Video & Transcript Research : 'multisystemic therapy'
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TX
Texas 89th 2nd C.S.
Senate Committee on Health and Human Services Apr 8th, 2026
Health & Human Services
Transcript Highlights:
- So, like when we go through, why has Texas been better on ABA therapy, autism services?
- benefits in Medicaid, I would say, aren't—they're not so strictly defined as what I would consider ABA therapy
- pizza and videotapes, you know, the VCRs for you guys under 30 that they used to plug in, was speech therapy
- So in 2024, it also expanded home health services, including nursing, occupational therapy, and PT.
- I serve as the Executive Director of the Texas Occupational Therapy Association.
HI
Hawaii 2025 Regular Session
CPN-EIG, CPN-HHS, CPN DEFER Public Hearings 02-11-2025
Commerce and Consumer Protection
Transcript Highlights:
- while the rest of the world rejects compassion, science, and rights for parents to get... hormone therapies
- surgeries and other hormone therapies surgeries and other forms<01:45:57.000>
of <01:45:57.199 - replacement whether it's through hormone replacement whether it's through hormone replacement therapies
- >
age <01:46:13.400>related <01:46:13.840>or <01:46:14.040>endocrine therapies - for age related or endocrine therapies for age related or endocrine conditions<01:46:15.480>
or
Summary:
The joint Senate hearing focused primarily on SB 1201, a wildfire measure that would create a wildfire recovery fund and allow securitization for electric utilities. Hawaiian Electric strongly supported the bill, saying it would help protect customers, property owners, insurers, and the broader economy from future catastrophic wildfire liability while improving the utility’s credit profile and lowering financing costs. Support also came from DCCA Consumer Advocacy, the Attorney General’s office on written comments, Ulupono Initiative, Clearway Energy Group, IBEW Local 1260, Par Hawaii, KIUC, the Chamber of Commerce Hawaiʻi, Plus Power, and numerous organizations and individuals. Opponents or commenters raised concerns about the liability cap, victim compensation process, and fund structure, including the Hawaiʻi Association for Justice, the Hawaiʻi Regional Council of Carpenters, and the Hawaiʻi Insurance Council; Henry Curtis of Life of the Land supported the concept of a fund but questioned the catastrophe threshold and whether the fund would be empty without a prudency finding.
Much of the discussion centered on whether the proposed fund would actually help restore Hawaiian Electric to investment grade, with senators comparing the proposal to California’s wildfire fund. Hawaiian Electric said the bill was only one part of a broader process, alongside physical risk reduction and settlement finalization, and argued that without the bill the utility would not regain investment grade. Senators also questioned the proposed $1 billion fund size, the fairness of ratepayer contributions versus shareholder contributions, and whether customers should pay for consulting and administrative costs; Hawaiian Electric said its proposed amendment would remove those consulting-related charges. The company also said the fund would accrue interest and, if unused, could be returned to customers, and that there would be replenishment and supplemental contribution mechanisms if the fund were exhausted.
The Attorney General’s office said it still had further amendments to discuss, and the departments had not yet resolved where the fund should reside administratively, though Hawaiian Electric said it believed DCCA was the appropriate place but was open to alternatives. KIUC requested two amendments. No vote or final committee action was taken during the hearing, and the measure remained under discussion with questions and proposed amendments still outstanding.
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
House Executive Departments and Administration (02/04/2026)
Executive Departments and Administration
Transcript Highlights:
- be, if, say for example, I were a small business person and I decided to open a legitimate massage therapy
- I decided to open a legitimate um and I decided to open a legitimate um massage<01:16:00.080>
therapy - place and I were massage therapy place and I were employing<01:16:03.120>
five <01:16:03.840>< - <01:22:02.639>
board members of the massage therapy board members of the massage therapy board - Quite frankly, I was focused on making sure that we could also get this massage therapy out.
HI
Hawaii 2026 Regular Session
FIN Info Briefing - Mon Jan 12, 2026 @ 1:00 PM HST
Hawaii House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Patients increased occupational therapy and recreational therapy.
- By preparing folks through these activities in this therapy, that helps them to be more prepared upon
- <00:42:27.839>
and <00:42:28.079>recreational occupational therapy and recreational - occupational therapy and recreational therapy.<00:42:29.760>
Um <00:42:30.160>you <00:42 - Um you can see kind of some of therapy.
