Transcript Highlights:

• We integrate so many activities in the town, from youth sports through adulthood.
• and to keep youth needing hospital-level of care.
• I have taught in the private sector, in early intervention in families' homes, and in public schools,
• Every state should provide its most vulnerable youth with exceptional medical care and education.
• We have been historically recognized as leaders in intervention and advocacy, helping drive important

Summary: The special legislative commission on the future of Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital for Children held a hybrid public hearing focused on the hospital’s future, admissions, staffing, infrastructure, and whether the facility should be preserved, expanded, or reimagined. Opening remarks from legislators, commissioners, parents, and union representatives emphasized that Pappas provides a unique combination of medical, rehabilitative, educational, and residential services for children with complex needs, and several speakers argued that the hospital is effectively being depopulated through reduced admissions and ongoing discharges despite public assurances that it remains open. Multiple speakers urged the commission to extend its authorization and continue its work before any closure or major change can occur. Testimony from labor leaders, including AFSCME, SEIU Local 509, and the Massachusetts Nurses Association, described a “silent closure” in practice, with staff reporting confusion about the hospital’s status, declining census numbers, blocked admissions, and uncertainty about the workforce’s future. They called for immediate action to stop admission denials and unnecessary discharges, and some proposed short-term solutions such as temporary modular structures to address infrastructure barriers and allow admissions to resume. Parents and former patients testified that Pappas provided life-changing independence, specialized therapy, and campus-based supports that they said could not be replicated elsewhere, and they criticized alternative placements as inadequate. Commissioner Robert Goldstein of the Department of Public Health said the administration supports keeping Pappas open and funded while the commission works, but he argued that admissions must comply with hospital-level-of-care rules and that the campus’s deteriorating infrastructure limits the kinds of children who can safely be served there. He said the department is continuing admissions for appropriate patients, working to expand outreach and services, and exploring long-term options, including broader statewide models of care. Commissioners pressed him on whether discharge status or lack of a clear discharge plan had been used as a barrier to admission, and requested de-identified data on patients recommended for admission but denied. No formal votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Millions of youth, based on 2024 data, are addicted to these products.
• Senate Bill 1698 undermines our commitment to reducing youth e-cigarette and tobacco use.
• Furthermore, effective youth prevention requires a multi-faceted approach.
• We need to focus on evidence-based interventions. Thank you for the opportunity.
• And our youth and other products. It's trending in the right direction; it's dropping.

Bills: SB30 , SB517 , SB1313 , SB1314 , SB1316 , SB1541 , SB1698 , SB1845 , SB1860 , SB2420 , SB2429 , SB 30

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• We knew that we were in a behavioral health tailspin, if you will, where, you know, youth, adults were
• I mean, you provided us this long roadmap of several interventions and fines and agreements.
• I think we can all acknowledge, having lived through the pandemic, the need was huge for our youth that
• So the idea of spending less money to see if the lesser interventions work means, well, somebody in this
• And then you’ll know if the lesser or more, less effective interventions work.

