Transcript Highlights:

• , so it wasn't formal training.
• , so it wasn't formal training.
• Athletic trainers are trained in primary care medicine.
• But there is a certain level of training.
• They're not trained to do that.

Committee: House Health and Mental Health

Transcript Highlights:

• We operate 15 long-distance trains throughout the country.
• So we have nine trains in Louisiana that operate every day.
• The train operates twice daily, serving Bay St.
• Today, CSX operates trains that are 15,000 feet long.
• And if any of you have not taken a train, take it.

Summary: The Joint Committee on Transportation, Highways, and Public Works met on March 9, 2026, with a quorum present and approved the March 3 minutes without objection. The committee welcomed new members and then took up four priority program items: the statewide flood control program, the airport construction and development priority program, the port construction and development priority program, and the state highway priority program. Department of Transportation and Development staff explained that the highway packet reflected about $1.2 billion in total investment, including roughly $913 million scheduled for construction in the coming fiscal year, and included written justifications for projects discussed at road show hearings but not included in the program. Each of the four programs was approved without objection. The committee then heard a presentation from Amtrak on Louisiana service and the Mardi Gras route between New Orleans and Mobile. Amtrak reported that the new state-supported service, launched in August 2025, had exceeded its first-year ridership projection of 76,000 and had already carried more than 78,000 riders by late February, with strong customer satisfaction and high load factors. The presentation also described Louisiana’s broader Amtrak network, station ridership patterns, fares, and planned capital improvements funded through state matches and federal CRISI grants to improve rail fluidity and shorten travel times over time. Members focused heavily on rail crossing safety, asking about recent accidents and what was being done to reduce them. Amtrak said the crossings involved were generally equipped with gates and lights and that it was working with Operation Lifesaver, Norfolk Southern, and CSX on additional public safety messaging. Members also discussed the practical appeal of the service and asked a follow-up question about an emergency notification app used for railroad crossings. The meeting concluded with a motion by Vice Chair Carter to adjourn, adopted without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• We all get to train. We all get to do training live and in person and go through scenarios.
• I agree with training.
• We need the right training, the right people to review the training...
• It requires employers to pay workers for all training time and cover training costs themselves.
• , including live-fire training.

Transcript Highlights:

• One is training, and as part of training, we focus on increasing the number of health care providers
• So the idea is that we train them, and I say train them and catch them, to supplement the number of behavioral
• We also spend time training.
• So certainly, generally trained psychiatrists and generally trained psychologists are going to be There
• There was a training devoted to these evaluations. I was involved in some of that training.

Committee: House Courts, Corrections & Justice Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• And, you know, this training facility trains 13,000 firefighters every year.
• He makes sure they have impeccable training, impeccable preparedness skills.
• He was injured at the Academy while providing training for new recruits.
• He was injured at the Academy providing training for new recruits.
• Yeah, I visited the training academy many moons ago when I was like him.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Public Service

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Service held its 21st hearing and took up late-filed bills, with testimony focused mainly on firefighter and police personnel matters. The committee heard strong support for H.5429/H.6138, Governor Healey’s bill to provide injured-on-duty compensation and full pay and benefits to Chelmsford firefighter Nicholas Spinelli after he was seriously injured while instructing at the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy. Testimony from Rep. Simon Cataldo, Rep. Rodney Elliott, PFFM leaders, Chelmsford Fire Chief Gary Ryan, and others emphasized that Spinelli was performing public service training work, that the incident exposed gaps in coverage for firefighters serving in academy roles, and that the bill should be a prompt, statewide fix. Several speakers also urged future legislation to address broader policy gaps for DFS support-branch and part-time personnel. The committee also heard testimony on a Topsfield home rule petition, H.54435, to allow Police Chief Neil Hovey to continue serving until age 68 or retirement. Rep. Kristen Kasner and local officials praised Hovey’s leadership, training, regional coordination, and management of public safety at the Topsfield Fair, and asked for favorable passage. In addition, Sen. Ryan Fattman and Rep. Joe McKenna testified for S.3051, a bill to provide certain retirement benefits to the surviving spouse of fallen Uxbridge Police Officer Stephen LaPorta, describing his death while assisting a stranded motorist in a snowstorm and the town’s support for honoring his family. PFFM and other police/fire union representatives generally supported the firefighter and LaPorta bills, while PFFM also stated opposition to H.5389, a separate bill authorizing continued employment of the Upton police chief. After testimony concluded, the committee adjourned without taking a recorded vote during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• And, you know, this training facility trains 13,000 firefighters every year.
• He makes sure they have impeccable training, impeccable preparedness skills.
• He was injured at the Academy providing training for new recruits.
• Yeah, I visited the training academy many moons ago when I was like him.
• He took this additional role of training to help others in life-saving work. Mr.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Public Service

