Transcript Highlights:

• SWD is simply students with disabilities. SWOD is students without disabilities.
• Our students with disabilities testers are around 9,308, and students without disabilities testers are
• Our student with disability testers, around 9,308, and students without disability testers, 50,263.
• disability.
• If they're intellectually disabled, we involve sources like developmental disabilities because they also

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• disproportionately impact disab disabled disproportionately impact disab disabled individuals<00
• should have to disclose their disability should have to disclose their disability in<00:35:09.040
• illness those with disabilities illness those with disabilities caregivers<00:44:49.079> of
• voting for disability allows absentee voting for disability related<00:56:55.760> reasons<00:
• I’m the policy and planning coordinator for the New Hampshire Council on Developmental Disabilities,

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm Ralph Hudson, Director of the Division of Labor. Thank you, gentlemen, for being here.
• Ralph Hudson, Department of Labor and Licensing Division of Labor Director.
• Ken Warden, Commissioner in Arkansas Division of Higher Education. Thank you for being here.
• Division of Elementary and Secondary Education. This all's forward.
• I mean, there was very divisive, one side for, one side against. There was a lot of give and take.

Summary: The Administrative Rules Subcommittee met to review a long agenda of agency rule changes, beginning with housekeeping on the order of business and then taking up rules from multiple state agencies. Early items included Department of Energy and Environment rules on landfill post-closure trust fund spending thresholds and liquefied petroleum gas standards, DFA’s odometer disclosure rule allowing electronic signatures and disclosures, and several Department of Health rules covering ionizing radiation, mobile home and recreational parks, lead-based paint, counseling licensure, hearing instrument dispensers, athletic training, dental specialties and compacts, nursing, pharmacy, physician assistants, medical compacts, speech-language pathology and audiology, radiologic technology, massage therapy, community health workers, doula certification, and cosmetology/body art. Most of these were described as technical updates, conformity with recent acts, federal standards, or compact participation, and nearly all were approved without objection after brief questions and, in many cases, no public comment. The committee also reviewed Department of Labor and Licensing rules on minimum wage/independent contractor standards, boiler rules, motor vehicle commission requirements for ATV/LSV dealers, professional wrestling regulation, appraiser qualifications, and military recruiting and retention programs. Testimony generally emphasized that the rules implemented recent legislation, updated fees or licensing standards, or streamlined existing processes. Members asked a few questions about fee structures, the rationale for regulating professional wrestling, and how the National Guard’s public-private partnership and incentive programs would work; the department said the recruiting incentives would be funded from existing appropriations and were intended to improve retention and force strength. These rules were also approved without objection. The most extensive discussion came on the Department of Education’s Arkansas Children’s Educational Freedom Account Program rule. The department said the revisions, based on Act 920 of 2025, were intended to add guardrails, clarify allowable expenses, and speed approval of core educational purchases. Changes included defining core educational expenses, limiting certain sports-related spending, adding an intentional misuse standard, restricting phone purchases except for disability-related needs, setting a $1,000 threshold for additional review of technology purchases, capping carryover funds at $8,500, and creating a reconsideration process for denied expenses. Members raised concerns about safeguards, appeals, sports equipment, provider credentialing, rural vendor access, and whether the department would be flexible or overly restrictive. The department said it would review every request, provide written explanations for denials, allow appeals up to the State Board, and refer suspected fraud to prosecutors if necessary. After hearing from 13 members of the public, the committee continued to discuss the rule, but the transcript ends before any final vote on the EFA rule is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 112 ON CHILDREN WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES BY SENATOR HARRELL.
• PARLANCE MEANS THE CURRICULUM THAT IS DEVELOPED AND IS MODIFIED FOR THE STUDENTS ABILITIES AND DISABILITIES

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• disability, refer to the Committee on Human Services HB 2543 by or relating to requiring the display
• Kane relating to prohibited manufacture and sale of motor vehicles equipped with a remote vehicle disabling
• Metcalf relating to increasing the criminal penalty for the offense of indecent assault against a disabled
• exempt from adviarum taxation all a part of the market value if the resident homestead of certain disabled
• veteran or their surviving spouse as such veteran based on the disability rating of the veteran.

