Video & Transcript Research : 'Kakou Pilot Program'

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HI

Hawaii 2025 Regular Session

AGR Public Hearing - Fri Mar 7, 2025 @ 10:30 AM HST

Agriculture & Food Systems

Transcript Highlights:
  • of the food hub pilot program.
  • and strong support of the food hub pilot program<00:14:26.320> and<00:14:26.480> an<00
  • be a really good pilot program um would be a really good idea<00:15:54.199> so<00:15:54.959><
  • /c><00:17:03.680> hubs program um food Pilots food hubs program um food Pilots food hubs aggregate
  • <00:19:35.480> program program or the cover crop pilot program program or the cover crop pilot
Keywords: 910, house, all
HI
Transcript Highlights:
  • program.
  • program.
  • program.
  • parking zone pilot program. parking zone pilot program.
  • This is encouraging the city and county of Honolulu to initiate a summer streets pilot program and would
Keywords: 912, senate, all
Summary: The committee heard and then voted on several concurrent resolutions. HCR 71, asking the Coalina Golf Club to work with the Department of Transportation to prevent golf balls from reaching Fington Highway, drew no opposition in testimony; a member thanked the golf club for cooperating after a constituent’s windshield was struck, and the measure was passed unamended. HCR 19 HD1, supporting Taiwan’s international participation and a U.S.-Taiwan trade agreement, received only DBED testimony in support and was passed with technical amendments. HCR 163, urging the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts to establish an annual Pacific Island culture and arts festival, was supported by DBEDT and the foundation itself, which said it would welcome such a festival subject to funding and staff resources; it was passed unamended. In the later joint session, HCR 70 on accelerating sustainable aviation fuels received support from the Hawaii Renewable Fuels Coalition, while DOT said it is already working on clean fuels through its greenhouse-gas reduction efforts and that the resolution would mainly require a more targeted progress report; the measure passed, with one no vote in the joint committee vote. HCR 123, on a restricted parking zone pilot program in West Oahu neighborhoods, had no oral testimony and was passed with technical amendments. HCR 57, on a traffic mitigation and calming study in Waipahu, also had no testimony and was passed unamended. HCR 112, urging Honolulu to adopt a pedestrian-first policy, drew broad support from public health, planning, bicycling, and student witnesses, though one testifier urged coordination with existing county plans; it passed unamended. HCR 177, encouraging a summer streets pilot program, also passed unamended. For HCR 203, urging Maui County to prioritize planning for the Kihei North-South Collector Road, the chairs proposed technical amendments to correct the responsible agency from the Planning Department to the Public Works Department, and the measure passed with those amendments. Across the meetings, the committee repeatedly noted when there were no further questions or testimony, and each resolution was adopted by the committee after the stated recommendations.
AR
Transcript Highlights:
  • I volunteered for my court in Conway, Clinton, and Marshall to participate as a pilot court program.
  • I volunteered for my court in Conway, Clinton, and Marshall to participate as a pilot court program.
  • I volunteered for my court and Conway Clinton and Marshall to participate as a pilot court program.
  • up doing better as a result of the program.
  • So we are doing some pilots there.
Summary: The Senate and House Joint Committee on Children and Youth approved the December 10 minutes and confirmed Representative Mary Bentley to the Child Maltreatment Investigations Oversight Committee. The committee then heard the annual Arkansas Infant and Child Death Review report, which said the state reviewed 148 of 170 non-natural child deaths in 2023; the reviewed deaths included 69 accidents, 14 suicides, 18 homicides, and 47 undetermined causes. Members asked about how the report’s recommendations could be used, grant opportunities tied to prevention work, and whether the data could be broken down by age; presenters said the report is intended as a prevention tool for agencies and nonprofits and that some age detail is available in later pages of the report. The committee next took up HCR 1010 and then a broader discussion of juvenile justice reform. Senator Missy Irvin, judges, and Administrative Office of the Courts staff described Arkansas’s use of validated risk assessments, including SAVRY, the Ohio Youth Assessment Tool, MAYSI, and substance-abuse screening, as part of a long-running effort to reduce juvenile incarceration and tailor services to individual youth and families. They said the reforms have contributed to fewer delinquency filings, fewer DYS commitments, and more diversions, while also emphasizing that mental health, substance abuse, school issues, and trauma often drive juvenile court involvement. Several members raised concerns about data gaps, school collaboration, and whether community-based services are sufficient, and presenters said more shared data and stronger school use of safety dashboards could help intervene earlier. Division of Youth Services Director Michael Crump then presented custody, education, recidivism, and cost data. He said DYS commitments rose after the pandemic, secure residential populations remain high, and detention-center use increased when intake beds filled; he also noted that DYS pays about $320 per day for secure custody and that detention beds cost roughly $90 to $100 per day. Crump said most youth in custody are older teens, about 80 percent are male, and many have behavioral-health needs or educational deficits; he reported 222 GEDs and 102 high school diplomas over six years. He also said about 15 to 19 percent of youth return to DYS within three years and that a larger share later enter the Department of Corrections, while members pressed him on how assessments relate to commitments, how low-risk cases are handled, and how to improve mental health and substance-abuse services statewide.
NM

