Transcript Highlights:

• She decided that step one, square one.
• >> yes we we have started taking some steps >> yes we we have started taking some steps
• These include services such as speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, behavioral health
• These include services such as speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, behavioral health
• The other related services—occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech-language pathology, and behavioral

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the harm that has already occurred, and what you'll hear about some of which today, it is the first step
• the harm which has already occurred and what you'll hear about some of which today it is the first step
• positions, I was the person teaching a child to do something for the very first time, helping them step
• I have an M.A. in counseling psychology, and I focus on expressive arts therapy.
• SB 48 would take another step toward combating hate by employing anti-discrimination coordinators in

Summary: The Assembly Education Committee held an informational hearing on AB 715, followed by discussion of SB 48. AB 715 was presented by Assembly Members Zbur and Addis as a response to rising anti-Semitism in California schools. They described incidents involving harassment, swastikas, biased classroom materials, and students feeling unsafe, and said the bill would create an Office of Civil Rights with coordinators to address anti-Semitism and other forms of discrimination, provide prevention resources, and support school districts. Witnesses in support, including a rabbi and a student who described personal experiences with anti-Semitic harassment, urged immediate action to protect Jewish students. Opposition testimony came from the California Teachers Association, county superintendents, school board groups, labor organizations, civil liberties advocates, ethnic studies educators, and many community members. Their main concerns were that the bill was rushed, had not been fully vetted in the Assembly Education Committee, and could chill classroom speech or create constitutional problems, especially around language requiring instruction and materials to be “factually accurate” and not based on advocacy, bias, or partisanship. Several opponents argued that anti-Semitism should be addressed through education, training, and restorative practices rather than new statutory restrictions. Some witnesses also raised concerns about the bill’s impact on ethnic studies and free speech. Committee members then debated the bill’s process and substance at length. The authors said the bill had been narrowed through negotiations with education stakeholders and the Senate, that some disputed provisions would be revisited in cleanup language, and that the urgency of anti-Semitic incidents required action now. Several members expressed support for the bill’s goal but criticized the late release of the final language and the lack of consultation with the Assembly committee. Others emphasized the need to protect Jewish students immediately and argued the bill was a necessary response to a real crisis. The transcript does not show a final vote on AB 715 in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Even after the legislature stepped in and passed language in 2023 that clarified the existing prohibition
• Even after the legislature stepped in and passed language in 2023 that clarified the existing prohibition
• I also take a step back.
• But I also want to take a step back and think about if we were relying so much on the good nature and
• recreational activities for veterans and first responders, and Representative Cnx Bill supporting equine therapy

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on House File 733, which would restore electronic pull-tab features such as open-all, free play, bonus games, and similar functions that were restricted in 2023. The bill’s supporters, including representatives of Allied Charities of Minnesota, the American Legion, and a Bloomington school activities foundation, argued that the 2023 changes reduced revenue for charitable gambling operations and, in turn, cut funding for veterans programs, youth sports, food shelves, school needs, and other local community services. Several supporters cited early revenue declines since the new rules took effect, including double-digit drops and one example of a Bloomington site reporting a 29% year-over-year decline overall and a 44% drop in e-tab revenue. They also argued that restoring the features would help charities without meaningfully increasing casino play. Opponents, including Citizens Against Gambling Expansion and the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association, said the bill would expand slot-machine-like gambling in neighborhood bars and restaurants and increase problem gambling and related social harms. They argued the features in question mimic slot machines, are especially concerning in non-age-restricted locations, and would amount to a major expansion of gambling. The tribal representative also said the 2023 clarification was appropriate, that charitable gambling revenues do not translate efficiently into mission funding, and that tax relief or other policy changes would be better ways to help charities than restoring the disputed features. The chair reminded testifiers to keep comments neutral and not partisan. After testimony, a member discussion began, with Representative Ray Rower thanking the testifiers and expressing support for their work. The transcript excerpt does not show a final vote or disposition beyond the bill being recommended to be re-referred to the Commerce Finance and Policy Committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• DEED has no authority to sort of step in and do any of this.
• DEED has no authority to sort of step in and do any of this.
• At the blind school, we're asking for the therapy pool replacement.
• therapy pool. therapy pool.
• Moving on to our second request is the therapy pool replacement. That is at the blind school.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• really had the opportunity to really integrate that this was under their control, that they took the steps
• was completely stable, life on track, they were on a long-acting injectable, and we just wanted to step
• We need both Medi-Cal managed care plans and private insurance plans to really step it up.
• treatment and whether or not any of the pilot program involves abstinence-based recovery, like 12-step
• But I was just wondering if the pilot program involves any type of 12-step abstinence-based recovery,