Summary: The Assembly Health Committee held an informational hearing on Kaiser Permanente’s behavioral health care system, focusing on Department of Managed Health Care enforcement actions, Kaiser’s corrective action work plan, and testimony from patients, advocates, and union representatives. DMHC officials reviewed a long history of complaints, surveys, fines, and settlements involving Kaiser’s access to behavioral health services, including deficiencies found in 2012 and 2016, a 2022 non-routine survey, and a 2023 settlement that imposed a $50 million penalty and required $150 million in community investments over five years. DMHC said it continues to monitor Kaiser through quarterly meetings, complaint review, follow-up surveys, and a reimbursement process for members who could not obtain timely in-network care. Committee members pressed DMHC on what “timely access” and continuity of care mean in practice, how virtual care and group therapy fit into the standards, and what triggers a non-routine survey. DMHC said initial behavioral health appointments generally should not take more than two weeks, urgent care should be within days, and follow-up care within 10 days, with out-of-network care required when plans cannot meet standards. Officials also said Kaiser’s initial corrective action work plan lacked detail, but the revised plan was accepted and will be tracked through quarterly reporting and possible additional enforcement if Kaiser fails to comply. The second panel featured testimony from a Kaiser enrollee, a behavioral health policy expert, a Kaiser therapist, and the NUHW president. The enrollee described serious delays and inadequate treatment for his daughter after a suicide attempt, while the therapist and union leader said Kaiser’s behavioral health system is understaffed, relies too heavily on short appointments, group therapy, and webinars, and treats behavioral health as less important than medical-surgical care. They argued Kaiser’s one-appointment-at-a-time scheduling rule and limited treatment time violate parity requirements and harm continuity of care. Several members criticized Kaiser for not appearing at the hearing and said the testimony underscored the need for stronger oversight, clearer metrics, and faster remedies for patients.

Transcript Highlights:

• Change committee membership, including a representative from the Division for Children, Youth and Families
• for example New and policy interventions for example New Hampshire<00:05:31.759><c> birthing</c><00:
• The goal of this committee would not be intervention in any way.
• The goal of this committee would not be intervention in any way.
• The goal of this committee would not be intervention in any way.

Committee: Senate Executive Departments and Administration

Transcript Highlights:

• By targeting the specific products most commonly associated with misuse, the bill aims to reduce youth
• Research from the Yale School of Medicine found that midwives reduce unnecessary intervention. ...with
• Research from the Yale School of Medicine found that midwives reduce unnecessary intervention.
• Research from the Yale School of Medicine found that midwives reduce unnecessary intervention during
• This is my 10th year in the Assembly, and all 10 years—most of those 10 years—I've had bills in the youth

Committee: House Business and Professions

Transcript Highlights:

• shooter, and the cases often arise from the same history of childhood trauma that we see in other youth
• For that reason, it's illogical to close the door on judicial review for this one group of youth.
• evidence-based policies, such as increased oversight of local gun dealers or direct community violence intervention
• evidence-based policies, such as increased oversight of local gun dealers or direct community violence intervention
• sexual violence and sexual harassment awareness, prevention, and education training, bystander intervention

Committee: House Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• crisis, we need a holistic approach that includes prevention, treatment, advocacy... life-saving interventions
• The grandparents raising grandchildren by providing resources and assistance to child advocacy and youth
• The cycle of staging interventions and arranging for admissions to treatment continued.
• Supply-side approaches are important to public safety. but yield little net benefit if demand-side interventions
• end of December, we've committed over 20 million dollars and most of it at this point has went to youth

Committee: Senate Aging (Special) Committee

Keywords: opioid crisis, overdose, naloxone, drug trafficking, law enforcement, treatment, prevention, older adults, Medicaid expansion

Summary: The meeting convened to address the dire opioid crisis affecting communities nationwide, with a particular focus on the alarming rise of opioid use disorder among older adults. Key testimonies highlighted the critical need for a comprehensive approach that encompasses prevention, treatment, and strict law enforcement actions against drug traffickers. Sheriff Dennis Lima from Seminole County outlined successful strategies implemented in Florida, including increased access to naloxone and legislative changes to hold drug dealers accountable for overdoses. Various members expressed a united front on tackling this multifaceted issue, advocating for the expansion of Medicaid and better access to treatment as essential steps to curbing the epidemic.

