Transcript Highlights:

• Via waiver recipients, consultants, etc. in the next couple of months.
• I didn't travel with the DD waiver. I did travel with the FIT programs.
• And is that DD and is that just in the waiver program, or is it in HCA?
• of waiver services in your home and community if you qualify for Medicaid.
• You didn't need a waiver slot, but if you don't already, qualify for Medicaid, you need a waiver slot

Committee: House Legislative Health & Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• , the CalAIM 1115 and 1915B waiver.
• HCBA waiver.
• The HCBA waiver has pre-approved increases of 1,800 slots each waiver year through 2027.
• The HCBA waiver has pre-approved increases of 1,800 slots each waiver year through 2027.
• When it comes to HCBA waiver agencies, currently we review waiver agencies to meet certain minimum performance

Summary: The committee heard a budget oversight hearing on the Department of Health Care Services, focusing first on the overall Medi-Cal budget and a March General Fund loan to cover a current-year shortfall. DHCS said the 2025-26 budget proposal totals $193.4 billion, with Medi-Cal projected at $188.1 billion total funds and $42.1 billion General Fund, driven by higher enrollment, pharmacy costs, managed care growth, and costs tied to eligibility expansions and the COVID-era redetermination unwinding. The department said the $3.44 billion loan was needed to manage cash flow and ensure timely payments to providers and plans, while the LAO noted Medi-Cal’s cash-basis budgeting creates volatility and that more detailed estimates would come with the May Revision. Members discussed federal Medicaid threats, the need for transparency on cost drivers, and the impact of pharmacy spending, long-term care, and immigration-related coverage expansions. The second major topic was family health programs, including California Children’s Services, the continuous coverage unwinding, and opioid settlement fund spending. DHCS described CCS funding methodology changes, ongoing county stakeholder work, and a delayed rollout of CCS monitoring and oversight until July 1, 2025, while county representatives and advocates argued the program is underfunded and asked for more technical assistance and a delay in implementation. On the unwinding, the department explained that federal redetermination flexibilities helped maintain coverage after the pandemic, but the Governor’s budget proposes ending them at the end of June 2025; advocates urged making the flexibilities permanent to avoid coverage losses. For opioid settlement funds, DHCS and Finance said the budget increases funding for naloxone distribution while reducing other harm-reduction spending based on updated settlement revenues, prompting criticism from members and public commenters who argued the change would weaken effective harm-reduction programs. The hearing also included an update on Proposition 35 implementation. DHCS said the voter-approved measure continuously appropriates MCO tax revenues beginning in 2025, with up to $4.6 billion annually available for specified Medi-Cal and provider investments in 2025 and 2026, but implementation depends on consultation with the required stakeholder advisory committee. The department and LAO noted uncertainty about future federal rules affecting the MCO tax after 2026. Public testimony largely supported maintaining Medi-Cal expansions, protecting immigrant coverage, preserving harm-reduction funding, and increasing support for community health workers, pediatric dental care, and CCS county administration. No votes were taken during the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• It is to contract creating a supplemental nutrition assistance program waiver compliance solution.
• The purpose of seeking the waiver to exclude certain unhealthy foods from being able to be purchased
• This is a two-year waiver. And so we have been able to find that.
• And I will also share that we have been able to get the evaluation for this waiver at no cost.
• I know we don't even know if the waiver is going to continue, but let's assume it does.

Committee: All JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE

Summary: The committee reviewed three DHS service contracts: a $690,000-plus contract for DCFS with Evident Change for child welfare structured decision-making tools, a $1.2 million contract with Sifter Solutions to support a SNAP waiver compliance solution, and a $156,000 contract with Samaritan Integrative Services for psychiatric services at the Southeast Arkansas Human Development Center. The chair and staff explained that the first two were sole-source contracts justified by the proprietary nature of the services, while the third was a standard service contract. Members focused most heavily on the Evident Change contract, questioning DHS about long-term dependence on the vendor, the lack of a competitive bid, and whether there was an “off-ramp” plan. DHS said the contract covers maintenance and operations of the platform used daily for safety assessments and case planning, and that if it were not renewed the system would be turned off and staff would lose access to the tools. The vendor said it was continuing to support DHS in reducing reliance over time, but no detailed off-ramp timeline was provided. Members also noted that the related CQI/review contract is on a different renewal cycle and raised concerns about the state being locked into staggered renewals. For the Sifter Solutions contract, DHS said the waiver was intended to improve the nutritional quality of SNAP purchases by excluding certain foods, and that the vendor would provide a dynamic list and app for retailers and clients to check eligible products. DHS said the contract would be funded with remaining federal SNAP Nutrition Education dollars that would otherwise revert to the federal government, and that the University of Pennsylvania would conduct the evaluation at no cost. Members asked about the long-term value to Arkansas, possible future competition, and whether the app would include nutrition education and budget-friendly cooking information; DHS said it would include educational materials and videos. No objections were raised, and the items were reported as reviewed before adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Yes, the—sorry, AB 315, the Home and Community-Based Alternatives waiver.
• First, it addresses the capacity of the waiver.
• services overall with the waiver than we would without the waiver.
• As the Assemblymember mentioned, the waiver also supports As the Assemblymember mentioned, the waiver
• waiver agencies or through DHS and counties where there are no waiver agencies, like Alpine, Imperial