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our goal is to help providers meet health and safety standards while reducing unnecessary steps.
• The initial steps were immediately challenging.
• such as occupational, physical, and/or speech therapies will be offered in the early learning environment
• We have taken important steps to clarify our permitting readiness.
• There is a scale there where I think the state could step in to raise unit thresholds for triggering

Summary: The committee held a work session on form-based codes, child care facility siting, and street standards/frontage improvements. On form-based codes, Commerce’s Dave Anderson explained that these codes emphasize building form, orientation, and the public realm more than traditional use and density tables, and that they are typically applied in specific districts rather than citywide or statewide. Lacey’s Vanessa Dolby described the city’s Woodland District code, developed through community charrettes, fiscal and market analysis, and subdistrict-specific standards to create a walkable downtown. She said the approach has helped produce a more desirable built environment and more flexibility in permitted uses, but also noted it can be less user-friendly for applicants and still requires some use restrictions; both presenters said a hybrid approach is often best. The committee then heard from DCYF and multiple providers about barriers to opening child care facilities. DCYF officials said Washington has more than 6,500 licensed providers and that a new pre-licensing support team is helping applicants navigate licensing, but local zoning, building, fire, parking, utility, and occupancy requirements still create delays and confusion. Testifiers described long permitting timelines, inconsistent local interpretations, costly upgrades, and utility hookup delays; one Yakima provider said county requirements, a floodplain-related elevation certificate, and a private well issue stopped her in-home child care proposal, while others described traffic impact fees, parking mandates, and zoning barriers that made projects infeasible. Enterprise Community Partners highlighted examples of successful local reforms, including fee waivers, expedited permitting, and zoning changes in several cities, and DCYF said it is working toward a 2026 action plan and a resource guide for providers. In the final section, planners and developers discussed how street standards and frontage improvement requirements can undermine infill and middle housing. Poulsbo’s planning manager said current standards were designed for greenfield subdivisions and often force costly curb, gutter, sidewalk, stormwater, and utility upgrades on small infill sites, sometimes adding tens of thousands of dollars and causing projects to be abandoned. A Seattle-based developer made similar points about small middle-housing projects being burdened by frontage work, curb ramps, buried standards, and EV-ready parking requirements that can trigger expensive undergrounding. Committee members asked about possible state-level changes, including whether child care should be treated as an essential public facility and whether parking requirements had already been reduced; one senator noted that minimum parking requirements for child care facilities were eliminated in prior legislation, with implementation phased in over the next few years.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a historic step toward building leadership capacity across the profession.
• There are several steps along the way to ensure that our practitioners are high quality and are practicing
• We really need them at the first contact. primary care to referral to then self-therapy to whatever they're
• My second question is what steps are being taken for paid internships in order to incentivize the career
• I would just say, be careful where you step.

Transcript Highlights:

• Those on gender-affirming care, like hormone replacement therapy, show that studies from, of all things
• I am here because brave young... women like Jayden and Sophia and so many others decided to step up and
• It is about stepping off of the sideline and onto the court or onto the field for our daughters, our
• If you are in the room, stay in the room; if you're out of the room, please step out.
• Let's all just take a step back from that.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Service Examiners, Board of Landscape Architects, Board of Medicine, Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy
• , Technology Board of Examiners, Municipal Pension Oversight Board, Board of Occupational Therapy, Board
• of Osteopathic Medicine, Board of Pharmacy, Board of Physical Therapy, Board of Psychologists, Public
• , Technology Board of Examiners, Municipal Pension Oversight Board, Board of Occupational Therapy, Board
• of Osteopathic Medicine, Board of Pharmacy, Board of Physical Therapy, Board of Psychologists, Public