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Service held its 21st hearing of the 194th General Court to consider late-filed bills, with testimony focused mainly on three measures. The largest portion of the hearing concerned H. 5429/H. 6138, Governor Healey’s bill to ensure Chelmsford firefighter Nicholas Spinelli receives full injured-on-duty pay and benefits after being seriously injured while instructing at the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy. Legislators, the Professional Firefighters of Massachusetts, Chelmsford Fire officials, and family members described the injury, the gap in coverage created by his dual status as a Chelmsford firefighter and academy staff member, and the need for a broader statewide fix for similar situations. Committee members expressed support and noted the bill should be treated like existing protections for police officers injured while working outside their home municipality. The committee also heard testimony on a Topsfield home rule petition, H. 545, allowing Police Chief Neil Hovey to remain in service until age 68 or until relieved by the select board. Supporters said Hovey is a strong regional leader, has helped prepare for major public safety events like the Topsfield Fair, and should be retained because of his experience and fitness. Members and local officials urged favorable passage, and no opposition was raised. A third bill, S. 3051, would provide certain retirement benefits to the surviving spouse of Uxbridge Police Officer Stephen LaPorta, who died while assisting a stranded motorist during a winter storm. Senator Ryan Fattman, Representative Joe McKenna, the Massachusetts Coalition of Police, and others spoke in support, emphasizing the officer’s service and the impact on his family. The town of Uxbridge was said to support the measure. At the end of the hearing, no additional testimony was offered and the committee voted to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• coordinate those trainings.
• gatekeeper trainings.
• these trainings.
• It's a training, it's a gatekeeper training, one hour to help identify signs and warning signs and warning
• No, I will say, and I will say that training that you're talking about, just like the ethics training

Summary: The task force met to review work under HCR 86 on African American suicide prevention, with members introducing themselves and approving the prior meeting minutes. Dr. Williams summarized survey-based findings from 94 university student respondents, explaining that the study focused on warning signs and triggers rather than suicide behaviors themselves. He said financial stress, stigma, and lack of institutional ownership were major themes, and argued that Louisiana needs mandatory reporting and broader suicide data collection because universities and other institutions often avoid reporting incidents, especially those occurring off campus. Dr. Thomas described current and potential prevention strategies, including gatekeeper trainings, 988 outreach, postvention policies, student-facing information on mental health resources, and adding 988 to student IDs. She also noted that the Office of Public Health already serves as a suicide data hub with real-time and death data, and should be included in any centralized reporting discussion. Members discussed how to balance new mandates with university concerns, with several agreeing that legislation is needed but should be developed with input from the Board of Regents and university leadership. The task force reviewed recommendations in the report, including a Louisiana Suicide Prevention Data Act, a centralized data hub, incentive-based reporting for colleges, modernization of the 2018 suicide prevention law, and possible tax credits or other incentives. Dr. McKee suggested that any reporting requirement should be framed to fit existing professional obligations and that training requirements for licensees could be added. The chair asked that revised recommendations and examples from other states be circulated before February 1, with the final report updated to say “confidential unless otherwise required by law.” No public comments were offered, and the meeting adjourned after the chair said he and Senator Boudreaux would consider legislation and, if needed, a resolution to extend the task force.

