Transcript Highlights:

• Bill 1574, Second Substitute House Bill 2333, Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2548, House Bill 2156,
• and Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2320.
• I move that the five-day notice rule be suspended for House Bill 1574, Second Substitute House Bill 2333
• , Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2548, House Bill 2156, and Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2320.
• But hospital mergers and other provider and medical provider mergers are impacting affordability and

Summary: The committee first waived the five-day notice rule for five House bills, then held public hearings on several measures. On Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2548, the committee heard staff and sponsor testimony on expanding health care merger notice requirements to the Attorney General, adding transactions involving majority ownership/control and asset sales, requiring public posting of notices, pausing closings until information requests are substantially complied with, and adding filing fees. Supporters, including the sponsor, the Attorney General’s Office, the Office of the Insurance Commissioner, nurses, and patient advocates, said the bill would improve transparency and oversight of consolidation and private equity in health care; the Washington State Medical Association and Washington State Hospital Association were neutral after compromise language, though the hospital association raised concern about the added fees. The hearing closed with many people signed in pro and con but not testifying. The committee then heard Second Substitute House Bill 2333, which would allow candidates and elected officials to use campaign or surplus funds to reimburse personal security expenses related to threats tied to their public roles. The sponsor and several prosecutors described personal threats and argued the bill is needed to protect public servants, while public disclosure officials said current PDC processes and the state Address Confidentiality Program already provide some protections and cautioned against over-codifying agency discretion. Some testimony urged restoring earlier address-protection provisions, while county auditors said the revised bill removed operationally unworkable redaction language and was acceptable as amended. The bill had broad signed-in support and opposition, but no vote was taken. For Engrossed House Bill 1574, staff explained the bill would expand Good Samaritan-style protections for people seeking overdose help, bar arrest or conviction for possession in those circumstances, limit related penalties and forfeiture, and allow hospitals and other health facilities to distribute public health supplies without committing paraphernalia infractions. Supporters said it would save lives and improve access to drug checking and harm reduction services, while prosecutors and law enforcement groups said the bill was too broad, especially regarding arrest limits, protection-order violations, probation/parole, warrants, and civil forfeiture. The sponsor said the bill was intended to keep people alive and encourage calls for help. The committee also heard Engrossed House Bill 2156, which would let Attorney General investigators be designated limited authority peace officers to electronically serve search warrants in economic and financial crime cases; the AGO and retailers supported it as a tool against organized retail theft and wage theft, while sheriffs and police chiefs opposed it and urged added guardrails and deconfliction with local law enforcement. Finally, on Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2320, the committee heard a bill to regulate 3D-printed and digitally manufactured firearms and digital firearm manufacturing code. The sponsor and supporters, including students, pediatricians, and a gun-violence survivor’s family member, said it was needed to address untraceable ghost guns and keep pace with technology, while opponents argued the bill was overbroad, raised constitutional concerns, and targeted files and speech rather than criminal conduct. No votes were taken in the hearing excerpts provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have a team dedicated solely to the Pro Housing Designation Program who would work with us to provide
• Reducing these costs, and importantly, providing certainty for affordable housing developers as to the
• Reducing these costs, and importantly, providing certainty for affordable housing developers as to the
• We provide mentorship and housing to transition-age youth coming out of primarily the foster care and
• This is why HAP funding is crucial for providing the kind of housing that people experiencing homelessness

