Video & Transcript Research : 'permanent disability'
Page 73 of 459
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Floor Session Jun 13th, 2025
California House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- And by the way, it makes permanent that project by basically locking in a $19 billion bond for the next
- And this is where you are so callous: the disabled. Among us. And this is where you are so callous.
- The disabled, the elderly, poor children will have their health coverage curtailed and cut back.
- For the funding for developmentally disabled, and you heard that call, and you've done that.
- , for those with disabilities, the people that need the help the most were the first to lose coverage
Summary:
The Assembly convened after a quorum call and proceeded to floor business, with the main item being SB 101, the state budget bill. Before debate on the bill, Assembly Member Sanchez offered amendments to redirect funding toward Proposition 36 implementation, wildfire prevention, Medi-Cal provider reimbursement, developmental services, and other priorities; the majority moved to lay those amendments on the table, and the motion passed 43-18. The chamber then took up SB 101 as the budget bill for immediate effect.
Debate on the budget was extensive and sharply divided. Supporters, including Assembly Member Gabriel and several committee chairs, described the budget as a difficult but responsible compromise that protects Medi-Cal, IHSS, child care, housing, wildfire prevention, and other safety-net programs while responding to a projected deficit and federal uncertainty. Opponents criticized the budget as fiscally unsound and argued it relied on accounting gimmicks, did not adequately fund Proposition 36 or wildfire prevention, and continued spending on high-speed rail and Medi-Cal coverage for undocumented immigrants. Several members also raised concerns about gas taxes, provider reimbursement, probation funding, and the impact on vulnerable Californians.
After debate, the Assembly voted on SB 101 and passed it 57-19. The measure was sent immediately to the Senate. The body then announced upcoming session schedules, with no floor or check-in sessions on June 14 and 15, and a floor session set for June 16 at 1 p.m., before adjourning.
AR
Arkansas 2026 Regular Session
PUBLIC HEALTH, WELFARE AND LABOR COMMITTEE - SENATE AND HOUSE May 21st, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- Instead of focusing specifically on the creation and subsidization of what's called permanent supportive
- Instead of focusing specifically on the creation and subsidization of what's called permanent suppression
- Specifically on the creation and subsidization of what's called permanent supportive housing for people
- So that's HUD funding that is just like it says for homeless people, permanent housing.
- They're not, they're considered permanently housed, so they're not homeless anymore.
Summary:
The committee first approved a motion, then heard a lengthy presentation on homelessness in Arkansas, with a focus on unsheltered homelessness, untreated mental illness and substance use, public safety, and the role of local law enforcement and shelters. Presenters from law enforcement, homeless service providers, mental health, and policy groups discussed federal Continuum of Care funding, the need for better data and accountability, and proposals such as statewide camping enforcement, stronger treatment access, and consolidating or reworking the continuum-of-care structure. Much of the discussion centered on the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) model, with witnesses describing it as a way to expand crisis services, treatment, and coordination with housing and justice systems. They also discussed homelessness among sex offenders, family homelessness, workforce supports, and how to scale successful local programs statewide. No formal action was taken on the homelessness proposals during the discussion.
The committee then reviewed several Department of Energy and Department of Health/Board of Nursing rules. The energy rule updated solid waste post-closure cleanup thresholds from $50,000 to $2 million to match Act 791 of 2025. Nursing-related rules added fees for the new dialysis patient care technician registration created by Act 198 of 2025, updated contact-information requirements, implemented APRN authority under Act 862 of 2025, clarified durable medical equipment language under Act 431 of 2025, and incorporated delegation changes from Act 959 of 2025. Additional nursing rules updated certified medication assistant training and duties under Act 265 of 2025, and corrected rules for full independent practice to include clinical nurse specialists under Act 872 of 2023. Each rule was reviewed without objection.
At the close of the meeting, members received an update that UAMS had completed its NCII designation submission for the Winthrop Rockefeller Cancer Institute, which was described as a major milestone. The committee then adjourned.
