Transcript Highlights:

• What mechanisms are in place to prevent misuse of sensitive behavioral health records once the protections
• We know an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
• As Secretary, I set a vision and agenda to work upstream, focused on prevention and permanency and child
• As Secretary, I set a vision and agenda to work upstream, focused them on prevention and permanency and
• We activated every corner of community to achieve our prevention efforts, utilizing First Lady Casey

Committee: Senate Health Policy

Summary: The Health Policy Committee met with a quorum and took up a long agenda of health care, Medicaid, and patient-access measures, along with confirmation votes. The committee first reconsidered and amended SB 1606 on patient access to records, clarifying portal obligations, deleting a section affecting nursing home facility records, and setting a January 1, 2026 effective date; the bill then passed favorably as a committee substitute. The committee also recommended confirmation of a block of appointees and separately confirmed Chavon Harris as Secretary of the Agency for Health Care Administration after Harris testified about priorities including financial accountability, managed care oversight, transparency, and quality improvement. Senators asked about audit findings and Medicaid managed care performance, and several witnesses and committee members voiced support for her appointment. The committee then advanced a series of bills, most of them with amendments, including claims bills SB 28 and SB 22 for South Broward Hospital District settlements, SB 772 on undesignated glucagon in schools, SB 998 on death certification by physician assistants and APRNs, SB 1412 on home health administration flexibility, SB 1800 creating a Parkinson’s disease research consortium at USF, SB 306 on managed care network access during holidays and after hours, SB 1768 on stem cell therapies by physicians, SB 1602 on pediatric readiness in emergency departments, SB 1156 on the home health aide program for medically fragile children, SB 1490 on Children’s Medical Services and managed care administration, and SB 1182 on Medicaid coverage of continuous glucose monitors. Most of these bills received support from industry, advocacy, or provider groups and were reported favorably as committee substitutes. The most debated measure was SB 1270, a broad strike-all amendment combining provisions on mRNA vaccine documentation, vaccination-status protections in the Patient Bill of Rights, medical marijuana reporting and background-screening definitions, compact language, and volunteer immunity. The committee heard extensive testimony both for and against the vaccine-related provisions, including concerns about discrimination, patient safety, provider discretion, and medical liability. After additional technical amendments and a time-certain motion, the bill passed favorably as a committee substitute, with Senators Davis and Osgood voting no and Senator Harrell expressing a weak yes. At the end of the meeting, senators recorded their votes on selected tabs, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have to, you know, check in with people when they're very, very young to make sure that we prevent
• people developing a that we prevent people developing a severe<01:19:14.600><c> substance</c><01:19:
• We have really good treatments for opioid and alcohol addiction, and there are new treatments emerging
• we have really good preventable we have really good treatments<01:30:43.239><c> for</c><01:30:43.440
• ><c> opioid</c><01:30:43.920><c> and</c><01:30:44.040><c> alcohol</c> treatments for opioid and alcohol

Committee: House Higher Education Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And again, to prevent people from doing that type of behavior, you can't drive by a Walmart or a park
• And again, to prevent people from doing that type of behavior, you can't drive by a Walmart or a park
• I don't use opioids. I don't use that stuff.
• It goes into effect November 2026. partners to prevent um, alcohol and drug partners to prevent um, alcohol
• </c> then we ended up with a huge opioid then we ended up with a huge opioid problem problem problem

Committee: House Criminal Justice and Public Safety

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It was told by us in committee that it was to increase money for the defense fund to prevent increases
• med medication assistance treatment for med medication assistance treatment from<01:26:40.880><c> opioid
• treatment</c><01:26:41.920><c> programs</c><01:26:42.880><c> to</c><01:26:43.120><c> any</c> from opioid
• It reimburses jail settings for the opioid treatment and includes transparency around provider agency
• </c><01:32:40.960><c> treatment</c> jail settings for the opioid treatment jail settings for the opioid

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> a prohibition added to HP2 to prevent a prohibition added to HP2 to prevent the<01:11:25.520><c>
• </c> the opioid the opioid funds,<01:25:49.719><c> then</c><01:25:50.719><c> we</c><01:25:50.960><c>
• Our Bureau of Prevention and Wellness is focused largely on the prevention of chronic diseases.
• Our Bureau of Prevention and Wellness is focused largely on the prevention of chronic diseases.
• Our Bureau of Prevention and Wellness is focused largely on the prevention of chronic diseases.