Summary: The subcommittee heard several May Revision proposals related to the state’s housing and homelessness reorganization. On the first item, administration and Finance staff described technical adjustments to move administrative positions and resources between the California Housing and Homelessness Agency, HCD, and Cal ICH, plus authority for a chief deputy director at the new Housing Development Finance Committee. The LAO recommended approval but asked for clarification on funding for the chief deputy position. Several senators questioned whether the staffing shifts would reduce Cal ICH’s capacity and whether adding communications support and a new executive position was appropriate absent new housing funding; the item was held open. The second item proposed a new $100 million CalHFA Disaster Rebuilding Fund, with $56 million General Fund and $44 million in existing National Mortgage Settlement funds, to help disaster-impacted homeowners access construction financing through tools such as a loan loss guarantee and interest rate buy-downs. CalHFA said the fund would help close the gap between insurance proceeds and rebuilding costs and would work through approved lenders. The LAO raised concerns about the lack of alternatives analysis, the broad delegation in the trailer bill, and the General Fund cost. Senators pressed for more detail on the estimated number of homeowners served, lender and homeowner eligibility, equity safeguards, and the role of the Legislature in program design; the item was held open. The third item was trailer bill language for HAP Round 7, including accountability metrics, pro-housing designation requirements for certain large cities and counties, local match requirements, and a mechanism to recapture unspent funds. HCD said the proposal would streamline reporting by using one consistent set of system performance measures and would phase in the new requirements. The LAO questioned the timing, the burden of pro-housing designation, the size and source of the local match, and whether the proposal conflicted with the Legislature’s prior goal of getting funds out quickly. Several senators criticized the added requirements and the lack of new funding, while others said the proposal could improve accountability and reduce administrative burden by reusing existing plans. The item was also held open. The fourth item began a proposal to reduce local development impact fees on state-funded affordable housing projects, framed as a condition on competitive multifamily funding rather than a statewide mandate. The presentation started but the transcript cuts off before questions or action on that item.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill also provides $200 million for transportation improvements that directly support new housing
• This bill also provides $200 million for transportation improvements that directly support new housing
• We're not sure what will be housed under it, just more the idea that we can support housing development
• There's growth in housing.
• to connect new housing to existing infrastructure.

Bills: H4987 , S2905

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• The House will come to order.
• House Bill 6 also provides for removal for serious additional offenses and misconduct.
• House Bill 6 provides another option to school districts by allowing for a removal to a virtual disciplinary
• House Bill 215 is... Question on passage of House Bill 215 in engrossment.
• House Bill 1393 is... Question occurs on passage to engrossment of House Bill 1393.

Bills: HB 120 , HB20 , HB150 , HB6 , HB 100 , HB 124 , HB210 , HB215 , HB1393 , HB1587 , HB 1151 , HB 1268 , HB142 , HB451 , HB39 , HB 102 , HB 126 , HB290 , HB300 , HB2143 , HJR2 , HB147 , HJR6 , HB 120 , HB20 , HB150 , HB6 , HB 100 , HB 124 , HB210 , HB215 , HB1393 , HB1587 , HB 1151 , HB 1268 , HB142 , HB451 , SB1

Summary: The House convened with prayer, pledges, and several ceremonial recognitions, including Wilson County Day, San Antonio Mission Indian Descendants Day, and Blue Ribbon Lobby Day, along with acknowledgments of visiting groups and a birthday greeting. The chamber also announced committee meetings and then moved into floor business, including conference committee action on Senate Bill 1, the state budget. A series of motions to instruct House conferees on SB 1 were debated and voted on. One motion sought to restore salary for Attorney General Ken Paxton after his impeachment-related suspension; it passed 88-56. Another, from Rep. Olcott, directed conferees to support amendments requiring data collection on the costs of undocumented immigrants in hospitals and prisons; after extended debate and a failed amendment from Rep. Martinez Fischer to also study immigrants’ economic contributions, the motion passed 86-61. The House also adopted instructions to eliminate Texas Lottery Commission funding, to support amendments restricting public education institutions from affirming gender identities inconsistent with biological sex, and to seek an additional $4 billion in property tax relief, with each motion passing on recorded votes. The House then took up a supplemental calendar and passed several bills, including HB 39 on veteran death data, HB 102 on priority registration for certain students entering military service, HB 126 on student-athlete compensation and representation, HB 290 on tuition and fee assistance for members of the Texas military forces, HB 300 on Texas Armed Services Scholarship Program updates, and HB 2143 naming a highway in honor of Army Specialist Joey Lins. The chamber also postponed consideration of HJR 2 and HJR 6. Later, the House considered HB 120 on career and technology education pathways and HB 20 on applied science pathway programs for high school students. HB 120 received a perfecting amendment and was advanced after discussion about workforce preparation. HB 20 prompted extensive questioning about transportation, costs, and how students would access partner campuses such as community colleges and TSTC sites; debate continued as the transcript ended, with members examining how the program would operate and whether approval authority would rest with TEA.

