Transcript Highlights:

• medical reasons.
• I follow the mainstream guidance, and I issue medical exemptions for medical reasons.
• I follow the mainstream guidance, and I issue medical exemptions for medical reasons.
• exemptions for non-medical were issuing loads of medical exemptions for non-medical reasons.
• Anybody can give a medical exemption. I can give a medical exemption.

Summary: The committee heard SB 1377, which would change California’s medical exemption process for school immunizations. The author and supporters argued the bill would restore physician discretion, reduce fear of audits and discipline, and help families with medically vulnerable children obtain exemptions. Opponents, including pediatric, medical, and public health groups, said the current system created by SB 276 and SB 277 is working, that valid exemptions are still being issued, and that loosening oversight could undermine immunization rates and public health. Members debated the data behind claims of a chilling effect, the number of exemptions reviewed or revoked, and the bill’s amendments, which narrowed the measure to current exemptions and added a small additional threshold. Because there was no quorum at the time, action on SB 1377 was delayed until a quorum could be present. The committee then heard SB 995, the Masuma Khan Justice Act, which would create a statewide inspection and enforcement framework for large voluntary residential facilities, including private immigration detention centers. The author and supporters described alleged neglect and abuse in detention facilities, including denial of medication, unsafe food and water, and inadequate oversight, and argued the state should ensure humane conditions and accountability. The California Hospital Association expressed concern about duplicative oversight and possible overlap with existing regulation, while the author said the bill was being refined to avoid constitutional problems and duplication. The committee voted to do pass and re-refer SB 995 to Judiciary, with the roll call showing five votes and the bill placed on call. SB 1089 was also heard, proposing expanded access to GLP-1 medications for state and local government employees through CalPERS and encouraging broader affordability efforts through CalRx. The author framed the bill as a response to chronic weight disease, diabetes risk, and high costs, and described his own experience obtaining and paying for GLP-1 treatment. Supporters from the American Diabetes Association and medical groups said GLP-1s are effective tools for preventing and managing type 2 diabetes and could reduce long-term health costs. No opposition was heard, and the committee voted do pass and re-refer the bill to Labor, Public Employment, and Retirement, with the vote placed on call. The committee also began SB 1221 on Murphy conservatorships, with supporters and opponents debating whether district attorneys should have a larger role in these proceedings and whether the bill would improve public safety or disrupt the civil mental health process; the transcript cuts off before final action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• My undergraduate degrees from SMU. medical school degrees from the University of Texas Medical Branch
• This is a medical exception bill.
• . keeping your medical license.
• medical advice.
• HB44 protects medical counseling.

Bills: HB44, HB2200, HB1612, HB2747, HB2038, HB3717, HB1431, HB3800, HB3801, HB3560, HB3246, HB44

Keywords: HB 44, Life of the Mother Act, abortion exceptions, medical emergency, reasonable medical judgment, pregnancy complications, maternal health, life-threatening condition, ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, spontaneous abortion, fetal survival, Texas abortion law, abortion ban, physician liability, health care provider, disciplinary action, aiding and abetting, emergency abortion, obstetric care

Transcript Highlights:

• And medical debt is not like other debt.
• debt or medical charges.
• Medical debt is like a loan that provides Medical debt is important. Medical debt is like a loan.
• We do not charge interest on medical debt.
• If the statute of limitations and interest allowance is different for medical debt, medical debt will

Bills: SB5720, SB5833, SB5936, SB5993, SB5735

Keywords: consumer debt, judgment, uniformity, legal standards, debt collection, pets, motor vehicles, animal welfare, public safety, legislation, human trafficking, prevention, remedies, victims, law enforcement, support services, medical debt, interest charges, consumer protection, healthcare

