Transcript Highlights:

• And New York State must reverse the repeal of the 100-foot rule, which is terrible.
• I know the Senate rules don't speak to this specifically, but the committees in Mason's rules leave it
• We all know that battery storage facilities should not be in dense areas.
• These battery storage facilities burn up to 5,000 degrees. Thank you.
• These battery storage facilities burn up to 5,000 degrees.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Energy and Telecommunications considered a large agenda focused mainly on energy affordability, the CLCPA, utility rates, and renewable energy siting. Senator Mattera and other Republican members argued that the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act has driven up utility bills, harmed reliability, and imposed costs on ratepayers, while Democratic members pushed back that rising costs are also driven by natural gas markets, infrastructure costs, and broader economic factors. Several bills sought to repeal or pause CLCPA-related policies, create a CLCPA task force, impose studies or moratoriums on new energy taxes and fees, and increase transparency around utility surcharges and state energy spending. Supporters framed these measures as ratepayer relief and accountability; opponents said some proposals would undermine clean-energy policy and existing consumer-benefit programs. The committee defeated S.1167, which would have repealed the All Electric Building Act, and S.1173, which would have created a CLCPA task force. It also failed S.5250, a bill to study CLCPA costs and impose a moratorium on new energy taxes, fees, or regulations, and S.7075, which would have prohibited the system benefits charge on utility bills. Several other bills advanced, including S.1236A on virtual access and electronic filing for Public Service Commission proceedings, S.1552 establishing reduced residential rates for low-income electric and natural gas customers, S.2484 directing a study of replacement timeframes for battery storage and renewable facilities, S.2638 on carbon allowance auction proceeds, S.3247 on electric vehicle charging stations, S.3553 requiring utilities to post promotional and educational materials on their websites, S.4571A creating a floating solar incentive education program, S.5518 shifting Public Service Commission funding to legislative appropriation, and S.6412A requiring itemized ratepayer disclosure of surcharges. S.9251, on labor-related legal costs, was referred to the Labor Committee. S.7710, which would have restricted energy storage systems near schools and homes in New York City, failed after concerns and support were debated. The committee adjourned after completing the agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• um that they've made a legal ruling um that they've made a legal ruling where<00:10:02.160> our
• Consequently, we don't even know what the rules are.
• inconsistent licensing enforcement rules inconsistent licensing enforcement rules are<00:43:22.680
• these there's very ambiguous DHS rules these there's very ambiguous DHS rules interpretation<00:
• <00:58:57.720> icfs provider centers nursing facilities icfs provider centers nursing facilities