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• we have three bills on the agenda today, and we are going to take up HB 355 relating to emergency opioid
• House Bill 355 amends existing Florida statute to enhance the ability of emergency opioid antagonists
• This bill will allow public schools to purchase, use, and maintain emergency opioid antagonists that
• children and give the schools enough tools in their toolbox to protect our children when it comes to an opioid

Summary: The Human Services Subcommittee considered three bills and reported all of them favorably by unanimous votes. HB 355, by Rep. Jay Alvarez, would allow public K-12 schools and postsecondary institutions to purchase, use, and maintain FDA-approved emergency opioid antagonists rather than being limited to naloxone. The bill was described as giving schools more flexibility and a lower-cost option for overdose response; it received supportive public testimony and passed 18-0. HB 531, by Rep. Hanchowski, expands background screening requirements for child care facilities and programs to include certain recreational enrichment programs, and creates a statewide public awareness campaign about screening requirements. An amendment narrowed the definition of recreational enrichment programs to in-person dance, gymnastics, and martial arts lessons and conformed a statutory cross-reference; the amendment was adopted without objection. The bill then passed 18-0, with support from Florida Smart Justice Alliance and some discussion about strengthening enforcement against bad actors. HB 1127, by Rep. Weinberger, addresses child welfare by creating a treatment foster care pilot program for high-acuity children, directing DCF to study residential treatment capacity, and improving data collection on commercially sexually exploited children. The bill also includes recruitment and funding proposals for foster parents and workforce strategies for DCF. Members praised the bill’s focus on difficult cases and system gaps, public testimony was supportive, and the bill passed 18-0. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we combat the opioid use in bianium.
• :02:53.040><c> non-usage</c><00:02:53.760><c> and</c> and opioid directives for non-usage and and opioid
• </c><01:39:52.480><c> dental</c> relatively cheap, preventative dental relatively cheap, preventative
• </c> carries because it's a preventable carries because it's a preventable disease.<01:56:11.440><c>
• </c> we get more people for preventative we get more people for preventative dental<02:06:50.320><c>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Third, it prevents a developer or employer from avoiding liability by shifting all the blame to health
• high and an opioid-like addiction when used recreationally.
• Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers.
• Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers when detected early.
• Prevention is upstream: it's youth programming.

Committee: Senate Health

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Not only are the providers robbed of their income in scenarios like this, but they are also prevented
• decline and prevent people from developing dementia.
• It's only allowing them to use their interest dollars for fraud prevention.
• Others are prevented from installing fire-resistant siding or vents that meet state and local safety
• It's an important step in our efforts to help reduce opioid use by helping make non-opioid alternatives

Bills: SB5223 , SB5928 , SB6071 , SB5995 , SB5966 , SB5841 , SB6061 , SB5944 , SB5520 , SB6087 , SB6076 , SB5916 , SB6016 , SB6137 , SB6009 , SB5833 , SB6161 , SB5890 , SB5973 , SJM8015 , SB5816 , SB5053 , SB5249 , SB5536 , SB5834 , SB5837 , SB5872 , SB5879 , SB5899 , SB5925 , SB6019 , SB6148 , SB6190 , SB6237 , SB6086 , SB5574 , SB5873 , SB5992 , SB5924 , SB6134 , SB6263 , SB5395 , SB6282 , SB5905 , SB6302 , SB5950 , SB6074 , SB6096 , SB5970 , SB5609 , SB5827 , SB5838 , SB5845 , SB5862 , SB5880 , SB5901 , SB5922 , SB5943 , SB5971 , SB5975 , SB5981 , SB5982 , SB5984 , SB5988 , SB5994 , SB6034 , SB6035 , SB6070 , SB6097 , SB6110 , SB6246 , SB6248 , SB6278 , SJM8016 , SB5496 , SB6054 , SB5835 , SB5907 , SB6031 , SB6155 , SB6158 , SB6227 , SB5947 , SB6247 , SB6085 , SB6234 , SB6274 , SB6194 , SB5909 , SB5868 , SB6026 , SB5974 , SB6044 , SB5906 , SB6081 , SB6239 , SB5923 , SB6323 , SB6210 , SB6045 , SB6106 , SB5346 , SB6089 , SB6170 , SB5954 , SB5968