Transcript Highlights:

• how to call or when to call; it's not mandated report training, it's training about how to recognize
• </c><00:22:10.520><c> it's</c><00:22:10.799><c> training</c> mandated report training it's training mandated
• report training it's training about<00:22:11.480><c> how</c><00:22:11.559><c> to</c><00:22:11.799><c
• </c> child abuse and Mal treatment training child abuse and Mal treatment training for<00:22:28.080><
• </c><00:23:07.600><c> is</c> not a question of whether training is not a question of whether training

Summary: The Children and Family Law Committee opened its March 4 meeting with procedural announcements, including a deadline for any Minority Report, notice that the committee would not meet the following Tuesday because of town meeting day, and a preview of its March 18 agenda. The chair said that meeting would include hearings and executive sessions on HB 518, requiring DHHS to provide a detailed annual report of DCF costs, and HB 775, directing DHHS to seek proposals for supervised visitation centers; HB 553 was also slated for executive session. The committee also heard an update on Representative Grossman’s son, who remained in the PICU at Mass General. The main hearing was on HB 493, which would require child abuse and neglect education for physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants as a condition of licensure. Representative Alicia Gregg presented the bill and an amendment reducing the required training from two hours to one hour, saying the goal was to improve recognition of abuse and prevent both missed cases and false accusations. Cassandra Sanchez, the state Child Advocate, strongly supported the bill, describing a 2020 review of nine cases of non-ambulatory infants with serious injuries and later system mapping that identified gaps in medical recognition; she said the training should be part of existing continuing education hours and that voluntary uptake had been limited. Dr. Michael Matos of Wolfeboro Pediatrics also testified in support. Ben Bradley of the New Hampshire Hospital Association opposed legislating the requirement, saying hospitals already train staff and that the legislature should not single out one topic for statutory mandate when other reporting obligations are handled differently. In questioning, committee members asked whether the hour would be part of existing continuing education, whether hospitals already provide similar training, and whether the bill should be placed in the continuing medical education statute instead of child protection law. Bradley said hospital members already provide annual training and collaborate with proponents, but did not support putting the requirement in statute. Sanchez said the bill was intended to use one of the hours already required for training, though members noted that the bill text did not clearly say so. The committee also heard broader testimony about the Family Division of Circuit Court, including a proposal to create a subcommittee to study more difficult issues such as pre-trial counseling, evidentiary practices, and domestic violence-related cases, with the Speaker appointing members to that subcommittee.

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, so the parents came and trained, didn't talk to the child care facility, so it wasn't formal training
• So it wasn't formal training.
• They are highly trained to provide that care.
• But there is a certain level of training.
• They're not trained to do that.

Committee: House Health and Mental Health

Summary: The committee first heard House Bills 2365, 2490, and 2249, a bipartisan version of Elijah’s Law, which would require child care facilities to receive training and guidance on recognizing and responding to food allergies and anaphylaxis. Sponsors described the bill as a response to the death of Elijah, whose daycare did not administer epinephrine quickly enough after a food exposure. Witnesses in support, including a parent and food allergy advocate, said the measure would improve preparedness and save lives. Committee members asked about whether the bill should use broader epinephrine terminology, whether the requirements could also be handled through child care licensing rules, and whether the bill was already included in a larger measure. No opposition was presented, and the hearing on those bills was closed. The committee then heard House Bill 1965, which would require insurers to reimburse athletic trainers for covered services and add athletic trainers to the practitioner definition for billing purposes. The sponsor and athletic training witnesses said the bill would recognize athletic trainers as licensed health care providers, improve access in rural and underserved areas, and allow reimbursement when trainers work in clinics, hospitals, or other non-school settings. Committee members raised repeated questions about the difference between athletic trainers and physical therapists, whether school-based services were already paid through contracts, whether the bill would increase costs or create double payment, and how diagnosis and billing would work under the current scope of practice. Opponents from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City and the Missouri Insurance Coalition argued the bill would create a mandate, increase costs, and expand billing before clarifying the underlying scope of practice. No vote was taken in public hearing. The committee then moved into executive session and voted several bills do pass. A substitute was adopted for House Bill 1826 and the committee substitute for House Bills 1826, 2560, 2349, and 2194 passed 17-0. House Bill 1783 also passed 17-0. House Bill 2372, which incorporated multiple related provisions including changes to epinephrine terminology and other committee items, passed 17-1 after a substitute and amendment were adopted. House Bill 1827, the occupational therapy bill related to disabled placards and license plates, passed 18-0. The committee then returned to public hearing and heard House Bills 1941 and 2279, which would prohibit copay accumulator programs for fully insured plans so that third-party assistance counts toward a patient’s deductible and out-of-pocket maximum. Sponsors and a rheumatologist testified that the bills would prevent patients with serious illnesses from being forced to pay the same deductible twice and said similar laws have been enacted in many other states. Opponents from America’s Health Insurance Plans argued the measure would affect only a minority of plans, raise costs in the individual and small-group market, and could worsen affordability for remaining enrollees. The hearing ended without a vote on those bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> values or with State training values or with State training requirements<00:03:17.040><c> um</c>
• </c><00:03:46.400><c> materials</c> and supervisor core training materials and supervisor core training
• </c><00:03:50.599><c> in</c> came to be included in the training in came to be included in the training
• </c> people have train that had been trained people have train that had been trained under<00:08:20.879
• </c><00:14:59.040><c> training</c> paradigm in which uh a train training paradigm in which uh a train

