Video & Transcript Research : 'coverage mandates'
Page 78 of 454
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs (04/21/2026)
Election Law and Municipal Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- unavoidable lapses in coverage. unavoidable lapses in coverage.
- So, this bill is expanding the existing mandate for residential zones and also adding a new mandate for
- adding a new mandate for commercial adding a new mandate for commercial zones.<01:18:14.160>
- Second, the bill would mandate that use.
- home-based care, essentially mandating home-based care, essentially mandating that<01:18:40.680>
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- passed House Bill 1325 with a very clear goal: an agreement that we evacuate once maximum employment coverage
- and its lobbying effort is focused on ending the state and federal... practice of passing unfunded mandates
- It becomes easier to pass unfunded mandates when no one is here to object.
- because our constituency can't afford it, but at the same time we also can't afford our unfunded mandates
Keywords:
hemp regulation, consumable products, cannabinoids, occupational licenses, criminal offenses, SB 11, Texas attorney general, election crimes, election law enforcement, criminal prosecution, Election Code, Government Code Chapter 402, local prosecutors, county attorney, district attorney, grand jury, probable cause reports, state election offenses, voter fraud, election integrity
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on the Judiciary Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Joint Committee on the Judiciary
Transcript Highlights:
- This bill would expand victim compensation by increasing funeral and burial cost coverages to $15,000
- Giffords strongly... ...including an extended application window and an increase in funeral coverage.
- S 1180 would remove the mandate that victims work with police for compensation eligibility.
- You talked about the vulnerable adults with mandated reporters, and I want to make sure I understand:
- In brief, I'll say that the tenets of Jewish tradition clearly lead to the mandate for survivors to be
Summary:
The Joint Committee on the Judiciary held a lengthy hearing on a wide range of bills involving domestic violence, sexual assault, child sexual abuse, trafficking, victim compensation, and related criminal justice reforms. Testimony focused on measures to support survivors and close perceived legal gaps, including bills to protect domestic violence survivors in child welfare proceedings, expand victim compensation for homicide families and trafficking survivors, create a DNA exception to the rape statute of limitations, eliminate or extend statutes of limitations for child sexual abuse, and strengthen laws on upskirting, sexual abuse by adults in positions of authority, and sexual assault by rideshare drivers. Several speakers also addressed bills concerning vulnerable adults, harassment and custody-related abuse, and early evidence kits.
Witnesses included legislators, prosecutors, advocates, and many survivors who described personal experiences with abuse and barriers to justice. Supporters argued that current laws often leave survivors without meaningful remedies, especially where consent, reporting requirements, evidentiary rules, or statutes of limitations prevent prosecution or compensation. Prosecutors and advocates said the bills would clarify vague statutes, increase penalties in some cases, and better reflect the realities of coercion, grooming, trafficking, and delayed reporting. Some testimony also urged amendments, including changes to victim compensation reporting rules and clarifications to avoid unintended conflicts with other wage-recovery laws.
No committee votes or final actions were taken in the hearing itself. The chairs emphasized strict time limits, respectful conduct, and the submission of written testimony, and several witnesses were called out of order to accommodate the large number of speakers.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- It does not create a new program or mandate; it simply gives local communities the option to support
- An effective ATRS would provide round-the-clock coverage and include a behavioral threat assessment team
- An effective ATRS would provide An effective ATRS would provide round-the-clock<00:57:52.600>
coverage - My curiosity here is: Is the goal, or is the plan, to get these created and then mandate that schools
- and then mandate that schools follow<01:07:01.920>
them <01:07:02.160>after <01:07:02.480
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Local Government Committee Apr 29th, 2026
Local Government
Transcript Highlights:
- Things got so bad the company that insures the district threatened to withhold coverage, which would
- district's leadership was necessary in order for them to have the confidence to continue to provide coverage
- failing the children of Alameda County when we're talking about children at risk, immediate calls, mandated
- In housing construction, too many contractors still fail to provide even basic health coverage.
Summary:
The Senate Committee on Local Government met with a quorum and first approved the consent calendar, including SB 1187 and SB 1388. The committee then heard SB 983, which would authorize the Port of San Diego to use job order contracting for smaller repair and maintenance work; supporters said it would speed up routine repairs and reduce costs, while opponents raised concerns about construction language and project labor agreement effects. The bill was moved to the floor but initially remained on call after a split vote, along with several other measures heard later in the day.