Summary: The Assembly Health Committee met on March 25, 2025, with Chair Mia Bonta presiding and initially operating as a subcommittee until quorum was established. The committee heard several health-related bills, including AB 73 on creating a Black Mental Health Navigator certification, AB 499 on lowering the state reimbursement trigger for the Robert F. Kennedy Farm Workers Medical Plan, AB 843 on aligning California health insurance language-access rules with federal standards, AB 257 on a specialty care network using telehealth and virtual services for Medi-Cal and underserved communities, AB 64 on allowing diacritical marks on vital records, AB 315 on the Home and Community-Based Alternatives waiver, and AB 40 on clarifying that emergency services include reproductive health services such as abortion. Testimony generally emphasized disparities in access, culturally competent care, language access, rural provider shortages, and the importance of preserving or expanding programs that help vulnerable populations. Supporters included authors, state and local health organizations, advocacy groups, and affected individuals. AB 73 was backed as a way to address stigma, mistrust, and culturally competent mental health access for Black Californians. AB 499 was described as helping keep a self-insured farmworker health plan operational while maintaining a low-cost, labor-management model. AB 843 was supported as a way to prevent children and families from having to translate sensitive medical and insurance information and to protect limited-English-proficient Californians. AB 257 drew support as a demonstration project to improve specialty care access through California-based clinicians and virtual care, with examples of reduced wait times and costs. AB 64 received emotional testimony from the author, a child and his family, and others about the importance of accurately recording names with accents and other marks. AB 315 was presented as a cost-neutral or cost-saving way to expand home- and community-based care for medically fragile people, with strong support from disability, health, and provider groups. AB 40 drew support from reproductive health and medical organizations, while one opposition witness argued it could conflict with emergency care standards and overburden emergency departments. The committee took roll-call votes and advanced AB 499, AB 73, AB 843, AB 257, AB 64, AB 315, and AB 40 to Appropriations, with AB 40 receiving some no votes. The committee also adopted its 2025-26 rules and approved a consent calendar that included AB 225, AB 304, AB 403, AB 688, and AB 951. Several measures were initially placed on call and later lifted and recorded as passing out of committee before adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• request, a waiver denial, a waiver being granted. versus rulemaking.
• has established that that is not the case. not appropriate because a waiver is a waiver, not a rule.
• or emergency waiver process.
• The waivers are not rules. That's been established.
• The EPA has treated waivers, including the attempted revocation of a waiver, as an adjudication and not

Committee: Senate Environment and Public Works Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• phase that they come for those waivers.
• With the waiver, you know, we changed the rules, right?
• So if they wouldn't be getting rid of their entire waiver, it would just be a waiver on the expanded
• I think if they get a waiver, they get a waiver for allowing them to increase the gross square footage
• The waiver provision I don't think was really contested.

Transcript Highlights:

• So a lot of this report is kind waivers.
• </c> That's authorized under a waiver That's authorized under a waiver program.<00:24:14.080><c> If</
• If that waiver were not not program.
• </c> won't proceed unless we have the waiver won't proceed unless we have the waiver versus<00:26:57.760
• Um even the concept of the waiver.