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The Children and Families Committee met with a quorum, approved the January 21, 2025 minutes, and then focused on child care shortages and the pressures facing family child care providers across Minnesota, especially in Greater Minnesota. Chairing members noted the issue affects both rural and metro areas and introduced testimony from Cindy Cunningham, a St. Paul family child care provider and public policy chair for the State Association for Family Child Care. Cunningham argued that family child care is in crisis despite state investments, saying provider numbers continue to decline and that the system is not working. She raised concerns about food reimbursement tiers, special licenses that may not qualify for the family child care food program, the need for supplemental support for lower-tier programs, and the burden of upfront grant spending and delayed reimbursement. She also said providers receive little financial benefit for their own children in care and described a recent DHS decision affecting supervision of providers’ own children as an example of poor communication. Her broader message was that unclear, inconsistent, and poorly implemented licensing rules are driving providers out of the field. She recommended implementing the Office of the Legislative Auditor’s recommendations, improving DHS communication with both licensors and providers, updating public guidance and training materials, and considering more direct county funding and support for family child care. She also suggested reevaluating support for certified centers and other state-funded programs that she said operate under different standards. Committee members thanked her for the detailed testimony and said they wanted to follow up with her. The committee then moved on to letters and additional testimony from providers around the state, with members emphasizing the goal of identifying specific regulations that are hindering child care startup and continuation.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'll just note that nursing facility and intermediate care facilities for persons with developmental
• and intermediate care facilities for persons with developmental disabilities are facilities, and the
• and treatment facilities and treatment facilities um<00:44:23.000> the<00:44:23.200> most
• Peter facility if they progress in the treatment process. St.
• The Rule 25 changed to direct access about two years ago. Okay, thank you.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee met for an introductory overview of its jurisdiction and staff roles. Nonpartisan House Research and House Fiscal staff explained that they draft bills and amendments, prepare bill summaries and background research, answer legal and fiscal questions, and help track revenue and budget effects. They also distributed a Budget Overview Brief intended to condense the larger budget materials into a more usable format for members. Staff then walked through the Human Services budget and the committee’s areas of responsibility. They described the department structure, noting that DHS oversees administration, compliance, rulemaking, and county support, and that the overall Human Services budget is large, with medical assistance as the dominant program. They also explained recent and upcoming reorganizations: many children and family-related functions are moving to the new Department of Children, Youth, and Families, Direct Care and Treatment is becoming its own agency, and some homelessness-related functions remain at DHS. Staff reviewed how the budget is organized by program and budget activity, the difference between direct appropriations and standing appropriations, and how forecasted programs and “tails” work in the budget process. The presentation also covered Medicaid financing and long-term care. Staff explained the federal-state FMAP match, including Minnesota’s current 51.16% federal match for most Medicaid spending, the CHIP match, and the 90% federal share for the expansion population. For long-term care, they outlined Medical Assistance services for elderly and disabled people, state-funded long-term care supports, and Board on Aging programs. They highlighted the personal care assistance program’s phaseout and replacement by Community First Services and Supports, and reviewed the five home- and community-based waivers. Members asked one question about refugee resettlement funding, specifically whether it covers flights; staff said they would need to follow up on the exact use of the federal funds. No bills were heard, and no formal votes or other committee actions were taken during this meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• facilities. I recommend a yes vote. facilities. I recommend a yes vote.
• The clerk will take the roll. ruling of the speaker. ruling of the speaker.
• is officer under rule House Rule 3.21 is officer under rule House Rule 3.21 is appealed<02:26:03.440
• rule 3.13.3 to which the leaders agreed. rule 3.13.3 to which the leaders agreed.
• rules against that?" rules against that?"

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Cowan had his multiple rulings on school finance litigation to now.
• This year we are receiving about a hundred and... 64,000 facilities funding.
• Thank you for Senate Bill 1750 to narrow the Y. gap in facilities.
• However, our facilities funding only goes so far.
• This is all for maintenance and payments on our current facilities.

Bills: SB451, SB762, SB1490, SB1262, SB1459, SB1750, SB1962, SB2252, SB2253, SB2365

Keywords: instructional materials, public schools, Education Code, adoption, rejected materials, local funds, open educational resources, Texas Education Code, school districts, open enrollment charter schools, funding restrictions, environmental regulation, business compliance, local authority, economic development, state preemption, local control, open education resources, SB 762, Texas public schools

Transcript Highlights:

• for all facilities.
• We're just not paying a facility<01:37:50.719> fee. facility fee. facility fee.
• Was that in rules or in statute?
• the facility. the facility.
• facility fee as the Jesse mentioned. facility fee as the Jesse mentioned.

Bills: HB0003, HB0004

Keywords: pregnancy centers, abortion, pro-life, healthcare, women's rights, state regulation, civil rights, freedom of speech, medical assistance, birthing centers, Medicaid, Wyoming, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• not obtain diialysis at that facility. not obtain diialysis at that facility.
• ambulatory surgical facilities. ambulatory surgical facilities.
• So if they your has made a ruling.
• someone is trying to bring a facility someone is trying to bring a facility into<00:39:07.359>
• So the proposed legislation rule.