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, approved the journal, and spent much of the day recognizing pages, guests, school groups, and civic organizations visiting the chamber. Several communications from the House and committee reports were received, and a petition on support for new electric transmission lines was referred to the Committee on Energy, Industry, and Mining. Senate Resolution 61, urging the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse Obergefell, was referred to the Committee on Rules, while other resolutions and bills were held over or referred as required. The chamber then acted on a large number of measures, including concurrence in House amendments to Senate Bill 137 on parole eligibility for second-degree murder and voluntary manslaughter, and a conference committee was appointed on House Bill 4026 regarding integrated resource plans. Numerous House bills were advanced or passed after committee reports, covering topics such as industrial access roads, local airport hangar financing, college campus safety, youth and handicapped hunting, missing persons records, driver’s licenses, adjudicatory alternative dispositions, chronic absenteeism, party-switching deadlines for candidates, teacher/school personnel/state police pay raises, election official trainees, political committee filing notices, security personnel for the State Treasurer, post-secondary financial aid, legal practice rules, overseas voting, public officials’ residential information, homestead exemption, military juvenile jurisdiction, military interpersonal violence, kinship care subsidies, statewide prevention planning, contraband smuggling into federal prisons, forestry equipment taxation, microgrid and data center certification, transcript acceptance for students, emeritus medical licenses, higher education rule authorizations, board and commission reforms, managed care organization taxes, and deputy sheriff vacation carryover. Most of these measures passed with little or no opposition, and several received title amendments. The Senate also passed a series of supplemental appropriations, many with immediate-effect motions adopted by the required two-thirds vote. These included funding for the Department of Commerce, Workforce West Virginia, Homeland Security divisions, Health Facilities, Administration, Human Services, the Governor’s Civil Contingent Fund, the Department of Agriculture, and the Bureau of Senior Services. Votes were overwhelmingly in favor, with only a few measures drawing one or more dissenting votes. One bill on tourism appropriations was referred to the Committee on Rules, and several second-reading bills were advanced, including measures on the West Virginia Collaboratory, business-ready sites, volunteer fire companies, religious organization eminent domain restrictions, electric load forecasting, and funeral service licensure.

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 803 includes a list of items permitted for use in point injection therapy.
• The bill specifically prohibits several In point injection therapy, the bill specifically prohibits steroid-based
• We are changing some technical stuff in the physical therapy compact from a member state to a party state

Summary: The Health Professions and Program Subcommittee met and reported several bills favorably. PCS for HB 647, which allows physicians to use advanced practice registered nurses under written protocol to certify deaths and file death certificates for hospice patients, passed unanimously after brief supportive testimony from hospice, AARP, and physician assistant representatives. HB 803 on acupuncture updated outdated statutory language, clarified the definition of acupuncture, listed allowable point injection therapy items while prohibiting certain drugs, and affirmed referral authority for imaging and labs; it passed 16-1 amid support from acupuncture stakeholders and opposition from several medical groups. PCS for HB 1545 would create recurring state funding for Parkinson’s disease research at the University of South Florida and a consortium of Florida universities; it drew support from USF, the Michael J. Fox Foundation, and Mayo Clinic, with concerns raised about limiting participation to universities, and it passed unanimously. HB 901, which clarifies procedures for parents challenging court-appointed psychologists in family law cases, passed 15-1 with support from a witness and no debate. HB 591, the children with developmental disabilities/autism bill, was presented as a broad early-diagnosis and intervention measure to help children enter treatment and mainstream life sooner; it received supportive testimony from the Florida PTA and strong floor support, and passed unanimously. Finally, PCS for HB 1299, the Department of Health agency bill, made multiple changes including preventing the mRNA vaccine from sunsetting in statute, adding vaccination-status protections in the patients’ bill of rights, updating medical marijuana center screening and reporting requirements, revising nurse active-practice requirements, making technical compact changes, and extending sovereign immunity protections to dental students doing charitable clinic work. After a brief note that optician-related provisions had been removed, the bill passed unanimously. The committee adjourned after reporting all measures favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Thompson [ID: member_12088], relates to intergovernmental agreements, enacting the Occupational Therapy
• Representative Thompson [ID: member_12088], relates to professional licensure, enacting the Physical Therapy
• Licensure Compact, amending the Physical Therapy Act to provide for state and federal requirements.

Transcript Highlights:

• If you must take a call, please step outside of the committee room.
• My only question is, and you may have said when I stepped out, when would we see these funds?
• , and one just goes in to look for her, does it pop up all of my information, or is there a second step
• some systems, insurance sometimes, you get the information for Tammy, and you have to go to another step
• I believe Representative Jordan, he stepped out of the room.

