Transcript Highlights:

• We desperately need nurses and nursing assistants.
• We desperately need nurses and nursing assistants.
• And nursing is one way we think we could help address the nursing issue.
• ; reading literacy and how to bring that into the home.
• Well, there's a salary tied to that, but I want to become a nurse.

Summary: The Senate Rules Committee approved several governor’s appointments not required to appear, including Dorka Keene to the California Arts Council, Luciana Profaca to the Commission on Disabilities, Sarah Han Shapiro to the Commission on Disability Access, Robin Umberg and Veronica Zoror to the California Veterans Board, and Daniel Curtin to the California Water Commission. Two appointments to the State Park and Recreation Commission, Phil Ginsburg and Francesca Viter, were approved on split votes of 3-2. The committee also unanimously approved a motion to refer bills to committees. The committee then heard testimony from three appointees to the California Community Colleges Board of Governors: Jesse Melgar, Tom Epstein, and Joseph Williams. They emphasized student success, affordability, workforce alignment, dual enrollment, basic needs support, housing, and adapting to AI. Members questioned them about financial aid and ghost-student fraud, regional career technical education needs, enrollment declines, standardized testing and AB 705, community college baccalaureate degrees, and the new career passport initiative. Public commenters strongly supported the nominees, and the committee voted 5-0 to send all three appointments to the full Senate for confirmation. Finally, the committee heard from Mark Beckley, nominated as Chief Deputy Director for Operations at the Department of State Hospitals. He described his background in state operations and said his priorities would include recruitment and retention, improving treatment through a new electronic health record system, maintaining aging facilities, and supporting community providers. Senators asked about high vacancy rates at state hospitals, especially Atascadero and Patton, and about coordination with law enforcement oversight on patient deaths and safety trends. The committee voted 5-0 to advance his appointment to the full Senate for confirmation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Now let's bring this home to Missouri.
• But what I can tell you is that in 1994, when my husband came home, he didn't come all the way home.
• My husband came home, but he didn't come all the way home.
• Were you aware that we had a nursing shortage in Missouri? I'm aware.
• while we have a nursing shortage in the state of Missouri?

Summary: The House first established a quorum after a quorum call and welcomed special guests, including the Freedom of the Road motorcycle riders and students from Warsaw High School. It then took up House Committee Substitute for House Bill 1855, a reporting bill on Alpha-Gal syndrome. The bill sponsor described the condition as a serious tick-borne allergy that has affected his family and many Missourians, arguing that Missouri needs mandatory reporting and surveillance data to identify hotspots, guide public health outreach, and support research and funding. Supporters from both parties said the bill would improve awareness and data collection, while one member raised concerns about the fiscal note and whether the state would get useful information for the cost. The chamber adopted Amendment 1 to HB 1855, changing the follow-up language from “may” to “shall,” but rejected Amendment 2, which would have required patient consent before lab results were reported into the surveillance system. Opponents of the consent amendment said it would undermine disease surveillance and set a bad precedent for other reportable conditions; supporters argued for privacy and individual choice. After debate, the House adopted the committee substitute as amended and ordered it perfected and printed. The House then considered House Committee Substitute for House Bills 2230 and 2978, a K-5 education measure addressing screen time, cursive, and handwriting. The sponsor said the bill responds to research and parent/teacher concerns about excessive screen use, poor literacy outcomes, and mental health effects, and would create a state focus group to review evidence and make recommendations while leaving districts flexibility. Members discussed carve-outs for special education, English language learners, and virtual school, and adopted an amendment excluding the virtual school program. The House then adopted the substitute as amended and ordered it perfected and printed. Finally, the House took up House Bill 2355, the “Food is Medicine” initiative, which would allow Missouri to use federal funds through 1115 waivers for pilot programs such as medically tailored meals, produce prescriptions, nutrition education, and related supports. Supporters said the program could improve health outcomes, reduce Medicaid spending, and help address food deserts. An amendment adding vitamin therapies and updating a date drew discussion over supplement safety and regulation, but the transcript cuts off before a final vote on that amendment or the bill itself.