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
US House Floor Proceedings (Wednesday, June 25, 2025)
US Federal House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- :46:48.319>
nuclear cannot permanently end Iran's nuclear cannot permanently end Iran's nuclear - We must permanently block every path to a nuclear weapon Iran might have.
- ,<01:00:43.520>
sharpening <01:00:44.079>our <01:00:44.319>competitive permanent - <02:50:22.560>
benefits, erodess access to disability benefits, erodess access to disability - my appointment to the House Permanent my appointment to the House Permanent Select<07:40:28.558>
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
House of Representatives Second Regular Session of the 60th Legislature Day 58-1 May 14th, 2026 at 09:30 am
Oklahoma House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- One of our proudest accomplishments has been securing a full tax exemption for 100% disabled veterans
- These include the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, Paralyzed Veterans
- Is there any sort of general consensus on wiping it completely out, temporarily or permanently, and if
- I think I've read two different proposals, one which permanently gets rid of The federal income tax,
Keywords:
legislative procedure, session calendar, deadline schedule, bill deadlines, joint resolution, Oklahoma Legislature, 61st Legislature, regular session, adjourn sine die, floor deadline, third reading, committee deadlines, bill drafting, appropriations, budget bills, ethics commission, agency rules, administrative procedures act, local and special laws, pension legislation
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
March 13, 2025 - 08:00 AM
Transcript Highlights:
- quadriplegics to pass to their surviving spouses, similarly to the surviving spouses of partially or permanently
- disabled veterans.
- When you are the caregiver for a person with disabilities, you are the first line of defense when the
- I understand it's significant, it's permanent, and it's unrelenting.
Summary:
The Ways and Means Committee met on March 13, 2025, for its first meeting of the session, with member and staff introductions followed by consideration of several tax-related bills. The committee first heard HJR 163 and its implementing bill HB 165, which would extend the homestead property tax exemption for quadriplegics to surviving spouses, similar to the treatment for surviving spouses of certain disabled veterans. Sponsor Rep. Tant and constituent J.R. Harding described the financial and caregiving burdens faced by spouses of quadriplegics. The committee heard supportive testimony from the Florida Association of Property Appraisers and members voted both measures favorably without opposition.
The committee then considered HB 785 on heated tobacco products. Rep. Tramont said the bill would create a new tax/regulatory category for the product, and an amendment clarifying the definition was adopted. The James Madison Institute offered a resource on the issue, the Florida Retail Federation waived in support, and Ranking Member Eskamani said she had concerns about the excise tax treatment and would vote no. The bill passed 16-1. Next, HB 321, a property tax exemption clarification for homes for the aged, was presented by Rep. Smith as a technical “glitch bill” to align state law with IRS tax code and ease development of low-income senior housing. It drew supportive testimony and passed unanimously.
The final bill, HB 503 by Rep. Botana, would cap local government revenue from local business taxes and require refunds if collections exceed the cap, with carve-outs for fiscally constrained areas. Local government and economic development groups, including the Florida League of Cities, the City of Winter Haven, the Miami-Dade Beacon Council, and the Florida Association of Counties, opposed the bill, arguing it would limit funding for public safety, inspections, economic development, and other services and create administrative refund problems. Several members supported the bill as a tax-cutting measure, while others warned of impacts on local services and revenue flexibility. The committee reported HB 503 favorably on a 14-5 vote, and then adjourned.
TX
Texas 89th Regular
S/C on Family & Fiduciary Relationships Apr 22nd, 2025
S/C on Family & Fiduciary Relationships
Transcript Highlights:
- We need to get permanency for kids as quickly as possible.
- We need to get permanency for parents as quickly as possible.
- Those children also have a right to permanency. So I just want to touch on that.
- They wait sometimes for years, bouncing between placements, growing up without a permanent family.
