Transcript Highlights:

• this is attributable to parasites and pests, especially parasites, pathogens, poor nutrition, and genetic
• this is attributable to parasites and pests, especially parasites, pathogens, poor nutrition, and genetic
• this is attributable to parasites and pests, especially parasites, pathogens, poor nutrition, and genetic

Committee: Senate Agriculture and Environment

Summary: The hearing began on SP 547, which would create incentives for graywater recycling systems and atmospheric water generators through an income tax credit, a Department of Health rebate program, and building code standards. The Department of Health and Department of Taxation offered written comments; Taxation said it had seven proposed amendments to improve administration. Testimony was largely supportive, with advocates and local users describing water-supply benefits, emergency use during the Maui fires, and potential help for drought conditions and Red Hill concerns. The Tax Foundation of Hawaii suggested only the rebate program should move forward for clearer cost transparency, and the Department of Health said it needed more time to study the bill. Members questioned the fiscal impact and whether combining a tax credit and rebate was typical, but staff did not have cost estimates. Decision-making on SP 547 was deferred to February 12, 2025. The committee then took up SP 242 on foreign ownership of agricultural lands. The chair recommended passage with amendments, including deleting a reference to the Attorney General in one section and changing the effective date to July 1, 2050. Supporters argued the bill was a first step to limit foreign ownership of farmland, citing other states with similar restrictions, while several members said they supported the intent but had reservations about possible unintended harm to farmers and agriculture investment. After discussion, the measure passed with amendments on a 5-0 vote, with some members voting with reservations. The committee also discussed SP 1633, which would create a green building tax credit for structures using at least 30% Hawaii-grown hemp material. The chair said the bill was close but needed more work, and decision-making was deferred to February 12, 2025. Later, the committee heard several environmental measures: SB 683, which would ban intentionally added PFAS in certain products starting in 2028; SB 1109, which would replace the “finding of no significant impact” with a “finding of completion of environmental disclosure process”; SB 391, which would expand recycling requirements to certain lithium-ion batteries; and SB 12, which would classify neonic pesticides as restricted-use pesticides and limit certain seed treatments. Testimony on these bills included support from environmental and advocacy groups, comments from state agencies, and requests for amendments or further study, but no final votes were taken on those measures in the portion of the transcript provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• caregiver seeks voluntary peer support, counseling, therapy, mental health treatment, or substance use disorder
• There is a pending amendment to remove mental health treatment and substance use disorder treatment from
• They develop these tics and disorders, sort of like OCD. They lose the ability to speak.
• They develop these tics and disorders, sort of like OCD. Massive sleep disturbances.
• They develop these ticks and disorders, sort of like OCD.

Summary: The committee met, approved the March 5, 2026 minutes, and then took up several health- and human-services-related bills. House Bill 5086, concerning peer support programs for covered caregivers, was explained as creating training and testimonial privilege protections; the committee adopted an amendment clarifying that boards may still require participation in a board-designated professional health program, and then reported the bill to the full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass. House Bill 5004, an educational bill on PANS and PANDAS, was supported by the sponsor, who described his family’s experience and the importance of earlier diagnosis; it was reported to the Senate without amendment. House Bill 5327, which would require the Department of Human Services to create an ALS services program, also received supportive testimony from the sponsor and members, but the transcript reflects the bill being reported as House Bill 537; it was moved forward without amendment. The committee then considered House Bill 5096, which would remove personal care and intellectual/developmental disability waiver services from certificate-of-need review. The sponsor argued the change would reduce regulatory burden and expand access, while a county aging-program director testified that certificate-of-need revenues help fund senior meals and services and that eliminating the requirement would reduce important support for aging providers. After a division vote, the motion to report the bill failed 3-9. House Bill 4695, allowing PEIA patients to switch to an alternative medically appropriate covered treatment without new prior authorization if it costs no more than the original treatment, was explained as carrying an estimated $13 million annual cost to PEIA and was reported to the Senate. The committee also advanced House Bill 5582, enacting the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact, after discussion of a committee amendment removing a new-background-check-at-initial-licensure provision; the amendment was adopted and the bill was reported. Another House Bill 5582, concerning the TANF drug screening program, was described as removing the sunset date and allowing oral fluid testing in addition to urine samples; it too was reported. Finally, House Bill 5466 renamed the batterer intervention program as an abuse intervention program and allowed live synchronous virtual delivery with an in-person option; the sponsor said the change would expand access statewide, and the bill was reported to the Senate. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• associated with serious psychological and physical effects such as PTSD, depression, and anxiety disorder
• These physical effects such as PTSD, depression, and anxiety disorder can cause difficulty concentrating
• , legislation such as this further drives people needing a... substance use disorders, legislation such
• that actually prohibits plea bargaining for people who are themselves experiencing substance use disorder
• And that is partially because substance use disorder does not change during periods of incarceration,