Summary: The committee heard public hearings on several bills. SB 5720, the Uniform Consumer Debt Default Judgments Act, was described by staff as adding complaint, notice, and default-judgment requirements for consumer debt cases and preserving existing debt-buyer protections. Senator Peterson said the bill had been revised through stakeholder compromise, and testimony from consumer advocates and collectors was broadly supportive, with no opposition noted. The hearing was closed without a vote. SB 5833, allowing a vehicle to remain running for up to 30 minutes to protect a pet, drew support from the sponsor and some animal welfare and law enforcement stakeholders, but animal control and police representatives raised concerns about the liability presumption and said current law already allows fact-specific intervention. The sponsor said he would bring an amendment to address the liability language; the hearing closed with many pro sign-ins and a few con sign-ins. The committee also heard SB 5936 on human trafficking remedies and prevention. Staff explained that the bill would allow prosecution of business entities that knowingly engage in or benefit from trafficking or involuntary servitude, impose possible fines and disgorgement, require confidentiality for victims and families, and create a process for T and U visa certification and continued-presence requests. Senator Orwall said the bill was intended to strengthen survivor protections and accountability, while several survivors and child-advocacy witnesses strongly supported it. Hospitality and law enforcement groups supported the bill in concept but asked for amendments to clarify liability and to align the visa-certification provisions with existing law; law enforcement said some section 4 language was duplicative and likely to be amended. The hearing closed after those comments. SB 5993 would prohibit interest on new and unpaid medical debt and shorten the enforceability period for judgments involving medical debt to six years without renewal. Supporters, including consumer advocates, AARP, patient groups, and individuals with serious medical debt, said the bill would reduce financial ruin, improve affordability, and reflect the fact that people do not choose medical emergencies. Opponents from hospitals, physician groups, collectors, and business organizations argued that eliminating interest and judgment renewal would reduce repayment incentives, shift costs to providers and other patients, and hit small rural hospitals hardest; they also asked for more stakeholder work and warned about effects on mixed judgments. The committee then began SB 5375 on labeling imitation firearms, with staff explaining that it would create state standards for BB devices, toy guns, replicas, and similar items, prohibit altering markings, require advisories, and impose civil and misdemeanor penalties. The sponsor said it was intended to reduce mistaken shootings and cited a fatal incident involving an airsoft gun, while opponents from the NRA and firearms-training users argued the bill was overbroad, duplicated federal law, and could harm training, competition, and lawful firearm customization.

Transcript Highlights:

• It talks about a medical reimbursement schedule, but this is not a medical reimbursement schedule, correct
• I was about to say Assistant Medical Director. God, no, I'm not a medical director.
• So the medical director makes that decision, but if the medical director says yes, then the doctor is
• of the medical record.
• We have medical treatment guidelines.

Summary: The House Labor and Industrial Relations Committee met on May 7, 2026, and first deferred several measures, including House Bill 460, Senate Bill 322, Senate Bill 32, Senate Bill 22, and House Bill 561. The committee then took up House Bill 819 by Chairman Cruz, which would replace Louisiana’s current workers’ compensation medical treatment schedule with the Official Disability Guidelines (ODG) by MCG as the primary guideline, while keeping the existing variance and appeal process. Cruz and MCG representative Troy Prevo argued that ODG is more comprehensive, updated more frequently, and used in many states, and said it could reduce delays, disability duration, and costs. Dr. Jason Picard, the state medical director, testified that Louisiana already uses ODG as a secondary reference in many cases because the state schedule lacks coverage for some body parts and treatments, and said the bill would not otherwise change the appeals process or care delivery. Committee members focused heavily on whether the bill would delay care or improve it. Several members questioned the private-company nature of ODG, the $400 annual subscription cost, and whether Louisiana doctors would be forced to rely on an out-of-state guideline. Rep. Glorioso and others raised concerns about preauthorization delays and proposed amendments to create tacit approval when treatment follows the schedule, require payment within 30 days, and make the carrier prove by clear and convincing evidence that care was not medically necessary to challenge it. Chairman Cruz said he was willing to work with those ideas, and the committee also discussed adding an on-ramp or legacy language so current patients would not be disrupted. Opposition testimony came from injured-worker advocates and representatives of medical and labor groups, including Joseph Jola St. and Robin Krumholt. They argued that Louisiana’s current guidelines are already working, that rates have fallen over time, and that the real problem is delay in approval rather than the content of the schedule. They said ODG is overly rigid, cost-driven, and can lead to denials that shift costs to workers, Medicaid, or private health insurance. They urged the committee to keep Louisiana’s existing system and instead adopt tacit approval under current law. The bill was still under discussion at the close of the transcript, with amendments being read and no final vote shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• of medical debt for St.
• care earlier due to fear of medical costs or adding to their medical debt.
• care earlier due to fear of medical costs or adding to their medical debt.
• care earlier due to fear of medical costs or adding to their medical debt.
• </c> and medical care and the cost of it. and medical care and the cost of it.