Summary: The committee approved the previous meeting minutes and then reviewed a draft preliminary report on long-term managed care. The chair explained the report is intended to frame issues and outline legislative options, not make a final recommendation, especially given unresolved questions about the federal One Big Beautiful Bill (OB3). The report’s key issues included the current financing of county and private nursing homes through Medicaid rates, ProShare, MQUIP, and related funding mechanisms, and the concern that those payments could be affected or eliminated under a managed care model. Members also discussed managed care organizations’ role in Medicaid and cited other states’ experiences, noting examples of savings in Florida and Tennessee but higher costs in California. One member raised Indiana as another important comparison, and the committee agreed to add it to the report’s state examples. The committee also reviewed sections on dual eligibility, D-SNP, PACE, and CFI waivers. The chair raised concerns about whether OB3 creates incentives for states to move toward D-SNP and whether federal changes could affect provider taxes, state-directed payments, and intergovernmental transfers. Henry Litman, the state Medicaid director, said he would confirm details on D-SNP incentives and explained that ProShare is based on certified public expenditure rather than an IGT, while county cap financing is the relevant intergovernmental transfer issue. He said IGTs are not going away and that the main risk is whether current financing mechanisms could be preserved if the state later changed course. Members discussed the possibility of a waiver not being granted or renewed and the high fiscal impact that could have on counties and property taxes. The committee then discussed the population that any long-term managed care model should cover. Members agreed that there is no appetite to move developmental disability or acquired brain disorder populations into long-term managed care at this time, and the chair changed the report’s terminology from “elderly” to “aging population.” The chair also noted that the status quo option should reflect the recent shift toward home and community-based services and reduced nursing home utilization since earlier county reports. The report’s four policy options were summarized as: maintain the status quo; pursue D-SNP for dual eligibles, with DHHS potentially submitting an application as early as 2027; adopt an HCBS carveout; or move fully to managed care for the aging population. No final policy recommendation was made, and the committee discussed making edits to the draft before circulation, including adding Indiana, clarifying OB3-related issues, and changing the report title from “final” to “preliminary” or “interim.”

Transcript Highlights:

• Such as providing, you know, very limited or free tuition to in-service teachers so that they can move
• very<00:53:15.360><c> limited</c><00:53:15.760><c> or</c><00:53:15.840><c> free</c><00:53:16.040><c> tuition
• </c><00:53:16.560><c> to</c> very limited or free tuition to very limited or free tuition to in-service
• when I attended the University<00:55:31.920><c> of</c><00:55:32.040><c> Hawaii,</c><00:55:32.840><c> tuition
• </c><00:55:33.360><c> was</c> University of Hawaii, tuition was University of Hawaii, tuition was $116.25

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several education resolutions, beginning with HCR 11 and HR 14, which ask the Board of Education and the State Public Charter School Commission to report on improving access to stable, suitable, and affordable facilities for public charter schools. The Charter School Commission supported the measure, and OHA also supported it while noting long-standing facility challenges, the lack of a dedicated facilities appropriation, and the strain on charter schools that have had to use operating funds for buildings and temporary structures. Kealakehe Academy, Hawaii Technology Academy, and several individuals also testified in support. The committee then took up HCR 181 and HR 171, which seek a shared decision-making committee to develop an action plan for a K-12 Ka Waihona School in Kapolei. The Department of Education said it has already developed a strategic plan for Kaipuni education, has expanded immersion programs over the past decade, and is addressing growth through interim guidance and a new priority placement process. Community witnesses, including representatives of Ke Alo Ever, strongly supported the resolutions, emphasizing the need for a K-12 pathway, the importance of Hawaiian language and culture, and the role of community voice in planning. They argued that teacher shortages, especially for licensed Hawaiian immersion teachers, remain a major barrier and proposed a kumu recruitment and retention program tied to community, UH, and DOE partnerships. The committee also heard HCR 187 and HR 177, which urge the Department of Education to begin initiatives to address teacher retention statewide. DOE and the University of Hawaiʻi College of Education said teacher retention is already being addressed through the Teacher Education Coordinating Committee, a five-year plan focused on building capacity, improving satisfaction, and compensation, and a new DOE human resources plan. In response to questions, DOE said it is seeking better school-level data on why teachers leave, is preparing for contract negotiations, and is working with the standards board and DLIR on an apprenticeship-related grant. TECC representatives said the group has been working since the pandemic era, may narrow its focus to retention as the most actionable area, and expects to provide more concrete recommendations in its annual report. The transcript ends as the committee moves on to the next item, HCR 47 and HR 43, without showing any votes or final actions on the measures heard.

