Transcript Highlights:

• and our One Care Program.
• The Senior Care Options Program is a program that is a partnership between UnitedHealthcare, MassHealth
• Just to go about one minute back on this program, the Quality and Equity Incentive Program at MassHealth
• And this program, though, the HECM Center program is designed based on feedback from stakeholders with
• So through this program, the entities are incentivized for the first two years of the program to assess

Summary: The Massachusetts Permanent Commission on the Status of Persons with Disabilities held a public hearing focused on health equity for people with disabilities. The chair opened by explaining that the session was not about specific legislation, but about sharing data, lived experience, and strategies to inform more inclusive health systems. Presenters included representatives from the Health Equity Compact, the Department of Public Health, MassHealth, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan, the Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts, UMass Chan Medical School, Spaulding Rehabilitation, and the Arc of Massachusetts/Operation House Call. Speakers described how structural racism and ableism contribute to poor health outcomes, unemployment, poverty, and barriers to care for disabled people, especially disabled people of color. Testimony highlighted access problems such as inaccessible medical equipment, transportation, inadequate provider training, lack of culturally competent care, and insurance barriers. Several speakers emphasized the importance of collecting and disaggregating disability data, training providers in disability-competent care, and screening for accommodation needs. MassHealth described its Quality and Equity Incentive Program under the 1115 waiver, including disability-related metrics on data completeness, staff training, and accommodation screening, and reported early increases in hospitals collecting self-reported disability data. Brain injury advocates focused on inequities in rehabilitation access, including the impact of CMS’s “three-hour rule,” which they argued denies needed inpatient rehab to people with severe traumatic brain injury. They called for policy changes, a TBI task force, and possibly bipartisan legislation if CMS cannot revise the rule. Other testimony described DPH efforts such as one-to-one navigation, health promotion workshops, mini-grants for accessible recreation, and the Massachusetts Health and Disability Partnership. The hearing also highlighted medical education efforts like Operation House Call, which uses home visits and disability-led teaching to reduce bias and improve provider competence. No votes were taken and no formal actions were announced.

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c><00:14:18.800><c> and</c> swain, vice president of program, and swain, vice president of program
• </c> advancing youth leadership programs advancing youth leadership programs exemplifies<00:17:01.279
• Nursing, auto tech, you pick it. Nursing, auto tech, you pick it.
• losing more nursing home beds.
• </c> of nursing home care in New Hampshire. of nursing home care in New Hampshire.

Transcript Highlights:

• What this bill is asking is to make that mandatory, and that program, a mandatory employment program,
• In nursing, if it's not charted, it's not done.
• and implementation of the program.
• I stood here before you three years ago to start this program.
• I'm also a nurse, and I've been a nurse for 25 years.

Committee: Senate Senate Health and Human Services COR

Summary: The Senate Health and Human Services Committee met and first recognized Physical Therapy Day at the Capitol, welcoming Arizona physical therapy leaders and students. The committee then took up several bills related to SNAP, health care regulation, child welfare, dementia services, and safe haven newborn surrender. SB 1334 would bar DES from seeking or renewing SNAP work-requirement waivers for able-bodied adults without dependents unless required by federal or state law; supporters said it would curb administrative expansion and opponents argued it would reduce flexibility during high unemployment and harm food-insecure Arizonans. The bill received a do-pass recommendation on a 4-1 vote. SB 1333 would require DES to reduce the SNAP payment error rate to 3% by 2030, with annual reporting, corrective action plans, Auditor General oversight, and possible funding penalties if targets are missed. After adopting a committee amendment changing reporting to quarterly updates and replacing a forensic audit with a special audit, the committee approved the bill as amended on a 4-1 vote. SB 1331 would require able-bodied adults under 60 receiving SNAP to participate in mandatory employment and training unless exempt; proponents said it would strengthen work expectations, while opponents and DES raised concerns about administrative burden and food bank impacts. The bill passed 4-2, with members explaining no votes due to child care, rural access, and food insecurity concerns. The committee also advanced SB 1162, which clarifies DHS’s role in licensing and monitoring health care institutions and, as amended, requires DHS and AHCCCS/Access to coordinate to reduce duplicative oversight and report periodically to the legislature; it passed 6-0. SB 1017, requiring additional signatures and witness verification on emergency informed consent forms for surgical procedures, passed 4-2. SB 1149, which adds reporting and procedural requirements for DCS periodic review hearings, passed as amended 5-1. SB 1249, designating DHS as the lead agency on Alzheimer’s and dementia and creating a state plan and services program funded through lottery monies rather than the general fund after amendment, passed 6-0. Finally, SB 1253 clarified that a parent may surrender a newborn at the hospital of birth without leaving and returning, and requires updated safe-haven reporting; it passed 5-0, after testimony from hospital and safe-haven advocates in support. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The program by one year.
• </c> underlying issues that make the program underlying issues that make the program unsustainable<00
• any delay to the program start.
• Make no mistake, the paid leave program will help more nurses return to the bedside after going on leave
• program will help more nurses return to program will help more nurses return to the<01:23:38.600><c>