Bills: HF1646, HF2443

Keywords: medical debt, debt relief, healthcare financing, consumer protection, financial hardship, commerce, cannabis, insurance, housing, ombudsperson, affordability, property, task force, financial institutions, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• that medical record.
• Yeah, so what I did is ask my medical doctor from the medical director to join us.
• Where's my medication?
• is medically necessary.
• ‘Oh, it’s a $400 medication, and we think you can take this $18 medication.’

Bills: HB282, HB293, HB390, HB456, HB460, HB561, HB819, HB1023, HB1047, HB1101

Keywords: employment discrimination, criminal history, rehabilitation, hiring process, human rights, gender identity, sexual orientation, workplace equality, labor rights, domestic abuse, unpaid leave, employee rights, workplace protection, mental health, survivor support, workers' compensation, employment benefits, claims process, fraud prevention, legal petition

Transcript Highlights:

• Joined by Canon Armstrong. of Medical Cannabis. I'm here to provide of Medical Cannabis.
• </c> director of the Office of Medical director of the Office of Medical Cannabis.
• </c><00:12:33.760><c> cannabis</c> Sims filed the first medical cannabis Sims filed the first medical
• </c> and apply for a medical cannabis card. and apply for a medical cannabis card.
• </c> the for the medical end? the for the medical end?

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Attendance Roll Call 00:00:20 Approval of June 4, 2026 Minutes 00:03:09 Prioritizing Kentucky Agriculture: Medical Cannabis 00:03:38 Prioritizing Kentucky Agriculture: Bourbon 01:41:03, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• obtain all medical records.
• Yeah, so what I did is ask my medical doctor from are the medical director “Ask my medical doctor from
• Where’s my medication?”
• is medically necessary.
• Oh, it's a $400 medication, and we think you can take this $18 medication.

Summary: The committee first voluntarily deferred House Bills 460 and 561, then took up House Bill 1101 on workers’ compensation. The sponsor said the bill would define maximum medical improvement, adjust fraud provisions, shorten temporary total disability and supplemental earnings benefit periods, and revise vocational rehabilitation rules; an amendment removed proposed age-based termination language for benefits. Business groups including LABI supported the bill as a way to reduce Louisiana’s comparatively high indemnity costs and align the state with regional norms, while injured-worker advocates and attorneys strongly opposed it, arguing it would cut benefits, shift medical and disability decisions away from treating physicians and judges, broaden fraud too far, and potentially push costs onto public programs. After debate, the committee voted to report HB 1101 with amendments. House Bill 282 was voluntarily deferred. House Bill 293, which would add sexual orientation and gender identity to Louisiana employment discrimination protections, drew generally supportive testimony from the sponsor and supporters, with some members raising questions about religious exemptions and federal law. The committee ultimately voted against reporting HB 293 favorably. House Bill 390, providing unpaid leave protections for domestic abuse survivors at larger employers, was presented as a tool for survivors, but the committee split 6-6 on a motion to report it favorably; the tie resulted in the bill being voluntarily deferred. The committee then heard House Bill 456, which would expand workers’ compensation petition requirements and allow employers or payers broader access to file disputed claims and seek discovery. Supporters argued employers currently lack a practical way to obtain records and challenge claims without first cutting off benefits, while opponents said the bill would revive a rejected 2012 approach, increase litigation, and undermine the no-fault workers’ compensation bargain. The discussion centered on whether the bill would preserve benefits while allowing discovery or instead encourage more disputes and penalties. The transcript ends with testimony still underway on HB 456, with no final vote shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• Medical debt is not like other debt.
• debt or medical charges.
• Medical debt is important. Medical debt is like a loan that provides... Medical debt is important.
• Medical debt is like a loan.
• If the statute of limitations and interest allowance is different for medical debt, medical debt will