Committee: House Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• can look at that and say, oh, okay, this may be somebody who may have a mental illness or a mental disorder
• DOR about putting on licenses to have a communication disorder, and when we saw this piece of legislation
• DOR about putting on licenses to have a communication disorder, and when we saw this piece of legislation
• I would say it has communication disorder, which I think could catch hearing. We are.
• Communication disorder, which I think could catch hearing.

Committee: House Crime and Public Safety

Summary: The committee on Crime and Public Safety held public hearings on House Bill 3175 and House Bill 3066. HB 3175, called Mason’s Law, was presented by Rep. Chris Brown as a system to let the Department of Revenue, Missouri Highway Patrol, and MULES alert officers during traffic stops if a driver may have a disability or health condition affecting communication. Brown described a traffic stop involving a young man with autism and said the bill would allow a physician-verified designation tied to license plates and driver records. Testimony in support came from Mason and his mother, who said the bill could prevent dangerous misunderstandings, along with a friend, a speech-hearing association representative, and Kansas City police, who said officers already receive crisis-intervention training. No opposition testimony was offered. HB 3066, by Rep. Brad Christ, would clarify parts of the new St. Louis City police governance structure, including responsibility for civil liabilities, budgeting, and extending the transition director’s term. Christ said the bill is meant to clean up language from last year’s police governance changes and address disputes over who pays for lawsuits arising from different time periods, while also allowing the Board of Police Commissioners more flexibility to move money within its budget. Several witnesses and members raised concerns that the bill would weaken the city’s Board of Estimate and Apportionment, reduce transparency and checks and balances, and shift financial burdens onto city taxpayers and vital city services. City representatives opposed the bill and urged waiting for a memorandum of understanding to resolve the issues locally, while supporters from the police board, the police officers association, and the Attorney General’s office said the bill would provide needed clarity and efficiency and help resolve lingering liability questions. No votes were taken on either bill during the hearing. At the end of the meeting, the chair announced that several other House bills and a House resolution would not be executed that day and might be heard later.

Transcript Highlights:

• One of the issues that's come up recently with treatment of brain disorders is not that there aren't
• good drugs to treat brain disorders, it's how do you get them in the brain.
• good drugs treat brain disorders.
• It's how you brain disorders is not that there aren't good drugs treat brain disorders, it's how do you
• , such as cocaine use disorder, various brain cancers such as glioblastoma, ALS, and so on.

Committee: Senate Education Postsecondary

Summary: The Education Postsecondary Committee held its first meeting and focused on state university centers and institutes, with an overview from the Board of Governors on how the more than 500 centers and institutes across Florida’s public universities are categorized, overseen, and reported. The Board described three categories: state-level centers, legislatively established centers, and university-established centers. Members were told universities must maintain policies, notify the Board of changes, publish public inventories, and submit annual reports and compliance certifications. Senator Harrell asked about funding sources and whether underperforming centers are reviewed for elimination; the response was that funding varies by center and that universities decide whether to maintain or disband centers under their own policies, with annual reporting and audit findings shared with the Board. Four university presentations followed. Florida Atlantic University highlighted its Center of Excellence in Biomedical and Marine Biotechnology, describing research in marine-derived drug discovery, genomics, imaging, cancer, neurodegenerative disease, and ocean sustainability, along with spin-off institutes and partnerships that have generated significant grant and contract support. FIU presented its Center of Excellence for Hurricane Damage Mitigation and Product Development, emphasizing the Wall of Wind facility, hurricane and water intrusion testing, code and product innovation, insurance modeling, and future expansion toward higher wind speeds and flood simulation. Florida State University’s High-Performance Materials Institute described work in advanced materials, aerospace composites, sensors, nanocomposites, and AI-enabled materials development, along with patents, industry partnerships, and new facilities tied to economic development. The University of Florida’s Lastinger Center for Learning outlined its work on teacher professional learning, literacy, New Worlds Reading, tutoring, and mathematics supports, including microcredentials, statewide book distribution, and early results showing improved reading confidence and growth. Members generally praised the centers for their research, commercialization, workforce development, and education impacts. Senator Jones and Senator Harrell commended the Lastinger Center’s literacy work and the broader return on investment from these programs, while Senator Berman noted the value of the synergies across institutions. The chair emphasized that future funding requests should clearly show measurable success, commercialization, and statewide impact. The committee then adjourned without any formal votes on legislation.

