Transcript Highlights:

• It also amends Section 24-35-4 by including definitions for emergency medical conditions, stabilization
• It also amends 24A-1-7 by including definitions for emergency medical conditions, stabilization, and
• Losing a pregnancy to miscarriage or having an abortion for a condition that threatens the life of the
• to stabilize them, including care for serious pregnancy complications and other life-threatening conditions
• conditions.

Committee: House House Health & Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• approximately 90,000 new diagnoses happen each year, making it the fastest-growing neurological condition
• impacts students after high school, as there's a lot of short-term effects, but they can lead to chronic
• conditions as well.
• impacts students after high school, as there's a lot of short-term effects, but they can lead to chronic
• conditions as well.

Committee: House General Laws

Transcript Highlights:

• provides that any motor vehicle involved in a violation of an offense may be impounded and provides conditions
• provides that any motor vehicle involved in a violation of an offense may be impounded and provides conditions
• they must file a formal statement with the governing body of the department outlining policies and conditions
• they must file a formal statement with the governing body of the department outlining policies and conditions
• Prior to the selection, the eligible individual will be advised of the program's terms and conditions

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with prayer, and heard several announcements and recognitions, including remarks from the new Democratic caucus leader, Senator Berman, who emphasized bipartisan work on education, health care, the environment, and family issues. The chamber also recognized military leaders, an intern, and guests connected to later bills. No committee reports or executive messages were on the desk at the start of the session. The Senate then took up a series of bills, many of them with House companion substitutions and technical amendments. Major measures included the Pam Rock Act on dangerous dogs, which passed 36-0; a local government land regulation bill that was amended after questions about quasi-judicial hearings, impact fees, and county costs, then passed 26-8; a vessels/boating bill that incorporated related legislation and passed 35-0; a blood clot screening and treatment bill creating the Emily Adkins Family Protection Act, which passed 36-0; a fleeing or eluding law enforcement bill, amended to remove vehicle impoundment in the House version, which passed 36-0; a concealed carry/firearms bill for certain law enforcement and military personnel, which passed 33-3; and a timeshare management bill, which passed 36-0. The chamber also passed a disability history and awareness instruction bill, the Evan B. Hartzell Act, after extensive debate about language and the meaning of disability versus “unique abilities”; it received 35 co-sponsors and passed 35-0. Other bills passed included manufacturing and related fee legislation, public education on background screening requirements, utility service restrictions, educational opportunities for military children, Medicaid oversight, health facilities authorities, and veteran and spouse nursing home beds, most by unanimous or near-unanimous votes. Several bills were temporarily postponed, including measures on human trafficking, waste management, Bright Futures, mammogram coverage, Parkinson’s disease, and others.

Transcript Highlights:

• Individuals basically have unique needs related to their eligible condition.
• No, it was because no one could be dealing with his condition.
• The syndrome of Down, autism, and intellectual disability are not conditions...
• Down syndrome, autism, and intellectual disability are not temporary conditions.
• It has different chronic medical conditions.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Human Services held an informational hearing on several Department of Developmental Services proposals, with no votes taken. The first item focused on equitable access to intake and services for regional center clients, including standardizing eligibility assessments and modernizing the strengths-and-needs evaluation used to inform individual program plans. DDS said the changes would create a more consistent, equitable, and evidence-based process statewide, while the LAO explained the proposals as a response to disparities and inconsistent regional center practices. Advocates and regional center representatives were divided: Disability Rights California, the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, and some providers supported modernization but urged clearer safeguards, more community co-design, and stronger legislative review; others, including some regional center leaders and family advocates, warned against replacing the CEDER too quickly and stressed the need to preserve the person-centered IPP process. Committee members emphasized fair process, fidelity, and the need for a validated tool, while also noting that the proposals would not change eligibility definitions or replace IPPs. The second major item addressed state-operated transitional and rehabilitative services, including proposed time limits for stays at Porterville Developmental Center and Canyon Springs, plus the merger of the Community Placement Program and Community Resource Development Program. DDS argued that people should not remain in locked facilities for years and that the proposal would create urgency, clearer transition planning, a right of return, and a more efficient single program for community resource development. Supporters, including Disability Rights California, the State Council, the Public Defenders Association, and some service providers, said the proposals align with Olmstead and the Lanterman Act, reduce overreliance on institutions, and should be paired with stronger mental health supports, oversight, and notice to counsel. Opponents, including a district attorney representative, argued that a blanket 24-month limit could endanger public safety and that some individuals require longer, case-by-case commitments. Committee members said they wanted a more comprehensive plan showing that community placements and supports will be ready before people are moved, and they questioned whether an arbitrary timeline could work for such a complex population. Throughout the hearing, members repeatedly stressed that any implementation must be fair, transparent, and backed by valid tools, adequate community capacity, and public input. DDS said both sets of proposals would require legislative approval and that the department is still open to changes in trailer bill language and further stakeholder consultation. The hearing ended with the committee indicating it would continue reviewing the proposals and hear public comment, but no formal action was taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• Are there many viable alternatives to that for those conditions? Quite possibly, sir.
• Chasson, they still use cocaine as a viable treatment for some conditions. Yes, they do.
• From managing chronic conditions such as asthma and diabetes, responding to emergencies, addressing mental
• You'll notice that we talk about public health conditions.
• In our amendments, the whole idea of this is the public health condition, public health inquiry.