Keywords: criminal offense, fingerprinting, law enforcement, state regulations, public safety, wildfire risk, disclosure, safety, environmental policy, risk assessment, overpayment recovery, modernization, health care, legislation, zero emission, cargo handling, port district, environmental impact, grant allocation, healthcare

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, members, the Opioid Abatement Fund Council was created to ensure that money recovered through statewide
• opioid settlement agreements with companies is allocated fairly and spent to remediate the opioid crisis
• summary, this bill makes several changes to clarify and strengthen the ethics and administration of the Opioid
• It also ensures that opioid settlement funds distributed to cities and counties can be allocated quickly
• and efficiently to address the opioid crisis.

Bills: HB188 , HB 265 , HJR35

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: emergency preparedness, flood-prone communities, Texas Rural Emergency Preparedness Fund, disaster relief, funding, youth camp, safety regulations, advisory committee, child welfare, health standards, summer camp, camp safety, child abuse reporting, child neglect, mandatory reporting, background check, criminal history check, sex offender registry, CPR training, first aid

Transcript Highlights:

• A lot of people think about the athletic trainers during game day only, but they prevent heat injuries
• They prevent, like I said, heat injuries, concussions, all those things can be prevented at practice
• But they prevent heat injuries. They prevent. but they prevent heat injuries.
• They prevent, like I said, heat injuries, concussions, all those things can be prevented at practice
• Engrossed Committee Substitute for House Bill 5466, relating to abuse prevention program.

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> injustice, in addition to preventing injustice, in addition to preventing people<01:59:18.560><c
• Among those are amphetamines, barbiturates, narcotics, and opioids.
• </c> narcotics and opioids. narcotics and opioids.
• It prevents making otherwise legal, law-abiding citizens first-time use felons.
• It prevents strikes and you're out.

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so your bill does not prevent municipalities from having ordinances around this.
• It would just prevent it in terms of changing the classification. 100%.
• Our options for non-opioid to health care is important, and it is vital.
• Our options for non-opioid ...path to practice in Missouri; our options for non-opioid pain management
• preparedness with awareness, designating October as Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Month, and with prevention

Summary: The House opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, approval of the prior day’s journal by a 124-1 vote, and numerous introductions of student groups, health professionals, and other guests. Committee reports were then read, including several bills recommended “do pass.” The chamber also heard a personal privilege speech from a St. Louis County member responding to a North St. Louis County school track meet shooting, calling for stronger action on gun access and firearm safety. The main floor work focused heavily on appropriations and capital projects. House Bills 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020 were debated and passed, covering reappropriations, maintenance and repair projects, new capital improvements, and remaining ARPA pandemic funds. HB 2017 passed 137-9, HB 2018 passed 127-21, HB 2019 passed 98-48, and HB 2020 passed 127-24. Members emphasized that the bills largely used previously appropriated or federal funds, while some Democrats raised concerns about general revenue spending and one-time infrastructure projects. The House also adopted and finally passed Senate-amended HB 2641 on hemp/cannabis-related regulation, with changes on privacy, worker organization, effective date, and age restrictions; it passed 125-21 on adoption and 126-23 on final passage. HB 2423, dealing with Department of Finance staffing and capacity, passed unanimously after Senate adoption. Other measures passed included HB 1919 on electronic filing parity with IRS rules, HB 1768/2060 on short-term rental property tax classification, HB 1855 adding Alpha-Gal Syndrome to reportable conditions, HB 2355 creating a Food is Medicine pilot option, HB 1717/1643 on psilocybin therapy for veterans and first responders, HB 2372, a broad health care package, HB 2408 on the deaf-blind fund, HB 3000 on auditor/siganture-related procedures, HB 2898 restoring land bank tools, and HB 1740, “Melanie’s Law,” strengthening DWI penalties and ignition interlock requirements. Not all bills advanced: HB 3239, which would have expanded and funded the workforce diploma program through MoCAP, failed 55-95 after criticism that it shifted K-12 formula money and stripped vendor standards. HB 2760, the “Praise Act” on treatment of houses of worship during emergencies, drew extended debate on religious liberty, public health, and consistency in emergency orders; the transcript cuts off before the final vote is shown. Throughout the day, members frequently cited bipartisan support for health, public safety, and administrative bills, while several measures drew sharper partisan or policy disagreements over funding, regulation, and local control.

