Transcript Highlights:

• Committee Substitute for House Bill 527; engrossed Committee Substitute for House Bill 537, West Virginia ALS
• Committee Substitute for House Bill 527; engrossed Committee Substitute for House Bill 537, West Virginia ALS
• Engrossed Committee Substitute for House Bill 537, West Virginia ALS Care Services Act.
• Engrossed Committee Substitute for House Bill 537, West Virginia ALS Care Services Act.

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, the DE2 is a bill that is actually a Representative Hills bill about ALS, and it is a zero-target
• c> actually a Representative Hills bill actually a Representative Hills bill about<00:01:31.680><c> ALS
• 33.040><c> a</c><00:01:33.200><c> zero</c><00:01:33.680><c> target</c><00:01:34.079><c> bill</c> about ALS
• and it is a zero target bill about ALS and it is a zero target bill that<00:01:34.720><c> matches</c

Bills: HF2431

Keywords: higher education, college affordability, student aid, state grants, North Star Promise, scholarships, financial aid, Minnesota State, University of Minnesota, Office of Higher Education, tuition relief, work-study, child care grants, hunger-free campus, food insecurity, student parents, pregnant students, parenting students, sexual misconduct, Title IX

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair calls Al Green. The chair shows you are registered to testify as Al Green.
• I've been well represented by Representative Al Green.
• Greg Abbott et al., defendants.
• The Chair calls Graciela Saenz, Al Castillo, and Ruben Salazar.
• The Chair calls Al Castillo. Is Al Castillo here?

Keywords: 997, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It is my privilege to announce that yesterday, on February 5, 2025, Prince Rahim al-Husseini was designated
• Had honored the life and legacy of his father and predecessor Prince Karim al Husseini Aga Khan IV through
• With the ascension of Prince Rahim al Husseini, Aga Khan 5th assumes the mantle of leadership, continuing
• we'll continue to find a visionary leader, vice mentor, a spiritual father in His Highness Prince Rahim Al

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Resolution 32 by Menendez et al., recognizing February 4, 2025, as UTSA and UT Health San Antonio
• SR 21 by Hinojosa of Hidalgo, SR 22 by Nichols, SR 23 by West, SR 24 by West, SR 25 by Birdwell et al
• ., SR 26 by Johnson et al., and SR 31 by Schwertner.
• SR 25 by Birdwell et al. SR 26 by Johnson et al. and SR 31 by Schwartner.

Summary: The Texas Senate convened with a quorum, heard the governor’s emergency message outlining priority issues for the session, including property tax relief, water supply and infrastructure funding, universal education savings accounts, teacher pay, career and technical education, creation of a Texas Cyber Command, and bail reform. The governor also submitted a State of the State message and several appointment nominations for Senate confirmation. The chamber then took up a series of ceremonial resolutions and recognitions for McAllen Day, UTSA and UT Health San Antonio Day, Wise County Day, and Houston East End Chamber of Commerce East End Day, along with visits from the Houston Realty Business Coalition, Cedar Creek Chamber of Commerce, Webb County/Laredo delegates, UT Dallas McDermott Scholars, Andrews County officials, and occupational therapy professionals and students. Several senators spoke in support of the recognitions, highlighting local economic development, higher education, public health, and regional history. McAllen was praised for its growth, business climate, and cultural significance; Laredo and Webb County were recognized for trade, the Washington’s Birthday Celebration, and cross-border ties; UTSA and UT Health were commended for research, cybersecurity, and health science work; and UT Dallas scholars were recognized for academic achievement and public service. Wise County, the East End of Houston, and Andrews County were also described in terms of their economic contributions and community heritage. The Senate adopted Senate Resolution 27 for McAllen Day and Senate Resolution 32 for UTSA and UT Health San Antonio Day without objection. It also adopted Senate Concurrent Resolution 11, which granted permission for either house to adjourn for more than three days between February 5 and February 11, by a recorded vote of 30 ayes and 0 nays. Additional resolutions listed on the calendar were adopted without objection, and the Senate recessed until noon on Wednesday, February 5.

Transcript Highlights:

• Assembly Bill 388, introduced by Assembly Members La Rue Hatch, et al., and Senator Flores, revises provisions
• Assembly Bill 404, introduced by Assembly Member Watts, et al., and Senator Wynn, revises provisions
• Assembly Bill 414, introduced by Assembly Members Moore, et al., and Senators Flores, et al., revises
• Assembly Bill 428, introduced by Assembly Members Flanagan, et al., requires certain health plans to
• Assembly Bill 304, introduced by Assembly Members Spearman, et al., and Senators Hansen and Pazina, establishes

Keywords: 909, all

Transcript Highlights:

• get<00:10:55.279><c> started</c><00:10:55.639><c> also</c><00:10:56.040><c> I'd</c><00:10:56.240><c> ALS
• </c><00:10:56.720><c> Al</c><00:10:57.000><c> also</c><00:10:57.279><c> like</c><00:10:57.440><c> to<
• /c> get started also I'd ALS Al also like to get started also I'd ALS Al also like to thank<00:10:57.920