Committee: House Health and Welfare

Summary: The committee heard a personal privilege update on HB 1227, which Representative DeWitt said would return next week as a proposed HCR for a two-year study of the three-doctor panel after discussions with Dr. Nia Colotta. Better Louisiana also presented its new Leadership Louisiana Health Fellows Program, describing it as a data-driven leadership initiative focused on health care workforce, rural access, chronic disease, and other system issues; members discussed whether the program could also help generate policy research, including on managed care organizations. The committee then considered SB 427 on anatomical gifts. After adopting technical amendments, Senator Presley and Dr. Jeff White explained that the bill would strengthen organ donation law by creating a decision registry that records both yes and no choices, clarifying the legal effect of refusal, and codifying ethical principles such as the dead donor rule. Questions focused on organ viability, registry procedures, minors, and a Monroe case involving a disputed donor designation. Supporters included LOPA and the Louisiana Conference of Catholic Bishops, and the bill was reported favorably. HB 946, dealing with hospital price transparency and compliance with federal pricing rules, drew extensive testimony. Representative Landry and a witness from Patient Rights Advocate described it as a consumer transparency measure, but the Louisiana Hospital Association opposed the bill’s state-level enforcement and debt-collection provisions. Landry offered an amendment removing the debt-collection and affirmative-defense language, but after debate the substitute failed on a 5-6 vote and the bill was voluntarily deferred. The committee also reported favorably on SB 109, which revises membership qualifications for the Louisiana Emergency Medical Services Commission; SCR 20, urging federal flexibility on Medicaid redetermination for elderly and disabled beneficiaries; SB 216, allowing coroners to rely on licensed practical nurses for medical pronouncements of death; and SB 45, exempting certain gratuitous hospice houses from licensure, with testimony from hospice house operators and supporters. Finally, HCR 71 by Representative Chasson sought an LDH study of how Louisiana’s law and guidance on pregnancy-related emergency medications is working in hospitals, urgent care, and retail settings. Supporters said providers are hesitant to use medications such as misoprostol because of stigma and uncertainty, while opponents from Louisiana Right to Life argued the resolution was unnecessary and could create controversy. The discussion centered on whether the study should be narrowed or made more objective, but no final action on the resolution was reached in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• state-owned property may continue if the state sells the property, as long as the other required conditions
• revenues from 35% to 34%, and eliminates a licensing fee for slot machine license holders if certain conditions
• Yes, if certain conditions are met, essentially, if the mobile home park owner is passing through the
• Yes, if certain conditions are met, essentially, if the mobile home park owner is passing through the
• She was Florida... ...is buried in the cemetery, and the condition is something that obviously they're

