Transcript Highlights:

• We ran it through the full process, filtration, treatment, and disinfection in front of every person
• ,</c> the full process, filtration, treatment, the full process, filtration, treatment, and<01:03:40.720
• on-site safe water treatment and on-site safe water treatment and disinfectant<01:06:02.440><c> production
• </c> treatment and disaster response. treatment and disaster response.
• </c> take it to our water treatment take it to our water treatment facilities<01:15:08.240><c> and</c

Bills: SB8

Committee: Joint Natural Resources & Energy

Transcript Highlights:

• because they think that it's safer than the drugs that they've already conquered in substance abuse treatment
• because they think that it's safer than the drugs that they've already conquered in substance abuse treatment
• understanding of client backgrounds, can cause client over-reliance on chatbots, give incorrect treatment
• which would have created a working group to assess the ways in which AI is used in mental health treatment
• urge you to pass SB 903 to protect California's children, to protect the integrity of mental health treatment

Summary: The Assembly Business and Professions Committee heard several Senate bills, with most of the discussion focused on worker training, public safety, and consumer protection. SB 1203 by Senator Smallwood-Cuevas would expand training and de-escalation requirements for private security officers. Supporters, including security workers and labor groups, said the bill would better prepare officers who often respond first to mental health crises and violent incidents. Opponents, including security industry representatives and business groups, argued it would impose major costs, create training bottlenecks, and could reduce licensed security coverage. The committee ultimately voted the bill out on a due pass recommendation to Labor and Employment, with some members noting future amendments to address training capacity and employer-provided training. The committee also approved SB 936 by Senator Blakespear, which would restrict retail sales of nitrous oxide canisters larger than 8 grams while preserving legitimate medical, dental, culinary, and automotive uses. Support came from county officials, public health groups, waste management organizations, law enforcement, and local governments, who described rising misuse, impaired driving, and recycling hazards. No opposition testimony was presented, and the bill passed to Public Safety. SB 1271 by Senator Reyes, aimed at strengthening California’s midwifery training pipeline by requiring data collection on licensed midwife preceptor capacity, also passed unanimously to Health. Supporters said the bill would help address shortages in rural birth care and improve access to training for aspiring midwives. SB 903 by Senator Padilla, which would place guardrails on the use of AI in mental health and psychotherapy settings and prohibit AI from being marketed as a therapist, drew emotional testimony from a mother whose son died by suicide after extensive chatbot interactions. Health and behavioral health groups supported the measure, while several industry and health organizations were opposed unless amended; the committee nevertheless sent it to Privacy and Consumer Protection on a unanimous vote. The committee also approved SB 1165 on consent and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• because they think that it's safer than the drugs that they've already conquered in substance abuse treatment
• because they think that it's safer than the drugs that they've already conquered in substance abuse treatment
• understanding of client backgrounds, can cause client over-reliance on chatbots, give incorrect treatment
• which would have created a working group to assess the ways in which AI is used in mental health treatment
• urge you to pass SB 903 to protect California's children, to protect the integrity of mental health treatment

Committee: House Business and Professions

Transcript Highlights:

• It's an amended contract to provide comprehensive community-based treatment services.
• Number 10 is DHS, Pine Ridge Treatment Center.
• It's an amended contract for comprehensive residential treatment services for youth.
• This is another amended contract for comprehensive residential treatment services.
• Comprehensive residential treatment services. Next page is page 30.

