Transcript Highlights:

• practices.
• practices then we protect our practice practices then we just<01:09:25.560> become<01:09:25.880
• practices um the these are practices practices um the these are practices that<01:42:18.080>
• a practicing these practices without a practicing these practices without a license<02:59:24.040
• practices performed by healing practice practices performed by traditional<03:02:49.960> Hawaiian

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The joint House Committee on Health and Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce heard two midwifery bills, with testimony focused primarily on HB 1194. Committee chairs opened the hearing with rules for Zoom testimony and noted the bills relate to midwives. The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs said it supported the intent of HB 1194 and offered comments. Supporters of the bill, including the Midwives Alliance of Hawaii, argued that midwifery should remain subject to mandatory licensure to protect consumer safety, citing the state’s regulatory licensing standards and a 2025 state auditor sunset analysis. They said the bill would strengthen educational standards and public protection, and some offered clarifying amendments. Opponents argued HB 1194 would restrict access to care and fail to protect traditional, cultural, and community-based birth practices. Testifiers from the Hawaii Home Birth Task Force, the Hawaii Home Birth Collective, the Libertarian Party of Hawaii, the Center for Reproductive Rights, Pacific Birth Collective, and Papa Ola Lōkahi said the bill would limit licensure pathways, reduce access in rural and underserved areas, and burden Native Hawaiian and traditional practitioners. Several speakers said the measure could worsen Hawaii’s maternal health shortages, especially on Maui, and urged lawmakers to defer HB 1194 or instead advance HB 1328, which they said better protects practitioner access and cultural practices. The Hawaii affiliate of the American College of Nurse-Midwives said it opposed HB 1194 because it did not align with national or state standards for certified midwives and could create conflicts with Medicaid reimbursement and prescriptive authority. The ACLU also opposed the measure, emphasizing reproductive rights, privacy, and the need to preserve apprenticeship pathways to licensure. No vote or final committee action was taken during the portion of the hearing reflected in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so I'll explain what their practice is.
• types are practicing.
• As a practicing physical therapist, I do believe that the relationship As a practicing physical therapist
• In addition to private practice, chiropractors are increasingly being integrated into medical practices
• Standards of practice and professional conduct.

Summary: The joint Assembly and Senate Business and Professions sunset oversight hearing focused first on the Board of Registered Nursing (BRN), with committee chairs emphasizing oversight, consumer protection, workforce access, and economic mobility. BRN leaders reported improvements since the last review, including faster licensing timelines, streamlined enforcement, higher consumer satisfaction, growth in pre-licensure enrollment, and expanded data collection. Members questioned the board about nurse practitioner scope and supervision, international and military pathways to licensure, online nursing education and clinical requirements, rural workforce shortages, and the 30-unit LVN-to-RN option. BRN staff explained California’s tiered advanced practice system, the NCLEX and certification requirements, English proficiency rules, clinical hour standards, and the board’s role in approving programs and supporting schools through nursing education consultants. Several members and the board president also discussed the need to retain new graduates, improve diversity in the workforce, and better support nontraditional students and rural placements. Public comment on the BRN sunset review was extensive and largely supportive of the board, while also urging policy changes. Nurse practitioner, nurse anesthetist, nurse midwife, and nursing education groups generally supported the BRN report and especially backed clarification of APRN-to-RN delegation authority under issue 13. Other commenters asked for clearer implementation of AB 890, more flexibility for clinical nurse specialists, streamlined renewals for nurse midwives, and changes to federal loan limits affecting graduate nursing education. Higher education representatives and private nursing schools raised concerns about duplicative BRN documentation, clinical placement bottlenecks, and barriers faced by out-of-state and online programs seeking to serve California students. The California Medical Association and some physician groups opposed easing transition-to-practice requirements for out-of-state nurse practitioners and cautioned against changes to specialty and delegation rules, while the California Nurses Association and others stressed the importance of community college pathways, new graduate support, and workforce retention. The hearing then moved to the Physical Therapy Board of California. Board leadership reported that the board oversees more than 41,000 active licensees, has seen about 15% growth since 2021, and continues to maintain high exam pass rates among California physical therapy and physical therapist assistant programs. The board described its mission as consumer protection through licensing, enforcement, continuing competency oversight, and stakeholder engagement. The vice president’s remote testimony encountered technical problems, so the executive officer continued with a brief overview of the board’s work and its commitment to efficient service and public protection. No votes or formal actions were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• So PAs are educated as practice.
• /c> practiced as an MA in that practice up practiced as an MA in that practice up in<00:16:02.959>
• product and he knows she's practic product and he knows she's practic practicing<00:22:18.799>
• We're practicing standards. We're practicing evidence-based<00:27:33.679> medicine.
• who's been practicing for three years. who's been practicing for three years.