Transcript Highlights:

• My bill also extends it out, so we have our qualifying conditions—post-traumatic stress disorder, major
• depressive disorder, substance use disorder, and end-of-life care—but it also extends it to any other
• One thing about me is I’m in recovery for an alcohol use disorder, and I’ve been in recovery for over
• I was on a postpartum depression study, anxiety, substance use disorder.
• and substance use disorders on our communities.

Committee: House Emerging Issues and Professional Registration

Summary: The committee first met in executive session and voted do pass on House Bill 3037, House Bill 2760, House Bill 1778, and House Bill 2830, each by recorded roll call. HB 3037, HB 2760, and HB 1778 all passed 8-4, while HB 2830 passed unanimously 12-0. The committee also said it would not take up HB 1746 and HB 1769 yet, because more work was needed on an amendment. The public hearing began with House Bill 3005, sponsored by Representative Justice, which would require public and school libraries to adopt and post reconsideration policies for challenged materials, limit requests to local residents or parents/guardians, extend the process to digital materials, and prohibit tracking or retaining personalized user data from digital library resources. Justice said the bill was developed with the Secretary of State’s office and library groups and was intended to add transparency, local control, and privacy protections. Testimony from EBSCO Information Services and the Missouri Library Association supported the bill as a codification of existing library practices and a way to create clearer procedures. The committee then heard a group of similar bills on AI-generated or digitally altered depictions, including measures by Representatives Lucas, Farnan, Gallick, Schmidt, Williams, Houseman, and Dolan. The sponsors described the bills as closing loopholes in child pornography, revenge-porn, and digital impersonation laws, creating civil remedies, criminal penalties, and in some versions platform takedown requirements for nonconsensual altered images. Members raised questions about how to combine the bills, whether sunsets should be included, and how the proposals relate to existing revenge-porn law. No votes were taken on these bills during the hearing. Finally, the committee heard House Bills 2817 and 2961 on ibogaine research for veterans and other trauma-affected populations, followed by House Bills 1717 and 1643 on psilocybin and other alternative therapies. Supporters, including veterans, first responders, clinicians, and family members, described severe PTSD, TBI, addiction, and suicide crises and said these treatments had helped them when conventional care had not. Opponents, including the Missouri State Medical Association, said they did not support non-FDA-approved drugs. Members questioned the cost and structure of the proposed studies, the role of the FDA, and whether similar research is already underway. The hearing ended without a vote on these bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• We serve people who have got mental health and behavioral health and substance use disorder.
• those changes, for example, when we say there's a program integrity concerns with substance use disorder
• And when we make those disorder.
• and how that with substance use disorder and how that program<00:36:20.720><c> uh</c><00:36:21.119><
• rather than just allowing disorder rather than just allowing individuals<00:36:39.119><c> to</c><00:

Transcript Highlights:

• , co-occurring substance use disorder, and related neurological and mental health conditions."
• co-occurring substance use disorder, co-occurring substance use disorder,<00:54:09.359><c> and</c><00
• So the folks that were brought in, those folks were not afflicted with opiate use disorder.
• </c><01:02:30.079><c> The</c> afflicted with opiate use disorder.
• The afflicted with opiate use disorder.