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

Transcript Highlights:

• Sarah Adler for NAPNA, which is the Nevada Advanced Practice Nurses Association.
• Sarah Adler for NAPNA, which is the Nevada Advanced Practice Nurses Association.
• programs.
• programs.
• , physical therapy, and other allied health programs.

Bills: SB6 , SB62 , SB74 , SB90 , SB104 , SB119 , SB132 , SB133 , SB135 , SB182 , SB185 , SB193 , SB207 , SB217 , SB229 , SB233 , SB260 , SB262 , SB280 , SB281 , SB300 , SB306 , SB378 , SB382 , SB393 , SB403 , SB422 , SB427 , SB431 , SB434 , SB442 , SB452 , SB456 , SB468 , SB472 , SB487 , SB503 , SB6

Committee: Assembly Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• You heard that 35 states like us have a program of this sort.
• You heard that 35 states like us have a program of this sort.
• We took deep cuts to the PEBB and SEB program.
• Because in my community, that's what we keep hearing: more nurses are being cut, more nurses are being
• You're cutting physicians, you're cutting nurses.

Summary: The committee heard a JLARC presentation on the Department of Health’s oversight of hospital inspections, complaints, and reporting. JLARC said DOH was late on 72% of acute care hospital inspections as of December 2024, had not verified that third-party accrediting standards were substantially equivalent to state standards, did not consistently require proof of those inspections, did not review adverse health event corrective plans, and could make hospital data more accessible. JLARC also raised a possible language-access barrier in the complaint system. Members asked about complaint filing by staff, the meaning of adverse health events, inspection outcomes, and whether the audit compared DOH to other agencies. JLARC said it had not reviewed inspection results or cross-agency comparisons, but noted inspectors were dedicated and working long hours. DOH later said it concurred with the recommendations and outlined a strategic plan with target dates for improving timeliness, verifying accreditation standards, expanding language access, reviewing adverse event laws, and improving public data access, with annual reporting to the Legislature expected. The committee then heard a Department of Health presentation on certificate of need modernization. DOH described the current certificate of need process, which reviews need, financial feasibility, quality, and cost containment for certain facility changes and new services, and said the program has not been modernized since the 1980s. DOH proposed 10 statutory modernization recommendations, including clarifying the program’s purpose, creating a planning entity, adding flexibility, reducing legal costs, updating access-to-care standards, expanding oversight to freestanding emergency departments and urgent care, addressing equity, improving cost control coordination, strengthening long-term funding, and using better data systems. Members asked about oversight of freestanding urgent care and EDs, funding sources, and whether the process could be streamlined or made more responsive to complaints or other triggers. A third panel discussed artificial intelligence in health care. Lucy O’Rourke of the Coalition for Health AI described CHAI’s work on responsible AI principles, technical standards, model cards or “nutrition labels,” testing and governance tools, and educational resources for providers. She said the group is focused on trust, transparency, fairness, safety, security, and privacy, and noted Washington’s AI-related policy work as among the more progressive in the country. No questions were asked. The final portion focused on the financial impact of federal and state health care policy changes. The Washington State Hospital Association said hospitals are facing low or negative operating margins, service reductions, layoffs, and closures, and that state cuts and taxes enacted in 2025, combined with federal HR1 changes, will significantly worsen finances. Providence Swedish leaders described staffing reductions, service cuts, delayed capital investments, and pressure from denials, tariffs, and reimbursement changes, while emphasizing that frontline staffing cuts are tied to service reductions rather than nurse-to-patient ratio changes. The Washington Health Benefit Exchange then began a presentation on expiring federal ACA premium tax credits, state Cascade Care Savings assistance, and eligibility changes affecting lawfully present non-citizens, with examples showing large premium increases for customers if federal subsidies expire.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so, it is important that we not only work through programs in trying to improve access, but also
• I rise to recognize Nurses Week in New York State and to honor the extraordinary nurses who serve patients
• role nurses play not just during one week or month but every day of the year.
• At a time when our healthcare system continues to face serious demands, nurses are indispensable.
• "We have examples from a Wegmans in Brooklyn which was doing a facial recognition program.