New Mexico 2025 Regular Session

Other - PSCOC Aug 27th, 2025

Public School Capital Outlay Oversight Task Force

Transcript Highlights:
  • Item A and B in your books this morning is an update to the teacher housing pilot program.
  • This program has been challenging, and I think we have seen success with the pilot program.
  • So, I think, you know, personally for our next steps, AMS needs to revisit this pilot program.
  • That's only the teacher housing pilot program; it does not include the standards-based teacher housing
  • The investment for this particular teacher housing pilot program has been roughly $5.1 million, and the
NM
Transcript Highlights:
  • And that can be used for after school programming, before school programming, and summer programming.
  • If you refer to row 129, the 18 million dollars for CTE, the pilot program—the new pilot program—that's
  • program.
  • For example, some of these public education reform funded programs that are intended to be pilots, where
  • those programs.
LA
Transcript Highlights:
  • And so you can see three of the efforts that we've really piloted and now put into the program over the
  • From the dashboard to things I hadn't even heard about yet, this RMT pilot program where we're using
  • That's our construction program. That's what we're building with the program. Okay.
  • One of the other things we're doing, as the Secretary mentioned, is the pilot program with RMT.
  • and the road program.
Summary: The committee met for an information-only hearing with no votes or other action items. DOTD Secretary Glenn LaD and Deputy Secretary Beau Black gave an update on the department’s transformation efforts, focusing on faster project delivery, improved construction administration, and new technology. They said monthly contractor payment approvals have been reduced from roughly 35 days to 15 days or less, change orders from about 40-45 days to around five days, and that DOTD delivered 86% of its advertised projects in the last fiscal year. They also described new tools such as Headlight for field inspections, Smart PM for schedule tracking, Hall Hub for e-ticketing and work-zone mapping, and a pilot using advanced sensors on district vehicles to identify potholes, guardrail damage, and other asset issues. The department also outlined a district reorganization that replaces the area engineer model with dedicated district points of contact for construction, maintenance, and operations, with no increase in total staff. Members raised concerns about local maintenance issues, especially mowing, drainage, culverts, potholes, and communication with district offices. Several members asked for clearer coordination on jurisdictional questions, more frequent meetings with district administrators, and better public updates on long-running projects. LaD said DOTD would schedule follow-up meetings, use the coming customer service portal to track complaints, and improve public communication through project information officers, social media, and other outreach. Questions also covered contractor accountability, utility relocations, road transfer maps on the DOTD website, and whether maintenance work adjacent to capital projects should be handled by district crews or through new IDIQ contracts. The secretary also reviewed the Highway Priority Program process, saying DOTD will work between June and September to review projects not included in the prior program, explain why, and refine a five-year fiscally constrained plan before the fall road show. He said the department is using IDIQ authority to award bridge maintenance and other task-order work, and that this should help address a two-year bridge repair backlog. Members discussed whether current funding levels are enough to reduce the statewide backlog, and DOTD said the current program likely maintains rather than eliminates it absent new revenue. The hearing ended with a project-specific update that a barge struck the Black Bayou Pontoon Bridge that morning, causing significant damage; DOTD said divers and staff would inspect it and determine emergency repairs. After DOTD’s presentation, Archie Chesson of the Office of Louisiana Highway Construction gave a brief update on that office’s first year, describing its use of consultant pools, master service agreements, a public GIS map, and a data tool to prioritize rural road and bridge projects, with several early projects already completed or under construction.