Transcript Highlights:

• Buprenorphine is an opioid, but it's a partial opioid.
• It is not an opioid like morphine or methadone or heroin or anything of that nature.
• That's important because the number one reason people die from opioid overdose is they quit breathing
• </c><00:41:45.160><c> use</c> buprenorphine to treat opioid use buprenorphine to treat opioid use disorder
• can treat opioid use disorder from<00:41:54.400><c> their</c><00:41:54.839><c> office</c><00:41:55.839

Keywords: 00:00:00 Call to Order/Roll Call 00:01:19 Discussion of 25RS HB 785 00:30:25 Roll Call Vote on 25RS HB 785 00:32:15 Discussion of 25RS HB 61 00:36:42 Roll Call Vote on 25RS HB 61 00:38:07 Discussion of 25RS HB 788 00:51:01 Discussion of 25RS SB 14 01:11:09 Discussion of 25RS HB 685 01:44:57 Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The House Standing Committee on Health Services met with a quorum and took up House Bill 785, as amended by a committee substitute that combined language from HB 785 and HB 787. The bill was described as addressing Medicaid managed care organization (MCO) audits, provider contract notice and amendment procedures, mental health parity compliance, and related transparency requirements. Supporters said the measure would tighten notice to providers, limit repeated contract amendments and rate reductions, require more standardized audit procedures, and add reporting on Medicaid claims, appeals, and grievances. It also includes a provision requiring coverage of at least two evaluation-and-management billable services per physician per recipient per date of service, and a section addressing narcotic/opioid treatment program licensing and reimbursement language. Testimony in support came from Representative Kim Moore, John Inman of BrightView Health, Michelle Sandborne of the Children’s Alliance, and Kelly Cormic of RYSE. They argued that MCOs often use audits and recoupments in ways that are burdensome, opaque, and financially damaging to providers, especially smaller and rural ones. They cited examples of multiple audit requests in short timeframes, large record requests with short deadlines, delayed or absent feedback, and recoupments taken before appeals are resolved. They also said parity laws are not being consistently enforced and that the bill would give the Department of Insurance authority to suspend or revoke an MCO certificate of authority for willful or repeated parity violations. Committee members generally expressed support for provider protections and transparency, while asking for clarification on the narcotic treatment and E/M billing provisions. Tom Stevens of the Kentucky Association of Health Plans testified in opposition, saying the bill is complex to implement and should be handled through the broader Medicaid oversight work of House Bill 9, the MOAB. He said the issues raised were better suited for that bipartisan stakeholder process and noted the committee substitute had not yet been fully reviewed by his group. After discussion, the committee adopted the committee substitute and then moved to a vote on the bill; the roll call began, with several members recorded as voting yes, but the transcript cuts off before the final vote result is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• What mechanisms are in place to prevent misuse of sensitive behavioral health records once the protections
• We know an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
• We know an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
• As Secretary, I set a vision and agenda to work upstream, focused on prevention and permanency and child
• This bill prevents harmful delays in care by addressing the limitations of narrow provider networks,