Bills: HF10

Committee: House State Government Finance and Policy

Keywords: undocumented immigrants, state funding, MinnesotaCare, scholarship ineligibility, state assistance

Transcript Highlights:

• We do have some training.
• And we have extensive training.
• .ethics training.
• And regarding the training, who would be providing the training?
• You will not find that in an ethics training; you'll find that mostly in a fiscal financial training

Committee: House Local Government

Summary: The committee began with housekeeping and then took up SB 753 by Senator Cortese, a bill to update California’s shopping cart recovery law. The author and supporters from San Jose, the League of California Cities, counties, and water districts argued the bill would let local governments retrieve abandoned carts immediately, return them directly to retailers, and recover documented costs, rather than storing carts for 30 days. Retail groups and grocers opposed the measure, saying carts are stolen property, that the bill could create a new revenue stream for cities, and that retailers should retain a first right of retrieval without added fees. Members debated notice periods, cost caps, and local control, and the author agreed to continue working on amendments. The committee adopted the bill as amended and passed it 6-0. The committee then heard SB 445 by Senator Wiener, which would speed up third-party permits and approvals for high-speed rail projects. The author said the bill was narrowed from an earlier broader transit proposal and now focuses on requiring early engagement, clear rules, and binding arbitration to prevent utilities, cities, and other entities from delaying a state-approved project. Supporters said permitting delays add major costs and can hold projects hostage; opponents from utilities, cities, counties, telecoms, and special districts said they were concerned about impacts on safety, reliability, affordability, and local authority, though many said they were willing to keep working on amendments. The committee sent SB 445 to the Utilities and Energy Committee on an 8-1 vote. Finally, the committee heard SB 9 by Senator Wiener, a narrower housing bill dealing with accessory dwelling units. The bill would require local ADU ordinances to be submitted to HCD for review and would make state standards apply if a local agency fails to submit a compliant ordinance or respond to HCD findings within the required time. Supporters from housing and YIMBY groups said the measure would improve enforcement of state ADU law and prevent local barriers from slowing housing production. There was no opposition testimony, and the committee passed the bill 6-0.

Transcript Highlights:

• And what about training? What impact did the staff training have on the system?
• Training came up in a few ways.
• Training came up in a few ways.
• The training didn't stop there.
• </c><01:11:07.840><c> and</c><01:11:08.000><c> how</c> training and the other trainings and how training

Transcript Highlights:

• and determine what kind of training is necessary to be able to... ...of training is necessary to be
• We all get to train.
• I agree with training.
• It requires employers to pay workers for all training time and cover training costs themselves.
• , including live-fire training.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, offered prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and then moved through confirmations and floor legislation. Three California Housing Finance Agency and State Mining and Geology Board appointments were confirmed unanimously. The chamber then took up several policy bills, with debate often focusing on housing, public safety, energy, and local government impacts. Among the major measures, SB 1173 on lesser related offense jury instructions passed after supporters argued it would give judges limited discretion and improve fairness, while opponents warned it could create inconsistency. SB 1354, barring out-of-state military or law enforcement activity in California without the Governor’s permission, passed despite objections that it conflicted with federal commander-in-chief authority. SB 1090, the Altadena disaster-speculation bill, passed to restrict unsolicited purchase offers in fire-affected areas, and SB 966 passed to preserve refinery worker safety participation rights. SB 1256, a local housing/land-use bill, passed unanimously after discussion of fire-safety concerns and ongoing amendments. The Senate also approved SB 865 on music festivals, SB 866 on homelessness planning and regional coordination for jurisdictions not receiving HAP funds, SB 938 on peace officer training requirements for certain immigration-enforcement-related applicants after the author committed to major amendments, SB 1359 on natural gas planning to reduce ratepayer costs, SB 923 on privacy rights under the CCPA, SB 1098 on utility memorandum and balancing accounts, SB 1010 on refrigerant recovery for cooling appliances, SB 937 on restricting flashbang use in crowd control and immigration enforcement, SB 1082 on inter-district pupil transfers, and SB 1087 on modernizing regional transportation planning. Several bills drew split votes and pointed debate over mandates, taxes, local control, and regulatory certainty, but most ultimately passed.

Transcript Highlights:

• He then asked whether the witness was a director of training or of education and training.
• He then asked whether the witness is a director of training or of education and training.
• He asked the witness whether he is a director of training or of education and training.
• I got my training I was a volunteer and I got my training I was a volunteer and then<00:58:41.359><c>
• </c><01:02:13.680><c> work</c><01:02:13.920><c> like</c> trained so training people to work like trained

Committee: House Health Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• We talked a lot about training.
• and orientation and then periodic training as well as ongoing training, right?
• and orientation and then periodic training as well as ongoing training, right?
• There are variations of required training versus optional training.
• There are variations of required training versus optional training.

Committee: Joint Legislative Procedure and Arrangements Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• training.
• experts are doing that training.
• , what funding is out there for the training, what providers exist in the area for the training.
• , what funding is out there for the training, what providers exist in the area for the training. what
• funding is out there for the training, what providers exist in the area for the training.

Committee: Senate Labor & Industrial Relations

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a proven training system.
• </c> training. And so they swear by this. training. And so they swear by this.
• </c> per year through that training process. per year through that training process.
• </c> the best principal leadership training the best principal leadership training program<00:19:48.320
• </c><00:25:55.440><c> and</c> focus and substance and training and focus and substance and training and

Transcript Highlights:

• Guardian ad litems trained prior to 2018 may not have had strong training on domestic violence or culture
• They still might not have ongoing training.
• So while guardian ad litem training has improved, recent GALs are receiving more training on bias and
• at the GAL training.
• than just three days, but ongoing training.

Committee: House Civil Rights & Judiciary

Summary: The work session began with testimony on expanding opportunities in the legal profession, especially in response to rural attorney shortages and public service recruitment. Washington State Bar Association Executive Director Tara Nevitt described a growing but aging attorney workforce, noted that younger attorneys have declined, and outlined efforts including supervised practice as an alternative to the bar exam, reduced admission-by-motion experience requirements, expansion of the law clerk program, rural job fairs and grants, and a pilot program for innovative legal service delivery. Members asked about bar passage standards, loan repayment assistance, and the former limited license legal technician program. Representatives from the University of Washington, Seattle University, and Gonzaga discussed law school pipelines into public service and rural practice. They described early outreach to students, loan repayment assistance and scholarships, public service stipends, clinics and externships, and partnerships that place students in government, nonprofit, prosecution, and defense roles. Seattle University highlighted its Flex JD and hybrid hub model in rural communities; Gonzaga presented data showing many graduates remain in Washington and enter public interest work; and UW emphasized that unpaid internships and debt remain barriers. The Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys and the Office of Public Defense both testified that prosecutor and defender vacancies are severe in rural counties, and that salary, hiring bonuses, housing support, internships, and loan repayment programs are important tools. The Office of Public Defense said its new recruitment and retention program, funded by SB 5780, has already placed interns in underserved counties and helped some commit to future jobs there. The Washington State Bar’s law clerk program was also described as a pathway that helps people train and remain in their home communities. The committee then shifted to family law, guardians, and guardianships. On guardian ad litem practice in Title 26 cases, Northwest Justice Project and private family law practitioners said training has improved since 2018, but concerns remain about inconsistent investigations, bias, inadequate domestic violence training, lack of oversight, high costs, and uneven county practices. They suggested more robust training, better accountability, and possible use of mental health professionals for custody evaluations. For minor guardianships under the Uniform Guardianship Act, a Superior Court judge said filings have increased and courts struggle to find qualified attorneys and court visitors, while the Administrative Office of the Courts said its $3 million annual reimbursement program for local courts is running out earlier each year and that minor guardianship costs make up most of the spending. The Office of Public Guardianship reported rising demand for adult guardianship services, noting that recent legislation expanded its caseload capacity and added a navigator role, but that referrals and active cases continue to grow statewide.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> training. There are no support services. training. There are no support services.
• </c> and and MDE about you skills training and and MDE about you skills training and<00:35:57.160><c>
• investing in training.
• ><c> training.
• </c><00:41:57.599><c> Uh</c> constantly investing in training. Uh constantly investing in training.