AZ
Arizona 2026 Regular Session
06/10/2026 - House Democratic Caucus Calendar #22
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Judiciary (04/16/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- <01:32:50.960>
legal <01:32:52.080>um <01:32:52.360>hormone <01:32:53.360>therapy - males due to legal um hormone therapy? males due to legal um hormone therapy?
- specifically, there are certain concerns and certain thoughts of maybe you have to be on hormone therapy
- specifically, there are certain concerns and certain thoughts of maybe you have to be on hormone therapy
- specifically, there are certain concerns and certain thoughts of maybe you have to be on hormone therapy
Summary:
The House Judiciary Committee opened a hearing on Senate Bill 141, which would create a narrow exception to New Hampshire’s three-year deadline for motions for a new trial when a petitioner has newly discovered evidence, new forensic testing, or new scientific understanding. The prime sponsor’s representative and advocates from the Innocence Project and New England Innocence Project argued the bill is needed to help wrongfully convicted people access the courts, noting that exonerations often take many years and that outdated forensic science has contributed to wrongful convictions. The chair also said he had drafted a proposed amendment for committee review, but it had not yet been formally submitted.
Witnesses supporting the bill emphasized that the measure would not guarantee relief, only allow a petition to be filed and reviewed under existing standards. They discussed examples such as arson science, explaining that some convictions were based on forensic methods later shown to be unreliable. Committee members asked about the scope of habeas corpus, whether the bill would create a new cause of action, and whether additional screening or pleading requirements should be added. The supporters said they would be open to requiring a petitioner to plead innocence, but opposed adding more burdensome preliminary procedures or counsel requirements at the filing stage.
Thomas Farardi, from the Attorney General’s Office, testified in opposition or with caution, saying the bill was a “solution looking for a problem” because existing habeas corpus and coram nobis procedures already provide avenues for relief, and prosecutors can act when credible new evidence arises. He argued the current draft could invite additional litigation and create a new cause of action, and said he favored more screening before cases proceed. The discussion also touched on whether the statute applies in criminal cases, the current three-year limitation in RSA 526:4, and questions about posthumous petitions and petitions by deported individuals. No vote or executive action was taken during the hearing.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- That involves getting therapy. That often involves peer support.
- and the ability to know that the dosage, purity, and consistency are managed, along with the other therapies
- from the compassionate use of THC where doctors are involved, where you said they have to go for therapy
- There may be different pharmacological therapies that are tried, but ultimately, it's a combination of
- But that is what works: multimodal therapy. to get into a medical treatment program to access that.
Bills:
SB31, SB33, SB20, SB217, SB264, SB269, SB650, SB681, SB528, SB502, SB740, SB916, SB995, SB10, SB2581, SB2570, SB3031, SB24, SB379, SB1171, SB1121, SB1120, SB1061, SB1036, SB1019, SB890, SB11, SB868, SB1188, SB1254, SB2778, SB2543, SB2443, SB1333, SB1259, SB1401, SB1404, SB2139, SB2165, SB2237, SB2268, SB1202, SB1198, SB1212, SB1451, SB1470, SB1498, SB965, SB1547, SB1667, SB1818, SB1902, SB2129, SB2078, SB2069, SB1737, SB1589, SB1318, SB387, SB1150, SB1574, SB2127, SB3034, SB860, SB1278, SCR5, SCR32, SB4, SB23, SB1762, SB34, SB60, SB706, SB1814, SB1220, SB523, SB565, SB1253, SB840, SB764, SB2383, SB2155, SB1535, SB1423, SB1566, SB1804, SB1728, SB1816, SB1952, SB75, SB2068, SB1455, SB213, SB627, SB2037, SB670, SB896, SB917, SB1184, SB971, SB1255, SB1261, SB1283, SB991, SB1733, SB21, SB231, SB739, SB1252, SB1371, SB646, SB3, SCR27, SB552, SB1405, SB1948, SB243, SJR1, SB31, SB33, SB20, SB217, SB264, SB269, SB650, SB681, SB528, SB502, SB740, SB916, SB995, SB10, SB2581, SB2570, SB3031, SB24, SB379, SB1171, SB1121, SB1120, SB1061, SB1036, SB1019, SB890, SB11, SB868, SB1188, SB1254, SB2778, SB2543, SB2443, SB1333, SB1259, SB1401, SB1404, SB2139, SB2165, SB2237, SB2268, SB1202, SB1198, SB1212, SB1451, SB1470, SB1498, SB965, SB1547, SB1667, SB1818, SB1902, SB2129, SB2078, SB2069, SB1737, SB1589, SB1318, SB387, SB1150, SB1574, SB2127, SB3034, SB860, SB1278, SCR5, SCR32, SB546, SB647, SB648, SB1493, SB1709, SB2001, HB5669, HB3115, HB5655, HB5675, HB5689, HB5690, HB5653, HB3228, HB2802, HB45, HB1318, HB5560, HB2894, HB4344, HB2775, HB33, HB 12, HB148
Keywords:
SB 31, Life of the Mother Act, Texas abortion law, medical emergency, reasonable medical judgment, pregnancy complications, maternal health, life-threatening condition, ectopic pregnancy, spontaneous abortion, miscarriage, unborn child, abortion exception, abortion ban, physician liability, health care liability claim, aiding and abetting, Texas Medical Board, State Bar of Texas, continuing medical education
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Therapy dogs are one option.
