee members responded favorably, noting the emotional and financial strain on caregivers and the importance of supporting them as Medicaid and long-term care systems face pressure. Additional bills discussed included H. 3174 on a child and dependent care tax credit, which was presented as a way to offset the high cost of child care; H. 3197/S. 2019 to improve the financial security of family child care providers through a tax credit; H. 3218/S. 1960 to create tax credits for health care preceptors to address workforce shortages; S. 2064 to establish a living organ donor tax credit; S. 2034 to promote healthy alternatives to sugary drinks through a tiered tax; H. 3015 to create a tax-return checkoff for the YMCA Youth and Government Program; and several public testimony ideas including vaccination, literacy, and grade-improvement tax credits. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the hearing, which ended after all testimony was heard.

Transcript Highlights:

• SHARS, or the School Health and Related Services Program, is a program we've monitored and engaged in
• That they feel they need through the program.
• CEPRD is a fledgling program.
• You don't want bad nursing homes; you want truly...
• operates a nursing training program.

Bills: SB623 , SB1266 , SB1310 , SB1373 , SB1580 , SB1952 , SB2032 , SB2269 , SB2544 , SB2653 , SB2796

Committee: Senate Health & Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• practitioners, and Manoa has a PMHMP program, which is psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner.
• One of the things that we found from our pilot program with the nurse practitioners was that if we had
• </c><00:26:18.559><c> with</c><00:26:18.799><c> the</c><00:26:18.960><c> nurse</c> uh pilot program with
• the nurse uh pilot program with the nurse practitioners<00:26:19.919><c> was</c><00:26:20.159><c> that
• I know nurse certification.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are honored to be running the pilot program on...
• Is it a mandated, unfunded program?
• which resulted in her nursing coverage being terminated.
• I am a certified nurse midwife. I'm a certified lactation educator.
• On November 4th, the nurse On November 4th, the nurse from Graceful Care Hospice came to our home.

Committee: Senate Health

Transcript Highlights:

• It's home to the largest nurse anesthetist program in the country.
• This relates to Texas Southern as we are focused on developing a... a nursing program that is focused
• What the nursing program would be focused on, it'd be one of the aspects of that first focus program.
• And as I mentioned the nursing program as well, and so it is our intent to be able to build, capable,
• The new nursing program We're excited about his two degree offerings at BSN and a master's level which

Committee: House Higher Education

Transcript Highlights:

• seen nursing programs at the undergraduate level increase by 22.3%.
• We also included $216,000 for the tribal nursing program. So thank you.
• program, whether or not that funding can be used for that program, that very important program that
• We ended up getting 80 nurses over a three-year period into a BSN program, and eventually that provided
• I mean, all the faculty at Northern and the nursing program now and for the past years were graduates

Bills: SB37 , SB29

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Keywords: high-quality literacy instruction, science of reading, structured literacy, reading instruction, literacy assessment, dyslexia screening, phonics, phonemic awareness, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, biliteracy, English language learner, ELL, bilingual education, dual language program, reading intervention, reading difficulty, reading improvement plan, literacy coach

Transcript Highlights:

• Full life care is a program that specializes in services that help keep seniors and those with a program
• And second is our TTK program.
• We understand that there may be no new funding for programs, but when programs are established and they're
• and the state long-term care program.
• We operate LEAD and AJA programs.