Summary: The Senate opened with routine business, approved the prior journal, and received several motions to discharge identical Assembly bills from committee and substitute corresponding Senate bills. Members also offered brief recognitions for visitors, including Yemeni American community advocates and Cheri Davis, who was honored for her Alzheimer’s advocacy and support work. The chamber then took up several previously adopted resolutions, including Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day, Period Poverty Awareness Week, and Nurses Week, with senators speaking in support of each measure’s purpose and importance. The body then moved through a long calendar of bills, passing a wide range of measures on education, public health, correction law, environmental conservation, municipal law, agriculture, and consumer protection. Notable floor discussion included Senator Ramos explaining her support for a bill requiring salons and similar businesses to display multilingual domestic violence resource information, and Senator Gianaris and Senator Borrello debating a bill to prohibit electronic shelf labeling in stores over concerns about surveillance, dynamic pricing, and impacts on brick-and-mortar retailers. Senator May and Senator Skoufis also spoke on an environmental conservation bill concerning American eel management, with May supporting the species protections and Skoufis objecting to the bill’s structure. Most bills were adopted by wide margins, though several drew recorded negative votes. The Senate passed the domestic violence information bill, the electronic shelf-labeling bill, and multiple other measures, including bills on eviction notice procedures, surrogate court procedure, and environmental conservation. After completing the calendar, the Senate reported no further business and adjourned until the next day at 11:00 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• as the administrator of the Linking Industry to Nursing Education, the LINE funding program, which is
• to Nursing Education, the LINE funding program that is so, so important to helping educate our nurses
• It expands it to include health science education programs in addition to nursing, as I said, and it
• , creates the foster and family support grant program, revises the parameters for the Medicaid nursing
• disabled programming, waiver programs, why are we not including ...programming waiver programs?

Summary: The Senate took up the 2026-2027 budget package, beginning with an overview of the $115 billion General Appropriations Bill (SB 2500/HB 500). Appropriations Chair Hooper said the budget is smaller than last year’s, maintains strong reserves, and includes a 3% pay raise for all state employees and 5% raises for state law enforcement, firefighters, correctional officers, and park rangers. Committee chairs then highlighted major spending in their areas, including $34.9 billion for Pre-K-12 education, $11.9 billion for higher education, a $2.1 billion-plus increase in health and human services, $7.9 billion for criminal and civil justice, $16.8 billion for transportation/tourism/economic development, and major environmental and regulatory investments such as Everglades restoration, water quality, and land acquisition. Members asked detailed questions about several items. Topics included the Emergency Management Trust Fund, arts and cultural grants, Florida Forever land acquisition versus conservation easements, teacher salaries and charter school funding, New College funding, ADAP/HIV drug assistance, Medicaid rate reductions for non-critical access hospitals, DOC operational deficits and inmate health/food costs, judicial staffing, and school enrollment supplements. Chairs explained that some reductions reflected shifts in how scholarship and categorical funds are tracked, that the ADAP appropriation would take effect immediately upon enactment but would only cover part of the year, and that hospital reductions were tied to a broader DPP funding increase. Questions also covered lottery staffing, concealed carry licensing workload, and whether vacant positions were being eliminated as part of budget right-sizing. After the budget discussion, the Senate substituted House bills for the Senate budget bills and adopted amendments placing the Senate language onto the House vehicles. The chamber then passed HB 500, HB 503, and HB 5201, and agreed to conference on each. It also passed SB 7028/HB 5205 on retirement, SB 2506 on fuel taxes, SB 2508 on the state agency law enforcement radio system, SB 2510/HB 5401 on court trust funds, SB 2512 on judgeships, SB 2514 on K-12 education, SB 2516 on higher education, and SB 2518 on health, with each bill passing by unanimous or near-unanimous votes and then being sent to conference or requested of the House for concurrence.