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:25 Attendance Roll Call: 00:31 HJR 15 (Rep. Baker): 01:15 HB 462 (Sen. Nemes for Rep. Dietz): 09:01 HB 6 (Rep. Williams): 10:18 HB 73 (Rep. Johnson): 15:21 Adjournment: 18:48, 958, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on State and Local Government first considered HJR 15, a resolution to return a Ten Commandments monument to the new state Capitol grounds. Representative Shane Baker described the monument’s history, its removal to storage in the 1980s, and a prior 2000 effort that was blocked by the courts. He argued recent Supreme Court decisions, including Van Orden and Kennedy, support a history-and-tradition approach and said the resolution would direct the Historic Properties Advisory Commission to retrieve and reinstall the monument in Monument Park. Senator Herron raised concerns about religious neutrality and whether other faiths would also be represented at the Capitol. Baker and Chair Petrie responded that the resolution was limited to restoring a specific historical monument and did not bar future proposals for other displays. Senator Armstrong voted no, saying the legal landscape remained uncertain and the state could face costly litigation. The committee approved HJR 15 on an 8-1 vote. The committee then took up House Bill 6, which would limit administrative agencies from issuing regulations with an economic impact of more than $500,000 over two years, with exceptions for imminent public health or safety threats, protection of federal or state funds, and compliance with certain court orders. Representative Wade Williams said the bill would rein in costly agency rulemaking and cited LRC data showing only about a dozen regulations in 2024 would have met the threshold, with roughly six after closer review. Senator Chambers Armstrong expressed concern that the bill could tie the government’s hands in emergencies, but the bill passed 8-1. Finally, the committee considered House Bill 73, which had a committee substitute. Representatives Johnson and Tipton explained that one part would add We Lead CS to the list of educational service providers allowed to administer their own retirement program participation, and the other would require the Teachers’ Retirement System actuary to provide additional information on each employer’s share of unfunded liability. The committee approved HB 73 unanimously, 10-0, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Secretary will read the resolution. 51 87 by Creighton et al. recognizing March 4th 2025 as Montgomery
• The Secretary will read the resolution. 234 200 by Miles et al, recognizing March 4th, 2025 as Tech Texas
• Thank you. by Myles et al, recognizing March 4th, 2025 as Alpha Fraternity. today at the state capitol
• Senate Resolution 180 by Cook et al. recognizing March 4th, 2025 as Nurse Day at the State Capitol.
• SR196 by Johnson and West, SR201 by Miles et al. SR 204 by Johnson et al, SR 205 by.

Bills: SJR3, SB5, SJR36, SJR3, SB616, SB565, SB384, SB5, SB21, SB72, SB140, SB262, SB370, SB372, SB495, SB627, SB703, SB764, SB842, SB971, SB790, SB767, SB480, SB1066

Keywords: dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, research funding, state budget, prevention, healthcare, medical research, Dementia Prevention and Research Institute, research institute, funding, grants, state health initiatives, aquifer, water management, Edwards Aquifer, sustainability, regulatory framework, SB 565, Texas Water Code

Transcript Highlights:

• For our housekeeping items, I would like to note that the Speaker has appointed Assembly Member Al-Hawari
• Heather Dawson on behalf of the ALS Association in full support.
• Blair, excuse me, Blair Barton on behalf of the ALS Association in full support. Thank you.
• Blair Barton on behalf of the ALS Association in full support.
• Nancy Wakefield, ALS Association, in support. Thank you.

Summary: The Assembly Health Committee heard several bills on June 9. SB 1023 by Senator Laird would require insurers that cover injectable HIV PrEP under the medical benefit to also cover it through the pharmacy benefit, with supporters saying the change would reduce reimbursement delays and expand access, while health plans opposed it as an unnecessary mandate that interferes with benefit design. SB 964 by Senator Smallwood-Quivas would limit prior authorization for certain dose or frequency adjustments to covered medications, especially for chronic complex conditions; medical supporters said it would prevent harmful delays in care, while insurers argued it weakens safety and utilization controls. SB 1323 by Senator Rubio, as amended, would strengthen protections for people in immigration custody receiving medical care by requiring hospitals and facilities to inform staff how to respond to requests and allowing patients to notify family members of their location; it passed with one no vote. SB 1099 by Senator Reyes would clarify local governments’ authority to provide state and local public benefits to all residents under federal PRWORA rules, with supporters saying it would reduce legal uncertainty for safety-net services; it passed, though one member later changed a vote to no on the add-on roll call. The committee also took up SB 895 by Senator Wiener, a proposed $12 billion science research bond for the November ballot that would create a California scientific research funding institute. Supporters from UC, UAW, hospitals, and advocacy groups said the measure would help offset federal cuts, protect research jobs, and sustain California’s leadership in biomedical and other research; there was no opposition, and the bill passed on a party-line style vote with two no votes. SB 944, also by Senator Wiener, would stabilize Medi-Cal coverage for acupuncture, which supporters described as a cost-effective, non-pharmacological treatment for pain and other conditions that has repeatedly been threatened in the budget process; it passed unanimously. The committee also approved consent items SB 918 and SB 1202, and later cleared the remaining measures on call after roll votes and add-on votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• So for ALE, the Alternative Learning Environment Fund, these students generate $5,086 per student, coming
• Okay, and then in the categorical, I know that you have the ALE, alternative learning environment, and
• know that we have students who are in special ed, they're English learners, and they're also in the ALE
• With the ALE population, is it $5,086 per student on top of the foundation? That's correct.
• And how many of these ALEs are in the state of Arkansas?