Summary: The House convened with prayer, a moment of silence for two fallen service members, the Pledge of Allegiance, quorum call, and several recognitions, including law enforcement officers and visiting students and advocates. Members then adopted the special order report and moved into the special-order calendar. The first major item was HB 7031, the annual tax package, which was explained as a broad measure covering sales tax holidays, property tax changes, tax credits, pari-mutuel tax reductions, vacation-rental tax collection, and decoupling from federal tax changes. Members asked about the fiscal impact of decoupling and the firearm-accessories holiday; supporters emphasized fiscal caution and the package’s mix of consumer and housing provisions, while opponents objected to the gun-related tax holiday. The bill passed 105-2. The House then passed CS/CS/CS HB 1177 on Space Florida and spaceport operations 107-0, with supporters saying it would strengthen Florida’s competitiveness in commercial aerospace. CS for SB 246 on specialty license plates also passed unanimously after a strike-all amendment that added several new plates, revised the Fraternal Order of Police plate, and tightened specialty-plate financial and nonprofit requirements. CS HB 697 on drug prices and coverage passed 100-0 after supporters said it built on prior PBM reforms by requiring fairer pharmacy reimbursement and limiting forced losses on drugs. CS/CS HB 1263 on the Office of Insurance Regulation passed 109-0 after an amendment clarifying fingerprinting requirements, and CS/CS HB 527 on insurance claim denials passed 100-0 with a requirement for human review before claims are denied or reduced solely by AI. The House also passed CS HB 1449 on the statewide provider and health plan claim dispute resolution program 100-0 after narrowing the bill to out-of-network emergency services and claims at or below $50,000. CS HB 93 on protection from surgical smoke passed 178-0 after extensive emotional debate, with supporters describing it as a long-sought patient and worker safety measure requiring smoke evacuation systems in hospitals and surgical centers. Later, CS HB 1217 on prohibited governmental greenhouse-gas policies passed 29-0 after questions clarified that it would bar net-zero policies and related funding arrangements but not general energy efficiency or incidental emissions reductions; opponents argued it would preempt local climate and resilience efforts, while supporters said it protected energy reliability and affordability. The House then began debate on CS/CS HB 1461 on advanced nuclear reactors, with sponsors describing a framework for licensing and oversight of small modular and microreactors and supporters arguing it would help meet future energy demand and improve reliability.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm interested also in chronic litigants, and let's just call them chronic attorney plaintiffs—plaintiffs
• there anything else that we can provide you that will help you be better equipped to deal with these chronic
• there anything else that we can provide you that will help you be better equipped to deal with these chronic
• there anything else that we can provide you that will help you be better equipped to deal with these chronic
• there anything else that we can provide you that will help you be better equipped to deal with these chronic

Committee: Senate Rules

Summary: The Senate Rules Committee approved several non-appearing gubernatorial appointments and routine agenda items by 4-0 votes, including Frank Damrow Jr. to the Alcoholic Beverage Control Appeals Board, Michelle Eddger to the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, and David Galavis to the State Park and Recreation Commission. The committee also approved bill referrals, a rule waiver to allow SB 1447 to be heard after the policy deadline, and floor acknowledgments. The committee then heard the appointment of Clint Kellam as Director of the Department of Cannabis Control. Members focused heavily on cannabis regulation, especially illicit market activity, consumer education, labeling, and youth protection. Kellam said the department’s goal is to shift consumption from illicit to legal sources, not increase use, and described efforts such as the Real California Cannabis website, the required educational pamphlet for new users, inspections, and package review. Senators raised concerns about attractive-to-children packaging, high-dose beverages, and the need for tighter labeling rules; Kellam said the department is open to legislative changes, is working on an AI tool to help licensees review packaging, and uses recalls, citations, and administrative actions when products violate rules. He also described enforcement efforts against illegal cultivation and retail, including the Unified Cannabis Enforcement Task Force and cooperation with local, state, and federal agencies. The committee voted 4-0 to advance the appointment. The committee next heard Jennifer Osborne’s appointment as Director of the Department of Industrial Relations. Osborne described her background in state administration and said she aims to remove barriers, improve systems, and support workplace safety, wage enforcement, workers’ compensation, and apprenticeship programs. Senators asked about PAGA enforcement, Cal/OSHA audit findings, backlogs, staffing shortages, and complaint handling. Osborne said DIR’s role in PAGA is limited, but the department is working on Cal/OSHA policy revisions, training, additional investigation staff, centralized intake, IT modernization, and possible use of outside administrative law judges to reduce delays. She also said the department is addressing vacancy and backlog issues through classification changes and new hiring strategies. Public commenters from employer groups and labor organizations spoke in support, and the committee approved the appointment 4-0 for full Senate confirmation.