The committee also heard SB 1256, aimed at limiting repeated litigation against a San Diego County housing project, with supporters arguing it would curb duplicative lawsuits and opponents warning it could weaken wildfire safety review. SB 992, which would make permanent and expand a financial oversight option for very small special districts, drew support from county auditors and special districts and passed unanimously. SB 1115, addressing governance failures at the Tulare County Public Cemetery District by allowing supervisors to remove individual trustees under specified conditions, also passed unanimously after testimony about district dysfunction and insurance concerns.
Later, the committee considered SB 1193, which would impose transparency requirements on Alameda County discretionary funding; supporters said it would add guardrails against conflicts of interest, while the county argued its current process is already transparent and the bill is overly restrictive. SB 1383, clarifying that local labor standards cannot be waived through density bonus concessions, passed on a divided vote after labor groups supported it and no opposition testified. SB 1361, intended to prevent local governments from undermining transit projects to avoid SB 79 housing requirements, also passed on a split vote. Finally, SB 1272, the CASH Act, would give homeowners more time to cure certain non-safety code violations; county and code enforcement groups opposed the introduced version but said they were working on amendments, and the bill passed unanimously as amended. The committee adjourned after reporting several bills out, with some measures remaining on call until later votes were taken.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 1 on Health Apr 21st, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- patients to care, 82% to provide health education, 74% to serve patients without family planning coverage
- So again, these are used for situational awareness and mandated disease reporting.
- Our ability to monitor vaccine coverage, as Dr. Pan just mentioned, will slow.
- Our ability to monitor vaccine coverage, as Dr. Pan just mentioned, will slow.
Summary:
The subcommittee held an oversight hearing on federal actions affecting California’s public health and family planning systems, focusing first on the freeze to Title X family planning funds and then on broader CDC/public health grant terminations. Chair and members described the cuts as abrupt, harmful, and likely to create major gaps in disease surveillance, vaccination, contraception, STI testing, and other preventive services, while also criticizing the federal administration’s explanation that the actions were tied to DEI or civil-rights compliance. The chair thanked Attorney General Bonta for legal action and said the hearing was intended to document the real-world impacts and inform state budget responses.
Witnesses from Essential Access Health, Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, a Central Coast clinic, and other providers said California’s Title X network serves more than half a million low-income patients annually and relies on the funds for staffing, outreach, training, mobile and school-based clinics, and confidential care. They warned that the freeze has already forced reserve spending, delayed services, and could lead to layoffs, reduced hours, longer waits, and fewer appointments, especially for sexual and reproductive health care. Public comment included support for a proposed state backfill of Title X losses, with advocates emphasizing impacts on low-income, LGBTQ+, and communities of color.
On the public health side, CDPH, county health officials, and local health officers testified that the CDC’s rescission of $11.4 billion in grants would affect California by an estimated $840 million and threaten lab capacity, immunization programs, health disparities work, and data systems such as CalConnect and vaccine registries. Sacramento County and others described how the grants supported outbreak response, sequencing, community vaccination clinics, and equity-focused partnerships, and said terminations had already led to canceled appointments, stopped contracts, and layoffs. Several speakers urged the Legislature to preserve and expand state “future of public health” funding and to backfill federal losses, while public commenters from HIV, immunization, labor, and county organizations echoed concerns about workforce losses and worsening health outcomes.
NM
Transcript Highlights:
- We believe in equitable access to health care coverage, and Medicaid provides a sustainable and reliable
- source of health care coverage in New Mexico.
- It is essential for providing health coverage for many New Mexicans.
- What is now mandated to fully reimburse.