Transcript Highlights:

• waiver for dental services for special needs populations.
• There's no retroactive eligibility in a waiver.
• It takes 18 months to get a waiver? Yes, sir.
• Waivers could have been filed.
• When y'all were talking about the waiver and how many people are in the waiver, I am finding that there

Committee: All ALC-ADMINISTRATIVE RULES

Summary: The Administrative Rules Subcommittee reviewed several agency rules and requests. The Arkansas Insurance Department presented an amendment to its holding company system rule to implement Act 261, adding a group capital calculation requirement and related guidance for insurer holding company groups; it was reviewed and approved. The State Board of Election Commissioners presented two rules: one clarifying poll watcher conduct, vote challenges, and provisional voting procedures, and another increasing pay for certified election monitors and defining training, observation, and report-writing compensation; both were reviewed and approved. The Arkansas Financial Education Commission updated its rules to remove DEI-related membership requirements to comply with Act 938, and that rule was also reviewed and approved. The committee held over the Department of Education’s request to be excluded from reporting requirements for a month. The main discussion centered on the Department of Human Services’ request to be excluded from reporting requirements for Acts 567, 568, 967, and 1025. DHS explained that CMS had raised comparability and other federal issues with the Medicaid-related acts, especially the dental provisions in Act 1025 and the diagnostic lab cap in Act 567, and said it was exploring options including a waiver, medical-necessity-based approaches, and splitting the pediatric rate increase from the special-needs cap increase. The Arkansas State Dental Association disputed DHS’s interpretation, arguing Act 1025 is workable, that the pediatric rate increase should move forward separately, and that DHS should continue pursuing federal approval rather than declining to adopt rules. Public testimony from a special-needs advocate also emphasized unmet dental needs and long waitlists for waiver services. After extensive questioning, a motion to deny DHS’s request to be excluded from reporting requirements for Acts 567, 568, 967, and 1025 passed. The committee then reviewed the Division of Higher Education’s Act 781 report, which asked to repeal three of its 32 rules and continue enforcing the remaining 29; that request was approved. The committee also received routine written updates on outstanding 2023 and 2025 rulemaking items, with no questions raised, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• It is to contract creating a supplemental nutrition assistance program waiver compliance solution.
• And this waiver is a step in the direction of increasing the nutritional value of that program.
• This is a two-year waiver, and so we have been able to find that.
• I will also share that we have been able to get the evaluation for this waiver at no cost.
• I know we don't even know if the waiver is going to continue, but let's assume it does.

Committee: All JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE

Summary: The committee reviewed three DHS out-of-state service contracts: a $690,000-plus sole-source contract for DCFS with Evident Change for maintenance and operation of the Child Welfare Structured Decision-Making practice hub; a $1.2 million sole-source contract for County Operations with Sifter Solutions to support a SNAP waiver compliance solution; and a $156,000 contract for Developmental Disabilities with Samaritan Integrative Services for psychiatric services at the Southeast Arkansas Human Development Center. The chair and staff explained the contracts and noted that the Evident Change and Sifter contracts were sole-source due to the proprietary nature of the systems or services involved. Most of the discussion focused on the Evident Change contract. Members questioned DCFS about long-term dependence on the vendor, the lack of a competitive bid, the absence of a clear off-ramp, and whether the state was paying more overall as the work was split into multiple contracts. DCFS said the contract before the committee was only for maintenance and operations of a web-based platform used daily for safety assessments and case planning, while a separate Evident Change contract covers case reviews, CQI work, and data management. The vendor said it was continuing to reduce its role and had begun off-ramp discussions, but members remained concerned that the state was too reliant on the vendor. Staff said the contract had to be approved by May 31 or the system could be turned off. The committee also discussed the Sifter Solutions contract, which supports Arkansas’s SNAP waiver pilot by providing a dynamic list of excluded products and a consumer app that scans barcodes and provides nutrition information. DHS said the waiver is intended to improve the nutritional value of SNAP benefits, that the contract is funded with remaining federal SNAP Nutrition Education dollars that would otherwise be returned, and that the University of Pennsylvania will conduct the evaluation at no cost. Members asked about the benefit to Arkansas, whether the app would include nutrition and budgeting information, and whether the state would own the application or need future renewals. DHS said the two-year term was intentionally aligned with the waiver period and that future procurement options could change. After discussion, the committee noted the items as reviewed and adjourned without objections or votes recorded in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, waiver case case management.
• </c> Waiver Reimagine. Waiver Reimagine.
• Delay Waiver Reimagined.
• Instead, it was reduced.” rollout of Waiver Reimagined. So the rollout of Waiver Reimagined.
• . waiver. waiver.