Transcript Highlights:

• ECNS, which uses nurses to triage 9-1-1 calls to reduce unnecessary ambulance use.
• Emergency Communications Nurse System, EC&S, which uses nurses to triage 9-11 calls to reduce unnecessary
• And how the state can use programs like CONFIRE as a model to use statewide.
• We need to evacuate that nursing home, for example.
• Are you concerned about it in any of your programs? Yeah.

Committee: Senate Rules

Summary: The Senate Committee on Rules convened with quorum and first approved several governor’s appointments not required to appear, including Courtney Welsh to the California Housing Partnership Corporation Board, Janessa Goldbeck to the California Veterans Board, and Tom Huntington to the State Parks and Recreation Commission, each by 3-0 vote. The committee also approved reference of bills to committees, the 2026 committee chair and membership appointments, the 2026 session schedule, the 2026 Senate holiday schedule, and floor acknowledgments, all by 4-0 votes. The committee then heard confirmation testimony from Hernando Garzon, M.D., nominated as Chief Medical Officer of the Emergency Medical Services Authority. Senators asked about EMSA’s strategic plan, data integration, local flexibility in statewide standards, ambulance patient offload regulations, stakeholder engagement, disaster response, rural access, and alternatives to transporting 9-1-1 callers to emergency departments. Garzon emphasized data-driven decision-making, technical assistance to local EMS agencies, collaboration with hospitals and providers, and the use of community paramedicine, telehealth, and pre-positioned resources in disasters. Public commenters and members supported his confirmation, and the committee approved the appointment 4-0 for referral to the full Senate. The committee also heard from Stephanie Weldon, nominated as Deputy Director of the Office of Health Equity at the Department of Public Health. She described her tribal background, prior state, county, tribal, and nonprofit experience, and her focus on serving communities facing health disparities. Senators questioned her about how the office sets priorities, measures outcomes, balances equity work amid political opposition to DEI language, and tailors technical assistance to rural and tribal communities. Weldon pointed to work on tribal consultation, behavioral health, youth mental health, the California Reducing Disparities Project, gender-affirming care, reproductive health, housing and climate-related supports, and community advisory boards. Numerous public witnesses, including tribal and health equity advocates, spoke in strong support, and the committee approved her appointment 4-0 for the full Senate.

Transcript Highlights:

• The program has since grown to a $4 billion program over the years.
• as the administrator of the linking industry to nursing education line funding program, which is so,
• to nursing education line funding program that is so, so important to helping educate our nurses, and
• It expands it to include health science education programs in addition to nursing, as I said, and it
• , creates the foster and family support grant program, revises the parameters for the Medicaid nursing