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
FL House Floor Session - 2025-04-28 (1:00PM Session)
Florida House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Senate Bill 1578, a bill to be entitled: An act relating to coverage for mammograms and supplemental
- Senate Bill 1160 expands the circumstances in which eligibility for such coverage is provided to include
- Senate Bill 1160 gives some peace of mind to those who protect and serve that health care coverage for
- Senate Bill 1160 expands the circumstances in which eligibility for such coverage is provided to include
- So in the bill, it mandates, if I'm reading correctly, the exhaustion of administrative remedies before
Summary:
The Senate convened with a quorum, prayer, pledge, and several recognitions, including remarks from Senator Berman on Democratic priorities and introductions of military leaders and an intern. The chamber then moved through a long special-order calendar, with many bills substituted to House companions, amended, and passed, while several others were temporarily postponed.
Major measures approved included the dangerous dogs/Pam Rock Act (SB 572/HB 593), which tightened penalties and procedures for dog attacks and passed 36-0; local government land regulation (SB 1080), which was amended to remove agricultural enclave language and passed 26-8; vessel/freedom-related legislation (SB 1388/HB 1137), which passed 35-0; blood clot screening and treatment (SB 890/HB 1421), which added registry and training provisions and passed 36-0; fleeing or eluding law enforcement (SB 468/HB 113), which increased offense levels and passed 36-0; concealed carry/licensing for certain officers and service members (SB 490/HB 383), which passed 33-3; timeshare management (SB 496/HB 897), which clarified governance and annual meeting requirements and passed 36-0; background screening education (SB 614/HB 531), which created a public webpage and passed 36-0; utility service restrictions (SB 1002/HB 1137), which preempted local energy-source restrictions and passed 36-0; Medicaid oversight (SB 1060), which created a joint oversight committee and passed 35-0; health facilities authorities (SB 68), amended to make fentanyl urine screening more discretionary, and passed 36-0; and veterans’ nursing home beds (SB 78/HB 797), which authorized veteran- and spouse-designated beds and passed 36-0.
The chamber also passed disability history and awareness instruction (SB 540/HB 447), a highly personal bill honoring Evan Hartzell that drew extended debate about disability language, inclusion, and education; it passed 35-0 after 35 co-sponsors were added. Manufacturing policy bills SB 600 and SB 602 were approved after amendments to add reporting, ranking metrics, and fee-use restrictions, both passing 35-0. Educational opportunities for military children (SB 1528) passed 36-0 after testimony from student sponsors and senators praising the bill’s origin. Several other bills, including Medicaid oversight, mammograms, Parkinson’s disease, condominium/cooperative associations, waste management, human trafficking, and Bright Futures, were postponed or not taken up during this segment.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement - 03/24/26
Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- I just felt we were putting way too many unfunded mandates on our businesses.
- uh unfunded mandates on our businesses. uh unfunded mandates on our businesses.
- First, for an account to assist employees who are not exempt from coverage so they would be near or at
- <01:14:37.360>
so <01:14:37.560>they who are not exempt from coverage so they who are - not exempt from coverage so they would<01:14:37.840>
be <01:14:37.960>near <01:14:38.320
Summary:
The commission approved the March 17 minutes and then heard testimony on Senate File 4419 / House File 4069, as amended, which would exempt J-1 visa-holding teachers and their school districts from Teachers Retirement Association contribution requirements during the teachers’ exchange term. Senator Pappas and Representative Feist said the bill is intended to help districts fill hard-to-staff special education and other positions by letting J-1 teachers keep more of their pay for immediate relocation costs, while also redirecting employer savings toward onboarding, mentorship, and cultural orientation. They argued the teachers are temporary by design, often cannot stay long enough to benefit from TRA, and that the bill would be roughly neutral for TRA because contributions and matching liability would both be removed.
Supportive testimony came from Matthew Connelly of Lattice Global Teachers and Melissa Schaller of Intermediate School District 917. Connelly said J-1 teachers arrive with significant upfront expenses and only a short window to establish themselves, and that the exemption could save them about $4,000 to $5,000 while helping schools afford recruitment and support costs. Schaller said her district has relied on international special education teachers to fill vacancies, that the H-1B option is no longer workable because of a large fee increase, and that J-1 hiring is needed to remain competitive; she noted 17 open special education positions for 2026-27 and no other applicants.