Committee: Joint Public Health and Welfare

Transcript Highlights:

• on a potential service disruption. ...on a potential service disruption for a large substance use disorder
• Substance use disorder treatment is a critical need in the state, and it's really important to us that
• If substance use disorder is a topic, I think you'll find this worth listening to.
• disorder.
• disorder.

Committees: Senate Health and Human Services , Senate Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> opioid use disorder. opioid use disorder.
• ,</c> in the context of opioid use disorder, in the context of opioid use disorder, delays<00:10:40.120
• mental health disorders and substance use disorders.
• . and substance use disorders.
• During that time, we faced disorder.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• the bill that establishes a pilot program to expand access to treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder
• treatment prior to... ...participating self-insurers to authorize post-traumatic stress disorder treatment
• than allows L&I to participate and participating self-insurers to authorize post-traumatic stress disorder
• treatment prior to. participating self-insurers to authorize post-traumatic stress disorder treatment
• And we want to get them that post-traumatic stress disorder treatment as early and often as possible.

Summary: The committee held executive session on eight bills and heard staff briefings on each measure and any proposed substitutes or amendments. The bills covered domestic worker labor protections (HB 2355), a PTSD treatment pilot in workers’ compensation (HB 2405), electronic notices from L&I (HB 2406), private-sector collective bargaining (HB 2471), fire sprinkler contractor licensing and fitter certification (HB 2472), wage complaint enforcement discretion (HB 2478), a wage recovery program and account (HB 2479), and behavioral health and wellness training for apprentices (HB 2492). Several amendments were described as stakeholder-driven or clarifying, including changes to babysitting exemptions and disclosure language in HB 2355, opt-in language for the PTSD pilot in HB 2405, restoration of some current-law notice provisions in HB 2406, and technical or policy-aligning changes in the wage and apprenticeship bills. During final action, the committee adopted the proposed substitute for HB 2355 and reported it out with a due pass recommendation on a 6-3 vote, with opponents citing the fiscal note and affordability concerns. HB 2405 was amended to make participation in the PTSD pilot voluntary for workers and self-insurers, then passed unanimously out of committee. HB 2406 also passed unanimously after an amendment preserving certain current-law notice provisions. HB 2471, the collective bargaining bill, was reported out on a 6-3 vote after debate over whether the bill was premature given the current status of the NLRB. The committee then adopted a stakeholder amendment to HB 2472 and passed it unanimously, followed by unanimous passage of amended HB 2478, which gives L&I discretion in wage complaint enforcement and requires public prioritization of complaints. HB 2479, creating a wage recovery program and account, was also amended and passed unanimously, with members emphasizing bipartisan support and the goal of helping workers recover unpaid wages faster. Finally, HB 2492 was amended to allow certain behavioral health training to count toward continuing education for licensed electricians and plumbers, and it passed unanimously before the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• But this rule is for adolescent residential substance use disorder treatment services in a hospital setting
• But this rule is for adolescent residential substance use disorder treatment services in a hospital setting
• So we have not had a specific provider type for substance use disorder services for adolescents, for
• treat it kind of secondarily if there's something going on, but this is specific for substance use disorder

Summary: The committee opened with prayer and approved the minutes. It then heard an emergency rule from the Department of Human Services on hospital-based residential treatment for adolescents with substance use disorders. Paula Stone explained that the rule would allow Medicaid reimbursement for residential treatment services provided in a hospital unit for ages 12 and up, with Unity Hospital in Searcy expected to be the first provider. Members asked about licensure, length of stay, and cost; Stone said stays would be determined by ASAM criteria rather than a fixed cap, the projected rate submitted to CMS was $850 per day, and the unit would have 24 beds split between boys and girls with an on-site school. The committee next considered an electronic visit verification rule for in-home personal care, attendant care, respite care, and home health services. Elizabeth Pittman said the update was intended to keep the state compliant with federal EVV requirements, improve auditing and corrective action authority, and encourage more electronic claims submissions. She also noted the rule would remove the W-9 submission requirement for provider enrollment to allow IRS verification. Members asked whether EVV was federally required and were told Arkansas uses an open system that allows providers to use the state option or a third-party vendor. After the presentations, the committee took no further action beyond noting that the EVV rule stood reviewed. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• With the recent expansion of the program to cover bipolar disorders with psychotic features, in addition
• to the original criteria of schizophrenia spectrum disorders, we do hope to reach more people in need
• With the recent expansion of the program to cover bipolar disorders with psychotic features, in addition
• to the original criteria of schizophrenia spectrum disorders, we do hope to reach more people in need
• . schizophrenia spectrum disorders, we do hope to reach more people in need and help redefine what justice