Bills: HB31, HB31

Keywords: absentee voting, disabled, blind, voter assistance, voting rights, SNAP, public assistance, nutritional standards, waiver, food regulation, 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Scope of practice.
• and not what they can practice.
• Uh, she doesn't practice anymore. She just, she still keeps her license. She hasn't practice.
• Practice medicine.
• in our practice group.

Bills: HB163, HB 296

Keywords: judicial liability, personal bond, felony offenses, judges, criminal justice reform, voter registration, election procedures, change of address, residence requirements, Texas Election Code, Texas election law, residence address, precinct voting, county move, same-county move, Election Code, registrar, statement of residence, polling place, local elections

Transcript Highlights:

• I've also been a practicing optometrist for 24 years. and a practice owner.
• Minnesota optometrists are forced to practice outdated practices, therefore leaving our citizens at a
• I practice and live in Moorhead, Minnesota, but also practice in Wadena, Minnesota, and my partners in
• It essentially sets out the scope of practice.
• Yes, HF 1913 offers a practical forward This bill offers a practical solution to Minnesota's physician

Transcript Highlights:

• The practice that they implement on farms, we are all doing the same practices.
• The practice that they implement on farms, we are all doing the same practices.
• The practice that they implement on farms, we are all doing the same practices.
• The practice that they implement on farms, we are all doing the same practices.
• The practice that they implement on farms, we are all doing the same practices.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I've also been a practicing optometrist for 24 years and a practice owner.
• I practice and live in Moorhead, Minnesota, but also practice in Wadena, Minnesota.
• or do practice County that have practice or do practice also<00:40:34.560> in<00:40:34.800>
• practice are. Thank you. Thank you Dr. practice are. Thank you. Thank you Dr.
• full license to practice in Minnesota. full license to practice in Minnesota.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• balanced approach to the data Practices balanced approach to the data Practices Act<00:02:09.200
• central premise of the data Practices central premise of the data Practices Act<00:26:57.919>
• The Data Practices Act exists.
• The Data Practices Act exists.
• The Data Practices Act exists.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• In this illustrative example, in a platform practice of three physicians in one practice, depending on
• of a practice with two physicians, add-on acquisition of practice B of a solo practitioner, and add-on
• > practice<00:03:51.599> medicine<00:03:52.000> doctrine, corporate of practice
• <00:04:08.959> is three physicians in one practice is three physicians in one practice is
• practice C with four physicians. practice C with four physicians.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee took up two bills concerning health entity ownership and heard invited testimony before acting on them. Dr. Yasha Singh of Brown University testified about private equity in healthcare, describing how PE firms use debt-financed acquisitions, short investment horizons, and roll-up strategies that can avoid disclosure requirements. He said the lack of transparency makes it difficult to track ownership and outcomes, and cited research linking PE ownership to higher costs in outpatient care, more ancillary service use, workforce turnover, and worse outcomes in hospitals and nursing homes. He also noted Minnesota-specific concerns, including PE involvement in opioid treatment programs, and said the policy challenge is balancing needed capital investment with protections for patients and workers. Sam Brooks of the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care testified in strong support of the legislation, focusing on nursing homes. He argued that private equity ownership is associated with worse resident outcomes, including higher mortality, more pressure ulcers, more hospitalizations, and more deficiencies, and said leverage buyouts divert money from staffing and care into debt service, management fees, and lease-back arrangements. Brooks said staffing levels and quality ratings decline under PE ownership and pointed to recent bankruptcies as examples of instability. He said the bills would add safeguards such as transparency, attorney general approval of acquisitions, and requirements that a large share of public funds go to direct resident care. The testimony framed the bills as responses to concerns about private equity ownership in healthcare and long-term care, especially the effects on quality, staffing, and financial stability. No vote or final committee action was described in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:02:40.920> Act uh meaning of the uh data Practices Act uh meaning of the uh data Practices
• > puts<00:03:09.400> a Act uh the data Practices Act uh puts a Act uh the data Practices
• particular section of the data Practices particular section of the data Practices Act<00:10:45.839
• number of sections in the data Practice number of sections in the data Practice Act<00:14:48.320
• central premise of the data Practices central premise of the data Practices Act<00:27:55.519>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Really prepared certified practices.
• Next up, we have HB 301 advanced practice.
• Advanced practice, registered nurses to engage an autonomous practice to provide mental health services
• So I speak from that practical experience as well.
• And once we get outside of that scope of practice, once we do get outside of the area where they're practicing