Keywords: Public Health and Welfare - Room 216, 3 February, 2026; 3:00 PM, 925, all

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and first took up several bills described as vehicles to keep options open for pending rural health issues, especially the rural health transformation fund and the Greenwood Hospital situation. The chair explained that Greenwood Hospital is struggling financially and operationally, including a Medicaid overpayment dispute in which Medicaid planned to recoup $2 million from a December payment, threatening payroll and continued operation. The committee discussed a proposed committee substitute that would delay recoupment until May 1 and preserve legislative flexibility to help Greenwood if a workable plan emerges. The committee adopted motions for title sufficiency and due pass on the block of bills, including the committee substitute and reverse repealer provisions. The committee then turned to two certificate-of-need bills. One bill, 2474, was presented as a rural hospitals measure that would let certain rural hospitals obtain certificates of need for services such as outpatient dialysis units, ambulatory surgical facilities, and geriatric psychiatric units, with definitions aimed largely at Delta and other rural counties. The chair also included a provision making the state health officer’s licensing decision final and not subject to judicial review, with only a short reconsideration process available. Senator Hill objected, arguing the bill concentrated too much power in the health department, eliminated meaningful court review, and unfairly picked winners and losers instead of letting the market work. The chair responded that the goal was to reduce costly, repetitive litigation and preserve access to care in areas where hospitals struggle financially. The committee then considered Senator Blackwell’s broader CO bill, which would address appeals and litigation more generally by shifting costs to the losing party in CO disputes. A reverse repealer was adopted first, and the chair explained that the bill was intended to reduce endless and expensive appeals while still allowing a limited opportunity for reconsideration. Senators Hill and others raised concerns about limiting judicial review and expanding health department power, while the chair said many states have no judicial review in this area and that the committee was exploring the issue further. The chair said he had asked several members to study the matter and contact the National Council of State Legislatures. The committee ultimately adopted the motions on the bills and amendments by voice vote, with the ayes prevailing each time.

Transcript Highlights:

• It does not include the board rules.
• On line 558, facility payment rates.
• Line 701 is a nursing facility facility facility searchcharge.<00:14:28.959> Line<00:14:29.399
• And section 15 in aging facilities.
• We need to Treatment Facility.

Bills: HF2434

Keywords: healthcare, personal care assistance, worker retention, disability services, state funding, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 2035 addresses this by requiring that if a facility turns away a minor, that facility must
• House Bill 2035 addresses this by requiring that if a facility turns away a minor, that facility must
• how the facility will maintain care.
• Assisted living facility and family members, outlining how the facility will maintain care and who to
• residential-type facilities.

Bills: HB163, HB216, HB721, HB2035, HB2038, HB3057, HB3153, HB3233, HB3595, HB3801, HB3812, HB4076, HB4129, HB4377, HB4535, HB4666, HB4730, HB4743, HB4903, HB5149, HB5155, HB1534

Keywords: epinephrine, healthcare, emergency response, administration, medical policy, health care, itemized billing, patient rights, provider regulations, Texas Health and Safety Code, cost disclosure, insurance, benefit plan, administrators, chemical dependency, treatment facilities, minor admissions, parental notice, mental health, medical licensing