Transcript Highlights:

• well</c><00:18:57.760><c> as</c><00:18:57.919><c> my</c><00:18:58.080><c> deep</c> advocating for youth
• as well as my deep advocating for youth as well as my deep passion<00:18:58.559><c> for</c><00:18:58.720
• Purpose, supporting other youth to avoid similar struggles.
• </c><01:08:09.920><c> to</c> student support or interventions to student support or interventions to
• So in my school lens, I'm like, 'Oh, that's they're just talking about different types of interventions

Bills: HF630 , HF1435 , HF1607

Committee: House Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• the 15th legislature, its ultimate Vista Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas for Colored Youth
• development supporting local farmers. suppliers, businesses, while also giving back through scholarships, youth
• providers are first responders for many seniors, offering critical safety checks and emergency interventions
• that leverage civic engagement, collaboration of inclusiveness, and innovation such as the Mayor's Youth

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Hampshire division for children youth Hampshire division for children youth and and and families
• who receive Crisis and committed youth who receive Crisis Intervention<00:10:15.600><c> Mental</c><00
• </c><00:34:50.320><c> um</c> youth in particular detained youth um youth in particular detained youth
• The new Youth Services Center is our secure treatment facility for youth in New Hampshire.
• so youth not be youth counselor so youth counselor<01:42:56.639><c> staff</c><01:42:56.960><c> would

Summary: The Division 3 House Finance Committee opened a work session and announced scheduling updates, including a second Medicaid work session on March 5 at 9:00 a.m. and a reminder that recommendations or budget amendments must be moved to the full finance committee by the end of March. Members were told no motions, roll calls, or votes would be taken, and the chair also reviewed upcoming meeting dates and weather-related cancellation procedures. The day’s presentation was a budget work session on the Division for Children, Youth and Families (DCYF), with officials Marie Nunan and Nathan White introducing the agency’s budget materials and mission. DCYF’s presentation focused on its core mandates and recent operational changes. Officials described child protective services, juvenile justice services, and the Sununu Youth Services Center, then highlighted workforce improvements, including reduced vacancy rates for assessment caseworkers, juvenile justice officers, and youth counselors. They attributed the staffing gains to legislative pay raises, mass recruitment posting changes, a more stable and trauma-informed model at SYC, and broader flexibility after prior budget cuts and hiring freezes. Members asked about full-time versus part-time staffing, and DCYF said most positions discussed were full-time, with some harder-to-fill part-time youth counselor roles at SYC. The committee also discussed DCYF’s emphasis on serving families earlier through its Community Navigator hotline referrals and community-based voluntary services, which are intended to connect families to supports before abuse or neglect escalates. Officials said the Community Navigator program had received 807 referrals since August 2023. On juvenile justice, DCYF described its assessment and diversion process and said it had reduced juvenile probation involvement by 30% from 2019 to 2023; members were directed to slide 17 for 2024 data, and officials said the trend continued toward fewer in-home juvenile justice cases. The agency also reported progress in kinship care, saying initial out-of-home placements with kin now occur 74% of the time and that kinship placements are associated with more reunification. Officials said kinship caregivers are being licensed and paid similarly to foster parents, and that the legislature’s kinship law has helped. Finally, DCYF outlined transition-age youth supports, including the HOPE program, Youth Villages LifeSet, and housing vouchers. No votes or formal actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Minnesota or fame program the youth Minnesota or fame program the youth Justice<01:29:06.760><c>
• services such as the Youth Intervention Program, as well as the restorative practices initiative.
• </c> distribution program and then youth distribution program and then youth services<01:36:42.400><c
• c> Intervention</c> services such as the Youth Intervention services such as the Youth Intervention Program
• </c> opportunity by bringing in our youth opportunity by bringing in our youth Justice<01:42:59.080><

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• I have been involved in youth substance misuse prevention efforts for the last four years.
• I have been involved in youth substance misuse prevention efforts for the last four years.
• , would preclude many youth from purchasing alcohol.
• These youth would opt instead for cheaper non-alcoholic beverages.
• These youth would opt instead for cheaper non-alcoholic beverages.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Revenue