Committee: Senate Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> other instances we really rely on waiver other instances we really rely on waiver services<00:26
• So a resident, for most of the waivers, must have Medical Assistance.
• </c><00:28:50.200><c> you</c> if you're eligible for a waiver you if you're eligible for a waiver you
• </c> especially in the area of waiver especially in the area of waiver programs<00:53:38.079><c> or</
• </c><00:58:24.400><c> services</c> from disability waiver services from disability waiver services destabilizing

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• . waiver.
• I am asking for a full waiver.
• Staff recommends no waiver or reduction.
• Joe, we just did the waiver and we just changed the waiver rules.
• Therefore, the fine was not eligible for waiver or reduction.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, but if we pay for tuition in exchange for, we can at least hold them for a bit and then maybe they
• It's about acquired infections and the state health assessment, health improvement program, and tuition
• waiver for children in state foster care.

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:

• What this bill does is address that so that we can move forward with a Medicaid waiver in order to enable
• of our school readiness program to ensure we're not only providing meaningful access to child care tuition
• of our school readiness program to ensure we're not only providing meaningful access to child care tuition

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and the Pledge, and heard several member introductions before moving to the special order calendar. The chamber first took up SB 200/HB 295 on a comprehensive waste reduction and recycling plan, which directs DEP to develop a statewide recycling strategy by 2026 with stakeholder input and a three-year implementation roadmap; the House bill was substituted and passed 38-0. Senators then approved CS/CS/SB 492 on mitigation banking and land development after adopting two McLean amendments, including one on out-of-service credits and another incorporating phosphate mining lands provisions; the bill passed 35-3 after debate over possible constitutional issues. CS/SB 494 on aggravated animal cruelty was also amended and substituted with the House companion to add a searchable FDLE database of convicted animal abusers and a sentencing multiplier, with an agriculture-related exemption; it passed 37-0. The Senate next passed CS/CS/SB 500/HB 711 creating the Spectrum Alert for missing children with autism, including training and coordinated alert procedures, with a House amendment to align implementation timing and funding; it passed 37-0. CS/CS/SB 524/HB 1089 added Duchenne muscular dystrophy to newborn screening tests and passed 36-0. CS/CS/SB 592/HB 393 revised the My Safe Florida Condominium Pilot Program by lowering approval thresholds, clarifying eligibility and ownership issues, and adding sliding-door wind-driven rain mitigation devices; it passed 37-0 after discussion about funding and insurance premium credits. CS/SB 742/HB 1145 on workforce education allowed charter schools direct access to grant funding and expanded money-back guarantees for certain programs, and it passed 37-0. CS/CS/SB 822/HB 443 on charter schools generated extensive debate and multiple amendments, including a Jones amendment requiring parent acknowledgment of school rules; the bill would expand charter autonomy, reporting flexibility, enrollment capacity, and governance provisions, and it was placed on the calendar for third reading after the amendment process. Later, the Senate passed HB 827 on a statewide study of automation and workforce impact, which would examine job displacement, wages, vulnerable regions, and training needs, by a 35-0 vote. It also passed CS/CS/SB 964/HB 181 on parole guidelines, CS/SB 976/HB 901 on court-appointed psychologists, and CS/SB 1084/HB 1451 on sexual cyber harassment and digitally forged intimate images, all unanimously. CS/CS/SB 1156 on a Home Health Aid for Medically Fragile Children Program was amended to clarify training requirements and passed 37-0 after supportive debate about helping parents care for medically fragile children. Finally, CS/CS/CS/SB 1240/HB 1091 on substance abuse and mental health care was amended to allow designated facilities to retain certain stabilized patients during the 72-hour involuntary examination period and passed 37-0. Several other bills were temporarily postponed, and the chamber also recognized guests and interns throughout the session.