WA
Transcript Highlights:
  • programs that lead to either our baccalaureate programs or with our partnerships with the independent
  • Those leading as part of our I-BEST programs being co-taught with some of our workforce programs.
  • It's a program search tool.
  • We also understand that some states have asked for waivers and may want to do some pilot programs and
  • I just wanted to highlight an Evergreen-specific program, the Shelton Promise Program.
Summary: The committee held a work session on the state of Washington’s community and technical college system with State Board executive director Nate Humphrey and Tacoma Community College president Ivan Harrell. They described the system’s open-access mission, 34 colleges serving more than 307,000 students, relatively low tuition, enrollment growth over 12 consecutive quarters, and strong outcomes such as more than 46,000 credentials awarded last year. They also highlighted system initiatives including guided pathways, I-BEST, dual enrollment, tribal partnerships, a new program search tool, and six colleges named Aspen Prize finalists. At the same time, they emphasized major challenges: high rates of student food, housing, and homelessness insecurity; sharply rising emergency aid requests; and federal funding disruptions affecting TANF, BFET, adult basic education, Carl Perkins, NOAA-related tribal work, and several federal grants. Members asked about SNAP impacts, declining high school graduates, and how BFET and TANF interact with other aid programs. The presenters also discussed system priorities such as AI, Workforce Pell, capital planning, nursing accreditation alignment, and the Washington College Grant. The committee then heard testimony from AFT Washington and the Washington Association of Higher Education on faculty and staff conditions in the community and technical college system. Jackie Kane and Suzanne Sutherland argued that classified staff, professional staff, and contingent faculty are essential to student success but face low pay, instability, and weak retention, and they urged lawmakers to protect existing funding and avoid further cuts. They said working conditions for faculty and staff are student learning conditions, and that underfunding leads to reduced services, shortened advising, and program instability. Marina Parr of the Workforce Board presented on federal H.R. 1’s new Workforce Pell provisions and the updated Career Bridge website. She explained that Workforce Pell would allow federal aid for short-term training programs of 8 to 15 weeks, with high completion, employment, and earnings thresholds and a requirement that credentials be stackable and portable. She said Washington is well positioned to implement the program because of its existing eligible training provider evaluation system and Career Bridge, which now has a redesigned public portal, digital portfolios, multilingual access, and performance data on programs. Members asked about rulemaking, possible gaps in state services, and how the wage and completion standards would be applied. The Washington Student Achievement Council then briefed the committee on the new Washington Completes FAFSA campaign created by executive order. Staff described an advisory board with statewide representation, a pilot that used microgrants and other supports at 25 priority schools, and a new goal of 46,000 FAFSA or WASFA completions this year. They reported that completion rates were tracking slightly ahead of last year, with 24% of high school seniors having completed a FAFSA by the end of November, and they showcased a public dashboard with subgroup data and a WIAA-based leaderboard. Members asked about outreach to rural and homeschool students, legislative communications, Pierce County representation, and barriers to FAFSA completion, and staff said they would provide toolkits and continue expanding outreach. The committee then began hearing from student presenters about affordability, access, equity, and student experience.
NH

New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session

House Children and Family Law (10/21/2025)