Summary: The Joint Committee on Revenue held a hybrid hearing on a large slate of bills related to advertising, economic development, tourism, digital advertising, delivery taxes, and alcohol taxation. The first panel supported H. 3249, which would create a high school trade partnership program linking public schools with private employers, especially in manufacturing, and would offer employers a tax credit for participation. Representative Soder, Uxbridge High School leaders, and others argued the bill would strengthen career pathways, build a skilled workforce, and keep students and jobs in Massachusetts. The committee then heard testimony on H. 3031 and S. 2003 to modernize the Massachusetts Tourism Trust Fund by dedicating an additional share of hotel occupancy tax revenue to tourism promotion. Tourism and hospitality representatives from Cape Cod, Southwick Zoo, and Indian Ranch said the proposal would not raise taxes but would reinvest existing visitor-generated revenue into marketing that supports jobs, local businesses, and municipal tax receipts. A tech-industry coalition opposed several digital advertising tax bills and a delivery tax bill, warning they would raise costs, create uncertainty, and burden consumers, small businesses, and delivery workers. The largest portion of the hearing focused on S. 2029, which would raise the alcohol excise tax by 10 cents per drink and dedicate the revenue to public health programs. Public health experts, advocates, a student prevention leader, and representatives from Jane Doe, Inc. argued the tax would reduce alcohol-related harms, address decades of inflation-driven erosion in the tax, and generate substantial new funding for prevention, treatment, domestic violence services, and community schools. Committee members asked questions about the current tax structure, inflation, and how the proposal compares with neighboring states. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the chair adjourned after public testimony concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• wraparound services for homeless youth.
• Sadly, it can affect our youth as well.
• It's about prevention, intervention, and support for survivors, teen dating violence is a serious and
• The San Francisco Youth Commission, in partnership with Black Women Revolt Against Domestic Violence
• Advocates and youth leaders, including those in San Francisco, who are committed to ending teen dating

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> amongst our youth. amongst our youth.
• Our programming that support youth.
• We were asked to share about youth, but adults take care of youth.
• </c> youth, but adults take care of youth. youth, but adults take care of youth.
• uh youth essentially move at our youth, uh youth essentially move the<01:09:14.560><c> needle</c><01:

Summary: The Make America Healthy Kentucky Task Force met with a quorum, approved the minutes, and then heard a presentation on the state’s “food is medicine” efforts. Chair Funky Fromm opened by describing a recent foot injury from a road hazard and used it to emphasize the importance of infrastructure, nutrition, sleep, and activity as part of a broader wellness culture. The main witnesses were Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture Jonathan Shell, Holly Harris of Appalachian Regional Health Care (ARH), and Jim Muser of the Kentucky Hospital Association. Shell and Harris described a partnership between the Department of Agriculture, the Kentucky Hospital Association, and hospitals such as ARH to connect local farmers with hospital cafeterias, farmers markets, CSA-style subscription food boxes, and medically tailored meals. Harris said ARH serves a large region with 14 hospitals, more than 95 clinics, about 6,700 employees, and 1,300 medical staff, and that the system began by improving employee food options because hospital workers often have limited access to healthy meals during shifts. They reported examples such as a local-protein burger, parking-lot farmers markets, subsidized CSA boxes for employees, and plans for container gardens at some hospitals. The witnesses said the program is intended to improve health outcomes, reduce readmissions, support chronic disease management, and also increase rural prosperity by expanding demand for Kentucky farm products. Shell said more than 40 hospitals had already been onboarded into the food-is-medicine program, with measurable outcomes being studied through pilots such as one at Russell County Hospital. He also noted that some systems, including CHI St. Joseph Health, Taylor Regional, and UK King’s Daughters, have formally embedded food-as-medicine goals into strategic plans. Members and witnesses also discussed barriers, especially the lack of reimbursement, fragmented short-term funding, and regulatory or purchasing hurdles that make it difficult for small farmers to participate. Shell said the goal is to make the model scalable and easier for hospitals and farmers to navigate, while Harris emphasized that ARH has been funding its efforts without reimbursement because of its mission. No votes or formal policy actions were taken beyond approving the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• Without the appropriate interventions and health care, and obviously, Mr.
• The time for intervention is now. We refuse to wait until another tragedy is added to the list.
• The time for intervention is now. We refuse to wait until another tragedy is added to the list.
• The time for intervention is now. We refuse to wait until another tragedy is added to the list.
• And with that, I yield back. >> I now yield to the Intervention is now.