Transcript Highlights:

• And we'd say, how are we allowing this to happen to her when she has a severe psychosis disorder?
• And we'd say, how are we allowing this to happen to her when she has a severe psychosis disorder?
• pushback because rather than realizing this is talking about schizophrenia and people with psychotic disorders
• People with psychotic disorders who don't know who they are.
• through courts, it's allowing injections for people who are schizophrenic or have the psychotic disorder

Committee: House Legislative Review

Transcript Highlights:

• As many of you know, I'm one of millions of people in the world that live with substance use disorder
• center because they went somewhere, although it's illegal, those of us that live with substance use disorder
• We know that substance use disorder disease is a disease that is scientifically defined as a disease
• need to help you guys understand that there are many people like me that live with substance use disorder
• we understood that it will protect many of us, but for those of us that battle with substance use disorder

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice heard and approved several bills. SB 504 and its related public records bill SB 506, both by Sen. Burgess, would allow local governments to authorize code enforcement officers to use body cameras under standardized policies and create a public records exemption for certain recordings; members raised questions about disclosure and when cameras may be used, and both bills were reported favorably. The committee also approved CS/SB 32 and SB 210 by Sen. Sharif, creating a new injunction for protection against serious violence by a known person and extending public records protections to petitions under that injunction category. Supporters included law enforcement, women’s advocacy groups, and justice organizations. The committee then favorably reported SB 676 by Sen. Arrington, which creates a graduated penalty structure for adults who involve minors in certain animal cruelty offenses and increases penalties related to fighting or baiting animals. SB 432 by Sen. Yarbrough was also approved; it adds certain concentrated 7-OH to Schedule I, exempts FDA-approved veterinary xylazine products, creates penalties for candy-like xylazine products, and establishes trafficking penalties for xylazine. Sen. Osgood spoke in support of the bill, emphasizing the dangers of adulterated street drugs for people with substance use disorder. Finally, the committee approved SB 524 by Sen. Simon, which makes a series of technical and administrative changes affecting the Medical Examiners Commission, district medical examiner appointments, the Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission, and notice procedures for administrative complaints. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement appeared in support. All measures were reported favorably, and the committee adjourned without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• As many of you know, I'm one of millions of people in the world that live with substance use disorder
• center because they went somewhere, although it's illegal, those of us that live with substance use disorder
• We know that substance use disorder disease is a disease that is scientifically defined as a disease
• need to help you guys understand that there are many people like me that live with substance use disorder
• we understood that it will protect many of us, but for those of us that battle with substance use disorder

Bills: S0032 , S0210 , S0432 , S0504 , S0506 , S0524 , S0676

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice met with a quorum present and considered several bills. The committee heard and approved SB 504, allowing local governments to adopt standardized policies for code enforcement officers to use body cameras, and SB 506, which creates a related public records exemption for certain body camera recordings, including protections for minors and private information. Senator Smith raised questions about notice to property owners and use limitations, and Senator Osgood asked whether cameras must be on at all times; the sponsor said he would follow up on specifics. Both bills had support from local government and code enforcement groups and were reported favorably after adoption of an amendment to SB 504 clarifying training and familiarity with camera rules. The committee also approved CS/SB 32, creating a new injunction for protection against serious violence by a known person, and SB 210, the companion public records exemption for petitions involving that injunction. Senator Sharif said the bills fill a gap for victims who do not qualify under existing injunction categories, and supporters waived in favor. SB 676, by Senator Arrington, was also reported favorably; it creates a graduated penalty structure for contributing to the delinquency of a minor when the underlying conduct involves certain animal cruelty offenses, and increases penalties for fighting or baiting animals. Senator Osgood spoke in support, tying the bill to protecting children and animals, and several law enforcement and animal welfare groups waived in support. The committee further approved SB 432, which adds certain concentrated 7-OH to Schedule I, exempts FDA-approved veterinary xylazine products, creates a first-degree felony with a mandatory minimum for certain candy-like xylazine products, and establishes trafficking penalties for xylazine. Senator Osgood spoke at length in support, emphasizing overdose risks and the impact on people with substance use disorder. Finally, the committee passed SB 524, which revises duties and appointments related to the Medical Examiners Commission and district medical examiners, clarifies responsibilities within Chapter 943, and changes notification and curriculum approval provisions for criminal justice standards. All measures were reported favorably, and the committee adjourned without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• As many of you know, I'm one of millions of people in the world that live with substance use disorder
• center because they went somewhere, although it's illegal, those of us that live with substance use disorder
• We know that substance use disorder disease is a disease that is scientifically defined as a disease
• need to help you guys understand that there are many people like me that live with substance use disorder
• we understood that it will protect many of us, but for those of us that battle with substance use disorder