Committee: All JBC-PEER REVIEW

Summary: The PEER Review Subcommittee met to consider a large agenda of appropriation, transfer, contract, and other review items. Members approved temporary appropriation requests in Sections B through F, including funding for prosecuting attorneys, education-related adjustments, school operating needs, labor licensing divisions, ARPA fund returns from Workforce Services, IIJA grants for state police CDL implementation and a forestry-related county grant, reserve fund transfers for teacher scholarships, school facilities, and economic development, and a Commerce reallocation tied to organizational realignment. Cash fund requests in Section G and budget classification transfers in Section H were also reviewed, along with pay plan requests in Section I, overtime requests in Section J, and multiple methods of finance in Section K. The committee also reviewed discretionary grants in Section L, including agriculture promotion board grants and DHS aging/adult behavioral health grants, plus RFQs, construction contracts, intergovernmental contracts, and out-of-state contracts in Sections M1 through M5. Several items drew questions from members. Workforce Services explained that $225,000 in TANF-related funds would be returned to the federal government because the two-year hold period for uncashed or moved checks had expired. Commerce officials described the $25 million site infrastructure grant program, saying it supports site development, due diligence, and infrastructure build-out at eligible sites of 30 acres or more, including rural communities, with grant agreements and matching requirements providing accountability. DHS and Education officials answered questions about the Care Solace mental health referral contract, saying it is a statewide concierge/referral service that helps schools connect students to Arkansas providers and follow up so students do not fall through the cracks; members asked for more information on provider selection, school-day scheduling, and Arkansas vendor participation. The committee held one item over: the DHS discretionary grant item for the RSVP retired senior volunteer program in L2, after concerns were raised about whether state general revenue was being used effectively and how much administrative overhead the providers retain. Members also questioned several contracts, including a DHS sole-source contract with EMSLink for document management software and a DHS bridge contract with Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care for Medicaid inspections of care reviews; in both cases, agency staff explained the need to avoid service disruption and said follow-up information would be provided. A Department of Corrections reentry center contract was discussed for its recidivism results, and ARDOT retirement-system investment contracts were briefly explained. The meeting ended after a lengthy discussion of the Medicaid Trust Fund balance, with DFA and DHS officials saying the state is expected to finish the fiscal year without exhausting the fund, that a restricted reserve of $100 million is available as a backstop, and that the larger question is what minimum balance should be maintained going forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• Patients faced treatment denials, doctors had less autonomy, and the public became more frustrated.
• ,</c><00:21:40.760><c> and</c><00:21:40.920><c> any</c><00:21:41.120><c> known</c> diagnosis, treatment
• , and any known diagnosis, treatment, and any known prognosis<00:21:42.440><c> that</c><00:21:42.560>
• consent prior to the start of any consent prior to the start of any procedure,<00:22:15.120><c> treatment
• </c> procedure, treatment, or both. procedure, treatment, or both.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm worried about in these businesses, I'm worried about preferential treatment and locking other people
• But some of it is a concern is that if by giving preferential treatment, are you keeping others out,
• If it is the same fair market value, why don't you look here, give preferential treatment in that sense
• So the veteran in this scenario, they don't get preferential treatment or do they?
• And at some point, workers' comp wouldn't cover, I guess, third-party treatment.

Committee: House Appropriations

Summary: The House Committee on Appropriations met on April 7, 2026, with a quorum present. After housekeeping and announcements, the committee noted several bills were voluntarily deferred, including HB 603, HB 619, HB 763, HB 810, HB 222, HB 490, and HB 981. The committee also recognized a visiting Jack and Jill group before taking up legislation. The committee reported favorably HB 82 on DWI penalties, HB 670 on wood pellet manufacturing, HB 672 on brick manufacturing, HB 773 on state procurement preferences for prison enterprises and nonprofits serving blind, disabled, and veteran workers, HB 145 on extraordinary medical and dental expenses for injured police and firefighters, HB 430 on health insurance coverage for families of Lafayette Parish officers killed in the line of duty, HB 143 on the per diem for housing state inmates in parish jails, HB 874 on adding credentials to LA Wallet, HB 160 on penalties for domestic violence strangulation offenses, HB 445 on moving the STEM Advisory Council to Louisiana Works, and HB 781 on fleet vehicle registration. HB 82, HB 670, and HB 773 were amended before passage; HB 430 also received amendments narrowing coverage terms and age limits. Most of the discussion centered on fiscal impact and policy scope. Members questioned whether several bills created new costs or unfunded mandates, and sponsors repeatedly emphasized zero or already-budgeted fiscal notes. HB 773 drew the most debate, with members raising concerns about competition, preferential treatment, and the shift from a 15% cap to fair market value; the sponsor said the bill was intended to give blind, disabled, and veteran-serving nonprofits a fair chance to compete. HB 145 prompted questions from the Louisiana Municipal Association about exposure and whether the benefit should already be covered by workers’ compensation, while HB 430 was narrowed to Lafayette Parish after concerns about statewide costs. The meeting ended with all remaining bills reported favorably and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Just so I understand, this legislation requires no co-payment of gender transition treatment, is that
• It's just about non-discrimination. ...requirements when it comes to treatment.
• insurance policies around assignment of benefits often create an unnecessary barrier that makes treatment
• I have followed cases where dental infections became a medical emergency simply because treatment was
• about patient choice, continuity of care, and removing unnecessary financial barriers that delay treatment