Transcript Highlights:

• At Worcester, and Representative Keefe, who has the House bill on this, will provide you a lot more detail
• , House 1399. fairly for the valuable services they provide, House 1396 would address those issues.
• Finally, House Bill 1370 establishes a primary care trust fund to fund primary care providers.
• In our model, you also have supportive housing, you have permanent housing.
• We have sober houses.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Health Care Financing

Summary: The Joint Committee on Health Care Financing held a public hearing on a large docket focused on primary care, workforce development, and medical debt. Chairs Cindy Friedman and John Lawn outlined hearing procedures and noted that testimony would be taken on 17 matters. The committee first heard testimony on bills to establish a community health center nurse practitioner residency program and to strengthen mental health centers. Senator Keenan, Rep. Keefe, and health center leaders described the Worcester nurse practitioner residency as a successful pipeline and retention strategy, citing workforce shortages, training needs in community health centers, and the cost of the program. Rep. O’Day also supported the mental health centers bill, saying it would raise payment rates, improve reimbursement for behavioral health services, and help clinics retain staff and expand access. The committee then took testimony on bills to address medical debt through hospital financial assistance reform. The Attorney General’s Office, Health Care for All, Health Law Advocates, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and individual patients supported the measure, arguing that hospital financial assistance policies are inconsistent, hard to find, and difficult to navigate. Witnesses said the bill would standardize eligibility criteria, create a uniform application, improve notice requirements, and expand access to discounted care up to 400% of the federal poverty level. Several personal stories described medical bills being sent to collections, confusion over insurance billing, and the burden of debt on low-income and chronically ill patients. Committee members asked about hospital concerns, the role of the health safety net, and whether the bill addressed root causes of medical debt; testimony emphasized that the proposal was meant to improve transparency and access rather than replace broader insurance reforms. The hearing also focused heavily on “Primary Care for You” legislation, H. 1370 and S. 867, which would increase primary care investment and create a new payment model. Rep. Haggerty, physicians, a patient, community health center leaders, and the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers described a primary care crisis marked by low reimbursement, staffing shortages, long waits, burnout, and difficulty recruiting clinicians. Supporters said the bills would shift spending toward preventive, team-based care, improve access and equity, and reduce long-term costs. The Massachusetts Association of Health Plans said it was directionally supportive of increased primary care investment but warned that any new spending must stay within the cost growth benchmark and preserve existing contracting structures. The hearing ended with additional testimony on a community health center workforce and loan repayment grant bill from Rep. Stanley, and with further discussion from Dr. Alan Garo about the need for payment reform in primary care.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm here to speak for House Bill 5108.
• In conclusion, House Bill 5663.
• House Bill 5664 provides thoughtful updates that support the district's long-term success, enhancing
• EMS providers. ESDs providing EMS services have very few alternatives to.
• EMS providers can address this challenge by providing mobile integrated.

Bills: HB2814 , HB4477 , HB5084 , HB5108 , HB5127 , HB5383 , HB5611 , HB5663 , HB5664 , SB1563 , HB2668 , HB3841 , HB4114

Committee: House S/C on County & Regional Government

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Substitute 2 to House Bill 2. Substitute 2 to House Bill 2.
• </c><00:10:43.400><c> being</c> provider that the provider is being provider that the provider is being
• </c> in House Bill 2. in House Bill 2.
• House Bill 2 would have permitted only physicians to provide that attestation.
• </c> House Bill 2 had in it. House Bill 2 had in it.