- We're concerned about children remaining in the permanent managing conservatorship of DFPS. ...without
Keywords:
fatherhood, family support, fatherlessness, community engagement, youth development, social policy, male role models, child development, policy reform, role models, mental health, parenting, single-parent homes, welfare reform, economic opportunity, mentorship, community initiatives, children, welfare programs, education
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Housing Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Joint Committee on Housing
Transcript Highlights:
- We are currently looking at permanently adopting this structure by rule.
- They're also working on lasting affordability and making sure that we can allow for permanent affordability
- Without permanent deed restrictions, properties will inevitably revert to seasonal use.
- year-round inventory far beyond our 10% SHI goals and beyond the 80% AMI to secure sustainable and permanent
- Second, we agree with the Dignity Alliance and other disability advocates that more could and should
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Housing held its second introductory hearing to frame the session’s housing agenda. Chairs Cyr and Haggerty described the hearing as a chance to hear a wide range of perspectives on Massachusetts’ housing crisis, including underbuilding, zoning and permitting barriers, rising costs, and the need for both state and local action. The committee heard from court, municipal, advocacy, and regional housing leaders, with recurring themes of increasing supply, preserving existing housing, preventing displacement, and expanding resources for renters and homeowners.
Chief Justice Diana Horan of the Housing Court said the court is handling more than 40,000 new filings annually with only 15 judges, and estimated the court would need about 21 judges to meet demand. She described complications from RAFT-related stays, mental health and guardianship issues, aging housing stock, and the new eviction sealing law, which she said was being implemented smoothly but may require additional resources if filings continue to rise. The Massachusetts Municipal Association and MAPC emphasized that municipalities need flexibility, funding, and better tools such as MassWorks, Housing Works, H-DIP, 40R reforms, inclusionary zoning changes, and a local option transfer fee; they also said local control concerns and long permitting timelines remain major barriers. MAPC and others stressed that supply growth alone will not solve the crisis and urged continued support for subsidized housing, access to counsel, and modular/off-site construction.
Advocates and housing providers focused on displacement, preservation, and tenant protections. Homes for All Massachusetts and Mass Law Reform Institute called for rent stabilization, stronger tenant protections, foreclosure prevention, elimination of junk fees, continued funding for RAFT and HomeBASE, and expanded access to counsel. Mass Union of Public Housing Tenants said the state needs far more extremely low-income housing, more operating subsidy, and major investment to repair public housing, while also supporting tenant technical assistance during redevelopment. Franklin County’s housing authority warned that rural communities are being left out of many state programs and asked for a rural LIHTC set-aside, a permanent rural credit boost, and a review of housing choice programs. A Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation researcher presented findings that communities that add housing generally see stronger municipal finances, and that housing growth can improve property tax and state aid outcomes.
Seasonal community representatives from Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket described extreme affordability pressures and the need for tailored tools. Nantucket’s housing trust chair said the island has made progress through local funding, inclusionary zoning, and deed-restricted units, but still needs a real estate transfer fee and faster ways to preserve year-round housing. Across the hearing, members and witnesses repeatedly returned to the need for a mix of production, preservation, tenant protections, and local flexibility, rather than relying on any single policy solution.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- Speaker, I rise to ask that the remarks on House Bill 368 be printed in the permanent journal.
- Once a child is identified as having a disability and needing special services in the classroom, parents
- Members, take your seats. disability is not only unfounded but a disability is not only unfounded but
- what I now vote ought to P disabilities what I now vote ought to P pass<03:51:21.279>
by <03:51 - <04:30:20.319>
impairments <04:30:21.319>from <04:30:21.560>on sustain permanent
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security Jun 21st, 2026 at 09:00 am
Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security
Transcript Highlights:
- He said they care every day for seniors, neighbors with disabilities, and patients recovering from serious
- Every day they care for our seniors, our neighbors with disabilities, and patients.
- Every day they care for our seniors, our neighbors with disabilities, and patients recovering from serious
- It's affecting asylees, affecting refugees, it's affecting permanent residents.