Transcript Highlights:

• He founded the Coach Safely Foundation to make sure that youth coaches have the knowledge they need to
• Senator Edmonds' Coach Safely Act builds on that work by encouraging youth coaches to complete a short
• FMOL has agreed to fund this vital youth coach training program in underserved areas of our state.
• FMOL has agreed to fund this vital training youth coach program in underserved areas of our state.
• I just want you to know my mother coached youth sports for most of her adult life, and I know that she

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, received and accepted multiple resignation notices from members representing Districts 37, 39, 60, 69, 97, and 100, and then recognized the election and qualification of the members-elect who filled those vacancies: Doyle Boudreau, Reese Broussard, Chasity Verrett-Martinez, and Edwin Murray. Each member-elect was sworn in, and the House also appointed committees to notify the Senate and the governor that it was ready to conduct business for the 2026 regular session. The chamber then handled a large number of procedural actions related to prefiled legislation. By motion and without objection, the House suspended rules to refer prefile bills to committee and introduced a broad slate of House bills and resolutions. Topics included the state budget and appropriations, retirement system changes, carbon capture and sequestration, criminal justice and bail, public safety, education, health care, local government matters, transportation, and several memorial or commemorative resolutions. Several resolutions and bills were noted as lying over, and some prefiled bills were withdrawn from the files. The House also received a Senate message that SCR 1 had been adopted, and the resolution was taken up without objection. The chamber then recessed for a joint session with the Senate to hear the governor’s address and a presentation honoring Technical Sergeant Adam W. Brister with the Distinguished Flying Cross. In his remarks, Governor Jeff Landry highlighted his administration’s priorities, including education, tax reform, workforce development, health and nutrition, insurance reform, transportation infrastructure, fiscal discipline, and criminal justice reform, while urging support for his agenda and several related bills and constitutional amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• unnecessary paperwork, saves basically time and money, and continues to support our medically complex youth
• This ensures meaningful engagement of youth voices in shaping policy.
• As amended, the bill also elevates youth voices in shaping policy and addresses liability, insurance,
• And the plan must include evidence-based interventions aligned with instructional best practices in reading
• also directs the State School Board to adopt rules to implement and enforce the screening and intervention