Summary: The committee met with a quorum to consider the Senate Committee Substitute for House Bill 2, a major Medicaid bill. Members first adopted the substitute and then adopted Amendment 9770. The bill was described as a lengthy rewrite aimed at aligning Kentucky Medicaid policy with federal requirements under HR 1, while also preserving program integrity and addressing due process concerns. Senators and staff repeatedly emphasized that the measure was the product of extensive meetings with providers, associations, and work groups. The sponsor’s section-by-section summary highlighted several key changes: delaying and reducing cost-sharing requirements; pushing eligibility redetermination deadlines to the federal date; restoring some flexibility for hardship waivers; allowing self-attestation as a last resort; modifying MCO audit provisions; clarifying non-emergency medical transport GPS costs; expanding waiver attestation authority to nurse practitioners and licensed psychologists; adding qualified aliens to waiver eligibility to comply with federal law; requiring Medicaid data sharing with the oversight board; limiting changes to Medicaid benefits without General Assembly authorization; narrowing the prescription drug exclusion to drugs prescribed primarily for weight loss; and delaying the dental ASO transition until 2029. The substitute also deleted a proposed auditor review requirement and retained an emergency clause. Committee discussion focused heavily on the policy and fiscal implications of the cost-sharing and recertification provisions. Senators raised concerns about whether the co-pays would be effective or simply shift costs to providers, whether the recertification process would burden the Cabinet and cause eligible people to lose coverage, and how the bill would affect people transitioning from Medicaid into work. Supporters said the lower cost-sharing amounts were intended to encourage appropriate use of care, protect providers, and comply with federal law, and they noted that the Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board would help shape future changes. A public witness, Maggie Chisholm, gave emotional testimony about her daughter’s experience with a Medicaid waiver and argued that policy delays and administrative disconnects can harm vulnerable families. No final vote on the bill itself was recorded in the excerpt, but the substitute and amendment were adopted and testimony continued.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> uh House File 3547. uh House File 3547.
• </c> of House File 3651. of House File 3651.
• </c> our medical providers. our medical providers.
• ><c> providers</c> These providers like community providers These providers like community providers
• another provider provided canceled another provider canceled<01:01:57.160><c> the</c><01:01:57.200><

Bills: HF3547 , HF3651 , HF4043 , HF4282 , HF4095

Committee: House Public Safety Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• House calendar.
• It includes the provisions of House Bill 185 by Representative Dunkley that provides a two-year exemption
• It provides that the affordable housing credit we created last year for affordable housing projects on
• House Bill 1449, a bill to be entitled an act relating to the statewide provider and health plan claim
• House Bill 1449, a bill to be entitled an act relating to the statewide provider and health plan claim

Summary: The House convened with prayer, a moment of silence for two service members killed in the Middle East, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a quorum present. Members adopted the special order report and then began taking up the special order calendar. The first major measure was HB 7031, the annual tax package, which included a hunting, fishing, and camping sales tax holiday, a back-to-school holiday moved earlier in the summer, property tax changes for mobile home parks and other exemptions, reductions in pari-mutuel taxes and fees, extensions and expansions of several tax credit programs, vacation-rental tax collection changes, and a full decoupling from federal tax changes in the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” The bill drew questions about the fiscal impact of decoupling and the firearm-accessories holiday; supporters emphasized fiscal caution, housing and home-hardening provisions, and family tax relief, while opponents objected to the firearm-related tax break. HB 7031 passed 105-2. The House then passed CS/CS/CS HB 1177 on Space Florida and spaceport operations, which updates business development rules, board membership, and creates a strategic spaceport hub designation. CS/CS HB 639/CS SB 246 on specialty license plates also passed after a strike-all amendment that added several new plates, revised the Fraternal Order of Police plate, and tightened financial and nonprofit requirements for plate sponsors. CS HB 697 on drug prices and coverage passed after debate on pharmacy benefit manager reforms requiring equal reimbursement, prohibiting forced losses on drugs, and allowing consolidated appeals. CS/CS HB 1263 on the Office of Insurance Regulation passed with an amendment clarifying fingerprinting provisions, and CS/CS HB 527 passed with a human-review requirement for insurance claim denials so AI cannot be the sole basis for denying or reducing claims. Additional bills approved included CS HB 1449, which limits use of the statewide provider and health plan claim dispute resolution program when a claim is already in the federal process and, by amendment, narrows the bill to out-of-network emergency services and claims of $50,000 or less; CS HB 93, requiring surgical smoke evacuation systems in hospitals and surgical centers, which passed overwhelmingly after emotional bipartisan praise for the sponsor’s multi-session effort; and CS HB 1217, which prohibits governmental entities from adopting net-zero greenhouse gas policies, after Democrats argued it would preempt local climate and resilience efforts and Republicans argued it protects energy reliability and affordability. The House also passed CS/CS HB 1461 establishing a framework for licensing and regulating advanced nuclear reactors, with supporters framing it as a step toward reliable, affordable, cleaner energy. Later, CS HB 1229 on residential homes for medically or technologically dependent children was explained as creating a licensure program for medically complex children’s homes and was rolled over for final passage as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• And further, how and where can the state provide even more opportunities to build housing without protracted
• Related to housing is insurance.
• pro-housing laws aren't very good at producing housing units.
• pro-housing laws aren't very good at producing housing units.
• It's not just this wave of housing building. of housing policy and land use policy generally.

