Transcript Highlights:

• There is less time to assess, counsel, educate, and reassure other patients.
• Patients are the most vulnerable people in the state. So we are in favor of having this.
• and practitioners alike. ...to ensure safety for both patients and practitioners alike.
• Being desperate, I found a patient advocacy group called ClusterBusters.
• Evidence-based treatment... to reaching patients in an equitable way across Massachusetts.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery

Summary: The hearing opened with remarks from House Chair Mindy Domb and Senate Vice Chair Robyn Kennedy, who outlined procedures for the hybrid public hearing, noted the committee would hear testimony on 15 bills related to treatment settings, and recognized members present. The first major bill discussed was H. 4200, authorizing a pilot program for psychedelic-assisted treatment in licensed facilities. Representative Jim O’Day and witnesses from Control Z supported the bill, describing it as a tightly controlled, medically supervised pilot with DPH oversight, limited sites, and screening requirements. Committee members asked about the number of sites and whether Column Health still existed; witnesses said the bill contemplated three separate pilot programs and that Column Health no longer existed after being purchased by another company. The committee also heard testimony on S. 1405 to make the drug stewardship program permanent by removing its 2026 sunset date. Senator John Keenan and others said the program helps collect and safely dispose of unused medications, reduces diversion, and should remain in place because manufacturers should bear disposal costs. A member from Boston added support based on local concerns about people searching through bags for drugs, and Keenan explained the original sunset reflected pilot status and industry pushback. A large portion of the hearing focused on S. 1394 and H. 2193, which would strengthen implementation of the 2023 Roadmap for Behavioral Health Reform. The Children’s Mental Health Campaign, Parent/Professional Advocacy League, Massachusetts Association for Mental Health, and Elliott Community Human Services testified that the roadmap’s helpline, community behavioral health centers, and crisis services are important but unevenly implemented. They urged a single point of accountability within EOHHS, regular strategic planning, a public data dashboard, and financial analysis of the behavioral health system and the access and crisis intervention trust fund. Witnesses said commercial insurance often does not fully reimburse community behavioral health center services, making sustainability difficult, and asked for better coordination across agencies and crisis response systems. Committee members asked whether the roadmap includes substance use disorder; witnesses said it is intended to cover behavioral health broadly, including mental health and substance use. The committee also heard testimony on bills to ban aversives and on suicide prevention signage. Lisa Jean Graff testified in support of S. 1394 by urging a statewide ban on aversive practices, including electric shock, withholding food or bathroom access, and other painful interventions, arguing disabled people deserve the same protections from harm as others. Fonda Bryant and Carol McLean supported a bill requiring suicide prevention signs on tall parking garages, describing personal experiences and saying the signs could create a brief pause and connect people to 988 or other help. McLean said her son died by suicide from a parking garage and that signage might have made a difference. The committee also heard strong testimony in support of creating intensive stabilization and treatment units within DMH facilities (S. 1398/H. 2204), with the Massachusetts Nurses Association and a DMH nurse arguing that highly assaultive patients need specialized, more secure units to protect staff and other patients and to improve care. Additional testimony supported creating a dedicated board for licensed mental health counselors (H. 4696/S. 1382), with Rep. John Badger, the Mass Mental Health Counselors Association, and others saying LMHCs are a large and growing workforce that needs its own licensing board, clearer standards, and faster implementation of existing licensure reforms. The committee also heard extensive testimony on H. 2223 regarding benzodiazepines and non-benzodiazepine hypnotics. Survivors and advocates described severe withdrawal, lack of informed consent, cognitive harms, and long-term disability, while a physician supported the bill as a way to improve disclosure of risks. Finally, the committee heard multiple witnesses in favor of H. 2231/S. 1383 to establish peer-run respite centers statewide. Advocates and people with lived experience said peer respites provide non-coercive, home-like alternatives to hospitalization, can reduce trauma and repeated admissions, and may be especially important for marginalized communities; they also cited cost savings and existing positive outcomes from current respite programs. No votes or final committee actions were taken during the hearing portion reflected in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• face much more regulatory hurdles because they're not giving bribes to the president or getting preferred
• It defines clear authority for telemedicine, requiring a veterinary client patient relationship except
• except for patient relationship except for emergency<01:27:55.360><c> stabilization</c><01:27:56.480
• But, you know, just starting off farming, I would have really preferred an on-site examination for my
• an on-site examination really preferred an on-site examination for<01:31:21.840><c> my</c><01:31:22.080