Transcript Highlights:

• You crafted some language that now is standard practice.
• Last but not least, we have HB 883, Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Autonomous Practice, by Representative
• But current law allows for advanced practice registered nurses to engage in autonomous practice of primary
• autonomous practice for psychiatric nurses.
• In Maryland, full practice authority since 2015...

Summary: The Health Professions and Programs Subcommittee heard and advanced several health care bills. HB 909, joining the Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact, was presented with a strike-all amendment and reported favorably as amended by a 13-0 vote. HB 911, the related public records exemption protecting certain biological information, was also adopted and reported favorably as amended by a 14-0 vote. CS for HB 597, allowing schools to procure and administer glucagon for students with diabetes under trained personnel, passed unanimously 14-0 after a technical amendment. HB 519, aligning state law with federal language on controlled substances administered by paramedics, passed as amended 14-0. The committee then took up HB 919 on nursing education programs. Sponsor Rep. Overdorf argued the bill would create accountability for underperforming nursing schools by requiring remediation, tuition refunds in the lowest-performing programs, and public reporting of passage rates. Supporters said it would improve quality and protect students from debt without licensure success, while opponents from private nursing schools warned it could close programs and reduce nurse supply. After extensive debate, the bill was reported favorably 15-0. HB 1553, which would require health care providers to submit identified uterine fibroid data so the Department of Health can implement the research database previously authorized by law, passed unanimously 15-0. The final bill, HB 883, would allow psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners to practice autonomously; supporters said it would expand access to mental health care, especially in rural and underserved areas, while opponents raised concerns about quality and physician oversight. After lengthy testimony and debate, the bill was reported favorably 14-3.

Transcript Highlights:

• supervised practice they can get in the supervised practice they can get in the workforce<00:05:57.960
• No, there's no scope of practice changes. There's no changes to the practice of physical therapy.
• <00:09:04.600> is in and their supervised practice is in and their supervised practice is
• <00:09:18.120> statute so the supervised practice statute so the supervised practice statute
• <00:09:28.839> and six months of supervised practice and six months of supervised practice