- I had her professionally evaluated immediately by a psychologist team and got her into regular therapy
- It is very rarely used in therapy. Okay, very good. Thank you for that explanation.
- It's a part of my therapy to come and share my story. I'm not a combat warrior.
- As I said, this is a part of my therapy for me to come.
Bills:
HB5
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee 3/18/25
Public Safety Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- We also have trauma-focused therapy specifically for victims of child abuse that include play therapy
- :37:37.440>
have <01:37:37.639>trauma <01:37:38.159>focused <01:37:38.960>therapy - we also have trauma focused therapy we also have trauma focused therapy specifically<01:37:40.159
- <01:37:42.960>
that <01:37:43.080>is <01:37:43.239>age that include play therapy - that is age that include play therapy that is age appropriate<01:37:44.000>
for <01:37:44.159>
Keywords:
public safety, law enforcement, mental health, domestic violence, appropriations, criminal justice, Minnesota corrections, victim services, task force, personal safety, Independent Use of Force Investigations Unit, criminal sexual conduct, sexual assault, peace officers, law enforcement oversight, Minnesota National Guard, U.S. armed forces, military installation, armory, air base
MS
Mississippi 2026 Regular Session
MS House Floor - 4 February, 2026; 10:00 AM
Mississippi House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- This is a bill dealing with the practice of marriage and family therapy and psychology. Oppose. No.
- :32:01.279>
marriage <00:32:01.600>and <00:32:01.840>family <00:32:02.240>therapy - practice of marriage and family therapy practice of marriage and family therapy and<00:32:03.039
- <05:48:20.480>
By drug or therapy will be administered. - By drug or therapy will be administered.
Summary:
The House convened with prayer and the pledge, established a quorum, dispensed with reading the journal and bill introductions, and then moved through announcements recognizing visitors in the galleries, including cancer advocacy groups, Mississippi Math and Science School students, a gospel choir, Leadership Greater Jackson, and other guests. Members also made several commendations, including recognition of Elena Johnson’s softball accomplishments and a student’s appointment to West Point.
On the general calendar, the House passed House Bill 1076, the SAVE Act of 2026, by a vote of 122-0. The bill is described as a consumer protection measure for veterans that prohibits pay-to-refer arrangements, tightens standards for paid claims assistance, requires written agreements and limits upfront or nonrefundable fees, and adds privacy and disclosure safeguards. The House also passed House Bill 223, designating a segment of Highway 537 as the Sergeant John Howard Tanner Memorial Highway, by 122-0.
The chamber then passed House Bill 1112, which revises state aid road division laws to expand purchasing authority, increase authorized vehicles, and allow unused county road funds to be reallocated after a period of time, by 120-1. House Bill 737, with an adopted amendment, allows Medicaid providers to repay certain non-fraud overpayments in installments when immediate repayment would cause hardship and aligns the repayment timeline with federal law; it passed 116-0. The House also passed House Bill 479 on marriage and family therapy and psychology licensure changes, adopting an amendment that extends the time to verify credentials for out-of-state applicants and provides a temporary license, by 121-0.