Transcript Highlights:

• adjudication of certain sexual or assaultive offenses committed against a child or a person with a disability
• referral of certain students receiving special education services to a local intellectual and developmental
• disability authority for services, to Education K-16.
• from ad valorem taxation of part of the appraised value of the residence homestead of a partially disabled

Summary: The Senate met briefly and referred a large number of first-reading bills and resolutions to standing committees. The measures covered a wide range of topics, including hemp regulation, dementia research funding, parental rights and public education, municipal library funding, tax and local government issues, criminal justice, health care, education, transportation, natural resources, and election law. Several constitutional resolutions were also referred, including proposals related to the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas and a severance tax revenue fund. Most of the transcript consists of the reading of bill captions and committee referrals, with no substantive debate or testimony recorded. The listed measures included proposals on school uniforms, charter schools, Medicaid fraud remedies, insurance practices, occupational licensing for people with criminal convictions, water and sewer utility cybersecurity, agricultural protections, public meeting broadcasting, and various local and state governance matters. No votes were taken on the bills in this segment. The only formal action reflected was referral of the bills and resolutions to the appropriate committees, followed by adjournment of the Senate until the next scheduled meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• I also do research there on disability accessibility in classrooms, focusing on how to help disabled
• I'm the Chief of the Healthcare Program Enforcement Division at the Office of the Attorney General.
• Wouldn't you rather have a disabled child than a dead one? Here's what I was not told.
• I wasn't told when she became disabled.
• One in six children in America is developmentally disabled.

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

Keywords: immunization, written informed consent, civil liability, health care provider, vaccine compensation, administrative penalty, health care, licensing, complaint procedure, disciplinary action, law enforcement, pharmacy benefit manager, PBM, gag clause, prescription drug pricing, out-of-pocket cost, cash price, pharmacist, pharmacy, prescription drug benefit

Transcript Highlights:

• As such, our Workforce Development Division stands ready, willing, and able to expand the internship
• Executive Administrator Dentry Boldis from the State Council on Developmental Disabilities.
• Gorum, and I'm an intern at the Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:39:04.599> of deputy director for the division of deputy director for the division of
• death or disability too many.
• information is one death or disability information is one death or disability too<01:46:56.360><
• serious health issues developmental serious health issues developmental or<01:47:23.719> even
• impacts on services from this division impacts on services from this division in<02:04:50.760>

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs heard testimony on House Bill 606, as amended, a bill aimed at preventing physicians from denying medically necessary sterilizing or fertility-affecting treatment based on a patient’s age, number of children, marital status, or a doctor’s speculation about future reproductive intentions. Representative Ellen Reed, the sponsor, described the bill as a response to her own long experience with PCOS, heavy bleeding, and repeated refusals by doctors to perform a hysterectomy despite her clear wishes. She said the amendment narrows the bill to medically necessary care, adds definitions for “medical condition” and “appropriate reproductive care,” and removes earlier provisions about voluntary sterilization referrals. She also said the bill does not target religious objections, and that doctors could still refuse for medical, payment, or existing religious reasons not addressed by the bill. Committee members asked about religious freedom, informed consent versus waivers, and the scope of the new definitions. Reed responded that religion was not added to the list of prohibited reasons for denial, and that the amendment is intended to protect doctors when patients sign informed consent or waivers. She explained that “appropriate reproductive care” includes procedures such as hysterectomy, oophorectomy, orchiectomy, salpingectomy, and endometrial ablation, and that the bill now focuses on medically necessary treatment rather than elective sterilization. She said the change was intended to make the proposal narrower and more tailored after earlier concerns. Several witnesses supported the bill with personal accounts of being denied hysterectomies or other procedures despite serious symptoms. Representative Lauren Selig described a decade-long effort to obtain a hysterectomy after years of cycle problems and migraines, saying doctors dismissed her concerns and treated her symptoms as normal. Jade Flad also testified in support, saying she had long been told to simply endure her cycle problems and noted that her husband was offered a vasectomy without similar barriers. The sponsor said online support was strong and that there was little or no written opposition testimony. No vote or final committee action was taken during the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• and the Workforce Services Branch, which oversees the Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act. and Division
• When I say demographics, I mean, are some of these individuals with disabilities whom the workforce is
• We work with the Department of Rehabilitation regarding that question about disabilities.
• I don't have the statistics off the top of my head in terms of the number of individuals with disabilities
• correctly, the types of courses that are not intended to be offered through dual enrollment are developmental

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• health professionals from across Alaska, nationally, collectively, to develop guidelines for developmentally
• to develop guidelines for developmentally appropriate instruction
• have pediatric neuropsychological conditions that are permanently debilitating and cause lifelong disability