Transcript Highlights:

• So the first act in our letter is 567, which is the Diagnostic Lab Services annual cap charge for chronic
• And we're tying these two as special diagnosis in the case of the diagnostic lab service to chronic pain
• to make sure I'm understanding this correctly with the diagnostic lab services annual cap for the chronic
• Yes, ma'am, because it's tied to the diagnosis of chronic pain management, and the only option there
• And because we're tying the increased limit to a diagnosis of chronic pain management, it violates the

Committee: All ALC-ADMINISTRATIVE RULES

Summary: The Administrative Rules Subcommittee of the Arkansas Legislative Council reviewed several agency rules and requests. The Insurance Department’s amendment to its holding company system rule was reviewed and approved, as were two State Board of Election Commissioners rules: one clarifying poll watcher conduct, vote challenges, and provisional voting, and another increasing pay for certified election monitors and defining training, observation, and report-writing compensation. The Arkansas Financial Education Commission also had its rule reviewed and approved after removing membership requirements tied to DEI language to comply with Act 938. The committee held over the Department of Education’s request to be excluded from reporting requirements for one month to allow further discussion about who should write or implement the rules. A major portion of the meeting focused on the Department of Human Services’ request to be excluded from reporting requirements for Acts 567, 568, 967, and 1025. DHS said CMS had raised comparability and other federal approval concerns, especially for the dental and diagnostic lab provisions, and that it might not be able to meet the acts’ effective dates. DHS described several possible paths forward, including broader benefit changes, waivers, or splitting the dental provisions so the pediatric rate increase could move separately from the special-needs adult cap increase. The Arkansas State Dental Association disputed DHS’s conclusion that the acts could not be implemented as written, argued that Act 1025 is workable, and urged DHS to continue pursuing implementation and preserve the September 1 effective date where possible. Public testimony also supported expanded dental access for adults with disabilities and special needs. After discussion, the committee voted not to exclude DHS from reporting requirements for those acts. The committee then reviewed the Division of Higher Education’s Act 781 report. The division said it has 32 rules in effect, asked to repeal three rules—two replaced by new rules and one no longer supported by authority or current law—and to continue the remaining 29 rules. The committee approved that request, with the repeals effective upon adjournment of the Legislative Council meeting on January 16, 2026. The meeting concluded with no questions on the remaining written rulemaking updates from prior and current sessions, which were filed without further action.

Transcript Highlights:

• CalAIM provides coordinated care for justice-involved individuals, people with serious mental health conditions
• Currently, Medi-Cal has not had a work requirement as a condition of enrollment, but H.R. 1 establishes
• County eligibility staff must establish co-occurring clinical or functional conditions that would exempt
• Indicators of what an obvious unfitness might include are things like chronic homelessness or struggling
• The other broader discussion on all this, as you all sort of understand, is the overall fiscal condition