- The moment she became a permanent resident, I would see her at 10:30 at night.
Summary:
The committee held a public hearing on several public safety bills, with testimony first on S.2681, Colby’s Law, which would establish safety standards for BMX and motocross tracks. Supporters, including the family of a child killed at a track, argued the bill is needed because some tracks lack basic protections such as barriers, emergency plans, on-site medical staff, and adequate track maintenance. A motocross track representative opposed the bill as overregulation that could impose major costs and argued existing safety efforts and voluntary safety committees are preferable. No vote was taken during the hearing.
The committee also heard testimony on S.2680, which would expand emergency preparedness requirements around aging nuclear power plants and nuclear waste sites from a 10-mile to a 50-mile radius. Supporters from Cape Cod Downwinders, Massachusetts Peace Action, physicians, and other advocates said current law is outdated and insufficient, citing risks from radioactive waste storage, limited federal oversight, and the need for broader evacuation and emergency planning. Testifiers urged the bill’s passage, and no action was taken.
A major portion of the hearing focused on the Protect Act, H.5158, dealing with limits on cooperation between state/local agencies and federal civil immigration enforcement. Sheriffs testified about how ICE detainers and notification requests work in practice, emphasizing discretion, public safety, and the difference between sentenced prisoners and pretrial detainees. Supporters from labor, education, and health care groups said immigrant communities are living in fear and asked for stronger protections, including bans on 287(g) agreements and clearer limits on ICE activity in schools, hospitals, and other sensitive locations. The hearing also included testimony on H.4697 regarding training and certification of constables and civil deputy sheriffs, with the Hampshire County sheriff saying sheriffs are already working with POST and MPTC on training standards and that the bill may be duplicative.
LA
Louisiana 2026 Regular Session
House of Representatives May 13th, 2026
Louisiana House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Colleagues. for elderly, disabled beneficiaries. Brett Butler. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
- Baiting helps the young, the old, the disabled. I think it eliminates that.
- This is the resulting disability timeframe, and here are the expected outcomes.
- It's called the official disability guidelines.
- ODG stands for official disability guidelines.
Bills:
HR275, HR276, HR277, HR278, HR279, HR280, HR281, HR282, HR283, HR284, HCR112, HCR113, HR265, HR266, HR267, HR268, HR269, HR270, HR271, HR272, HR273, HCR107, HCR108, HCR109, HCR110, HCR111, SCR63, SCR66, SCR67, SB414, SB484, SB513, HR168, HR174, HR194, HR216, HR264, HCR54, HCR74, HCR79, HCR85, HCR87, HCR94, HCR95, HCR97, HCR98, HCR104, SCR23, SCR29, SCR33, SCR38, HB75, HB705, SB54, SB56, SB72, SB79, SB97, SB105, SB123, SB125, SB129, SB163, SB171, SB252, SB287, SB375, SB386, SB461, SB466, HR84, HR188, HR205, HR3, HR197, HR243, SCR19, SCR3, SCR6, SCR18, SCR11, SCR22, SCR2, SCR20, SCR24, SCR35, HCR6, HB301, HB359, HB657, HB675, HB680, HB727, HB39, HB58, HB112, HB134, HB155, HB187, HB287, HB462, HB782, HB825, HB846, HB903, HB904, HB929, HB941, HB962, HB1200, HB4, HB623, HB944, HB986, HB1098, HB1222, SB45, SB58, SB71, SB81, SB92, SB100, SB109, SB141, SB156, SB181, SB203, SB204, SB205, SB207, SB213, SB214, SB216, SB229, SB257, SB274, SB290, SB304, SB374, SB379, SB396, SB410, SB425, SB427, SB429, SB479, SB522, SB34, SB164, SB172, SB198, SB208, SB232, SB281, SB286, SB317, SB322, SB334, SB380, SB385, SB409, SB417, SB421, SB430, SB439, SB447, SB458, SB510, HB842, HB633, HB1191, HB625, HB1255, HB251, HB582, HB646, HB819, HB998, HB1257, SB197, SB436, SB78, HB901, HR20, HR74, HCR65, HCR71, HB284, HB302, HB306, HB341, HB366, HB393, HB458, HB577, HB603, HB605, HB614, HB733, HB752, HB773, HB798, HB911, HB955, HB996, HB1035, HB1069, HB1113, HB1140, HB1180, HB1240, SB82, SB89, HB258, SB149, SB382, SB441
Keywords:
highway maintenance, signage, transportation safety, DOTD, infrastructure, public safety, federal grants, job creation, carbon storage, carbon dioxide storage, carbon capture and storage, CCS, mineral rights, mineral owners, oil and gas, disposal wells, injection wells, advanced drilling, carbon sequestration, Louisiana energy policy
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
US House Floor Proceedings (Monday, June 9, 2025)
US Federal House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- This resolution permanently renames these famous offices off the House floor for all Americans today
- This resolution permanently renames these famous offices off the House floor for all Americans today
- This resolution permanently renames these famous offices off the House floor for all Americans today
- This resolution permanently renames these famous offices off the House floor for all Americans today
- This resolution permanently renames these famous offices off the House floor for all Americans today
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement Committee Jun 17th, 2026
Labor, Public Employment and Retirement
Transcript Highlights:
- assessments by 20 to 25% while maintaining the lessen financial risk to employers who give previously disabled
- They can participate whenever their schedule allows, from their phone, and, of course, hosts can disable
- which will make the Displaced Oil and Gas Workers Fund Pilot Program, commonly known as Dog Wolf, permanent
- Commonly known as Dogwuf, permanent in California statute.
- AB 2157 addresses this issue by eliminating the sunset date for the Dogwuf program and making it permanent
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs (01/16/2025)
Health, Human Services & Elderly Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- And then in '22 became interim commissioner, and then in '23 became permanent commissioner.
- Our disability system, developmental disability system as well, strengthening that, making sure that
- developmentally disabled long-term care.
- <01:46:48.000>
to <01:46:48.199>have adults with disabilities to have adults with disabilities - disability.
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
Interim Joint Committee on Natural Resources & Energy.(7-2-26)
Natural Resources & Energy
Transcript Highlights:
- We do have an early application for folks, seniors, folks with a disability, or fixed income that can
- We do have an early application for folks, seniors, folks with a disability, or fixed income that can
- They look if there are elderly folks in the household, disabled, children.
- They look if there are elderly folks in the household, disabled, children.
- >
map <01:06:45.760>where Site studies will permanently map where Site studies will permanently
Bills:
SB8
Keywords:
utilities, public service commission, energy regulation, appointment, emergency declaration, tax increases, consumer protection, Meeting Start 00:00:00
Attendance Roll Call 00:00:51
Approval of Minutes 00:02:07
Legislator Comments 00:02:18
LIHEAP Public Hearing 00:04:19
PSC Update on RS 26 SB 8 00:32:18
WaterStep Presentation 01:04:08, 958, all
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Improving early child care in Minnesota 2/24/26
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- I'm also a parent of three children, two of whom live with cognitive disabilities.
- with disabilities, which were consistently<00:31:01.200>
uh <00:31:01.440>things <00:31 - As a parent of children<00:31:05.360>
with <00:31:05.600>disabilities, <00:31:06.320> - And we know what follows: burnout, permanent exits, and mistrust.
- burnout, permanent exits, and mistrust. burnout, permanent exits, and mistrust.
Summary:
The presentation focused on Think Small’s recommendations for Minnesota child care licensing modernization, including a proposed three-tier system for early care and education: unregulated “trusted caregivers,” state-licensed health and safety programs, and “recognized” early care and education programs that would pursue board-approved quality pathways. Dr. Nicole Smarillo said the recommendations came from an extensive engagement process with providers and field experts, and emphasized that the goal is not deregulation but a right-sized system with clearer funding aligned to state expectations, a reduced and more health-and-safety-focused licensing framework, and a profession-led quality system with multiple pathways rather than a single rating model.