Keywords: 965, house, all

Summary: The House Insurance Committee met on April 23 with a quorum present and began by announcing that HB 1142 was deferred. The committee then took up HB 1187, which would direct any excess Louisiana Citizens emergency assessment funds, after related debt is satisfied, toward the Louisiana Fortified Homes Program or future Citizens obligations. Commissioner Tim Temple and Rep. Sawyer said the bill would likely redirect about $50 million to the popular fortified roof grant program, which has already awarded thousands of roofs and is oversubscribed. With support from Citizens and others, the committee adopted technical amendments and reported HB 1187 favorably. The committee next considered HB 1210, a proposal by Rep. Dana Henry to create a pre-suit claim review process for Louisiana Citizens disputes modeled on Florida’s system. After explaining that the bill was prompted by constituent concerns about rising homeowners insurance costs, Henry voluntarily deferred the bill and instead moved toward a study resolution. The substitute version, which would have allowed Citizens disputes to be resolved through the Division of Administrative Law, was adopted for discussion, but the bill was ultimately voluntarily deferred after testimony from Citizens and the department supporting further study. HB 1199, by Rep. Jordan, would require coverage for genetic testing and medically necessary treatment for SCN2A-associated disorders. After adopting an amendment clarifying that coverage depends on provider order and medical necessity, the committee heard emotional testimony from a parent describing her daughter’s severe SCN2A condition and the difficulty obtaining genetic testing. The bill was reported favorably. The committee then took up HB 880, the Louisiana Artificial Intelligence Insurance Fairness Act, which would regulate AI use in underwriting, rating, and claims. Jordan said the bill raised state-federal insurance regulatory issues and could jeopardize federal broadband funding, so he voluntarily deferred it; HB 920 was also voluntarily deferred. Finally, the committee considered HB 1221, by Rep. Amadee, which would narrow data collection under the surplus lines premium tax system to protect policyholder privacy. Former Rep. Bowler argued the department should not collect names, addresses, or coverage limits and that the bill would preserve privacy without affecting tax collection. The Department of Insurance said the broader data is needed for premium tax reconciliation, fraud detection, and post-disaster assistance. After debate, a motion to report HB 1221 favorably failed on a 6-6 roll call. The committee then moved on to HB 869 by Rep. Lyons, a health insurance bill covering injectable drugs for glucose or weight-loss treatment, but the transcript ends before further action on that measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• Given this high utilization, the department is taking intentional and measured steps to ensure that all
• Given this high utilization, the department is taking intentional and measured steps to ensure that all
• But the goal of the regional collaboratives is to identify those problems and take active steps to improve
• ...connected them with local providers offering trauma-informed counseling and family functional therapy
• Those are step-down facilities from a crisis stabilization unit, enhancing discharge planning, increasing

Summary: The Human Services Subcommittee met to receive an update from the Florida Department of Children and Families on implementation of House Bill 7021, which revised the Baker Act and Marchman Act and was funded with a $50 million appropriation. Deputy Assistant Secretary Bill Hardin reported that the department has updated reference guides, training, administrative rules, and forms; launched regional behavioral health collaboratives; and created the Office of Children’s Behavioral Health Ombudsman. He said early data show continued declines in Baker Act use, high diversion rates from involuntary examinations through 988, mobile response teams, and care coordination, along with generally positive provider feedback on changes such as allowing psychiatric nurses to initiate emergency treatment orders and clarifying the 72-hour examination period. Hardin also described Marchman Act changes, including a streamlined petition process, remote testimony, improved discharge planning, and a new annual data report. He said the department has completed or is completing multiple training courses for providers and law enforcement, and has adopted or is finalizing numerous rules and forms. He reported that the regional collaboratives are identifying common statewide needs such as service capacity, resource sharing, funding flexibility, and peer support, while the ombudsman office is handling complaints and helping families navigate services. Members asked about whether the current funding is sufficient, future budget needs, outreach for the new ombudsman office, and services for juveniles. Hardin said DCF has posted legislative budget requests for additional forensic FACT services and short-term residential treatment beds, including children’s beds, and noted the ombudsman office is staffed with two FTEs and supported through existing complaint-management and regional systems. He said outreach is being done through regional collaboratives and coordination with other agencies, especially the Department of Education, and that juvenile transport and placement issues have improved with the new law. No votes were taken, and the meeting adjourned after the presentation and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Clay County has really decided to step up what we believe to be a mental health Mecca in the future,
• Clay County is keenly aware of this issue and we're taking proactive steps to address it.
• <00:06:58.759> to we're taking proactive address steps to we're taking proactive address steps
• and Medical Services house file therapy and Medical Services house file 1380<00:09:35.000> would<
• <00:37:30.800> to for people to also have some steps to for people to also have some steps