Summary: The Senate took up the 2026-2027 budget and related implementing bills. Appropriations Chair Hooper presented a $115 billion General Appropriations Bill, saying it reduces overall spending from the prior year, preserves reserves, and includes a 3% raise for state employees and 5% raises for state law enforcement, firefighters, correctional officers, and park rangers. Committee chairs then outlined major budget areas, including K-12 education, higher education, health and human services, criminal and civil justice, transportation/tourism/economic development, and environmental/agricultural agencies. Highlights included increased funding for school safety, teacher and scholarship funding, workforce education, Medicaid and kid care, corrections operations, judgeships, affordable housing, hurricane recovery, Everglades and water quality projects, and arts and cultural grants. Members asked detailed questions about several items. Senators discussed the Emergency Management Trust Fund, cultural arts grant allocations, Florida Forever land acquisition versus conservation easements, teacher salary support, charter school capital outlay funding, Bright Futures and EASE funding, New College funding, DOC deficits and inmate health care/food service costs, the ADAP HIV drug program, Medicaid reductions for non-critical access hospitals, and the use of opioid settlement and COVID relief funds. Chairs explained that some apparent reductions reflected shifts below the line or reclassification, that the ADAP appropriation would only cover about six months, and that some vacant positions were being removed as part of a right-sizing effort. Questions also covered lottery staffing, concealed weapons permit processing, elections security funding, and arts grant selection and proviso language. The Senate then substituted House bills for the Senate budget and implementing measures, amended them into the Senate posture, and passed them. HB 5001 (the appropriations bill), HB 503 (implementing bill), HB 5201 (collective bargaining), and HB 5205 (retirement) all passed 36-0 and were sent to conference. Other budget-related bills also passed, including SB 2506 on fuel taxes, SB 2508 on the state agency law enforcement radio system surcharge, SB 2510 on court trust funds, SB 2512 creating 13 circuit and 12 county judgeships, SB 2514 on K-12 education, SB 2516 on higher education, and SB 2518 on health. Most of these passed unanimously, with the Senate requesting the House either pass the Senate versions or include them in budget conference.

Transcript Highlights:

• For us, you have to have independent living and skilled nursing.
• A lot of the CCRCs that are being developed now, they don't have skilled nursing.
• For us, you have to have independent living and skilled nursing.
• They closed the skilled nursing and terminated the life care contract.
• They closed the skilled nursing and terminated the life care contract.

Summary: The commission met at Brookhaven at Lexington to continue discussing continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs), with a focus on financial viability, entrance fees, refund policies, and how the industry is evolving. Speakers explained that nonprofit CCRCs have shifted away from building entirely new campuses since the 2008 financial crisis, and now more often grow through expansions, affiliations, mergers, or added home- and community-based services. They also noted that many newer CCRCs, especially nationwide, are being built without on-campus skilled nursing, relying instead on assisted living, memory care, or off-site arrangements, and that zoning and local approval can affect expansion plans. A substantial portion of the discussion centered on financial health and consumer protection. Panelists said the most important indicators of a strong CCRC are high occupancy, strong liquidity, and reinvestment in the property, with low occupancy and declining days cash on hand cited as warning signs. They described how actuarial reviews are used to estimate health care utilization and set pricing, and said staffing shortages are often a bigger financial pressure than resident care utilization itself. On refunds, speakers said entrance-fee refunds are generally paid when a unit is resold and the new entrance fee is received, and that resident refunds are usually protected even in bankruptcy, though residents are unsecured creditors. Massachusetts examples such as Reed’s Landing and the Groves were cited as cases where residents remained in place and refunds were ultimately protected. The group also discussed a pending disclosure bill on Beacon Hill related to entrance fees and refund transparency. LeadingAge Massachusetts said it supports clearer disclosure so residents understand refund provisions, and reported that among surveyed member CCRCs, the average time to provide an entrance-fee refund over the past two years was about 117 days. Participants emphasized the need to balance consumer protection with preserving the financial stability of the communities. The commission also reviewed upcoming dates: a virtual public hearing/listening session on June 16, the next commission meeting on June 23, and a later discussion planned on consumer rights, protections, and advertising practices. The meeting concluded with introductions of commission members and an invitation for attendees to tour the Brookhaven campus.

Transcript Highlights:

• A member asked whether graduate professional programs or other programs with higher FTE costs were included
• programs.
• They are graduating the nurses that we need right now, and those nurses are staying in our community,
• programs is getting $17,000.
• This is not a new, unproven program.