Caitlin Snyder of Education Minnesota opposed the bill, arguing it lowers compensation and removes a retirement option without enough input from teachers themselves. She said the bill does not ensure the employer savings would be used for housing or other supports, and urged more direct consultation with J-1 teachers. Several members raised concerns about fairness, pension protection, and whether the bill could create unintended consequences for teachers who later remain in Minnesota. Senator Pappas responded that the circumstances are unusual because J-1 teachers are temporary and often cannot return, and said TRA had indicated the proposal would be neutral or supportive, unlike a separate St. Paul teachers issue. Representative O’Driscoll asked about J-1 teachers in higher education and private schools, and Mr. Connelly said the visa is mainly used in K-12 settings but can also appear in charter and private schools; he also noted many J-1 holders face a two-year home-residence requirement. The chair indicated the bill was slated for inclusion in the omnibus pension bill, but no final vote on the bill itself was taken in the portion of the meeting provided.
LA
Transcript Highlights:
- So I put this together not as a mandate, but as an opportunity for companies to say, look, we'll abide
- Once again, it's not a mandate for anybody to... ...that they're comfortable with.
- Once again, it's not a mandate for anybody to operate a business this way.
- So the note says it doesn't mandate them to do it, but I guess it requests them to do it.
- So the note says it doesn't mandate them to do it, but I guess it requests them to do it, and then it'd
Keywords:
Medicaid, reimbursement, ambulatory surgical centers, gastroenterology, ophthalmology, otolaryngology, healthcare funding, Louisiana Department of Health, surgical procedures, TOPS-Tech, scholarship, education, eligibility, college credit, dual enrollment, state funding, HB 488, Belle Chasse Bridge, Belle Chasse Bridge Merit-Based Special Fund, Plaquemines Parish
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Governmental Organization Committee Apr 2nd, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- We want to see whether or not this is something that is possible, so it is not a mandate.
- actions that involve fraud and misrepresentation for government contractors and subcontractors, mandates
- actions that involve fraud and misrepresentation for government contractors and subcontractors, mandates
- The test strip mandate.
- It does so by closing a loophole in the state's Prompt Payment Act and improving coverage of nonprofits
Summary:
The Governmental Organization Committee heard a series of bills on holidays, procurement, public safety, and business regulation. AB 268 would add Diwali as an official state holiday and allow schools and state workers limited flexibility to observe it; supporters described it as a recognition of California’s large South Asian and Hindu communities, and there was no opposition. AB 770 would define “customary maintenance” for outdoor advertising displays to clarify what repairs and reinforcements are allowed; the bill was presented as a safety and consistency measure for the billboard industry. AB 783 would authorize the Department of General Services to negotiate bulk pricing for construction materials to help disaster-affected communities rebuild more affordably, with supporters from the housing and building sectors and some members raising concerns about state contracting, storage, and implementation. AB 381 would update state procurement rules to better prevent human trafficking and forced labor in supply chains, aligning state policy with federal standards and drawing support from anti-trafficking advocates, labor, and local government representatives. AB 668 would extend drink-spiking prevention measures to music festivals by requiring test strips, drink lids, and reporting procedures; supporters emphasized victim safety and underreporting, while venue operators opposed the bill unless amended, citing feasibility and cost concerns. AB 880 would require prompt payment and indirect cost coverage for nonprofits contracting with the state, with broad nonprofit support and no opposition. AB 989 would make California Native American Day a paid holiday, with tribal and allied support. AB 592 would extend and expand temporary outdoor dining and alcohol service flexibilities for restaurants, with strong support from restaurant and business groups and opposition from alcohol policy advocates who preferred a narrower or permanent grandfathering approach.
Most bills advanced on committee votes, generally on party-line or broad bipartisan support. AB 770 was moved to Appropriations, AB 783 was passed as amended to the Assembly Committee on Emergency Management, AB 381 was sent to Labor, AB 668 and AB 880 were sent to Appropriations, AB 989 was sent to Public Employees and Retirement, and AB 592 was sent to Health. The committee also took up a consent calendar containing several additional bills, which was approved. The hearing ended with the roll left open for additional votes and adjournment at 3:17 p.m.
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Senate Standing Committee on Families & Children (2-25-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- <00:06:59.880>
to <00:07:00.000>expose the Maha Commission's mandate to expose the - But those programs aren’t federally mandated, or we have a state option on that?
- Our private insurance denied any kind of coverage for this.