Summary: The Health Policy Committee met for its final meeting of the session and handled a very full agenda, beginning with a few housekeeping items and a brief thank-you to staff. Senate Bill 596 was temporarily postponed. The committee then reconsidered and amended SB 1606 on patient access to records, clarifying portal access obligations and deleting a section that would have improperly affected nursing home facility records; the bill was reported favorably as a committee substitute. The committee also recommended confirmation of a block of appointees and separately confirmed Chavon Harris as Secretary of the Agency for Health Care Administration after testimony focused on transparency, financial oversight, Medicaid managed care accountability, and internal controls at AHCA. Harris said she would prioritize staffing, monitoring, and improved reporting, and several health care groups waived in support. The committee next heard and passed several bills, including claims bills SB 28 and SB 22 for South Broward Hospital District settlements, both reported favorably. It also approved SB 772 on undesignated glucagon in schools, SB 998 on allowing physician assistants and APRNs to complete death certificates under hospice/palliative protocols, SB 1412 on home health agency administration and staffing flexibility, SB 1800 creating a Parkinson’s disease research consortium at USF, SB 306 on Medicaid managed care network access during holidays and after hours, SB 1768 on stem cell therapies and informed consent, SB 1602 on pediatric readiness standards in emergency departments, SB 1156 on the home health aide program for medically fragile children, SB 1490 on Children’s Medical Services and Medicaid managed care administration, and SB 1182 on Medicaid coverage of continuous glucose monitors. Most of these bills were amended, generally to narrow scope, align with the House, or make technical changes, and most received support from provider associations, advocacy groups, or affected institutions. The most debated measure was SB 1270, which combined several health freedom and medical marijuana provisions. The strike-all amendment retained language prohibiting discrimination based solely on vaccination status, added protections related to mRNA vaccine documentation requirements, and included medical marijuana regulatory and background-screening language. The committee heard extensive testimony both in support and opposition, including concerns from senators about whether the bill would force providers to treat patients contrary to medical judgment, and support from witnesses arguing it protected patient autonomy and access to care. After a time-certain motion, the bill was reported favorably as a committee substitute. At the end of the meeting, senators recorded their votes on selected tabs, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• This work will go a long way. to eliminating the horrific national epidemic of opioid addiction and death
• Conversations around making them a little bit more widely available. to prevent deaths.
• This team and all of UTMB are excited about the investment in HB1 for the Dementia Prevention Research
• We will develop to allow providers to diagnose, educate, and initiate preventive treatment in the clinic
• Further, we will engage UTMB's Sealy Institute for Drug Discovery to create new therapies to prevent

Committee: House Appropriations - S/C on Article III

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• He joined Concentra in 2020 and offers over 25 years of experience in preventative and occupational medicine
• Lynch is triple board certified in family, preventative, and aerospace medicine and a fellow of the American
• Thank you. ...preventative and aerospace medicine and a fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians
• HB 2292, prevention; Land, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs Appropriations.
• board, 2689 hospitals patient, 2690 unemployment benefits, 2693 insurance bona fide, 2697 expired opioid

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and approval of the journal. Members then introduced the Doctor of the Day, Dr. John Lynch, and recognized several guest groups in the gallery, including Arizona electric co-op representatives, March of Dimes participants, CRNAs, AEA retirees, a University of Arizona legislative fellow, and ACLU visitors. Attendance was recorded at 58 present, one absent, and one excused. The chamber handled routine floor business, including temporary committee replacements, referral of HB 2677 from Judiciary to Public Safety and Law Enforcement, and the first reading and referral of a large number of House bills and one concurrent resolution. The bill list covered a wide range of topics, including education, appropriations, housing, taxes, health care, public safety, energy, water, labor, elections, and several measures related to abortion, firearms, and tribal affairs. Second reading of bills was also announced for another extensive set of measures. During announcements, members promoted a blood drive, a Veterans Caucus coffee-and-donuts event and lunch with a Department of Defense speaker, and several committee meetings or cancellations. No substantive debate or votes on legislation occurred beyond the procedural motions and the final motion to adjourn. The House adjourned until 10 a.m. on Thursday, January 22, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• He joined Concentra in 2020 and offers over 25 years of experience in preventative and occupational medicine
• Lynch is triple board certified in family, preventative, and aerospace medicine, and a fellow of the
• Preventative and aerospace medicine, and a fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians.
• emission standard, 2536 legislative salary, 2537 community college, 2540 with citizen suits, 2542 HSA preventive
• board, 2689 hospitals patient, 2690 unemployment benefits, 2693 insurance bona fide, 2697 expired opioid