Bills: HF3718

Committee: House Agriculture Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• You make a happier patient. You make a patient that can come to work and be productive.
• But the indirect patient benefits, you provide a safety net. If you will, for 340B patients.
• Now, he's not a hospital patient.
• patients are underinsured.
• choices and patient steering.

Bills: HB712 , HB722 , HB946 , HB1687 , HB1809 , HB1899 , HB2528 , HB2583 , HB2741 , HB2750 , HB3021 , HB3150 , HB3265 , HB3658 , HB3812 , HB3960 , HB4392 , HB4432

Committee: House Insurance

Keywords: prostate cancer, health benefit plans, insurance coverage, cost sharing, preventive health care, auto insurance, total loss evaluation, disclosure, insurance materials, vehicle appraisal, HB 946, Texas Insurance Code, automobile insurance claims, oral release, written release, settlement agreement, claim release, property damage, bodily injury, psychological injury

Transcript Highlights:

• Three, the availability of effective outreach and treatment programs for patients who have been exposed
• On sharing information to patients about wound management and giving individuals wound care kits.
• And then eventually there became some people who preferred fentanyl.
• So it's kind of like a self-fixing problem for many of our patients who use stimulants.
• So like it's kind of like a self-fixing problem for many of our patients who use stimulants.

Summary: The Special Commission on xylazine held its first meeting, with House Chair Mindy Domb and Senate Co-Chair John Keenan outlining the commission’s charge and a proposed work plan. The commission is tasked with studying the public health and safety impacts of xylazine in the illicit drug supply, including whether it should be scheduled as a controlled substance, how to regulate its production and distribution, and how to improve outreach and treatment for people exposed to it. Members were told the report deadline had been extended to March 30, 2026, and staff proposed a series of public hearings and working groups leading to a final report. The meeting also included attendance, packet materials, and procedural planning. The first major testimony came from BSAS Director Deirdre Calvert, who described xylazine’s appearance in Massachusetts drug supply data, the state’s public health alerts, and DPH’s partnership with Brandeis, CDC, and harm reduction organizations. She emphasized four priorities: reducing stigma and discrimination in health care, expanding self-directed wound care support and coverage for supplies, expanding access to drug checking and test strips, and supporting low-barrier services such as mobile vans and drop-in centers. Commission members asked about first responder awareness, medical education, and whether harm reduction services might face federal restrictions; Calvert said misinformation remains a problem and noted ongoing training efforts, including collaboration with public safety agencies. Several other speakers reinforced the need for low-barrier care and drug checking. Dr. Raghini Jala, an infectious disease and addiction medicine physician, said xylazine has become a common component of the unregulated opioid supply and urged support for rapid-response education teams, community-based drug checking, and better hospital and detox protocols for xylazine withdrawal and wounds. Recovery coach Alan Young testified from lived experience, describing severe wounds, fear of inadequate withdrawal treatment in emergency settings, and the value of mobile care vans that can provide methadone, buprenorphine, and wound care in the community. Dr. Sarah Wakeman echoed the need for naloxone, rescue breathing, low-threshold treatment, and non-stigmatizing health care settings, while Sarah Macon of the Boston Public Health Commission described Boston’s harm reduction and drug checking work, including on-site testing, wound care, and a decline in opioid mortality. Tracy Green of the Massachusetts Drug Supply Data Stream explained that xylazine has declined in recent samples while metatomidine is rising, said drug checking is increasingly used but still not enough, and argued for more funding, staffing, and statewide access to real-time drug checking and harm reduction services.