Transcript Highlights:

• They require partial tuition payment to participate in their sports.
• of them can even end up playing on the private school sports teams. because they can't afford that tuition
• This bill simply authorizes a request for a waiver from the federal government to make the eligibility

Bills: SB 5 , SJR 3 , HB 11 , HJR 72 , HB 48 , HB 27 , HB 144 , HB 37 , HB 1481 , HB 581 , HB 1696 , HB 2216 , HB 1035 , HB 1633 , HB 742 , HB 754 , HB 1689 , HB 1690 , HB 2669 , HB 391 , HB 517 , HB 1775 , HB 1024 , HB 1607 , HB 252 , HB 1716 , HB 1562 , HB 4116 , HB 1866 , HB 1741 , HB 2103 , HB 2637 , HB 2884 , HB 3707 , HB 503 , HB 1089 , HB 1757 , HB 2986 , HB 972 , SB 365 , SB 1786 , SB 5 , SJR 3 , HB 14 , HB 43 , HB 36 , HB 26 , HB 149 , HB 121 , HB 206 , HB 136 , HB 3114 , HB 2733 , HB 1732 , HB 3700 , HB 467 , HB 1130 , HB 1846 , HB 1442 , HB 1147 , HB 2176 , HB 2701 , HB 805 , HB 2890 , HB 1154 , HB 1644 , HB 2118 , HB 1718 , HB 2488 , HB 2596 , HB 2468 , HB 484 , HB 2578 , HB 3204 , HB 1041 , HB 307 , HB 685 , HB 538 , HB 2525 , HB 3125 , HB 2027 , HB 2894 , HB 3077 , HB 106 , HB 18 , HB 11 , HJR 72 , HB 48 , HB 27 , HB 144 , HB 37 , HB 1481 , HB 581 , HB 1696 , HB 2216 , HB 1035 , HB 1633 , HB 742 , HB 754 , HB 1689 , HB 1690 , HB 2669 , HB 391 , HB 517 , HB 1775 , HB 1024 , HB 1607 , HB 252 , HB 1716 , HB 1562 , HB 4116 , HB 1866 , HB 1741 , HB 2103 , HB 2637 , HB 2884 , HB 3707 , HB 503 , HB 1089 , HB 1757 , HB 2986 , HB 972

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> interpret the 500 plus page waiver interpret the 500 plus page waiver Amendment<00:10:11.959><c>
• , and uh, brain injury waivers.
• , and uh, brain injury waivers.
• , and uh, brain injury waivers.
• Harut. ...between the rate disparity between elderly waiver and CADI and BI waiver, and the proposal

Committee: Senate Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• , the Cal-AIM 1115 and 1915(b) waiver.
• HCBA waiver.
• Waiver services to occur any earlier than 2028.
• So, the waiver does work—work miracles. Thank you.
• When it comes to HCBA waiver agencies, Currently, we review waiver agencies to meet certain minimum performance

Transcript Highlights:

• including fare-free initiatives, $419 million for universal free school meals, and $287 million for free tuition
• worthy statewide priorities, and I know how much we love to talk about free school meals, I do, free tuition

Summary: The House opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and received a resignation letter from Rep. Fana Howard of Lowell, effective March 17, 2026, as she transitioned to the Senate. The chamber then took up several procedural orders, including multiple unanimous or voice-vote suspensions of rules and concurrence with Senate petitions, such as referrals on housing and student transportation matters, and a suspension of Joint Rule 12 for a petition involving children served by DCF. The main substantive item was House No. 5264, a fiscal year 2026 supplemental appropriations bill totaling about $1.8 billion. Members discussed its use of Fair Share surtax surplus funds for transportation and education, including major support for the MBTA, special education circuit breaker costs, early education and child care, snow and ice costs, regional transit authorities, and other deficiencies such as GIC and sheriff costs. Members also explained the bill’s tax conformity provisions responding to recent federal tax changes, with debate over whether to delay conformity to limit state revenue exposure. The House adopted a consolidated amendment to the bill and then passed it to be engrossed by roll call vote, 150-3. The House also adopted a resolution commending the Admetek Foundation on Prostate Cancer Awareness Day. Several local bills were advanced, including a sick leave bank for a Department of Corrections employee, a bill waiving the minimum age requirement for a Boston police officer, a Nantucket charter bill, a Stoneham public safety bill, and a Malden special police officers bill, the last of which was amended before being engrossed. The chamber also considered Amendment 43 to redistribute $100 million of Fair Share revenue more evenly to municipalities for roads and education; supporters argued the current distribution favored statewide priorities over local aid, while opponents said the formula would not adequately address rural road needs. That amendment was rejected 128-25. The House then recessed several times, observed moments of silence for local public servants, welcomed visiting youth sports teams, and finally ordered adjournment to meet the next day at 11 a.m. in informal session.

Transcript Highlights:

• reporting, things like the comprehensive financial report, the GET report—that's Guaranteed Education Tuition—any
• reporting, things like the comprehensive financial report, the Get report, that's guaranteed education tuition

Committee: Joint Select Committee on Pension Policy