Transcript Highlights:

• We do also have a reverse scenario, which is that we have a finite number of nursing home bed licenses
• </c><01:04:04.319><c> home</c><01:04:04.720><c> bed</c> finite number of nursing home bed finite number
• of nursing home bed licenses.<01:04:06.079><c> So</c><01:04:06.400><c> there</c><01:04:06.559><c> are
• </c> for instance um the Tilton Veterans Home for instance um the Tilton Veterans Home will<01:18:38.080
• of staff, I think it's something like nationally 44% of nursing homes are short staffed. >> 66% of them

Summary: The committee first handled routine business, including roll call and approval of the prior meeting minutes, with one member abstaining because of absence and one member opposing. The main informational items were a Department of Health and Human Services update on the rural health transformation grant and a public health briefing on vaccines, followed by a quarterly budget and staffing update and an annual report from the Permanent Subcommittee on Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Related Dementias. Commissioner Lori Weaver reported that the department submitted the rural health transformation grant application on November 4, described it as reflecting input from communities and providers statewide, and said CMS review and budget negotiations would follow before final approval on December 31. She said the grant could support hiring as long as administrative costs stay within the 10% cap, and that the governor’s office will oversee administration with HHS. Ian Watt then testified that New Hampshire remains committed to vaccine access, including through the universal purchase program and annual respiratory virus guidance for flu, RSV, and COVID-19. He said the state continues to use evidence-based review for vaccine policy, noted the CDC’s change regarding the combined MMRV vaccine for the first dose in young children, and said New Hampshire’s school vaccine mandates remain at nine for schoolchildren and 10 for child care, with statutory exemptions still in place. Department staff also said there have been no supply or funding problems affecting childhood vaccine access. Nathan White, the department’s CFO, reviewed the DHHS budget and vacancy trends. He said DHHS makes up a large share of the state budget, that about 31% of its budget is general funds subject to lapse, and that lapse projections are difficult because much of the budget is driven by utilization rather than personnel. He reported current projected general fund lapse of just under $20 million, compared with about $39 million in the statewide surplus statement, and explained that only about a third of DHHS general funds can actually lapse because of statutory restrictions. He also said the department has about 400 unfunded positions, contributing to roughly a $30 million general fund reduction across the biennium, and that the hiring freeze has pushed vacancy trends upward while critical direct-care positions are being prioritized. The Alzheimer’s subcommittee reported six meetings this year, presentations on state services, silver alerts, brain health awareness, and palliative/hospice care, and work toward a new state Alzheimer’s plan. The subcommittee is developing a needs-assessment survey for people living with dementia, caregivers, and service providers, with the goal of using the results and other data sources to inform the plan. Its recommendations focus on integrating Alzheimer’s and dementia materials into chronic disease and aging outreach, embedding brain health into systems of care, adding cognitive health measures to BRFSS, and continuing partnerships with statewide organizations. Members also discussed recent research and prevention efforts, and the committee noted that a separate bill is being pursued to include Alzheimer’s and dementia in existing public health awareness campaigns.

Transcript Highlights:

• homes and a Republican appointee; Bruce Odin of Loveland, Colorado, to serve as a member with expertise
• in nursing home operations and experience in multifacility management of nursing homes and a Republican
• </c> multifacility management of nursing multifacility management of nursing homes<00:23:20.320><c> and
• </c> homes and a Republican appointed. Mr. homes and a Republican appointed. Mr.
• </c> get families into affordable home get families into affordable home ownership<00:31:07.200><c> opportunities

Transcript Highlights:

• This is home.
• You'll hear from one of our school nurses next.
• I would maybe ask the school nurse who's testified next that as well.
• I would ask that you ask the school nurse next. Yes, thank you. Thank you.
• I am a school nurse in the Wenatchee School District and am here representing the School Nurse Organization