Committee: House Budget

Transcript Highlights:

• of be that if you were in this program, um, be that if you were in this program, um, LBA<00:16:26.000
• </c> The pro the the program is already open. The pro the the program is already open.
• program and they couldn't previously program and they couldn't previously because<00:30:32.880><c> the
• School nursing is a specialty form of nursing.
• nursing you is a specialty form of nursing.<01:05:25.520><c> The</c><01:05:25.760><c> department</c>

Committee: Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• Here in Texas, in all programs, it's about 24% of our population that are enrolled in some kind of program
• Recently, Minnesota's Applied Behavioral Analysis Program, or ABA program, stole national headlines.
• And ensuring that program integrity.
• Texas has a very strong program.
• But some programs maybe are lifelong programs for independence for But some programs maybe are lifelong

Committee: Senate Health & Human Services

Summary: The Senate Committee on Health and Human Services convened to discuss interim charges regarding fraud, waste, and abuse in Texas human services, particularly focusing on Medicaid and childcare programs. The meeting highlighted the importance of preventing misuse of taxpayer funds, with testimony from various stakeholders emphasizing the need for increased oversight and accountability in these programs. Key points included the alarming rise in healthcare fraud in other states, the necessity for Texas to enhance its fraud prevention measures, and the potential financial repercussions of failing to meet federal compliance standards. Several committee members expressed concerns about the impact of fraud on vulnerable populations, particularly those relying on Medicaid services. Testimonies from experts underscored the effectiveness of Texas's Office of Inspector General (OIG) in combating fraud, yet pointed out existing vulnerabilities, such as inconsistent enforcement and the need for better data sharing among agencies. The discussion also touched on the challenges faced by hospice care providers, with a significant increase in the number of hospices in Texas raising concerns about quality and oversight. The committee heard from various witnesses, including representatives from health plans and advocacy organizations, who provided insights into the complexities of managing Medicaid and the importance of maintaining program integrity. The meeting concluded with a commitment to further explore legislative solutions to enhance oversight and ensure that resources are directed to those in genuine need.

Transcript Highlights:

• , whether that's Department of Health nurses, Hawaii keiki nurses, or other contractors.
• medication administration, whether that's Department of Health nurses, Hawaii keiki nurses, or other
• medication administration, whether that's Department of Health nurses, Hawaii keiki nurses, or other
• medication administration, whether that's Department of Health nurses, Hawaii keiki nurses, or other
• </c> program well the apprenticeship program program well the apprenticeship program you<01:39:49.320

Committee: Senate Education

Summary: The joint Committee on Education and Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs heard Senate Bill 422, which would authorize the Department of Education to award a high school diploma to qualified people whose schooling was interrupted by military service or wartime practices during World War II, the Korean War, or the Vietnam War. The Department of Education testified in support, noting a prior law that created the Kono diploma program before it sunset in 2020. Several members of the public also testified in support. Both committees later recommended passage of SB 422 without amendments, and the recommendation was adopted by voice votes. The committees then heard Senate Bill 530 on Braille literacy. The bill would establish Braille literacy as state policy, require Braille-related literacy assessments for eligible blind and low-vision students, authorize DOE rulemaking, create a Braille Literacy Resource Center, and appropriate funds. DOE and the Department of Human Services supported the measure, as did the National Federation of the Blind, Hawaii Disability Rights Center, and a blind testifier who described the importance of early Braille instruction. The Attorney General’s office raised concerns about statutory language requiring yearly assessments and suggested revisions so annual decisions remain with IEP teams. The committees voted to pass SB 530 with amendments, including the Attorney General’s suggested changes, and adopted the recommendation. The next measure was Senate Bill 532, which would allow school staff and agents trained by a licensed clinician to volunteer to administer medication to students in public schools under certain conditions and clarify who may prescribe such medication. DOE and Department of Health testimony supported the bill. The Attorney General recommended replacing the term “licensed clinician” with the defined term “health care professional.” The Hawaii Academy of Physician Assistants supported the bill but asked that physician assistants be included among providers who may prescribe medications for school administration. After questions about current school health aide duties and field-trip medication procedures, the committees voted to pass SB 532 with amendments, including the Attorney General’s terminology change, and adopted the recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, kids graduate from nursing programs and they're not ready to take the test, and then they can't
• Programs.
• training program.
• So we started, and we developed the program; we're administering the program.
• So really important programs.