Transcript Highlights:

• You just got to be a little patient. Okay.
• You just got to be a little<01:08:32.880><c> patient.</c><01:08:34.080><c> Okay.
• So, I gave many, little patient. Okay.
• I would prefer to go last on our side. Very well. The representative from St.
• </c> with me and you've been very patient with me and you've been very patient with<02:10:46.719><c>

Transcript Highlights:

• I would prefer that route. Across the world so that people are still forced to be on Medi-Cal.
• I would prefer that route.
• questions as a senator, but also someone who still practices in the health care space, still has patients
• That should remain focused on increasing resources to providers for patient care, preserving dedicated
• We urge you to reconsider this proposal with the patients and safety-net providers in mind.

Committee: Senate Budget and Fiscal Review

Transcript Highlights:

• Heron and Company PC of horseshoes would prefer not to be on a list or publicly disclosed that they,
• More than half of our employees work in direct care serving patients in our state psychiatric hospitals
• How is customer satisfaction or resident, consumer, patient satisfaction?
• documented patients to maximize reimbursement. So.
• So more on the numbers than the the patients themselves because we We do know how many people are afraid

Bills: HB150 , HB869 , HB876 , HB 1043 , HB1494 , HB1522 , HB150

Committee: House Delivery of Government Efficiency

Keywords: cybersecurity, state command, information resources, data protection, incident response, information technology, classification officer, job descriptions, state positions, competency-based, information sharing, government efficiency, public sector, private sector, distributed ledger, title registry, real estate, property liens, pilot program, healthcare

Transcript Highlights:

• Rather than considering patient acuity, training, or skill mix, which a human being would factor in as
• If the acuity and other specific needs of individual patients is made to be of secondary importance to
• And yet, we no place in patient care.
• is made to be of secondary patients is made to be of secondary importance<00:31:56.360><c> to</c><00
• for employment and actually preference for employment and actually put<01:46:26.000><c> that</c><01:

Committee: House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Summary: The Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy Committee met to discuss worker misclassification, beginning with approval of the March 4, 2026 minutes and a note that a late-posted bill would not be heard at this time. Chair Pinto opened the hearing by framing misclassification as timely and invited Lea Takapu of the Attorney General’s office to explain the issue. Takapu described misclassification as labeling workers as independent contractors when they are really employees, which can deprive workers of minimum wage, overtime, unemployment insurance, workers’ compensation, and other protections while also reducing tax revenue. She said the Attorney General’s office and the MEAP partnership have been working on the issue and cited estimates that Minnesota workers lose billions annually and the state loses hundreds of millions to over a billion dollars in revenue, while noting that legitimate independent contracting is not the target. Members questioned how the committee could rely on estimates when the exact number of misclassified workers is unknown. Takapu responded that the figures were based on studies and complaint data, and that underground or undocumented work makes exact counts difficult. Chair Pinto noted the numbers were estimates and referenced a 2024 Legislative Auditor finding that Minnesota lacked an adequate, coordinated approach to proper worker classification, while saying progress had been made since then. Several industry witnesses then testified in support of stronger enforcement. Kevin Pranis of LiUNA said misclassification remains rampant in parts of construction, especially drywall, stucco, thin stone, and broadband installation, and argued it is tax, unemployment insurance, and workers’ compensation fraud that harms law-abiding contractors and taxpayers. Matt Wollers of Braxton and Sons said his company loses bids to competitors that misclassify workers, creating a labor-cost advantage of 30% or more, and asked for meaningful enforcement rather than new legislation, including regular unannounced jobsite visits. Jesse Madison of Purple Tally Productions said misclassification is anti-competition and described examples from live events and entertainment, urging front-end checks on workers’ compensation, unemployment coverage, and W-2 versus 1099 status before work begins. The next testifier, Ben Ballou of the Minnesota Nurses Association, began his remarks as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• Help us protect patient safety.
• Help us protect patient safety.
• </c> in the care of our pregnant patients. in the care of our pregnant patients.
• </c> with my patient in shared decision-m is. with my patient in shared decision-m is.
• </c> patients. Thank you. patients. Thank you. &gt;&gt; Thank<04:00:47.840><c> you.