Additional bills passed included House Bill 991 on third-party registration systems for used motor vehicle parts dealers and scrap metal processors (118-0), House Bill 1072 creating voluntary portable benefits accounts for independent contractors (119-0), House Bill 1137 revising CPA licensure education and experience requirements (118-1), House Bill 571 extending the foreign-national contribution ban to ballot measures (111-1), House Bill 630 allowing certain county electors to serve as municipal poll managers in small municipalities (113-4), House Bill 858 requiring election equipment internet connectivity to be disabled on election day (116-1), House Bill 788 changing how affidavit ballots can update voter registration information, with an amendment adopted, (115-3), and House Bill 908 tying Mississippi’s mail-ballot counting rule to the outcome of pending federal litigation so state and local races would be treated the same if the current federal-race rule is struck down (the bill was under discussion at the end of the excerpt).
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
Fiscal Policy Mar 6th, 2025
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
Senate Executive Departments and Administration (04/01/2026)
Executive Departments and Administration
Transcript Highlights:
- extremely<01:43:21.960>
broad The next proposal is in the medical imaging and radiation therapy radiation is in the medical imaging and radiation is in the medical imaging and radiation therapy- <01:44:50.680>
So, therapy rule-making authority. So, therapy rule-making authority. - <01:45:18.560>
imaging <01:45:18.920>and Programs for medical imaging and radiation therapy - radiation therapy educational programs. radiation therapy educational programs.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Public Health Jun 21st, 2026 at 09:00 am
Joint Committee on Public Health
Transcript Highlights:
- The bills before you support the provision of medical nutrition therapy, or MNT, for the treatment or
- Registered dietitians provide medical nutrition therapy, or MNT, which CMS defines as nutritional diagnosis
- , therapy, and counseling for the purpose of disease management.
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Public Health heard testimony on a wide range of bills focused on environmental health, disease prevention, and access to care. Major topics included restricting polystyrene use, creating a pancreatic cancer awareness and early-detection initiative, improving indoor air quality through a task force and new regulations, expanding access to epinephrine in public places, improving access to health care for people with long COVID, creating an OBGYN loan repayment program for underserved areas, expanding access to hygiene products, modernizing licensure for dietitians and nutritionists, updating school postural screening requirements, and restricting harmful diet pills and muscle-building supplements. Several legislators also testified in support of their own bills, including measures on menstrual product access and ingredient disclosure, and surgical smoke protections.
Testimony on the polystyrene bill emphasized local municipal bans and the need to reduce plastic pollution. Pancreatic cancer advocates and patients described the disease’s low survival rate, the difficulty of early diagnosis, and the need for an awareness campaign and implementation of commission recommendations. Indoor air quality supporters from environmental justice groups, public health organizations, and residents described asthma, mold, pollution, and the need for a task force with technical expertise; some witnesses urged adding remediation professionals to the task force. On epinephrine access, family members of a man who died after a bee sting and an allergy organization stressed that anaphylaxis can be sudden and fatal and that stock epinephrine in public venues could save lives. Long COVID advocates said the condition affects hundreds of thousands of residents and called for better surveillance and access to care, with a request to include MECFS in the bills’ scope.
Other testimony focused on workforce and equity issues. Supporters of the OBGYN loan repayment bill said it would help address maternal health disparities and provider shortages, especially in rural and underserved communities. Hope and Comfort described widespread hygiene insecurity and a long waiting list for basic products, urging a task force to study statewide solutions. Dietitians and nutritionists supported modernization of licensure to clarify standards for medical nutrition therapy while allowing broader wellness counseling. School nurses backed reducing mandatory postural screenings, arguing the current law is not evidence-based, is not reimbursed by MassHealth, and takes time from other student health needs. On the supplement bill, the industry trade group opposed restrictions as overbroad and burdensome, while a public health expert cited research linking weight-loss and muscle-building supplements to serious harms and urged passage. The committee also heard support for menstrual product access and surgical smoke protections, with legislators and advocates describing those bills as longstanding priorities.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
- I am a founder and licensed marriage and family therapist of Set Free Marriage and Family Therapy, where
- I am a founder and licensed marriage and family therapist of Set Free Mergin Family Therapy, where I
- facilitate healing circles for survivors. and I'm also a mother. set free marriage and family therapy
Summary:
The committee heard several education-related bills, with most of the discussion centered on student privacy, faculty health coverage, Native student data collection, mental health training for coaches, and human trafficking prevention education. AB 1159, the California Learner Personal Information Protection Act, would expand student data privacy protections to higher education, clarify existing ed-tech rules, and add limited enforcement. The author and supporters said current law is outdated and does not adequately protect sensitive student information, while some college-related stakeholders raised definitional concerns about preserving routine student communications and access to course materials. The bill was approved on a due-pass motion to the Senate Privacy, Digital Technologies and Consumer Protection Committee and placed on call.