Summary: The committee held an information hearing on California’s economy and household affordability, with the first panel focusing on inflation, housing, energy, wages, and the likely effects of new federal tariff policy. PPIC’s Sarah Bone said Californians remain deeply pessimistic about the economy, with inflation the main driver of concern; she noted prices are still about 23% higher than in January 2020, with especially large increases in food, energy, and housing costs. LAO’s Brian Euler emphasized that housing is the largest household expense and pointed to insurance, electricity, gasoline, and health care as other major cost pressures, urging the Legislature to review whether existing policies are actually reducing costs and to consider studies of why recent housing laws have not produced more units. UC Davis economist Catherine Russ warned that tariffs on China, Canada, Mexico, and potentially broader imports could raise consumer prices, disrupt supply chains, and hurt California exporters, farmers, and small businesses; she suggested monitoring prices, strengthening food assistance, and preparing transition support for affected workers and producers. Members pressed the panelists for concrete, near-term policy ideas, especially on housing and tariffs. Questions centered on whether accessory dwelling units are making a meaningful dent in affordability, how to improve implementation of pro-housing laws at the local level, and how to measure the impact of tariffs on consumers, health care, and agriculture. Panelists said ADUs help but are limited, that state laws can be undermined by local implementation and litigation, and that tariff effects may show up quickly in prices and later in hiring and investment. Several members stressed that the tariff issue is not a minor disruption for constituents and asked for more data on consumer impacts, food aid needs, and crop-specific farm losses. The second panel shifted to regional economic development and small business support. Go-Biz’s Derek Kirk described California Jobs First and the state economic blueprint as a first-in-decades, regionally informed strategy to create good-paying jobs, support key sectors, and align workforce and business development across 13 regions. The California Association for Local Economic Development’s Gerbach Sahota argued that local governments need practical tools, stable policy, and stronger partnerships with the state, while warning that prosperity is not always perceived as shared and that rural communities can be left behind. He urged the Legislature to use hearings, local input, and existing funding streams more effectively, including for recovery and infrastructure. David Fitzgerald of the Small Business Development Centers said California’s SBDC network serves hundreds of thousands of clients, many of them women and historically underrepresented entrepreneurs, and has generated billions in economic impact, capital access, revenue, and jobs. He said the biggest gaps are outreach to the state’s many self-employed businesses with no employees, better labor data on those workers, and more flexible support for direct services. Committee members then asked what small businesses need most in the face of inflation and tariff shocks, including lower licensing costs and other relief, and the discussion continued on how to better target state support to businesses and households under pressure.

Transcript Highlights:

• It provides $22.8 million for a 1% rate increase to all iBudget waiver providers.
• in the House bill.
• It provides equal opportunity.
• The Honorable Daniel Perez, Speaker of the House of Representatives, is directed to inform the House
• The House is adjourned sine die.

Transcript Highlights:

• “Provide replacement to their case management system and also provide additional support through their
• My sense, though, is that when we hear from providers, those rate reductions— not all providers provide
• ACT is intended to provide...
• ACT is intended to provide a bundled payment so that providers can be compensated for the time that it
• So what we provided is what we know.