Committee: House Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• To be clear, most pharmacists will communicate to the patient when the cash price is lower, and the patients
• the bill does allow for. for a patient to call a patient with results at any time.
• This is good for patients because most patients want a doctor who shares their beliefs, but in certain
• For patients and diminishing access to care.
• Informed consent is an essential part of the patient-physician relationship. patients and physicians

Bills: SB95 , SB268 , SB493 , SB619 , SB660 , SB922 , SB984 , SB1098 , SB1188 , SB1307 , SB1332 , SB1822

Committee: Senate Health & Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• They collect data on patients, on children, on domestic violence survivors, and sell it to whoever is
• <00:08:58.320><c> collect</c><00:08:58.600><c> data</c><00:08:58.880><c> on</c><00:08:59.000><c> patients
• ,</c><00:08:59.680><c> on</c> They collect data on patients, on They collect data on patients, on children
• analyze, or predict personal aspects including an individual's economic situation, health, personal preferences

Transcript Highlights:

• immunocompromised individuals, which includes one of my grandchildren, who is seven, the elderly, cancer patients
• And to further preference mining in situations like this is unnecessary.
• ICU, it is my firm belief that medical professionals should determine what employees need to keep patients
• employees who will not utilize basic, safe medical care to work in medical settings deprivizes the patients
• It is bad policy and risks public health and the lives of patients. I urge everyone to vote no.

Transcript Highlights:

• By funding SB 155, the committee ensures that Louisiana patients can begin their medical treatments when
• On behalf of cancer patients and families across our state, I respectfully ask for your crucial fiscal
• And I try to make myself available to these types of activities as an advocate for patients that are
• So I think that for my unique patient population, I think that even though we may all say, oh, maybe
• We have the Secretary of State here, so I'll give her preference.

Committee: House Appropriations

Summary: The House Appropriations Committee met on May 26, 2026, and first took up Senate Bill 433, which would provide Medicaid coverage for certain weight-loss medications. After adopting a House amendment adding customary subject-to-appropriation language, the committee heard from LDH Secretary Bruce Greenstein, who said the state currently spends about $240 million a year on GLP-1 drugs for Medicaid patients with obesity and certain other conditions, and that the bill would let the department expand coverage gradually while controlling costs and negotiating better pricing. Members spoke in strong support, and SB 433 was reported favorable as amended. The committee then considered Senate Bill 157, which creates paid parental leave for eligible public K-12 educators and staff. An amendment was adopted to adjust fund language and make the bill proper for Appropriations. Senator Jenkins and supporters, including the Louisiana Federation of Teachers, described the bill as providing six weeks of paid leave for birth, adoption, fostering, and related family-building events, while members discussed whether medical leave should also be included and confirmed the leave applies to fathers as well. The bill drew broad support and was reported favorable as amended. Senate Bill 250, requiring the Office of Group Benefits to offer a comprehensive weight management plan with employees paying the full premium and medication costs, was briefly discussed and reported favorable without objection. The committee then spent considerable time on Senate Bill 237, a child welfare measure from Senator Barrow that would expand notification, access, and investigative procedures for the Child Ombudsman and DCFS, including child-on-child sexual abuse cases and multidisciplinary fatality reviews. Members and agency officials debated the fiscal note, with estimates ranging from about $525,000 to $3.2 million and disagreement over whether some costs were already covered or could be absorbed; after a roll call, the bill passed 10-9 and was reported favorable as amended. Finally, the committee began Senate Bill 155, which requires insurance coverage for medically necessary dental care tied to cancer treatment. Senator Talbot and medical and cancer advocacy witnesses said the bill would remove a barrier to timely chemotherapy or radiation and could prevent more expensive complications later. Members expressed support and discussed a relatively small fiscal note, but the transcript cuts off before final action on the bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• I thank you for the patient lobbyists who are doing their job in working with I thank you for the patient
• section that allows for some specifics to cater to... ...that allows for some specifics to cater to a preference