Summary: The committee held public hearings on several bills. SB 5720 would enact the Uniform Consumer Debt Default Judgments Act, adding complaint and notice requirements before default judgments in consumer debt cases and preserving existing debt-buyer protections; the sponsor and witnesses from consumer and collection groups described it as a compromise measure, and there was broad support with 53 people signed in pro. SB 5833 would allow a vehicle to remain running for up to 30 minutes to keep a pet safe from heat or cold; the sponsor said he would amend liability language, while animal control and police groups raised concerns about shifting the focus away from animal welfare and creating liability issues, though many sign-ins were pro (107 pro, 4 con). SB 5936 would update human trafficking law by allowing prosecution of business entities that knowingly benefit from trafficking, adding confidentiality protections for victims, and creating a process for T and U visa certifications; survivors and advocacy groups supported it, while hospitality and law enforcement groups asked for clarifying amendments, especially on business liability and duplicative visa procedures, and sign-ins showed 24 pro and 283 con. SB 5993 would prohibit interest on new and unpaid medical debt and shorten enforcement of judgments involving medical debt to six years without renewal; supporters said it would reduce financial harm and help patients, while hospitals, physicians, collectors, and business groups warned it could discourage payment and worsen provider finances, especially for rural hospitals, with 129 sign-ins pro and no con sign-ins. Finally, SB 5735 would create state standards for labeling imitation firearms, including BB guns and toy guns, with advisories and penalties for altered markings; the sponsor said it was intended to reduce mistaken shootings, while gun-rights and firearms-training witnesses argued federal law already covers the issue and that the bill would burden lawful training and competition, with 8 pro and 184 con sign-ins. The committee closed each public hearing and adjourned without recorded votes on the bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• We ask that the bill be amended to authorize CMA administration and medication administration of medical
• Our facility has never been cited for medication error, medication management, or medication administration
• Our facility never been sighted for medication error, or medication management, or medication administration
• We order the medications, we adjust under the medical director or the physician.
• We do not do intravenous medication. My facility does not entertain G-tube or J-tube medication.

Bills: H5243, H5376, S3056, S3057

Keywords: rest home, rest homes, medication administration, medication management, assisted living, long-term care, elder care, older adults, senior care, nursing home, resident care, self-administration, licensed facility, Chapter 111, section 71, Responsible Person, caregiver, direct care staff, care facilities, funding

Transcript Highlights:

• If blood was drawn to the hospital for medical purposes, those lab results are considered medical records
• Under Florida law, the medical examiner has statutory authority to access any relevant prior medical
• If an individual who is on medication quits, taking the medication and then as and adverse reaction and
• prescribe medications and then determine if they weren't taking medications. >> Is that part of that
• They were prescribed medications that they were on the medications.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is to ensure that the money awarded for future medical expenses are actually used for those medical
• Anything awarded for future medicals would go in this account? Future medicals? Yes, sir.
• So you can still make it, the plaintiff would still make their claim for medicals, future medicals, and
• the future medical anticipates, okay?
• It's to the detriment of his health insurer who ends up paying that medical bill that the future medical

Bills: HB79, HB437, HB646, HB1089, HB1099, SB173, SB180, SB260, SB424, SB476

Keywords: carbon capture, damages, environmental liability, legal liability, site restoration, expert witness, expert testimony, witness fees, pecuniary interest, conflict of interest, civil procedure, evidence law, Louisiana evidence code, Louisiana civil litigation, expert report, discovery, pretrial disclosure, litigation transparency, settlement, damages award

Transcript Highlights:

• under a Western... medical model.
• So this bill is not medical care.
• medical gatekeeping.
• By way of background, the Washington Medical Commission, or WMC, issues international medical graduates
• The Washington Medical Commission issues international medical graduates clinical experience licenses

Bills: SB5921, SB5185, SB6182, SB6115, SB6258, SB5916, SB5981, SB5985, SB6019, SB6161, SB6183

Keywords: psilocybin, mental health, therapy, decriminalization, legalization, international medical graduates, preceptorship, hardship pathways, medical practice, licensure, abortion, reproductive health, pregnancy termination, clinic access, abortion access fund, abortion savings account, health carrier assessment, insurance assessment, health insurer tax, Department of Health