Bills: S0032 , S0210 , S0432 , S0504 , S0506 , S0524 , S0676

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice met with a quorum present and considered several bills, most of them related to public safety, criminal justice, and privacy. The committee first heard SB 504, which authorizes local governments to allow code enforcement officers to use body cameras under standardized policies, and SB 506, its companion public-records exemption bill protecting certain body-camera recordings from disclosure. Members raised questions about notice to property owners and when cameras may be used; both bills were supported by local government and code enforcement groups and were reported favorably after roll-call votes. The committee then approved CS for SB 32, creating a new injunction for protection against serious violence by a known person, and SB 210, which extends public-records protections to petitions for that injunction. Senator Sharif described the bills as filling a gap for victims who do not qualify under existing injunction categories; supporters included prosecutors, law enforcement, and advocacy groups. The committee also favorably reported SB 676, which creates graduated penalties for involving minors in certain animal cruelty offenses, and SB 432, which adds 7OH to Schedule I, exempts approved veterinary xylazine products, and increases penalties for trafficking and candy-like xylazine products. Senator Osgood spoke in support of SB 432, emphasizing the dangers of adulterated street drugs for people with substance use disorder. Finally, the committee approved SB 524, which revises duties and appointments related to the Medical Examiners Commission and the Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission, including shifting district medical examiner appointments to the commission and clarifying notification procedures for administrative complaints. All bills received favorable votes, with support statements or waivers from various state, local, and advocacy organizations. The committee then completed its business and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• substance use disorders, and treatment-resistant neurological or mental health conditions to qualify
• It's very challenging for physicians to treat these disorders.
• , co-occurring substance use disorders, and treatment-resistant neurological or mental health conditions
• It's very challenging for physicians to treat these disorders.
• There's very few treatment options available, and those treatments I'm to treat these disorders.

Committee: House Health and Welfare

Summary: The House Committee on Health and Welfare met on April 28 with a quorum and took up several Senate bills, beginning with SB 113 on the local health care provider participation program in Calcasieu Parish. The committee adopted a technical amendment and heard that the bill would shift the local sponsor from the parish to the city if needed by a June 1 deadline. After brief discussion and no opposition, SB 113 was reported favorably with amendments. The committee then approved SB 23, which exempts certain assisted living facilities licensed by LDH from the definition of food service establishment, and SB 150, which would allow LDH to scan and electronically store vital records supporting documents and return originals to citizens. SB 221 also advanced after testimony that it would allow EMS providers to be reimbursed by Medicaid for emergency responses where treatment is provided on scene but the patient is not transported. Members discussed that the bill could reduce unnecessary ER use and likely would require some rulemaking, but it was reported favorably. A major portion of the meeting focused on SB 404, a broad vision benefit plan reform bill. Supporters, including optometrists, said the measure would improve transparency, patient choice, and access to eye care by limiting restrictive plan practices; opponents from the vision care plan industry argued it was an unprecedented, provider-driven overhaul that could raise costs and reduce flexibility. After extensive testimony and an agreed amendment clarifying network participation, the committee reported SB 404 favorably with amendments. The committee also reported SB 32 favorably with amendments after emotional testimony from parents and advocates about perinatal bereavement care, cooling devices, and training for hospitals to give grieving families more time and dignity after infant loss. Finally, the committee heard SB 43, which would create a psychedelic-assisted therapy initiative within LDH for clinical research and treatment involving ibogaine and psilocybin, with testimony from veterans, researchers, and advocates describing potential benefits for PTSD, substance use, and traumatic brain injury. The bill was reported favorably with amendments and set to pass a courtesy sheet. The committee then began SB 253, a bill regulating peptides and compounding pharmacies, adopted technical amendments clarifying provider liability, and continued discussion as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• These conditions are characterized by sudden and severe onset of obsessive-compulsive disorder and other
• These conditions are characterized by sudden and severe onset of obsessive-compulsive disorder and other
• My constituent whose family suffers with this disorder, and I've gotten to know really the impacts of
• So they're losing years of their life being treated with a psychiatric disorder when really they have
• an inflammation disorder going on.