Summary: The House Appropriations Committee held a public hearing on proposed substitute House Bill 2289, the House operating budget. Budget staff Mary Monroe gave a detailed overview of the proposal’s near general fund outlook, reserve levels, major revenue assumptions, and major spending and savings items. She highlighted assumed revenue from capital gains and a proposed “millionaires tax,” a transfer from the budget stabilization account, administrative reductions across agencies, and several major policy shifts, including changes affecting Working Connections Child Care, K-12 education, higher education, long-term care, behavioral health, wildfire response, and state employee compensation. Members then asked questions, including about the higher education building account/operating fee swap and its interaction with the capital budget and Climate Commitment Act funds. The committee also announced amendment deadlines for the budget process. The bulk of the meeting was public testimony, with many speakers generally supporting or opposing specific parts of the budget. Supportive testimony praised funding for wildfire prevention, public health, reproductive health, civil legal aid, the Poison Center, some higher education institutions, and certain disability and child welfare services. Many speakers urged restoration or protection of funding for K-12 education, especially transition to kindergarten, local effort assistance, bus depreciation, and Running Start; others opposed cuts to child care, early learning, public defense, long-term care, adult day and home care services, occupational/physical/speech therapy for Medicaid patients, and community and technical colleges. Several local government, health, and nonprofit representatives also asked the committee to preserve public works, homelessness, energy assistance, environmental justice, and recovery/diversion programs, while some business and public safety groups sought continued funding for organized retail crime prevention and related initiatives. No votes were taken during the hearing. The committee recessed briefly and later resumed with virtual testimony, where additional witnesses repeated concerns about education cuts, long-term care, health care access, disability services, dispute resolution, early childhood programs, and the need for ongoing or increased funding in those areas.

Transcript Highlights:

• Please recognize Representative Kane to present the Nurse of the Day.
• It is my distinct honor to recognize our Nurse of the Day, Mary Utsler.
• of roles, from bedside care and surgical nursing to public health leadership.
• There, she teaches introduction to nursing and community nursing while also leading students in SMART
• Is this on top of a program like that? I believe so.

Bills: HB1411 , HB3143 , HB3144 , HB3901 , HCR1019 , HB3981 , HB4248 , HB3194 , HB3849 , HB4095 , HB4302 , HB3342 , HB3344 , HB3287 , HB3645 , HB3647 , HB3930 , HB3931 , HB1818 , HB4454 , HB4336

Summary: The House convened, completed the roll call, prayer, and Pledge of Allegiance, and then took up several second- and third-reading items. Senate Bill 392 was assigned to Administrative Rules. Members also heard personal privileges and introductions, including a remembrance request for Oakland Ray Domer, recognition of a long-serving House staff member, and introductions of guests from Eastern Oklahoma State College, Associated Builders and Contractors of Oklahoma, the Doctor of the Day, and the Nurse of the Day. The chamber passed several measures. House Bill 1411 created a True Grit Trail for tourism, with supporters saying signage would be privately funded and installed at no cost to the state; it passed 92-0. House Bill 3143 extended the moratorium on new medical marijuana grow licensing to August 1, 2028, with supporters arguing it would help curb oversupply and black market activity; it passed 82-8. House Bill 3144, also related to medical marijuana, set a cap framework for when the moratorium ends so the industry would not return to rapid expansion; it passed 82-15. House Bill 3901 established a five-year pilot project for psychological autopsies within the State Department of Health to improve suicide prevention, but members raised concerns about privacy, rulemaking, and the bill’s breadth; it passed 73-24. House Concurrent Resolution 1019 supported naming a planned turnpike segment the Toby Keith Expressway in honor of the late singer’s music career, patriotism, charity work, and support for Oklahoma communities. House Bill 3981 created a locality incentive program for assistant district attorneys in areas of need and passed 83-11. The House then adjourned until February 26, 2026, at 9:30 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• California currently has no licensed midwife programs and only one nurse midwifery program accepting
• in California and is the foundation for two new programs.
• However, at this moment, there's only one actively enrolling nurse midwifery program in the state.
• This will enable a strategic expansion of both nurse midwifery and licensed midwifery education programs
• is also... ...federal family planning program grantee for 55 years and is also proud to be the program