Summary: The Senate Health and Long-Term Care Committee held public hearings on several bills, with most of the discussion centered on Senate Bill 5921, which would create a Department of Health medical psilocybin program for adults with qualifying conditions. The staff briefing described licensing for producers and participating clinicians, training and safety standards, data collection, and a 2028 effective date. Senator Jesse Solomon said the bill uses a medical-control model and is intended to provide supervised access for conditions such as treatment-resistant depression and PTSD. Testimony was sharply divided: supporters included clinicians, veterans, first responders, and patients who described personal benefit and argued the bill would create a safe, regulated pathway; opponents and some medical groups raised concerns about missing safeguards, contraindications, monitoring, cost, and the bill’s exclusion of broader decriminalization or community-use protections. The hearing closed with 25 people signed in pro, 140 con, and 7 other. The committee also heard Senate Bill 5185, a pilot program to create a pathway for international medical graduates with clinical experience licenses to obtain full unrestricted primary care licensure. Senator Rebecca Saldana and supporters from the Washington State Medical Association, the Washington Medical Commission, and the International Medical Graduate Academy said the bill builds on an existing pathway, improves access to care, and maintains patient safety standards. No opposition testimony was presented, and the hearing closed with 9 pro and 118 con sign-ins. In executive session, the committee advanced several bills with amendments or substitutes: SB 5916 on non-opioid pain drugs, SB 5981 on 340B drug pricing transparency, SB 5985 on endometriosis resources, SB 6019 on home care rate statutes, SB 6161 on Department of Health dementia information, and SB 6183 on HIV antiviral drug coverage. The committee adopted proposed substitutes or amendments and sent the bills onward, with some referred to Rules and others to Ways and Means. The committee later reopened and completed the hearing on Senate Bill 6115, which would fund a comprehensive cancer education program for students in grades 6 through 12. Supporters, including Cancer Pathways staff, educators, and families affected by cancer, said early education could reduce risk behaviors like vaping and improve prevention; the hearing closed with 33 pro and 665 con sign-ins, and the remaining two agenda bills were postponed to a later hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• . medical. medical.
• . medical. medical.
• . medical. medical.
• . medical. medical.
• . medical. medical.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, typically, at a medical spa, a medical spa should be treated as any other medical facility.
• Medical spas, as everyone has said. That are medical practices.
• The medical board, as Dr.
• Any reasons besides medical?
• Care for applicable medical bills.

Bills: HB3772, HB1656, HB4504, HB1896, HB4420, HB4421, HB4076, HB3708, HB2806, HB3540, HB1586, HB5459, HB4553, HB4535, HB3811, HB3749, HB4255, HB4051, HB5098, HB3554, HB4539, HB5274

Keywords: e-cigarettes, health and safety, regulations, directory, penalties, regulation, certification, compliance, manufacturers, FDA, nicotine, mental health, emergency detention, paramedic authority, mental illness, healthcare facility, public health, covenants not to compete, health care practitioners, physicians

Transcript Highlights:

• medical reasons.
• I follow the mainstream guidance, and I issue medical exemptions for medical reasons.
• Trained medical professionals have not lost the ability to issue valid medical exemptions.
• . were issuing loads of medical exemptions for non-medical reasons.
• Anybody can give a medical exemption. I can give a medical exemption.