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Licensing and Occupations met on March 27, 2025, with a quorum present and first took up House Bill 255, relating to physical therapy. The bill sponsor and representatives of the Kentucky Board of Physical Therapy and APTA Kentucky said the measure is mainly a cleanup and modernization bill that updates outdated statutory language, changes PTAs from “certified” to “licensed,” gives the board authority to purchase liability insurance, moves fee and fine caps into regulation without changing current fees, renames temporary permits as provisional licenses, and creates a pathway to more easily recognize some internationally trained physical therapists already practicing in other states. Senators asked whether the bill changed training, scope of practice, Medicaid, or supervised practice standards; witnesses said it did not, and that supervised practice requirements remain in place with out-of-state practice accepted only when equivalent or more stringent. The committee approved HB 255 with favorable expression. The committee then considered House Bill 618, an alcoholic beverages measure with a Senate committee substitute. The bill was described as having three parts: allowing restaurants to buy limited quantities of alcohol from retail outlets to meet customer demand while keeping the three-tier system intact and requiring quarterly reporting; creating a temporary auctioneer license to auction previously retail-sold alcohol in original packaging, such as estate or bourbon collections; and giving quota bar license holders the same opportunity restaurants already have to sell barrel picks by the bottle. Testimony supported the bill as a way to help restaurants, auctioneers, and bars, while a senator raised a question about sales tax on auction sales and another noted that nonprofit or church-related alcohol auctions already require permits under existing law. One senator suggested future guardrails to encourage local purchasing, but no amendment was adopted. The committee passed HB 618 with favorable expression.

Transcript Highlights:

• Autonomous practice by Representative Shoaf.
• Advanced practice, registered nurses to engage an autonomous practice to provide mental health services
• Do not have a practicing psychiatrist.
• Let me briefly share an example from my practice.
• So they're not practicing outside the scope. They're still they're just not practice it.

Transcript Highlights:

• He returned to Danville, where he’s been practicing in private practice ever since.
• He has a wide practice experience. He brings to the table. He has a wide practice experience.
• So I've been practicing— So I've been practicing now for almost 23 years.
• Again, it's not the area I practice in, so we don't practice against each other.
• I could practice here.

Keywords: House Committee Room C, General Assembly Building, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:03:06.159> that benefits of farming practices that benefits of farming practices that
• <00:03:25.319> and the adoption of protective practices and the adoption of protective practices
• <00:03:40.200> that are just some of the uh practices that are just some of the uh practices
• engage farmers and Implement practices engage farmers and Implement practices is<00:10:30.800>
• practices equipment to implement these practices it<01:10:27.320> sing<01:10:27.719> it

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So by the mere fact of this legislation, it not only takes away our ability to practice our own practice
• So licensing this practice would be like regulating somebody's prayer or religious practice.
• So by the mere fact of this legislation, it not only takes away our ability to practice our own practice
• So licensing this practice would be like regulating somebody's prayer or religious practice.
• However, many of our practices, if they are practiced consistently, things like yoga, Tai Chi, Reiki,

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee opened a hearing of the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure and reviewed a broad agenda including credit card fees, event ticketing, music therapy licensure, senior psychologist licensure, CPA pathways, school mental health licensure, and a bill regulating alternative healing therapies. The chairs explained hearing logistics, including three-minute testimony limits and submission of written testimony, and noted that more than 70 people had signed up to testify. Legislators and advocates were heard out of order throughout the day. A major portion of the hearing focused on credit card surcharge and interchange legislation. Restaurant owners, the Massachusetts Restaurant Association, NFIB, and other small-business witnesses supported bills allowing merchants to add convenience fees and, in one proposal, preventing card companies from charging fees on tax and tip portions of transactions. They argued that swipe fees are a major and growing cost, especially for restaurants, and that Massachusetts is one of only two states that bars surcharges. Opponents from the Cooperative Credit Union Association, the Electronic Payment Coalition, and the Electronic Transactions Association warned that the proposals would create compliance burdens, fragment the payment system, raise legal preemption issues, and disrupt a system they described as efficient and secure. The committee also heard competing testimony on ticket transferability and ticket resale. Supporters, including the National Consumers League and Sports Fans Coalition, said bills on ticket transferability would protect consumers who cannot attend events and would increase competition and savings in the secondary market. Opponents, including United Musicians and Allied Workers and theater owners, argued that mandatory transferability would weaken artists’ and venues’ ability to prevent scalping and predatory resale, and that some ticket sellers should be exempt from the broader ticketing regulations. Separate testimony supported music therapy licensure, senior psychologist licensure, and new CPA education pathways, with witnesses saying these measures would expand access to care and strengthen the workforce while maintaining professional standards. The hearing also drew extensive opposition to S.261 on alternative healing therapies, with practitioners and clients arguing it would overregulate spiritual and holistic practices and was not an effective response to human trafficking concerns.