Keywords: 905, all

Summary: The Alaska Legislature met in joint session to consider gubernatorial vetoes of five bills. Members first took up House Bill 52 on minors and psychiatric hospitals, with supporters arguing it would improve transparency, family communication, oversight, and reporting around seclusion and restraint in psychiatric facilities. Opponents of the veto cited DOJ findings and media reports about abuses at a North Star facility. The override failed, 36-24, falling short of the 40 votes needed. The joint session then considered Senate Bill 41 on mental health education. Supporters said it would help develop age-appropriate mental health curriculum and could aid suicide prevention, while critics argued it was mischaracterized and did not impose a state takeover of local schools. The veto override failed, 38-22. Members next considered House Bill 314 on architects, engineers, surveyors, and interior designers, focusing on the AELS Board’s continuation and the need for professional oversight during major infrastructure work. That override passed, 45-15. The legislature then voted on Senate Bill 21, the Alaska Work and Save Program, which supporters said would expand retirement savings access for workers and small businesses, including an option to direct PFD funds into retirement accounts. The override failed, 39-21. Finally, House Bill 195 on pharmacists and physician assistants was debated as a health care access measure that would let pharmacists provide more services under a standard-of-care model; supporters said it would reduce costs and improve access, while some members raised concerns about scope and abortion-related issues. The veto override passed, 43-17. The joint session then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• required insurance coverage for behavioral health treatment for individuals with autism and pervasive developmental
• from constituents who work in our public schools here in Assembly District Six and children with disabilities
• She was diagnosed as severely developmentally delayed, nonverbal, and on the autism spectrum.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• recognition of therapeutic approaches for individuals diagnosed with mental illnesses, intellectual developmental
• disabilities, and cognitive disorders.
• has invested resources at four state agencies: the Health and Human Services Commission, the Texas Division

Bills: HB35, HB138, HB754, HB1314, HB1612, HB2254, HB2510, HB2789, HB3560, HB3597, HB4224, HB4273, HB4643, HB4783, HB138

Keywords: peer support, first responders, mental health, confidentiality, emergency services, health impact analysis, cost analysis, coverage mandates, health insurance, legislative analysis, health care data, human trafficking, trafficking prevention, medical assistant training, health care facilities, hospital compliance, clinic compliance, anti-retaliation, whistleblower protection, employee reporting

Transcript Highlights:

• And if they're not covered by that, they're not covered by the Quality Council, the developmental disability
• And if they're not covered by that, they're not covered by the Quality Council, the developmental disability
• And if they're not covered by that, they're not covered by the Quality Council, the developmental disability
• And if they're not covered by that, they're not covered by the Quality Council, the developmental disability
• And if they're not covered by that, they're not covered by the Quality Council, the developmental disability

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And my own developmental delays.
• So, for all of those disabilities.
• <02:45:35.279> disabilities<02:45:35.920> offering developmental disabilities offering
• developmental disabilities offering testimony<02:45:36.800> and<02:45:37.040> support<02
• <02:46:08.479> as families of kids with disabilities as families of kids with disabilities

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee on Education met on February 17 and announced it would limit public testimony to one minute because more than a thousand testimonies were expected on one measure. The first bill heard was HB 1934, relating to the Imagination Library of Hawaii. The state librarian and Friends of the Library supported the bill, saying the program is a proven, cost-effective way to improve early literacy and should be expanded statewide for children ages 0 to 5. Friends of the Library said the current 50/50 match requirement would be too difficult to meet immediately and asked for state funding for the first few years to help launch the expansion. Testimony included eight supporters and one opponent, and members asked whether the proposal was an expansion of an existing program; the state librarian said it would expand service beyond currently targeted communities. The committee then heard HB 20004, which would extend the floating librarian pilot program. The state librarian, Department of Education, HSTA, and several individuals testified in support. Supporters said the program helps address staffing needs and improves student readiness, especially for college and information literacy. One retired community college librarian said school librarians help students prepare for college and are increasingly important in teaching critical evaluation of misinformation and AI-generated content. Members asked about implementation of the existing pilot, including recruitment of certified librarians for neighbor island and Oahu complex areas; DOE said those positions had been identified and recruitment was underway, and existing funds remained intact. The final major discussion was HB 2398, which clarifies the library system’s role in RNMSP-related projects and public library construction on or near school land. The state librarian and public library system supported the bill, while the Department of Education and Attorney General’s office raised concerns about vague language, especially the phrase “land controlled by the board,” and suggested amendments. In questioning, the state librarian explained that the bill was prompted by conflicts on shared or adjacent school/public library sites, including traffic, pickup and drop-off access, and other operational issues. DOE described significant disruption from one project’s traffic changes and said planning for such projects should involve early coordination and formal agreements. The state librarian responded that the new bill would clarify oversight and help avoid delays and disputes over property control and future renovations.