Transcript Highlights:
  • Um it's widely used widely programs.
  • I think we should perhaps pilot it and have a bill for a pilot instead of making a sweeping change and
  • pilot it and and have a bill for a pilot pilot it and and have a bill for a pilot instead<00:15:
  • pilot is called the following 12 states. pilot is called the following 12 states.
  • But it's both both are really pilot too.
Keywords: 928, house, all
Summary: The subcommittee met without a quorum and discussed how to proceed with its family court review work. The chair said preliminary, unofficial reports could be circulated and voted on by email, and noted that next year the work might continue as a full committee rather than a subcommittee. Members also discussed carrying unresolved issues into next year, including the long-standing “one judge, one case” concept. Later, the committee received additional materials from a member who could not attend, including a packet on state-funded transcript requests and background information on how different states structure family court systems. A major presentation focused on improving New Hampshire family court pre-trial and mediation practices. The presenters said current rules give judges broad discretion, which can lead to inconsistent discovery, evidence, and timelines, especially for self-represented parties. They raised concerns about uneven mediator training and oversight, lack of uniform domestic violence screening, and unclear information for families about their rights and how to exit mediation. They recommended standardized pre-trial case management orders, clearer plain-language deadlines, mandatory domestic violence screening, stronger mediator certification and continuing education, a mentorship program, an independent oversight board, and a pilot program in a few counties before any statewide rollout. Members and presenters also discussed existing court forms and practices, including mediation agreements, mediator preparation forms, first appearances, and the use of Zoom for mediation. One participant argued that mediation can work better when parties are better prepared and when cases are not sent too early, and suggested that neutral case evaluation is another useful alternative dispute resolution tool. The discussion also touched on the need for better educational materials for pro se litigants, with one member describing efforts to create a more accessible guide for people going to court. No votes were taken, and the session ended with plans to continue reviewing materials and refine recommendations.
ND

North Dakota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Advanced Nuclear Energy Committee Apr 21st, 2026

Transcript Highlights:
  • The 10 companies and 11 reactors that came in through the pilot program.
  • Think about it as Pilot Program 2.0. Yes, sir?
  • It starts from AaloX getting critical, which is part of the DOE's reactor pilot program.
  • the reactor pilot program.
  • So that's why this pilot program is supporting these companies to build the fuel.
Summary: The meeting was an extended briefing from Idaho National Laboratory officials on the lab’s mission, its role in nuclear energy research, and the federal push to accelerate advanced reactor deployment. Speakers described INL’s size and capabilities, including test reactors, fuel and materials facilities, cybersecurity and critical infrastructure work, and partnerships with DOE, the NRC, the Department of Defense, and private companies. They emphasized that the lab is supporting both commercial nuclear development and national security work, while also training a large intern workforce. A major theme was the current federal effort to streamline nuclear regulation and speed up licensing and demonstration. The speakers said recent executive orders and DOE/NRC coordination are reducing redundant requirements, shortening environmental review timelines, and aiming for three new nuclear systems to reach criticality by July 4, 2026. They argued that regulatory uncertainty has been a major driver of nuclear cost and that the administration’s actions, along with DOE’s pilot and demonstration programs, are intended to rebuild the domestic supply chain and industrial base. The discussion also focused on advanced reactor types, including small modular reactors, microreactors, molten salt concepts, and liquid-metal designs. Officials said these technologies are being developed for data centers, military bases, remote communities, industrial heat, hydrogen production, and other nontraditional uses. They highlighted several projects and companies, including Oklo, Aalo, Radiant, X-energy, TerraPower, Kairos, and DOE’s MARVEL and Project Pele efforts, and said some reactors are expected to reach criticality or operation in the next few years. Questions from attendees covered safety, public health impacts, materials and heat management, waste or used fuel handling, costs, and whether nuclear could remain competitive against other energy sources; the speakers responded that advanced reactors are designed with passive safety features, that used fuel should be viewed as a resource, and that cost remains highly design- and supply-chain-dependent.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
  • of this is so it's a two-year pilot of this is so it's a two-year pilot project.<00:01:53.439>
  • language to establish a two-year pilot language to establish a two-year pilot project<00:10:47.519
  • Liability protection for state employers and officials for purposes of the pilot project.
  • and officials for purposes of the pilot and officials for purposes of the pilot project.<00:11:51.120
  • the program. Thank you. the program. Thank you.
Keywords: 912, senate, all
Summary: The committee first took up SB 2567, a Judiciary package measure concerning temporary restraining orders for threats and harassment tied to a public employee’s official actions. Representatives from the Attorney General’s Office and the Judiciary said they had worked out a compromise to address earlier concerns, including a two-year pilot project, broader coverage for state officers and employees across all branches and counties, a special fund to pay for private counsel in some cases, and authority for Judiciary staff attorneys or Judiciary funds to represent Judiciary personnel. Members asked about coverage for retired judges, funding limits, and whether the measure could be used for workplace disputes; the witnesses said retired judges and per diem judges could be covered if the harassment related to their work, the fund would be limited and subject to available appropriations, and petitions would not be allowed between employees in the same branch. The chair recommended passage with amendments, and the committee adopted the recommendation unanimously. The committee then heard SB 2448, which creates a civil remedy for the unauthorized disclosure of intimate images under the Uniform Civil Remedies for Unauthorized Disclosure of Intimate Images Act. The bill’s proponent from the Uniform Law Commission explained that a plaintiff would need to show intentional disclosure or threat of disclosure of a private intimate image without consent, and said the privacy question would be fact-specific. Supporters, including the Commission on the Status of Women and Imua Alliance, favored giving survivors civil recourse. Opponents from the Sex Abuse Treatment Center and others warned that the term "private" could invite victim-blaming and broad discovery into a survivor’s past, while still acknowledging the need for some privacy limitation to avoid overbreadth, especially for people who intentionally distribute intimate content online. Committee members questioned whether the definition of "private" should be tightened. The bill’s proponent said the term should remain because it aligns with the related criminal statute and helps keep the measure focused on classic revenge-porn situations, while still allowing Hawaii-specific changes if needed. The committee did not take final action on SB 2448 in the portion provided, but testimony and discussion centered on balancing survivor protections with concerns about discovery and the scope of liability.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Appropriations Committee May 23rd, 2025

Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:
  • AB 947 Connolly Canela environmental farming act single-cell pilot program do pass out on an A roll call
  • Cal Account Program Holding Committee.
  • the pilot and reduce DOJ's cost.
  • AB 1400 Soria nurse pilot program do pass out on an A roll call.
  • AB 891 Zuber quick build pilot program do pass out on a B roll call.
Keywords: 988, house, all
MN
Transcript Highlights:
  • It was a pilot program um that went on until funds were completely exhausted.
  • I know it was just a three-year program, kind of a pilot program, and it's being ended essentially after
  • /c> a three-year um program kind of a pilot a three-year um program kind of a pilot program<00:45:19.119
  • It was just a pilot program that was temporary.
  • program to so we can see what the pilot program to so we can see what the need<00:47:42.960> was<
Keywords: 1183, house
HI

Hawaii 2025 Regular Session

LAB Info Briefing - Fri Aug 22, 2025 @ 10:00 AM HST

Hawaii House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Um, I'm assuming the pilot program, they gave you that freebie that I kind of hinted that they would.
  • Um, you could probably extend that pilot program, especially if you're going to RFP.
  • Um, I'm assuming the pilot<00:46:21.920> program<00:46:22.160> they<00:46:22.319> they
  • <00:46:22.480> gave<00:46:22.640> you<00:46:22.720> that pilot program they
  • you could probably extend that pilot you could probably extend that pilot program,<00:46:38.480>
Keywords: 910, house, all
Summary: The House Committee on Labor held an informational briefing on August 22, 2025, to receive an update from DEH on statewide recruitment efforts aimed at reducing vacancies across state departments. Director Hashimoto, joined by DEH staff, presented on two hiring initiatives: Wikiwiki Hire and Operation Hire Hawaii. The committee focused on how each program works, how quickly applications are screened and referred, and how the programs differ from standard recruitment procedures. For Wikiwiki Hire, DEH described it as an accelerated recruitment pathway used mainly for classes with multiple vacancies. DEH screens applications every two weeks, then sends qualified applicants a list of participating departments and recruiter contact information so applicants and departments can connect directly. Committee members asked about effectiveness data, timelines, and whether the process aligns with the merit principle. DEH said the program is intended to speed hiring, that departments are not required to interview every person on a list, and that applicants can be hired as vacancies are filled on a first-come, first-served basis so long as all qualified applicants have the same opportunity. DEH also said it could provide data later and that it is working through a backlog of screenings. The committee then discussed Operation Hire Hawaii, an executive-order-based hiring effort launched in February to expedite hiring, including for displaced federal workers but open to all applicants. DEH reported more than 6,000 applications, 127 recruitments, 81 closed recruitments, and 142 hires, with a goal of conditional offers within two weeks. DEH said it turns applications around daily, while departments do the initial screening, interviews, and hiring decisions, with DEH completing final qualification screening and suitability checks at the end. Members asked about the program’s duration, its low conversion rate, and what happens to applicants who are not hired; DEH said it can refer qualified applicants to other vacancies and that the pilot was originally intended to run about a year, with possible extension if departments want it to continue.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee 2/24/25

Agriculture Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • The pilot agricultural microloan program was enacted actually in 2012, and we're looking to remove the
  • word pilot from the name of the program and statute as this is not a pilot program any longer and has
  • pilot update the pilot a the pilot agricultural<00:41:29.520> microloan<00:41:30.119> program