Summary: The House Education Committee heard several bills related to special education records, artificial intelligence in schools, financial aid access, educator preparation, school health, and student mobile device use. Substitute Senate Bill 6268 would require OSPI to keep an online public record of final special education community complaint decisions for 20 years; the sponsor and several parents, attorneys, and open-government advocates said the records help families, schools, and researchers understand past decisions and remedies, while no one testified in opposition. Substitute Senate Bill 5956 would limit school use of automated decision systems, school surveillance technology, biometric data, and facial recognition in student discipline and safety contexts; the sponsor and supporters said it would prevent harmful false positives and discriminatory impacts, while an industry witness warned the bill could unintentionally reduce school safety by limiting emergency facial-recognition uses. Committee discussion focused on the bill’s scope, especially whether it affects classroom grading or only discipline-related decisions, and staff noted the bill does not require teacher training. The committee also heard Substitute Senate Bill 5841, which would add financial-aid application data to the High School and Beyond Plan platform and require students to receive information about the Washington Opportunity Scholarship Program. The sponsor said the bill would make aid status more transparent and easier to track, especially for families facing language or access barriers, and a student advocate testified in support; a committee member raised concerns about privacy for immigrant and DACA students, and the sponsor said the portal would be opt-in and guided by privacy protections. Senate Bill 6278 would codify and update Professional Educator Standards Board review of teacher and principal preparation programs, including program standards, educator role standards, evidence, and input from P-12 partners, while allowing field placement plans to be submitted on a less frequent schedule; PESB staff said the bill largely reflects current practice and adds flexibility. Substitute Senate Bill 5240 would expand who may administer epinephrine in schools and allow use of any available epinephrine when a student with a prescription on file has anaphylaxis; school nurses supported broader access to stock epinephrine but warned against using one student’s medication for another and raised legal and ethical concerns, while the sponsor emphasized faster response in emergencies. Finally, Substitute Senate Bill 5346 would direct OSPI to study and report on school mobile-device restrictions and update digital citizenship resources to include research and best practices on student phone use. Staff said OSPI already has some guidance, but the bill would create formal legislative reports and expand the state’s digital citizenship materials. The committee began taking testimony on that bill as the hearing time ran short, and the chair noted there were ten people signed in to testify.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> close to home. close to home. Thank<00:18:23.760><c> you.</c> Thank you. Thank you.
• We're the only nursing home, and we're the only transferring ambulance service in Cook County.
• home, home health care, clinic services, and pharmacy access in our community.
• I want to thank Representative Dave Baker who has... services, nursing home, home health services, nursing
• ,</c><00:27:07.840><c> nursing</c><00:27:08.240><c> assistants,</c> supporting nurses, nursing assistants

Summary: House File 369 was the main topic, with House authors Rep. Natalie Zeleznikar, Rep. Robert Bierman, and Rep. Dave Baker arguing that the bill would give Minnesota’s 2024 340B law “teeth” by enforcing protections for nonprofit and rural hospitals’ access to the federal drug pricing program. They said the measure costs the state nothing, aligns with similar laws in more than 20 other states, and is needed before adjournment to help hospitals close funding gaps, support services like emergency care, obstetrics, behavioral health, and pharmacy access, and preserve care in remote communities. Several hospital leaders from across greater Minnesota testified that 340B revenue helps keep their facilities viable and that losing it would threaten services and, in some cases, hospital survival. Witnesses described severe financial pressure on rural hospitals, including reimbursement cuts, workforce shortages, inflation, and rising drug costs. Leaders from United Hospital District in Blue Earth, Lakewood Health System in Staples, Ely-Bloomenson Community Hospital, Northshore Health in Grand Marais, Community Memorial Hospital in Cloquet, and Cuyuna Regional Medical Center in Crosby said their hospitals serve as safety-net providers and often operate with thin or negative margins. They emphasized long travel times to other hospitals, seasonal tourism pressures in some areas, and the importance of local emergency, ambulance, inpatient, and specialty services. The Minnesota Hospital Association president also criticized pharmaceutical company messaging and said nonprofit hospitals are working around the clock to maintain access. In response to questions, Zeleznikar said she had considered other enforcement approaches but now supported using the original Senate-passed bill, citing concerns about fraud and the difficulty of alternative enforcement mechanisms. She and hospital leaders distinguished this bill from a separate hospital stabilization-grant proposal, saying both are needed but serve different purposes. No vote was taken at the meeting, and the speakers repeatedly urged House leadership to bring the bill to the floor before session ends.

Transcript Highlights:

• homes, it's also community health centers.
• There's never any downtime for nurses in an ER department.
• Our home care programs provide vital in-home services that support individuals to stay in their homes
• in it who would otherwise be in nursing homes.
• with more supports at home.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• We're going to have a virtual Nurses Day, so can we give nurses a round of applause?
• So, thank you, nurse, for a lot of things. And we have a nurse, Representative Jones.
• Thank you, nurses.
• I'm the lead nurse for Santa Fe Public Schools and I'm here to represent the New Mexico School Nurses
• My home is in Gallup.