Summary: The committee first took up SB 1377, a bill on medical exemptions for school immunizations. The author and supporters said the measure was a narrow reform to restore physician discretion and reduce what they described as chilling effects from audits and license discipline; opponents from pediatric, medical, public health, and school groups argued the current system already works, protects against fraudulent exemptions, and should not be weakened. Committee members debated the data, the number of exemptions reviewed or revoked, and the effect of the proposed amendments. The bill was amended in committee, but because there was no quorum it was not formally voted on at that time. The committee then heard SB 995, the Masuma Khan Justice Act, which would create a statewide inspection and compliance framework for large private detention facilities. The author and supporters described severe conditions in immigration detention, including denial of medication, unsafe food and water, and lack of oversight, and the bill was presented as a response to those abuses. The California Hospital Association raised concerns about duplicative regulation and overlapping standards, but said it was continuing to work on a solution. The committee discussed constitutional and jurisdictional issues, and the bill was moved on a do-pass motion to the Committee on Judiciary with a 5-0 vote placed on call. Next, SB 1089 was heard, proposing expanded access through CalPERS and CalRX to GLP-1 medications for chronic weight disease and diabetes prevention. The author and supporters from the American Diabetes Association and medical groups argued the drugs are effective tools to prevent type 2 diabetes, reduce long-term costs, and improve health equity, while the author also shared personal experience with weight loss and medication access barriers. There was no opposition testimony. The bill was moved on a do-pass motion to the Committee on Labor, Public Employment, and Retirement with a 5-0 vote placed on call. Finally, the committee heard SB 1221, dealing with Murphy conservatorships for people found not guilty by reason of insanity or otherwise under criminal-mental health conservatorship. Supporters, including prosecutors and psychiatrists, said the bill addresses a gap created by a court decision and would improve public safety and placement decisions for a small population of high-risk individuals. Opponents from county behavioral health and disability rights groups warned it would turn a civil process into a quasi-criminal one, expand district attorney involvement, and disrupt bed prioritization and least-restrictive-placement principles. The discussion centered on the scope of the bill and its amendments, but no final vote was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• the Medical Civil Rights Act will prevent those needless deaths, injuries, disabilities, and poor medical
• In 2019, our initiative had drafted the Medical Civil Rights Act to establish a right to emergency medical
• H. 1745, the Act to Study the Delivery of Medical Care to Persons Who Are Held in Custody, the Medical
• and the medical civil rights.
• Medical care.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Judiciary Committee heard testimony on a wide range of criminal justice, victim services, and records-sealing bills. Early testimony focused on H.1811, the Clean Slate automated record-sealing bill, with supporters arguing that automatic sealing after existing waiting periods would remove barriers to jobs, housing, and education without changing eligibility rules. Advocates from legal aid, business, and housing organizations said the current petition-based system is underused, burdensome, and costly, while opponents of expanding surveillance-related laws urged the committee to preserve privacy protections. The committee also heard testimony on H.1693, which would immediately seal records in cases ending without conviction and clarify the presumption of innocence, with speakers describing how dismissed cases still create lasting collateral consequences and prevent people from moving forward. No votes were taken during the hearing. Several bills centered on victim safety and domestic violence. Senator Michael Moore testified for S.1201, which would keep child-protective orders in effect even if the parent or guardian who filed them dies, and for S.1204, which would update the wiretap statute. Multiple survivors and advocates supported S.1215 and S.1222, arguing for a narrow wiretap defense for recordings made to document threats or abuse and for making GPS tampering a separate felony offense. Testifiers described situations in which GPS devices were cut off or disabled and said current law leaves victims at risk and gives abusers too much leeway. The committee also heard emotional testimony on H.1685/S.1238, a bill prompted by the suicide of Stavri Yanka in custody, with the sponsor, his mother, and the sheriff describing the need for better information-sharing so suicide-risk information follows a person into custody. Law enforcement and prosecutors supported several due-process and dangerousness-related bills. MassCOP, the Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association, and the State Police Association backed H.1828/S.1039/S.1235, which would require de novo Superior Court review for POST Commission suspensions over two weeks or decertifications, arguing officers need a meaningful appeal beyond administrative review. The committee also heard support for H.1691, expanding the dangerousness statute to additional offenses; Bristol County District Attorney Quinn said the changes would let prosecutors seek detention in serious cases such as child rape and manslaughter when facts warrant it. In contrast, the Committee for Public Counsel Services opposed expanding dangerousness detention, warning that pretrial detention causes serious harms and disproportionately affects Black and Hispanic defendants. The hearing also included testimony on H.1654/S.1063 to enhance victims’ rights and H.1525, which would rename and expand community corrections into community justice programs, with supporters emphasizing reentry, reduced stigma, and broader service access.