Summary: The committee met without a quorum at first, then established a quorum with five members present. Members heard and left pending several House bills, including HB 4743 on allowing hospitals to license mobile stroke units under a hospital license, HB 4129 on earlier DFPS enforcement tools for single-source continuum contractors in community-based foster care, HB 4903 creating a Quad Agency Child Care Initiative to coordinate child care regulations across state agencies, HB 3812 revising the gold card/prior authorization process for physicians, HB 4535 requiring written informed consent before COVID-19 vaccination and a standardized state information sheet, and HB 4666 reducing the frequency of some HHSC reports to the legislature. The chair also noted HB 35 would be voted on later after a subcommittee back was received, and that a large number of bills would be heard the next day. Most of the testimony focused on HB 4535 and HB 4730. On HB 4535, supporters argued the bill would strengthen informed consent for COVID vaccination by requiring written consent and clearer state-level information about risks, manufacturer liability protections, and adverse-event reporting; opponents, including a pediatrician and medical groups, said existing federal and state informed-consent materials already cover these topics and warned the bill could create duplicative paperwork and penalties. On HB 3812, the Texas Medical Association supported changes that would extend the gold-card evaluation period to one year, raise transparency, and make prior authorization exemptions easier to administer, while health plans said they were neutral and viewed the bill as a balance between reducing burden and preventing fraud or unsafe care. HB 4730 drew extensive testimony from adoption professionals, birth mothers, adoptive parents, and child welfare advocates. The bill would require DFPS to create a relinquishment form, train child-placing agency staff, and extend the minimum waiting period for voluntary relinquishment from 48 hours to seven days. Supporters of the current law argued the 48-hour period aligns with hospital discharge, allows informed decisions, and helps birth parents and adoptive families begin healing and bonding without pushing children into foster care or creating legal and Medicaid complications. The author said the bill would be revised and that the seven-day provision was a work in progress. No votes were taken on the bills during the meeting; each bill was left pending after public testimony closed.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:10:21.800> uh and or in a a psychiatric facility uh and or in a a psychiatric facility
• placements so if they were in a facility placements so if they were in a facility for<00:10:36.000
• that uh facility that uh facility so<00:10:59.880> it's<00:11:00.320> up<00:11:00.480
• the rules were families couldn't be with their elderly family members in these facilities.
• the rules were families couldn't be with their elderly family members in these facilities.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• living facilities from residential to commercial.
• First and foremost, seniors move into these facilities.
• And then you're raising the taxes on them in that facility.
• facilities, but we also have many nonprofit facilities across the state.
• on administrative rules will now come to order. Please call the rule. Senator Schroarer. Here.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The rules are suspended the following resolution.
• I move to suspend all necessary rules, take up House Resolution 384.
• Here's none rules are suspended the following resolution.
• The Chair hears none and the rules are suspended.
• The chair hears none and the rules are suspended.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You invoke proximity rules, now you're hurting people's property values.
• I don't make all these rules.
• I mean, if there's no rules except.
• to work together on promulgating rules for this program.
• It's not even promulgating rules.

Bills: HB3270, HB3145, HB3056

Keywords: farmed cervidae, chronic wasting disease, genetic resistance, wildlife management, agriculture, wildlife tagging, hunting regulations, Cervidae family, feral swine, exotic wildlife, conservation, commercial hunting, raw milk, unpasteurized, farm sales, Oklahoma Milk and Milk Products Act, local producers, advertising, 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:08:01.479> through Finance to clarify these rules through Finance to clarify these rules
• All votes cast at this facility are mail-in ballots.
• All votes cast at this facility are mail-in ballots.
• MSOP is a closed facility.
• <01:14:22.840> clients 2024 msop is a closed facility clients 2024 msop is a closed facility

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I do want to pause there and lay some ground rules.
• There are institutional deeming rules; there are other rules for some of these situations, so it's not
• We represent skilled nursing facility providers as well as intermediate care facilities for the developmentally
• It's a rehab facility that services all populations.
• taxes as part of federal rule changes.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• take advantage of these new rules?
• The rules haven't been released yet.
• Fall of '27, we're opening up the women's facility.
• For the other facilities—the schools, the facilities that are 50-plus people, bars, restaurants, daycares—we
• They inspect state facilities—hundreds of thousands of square feet of state facilities around the entire