Summary: The Assembly Health Committee met on April 8 and heard a long series of bills, beginning with AB 54 on medication abortion access. The author and supporters, including the Attorney General’s office and reproductive justice advocates, said the bill would protect California’s medication abortion supply chain and shield providers and manufacturers from civil, criminal, and professional liability. Opponents from the California Family Council argued the bill removes safeguards and increases risks. The bill was moved forward on a committee motion. The committee then heard several reproductive and public health measures, including AB 551 to create a pilot program supporting emergency departments in providing reproductive health services, AB 260 to protect medication abortion access and telehealth, AB 309 to remove sunset dates on laws allowing pharmacy syringe sales and lawful possession of sterile syringes, AB 536 to preserve colorectal cancer screening coverage if federal guidelines are challenged, AB 804 to make housing support services a Medi-Cal benefit, AB 594 to address student health insurance billing and transparency, AB 836 to study and expand the midwifery workforce, AB 1418 to collect data on health coverage for eligible employees, and AB 1500 to maintain and expand the abortion.ca.gov information site. Supporters emphasized access, preventive care, workforce shortages, and public health benefits, while opponents raised concerns about abortion, syringe distribution, and the focus of state resources. Most measures were advanced by committee vote, with roll calls showing broad support and a few no votes from members on some bills. The final bill discussed in the transcript was AB 1037, which would update substance use disorder laws to reflect evidence-based, harm-reduction approaches and remove barriers to treatment. The author and supporters described it as a compassionate response to overdose and treatment access problems, while law enforcement opposition argued it would encourage drug use and endanger communities. The transcript cuts off during testimony on AB 1037, so no final committee action on that bill is shown in the provided text.

Transcript Highlights:

• Research Program, and Live Like Bella.
• So it's physicians, it's clinicians, it's nurses.
• So one senior chemotherapy nurse can actually oversee a number of home health nurses.
• So one senior chemotherapy nurse can actually oversee a number of home health nurses.
• versus the success rates outside of those programs?

Summary: The Health Care Budget Subcommittee held a panel discussion on Florida’s cancer research and funding programs, including the Casey DeSantis Cancer Research Program, the Florida Cancer Innovation Fund, the James and Esther King Biomedical Research Program, the Bankhead-Coley Research Program, and Live Like Bella. Dr. Ladapo and leaders from Moffitt, Sylvester/University of Miami, UF Health, and Mayo Clinic described how state funding has helped Florida’s four NCI-designated cancer centers expand research, recruit faculty, increase clinical trials, and build collaborations. They emphasized that the programs are intended to improve cancer care statewide, support innovation, and encourage more institutions to pursue NCI designation. The Governor’s budget recommendation was noted as including additional funding, and members asked about the cost and requirements of becoming NCI-designated and eventually comprehensive. Panelists said NCI designation requires major infrastructure, compliance, research, and training investments, with de novo development estimated at about $1 billion. They described Florida’s collaborative model as unusual nationally, with annual symposia, shared pilot funding, and joint projects across the four centers. Members also asked about rural access, home-based care, and recruitment/retention. Mayo described its “Cancer Care Beyond Walls” home-treatment model and said it could expand to rural counties within months; Moffitt and UF discussed mobile screening, satellite sites, and affiliations with local hospitals and practices. Several members raised concerns about workforce shortages, licensure delays, and the need to reach underserved areas. The discussion also covered outcomes, data reporting, and the broader economic impact of the cancer centers. Panelists cited growth in jobs, federal research funding, and clinical trial enrollment, and highlighted advances in immunotherapy, CAR-T, TIL therapy, carbon ion therapy, AI-driven screening, and the firefighter cancer initiative. They said the Florida Cancer Data System is being expanded to track recurrence and quality-of-life measures. Members also asked about philanthropy, medical tourism, and federal funding risks, including possible indirect cost reductions that could affect research budgets. The meeting ended with general support for continued investment, while some members noted an ongoing policy debate over whether future cancer research dollars should be concentrated in the four NCI centers or spread more broadly across the state.