Transcript Highlights:

• on practice setting. on practice setting.
• . practices. practices.
• . practice. practice.
• > practice under a collaborative practice practice under a collaborative practice agreement<03:27:19.200
• internal in in my practices. internal in in my practices.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's for somebody who is currently in practice too, so it's not just, 'I want to practice 30 days in
• Senate Bill 697 modernized the PA Practice Act, not changed the scope of practice, but modernized the
• PA Practice Act by removing outdated administrative requirements that hindered PA practice.
• after 8,000 hours of clinical practice.
• That's a good practice; that's a good transparency practice.

Summary: The joint sunset oversight hearing reviewed five regulatory entities: the Board of Behavioral Sciences, the Board of Psychology, the Physician Assistant Board, the Podiatric Medical Board, and the California Massage Therapy Council. Across the hearing, each entity described recent accomplishments, licensing and enforcement workload, workforce shortages, and efforts to modernize processes. Common themes included streamlining licensure, expanding access to care, addressing telehealth or emerging technology, and balancing consumer protection with workforce needs. For the Board of Behavioral Sciences, members discussed workforce shortages in mental health, supervision barriers, telehealth confidentiality, AI in therapy, interstate compacts, school-based services, and military spouse licensure. The board said it has expanded outreach, improved licensing processes, and created temporary practice authority tracking, while also expressing concern about counseling compacts and emphasizing California-specific law, ethics, and cultural competency. Public commenters supported the board’s work and the possible move to a national MFT exam, while also urging more resources. The Board of Psychology highlighted fee adjustments, streamlined licensure pathways, enforcement process improvements, new CPD requirements, and proposed changes including a psychotherapist-client privilege exception for investigations. Committee members and public witnesses focused heavily on that privilege proposal, with some members opposing it as too broad and privacy-invasive, while the board argued it is needed to obtain records in bias and sexual misconduct cases. The board also discussed workforce shortages, processing improvements, and the use of inactive status for psychological associates. The Physician Assistant Board reported growth in the PA workforce and education programs, SB 697 implementation, and financial pressure from rising enforcement costs. The main policy debate centered on physician-to-PA ratios and practice agreements, with board representatives and many public commenters arguing that current restrictions limit access to care, especially in rural areas, while the California Medical Association defended the need for explicit ratios and agreements. The board also discussed AI, fee increases, and tracking temporary practice authority. The Podiatric Medical Board described licensing and renewal reforms, residency expansion, enforcement support, and budget constraints, while public testimony raised concerns about a proposed fee increase and about reimbursement parity and practice recognition for podiatrists. Finally, the California Massage Therapy Council defended the certification model over licensure, citing lower costs, local government collaboration, anti-trafficking work, and its role in vetting applications and disciplining bad actors; no formal votes or final actions were taken during this portion of the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• So right now, if you are a practicing physician in another country, you may have practiced for 20 years
• So right now, if you are a practicing physician in another country, you may have practiced for 20 years
• preventing people from practicing preventing people from practicing medicine<00:02:21.959> uh
• <00:02:33.280> medicine Minnesota who cannot practice medicine Minnesota who cannot practice
• physician will practice the practicing physician will practice generally<00:09:41.320> under<

Keywords: 1187, senate, all