Summary: The committee heard a budget presentation on the Division of Medicaid within the Department of Health and Welfare, including an overview of the division’s five programs, staffing, spending trends, and the large share of the budget that goes to trust and benefit payments. Ms. Williamson explained the difference between ongoing and one-time enhancements, the role of population forecast adjustments, and why the fiscal year 2026 and 2027 numbers change significantly. Members asked about the growth in the budget, the FMAP match rate, the impact of provider rate changes, and the shift of some positions into Medicaid from other divisions after last year’s reorganization. A major topic was House Bill 345 and related budget changes, including the hospital assessment fund alignment, the 4% provider rate reduction, and the effect on Medicaid expansion and other populations. The committee discussed the decline in expansion enrollment, rising costs in traditional Medicaid populations, and the governor’s recommendation to offset part of the 2027 increase with additional reductions. Members raised concerns about access to care, especially for dental, behavioral health, developmental disability, and home- and community-based services, while the deputy director said the department is trying to contain costs through prior authorization, fraud and abuse work, and policy changes. The committee also focused on the MMIS replacement project, which is in year four of a five-year procurement and is funded through dedicated and federal dollars tied to milestones. Another significant item was estate recovery, where the department requested funding to replace an outdated case management system and add contractor support to address a backlog of roughly 20,000 cases; members questioned the return on investment and asked for more detail on the software and staffing split. The deputy director also explained the federally qualified health center reconciliation issue, saying the state had not been properly paying change-in-scope amounts and is now using a new process with interim payments and later reconciliation. In addition, lawmakers asked about program integrity staffing, the use of AI, and whether the department could better target fraud, waste, and abuse investigations. The deputy director said the department is reviewing AI use cautiously and sees opportunities for it in claims review and anomaly detection, but emphasized that the current request is for dedicated receipt authority rather than general funds. No formal votes were taken in the excerpt, but the committee received the presentation, asked extensive questions, and was told that some follow-up information would be provided later.

Transcript Highlights:

• housing units for recreating.
• It's a 24-7 statewide operation that not only provides housing and food for the incarcerated population
• So what more can these personnel be doing in-house?
• units to provide any level of cooling.
• So that's what led us to to examine options around providing more adequate cooling in our housing units

Transcript Highlights:

• housing.
• Both of these bills offer the opportunity to provide more and better available housing to all Massachusetts
• Standing partnerships with developers and service providers to create integrated supportive housing,
• housing, affordable housing, and public housing, while the state provides these incentives for higher-end
• I'm the CEO of NeighborWorks Housing Solutions, an affordable housing developer that provides housing

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Housing

Summary: The Joint Committee on Housing opened a hybrid hearing focused on housing production bills, with Chairs Julian Cyr and Rich Haggerty emphasizing Massachusetts’ housing shortage and the need to produce more than 200,000 units over the next decade. The committee then heard testimony on a wide range of proposals, including social housing, starter homes and the “missing middle,” accessory dwelling units (ADUs), single-stair residential buildings, permanent affordability homeownership, and housing for people with disabilities. Several witnesses framed the bills as tools to expand supply, lower costs, and address racial and generational wealth gaps. Representative Connolly testified for H. 1478 on the Massachusetts Social Housing Program, describing publicly owned, mixed-income housing financed through a revolving loan fund. Senator Feeney testified for S. 989 on missing middle starter homes, arguing for zoning changes, incentives, and affordability tools to support smaller starter homes and duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes. Multiple witnesses, including housing advocates, real estate representatives, and local officials, supported the ADU trust fund bill and the single-stair study bill, saying they would reduce barriers, support homeowners, and enable more family-sized and infill housing. Some witnesses opposed bills they said would weaken ADU reforms or add new restrictions, while others urged broader deregulation to speed production. A major portion of the hearing focused on H. 1576/S. 1010, the Homes for Lasting Affordability bill, which would create a permanent affordability homeownership program for low- and moderate-income buyers and support small developments with long-term affordability restrictions. Testimony from community land trust leaders, legislators, and housing advocates emphasized that permanent affordability can preserve public investment, stabilize neighborhoods, and help families build wealth over generations. Senator Miranda and Representative Worrell tied the bill to closing the racial wealth gap and expanding access to homeownership for Black and Latino residents. The committee also heard testimony on S. 971, which would reform the Housing Development and Incentive Program to require more affordability in Gateway City projects. The committee additionally heard from Senator Kennedy and disability advocates on S. 1004, which would strengthen the Alternative Housing Voucher Program for people with disabilities by codifying project-based vouchers and aligning the program more closely with other voucher systems. Witnesses described long waitlists and the lack of accessible, affordable units as major barriers that can lead to homelessness or unnecessary institutionalization. No votes were taken during the hearing; the session was devoted to testimony and questions from committee members.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 475. Perfect. All right. Third time's the charm. House Bill 475. Perfect.
• to house.
• to house.
• House Bill 203 by Representative Walters basically provides to add one member from Krista's health system
• House Bill 203 by Representative Walters basically provides to add one member from Krista's health system