Transcript Highlights:

• And from what I understood is sometimes with these kids with medically complicated cases, the medication
• So I guess the question I have is if a patient is medically complex, it is the medical system or physician
• It would create a clearly visible alert in the electronic medical record for medically complex children
• It would create a clearly visible alert in the electronic medical record for medically complex children
• I'm the grandmother of a medically complex child, the mother of a now adult medically complex former

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The committee first met in executive session and approved three measures: House Committee Substitute for House Bill 1962, House Committee Substitute for House Bill 2371, and HCR 28, each by unanimous roll call votes of 16 ayes and 0 noes. HB 1962’s substitute clarified language related to an epinephrine-related database and pricing, while HB 2371’s substitute codified existing Medicaid/state-plan treatment language. The committee then moved to public hearings. House Bill 3457, “Maddie’s Law,” was heard next. Representative Burns and multiple family members and advocates described the bill as creating an electronic medical record alert for medically complex children so emergency room and inpatient staff can quickly access individualized care plans. Testimony emphasized that the alert would support, not replace, clinical judgment, and would reduce the burden on parents who currently carry binders of records and must explain complex histories during emergencies. Witnesses also discussed the existing STARS EMS program, which provides prehospital care plans, and a representative from SSM Health explained that STARS is voluntary, currently used by about 1,800 children, and already integrated with several hospital systems; she said the sponsor and stakeholders were willing to work on language. The committee then heard House Bill 3401, which would require hospitals to develop workplace violence prevention plans, multidisciplinary committees, training, reporting, and risk assessments, while also retaining signage requirements. The sponsor and supporters from emergency medicine, nursing, hospitals, and physician groups said violence against health care workers is widespread and worsening, citing high rates of threats, assaults, burnout, and turnover. Some witnesses suggested the signage language could be broadened or simplified, and hospital representatives noted the bill aligns with existing accreditation and safety standards. No votes were taken on HB 3457 or HB 3401 before adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• And from what I understood is sometimes with these kids with medically complicated cases, the medication
• So I guess the question I have is if a patient is medically complex, it is the... ...medical system or
• It's like we want the medical system to have those important notations such that any medical practitioner
• It would create a clearly visible alert in the electronic medical record for medically complex children
• I'm the grandmother of a medically complex child, the mother of a now-adult medically complex former

Summary: The committee first met in executive session and adopted a substitute for House Bill 1962, then voted House Committee Substitute for HB 1962 do pass by 16-0. The substitute was described as making changes related to an epinephrine-related database and pricing. The committee then adopted a substitute for House Bill 2371 and voted House Committee Substitute for HB 2371 do pass by 16-0; the sponsor said the bill would codify existing Medicaid/state-plan coverage for a blood pressure-related issue and make the private insurance language consistent. House Concurrent Resolution 28 was also voted do pass by 16-0. The committee then heard House Bill 3457, “Maddie’s Law,” which would create an electronic medical-record alert for medically complex children so hospitals can quickly access individualized emergency care plans. Representative Burns presented the bill as a response to the death of a child named Maddie, and multiple family members and advocates testified in support, describing repeated emergency-room delays, the burden of carrying binders of records, and the need for one-click access to care plans. Questions focused on how the alert would work with existing systems, whether QR codes or bracelets might help, whether the bill should also apply to adults, and how the voluntary language fits with the goal of ensuring the information is available. An SSM Health lobbyist testified for information purposes, explaining that the STARS program is a voluntary EMS care-plan system started in 2014 and now includes about 1,800 children in Missouri and Illinois; he said the sponsor was willing to work on the language. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 3401, which would require hospitals to develop workplace violence prevention plans, multidisciplinary committees, risk assessments, training, reporting, and incident review processes, while keeping the bill flexible for different facilities. The sponsor and several health care groups cited high rates of threats and assaults against emergency and hospital staff and argued that violence is a preventable workplace risk that contributes to burnout and staffing shortages. Witnesses from emergency physicians, nurses, the Missouri Hospital Association, and other medical groups supported the bill, with some suggesting the signage language be broadened or simplified. No votes were taken on HB 3457 or HB 3401 before the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• medical reasons.
• I follow the mainstream guidance, and I issue medical exemptions for medical reasons.
• Trained medical professionals have not lost the ability to issue valid medical exemptions.
• . were issuing loads of medical exemptions for non-medical reasons.
• Anybody can give a medical exemption. I can give a medical exemption.

Keywords: 987, senate, all