- , and that was a health insurance mandate, and that was a health insurance mandate, and<01:09:10.880
- You had to get the denial to get the medical coverage first to get the Medicaid coverage. Okay.
Keywords:
Roll Call - 00:10
Discussion on SCR 61 – 01:46
Vote on SCR 61 – 11:33
Discussion on SR 18 – 12:30
Vote on SR 18 - 30:01
Discussion on Ky Residential Autism Services – 32:34
Questions & Comments – 56:56, 958, all
Summary:
The committee met with a quorum and first considered Senate Concurrent Resolution 61, sponsored by Senator Shelley Funke Frommeyer and Representative Matt Lockett. The resolution, as amended by committee substitute, would create a legislative task force tied to the MAHA (Make America Healthy Again) framework to study Kentucky health policy, including Medicaid drug approvals, preventive and alternative therapies, holistic health education, oversight and transparency in health care, and research into integrative approaches. Supporters said the goal was to address chronic disease and reduce over-medication, while emphasizing the effort was not intended as an attack on agriculture or the pharmaceutical industry. The resolution received favorable expression and passed the committee 9-0.
The committee then heard Senate Resolution 18 from Senator Neal, urging Kentucky to maximize participation in the federal SNAP Employment and Training (SNAP E&T) program. Testimony from Jessica Klein of the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy and Secretary Eric Friedlander explained that SNAP E&T provides job training, education, and support services for SNAP participants, and that the program is federally matched and does not require additional General Assembly funding in the normal course. Members discussed how the program works, whether it could create new state costs, and how it fits with efforts to connect food assistance, workforce development, and local agriculture. Questions also focused on whether SNAP spending can be steered toward healthier foods and farmers markets, including Kentucky’s Double Dollars program, which was described as helping participants buy produce, meat, and dairy at participating markets and some retailers.
Several members expressed support for the workforce goals but asked for more information on fiscal impacts and purchasing data. Secretary Friedlander said the SNAP E&T funds are separate from nutrition benefits, and that the state match generally comes from employer, university, or workforce partner contributions rather than new state appropriations. Senator Herron explained her vote in favor by saying the program could help people gain education and employment and reduce reliance on SNAP over time. Senate Resolution 18 was then adopted by the committee.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- information on our budgetary needs and to meet what would be necessary to fulfill the statutory mandates
- necessary to meet the statutory mandates necessary to meet the statutory mandates that<00:07:29.360
- ,<00:08:16.240>
and <00:08:16.479>the jurisdiction, its mandate, and the jurisdiction - , its mandate, and the future<00:08:17.039>
role <00:08:17.360>of <00:08:17.599>an coverage, as I'm sure people understand. coverage, as I'm sure people understand.
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
House Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee 3/19/25
Agriculture Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- Another is a potential uptick in litigation with such broad mandates.
- Another is a potential uptick in litigation with such broad mandates.
- Yet the bill before us today creates another pair of mandates on businesses that address compounds which
- Another is a potential uptick in litigation with such broad mandates.
- Another is a potential uptick in litigation with such broad mandates.
Keywords:
HF44, Casey Jones State Trail, Pipestone Trailhead, Currie Loop, Minnesota bonding bill, capital investment, state bonds, bond proceeds fund, Department of Natural Resources, DNR, trail rehabilitation, trail reconstruction, recreational trail, bike trail, hiking trail, infrastructure, state trail, Pipestone, Currie, bonding authorization
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
US House Floor Proceedings (Thursday, February 6, 2025)
US Federal House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- history violated the president's mandate history violated the president's mandate we<01:18:15.920
- draw down federal funds to cover medication-assisted treatment, medications, and therapy, expand coverage
- draw down federal funds to cover medication-assisted treatment, medications, and therapy, expand coverage
- draw down federal funds to cover medication-assisted treatment, medications, and therapy, expand coverage
- draw down federal funds to cover medication-assisted treatment, medications, and therapy, expand coverage
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- And it's discretionary because it does not, it's no law or anything that mandate what you do with it.
- A current statute related to mandated insurance and managed care coverage of services for persons diagnosed
- This bill repeals the diagnosis age of eight years old and also repeals the age cap for mandated coverage
- The Second Chance Act mandates ECG screenings for all high school students to detect cardiovascular issues
- Is that something that, is that coverage that's available at a state capital complex for insurance?