Committee: Senate Health & Welfare

Summary: The Senate Committee on Health and Welfare met on May 6, 2026, with five members present. After adopting the April 28 minutes, the committee heard a brief presentation on the new Leadership Louisiana Health Fellows Program, which is intended to bring together health care, business, policy, and education leaders to study Louisiana health challenges and build a network for action. Members expressed support for the program and its potential value to health policy work. The committee then advanced several bills, often with technical or substantive amendments. SB 57, a nutrition-labeling bill, was amended to push its effective date to December 31, 2028 and reported as amended. HB 62 increased the membership of the Louisiana Women’s Policy and Research Commission to 27 members and was reported as amended. HB 193 updated membership rules for the sickle cell commission foundations so long-serving executive directors would not have to reapply repeatedly, and it was reported as amended. HB 815 would allow financial institutions to receive death certificates to help families manage accounts after a death; it was reported favorably after a question about state-licensed banks. SB 405 was substantially revised to codify LDH’s new Ascend nursing-facility quality initiative, including statewide quality oversight goals, stakeholder involvement, reporting requirements, and tools such as dashboards and surveys; after reconsidering prior action and adopting the new amendment, the bill was reported as amended. The committee also approved HB 222, which provides Medicaid dental coverage when needed for another covered medical procedure, and HB 420, which requires background checks for all DCFS employees with access to sensitive information. HB 475 requires verbal consent when AI is used to record or transcribe a medical visit and was reported favorably after a technical question. HB 246 updated membership of the Children’s Cabinet Advisory Board and the council on grandparents raising grandchildren, including replacing an inactive coalition seat with the state police superintendent or designee. HB 486 would enter Louisiana into the psychology inter-jurisdictional compact to expand access to mental health care, and HB 574 updated outdated board names on the Mental Health Advisory Services Board; both were reported favorably. Later, the committee reported HB 949, which creates a licensure framework for radiologist assistants to help address imaging workforce shortages, especially in rural areas, and HB 584, which requires foster children to be provided luggage instead of trash bags for their belongings and restores “rights” language in the Foster Youth Bill of Rights. The committee also reported HB 1214, restructuring certain LDH facilities into a single system under the secretary’s office; HB 1092, a technical renaming/terminology cleanup bill; and HB 203, which adds members to the uterine fibroids commission. Throughout the meeting, members and witnesses emphasized access to care, workforce shortages, child welfare, and quality improvement, and the committee repeatedly adopted amendments and reported the bills favorably or as amended before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• HEALTH SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE.
• THEY PROVIDE COMPLIANCE ON FINANCIAL REVIEW OF BILLING SERVICES THAT ARE PROVIDED BY THE COURT APPOINTED
• IT GETS MORE GRANULAR IN TERMS OF WHAT IT PROVIDES.
• WE LOOKED AT 53 HOUSING UNITS WE DON'T HAVE STAFF FOR SO WE ARE HAVING TO MAN THOSE 53 HOUSING UNITS
• WE HAVE EMPTY HOUSING UNITS AVAILABLE.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> facility in McCracken County that houses facility in McCracken County that houses males that's<00
• The high-risk offenders are being housed in Adair County, and the low-risk offenders are being housed
• housed in lowrisk offenders are being housed in Campbell Campbell County, and I guess as far as budget
• provide.
• </c><00:19:28.840><c> the</c> particular contractual provider the particular contractual provider the