Transcript Highlights:

• And as we know, the southern residents prefer and primarily feed off the largest, most delicious salmon
• Really appreciate the long and patient journey that you took us on today. My pleasure.
• I don't think we have... ...and patient journey that you took us on today.

Committee: House Capital Budget

Transcript Highlights:

• And as we know, the southern residents prefer and primarily feed off the largest, most delicious salmon
• Really appreciate the long and patient journey that you took us on today. My pleasure.
• I don't think we have... ...and patient journey that you took us on today. My pleasure.

Summary: The Capital Budget Committee held a work session on fish passage and barrier prioritization. Tom Jameson of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife briefed members on the state salmon recovery framework, the types and prevalence of fish passage barriers, and the many existing barrier-removal programs. He explained that culverts are the most common barrier, but levees, tidegates, dams, and other structures also affect salmon and steelhead. He also described the state’s fish passage database, the assessment criteria used to determine whether a structure is a barrier, and the Brian Abbott Fish Barrier Removal Board’s role in funding projects. Jameson reviewed the history of the board and its grant pathways, noting that the Legislature has funded 199 projects totaling nearly $225 million over five biennia, including significant federal support in the last biennium. He then focused on the new statewide prioritization strategy directed by the Legislature in 2020. A science panel recommended using an optimization model and then scoring and ranking barriers, but Jameson said the model depends on better stream mapping and ongoing “snapping” of stream layers to known barrier locations. He said the strategy is intended to produce watershed-based priority lists rather than a single statewide ranking. Members asked about how barriers are assessed during fish migration periods, how private land access affects inventory work, how local governments can report completed corrections, and how the prioritization criteria weight Chinook salmon and southern resident orca recovery. Jameson said urban areas with downstream barriers or heavily altered streams may be less recoverable, while rural watersheds may offer greater benefit. He also explained the federal culvert injunction, including ongoing obligations for state agencies and DOT’s 2030 target, and said the injunction never fully ends because new barriers are continually discovered and must be addressed over time. No votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• money that they put up comes in at a higher level, they would be able to put it to use to care for patients
• money that they put up comes in at a higher level, they would be able to put it to use to care for patients
• My preference would be, because the procurement person said it was a one-year appropriation, that they

Bills: SB241 , SB145 , HB2

Committee: Senate House Appropriations & Finance

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 241 and reviewed a Senate Finance Committee substitute that incorporated several amendments. Staff explained changes related to the child care fund, residency determinations for federally eligible applicants, expanded child care assistance eligibility for grandparents raising grandchildren and foster parents, updated payment-rate rulemaking, tribal child care sovereignty and culturally appropriate services, limits on land grant permanent fund use for nonsectarian/non-denominational services, provider licensure pathways, and reporting clarifications. Members also discussed whether the bill would maximize federal and state child care tax benefits and how the nonsectarian language would apply to faith-based child care providers. The committee adopted the substitute and then passed it on a 7-3 vote. The committee then moved into House Bill 2 budget language review, focusing on budget adjustment authority and other fiscal provisions. Members discussed proposed BAR language for the State Investment Council, State Treasurer, PERA, and the Economic Development Department, with concerns about caps, whether the language was too broad, and whether some items should revert to existing law or be removed. The committee approved some of the BAR language items, but flagged the Treasurer and Economic Development provisions for later review. Members also discussed extending certain appropriations and project timelines, including a Rio Grande Trail Commission item and several IT and public safety projects, generally favoring extensions where work was still underway. The committee then debated proposed public school support language that would bar PED from approving budgets for schools with fewer than 180 instructional days and from approving new moves to four-day school weeks. Several members argued the 180-day language conflicted with existing statute, which is based on instructional hours, and that the four-day-week restriction could have unintended consequences. The committee ultimately voted down both public school support provisions. The meeting ended with a brief discussion of reviewing the rest of House Bill 2 and related supplemental and language items in the next session, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• I understand from conversations with Senator Champion that he would prefer it be funded in the budget
• with Senator Champion uh that<00:51:38.680><c> he</c><00:51:38.760><c> would</c><00:51:38.960><c> prefer
• And the intention is that they would hire at least—preference would be given to businesses that seek
• And the intention is that they would hire at least—preference would be given to businesses that seek
• Capital loan pool and a lowcost patient Capital loan pool uh<01:24:09.960><c> the</c><01:24:10.040><