Committee: House House Health & Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• Bernalillo has been my home since I immigrated to this country, so the welcoming, the sense of home,
• Bernalillo has been my home since I immigrated to this country, so the welcoming, the sense of home,
• or a home health aide or a physician.
• So that is great to hear because Interestingly, my mom was a nurse and went to nursing school, and that
• to become a nurse midwife or a certified nurse practitioner.

Bills: HB111 , HB103 , HB109 , HB128 , HJM2 , HJM3 , HM7 , HM17 , HM4 , HM22 , HM23 , HM24 , HM26 , HM2 , HM16 , HM11 , HM14 , HM21 , HM34 , HM50 , HB49 , HB60 , HB108 , HB120 , HB124 , HB145 , HB154 , HB158 , HB164 , HB180 , HB291 , HJR6 , HJR7 , HR1 , HJM1 , HM13 , HM47

Keywords: water law, state engineer, civil penalty, compliance order, water rights, overdiversion, illegal diversion, groundwater storage and recovery, well license, permit violation, water enforcement, New Mexico water code, irrigation district, conservancy district, water diversion, unauthorized water sales, measuring device, district court appeal, water resources, water compliance

Transcript Highlights:

• medication aides to administer medications to nursing home residents.
• And I've seen the result being a hospital RN and seeing patients come from nursing homes.
• But she was in a nursing home for two days and she died from an overdose.
• I can't take care of her at home anymore. Can you help me find a good nursing home for her?'
• So she ended up in a nursing home. My brother-in-law's father is staying home.

Transcript Highlights:

• AB 583 will authorize nurse practitioners to sign death certificates.
• Centers, and Christy Weiss on behalf of the California Association of Nurse Practitioners.
• I know I am only one nurse practitioner out of thousands.
• It gives nurse practitioners the ability to sign death certificates.
• Among these are unregulated, unlicensed sober living homes, transitional housing, group homes, and others

Committee: House Health

Summary: The Assembly Health Committee heard and advanced a series of health-related bills. Early items included AB 583, which would allow nurse practitioners to sign death certificates; AB 492, requiring DHCS to notify local governments when new alcohol or drug recovery treatment facilities are licensed; and AB 280, which would require health plans to improve the accuracy of provider directories through annual verification, enforceable benchmarks, and penalties. Supporters for AB 280 described serious access problems caused by inaccurate “ghost networks,” while health plans and insurers opposed the bill as placing too much responsibility on plans without enough provider participation. AB 636, expanding Medi-Cal coverage for medically necessary diapers for children, also moved forward with support from food banks and anti-poverty advocates. AB 1041, streamlining physician credentialing with a uniform form and deadlines, and AB 787, requiring health plans to help members find in-network providers more quickly, likewise passed out of committee. The committee also approved AB 4, which would allow income-eligible Californians regardless of immigration status to buy coverage through Covered California, and AB 29, which would authorize community health workers and doulas to receive Medi-Cal reimbursement for ACEs screenings. Both bills drew broad support from immigrant-rights, health access, and community-based organizations. AB 416, allowing emergency physicians to place 5150 holds in certain circumstances, passed after supporters argued it would reduce emergency department bottlenecks and opponents warned it could increase unnecessary involuntary hospitalization and transfers to locked psychiatric facilities. Members raised questions about county oversight and training, but the bill advanced on a unanimous vote. Finally, AB 460, modernizing radiology supervision rules to allow real-time remote physician supervision for contrast administration with on-site staff available for emergencies, was approved with no opposition. Across the hearing, committee members repeatedly emphasized access to care, administrative simplification, and consumer transparency, while opponents generally raised concerns about implementation, provider participation, oversight, and unintended consequences. Most measures were reported out on party-line or near-unanimous votes and sent to Appropriations or Judiciary as noted.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:01:29.720><c> home</c><01:01:29.880><c> is</c> is whether or not this nursing home is is whether
• would otherwise need nursing home care if they didn't get services through PACE or other settings.
• would otherwise need nursing home care if they didn't get services through PACE or other settings.
• </c><01:22:58.679><c> stays</c> home and avoid Nursing Facility stays home and avoid Nursing Facility
• </c><01:40:37.000><c> home</c> and and eventually nursing home and and eventually nursing home placement

Committee: Senate Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• of nursing homes, which is a much higher cost of service.
• is use that to do a nursing home staffing campaign to help those nursing homes then attract more staff
• Your note here, campaigns design increased number of nurses working in homes.
• homes. more workers and increase the workforce for those nursing homes.
• Your note here, campaigns design increased number of nurses working in homes.