A major recommendation was creating a Minnesota Board of Early Care and Education with real decision-making power, made up of providers, families, and experts. The board would set quality expectations, approve multiple recognition pathways, address professional qualifications, advise on funding and supports, and monitor policy impacts on child outcomes, supply, and workforce stability. Presenters said the current Parent Aware system would be replaced in this future model, and that programs would have a roadmap from health-and-safety licensing to a time-limited candidate status and then to recognized program status.
Several providers testified in support of the framework. Shauna Maranovich said the process welcomed field voices and produced recommendations grounded in proximity expertise. Cindy Cunningham, a licensed family child care provider, said the proposal reflected provider feedback, supported a Minnesota-specific model, and would separate health and safety licensing from quality improvement while reducing fear-based enforcement. Maria Harms, a child care center operator, said current licensing is overly burdensome and that the board and multiple pathways would better reflect day-to-day practice and reduce silos across program types. Candace Yates of Child Care Aware of Minnesota supported aligning supports with quality pathways and said the system needs a shared floor for quality and more continuous, less fragmented support. No votes or formal committee actions were taken in the excerpt.
TX
Texas 89th Regular
Appropriations - S/C on Articles VI, VII, & VIII Feb 24th, 2025
Appropriations - S/C on Articles VI, VII, & VIII
Transcript Highlights:
- We have a barrier removal program for persons with disabilities.
- Disabled, white individual, a woman, two women.
- So TechSouth has the ability to target spending to give. people with disabilities access.
- Texans with disabilities deserve the opportunity. to work, contribute, and thrive.
- If it's a licensed program, nighttime care, care for children with disabilities, it's really meeting
HI
Hawaii 2026 Regular Session
House Chamber - Tue Apr 14, 2026, 9:00AM HST - Day 44
Hawaii House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Um, this bill makes permanent the agricultural enforcement pilot program established pursuant to Act
- Now let's make it permanent and let's expand it statewide.' I didn't see that.
- expand it make it permanent and let's expand it statewide
- permanent. Thank you. permanent. Thank you.
- Protect the rights of all of our people, including those with disabilities.
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- , rather than only to veterans with a permanent service-connected disability rated as 100% disabling,
- This one will just narrow it to disabled and retired veterans. So we can discuss that.
- , veterans with disabilities, that it was going to be around 200.
- , veterans with disabilities, that it was going to be around 200.
- he was disabled in the Korean War as an Army paratrooper.
Summary:
The Committee on Government opened with a lengthy chair statement about Department of Child Safety oversight, describing prior hearings that identified systemic failures in communication, child placement oversight, response times, transparency, and accountability. The chair said the committee would continue pursuing reforms through legislation and ongoing reporting requirements. During that discussion, members also raised concerns about child trafficking in congregate care settings and the need for separate legal representation for child victims, which was tied to recommendations and a bifurcation bill.
The committee then considered and advanced several bills. SB 1141, concerning presidential electors if a candidate dies, withdraws, or becomes incapacitated before the Electoral College meets, received testimony in support from election-law and ethics groups and passed 4-3. SB 1186, requiring disclosure of things of value given by companies or their affiliates when seeking government contracts or grants, also passed 3-3 after a tie-breaking due-pass outcome. SB 1808, allowing certain flags, including the Israeli flag, to be displayed in HOA communities, passed 4-3. SB 1050, as amended, would create a lifetime free state parks pass for qualifying veterans and a related Game and Fish license provision; state parks and Game and Fish testified about fiscal impacts and requested further work, but the bill passed 6-0 with one present vote after the amendment was adopted.