Committee: Senate Jobs and Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:

• Overall, nearly half of UC Medical Center's patient care revenue comes from the federal government.
• The acceptance of all patients has led to some financial losses prior to the passage of H.R. 1, with
• We treat patients from 99% of the state's zip codes and our specialty health services, such as the UC
• The acceptance of all patients has led to some financial losses prior to the passage of HR-1, with UC
• HR-1 imposes new bureaucratic barriers on Medi-Cal-eligible patients seeking health insurance, poses

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance, chaired by Assemblymember Alvarez, held a hearing focused on University of California budget issues. The committee reviewed UC core operations funding, enrollment trends, federal funding threats, Title IX implementation, and basic needs support. Major themes included the end of the Governor’s multi-year UC compact, the state’s fiscal outlook, UC’s enrollment growth, and the potential impacts of federal policy changes on research, health care, and student aid. On core funding, the Department of Finance described the Governor’s proposal to continue compact-related support, defer some payments, and authorize a cash-flow loan. The LAO recommended a smaller or no base increase, earmarking some funds for capital renewal, retiring deferrals when possible, avoiding new compact commitments, and funding UC annually rather than through compacts. UC argued that the compact has supported enrollment growth, student services, and operating costs, but said campuses face rising expenses, structural deficits, and limited reserves. Members questioned the effects of deferrals on students and discussed the need to prioritize less harmful reductions if cuts become necessary. The enrollment panel focused on UC’s growth in California resident enrollment and the nonresident replacement plan at Berkeley, UCLA, and UC San Diego. The LAO recommended maintaining the current enrollment target, funding enrollment separately from base increases, pausing the nonresident replacement plan, and holding enrollment flat in 2027-28. UC said it has already met compact enrollment goals, grown California undergraduate enrollment by about 18,800 students, and that further growth depends on ongoing state support. The committee also discussed the cost of enrollment growth, possible differential nonresident tuition, and a reporting request for UC to analyze the nonresident replacement approach; the motion to adopt supplemental reporting language passed. The hearing also covered federal funding risks, with the LAO and UC warning that federal changes could affect research grants, medical center reimbursement, and student financial aid. UC said research cancellations and suspensions are disrupting labs and graduate student support, while federal health policy changes could increase uncompensated care at UC hospitals. In the Title IX update, UC described its systemwide civil rights structure, annual student training, and campus support offices, and members praised the work while asking about ongoing concerns and intersegmental collaboration. The final basic-needs item began with Finance stating the Governor’s budget does not change ongoing support, but the transcript cuts off before further discussion or action.

Transcript Highlights:

• This experience shows that privacy and intimate spaces isn't just a preference.
• This experience shows that privacy and intimate spaces isn't just a preference.
• You did very well in the time also, and you've been most patient. Take care. Thank you. Thank you.
• So thank you for being patient. Take care. That concludes our testifiers committee.
• Once that happens, it kind of lists out the different preferences. So I think it's a good bill.

Committee: House Judiciary, Rules and Administration