Transcript Highlights:

• In article two, we deal with the disability services areas.
• But we cannot legislate away people with disabilities.
• people with disabilities. people with disabilities.
• We made new divisions, new departments.
• > grow<02:27:17.439> and disabilities continue to grow and disabilities continue to grow

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Some of them also had diagnoses of ADHD, developmental delay, or emotional disabilities.
• <00:09:44.160> delay diagnosis of ADHD, developmental delay diagnosis of ADHD, developmental
• Um of the or emotional disabilities.
• <00:10:38.240> Law advocates at Minnesota Disability Law advocates at Minnesota Disability
• <00:18:42.160> of used against boys with disabilities of used against boys with disabilities

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The Seclusion Working Group approved the minutes from its November 5, 2025 meeting and then heard presentations from Jessica Heiser and Aaron Sansmark of Solutions Not Suspensions and the Minnesota Disability Law Center on the misuse and illegal use of seclusion in schools. They described illegal seclusion as including use outside emergencies, for discipline or noncompliance, beyond the emergency period, in unregistered rooms, without parent notice, without required observation or documentation, for students outside the grade-limit rules, when meals/restroom/water are withheld, or when staff are not properly trained. They emphasized that Minnesota lacks a single reliable data source for identifying illegal seclusion and that families often learn about incidents late, if at all, making complaints and legal action difficult because of barriers such as time, cost, language, and access to advocates. The presenters summarized Minnesota Disability Law Center records, saying they receive about one seclusion-related case per month during the school year, statewide, and that in the cases reviewed over the last year the children were all boys with disabilities, including autism, ADHD, developmental delay, or emotional disabilities; three were white and two were children of color, and four of the five were age 10 or younger. They said all of those families pulled their children from school afterward, and that five of five cases potentially had valid illegal-seclusion claims, though only three pursued legal action. They also noted PACER reports many discipline and behavior calls involving seclusion but does not keep hard records. The presenters proposed better statewide data collection, including identifying school buildings, staff, or students involved, reporting incident duration, and adding a checkbox on MDE complaints to flag restraint/seclusion allegations. A substantial portion of the discussion focused on disproportionality. The presenters cited national research showing students with disabilities and students of color, especially Black boys, are disproportionately restrained or secluded, while acknowledging Minnesota does not have a single statewide racial aggregate for seclusion. Members discussed whether banning seclusion would reduce misuse and disproportionality, whether it could increase physical holds or injuries, and whether the issue should be viewed in the broader context of emergency interventions. Heiser argued Minnesota is moving in the same direction as federal actions and other states that have restricted or banned seclusion, and noted that the current birth-through-third-grade ban has reportedly reduced seclusion by 40%. Other members agreed disproportionality is a serious systemwide problem, but emphasized the need to keep the conversation focused on seclusion and emergency use. No additional votes or formal actions were taken beyond approval of the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• group to study the recommendation. on certain services needed by individuals with intellectual or developmental
• disability.
• Metcalfe relating to increasing the criminal penalty for the offense of indecent assault against a disabled
• exemption from the ad valorem taxation bar to the market. value of residence homestead of a partially disabled
• veteran or their surviving spouse as such veteran based on the disability rating for of the veteran.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Children's Justice Task Force, Foster Advocates, the ombuds office for families, for mental health, for developmental
• disabilities, youth prize, and so many more.
• for Families, for mental health, Offices for Families, for mental health, for<00:03:42.080> developmental
• <00:03:42.640> disabilities,<00:03:43.760> youth for developmental disabilities, youth
• for developmental disabilities, youth prize,<00:03:44.799> and<00:03:45.040> so<00:03:

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The governor disability services areas.
• For those of you that don't know, this is about helping adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities
• people with disabilities. people with disabilities.
• She tells us our disability services.
• of being contracted out for disability of being contracted out for disability services<03:25:26.319

Keywords: 1183, house