Committee: House Budget

Transcript Highlights:

• One that leads to meaningful employment and helps Floridians bill lasting careers right here at home,
• students on the in clicks, licensure exam, rewarding excellence in nursing education.
• nursing shortages for every dollar.
• I probably over the last couple years been more focused on the nursing shortage in Florida.
• I know that we've done a great job as a state to help build our nursing workforce.

Transcript Highlights:

• > nursing home can create a nursing home can create a multi-generational<00:20:09.360><c> Child</c><00
• They wanted to figure out a way to turn parts of the nursing home into a child care facility.
• They are in the nursing home business.
• They wanted to figure out a way to turn parts of the nursing home into a child care facility.
• They are in the nursing home business.

Committee: Senate Jobs and Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:

• As you know, I am a nurse and when I became a legislator in… In 2006, I, like most legislators, began
• The nursing industry is facing severe workforce shortages.
• any of the 120 languages spoken at home.
• They speak a language other than English at home, and then there's a series of assessments.
• So in the home, they may speak another language other than English.

Bills: HB295 , HB824 , HB1579 , HB1581 , HB2189 , HB295

Committee: House S/C on Academic & Career-Oriented Education

Keywords: bullying, antisemitism, school policies, school discipline, education, education policy, Texas Education Code, hate speech, student rights, civics education, high school curriculum, government, voting process, elected officials, Texas Seal of Biliteracy, biliteracy, bilingual education, multilingual, language proficiency, high school diploma

Transcript Highlights:

• Introduction of Doctor and or Nurse of the Day. Correction of previous day's journal.
• Please recognize Representative Kane to present the Nurse of the Day.
• It is my distinct honor to recognize our Nurse of the Day, Mary Utsler.
• of roles, from bedside care and surgical nursing to public health leadership.
• There, she teaches introduction to nursing and community nursing while also leading students in SMART

Bills: HB1411 , HB3143 , HB3144 , HB3901 , HCR1019 , HB3981 , HB4248 , HB3194 , HB3849 , HB4095 , HB4302 , HB3342 , HB3344 , HB3287 , HB3645 , HB3647 , HB3930 , HB3931 , HB1818 , HB4454 , HB4336

Summary: The House convened, completed the roll call, prayer, and Pledge of Allegiance, and then took up several second- and third-reading items. Senate Bill 392 was assigned to Administrative Rules. Members also heard personal privileges and introductions, including a remembrance request for Oakland Ray Domer, recognition of a long-serving House staff member, and introductions of guests from Eastern Oklahoma State College, Associated Builders and Contractors of Oklahoma, the Doctor of the Day, and the Nurse of the Day. The chamber passed several measures. House Bill 1411 created a True Grit Trail for tourism, with supporters saying signage would be privately funded and installed at no cost to the state; it passed 92-0. House Bill 3143 extended the moratorium on new medical marijuana grow licensing to August 1, 2028, with supporters arguing it would help curb oversupply and black market activity; it passed 82-8. House Bill 3144, also related to medical marijuana, set a cap framework for when the moratorium ends so the industry would not return to rapid expansion; it passed 82-15. House Bill 3901 established a five-year pilot project for psychological autopsies within the State Department of Health to improve suicide prevention, but members raised concerns about privacy, rulemaking, and the bill’s breadth; it passed 73-24. House Concurrent Resolution 1019 supported naming a planned turnpike segment the Toby Keith Expressway in honor of the late singer’s music career, patriotism, charity work, and support for Oklahoma communities. House Bill 3981 created a locality incentive program for assistant district attorneys in areas of need and passed 83-11. The House then adjourned until February 26, 2026, at 9:30 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• We were collaborating with State Health nurses were in our home.
• <00:38:28.560><c> um</c><00:38:29.280><c> four</c><00:38:29.760><c> other</c> nurses were in our home
• um four other nurses were in our home um four other homes<00:38:30.920><c> started</c><00:38:31.520>
• </c> the home setting for the maternity homes the home setting for the maternity homes to<00:49:12.839
• home.

Committee: House Health Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Pugh, you were recognized to introduce our nurse of the day. Thank you, Mr. President.
• She's a third-generation nurse, entrepreneur, and health care advocate.
• That's building homes for Oklahomans.
• That's building homes for Oklahomans.
• We're building a workforce to build those homes.