Bills: HF1380, HF1166, HF487, HF1553, HF1472, HF258, HF1911

Keywords: psychiatric treatment, human services, mental health funding, per diem rate, Clay County, disability services, assistive technology, remote support, advocacy, training programs, HF487, Wellness in the Woods, Minnesota human services, grant funding, general fund appropriation, peer support, substance use recovery, addiction recovery, reentry services, reentry after incarceration

Transcript Highlights:

• 10-week time frame for nonresidential opioid treatment programs' treatment plan review and allow therapy
• support services to be provided one-on-one, face-to-face, including via the internet. plan review and Therapy
• Services to plan review and Therapy Services to include<00:18:46.200> previous<00:18:46.679><
• specifies that services and individuals with a temporary permit from the Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy
• 19:31.039> Behavioral<00:19:31.440> Health<00:19:31.640> and<00:19:31.799> therapy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• that it's a sort of falling in love with the town, the small towns of Oklahoma, and that's the first step
• line of communication dealing with measurable and outcomes-based conversations around services, therapies
• Yes, I appreciate that you're willing to step up in such a short amount of time in a very particular,
• And you are stepping into a role that many people would shy away from.
• Chairman Rossino and Vice Chair Stanley for your support since stepping into this Role, this committee

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Today over 40,000 students climb the endless steps across campus pursuing more than 200 degree programs
• HB 3945 by Bum Garner relating to the licensing and regulation of massage therapy and other programs
• HB 4014 by BC ruling the study of psychedelic therapies and the treatment of certain conditions for the

Transcript Highlights:

• That's one of our biggest in-demand areas, and different companies that have step requirements come to
• We transitioned from our cosmetology program to a massage therapy program, so it has a medical footwork
• We transitioned from our cosmetology program to a massage therapy program, so it has a medical focus.

Summary: The Education Postsecondary Committee met to hear an overview of Florida career and technical education (CTE) from Chancellor Kevin O’Farrell and presentations from Big Bend Technical College and Santa Fe College. O’Farrell described Florida’s CTE structure, including career clusters, postsecondary program types, enrollment and completion growth, apprenticeship expansion, and the state’s credentials review process. He said postsecondary CTE enrollment is near 480,000 students and completions reached a record 76,806, with strong growth in nursing, law enforcement, EMT, and other public-safety credentials. He also discussed the CTE audit, which uses retention/success, employment or continued education, and labor-market demand metrics; programs not meeting thresholds would eventually require phase-out plans beginning in 2026. He highlighted the workforce development capitalization grant as a major driver of program expansion and facility renovation, and answered questions about business outreach, construction trades, apprenticeships, and space-industry training. Shelby McCall of Big Bend Technical College described how the college responded to hurricanes, mill closures, and regional economic disruption by expanding rural workforce training. She highlighted aluminum welding, millwright, welding technology, health sciences, and a new advanced manufacturing facility funded by state grants and local partnerships, along with a new LPN-to-RN bridge program. She said the college has strong placement and certification results and is working with employers such as Lippert, NAMO, and others to align training with local demand. Senator Simon praised the college’s role in Taylor County’s recovery and workforce development. Dr. Paul Brody of Santa Fe College said state workforce grants have helped the college expand nursing, skilled trades, apprenticeship, automotive, diesel, and manufacturing programs, including partnerships with Bradford County Technical College, UF Health, Habitat for Humanity, and local employers. He reported growth in CTE enrollment, nursing credentials, apprenticeship enrollment, and job placement rates, and described new efforts in semiconductor training, CDL training, and a charter school model that combines high school, an AS degree, and industry credentials. The committee took no formal action beyond hearing the presentations and adjourned after Senator Berman moved to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• So yes, this is the right thing to do but also for all of us here to be able to say we took the steps
• Please, they need to get therapy. They need counseling. They need to get medication.
• HB 31 is an important step to treating these kids and giving them what they desperately need, keeping
• But this is a critical step that increases support for the public servants who serve our highest risk
• The bill represents an important step in strengthening our juvenile justice system.

Transcript Highlights:

• The response was that therapy is always best in person, but there is a real shortage of therapists and
• <00:26:55.679> is talking about tella health therapy is talking about tella health therapy
• And we know many educators, families, and fellow students are stepping up in meaningful ways.
• I hope we can all step up and affirm that and take proactive steps to address the needs, both immediate
• need our support I hope we can all step need our support I hope we can all step up<01:29:54.400>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all