Summary: The Assembly Health Committee met on March 17 and first approved a consent calendar of several bills, then heard AB 1540 by Assemblymember Mark Gonzalez, which would restore the 988 “Press 3” LGBTQ youth crisis line. Supporters, including suicide prevention advocates, behavioral health groups, and local governments, argued the service is a vital, identity-affirming suicide prevention tool for LGBTQ youth. Opponents, including detransitioners and conservative advocacy groups, argued it would steer vulnerable youth toward organizations they viewed as harmful. The committee approved the bill on a due-pass-as-amended motion to the Communications and Conveyance Committee, with several no votes; the bill was later held on call and then advanced. The committee next heard AB 1671 by Assemblymember Tangipa, creating a Rural Medical Provider Grant Program to help providers serving rural communities with operational costs, equipment, workforce needs, and related expenses. Supporters said the bill would help retain providers and improve access in areas where patients travel long distances for care; committee members also discussed telehealth as an important rural access tool. The bill passed on a due-pass-as-amended motion to Appropriations. The committee then took up AB 1876 by Assemblymember Addis, the Fair Care for All Act, which would codify federal health care nondiscrimination protections into California law, including protections related to race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, and gender identity. Supporters said the bill is needed because federal protections are vulnerable to rollback and because patients, especially transgender and intersex Californians, face coverage denials and care disruptions. Opponents argued the bill would force coverage of gender-affirming care and raised concerns about detransitioning. The committee approved the bill on a due-pass motion to Judiciary, with some no votes, and later held it on call before it advanced. Finally, the committee heard AB 1629 by Assemblymember Haney, which would require dental plans to honor assignment-of-benefits requests and improve reporting on network adequacy. Supporters said the bill would reduce upfront costs for patients and improve transparency, while opponents, including Delta Dental and dental plan groups, warned it could weaken networks and increase out-of-pocket costs. After discussion about network participation and patient access, the committee passed the bill on a due-pass motion to Appropriations. The committee then completed the remaining votes, including the consent items, and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• bills have not yet been paid or where we're talking about the possibility or the need for future treatment
• It in no way limits what can be asked for in terms of treatments and trying to anticipate what an injured
• So, we're talking here about how to predict the cost of future treatment, knowing that you are going
• to be obligated to that treatment and So, we need to make this clearer.
• We're simply talking about the actual treatment. And so, I think it would be fairer to everybody.

Bills: SB2030 , SB1926 , SB2170 , SB2151 , SB2166 , SB1213 , SB1381 , SB1824 , SB1876 , SB1728 , SB1582 , SB1286 , SB1386 , SB1708 , SB1618

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: expungement, record sealing, criminal records, clean slate, automatic expungement, expedited expungement, criminal history, OSBI, Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, deferred judgment, delayed sentence, pardon, pardon and parole board, law enforcement records, sealed records, arrest records, conviction records, reclassification of felony to misdemeanor, reentry, second chance

Transcript Highlights:

• Specifically, for Japanese beetles, the department has done a lot of treatments in Canyon County, and
• those treatments are put out to bid.
• I believe this is an Ada County problem, and I don't believe it'll go away with one treatment.
• And I don't believe it'll go away with one treatment. This is an ongoing problem.
• Last year, $3 million was provided toward a manure treatment facility for USDA ARS to be built on the

Committee: Senate Agricultural Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• programs: Early Learning and Development, the Idaho Child Care Program, and the Southwest Idaho Treatment
• Additionally, the department is also responsible for the treatment and care of the person when they enter
• But the number of individuals who we know are seeking treatment or referred to treatment, are being educated
• We do not actually provide treatment through this funding.
• We do not actually provide treatment through this funding.