AB 1171 would keep unspent funds in the part-time community college faculty health insurance program from being swept for other uses and would require all community college districts to begin negotiating participation by 2030. The author and supporters argued that part-time faculty often lack employer-sponsored coverage despite teaching most community college courses, while opponents said the bill was premature because participation is still growing and the program’s full-year spending data is not yet known. Members debated whether the Legislature should preserve the funding in statute or continue handling it through the budget process. The bill passed on a due-pass motion to Senate Appropriations and was placed on call.
AB 1581 would require collection of tribal affiliation data for Native American and Alaska Native students in CalPADS to address severe undercounting and improve resource allocation. The author and tribal and education supporters said Native students are often misclassified, making it harder to provide culturally responsive programs and measure outcomes; committee members discussed how the reporting would work for multitribal and multiracial students and emphasized the need for tribal consultation and workable data definitions. The bill passed on a due-pass motion to Senate Appropriations and was placed on call. AB 1665, requiring mental health training for school coaches, was supported as a way to help trusted adults recognize warning signs and connect student athletes to services; it also passed to Senate Appropriations and was placed on call. AB 1766, which would expand human trafficking prevention education from kindergarten through 12th grade and address online grooming and exploitation, received strong support from the author, survivors, and advocacy groups, with testimony emphasizing earlier prevention and digital safety; the transcript ended during support testimony and did not include final action on that bill.
LA
Transcript Highlights:
- I can tell you with chiropractic physicians, doctors of physical therapy, and almost every health care
- seems like you're uncertain, giving them the authority in this amendment to order hyperbaric oxygen therapy
- So there are hard chambers, which would be HBOT, and then there's MHBOT, mild hyperbaric oxygen therapy
Keywords:
healthcare transparency, hospital pricing, consumer protection, collection actions, fines, naturopathic medicine, Louisiana Board of Naturopathic Medicine, licensing, healthcare, prescriptive authority, natural therapies, opioid treatment, regulation, addiction recovery, state law, SB 29, Act 732, coroner, autopsy, child death
Summary:
The committee first heard and favorably reported SB 255, which expands the educational qualifications for psychosocial rehabilitation services to include health sciences and therapeutic recreation degrees, and SB 314, which cleans up prior language on community psychiatric support and treatment services so a limited scope certified social worker license can still be issued even if the applicant is slightly late renewing. Members and witnesses said both bills were intended to improve access to behavioral health services, especially in rural areas, and there was no opposition on either measure.
The committee then advanced SB 26, which repeals facility need review for opioid treatment programs to make it easier to open more OTPs in Louisiana, and SB 29, which requires child autopsy reports to include immunization records and access to the LINKS vaccine database. SB 29 drew some concern about whether singling out immunizations could imply causation, but the author and supporters said the bill is only about adding data and that the records would be part of broader medical information. Both bills were reported favorably.
Members also reported favorably SB 30, as amended, to allow telehealth for obesity/weight-management treatment with synchronous interaction and other safeguards, though some providers warned the language should not unduly limit future board authority. SB 219 was approved to create an Office of Health and Nutrition within LDH, with testimony from the department, the Alzheimer’s Association, and Pennington Biomedical supporting the focus on nutrition, physical activity, and brain health. SB 222 was reported favorably with amendments to reduce duplicative behavioral health administrative requirements, streamline supervision rules, and expand telehealth for psychosocial rehabilitation. The committee also approved SB 195, the “Danny’s Dose” EMS bill, allowing EMS personnel to administer a patient’s own prescribed time-critical medication in emergencies; testimony from families with rare conditions described life-threatening delays under current rules. Finally, SCR 2 was adopted to update hospital construction standards to the most recent Facility Guidelines Institute edition, and SCR 22 was reported favorably to request a more detailed legislative auditor report on opioid settlement spending and outcomes. The committee then began hearing HB 1093 on naturopathic medicine, with the author proposing a licensing framework under the State Board of Medical Examiners and a large amendment set; members raised questions about scope, prescriptive authority, training, and whether the profession should have its own board, but no final action on the bill was taken in the portion provided.