Summary:
The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, doctor and guest introductions, and then took up Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 168, the Tristan Murphy Act, on mental health. Senator Bradley described the bill as a major criminal justice and behavioral health reform measure that would expand pretrial mental health diversion, strengthen treatment-based probation conditions, broaden grant uses for mental health and substance abuse programs, add Hillsborough County to a forensic hospital diversion pilot, require certain DOC mental health evaluations, and create a Florida Behavioral Health Data Repository. Senators from both parties spoke in strong support, emphasizing treatment over incarceration, public safety, data collection, and the Murphy family’s role in advancing the bill. The Senate passed the bill 37-0 and then approved 37 co-sponsors.
The chamber then received the Senate’s 2025-26 General Appropriations Bill, SB 2500, with Chair Hooper outlining a $117.4 billion budget that he said reduces spending, preserves reserves, and includes major investments in water quality, transportation, education infrastructure, and reporting requirements. Committee chairs summarized their portions: K-12 funding at $34.7 billion with increases for FEFP, scholarships, VPK, school hardening, and school safety; higher education at $11.5 billion with workforce, nursing, reading, autism, and student aid investments; health and human services with a $1.8 billion increase for Medicaid, mental health, opioid response, disability services, and veterans programs; criminal and civil justice at $7.6 billion for corrections, juvenile justice, law enforcement, courts, and judgeships; transportation/tourism/economic development at about $18 billion including roads, housing, Visit Florida, and cultural grants; and agriculture/environment/general government with major Everglades, water quality, citrus, food bank, and agency IT funding.
Members then questioned several budget items, especially education funding formulas, the shift of scholarship dollars below the line, the impact on public school districts, AP/IB and other accelerated program funding, the APD wait list, opioid settlement spending, arts grants, and the My Safe Florida Home and condo pilot programs. Chairs generally said scholarship and accelerated-program dollars were being restructured for transparency and flexibility rather than cut, that school districts would still receive funding based on enrollment, and that APD and other human services issues would continue to be worked out in conference. The budget discussion concluded with remarks praising staff and noting a 4% across-the-board pay raise for state employees and targeted increases for law enforcement and firefighters, followed by a recognition for FAMU Day at the Capitol.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Human Services Finance and Policy Committee 4/1/25
Human Services Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- health plans is if there are<00:30:17.519>
gaps <00:30:17.799>in <00:30:18.039>coverage if <00:30:19.279>we <00:30:19.399>need <00:30:19.559>to are gaps in coverage- right if we need to are gaps in coverage right if we need to allocate<00:30:20.159>
$9 <00:30: - through the health plans is coverage through the health plans is there<00:30:23.960>
something - education that appears that the mandated education that appears that only<01:05:34.200>
unions - education that appears that the mandated education that appears that only<01:05:34.200>
Keywords:
HF2367, Community First Services and Supports, CFSS, personal care assistance, PCA, consumer-directed community supports, CDCS, home and community-based services, HCBS, direct support professionals, direct care workers, caregivers, support workers, SEIU Healthcare Minnesota & Iowa, collective bargaining agreement, retention stipend, health care cost stipend, training stipend, orientation program, retirement trust
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Session (Full Formal with Calendar) Jun 21st, 2026 at 11:00 am
Massachusetts Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- In addition, Madam President, so that those protections are clear, this amendment would mandate written
- But we've only mandated universal reading screenings for K to third grade in 2023.
- You will use the state-mandated, monolithic, one-size-fits-all system.
- It will mandate total health care expenditure requirements to increase year over year and by 2030 be
- This amendment does not change patients' access to medications or insurance coverage for those medications
Summary:
The Senate considered a series of amendments to a primary care health care bill and also took up a separate literacy bill. Several amendments were withdrawn, including one on artificial intelligence in health care and others related to cost controls, direct primary care, and provider studies. The Senate adopted amendments on preserving access to treatment for serious mental illness, modernizing the definition of primary care, clarifying payment rates for community health centers, excluding pharmaceutical spending from primary care expenditure calculations, and strengthening health equity reporting. Other amendments on rate bands, alternative payment systems, private equity reporting, scope of practice, and ownership disclosure were rejected. The Senate then approved the Ways and Means amendment and ordered the primary care bill to a third reading.