Bills: SB37 , SB29 , SB37 , SB29

Committees: Senate Senate Finance , Senate House Appropriations & Finance

Keywords: high-quality literacy instruction, science of reading, structured literacy, reading instruction, literacy assessment, dyslexia screening, phonics, phonemic awareness, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, biliteracy, English language learner, ELL, bilingual education, dual language program, reading intervention, reading difficulty, reading improvement plan, literacy coach

Transcript Highlights:

• Nurses who have come to the capital today from LD18.
• Today we celebrate Arizona Nurses' Day at the Capitol, recognizing the dedication and impact of nurses
• here on Nurses Day.
• WIC program.
• Biasiucci, there's nothing wrong with the program.

Transcript Highlights:

• Minnesota, and I was accepted then into the bridge program in Minnesota in 2024.
• And then I'm also— I should probably be cautious about how I talk about nurses, but we also have a nursing
• </c><00:08:35.719><c> they</c> are going to be in this program they are going to be in this program they
• </c> hadn't worked under them on that program hadn't worked under them on that program so<00:10:07.760
• but we also have how I talk about nurses but we also have a<00:10:55.880><c> nursing</c><00:10:56.160

Committee: Senate State and Local Government

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> that we do operationalize the program that we do operationalize the program um,<00:03:03.200><c>
• ><c> programs.
• And as the expenses of operating the program are much less and, again, a more efficient program than
• As the expenses of operating the program are much less and, again, a more efficient program than as the
• </c><00:14:08.800><c> Nurses</c> Okay, thank you very much. Nurses Okay, thank you very much.

Committee: Senate Labor and Technology

Summary: The Labor and Technology Committee met on April 4, 2025, to consider four governor’s messages involving nominations to the Hawaii Retirement Savings Board and the Hawaii Workforce Development Council. Barbara Creek, nominated to the Retirement Savings Board for a term ending June 30, 2029, testified that she had already served two years on the board, had prior experience with deferred compensation plans, and wanted to help operationalize the program quickly and efficiently. In response to a question about Senate Bill 855, she explained that an opt-out auto-enrollment model is the gold standard for retirement savings programs, would increase participation and contributions, and would help Hawaii avoid being an outlier and improve the chances of joining a multi-state compact for a cost-effective program. Amber Aana, nominated to the Workforce Development Council for a term ending June 30, 2029, emphasized her maritime-industry background and commitment to diversity, inclusion, and training opportunities for women and underrepresented groups. Scott Collins, nominated to the same council for a term ending June 30, 2028, said he had served on the board since 2022 and could contribute public-sector and union experience to help address government workforce challenges. Pane Mayonga II, also nominated to the Workforce Development Council for a term ending June 30, 2029, was absent due to union travel, but the committee heard extensive testimony in support from labor, industry, and community representatives. Support testimony was recorded for all four nominees, including from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, United Public Workers, Hawaii State AFL-CIO, Hawaii Nurses Association, Hawaii Ports Maritime Council, and other organizations and individuals. For Pane Mayonga II, the committee noted support from a broad coalition including labor unions, maritime and construction groups, and community advocates. No opposition testimony was presented, and members did not raise substantive questions on the Workforce Development Council nominees. After a brief recess, the committee reconvened for decision-making and voted to recommend advice and consent on all four governor’s messages: GM 727 for Barbara Creek, GM 744 for Amber Aana, GM 717 for Scott Collins, and GM 728 for Pane Mayonga II. Each recommendation was adopted unanimously, and the committee congratulated the nominees before adjourning with no further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> National Association of School Nurses. National Association of School Nurses.
• nurse practitioner program.
• </c><00:34:54.320><c> The</c> Wyoming Nurse Association. The Wyoming Nurse Association.
• </c> psychiatric nurse practitioner program. psychiatric nurse practitioner program.
• </c> psychiatric nurse practitioner? psychiatric nurse practitioner?

Bills: HB0117 , HB0126

Committee: Senate Labor, Health & Social Services