Summary: The committee heard an overview from Department of Juvenile Justice Commissioner Randy White on the state’s juvenile detention network and several facility projects. He identified the currently operating detention centers as Boyd County for females, Breathitt County for low-risk males, Fayette County for high-risk males, Adair County for high-risk youth from Jefferson and surrounding counties, Warren County for high-risk males, and McCracken County for low-risk males. Members asked about capacity and staffing; White said Boyd County houses 33 and is usually near full, Breathitt County is about half full, Fayette County runs about 80-90% full, Campbell County’s operational limit is about 25 due to staffing, Adair County can hold 60 and has hit capacity several times this year, Warren County holds 43 and usually runs near capacity, and McCracken County holds 43 and is not currently full. He said staffing is generally harder in higher-risk facilities and in metropolitan areas because of wages and housing costs. White then updated the committee on the Louisville Detention Center downtown renovation and the Lyon facility project. For the Louisville downtown facility, he said schematic design and design development are complete, construction documents are expected by late February or early March, bids are anticipated in April, and completion is projected for March 2027. He explained the delay is due to extensive renovation work needed to bring the building up to current building, life-safety, ACA, and PREA standards, including security, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, food service, and roof work. The project is designed for 64 beds for high-risk Jefferson County boys, with the facility currently vacant and those youth being housed in Adair County and Campbell County. For the Lyon project, he said the contract was issued November 21, 2024, demolition is underway, completion is expected June 14, 2026, and the facility will have 34 beds in four pods for low-risk offenders; he said the project appears to be on time and on budget within the $4.5 million authorization. The committee also discussed the medical services contract. DJJ officials said they are reviewing whether to continue with the current state contract provider, Wellpath, or pursue an RFP, while retaining current merit staff and continuing oversight through four nurse program administrators. They said DJJ uses a state master agreement to staff nurses, APRNs, and the chief medical officer, and that the current contract is about $20 million per year. Members asked about Wellpath’s bankruptcy filing; officials said they were aware of it, asked questions, and were told it would not affect Kentucky service delivery or contracting, though they could not recall the bankruptcy type and offered to provide more detail later. They also said DJJ is working with the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to become a Medicaid provider, and any future contractual partner will need to be a Medicaid provider. Finally, White described the proposed high-acuity juvenile mental health treatment facility. He said DJJ must accept court-ordered youth even when they have severe mental illness, but detention centers are not equipped to treat those youth and private psychiatric hospitals often refuse them or discharge them early. He argued that a dedicated secure treatment facility is needed for a small number of highly violent, high-need youth who require intensive psychiatric care and are disruptive in detention. The facility would provide behavioral and psychiatric treatment, reduce delays caused by lack of beds or outside placements, and serve youth determined by clinical assessment to need a secure treatment environment. No votes were taken during the discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 1188 and Dean Zaffirini, House Bill 1188 will be left pending subject to the chair.
• House Bill 2856 will be left pending. The chair lays out House Bill 3126. Explain the measure.
• Against House Bill 3126.
• So, be that provided.
• Does this bill provide for that?

Bills: HB 1022 , HB2856 , HB3114 , HJR5 , HB6 , HB 120 , HB210 , HB1458 , HB 1188 , HB3126 , HB6 , HB120 , HB210

Committees: Senate Education , Senate Education K-16

Transcript Highlights:

• The first few sections for both House and Senate provide or set out the budget and appropriations for
• c> or</c> uh for both house and senate provide or uh for both house and senate provide or set<00:35:08.240
• Section 65 of the House bill requires authorization to require a metropolitan county to provide certain
• Thank you for the opportunity to provide comments on House File 2438, the omnibus transportation bill
• to provide comments on<01:19:58.560><c> House</c><01:19:58.880><c> File</c><01:19:59.199><c> 2438,</

Transcript Highlights:

• It has support of the House Republican caucus but was blocked every time by House Democrats.
• Uh, also, um, provided some information by the House Republican caucus staff.
• Uh, also, um, provided some information by the House Republican caucus staff.
• What exact information did you all provide again? Did the House GOP caucus provide?
• </c> the House Republican Caucus. the House Republican Caucus. &gt;&gt; Got<00:10:48.480><c> it.