The chamber also took up final passage of An Act Relative to Teachers Preparation and Student Literacy, with senators describing it as a long-awaited compromise focused on improving early reading outcomes. Supporters said the bill requires evidence-based K-3 literacy curricula, regular student screening and family notification, dyslexia screening protocols, professional development for teachers, and a free state-developed curriculum option. Senators emphasized the need to address declining third-grade reading proficiency and equity gaps. The bill passed to be enacted by a unanimous roll call and was sent to the Governor.
After the literacy bill, the Senate returned to the primary care bill, where senators again debated cost containment, innovation, and access. The final version included the adopted amendments and was passed to be engrossed by a roll call vote of 35-4. The Senate then adopted an adjournment order and recessed, adjourning in memory of Henry Thomas III, former Representative Ben Swan, and Mr. Dennis Frane.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- background screening clearinghouse, streamlining the background check process for coaches, and the bill mandates
- The bill mandates that individuals serving as a coach, assistant coach, manager, or referee who are not
- We're not mandating anybody do anything; we're just saying, hey, if you'd like to do this in your community
- We're not mandating anybody do anything; we're just saying, hey, if you'd like to do this in your community
- 30 years, over 1,200 cases, primarily among unvaccinated individuals and communities with low MMR coverage
Summary:
The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and recognized several guests and groups in the gallery, including students, business groups, and university basketball coaches. The chamber then moved through a long special order calendar, taking up a series of bills on trust law, school district reporting, debt collection, service of process, lodging and food service establishments, lien waivers, public records protections for Crime Stoppers personnel, foreign ownership/health care licensure issues, diabetes management in schools, platting, fentanyl testing, third-party reservation platforms, electronic landlord-tenant notices, leaving the scene of a crash, background screening for athletic coaches, surrendered infants, and affordable housing. Several bills were temporarily postponed, and multiple House companion bills were substituted where the measures were identical or had only drafting differences.
Debate focused on a few measures. Senators questioned the trust code bill’s effect on out-of-state attorneys general; the school reporting bill was described as strengthening arrest and misconduct reporting for instructional personnel; and the service-of-process and lodging bills were presented as technical and consumer-protection fixes. The fentanyl testing bill drew emotional support from the sponsor and families affected by overdose deaths. The surrendered-infant bill prompted opposition over safety, anonymity, and the limited use of baby boxes, while supporters argued it could save lives. The affordable housing bill, updating the Live Local Act, was amended to adjust parking reductions and allow certain properties to use the administrative approval process, with additional limits and exclusions added.
Most measures passed overwhelmingly, including the trust code bill, school reporting, debt collection, service of process, lien waivers, public records, foreign-country business interest restrictions, diabetes management in schools, platting, fentanyl testing, third-party reservation platforms, electronic landlord-tenant notices, leaving-the-scene restitution, athletic coach background screening, surrendered infants, and affordable housing. The day’s most divided vote was on the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services bill, which drew extended debate over fluoride policy and other provisions; it passed 27-9. At the end of the session, the Senate agreed to immediately certify all bills passed that day to the House, recognized a Taiwan-related resolution for the journal, made additional announcements, and adjourned until the next scheduled meeting.
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
Senate - Health and Public Affairs Feb 4th, 2026 at 06:25 pm
Senate Health & Public Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- They put out a bid for insurance coverage, usually through a third party. payment, and they also go out
- New Mexicans cannot afford government mandates stacked on top of rising healthcare costs.
- The bill also mandates that privacy settings Be set to the highest level by default, while well-intentioned
- Mandating detailed use-by-use opt-in workflows, consumers are confronted with repeated legalistic consent
- The coverage or the service, I should say, of those businesses, whether it's health care or small businesses
Keywords:
prior authorization, pharmacy benefits manager, PBM, health insurer, prescription drugs, step therapy, formulary, auto-adjudication, electronic portal, appeals, medical necessity, serious mental illness, mental health, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression, substance use disorder, addiction treatment, cancer, autoimmune disorder