Summary: The committee first confirmed six appointees on a single roll-call vote, then took up a series of bills, many of them on land use, housing, public safety, child welfare, education, and professional licensing. Early debate centered on CS/SB 208, which would require development fees to better reflect review costs and impose objective compatibility findings for residential projects. An amendment folded in additional housing-related provisions, including manufactured housing and a study of urban development boundaries, prompting extended discussion about Miami-Dade’s Everglades protection area and local control. A late-filed rural-boundary amendment was withdrawn. The bill was reported favorably after support from business, housing, and advocacy groups, with some senators voicing district-specific concerns. The committee then approved CS/CS/SB 686 on agricultural enclaves after amendments added conservation easement, wildlife corridor, and critical state concern protections, plus a further Everglades-related amendment. Members discussed balancing smart growth, infrastructure costs, and protecting environmentally sensitive areas. Other land-use and growth bills also advanced, including CS/SB 1434 on infill redevelopment, CS/SB 1138 on qualified contractor pre-application review, and SB 218 limiting the reach of prior hurricane recovery zoning protections in counties not affected by the 2024 storms. SB 1474 on biosolids management was amended to reduce the distance threshold for land application restrictions and delay the effective date, and SB 1708 on veterinary licensure by endorsement removed a three-year recent-practice requirement to address shortages. Several public safety, health, and family-related measures also passed. CS/CS/SB 436 expanded felony battery enhancement to include resisting an officer with violence and certain law-enforcement battery offenses. SB 830 extended public-records protections to county and city administrators and related family information. CS/CS/CS/SB 600 revised bail bond rules, and an amendment preserved the current treatment of charitable bail funds and nonprofits; the committee heard testimony from The Bail Project and others on both sides. CS/SB 914 expanded dry-needling supervision options for occupational therapists, CS/SB 1092 clarified podiatric use of certain cellular/tissue products, and SB 1504 and SB 1718 updated insurance licensing and educator certification pathways. On the education side, CS/CS/SB 7038 made broad postsecondary changes, including tuition waivers, residency clarification, and licensure rules, while CS/SB 186 required seizure-response training and action plans in schools. The committee also advanced multiple child welfare and health bills. CS/CS/CS/SB 560 streamlined psychotropic medication procedures for children in state custody and added youth-voice and insurance-review provisions. CS/CS/CS/SB 902 combined several Department of Health changes, including medical marijuana distance rules, autism microcredential eligibility, a neurofibromatosis grant program, and NICU nutrition information. SB 1002 expanded child welfare definitions to address parental drug abuse and neglect, and SB 1708 eased endorsement licensure for out-of-state veterinarians. Most bills were reported favorably on roll-call votes, with several amendments adopted along the way and limited opposition or abstentions noted on some measures.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:08:04.080><c> from</c> getting a variety of interventions from getting a variety of interventions
• We're looking at six different kinds of interventions that can happen at a high school.
• Now, we're not necessarily looking at interventions on the academic side.
• The first one is information-only interventions.
• The first one is information-only interventions.

Committee: Senate Higher Education

Transcript Highlights:

• This is an amendment to an existing grant to the Northwest Arkansas Crisis Intervention, Inc., Arkansas
• This is with the Division of Youth Services.
• And this is for DYS facilities with youths male and female age 10 to 21 who were educated with treatment
• I don't need somebody to come up, but somebody from Division of Youth Services, wave.
• Division of Youth Services, wave. Let me see who's here. I need to catch you before you...

Committee: All ALC-REVIEW

Summary: The committee reviewed methods of finance for 17 capital projects, including multiple university and agency projects such as UAMS renovations, ASU Jonesboro repairs, UCA track resurfacing, and other campus improvements. One item, the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Food Science Research Center project, was held until Friday so members could receive more detail on the large cost increase from the original estimate; the remaining methods of finance items were approved. Members then reviewed four discretionary grants: a suicide prevention training grant for the Arkansas Crisis Center, an amended youth services grant to Right of Passage, and two Arkansas Catfish Promotion Board grants for catfish marketing. All were approved. In the services contract section, the committee approved a ratification for an Economic Development Commission grant evaluation contract, several construction-related contracts, six intergovernmental contracts, 28 out-of-state contracts, and 16 in-state contracts. Several contracts drew questions. Members asked DHS about cloud hosting for the ARIES eligibility system and about staffing support for the Medicaid backlog, and DHS said the staffing contract is intended to maintain processing capacity and allow for future surges. The Department of Education explained a $12 million tutoring contract for rural districts funded by a federal grant. The Department of Corrections discussed a medical services contract and a separate transitional housing contract, clarifying that the housing item covers five beds only and that the medical contract includes oversight and staffing-ratio penalties. The committee also reviewed large marketing and communications contracts for the Department of Health, DPS, and UAMS, and then accepted the reports before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• The research indicates that therapy interventions, diverting low-risk youth away from incarceration,
• First, a youth is referred to the juvenile justice system.
• With their youth.
• And then those youth, there are some services that can be provided via Zoom, but those youth are having
• The recidivism rate follows youth for two years after release from a secure facility.

Committee: House Courts, Corrections & Justice Committee