Bills: HB1496 , HB2182 , HB2196 , HB2242

Committee: House Health Care & Wellness

Keywords: patients' rights, healthcare information, medical confidentiality, health data security, healthcare access, abortion, medications, reproductive health, access, healthcare, PANDA, PANS, treatment access, mental health, legislation, preventive services, state authority, definitions clarification, public health

Transcript Highlights:

• 00:41:06.680><c> of</c><00:41:06.839><c> substance</c><00:41:07.280><c> use</c><00:41:07.760><c> disorders
• </c> the treatment of substance use disorders the treatment of substance use disorders and<00:41:09.160
• /c><00:42:52.920><c> use</c> we have seen in the substance use we have seen in the substance use disorder
• billing codes um inside of the disorder billing codes um inside of the Medicaid<00:42:57.240><c> system
• use disorder treatments and counselings<00:43:19.800><c> it</c><00:43:19.920><c> will</c><00:43:20.160

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Licensing and Occupations met on March 12, 2025, after waiting for the Senate to adjourn so the committee could officially convene. The committee first took up House Bill 90, which concerned freestanding birthing centers and related medical language. Testimony from Representative Jason Nemes, Dr. Jeffrey Goldberg of ACOG Kentucky, and a representative from Kentucky Right to Life focused on clarifying what medical procedures are not abortions under Kentucky law, including miscarriage management, ectopic pregnancy, molar pregnancy, sepsis, hemorrhage, and stillbirth. Supporters said the committee substitute was intended to reduce confusion and barriers to care for physicians and patients, while Senator Armstrong and Senator Berg raised concerns about the late-arriving substitute, terminology, and whether the bill was being accurately described as supported by ACOG. The committee substitute and title amendment were adopted, and House Bill 90 passed with favorable expression. The committee then considered House Bill 398, relating to occupational safety and health. Representative Walker Thomas said the bill would prevent Kentucky from adopting or enforcing regulations stricter than federal OSHA standards, arguing it would create uniformity for businesses operating in multiple states while preserving worker safety. Senator Armstrong questioned what would happen if federal OSHA were eliminated and argued the bill could reduce Kentucky’s ability to address state-specific workplace hazards; Representative Thomas responded that Kentucky is a state-plan state and would retain the ability to act if needed, and that the measure was about administrative regulation rather than legislation. After a committee substitute was adopted, the bill passed 8-1, with Senator Armstrong voting no. House Bill 580, concerning alcohol and drug counselors and peer support specialists, was presented next. Representative Kim Moore and Elena Sweezy explained that the bill would add structure, training, and supervision requirements for peer support specialists, limit group settings to eight patients, shorten temporary peer support status to nine months, and require additional supervision hours so trainees can complete required training. The bill passed with favorable expression, with Senator Nemes voting no. House Bill 87, relating to employment and occupational licensing, followed; Representative Emily Callaway said it would reduce barriers for people with felony records and help “second chance” citizens enter the workforce. Several senators supported the goal but Senator McDaniel noted caution about substance-use billing and oversight, and the bill passed with favorable expression. Finally, House Bill 422, relating to administrative regulations, was described by Representative Derrick Lewis as a streamlining measure that would reduce paperwork and simplify the regulatory process. It also passed with favorable expression, and the committee then adjourned.