Bills: HB3976 , HB3000 , HB3001 , HB3003 , HB3004 , HB3066 , HB3904 , HB3644 , HB1687 , HB3920 , SR40

Summary: The Senate convened, established a quorum, and opened with prayer. The chamber then recognized several guests and groups, including the Doctor of the Day Dr. Abby Woods, Nurse of the Day Kara de la Pena, and multiple student and community delegations. These included Dominic Matthias of Moore High School for his cross-country accomplishments, Calumet boys baseball and basketball teams for state championships, the Oklahoma Federation of Republican Women, Morris High School’s academic team, the Junior Chamber of Catoosa, Rogers County Leadership Program participants, and Legacy Christian Schools students. The Senate adopted Senate Resolution 40, designating the second week in April as Lung Cancer Action Week in Oklahoma. The resolution was presented in support of the American Lung Association’s efforts to raise awareness, encourage screening, and promote early detection, especially given the low screening rate among high-risk Oklahomans. The resolution passed without opposition, and unanimous consent was granted to make all senators co-authors unless they declined. The chamber also hosted Cherokee Nation Legislative Day. Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. and other Cherokee leaders spoke about the tribe’s history, sovereignty, and major investments in education, housing, health care, workforce development, and economic growth in Oklahoma. Hoskin emphasized the Cherokee Nation’s partnership with the state and urged support for Medicaid expansion, arguing it helps fund health care services and jobs. Later, Senator Weaver offered a personal privilege statement mourning the death of Trooper Vernon Brake in the line of duty, followed by a moment of silence. The only other action was an announcement inviting members to a Sportsman’s Caucus reception. With the clerk’s desk clear, the Senate adopted a motion to adjourn until Thursday, April 9, 2026, at 9:30 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• It was not just for the nursing homes.
• The bulk of the rest of the transfers are our weekly transfers for the nursing home payments.
• It was not just for the nursing homes.
• The bulk of the rest of the transfers are our weekly transfers. just for the nursing homes.
• The bulk of the rest of the transfers are our weekly transfers for the nursing home payments.

Committee: All ALC-PEER

Summary: The committee considered a series of appropriation, fund transfer, and reserve requests across multiple agencies. Section B temporary appropriations included funding for state technology upgrades, personnel management staffing and IT skills assessment, court reporters and interpreters, crime victim claims, juvenile sex offender assessments, radiation lab testing, and higher education workforce grants and credentialing pathways. Additional items covered an ARPA grant for the University of Arkansas Fort Smith LPN program, an IIJA grant for the Oil and Gas Commission’s critical minerals work, a restricted reserve transfer for State Police vehicle purchases, a transfer to the Arkansas Heroes Program, and cash fund requests for the Real Estate Commission’s AV system and HVAC work. Most of these items were approved by voice vote. One budget classification transfer request from the Commissioner of State Lands drew extended questioning and was ultimately not approved. Members questioned the $250,000 transfer to operating expenses tied to the purchase of a West Little Rock office building, the ongoing lease costs at the prior location, and whether the agency had adequately planned for building-related expenses. After discussion, the motion failed, and members told the agency to tighten spending and return if needed. The committee then took up 15 pay plan appropriation requests totaling $25.7 million and approved them after discussion with DFA, DHS, Corrections, and the State Board of Election Commissioners. Members focused heavily on DHS staffing shortages at human development centers, where officials said vacancies and turnover were driven by overtime and burnout rather than pay alone; one member asked DHS to submit a written plan to address the issue. Corrections reported the pay plan had improved hiring and retention. The committee also approved overtime appropriations for Emergency Management and Military. Reports on reserve funds, the Budget Stabilization Trust Fund, tobacco settlement, State Central Services, Education Adequacy, Medicaid Trust, IIJA, and revenue transfer activity were received. The Medicaid Trust Fund report prompted significant concern about February’s $90 million draw; DHS said the month was unusually high because of cash-flow timing and that the fund should end the year with a balance between $150 million and $200 million, while lawmakers noted a second $100 million set-aside is planned for FY27. The final discussion centered on DHS’s state hospital damage claim and reconstruction funding, where members expressed disappointment that insurance reimbursement would likely return only about $1.8 million now and possibly about $97,000 more later, far less than the roughly $5 million initially expected. DHS explained the policy was based on actual cash value and depreciation for old buildings, and said the work would proceed on Unit 3 for secured restoration because it was the most cost-effective option.