  • word pilot from the name of the program word pilot from the name of the program and<00:41:41.280
  • and statute as to us this is not a pilot and statute as to us this is not a pilot program<00:41:
Bills: HF1063
NM
Transcript Highlights:
  • programming.
  • As this is being implemented in your pilot programs, are you seeing, Mr.
  • For every pilot project and every program that we're putting forward, so that we can see we're measuring
  • Steps of a pilot program for conflict resolution training for elementary and junior high schools.
  • Academic and social justice issues and to support a pilot program for conflict resolution training for
Keywords: 996, all
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • It's based on program needs.
  • So we're looking at, you know, this is a— the DOE's program is an eight-year program.
  • The Demand-Side Grid Support program seeks to pilot program mechanisms to grow clean demand flexibility
  • government programs like the lunch program, Medi-Cal, and Medicare.
  • So, what we are doing in the California Lifeline Program is looking at a pilot to include a standalone
Keywords: 988, house, all
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Education Pre-K - 12 Oct 15th, 2025

Education Pre-K - 12

Transcript Highlights:
  • As you can see, we have a pilot with Magic School.
  • As you can see, we have a pilot with Magic School.
  • And this is a pilot, and this is something they would go on themselves and do.
  • But this is the first year of that pilot. Thank you, Madam Chair.
  • became a developmental test pilot.
Summary: The Senate Committee on Education Pre-K through 12 met to hear a panel discussion on artificial intelligence in K-12 education. Dr. Maya Israel of the University of Florida gave an overview of AI literacy, the benefits of AI for personalized learning and teacher support, and the risks involving data privacy, overreliance, hallucinations, and misuse. She described the Florida K-12 AI Task Force, which published statewide guidance in March and is now providing professional development, case studies, surveys, and resources for teachers and families. She also noted that teacher preparation programs and microcredentials are being developed, but there is not yet a statewide baseline standard for teacher AI training. Superintendents Van Ayers of Hillsborough County and Kevin Hendrick of Pinellas County described district policies and implementation efforts. Hillsborough adopted an AI governance policy, created an implementation guide, and set rules barring generative AI use for students in pre-K through 7th grade while allowing limited, teacher-approved use for older students with district-vetted tools. Pinellas emphasized digital responsibility, parent transparency, data-use agreements, and a governance process for approving tools. Both districts said AI is being used for lesson planning, tutoring, reading-level adjustments, scheduling, and other administrative tasks, but they do not yet have reliable evidence that AI is improving academic performance. They also discussed teacher training, stipends, and certification efforts, including partnerships with universities and vendors such as Microsoft, Google, Magic School, and Gemini. Drew Allen of FSU Inspire offered an industry-focused perspective, arguing that AI is not new but that education must adapt more quickly to industry needs. He described Inspire’s workforce and research mission, its AI and robotics training for teachers, and the need to build teacher comfort and confidence through incentives and applied training. Committee members raised concerns about student dependence on AI, academic integrity, mental health, moral decision-making, data privacy, and whether schools should return to more paper-based testing. The panel generally agreed that AI should be used with strong guardrails, human oversight, and a balance between technology use and traditional learning. No legislation was considered, and the meeting ended with a motion to adjourn, which was adopted without objection.
NM