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It prevents new providers from entering the market and blocks the addition of new beds, even in areas
• We need to focus more on prevention and preservation of families when it's safe for children to do so
• Immunity for the distribution or use of naloxone or other opioid antagonists beyond their shelf life
• Miller, members, one of the leading causes of death, I think, between like 18 and 35 years old, is opioid
• committee is whether those penalties are strong enough and enforced consistently enough to actually prevent

Committee: House Health and Welfare

Summary: The committee met on March 25 and first took up HB 199, which would extend Louisiana’s nursing home moratorium. Chairman Miller amended the bill to shorten the extension from five years to four, moving the termination date to July 1, 2031. Rep. Barault argued the state faces a growing bed-capacity problem and proposed an amendment to exempt St. Tammany Parish; Rep. Cruz offered a substitute to reduce the extension to three years. The Nursing Home Association said it had negotiated in good faith and supported the four-year compromise, while the Pelican Institute opposed the moratorium as anti-competitive. A St. Tammany resident testified that her mother faced a long wait for placement and that more local beds are needed. The three-year substitute and the St. Tammany exemption both failed, and HB 199 was reported favorably with the four-year amendment. The committee then favorably reported HB 223 to recreate the Department of Children and Family Services for four more years, with Secretary Rebecca Harris saying the department’s recent reorganization has allowed it to focus more directly on child safety and child welfare. Members discussed planned reforms such as differentiated response, stronger community-based care, and the transfer of TANF to Louisiana Works in 2027. HB 907, which grants civil and criminal immunity for the use or distribution of expired naloxone or other opioid antagonists, also passed with technical amendments; public health officials and members emphasized that expired naloxone remains effective enough to save lives and should still be used in emergencies. HB 535, which streamlines hospital-based acknowledgements of paternity by allowing notarization without two witnesses, was reported favorably after Woman’s Hospital testified that the change would speed up paternity establishment, child support enforcement, and the addition of fathers to birth certificates. HB 554, which would increase penalties for violations at health care facilities and require LDH reporting, drew testimony from a family member describing serious care failures and from LDH, which said it already has caps on fines and that the bill would not change those caps. Rep. Jackson amended the bill to require LDH to publish fines assessed and collected and to list facilities with repeated immediate jeopardy or actual harm deficiencies, but the bill was then voluntarily deferred for a week to allow further discussion with the department. The committee also reported HB 224, a largely technical update to the Children’s Code recommended by the Louisiana State Law Institute, HB 246, which updates membership of the Children’s Cabinet Advisory Board and related bodies, and HB 405, which updates the name of the national acupuncture certifying organization. HB 222, requiring Medicaid coverage for certain dental procedures when needed to clear patients for other medically necessary treatment, was reported favorably despite a fiscal note. Finally, HB 235 on sewer systems generated extensive discussion: Rep. Fontenot described rising sewer rates, poor maintenance, and sewage overflows in his district, and argued for allowing property owners to install private sewer treatment systems in certain circumstances. Members raised concerns about local control, PSC rate-setting, and whether local governments should have more authority over sewer service decisions; the bill was still under discussion when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• incident because he fell into a pool that that just spans and and really talks about why drowning prevention
• And the Board of Dentistry Dental Therapy provides preventative in routine restaurateur restored to care
• just does odd has just increased because this a physician of the undoes the same has happened is opioid
• That is, you know, once we have an opioid epidemic, a lot of people suddenly got diagnosed with head