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Accountability and Oversight held a hearing on how H.R. 1’s new federal work and community engagement rules will affect Medi-Cal and CalFresh, especially for Californians with behavioral health needs, people experiencing homelessness, and justice-involved individuals. The Legislative Analyst’s Office outlined the scope of the changes, including Medi-Cal work requirements beginning in January 2027 and CalFresh changes beginning in June 2026, and estimated large potential coverage losses if people cannot document exemptions or comply with reporting rules. State departments said they are still awaiting some federal guidance but are already building implementation plans, data matching, outreach campaigns, and system changes to reduce disruption and automatically identify exemptions where possible. Department of Health Care Services and Department of Social Services officials described efforts to use existing data, CalSAWS, and cross-program coordination to streamline exemption screening, including for medical frailty, serious mental illness, substance use disorders, and student status. They said outreach will include text messaging, webinars, county training, and community-based partners, while also acknowledging that many people will still need direct worker contact. County representatives stressed that the new rules will create major administrative burdens, require significant new staffing, and could lead to coverage loss if counties are not adequately funded. They urged the Legislature to release the $20 million in current-year General Fund for CalFresh implementation and to consider a much larger county augmentation next year. Assembly members pressed the administration on outreach strategy, county funding, consistency across counties, and how to avoid harming eligible people through overly aggressive implementation. They also asked about coordination with universities, CDCR, and community-based organizations, and about how exemptions would be documented for mental health and substance use conditions. Department officials said they are working with counties, education institutions, and correctional agencies, and that they are trying to align Medi-Cal and CalFresh rules where possible, but not all federal definitions match. Public commenters from legal aid, counties, labor, and public hospitals warned that work requirements do not increase employment, will worsen food insecurity and health outcomes, and will strain county systems unless the state provides more funding and support.

Transcript Highlights:

• Sometimes it's people who, because of their health condition, they're able to afford a private policy
• and pay the premiums, but they don't have employment because their health condition is such that they're
• conditions are being subsidized.
• 5,000 Minnesotans were subsidized in 2024, including people living with diabetes, asthma, heart conditions
• </c> for motans facing serious conditions for motans facing serious conditions like<00:16:11.600><c>

Transcript Highlights:

• A county or city subject to this requirement may generally not require any standards, conditions, or
• of loans, grants, financial support, tax benefits, subsidy funds, or sale or as conditions of loans,
• A county or city subject to this requirement may generally not require any standards, conditions, or
• conditions.
• These conditions didn't improve outcomes. They delayed the project and drove up costs.

Bills: SB6069 , SB6167 , SB6201 , SB6205 , SB6001 , SB6026 , SB6054 , SGA9278 , SGA9279

Committee: Senate Housing

Transcript Highlights:

• Over the course of three audits of the UC system, we've consistently noted conditions that contribute
• Over the course of three audits of the UC system, we've consistently noted conditions that contribute
• Over the course of three audits of the UC system, we've consistently noted conditions that contribute
• Some of those chronic conditions include the UC's inability to identify the magnitude and locations of
• The second chronic issue is that UC has not adequately planned for or monitored repatriation activity

Summary: The joint hearing focused on the University of California’s compliance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) and CalNAGPRA, based on the California State Auditor’s April 2025 report and updates from UC and tribal representatives. Committee members and tribal witnesses emphasized the moral urgency of returning ancestral remains and cultural items, criticized the lack of clear timelines and accountability, and noted that other institutions have repatriated collections more quickly. The State Auditor said UC still has major gaps in identifying collections, completing campus searches, setting measurable deadlines, securing items, and fully using repatriation funding; the auditor projected that some campuses could take until 2037, 2041, 2053, or even 2089 to finish at current rates, and said 12 of 19 audit recommendations remained open. The Native American Heritage Commission said progress has been too slow and that new CalNAGPRA enforcement regulations are being finalized. UC Office of the President and campus leaders responded that the university has made substantial changes since 2019, including a revised NAGPRA policy, expanded staffing, new committees with tribal representation, more consultation, and more financial support for tribes. UC said it has repatriated more than 9,000 ancestors, 280,000 associated funerary objects, and 59,000 other cultural items systemwide, and that it is continuing to implement audit recommendations and improve transparency through a repatriation dashboard and funding information. Berkeley, San Diego, Riverside, and Santa Barbara each described campus-specific progress, including more staff, more consultations, more site reviews, and updated timelines; Berkeley said it is on track to publish remaining ancestors by the federal deadline, San Diego said it has repatriated 73% of remains and about 53% of cultural items, Riverside said nearly all known ancestors and associated funerary objects have been noticed or repatriated, and Santa Barbara said it has restructured its program and added staffing and tracking systems. Members pressed UC on why timelines remain so long, why some campuses still lack clear completion dates, and whether the Legislature should use budget tools to increase accountability. The auditor suggested the Legislature could consider stronger funding conditions and clearer expectations, while some members noted constitutional limits on earmarking UC’s base budget. UC said repatriation must be tribally led, that consultation and reburial can take time, and that some delays stem from incomplete records, overlapping tribal claims, and the need to reunite items with ancestors. No formal vote or action was taken at the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• adequate mental health care in 31 prisons for over 35,000 incarcerated people who have mental health conditions
• The Coleman class is over 36,000 California patients with serious mental health conditions.
• These included a lack of a systematic program for screening and evaluating patients, significant and chronic
• The first is on a report we published this past February titled "Addressing Chronic Vacancies in the
• The physical structure of our institutions and the working conditions of our institutions are really