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
House of Representatives Second Regular Session of the 60th Legislature Day 28 Afternoon Session Mar 24th, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Oklahoma House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Where we landed with that was to look at pairing therapy with education.
- the classroom environment like you're doing, but also provided them an option where they could seek therapy
- environment that gave them the trauma that is causing them to act out, and so finding a way to get them therapy
Bills:
HB3329, HR1039, HR1040, HB3413, HB3414, HB3415, HB3416, HB3417, HB3418, HB3419, HB3420, HB3706, HB3711, HB4139, HB1268, HB3660, HJR1023, HB3298, HB3056, HJR1084, HB3934, HB3919, HB4118, HB4119, HB3791, HB4260, HB4178, HB4215, HB4324, HB3270, HB4352, HB4305, HB2955, HB3315, HB3066, HB1245, HB4125, HB3075, HB3129, HB3239, HB4153, HB3265, HB4491, SB680, HB4263, HB4268, HB1675, HB3885, HB2984, HB3697, HB2959, HB3671, HB3852, HB2933, HB3057, HB3802, HB4294, HB4285, HB3708, HB3979, HB3977, HB3986, HB3985, HB3588, HB3742, HB3845, HJR1070, HB3590, HB3595, HB3391, HB3183, HB3764, HB3765, HB1002, HB4434, HJR1086, HB4060, HB3881, HB3500, HB4408, HB3648, HB3127, HB3606
AL
Transcript Highlights:
- Like the massage therapy board or the nursing board or the dental board, all those boards.
- Like the massage therapy board or the nursing board or the dental board, all those boards.
- Like the massage therapy board or the nursing board or the dental board, all those boards.
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Appropriations and Budget Health Subcommittee Jan 22nd, 2026 at 09:30 am
A&B Health Subcommittee
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Legislative Education Study Nov 20th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- there's several of my students that they have to do certain types as far as illness, but let's say it's therapy
- literacy and reading speaking is that they are now having us give our children telehealth speech therapy
- We are giving three-year-olds telehealth speech therapy. Have you ever tried to do that?
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Law & Justice Jun 4th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- A quick question, Senator Solomon: Have you found that the medication-assisted therapy is helping with
- We find that, in the absence of medication-assisted therapy, in the case of fentanyl addiction, we can't
- get traction with traditional talk therapy; it's a prerequisite for being able to deploy other treatment
Summary:
The committee held a work session on tort liability and parole, with the chair explaining that the topics were linked because criminal justice reform and state liability often intersect, especially in cases involving child welfare and corrections. Staff first outlined Washington’s tort liability framework, including the state’s broad waiver of sovereign immunity, statutes governing mandatory reporting and investigation of abuse, the childhood sexual abuse statute of limitations, and the lack of caps on non-economic damages. Staff and presenters also compared Washington to other states and noted that Washington remains among the broadest states for state liability and childhood sexual abuse claims.
Presenters from the Attorney General’s office, Washington State Association for Justice, DCYF, DSHS, and DOC discussed how tort exposure has grown, especially in claims involving DCYF, historical child abuse, juvenile rehabilitation, vulnerable adults, employment discrimination, medical negligence, and negligent supervision. DCYF and AG staff said claims and payouts are rising, with many claims tied to older abuse and new theories of liability, while defense counsel emphasized the human harm behind the claims and argued that tort cases have historically driven accountability and reform. Agency witnesses said they face large volumes of old claims with limited records, rising verdicts and settlements, and staffing and systems challenges, and they highlighted efforts such as early resolution programs, electronic health records, medication-assisted treatment, and improved incident review processes.
The committee then shifted to parole. Sentencing experts reviewed Washington’s move from indeterminate sentencing to the current determinate sentencing system under the Sentencing Reform Act, and explained how parole could be integrated with sentencing guidelines through different models used in other states. They also summarized Criminal Sentencing Task Force recommendations related to a determinate-plus approach for three-strikes and persistent offender laws and a second-chance review process, noting there was no consensus on those ideas. Judges from the Minority and Justice Commission and the Superior Court Judges Association said a parole system could support rehabilitation and reduce disparities if it includes data collection, fairness, transparency, due process, and meaningful judicial review; they also pointed to research suggesting parole and structured reentry can reduce recidivism and costs, while warning that access and outcomes can vary by geography and other factors.