New Mexico 2025 Regular Session

IC - Courts, Corrections and Justice Jul 1st, 2025

Courts, Corrections & Justice Committee

Transcript Highlights:
  • One of the concepts that came out of that was that the judiciary would stand up some pilot programs.
  • The good thing about the pilot programs is that you realize some of the issues involved in implementing
  • Program.
  • And so we've begun these programs, and now we're not going to be able to continue those programs until
  • We do have graduates of that program.
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Public Safety Apr 7th, 2026 at 09:00 am

Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:
  • It's a pilot program for about 10 local municipalities, and it was only said to be about $250,000.
  • It's a pilot program. Follow up: Thank you.
  • Is this going to be anticipated to be a pilot program where there'd be particular cities that would be
  • And so, the last thing Is this going to be anticipated to be a pilot program where there'd be particular
  • And so, the last thing Is this going to be anticipated to be a pilot program where there'd be particular
FL

Florida 2025 Regular Session

November 5, 2025 - 10:30 AM

Transcript Highlights:
  • The Health Professions and Program Subcommittee will come to order, and Nola, please call the roll.
  • , and the Sunshine Genetics Act Pilot Program.
  • , and finally, the Sunshine Genetics newborn whole genome sequencing pilot program.
  • That group is charged with executing the pilot program and fostering collaboration.
  • program.
Summary: The Health Professions and Program Subcommittee met with a quorum present and received a briefing from Melissa Jordan, Assistant Deputy Secretary for Health and chair of the Florida Rare Disease Advisory Council (ARDAC). Jordan explained that rare diseases affect fewer than 200,000 people each individually, but together impact an estimated 2.3 million Floridians. She reviewed ARDAC’s structure, its three subcommittees, and its 2025 legislative report recommendations, which focused on expanding Florida-specific data, disaster preparedness, state agency coordination, insurance oversight, provider education, faster diagnostic tools, research collaboration, and establishing centers of excellence. She also highlighted ARDAC’s work with other states and its effort to build an online repository of resources for families and providers. Jordan discussed the Andrew John Anderson Pediatric Rare Disease Grant Program, funded at $500,000 annually, which supported research awards at Florida State University and the University of Miami in 2024 and another University of Miami project in 2025. She also described House Bill 907 and the Sunshine Genetics Act pilot program, which created the Florida Institute for Pediatric Rare Diseases at FSU and a newborn whole-genome sequencing pilot to screen volunteer infants for hundreds of conditions beyond traditional newborn screening. The institute will include research, training, clinical care, a diagnostic lab, genome editing capacity, and a sequencing pilot overseen by a board, consortium, and steering committee. Members asked about interstate collaboration, the scope of data collection beyond Medicaid, how the council reduces family financial burdens, how families and providers can learn about available resources, and how ARDAC measures effectiveness. Jordan said Florida has learned from other states’ survey-based approaches and instead is using administrative data sources such as Medicaid, hospitalizations, emergency department visits, birth and death certificates, with more clinical data to be added over time. She said success is tracked through annual reports, ongoing work plans, and quarterly research reports that measure progress, patient enrollment, treatment outcomes, and potential follow-on funding. The meeting concluded after the presentation and questions, and the subcommittee adjourned without further business.