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee hearing focused on the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s handling of mental health care in prisons and allegations of sexual abuse, retaliation, and excessive force in the state’s women’s facilities. CDCR officials described their PREA-based prevention and response efforts, including training, oversight, body-worn cameras, retaliation follow-up, and partnerships with outside groups. The Office of the Inspector General explained its monitoring role, noting increased authority under SB 1069, but also limited staffing and the ability to monitor only a portion of cases. The Legislative Analyst’s Office added that prison population trends could allow the state to close a prison and save over $100 million, with some savings potentially redirected to prevention or response efforts. Advocates and formerly incarcerated witnesses from Sister Warriors Freedom Coalition and the California Coalition of Women Prisoners testified that meaningful systemic change has not occurred and that retaliation, blocked programming, and unsafe reporting conditions remain widespread. They described alleged barriers to community-based services, forced or coercive treatment concerns involving Suboxone, and the need for survivor-centered reentry support, trauma-informed care, and more independent oversight. Sandra DeAnda gave detailed testimony about alleged staff abuse, retaliation, denial of mental health care, and a large use-of-force incident at Central California Women’s Facility, while Amika Mota and April Grayson urged release or resentencing for survivors housed with their abusers and greater investment in outside programs. Members of the committee pressed CDCR and OIG on accountability, use-of-force standards, criminal referrals, disciplinary outcomes, and whether investigations are completed within statutory timelines. CDCR acknowledged cultural problems at both women’s prisons and said it was retraining staff and working on reforms, while OIG said it had monitored 161 investigations and found most grievance routing appropriate, though some cases had lapsed due to time limits. Later exchanges revealed that CDCR has over 13,500 active cases and 109 investigators, and that some cases have exceeded deadlines, prompting concerns from members about whether the current system can adequately investigate misconduct and impose consequences. No votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• protections that are more protective than the federal minimum standards, even where Kentucky-specific conditions
• ><c> specific</c> standards even where Kentucky specific standards even where Kentucky specific conditions
• </c> conditions warrant these regulations. conditions warrant these regulations.
• margin of safety to account for limitations of our understanding of toxicology and human response to chronic
• Make America Healthy Again very broadly and very clearly that chemicals in our daily life can cause chronic

Committee: Senate Natural Resources & Energy

Transcript Highlights:

• Pay attention, because two years from now things get immensely more difficult if economic conditions
• </c><00:15:37.600><c> certain</c> grant agreements under certain grant agreements under certain conditions
• ><c> For</c><00:15:39.279><c> example,</c><00:15:39.760><c> failure</c><00:15:40.160><c> to</c> conditions
• For example, failure to conditions.
• how much money our agencies get, knowing that they have been lacking in their duty, as we saw with chronic

Transcript Highlights:

• As pending business members, this bill relates to the inclusion of chronically absent and truant students
• Lamarck ISD was a chronically underperforming school district with radically few students graduating
• High expectations and accountability are necessary conditions.
• Two of our buildings need costly air conditioning repairs.
• I have to have air conditioning, I have to have... heat.