Summary: The committee began with roll call, introductions of a new fiscal analyst and a new member, and approval of the March 19 minutes. The first major presentation was from the Office of Management and Budget on the state’s general fund and special fund status through May. OMB reported general fund revenues were running below the legislative forecast by about $76 million, driven largely by weaker individual income tax and sales tax collections, though the projected ending balance remained positive and above the budgeted level. The budget stabilization fund was above its cap and would transfer excess earnings to the general fund, and the legacy fund balance continued to grow. Members also asked about federal funding uncertainty and mineral leasing revenue variability. The committee then reviewed compliance reports and trust fund analyses, followed by discussion of a bill draft for the fixed-route city transportation network study. The draft would create a $15 million general fund grant program with a formula-based distribution to eligible fixed-route transit cities, intended to support operating and capital needs and help match federal transit funds. Transit officials from Minot and Fargo testified in support, explaining local fare and match structures and the difficulty of replacing aging buses and securing federal matching dollars. Several members questioned whether the program should be limited to the current four cities or broadened to future eligible urban areas, and whether local funding sources should be explored further. The committee did not finalize the bill draft at that point and planned to continue discussion at a later meeting. The committee also approved a bill draft repealing obsolete language related to approval of a bi-state authority with South Dakota, after staff explained that no agreements had ever been implemented and the provision appeared outdated. A roll call vote was taken and the motion carried. Later, the Department of Commerce and the Northern Plains UAS Test Site presented updates on uncrewed aircraft systems initiatives, including the Vantis radar data enclave, the drone replacement program, and efforts to build a revenue model for Vantis. Test site officials said FAA approval had been secured for the radar data program, replacement of noncompliant drones was underway, and future revenue could come from state and external users once pricing and intellectual property arrangements are finalized. Members asked about Chinese-made drones, supply chain issues, automation, and how the system would manage beyond-visual-line-of-sight operations. The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation then presented on the design of a new minimum-security prison and a reentry housing study. Officials said the proposed facility would relocate the minimum-security prison to the penitentiary campus, reduce costs from an earlier estimate, and provide more beds and programming space, with construction potentially beginning in 2027 and opening around 2031. They also described staffing needs, the planned move of women to the New England facility, and possible expansion of men’s housing there. The parole and probation chief described a reentry housing task force studying housing needs for people leaving incarceration, with a goal of developing data-driven recommendations for subsidies and support services; a representative from Protection and Advocacy closed by expressing general support for fixed-route and paratransit funding.

Transcript Highlights:

• THERE IS A RULE REGARDING THE INTERMEDIATE CARE FACILITY FOR THE DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED.
• THERE IS A RULE REGARDING A ASSISTED-LIVING FACILITY THAT INCLUDES DEFINITIONS FOR THE ASSISTED LIVING
• WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT RULES INCLUDING THE CUPCON RULE AND THE CFWI RULE.
• CFWI RULE.
• SO CURRENTLY THE RULE STATUS, THE RULE IS, WAS EFFECTIVE.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Only women can use facilities designated for women, and only men can use facilities designated for men
• person encountering an issue must notify the facility in writing.
• But again, we don't have any clarity in these rules, do we?
• Where she was housed in male facilities.
• This bill proposes sweeping new rules about who can use which bathroom or facility based solely on biological

Bills: SB 8, HB7, HB15, HB 265, HCR 13, SB 8, HB 7, HB 15, HB 265, HCR 13

Keywords: sex designation, restroom access, civil penalties, private civil right of action, women's privacy, abortion, healthcare, jurisdiction, civil action, qui tam, prohibition, state law, youth camp, safety regulations, advisory committee, child welfare, health standards, summer camp, camp safety, child abuse reporting

Transcript Highlights:

• So our whole facility down in St.
• treatment activities like uh facilities treatment activities like uh facilities a<00:26:35.080><
• We've got one facility, as you mentioned, our CABS facility, that is a 16-bed juvenile facility, and
• We've got one facility, as you mentioned, our CABS facility, that is a 16-bed juvenile facility, and
• We've got one facility, as you mentioned, our CABS facility, that is a 16-bed juvenile facility, and

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Speaker and members, I move to suspend all necessary rules to take up House Resolution 476.
• I move to suspend all necessary rules to take up and consider House Resolution 480.
• The rules are suspended. resolution the clerk will read the resolution.
• I'm going to suspend all necessary rules take up and consider HR 498 you've heard the motion is there
• Chair hears none the rules are suspended. The following resolution, the clerk will.

Keywords: 1184, house, all