Summary: The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee heard budget presentations from Legislative Services analyst Morgan Poloni and Department of Health and Welfare Director Juliet Sharon on the Division of Early Learning and Development, the Division of Public Health Services, and Family and Community Partnerships. Major topics included the Idaho Child Care Program (ICCP), the Idaho Home Visiting Program, the Idaho Immunization Assessment Fund, HIV and hepatitis prevention, ARPA-funded public health projects, kinship navigation services, and proposed agency reorganizations and transfer authority changes. Poloni explained that several divisions were recently reorganized, making year-to-year comparisons difficult, and outlined the governor’s and agency’s FY 2027 requests, including additional federal and dedicated funds for child care capacity, public health programs, and prevention services.

Transcript Highlights:

• These courts are designed to reduce recidivism, improve public safety and move people into treatment
• Representative Melo: With therapy treatments by drugs that help, it's like puberty blockers.
• So it's a felony to aid and abet in order to provide cross Anthony Dugo: sex hormones for treatments
• You know, ICD-10 brought out new specific treatments for conditions with kids and adults, and ICD-11
• Minor children are getting sex reassignment treatment.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:47:26.400><c> and</c><01:47:26.719><c> treatment</c><01:47:27.040><c> of</c> source treatment
• and treatment of source treatment and treatment of effective<01:47:27.760><c> water</c><01:47:28.080
• </c> it's limited very much to treatment now. it's limited very much to treatment now.
• . treatment. treatment.
• So, just strike mitigate and to treatment. >> Yeah. >> To treat cyanobacteria. >> treatment of or to

Committee: Senate Energy and Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> or qualifying to receive the treatment or qualifying to receive the treatment that<03:06:24.080>
• . treatments. treatments.
• </c> treatment called CARTT imunotherapy. treatment called CARTT imunotherapy.
• c> breakthrough treatment could change breakthrough treatment could change everything.<04:26:16.640><
• </c><05:25:56.718><c> I</c> treatment of taxpayers at the IRS. I treatment of taxpayers at the IRS.

Transcript Highlights:

• , psychological treatment, and physical rehabilitation.
• Are the words medical treatment, psychological treatment, and physical rehabilitation, are those new
• Are the words medical treatment, psychological treatment, and physical rehabilitation, are those new
• And finally, the broad definitions regarding psychological treatment for these incidents can lead to
• And now they're out for extended periods of time because that psychological treatment is subjective,

Bills: HCR10 , HB195 , HB283 , HB319 , HB325 , HB407 , HB448 , HB482 , HB992

Committee: House Education

Keywords: sanctioned sports, athletics, youth sports, high school, LHSAA, self-defense, chemical spray, public safety, campus security, higher education, Teacher's Shield Act, student discipline, assault, battery, school employee protection, sick leave, expulsion procedures, Louisiana Commission on Civic Education, civic education, civic engagement

Transcript Highlights:

• Again, let's get these folks the treatment that... ...but let's do it in a place that makes sense.
• I know firsthand the impact of having treatment services nearby.
• We also believe that substance abuse treatment is a way to do that as well.
• I also wanted to point out, treatment centers are not covered.
• In a substance treatment program, the primary purpose is to deal with substance abuse.