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

Committees: Senate Education , Senate Education K-16

Transcript Highlights:

• We know that there's chronic illnesses with our children now, and the childhood schedule for vaccinations
• We know that there's chronic illnesses with our children now, and the childhood schedule for vaccinations
• We do recognize there are people with immunologic conditions and so forth that can't receive vaccines
• Um, to some extent the conditions around this bill have changed in the sense that I am happy to say that
• </c><01:17:29.600><c> around</c> to some extent the the conditions around to some extent the the conditions

Bills: HB1853 , HB1591 , HB1961 , HB1854 , HB1965 , HB1962 , HB1959 , HB2505 , HB2576 , HB1801 , HB1804 , HB1864 , HB2319 , HB2314 , HB2115

Committee: House Health

Summary: The committee heard testimony on SB 2047, relating to pharmacy benefit managers. The Insurance Division said the bill would require new enforcement resources and estimated an appropriation of about $1.5 million and five positions. Kaiser Permanente asked for an amendment to exclude HMOs from the definition of third-party PBMs, saying the bill should not interfere with integrated care models. PCMA and the Hawaii Pharmacist Association supported narrowing amendments, with pharmacists objecting to section 3 and warning the bill as amended could create major operational burdens and a significant general fund cost. No vote was taken in the portion provided, and the chair moved on to the next measure after questions. The committee then took up SB 2080, which would allow Hawaii to join the psychology interjurisdictional compact. Supporters, including DCR, the Hawaii Association of Health Plans, the Hawaii State Association of Counties, the Grassroot Institute, and others, said the compact would expand access to psychology services, especially for people in rural areas or those needing continuity of care while traveling. Opponents, including the Board of Psychology and a Shamanad University psychology professor, raised concerns about client safety, crisis-response procedures, enforcement costs, FBI background checks, and possible loss of state control over training and specialization standards. The board said Hawaii’s current 1,900-hour internship/postdoc requirement is higher than the compact’s standard and that the state is still implementing a separate provisional licensing law that may address some access issues. The discussion focused on whether the compact would meaningfully reduce shortages and whether Hawaii should instead pursue changes within its existing licensing system. Finally, the committee heard SB 2277 on hospital price transparency. The Office of Consumer Protection initially noted the bill could require significant staffing, but later testimony from SHIP suggested the measure could be handled more simply by working with the Healthcare Association of Hawaii and publicly posting violations. The Healthcare Association of Hawaii opposed the bill, arguing hospitals already must comply with federal CMS transparency rules and that adding state requirements would increase costs and legal exposure, especially if violations were treated as unfair or deceptive trade practices. Steve Fenberg testified in support, saying the bill would simply codify existing federal requirements in state law and that he was open to amendments removing state enforcement and the unfair trade practice language. No final action was taken in the excerpt provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• SB705 by Zaffirini relating to the air conditioning and refrigeration contract. Advisory board.
• SB 705 is a cleanup bill for the TDL Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors Advisory Board structure
• So when you're trying to maintain the management of your chronic diseases, when you're trying to space
• They go without medications, and it exacerbates their chronic conditions, which is much more costly to
• Being able to access a provider, be on the medications you need, to be healthy, to prevent chronic disease