Transcript Highlights:

• Unlike nursing home and years.
• </c><00:02:20.000><c> homes</c> care is turned into $2 for nursing homes care is turned into $2 for nursing
• </c><00:03:01.920><c> home</c> and those who need nursing home and those who need nursing home services
• This program typically if individuals.
• </c> those safety net public health programs those safety net public health programs for<00:08:47.760

Transcript Highlights:

• Whereas the Legacy Keepers Nurse Honor Guard of Arkansas was established in 2025 by a group of nurses
• Arkansas upholds the legacy of nursing as a sacred calling and honors those nurses who gave so much
• I've had many family members as nurses, and my niece is currently training to be a nurse.
• I've had many family members as nurses, and my niece is currently training to be a nurse.
• I've had many family members as nurses, and my niece is currently training to be a nurse.

Transcript Highlights:

• that's incredibly important to us locally: our school bus program.
• Rural hospitals struggle to find nurses. When the nurses leave, rural areas of care is impacted.
• Trust me, I have firsthand knowledge: the nurses saved lives. The nurses saved lives.
• And when we lose even one nurse, care is delayed.
• They're sort of about training nurses, and I just saw the nurse shortage in California generally, nationally

Committee: Senate Revenue and Taxation

Transcript Highlights:

• I was very taken with your narrative around the nursing workforce specialty programs.
• But to give a brief overview, San Diego State plans multiple programs in nursing at the new Millenia
• for immediate development in business administration, a 2+2 program, ADN to BSN nursing in both online
• for immediate development in business administration, a 2 plus 2 program, an ADN to BSN nursing, both
• like around nursing.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance met to review CSU and State Library budget issues, enrollment trends, the Capital Fellows program, and a Title IX update. Chair David Alvarez opened by stressing that CSU faces serious financial pressure, including a systemwide deficit and proposed cuts that he and several members said were too large and likely to harm access, course offerings, and student services. Public comment focused heavily on the Braille Institute Library, with patrons, staff, veterans, and advocates urging restoration of funding and warning that the proposed cut would severely affect blind and visually impaired Californians across Southern California. Several CSU faculty, staff, and union representatives also opposed the proposed reductions and warned of larger class sizes, fewer sections, and layoffs. On the CSU core operations item, the Department of Finance explained the Governor’s proposal to reduce ongoing General Fund support by about $375 million and defer a 5% base increase, while the LAO said CSU core funding would be roughly flat once tuition and targeted augmentations were considered, but warned that rising costs and prior shortfalls would still force campuses to cut spending. CSU’s Chancellor’s Office said the proposed cut would deepen existing problems, citing prior-year budget gaps, job losses, reduced course sections, and student-service reductions. Members pressed Finance and the LAO on whether cuts could be made more surgically, especially at the Chancellor’s Office or in institutional support rather than in instruction, and the LAO said the Legislature has flexibility to target cuts more specifically. CSU also described ongoing consolidation efforts, including shared services among campuses and the planned Cal Maritime/Cal Poly San Luis Obispo integration, while cautioning that savings are not yet fully known. The committee then discussed CSU enrollment. The LAO recommended holding enrollment targets flat because the budget does not add new funding, while CSU reported strong recent growth, including more California residents, record first-year enrollment, and expanded direct admissions and transfer pathways. Members questioned why some campuses with high demand turn away many applicants while others continue to lose enrollment, and CSU said it is shifting resources from campuses with sustained declines to those with demand, using a 10% below-target threshold. The committee also discussed whether enrollment declines mirror local population trends, how to improve marketing and program alignment, and whether lessons from Cal Poly Humboldt’s conversion could inform other campuses such as Sonoma State. The Capital Fellows item drew a Finance proposal for a salary increase and an LAO counterproposal for a smaller raise plus future COLA language; the committee kept the item open. Finally, CSU reported progress on Title IX compliance, saying it has completed most State Auditor recommendations, expanded civil rights staffing, and increased training, prevention, and case-management efforts, though members asked how proposed budget cuts might affect those services.

Transcript Highlights:

• But there is one profession that comes to mind, and it's nursing.
• One profession that comes to mind, and it's nursing.
• Fasio, who is our reliable nurse who takes care of us.
• We have Tammy Jones, who's the chief nursing officer.
• We have Sarah Rhodes, who's the dean of the College of Nursing.