Bills: HB551 , HB 1281 , HB1378 , HB1617 , HB2868 , HB2881 , HB3374 , HB4439 , HB4726 , HB4732 , HB4878 , HB4914 , HB4921 , HB4958 , HB5200 , HB5318 , HB5360 , HB5402 , HB5568 , HB5573 , HB5623 , HJR218

Committee: House State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• Patients are, in turn, left waiting sometimes for days or weeks before they can proceed with treatments
• or pursuing the treatment again, you would have to get that preauthorization, the same one that you
• </c><00:09:59.560><c> or</c><00:10:00.160><c> pursuing</c><00:10:00.600><c> the</c> type of treatment
• or pursuing the type of treatment or pursuing the treatment<00:10:01.160><c> again</c><00:10:01.440>
• again you would have to get treatment again you would have to get that that that preauthorization<00

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 423, a prior authorization reform measure sponsored by Representative Kim Moser. A committee substitute was adopted to clarify that the bill’s prior authorization exemption program does not apply to Medicaid. Supporters, including the Kentucky Medical Association, said the bill would reduce red tape, improve transparency, and let providers spend more time on patient care. The bill would create a framework for insurers to establish a gold carding or waiver program for certain health services, exclude prescription drugs, prohibit retrospective reviews based solely on an exemption, and require annual reporting by the Department of Insurance and the Department for Medicaid Services. After questions about how exemptions would work and whether the bill addressed repeat prior authorizations, the committee voted to pass HB 423 with favorable expression. The committee then considered House Bill 415, sponsored by Representative Pollock and supported by AFLAC representatives. The bill was described as clarifying that health insurance coverage mandates are generally intended to apply only to primary major medical policies. With no substantive opposition or questions, the committee voted to pass HB 415 with favorable expression. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 390 from Chair Meredith, presented with support from multiple insurance industry representatives and the Department of Insurance. The bill would move motor vehicle insurance verification data from the old system to the CAVIS database and shorten the reporting turnaround from 30 days to a ceiling of seven days, with the possibility of a shorter period by regulation. After brief discussion and no objections, the committee voted to pass HB 390 with favorable expression. The committee also heard House Bill 3 for discussion only, sponsored by Representative Neighbors and supported by the Kentucky Pharmacists Association. The bill would require Kentucky Medicaid to reimburse pharmacists for covered clinical services they already provide, aligning Medicaid with existing commercial insurance policy. Supporters argued it would improve access, especially in underserved areas, and could reduce emergency room use and improve outcomes; the bill was not voted on during this meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Buprenorphine’s been used for many years for some alcohol and opioid addiction treatment.
• And so, you know, is kratom the poor man’s treatment center, the people that can’t afford it?
• Bupinorphine's been used for many years for some alcohol and opioid addiction treatment.
• And so, you know, and opioid addiction treatment.
• And now here he is with no alternative treatment that he can turn to, and I have no answer for him.

Transcript Highlights:

• While that journey is deeply personal, what matters most today is that there's no cure or treatment for
• As a deeply personal matter, what matters most today is that there's no cure or treatment for celiac
• The only treatment is a strict lifelong adherence to a gluten-free diet.
• We don't just provide treatments. We care for patients.
• alternative to clearly defined training and safety requirements and treatment expertise.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Public Health