Bills: SB15 , SB35 , SB290 , SB1365 , SB2568 , SB18 , SB427 , SB1860 , SB1864 , SB2675 , SB596 , SB2858 , SB3058 , SB816 , SB1163 , SB1484 , SB1898 , SB1777 , SB1802 , SB2692 , SB315 , SB1585 , SB1626 , SB2058 , SB2050 , SB2105 , SB2245 , SB2764 , SB2611 , SB2497 , SB2452 , SB2243 , SB1705 , SB1244 , SB1361 , SB438 , SB578 , SB584 , SB2690 , SB2521 , SB2487 , SB2342 , SB2063 , SB125 , SB2041 , SB1962 , SB1413 , SB6 , SB2878 , SB13 , SB30 , SJR87 , SB7 , SB127 , SB293 , SB441 , SB3059 , SB57 , SB512 , SB1718 , SB140 , SB2055 , SB2075 , SB2018 , SB1534 , SB1567 , SB785 , SB1233 , SB1580 , SB1663 , SB413 , SB447 , SB519 , SB467 , SB1579 , SB1191 , SB1021 , SB1838 , SB2807 , SB2835 , SB546 , SB2121 , SB2167 , SB2024 , SB1032 , SB1049 , SB1266 , SB1400 , SB1302 , SB401 , SB1596 , SB1281 , SB1242 , SB1343 , SB1346 , SB2753 , SB2221 , SB1719 , SB2177 , SB552 , SB646 , SJR1 , SB15 , SB800 , SB790 , SB748 , SB571 , SB1957 , SB1923 , SB1896 , SB1760 , SB1335 , SB2368 , SB2477 , SB2587 , SB2972 , SB2986 , SB2965 , SB1563 , SB1467 , SB1164 , SB1137 , SB614 , SB705 , SB961 , SB918 , SB955 , SB869 , SB850 , SB863 , SB1610 , SB1055 , SB2206 , SB457 , SB2337 , SB1362 , SB926 , SB1494 , SB251 , SB456 , SB500 , SB1307 , SB2615 , SB2995 , SB2321 , SB973 , SB974 , SB865 , SB506 , SB781 , SB1522 , SB1558 , SB510 , SB667 , SB763 , SB2073 , SB1858 , SB1660 , SB505 , SB2900 , SB1433 , SB1540 , SB1964 , SB1300 , SB1644 , SB2217 , SB2373 , SB2431 , SB1758 , SB2480 , SB3039 , SB3047 , SB3073 , SB2920 , SB2781 , SB826 , SB766 , SB2460 , SB527 , SB1946 , SB2885 , SB1243 , SB2610 , SB2595 , SB857 , SB2501 , SB66 , SB268 , SB331 , SB618 , SB414 , SB1394 , SB2425 , SB898 , SB993 , SB442 , SB735 , SB784 , SB2538 , SB1919 , SB1013 , SB2215 , SB2322 , SB626 , SB570 , SB747 , SB2183 , SB673 , SB1015 , SB1447 , SB1370 , SB1784 , SB1897 , SB2873 , SB2891 , SB2933 , SB2540 , SB2681 , SB2695 , SB1965 , SB2203 , SB872 , SB875 , SB1030 , SB1277 , SB1730 , SB1681 , SB1152 , SB2969 , SB2747 , SB2705 , SB2541 , SB1708 , SB2080 , SB2721 , SB1986 , SB2392 , SB2539 , SB2857 , SB2799 , SB2785 , SB2782 , SB1531 , SB1927 , SB1263 , SB1098 , SB35 , SB290 , SB1365 , SB2568 , SB18 , SB427 , SB1860 , SB1864 , SB2675 , SB596 , SB2858 , SB3058 , SB816 , SB1163 , SB1484 , SB1898 , SB1777 , SB1802 , SB2692 , SB315 , SB1585 , SB1626 , SB2058 , SB2050 , SB2105 , SB2245 , SB2764 , SB2611 , SB2497 , SB2452 , SB2243 , SB1705 , SB1244 , SB1361 , SB438 , SB578 , SB584 , SB2690 , SB2521 , SB2487 , SB2342 , SB2063 , SB125 , SB2041 , SB1962 , SB1413 , SCR9 , SB21 , SB1198 , SB1405 , SB2601 , SB2778 , HB5560 , HB762 , HB1584 , HB 107 , HB 114 , HB138 , HB4386 , HB2495 , HB581 , HB3348 , HB5323 , HB4341 , HB6 , HB171 , HB143 , HB449 , HB3486 , HB4263 , HB5246 , HB2 , HB2011 , SB17

Transcript Highlights:

• functions across the state, where hospitals and rural places are able to serve people, where people with chronic
• conditions can get care close to their own homes, where there's continuity of care and preventative
• those last days of the session, where the conference committees were working, but there were added conditions
• So those last days where new conditions were being added and people were getting a little recalcitrant

Transcript Highlights:

• However, the reality for many drivers has been chronic congestion, longer commute times, and daily traffic
• others are waiting for them as they get dropped off, and they're drawn to that area, creating unsafe conditions
• A CDL holder in a cab can respond to unexpected road conditions. perform safety checks and intervene
• The law also allows driverless vehicles to operate under other conditions.

Bills: HB341 , HB469 , HB971 , HB1624 , HB2721 , HB2959 , HB3365 , HB3731 , HB3793 , HB3861 , HB3946 , HB3966 , HB4348 , HB4401 , HB4402 , HB4924 , HB4966 , HB5563

Committee: House Transportation