Bills: HF2440

Committee: House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Keywords: labor market, employment, economic development, funding, data analysis

Transcript Highlights:

• The third section is about staffing and staff training.
• All JR employees must attend an orientation training.
• completed their five-week core training.
• Yeah, I can speak to the training. Yeah, I can speak to the training piece.
• So staff have taken this six-week orientation training that included training on these things that are

Summary: The committee met on July 15, 2026, but initially lacked a quorum, so it could not adopt prior minutes. Chair Jerry Pollett welcomed new member Senator Victoria Hunt and new JLARC staff, and noted national recognition for recent JLARC reports. The meeting then moved into a series of preliminary audit presentations and an agency strategic management update, with committee members asking questions after each item. JLARC presented a preliminary audit of DCYF’s Juvenile Rehabilitation programs. Staff concluded that crowding, staffing shortages, weak risk assessments, and inconsistent programming combine to create unsafe conditions. The report found that most youth are housed in two large secure facilities operating near or above capacity, incidents rise as population rises, 47% of frontline staff leave within a year, current assessment tools are not valid for the population, and program access depends more on facility than individual need. JLARC made one recommendation to the legislature to address crowding and seven to DCYF, including improving retention, training, incident response procedures, validated assessments, program alignment, and data quality. DCYF Secretary Ross Hunter said the agency agreed overcrowding is a serious problem, described ongoing efforts to improve staffing and safety, and said a detailed response would be provided later. Committee members raised concerns about education access, retaliation against staff or youth who participated in the audit, and whether JR-25 has helped or worsened conditions. JLARC then presented a preliminary audit of Labor and Industries’ enforcement of farm worker labor laws. The audit found that L&I generally meets inspection timelines for health and safety complaints, but not for wage and hour or retaliation complaints, where delays are driven largely by time before assignment to an investigator. Staff said complaint volume exceeds capacity, though the agency has added staff, created screening processes, and reorganized workloads, and 2026 legislation now allows prioritization of complaints and broader investigations. JLARC recommended that L&I report back in December 2026 and December 2027 on backlog reduction and implementation of the new law. An L&I representative said the agency is hiring additional staff and will provide a formal response later. The committee also received a JLARC overview and Department of Health strategic management plan update on hospital data reporting, inspections, complaints, and adverse event reporting. DOH reported measurable progress on inspection compliance, new staffing and licensing systems, translated complaint forms, and plans for future work on language access, adverse event reporting, and financial data dashboards. After lunch, JLARC began its 2026 tax preference performance reviews. The first review covered the Main Street tax credit, which JLARC said has helped increase the number of Main Street communities and businesses, with positive growth near designated districts; JLARC recommended continuing the preference and improving business-count data. The second review covered the equitable access to credit program, which JLARC said appears to support underserved communities by funding loans through CDFIs; JLARC recommended continuing the preference beyond its 2027 expiration. The committee began questions on the program mechanics and the role of the Community Reinvestment Act, and the presentation was still underway when the transcript ended.