The committee also passed SB 1140, which creates a court-based expungement process for certain misdemeanor records, especially for trafficking survivors and others who have remained crime-free for five years; survivor advocates, anti-trafficking organizations, and legal service providers testified in support, and the bill passed 7-0 after an amendment clarifying limited uses of expunged records. SB 1437, requiring public records to be provided in the least expensive available format and favoring electronic delivery, passed 4-3 amid debate over transparency versus agency costs. SB 1246, raising the delinquency threshold before condominium lien foreclosure, passed 7-0. SB 1664, lowering signature requirements for constable nomination petitions in large counties, passed 7-0. SB 1338, addressing eligibility for state or local public benefits for certain noncitizens and unauthorized persons, passed 4-3. The committee adjourned after the final vote.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Health Committee Apr 29th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- I'm an advocate for disabilities, and I'm deaf, and I strongly support this. Thank you.
- This is permanent supportive housing, but it's in a drug-free...
- They have a huge success rate getting these women permanent jobs and permanent housing as well.
- You also have people that are elderly, that are on disability and Social Security.
- . ...large percentage of the people that are living in permanent supportive housing.
Summary:
The Assembly Health Committee heard a long agenda of health bills focused on access to preventive care, behavioral health, hospital services, and patient safety. Early items included AB 554, which would expand and protect access to HIV prevention drugs like PrEP, including injectable forms and coverage protections; supporters said it would shore up access amid federal threats, while insurers opposed it as a costly benefit mandate. AB 577 would limit insurer and PBM practices that steer medications away from physician offices and require more transparency and patient consent; doctors and patient advocates supported it, while health plans and insurers warned it could raise drug costs and disrupt specialty pharmacy networks. AB 546 would require coverage for portable HEPA purifiers for vulnerable enrollees during declared emergencies, especially wildfire smoke events, with support from air quality and public health groups and opposition from insurers concerned about benefit expansion and cost.
The committee also heard AB 224, which would codify California’s updated essential health benefits benchmark plan after a public review process, adding infertility treatment, hearing aids, and durable medical equipment if approved by CMS for the 2027 plan year. DMHC said the state had completed the review and needed legislation to meet federal timing, and the measure drew broad support. AB 1032 would require plans and insurers to reimburse up to 12 additional behavioral health visits for enrollees in wildfire-affected counties for a limited period after an emergency; supporters argued it would fill gaps in trauma care after disasters, while insurers said existing parity and continuity-of-care rules already address the issue and that the bill could create inequities. AB 849 would require trained chaperones for sensitive ultrasound exams and training on how to observe and intervene; it was backed by a survivor and patient advocates, with hospitals and health districts raising staffing concerns.
Later, AB 1196 would direct the Department of Public Health to update outdated rules requiring three surgeons for certain heart surgeries using cardiopulmonary bypass; supporters said the rule no longer reflects modern practice and strains staffing, while cardiology representatives had no formal opposition but wanted to review amendments. AB 1113 would codify a right to wear a mask for health reasons in public spaces, with support from disability and public health groups. AB 1386 sought to add perinatal care to the list of basic hospital services, prompting testimony about maternity ward closures, workforce shortages, and rural access; the author said the bill would be amended further and that the committee would need to revisit timelines and implementation details. The committee also heard AB 1429, which would address Kaiser’s repeated mental health parity violations and improve access to behavioral health care, though the transcript cuts off before any action on that bill is shown. Several bills were moved with motions and seconds, but many were held for quorum; AB 1196, AB 1113, and AB 1386 were among the measures advanced to a roll call or held on call, and the committee repeatedly noted that final votes would occur when quorum was available.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Legislative Education Study May 30th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- things there, but the one I'll, I'll focus on is this improved services for, for students with disabilities
- schools, and what does it mean that if I'm categorized as a level B student with a Uh, reading disability
- There is no distinction for students with disabilities, and this is a problem for my family and others
- And is covered by a Section 504 plan to address multiple disabilities.
- As the Act does not distinguish absences for students with disabilities, however, the school is still