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Health heard testimony on four bills: H. 5013 and S. 2928, which would establish a three-year celiac disease screening pilot program for children during routine cholesterol/lipid screening at ages 8 to 12; H. 5087, regulating medical spas; and H. 5115, establishing statewide food truck regulations, though the transcript focused almost entirely on the celiac and medical spa bills. For the celiac proposal, Rep. Badger and Sen. Lovely described long diagnostic delays, the lack of a cure, and the potential for a simple blood test to identify children earlier and reduce long-term harm. Multiple patients, clinicians, and researchers supported the pilot, saying celiac is frequently missed because symptoms vary widely or are absent, and that early detection could prevent malnutrition, growth problems, osteoporosis, and other complications. Testifiers also emphasized that the bill would study feasibility, accuracy, cost, and acceptability, and would include family education and support resources if diagnoses are made through the program. Several experts and advocates backed the celiac screening pilot, including a pediatric gastroenterologist from Italy who described successful national screening efforts there, a Celiac Disease Foundation representative, pediatric gastroenterologists from Massachusetts and Colorado, a pediatric dietitian, and a parent whose child was diagnosed after severe malnutrition. They argued that routine screening alongside existing pediatric bloodwork could identify many undiagnosed children and improve health equity, since celiac disease is often overlooked in people of color and lower-income patients. Committee members asked about how the screening would work, and witnesses explained it could begin with a blood test, followed by confirmatory endoscopy if needed. No vote was taken in the hearing. On H. 5087, witnesses from the medical aesthetics industry largely opposed the bill as written, saying it was outdated, redundant with existing Massachusetts licensing and board oversight, and too restrictive for nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and other licensed providers. Testifiers, including a retired lobbyist, a nurse practitioner, a PA, a plastic surgeon, and a clinic owner, said the bill could reduce access, raise costs, and push care into less regulated settings, while not addressing the real issues of training, compliance, and patient safety. Committee members pressed for more specific feedback on what provisions were unnecessary or duplicative, and witnesses said they had submitted position papers and written testimony identifying conflicts with current law. The hearing ended with the chair noting that all oral and written testimony would be reviewed before any decisions are made.

Transcript Highlights:

• While that journey is deeply personal, what matters most today is that there's no cure or treatment for
• The only treatment is a strict lifelong adherence to a gluten-free diet.
• We don't just provide treatments. We care for patients.
• First, the bill lacks specifics around treatment classification and assumes MD supervision is an adequate
• alternative to clearly defined training and safety requirements and treatment expertise.

Bills: H5013 , H5087 , H5115 , S2928

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Public Health

Keywords: celiac disease, gluten intolerance, autoimmune disorder, pediatric screening, child health, public health, screening pilot, early detection, 12-year-olds, cholesterol screening, lipid screening, health care providers, Department of Public Health, patient advocacy, family support, Massachusetts, preventive care, diagnostic screening, nutrition, gastroenterology

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 2673, Mental Illness, Prisoners, Diagnosis Treatment.
• HB 2673, mental illness, prisoners diagnosis treatment.
• HB 2444, pharmacist independent testing and treatment, respectfully, Crystal East Veronica.
• HB 2573, DUI alternative treatment. Judiciary and Elections.
• HB 2923, court order treatment, judicial review. Judiciary and Elections.

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, recognized the doctor of the day and several guests, and then moved through a long floor agenda. Members received House messages, handled committee appointments, and considered a large number of bills in Committee of the Whole, including SB 1046 on information technology, SB 1066 on civil liability and fraudulent scientific research, SB 1332 on light rail expansion participation, and SB 1286 on veterinary prescriptions. Amendments were adopted on each of those measures, with SB 1332 drawing a notable objection from Senator Kuby over state interference in local transit decisions and preference for autonomous vehicles over light rail. SB 1286 was described as a compromise between stakeholders on electronic veterinary prescribing, including limits for antimicrobial drugs and longer windows for flea and tick medications. The Senate then took up third-reading votes on several bills. SB 1009 on school curriculum passed 16-10 after debate over AED training and whether it created an unfunded mandate. SB 1086 on the Arizona health care cost and payment system passed 18-8. SB 1317, appropriating money to the Attorney General for a coordinated jail reentry program, passed 22-4 amid discussion about the program’s success and concerns over the funding source. SB 1580, SB 1582, SB 1709, SB 1550, and SB 1761 also passed, with comments focusing on school safety funding, probation revocation for dangerous crimes against children, a Queen Creek-related appropriation, and university cooperative extension and experiment station needs. SB 1046 and SB 1286 later passed third reading as well. The chamber also paused for a St. Patrick’s Day recognition, welcoming Speaker Murphy of the Irish Parliament and reading a proclamation honoring Irish heritage and the Phoenix-Ireland relationship. Afterward, the Senate returned to business, received House requests to return HB 4027 and HB 2444 for reconsideration, heard a personal privilege statement on an ICE detention death, and announced upcoming committee meetings and caucus schedules. The Senate adjourned until Tuesday, March 17, 2026.