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But then couple that with the fact that most of the equipment in ALS ambulances wasn't even utilized.
• I would bet it was probably less than 5% of the services in the state at that time were ALS.
• c><00:07:10.080><c> the</c><00:07:10.240><c> equipment</c><00:07:10.560><c> in</c><00:07:10.800><c> ALS
• </c> fact that most of the equipment in ALS fact that most of the equipment in ALS ambulance<00:07:12.000
• I'll I'll make one quick point that ALS.

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services (KBEMS) 00:00:53 Approval of Minutes 00:23:37, 958, all

Summary: The Kentucky Board of EMS presented an additional budget request focused on grant funding for local EMS agencies, not agency operations. Officials said the board has 13 full-time staff after losing employees in the 2022 transition back to state government, and that the request would be a 100% pass-through to providers. They initially described two requests totaling $12.91 million: $10.8 million for the EMS block grant and $2.1 million for workforce education tied to House Bill 484, but later said they would withdraw the $2.1 million request because rural health transformation funding appears likely to cover those education needs. Most of the testimony explained why the EMS block grant should be increased. The board said the grant began in 1980 at about $1.2 million and has remained largely unchanged while EMS costs have risen sharply. They cited higher prices for ambulances, stretchers, and cardiac monitors, along with increased labor and reimbursement pressures. Board members emphasized that modern EMS now provides much more advanced care in the field, especially in rural areas, and argued that equipment such as 12-lead cardiac monitors can significantly improve patient outcomes. They said the current grant provides about $10,000 per county, while the request would raise funding to about $100,000 per county and increase the per-capita amount from roughly 26 cents to $2.60. Members also discussed whether the block grant statute should be reformed to target need more directly. Board officials said they had considered making the grant more competitive, but decided against it for now because many counties rely on the annual funding and shifting money away from some areas would create hardship. In response to questions, they said Kentucky has about 160 class one EMS agencies providing 911 response across 120 counties, and that grant awards in recent years reached 91 counties, then 108, then 110 counties. They also highlighted the cost and safety benefits of power loading systems for stretchers, saying they can reduce back injuries and help retain EMS workers, but are often unaffordable for smaller departments. No votes were taken on the budget request during the hearing. After the testimony and questions, the committee approved the minutes from the prior meeting by motion and second, with no opposition, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• For the Washington Hospital Association, SNFs take in roughly 40,000 patients a year, and ALs play a
• Finally, both SNFs and ALs across Washington are held to regulatory oversight, which is longstanding
• In SNFs and ALs, a large percentage of our workers, about a quarter of them, are over the age of 55,
• They're an aging workforce caring for approximately 43,000 folks in SNFs and ALs, of whom approximately
• Fourth, we hope that the value SNFs and ALs have in keeping people out of the hospital and providing

Summary: The committee began with an extended work session on the long-term care workforce. DSHS Assistant Secretary B. Rector described the new Home and Community Living Administration and outlined major workforce pressures: Washington had about 126,000 long-term care workers in 2022, with demand expected to outpace supply as the 85-plus population and dementia prevalence rise sharply. She emphasized that direct care workers are largely women, people of color, and immigrants, and that family caregivers are also a major part of the system. She highlighted recruitment and retention efforts funded through federal Money Follows the Person dollars, including high school training partnerships, a retention toolkit, transportation support, caregiver newsletters, tribal workforce navigators, and a remote caregiving pilot. Committee members asked about career pathways, technology use, and turnover drivers; Rector said wages, benefits, unstable hours, and workplace support are key issues and promised follow-up data. Aidan Swain of the Washington Health Care Association said skilled nursing and assisted living facilities face acute RN vacancies, wage pressures, and Medicaid reimbursement that does not cover costs, and urged modernization of training, better reimbursement, and continued support for facility-based care. Maddie Fouch of SEIU 775, representing about 55,000 caregivers, said low wages, weak benefits, lack of voice, and certification delays are driving turnover and shortages, and argued for higher compensation, better worker protections, and more transparent reimbursement. Catherine Smith of Behavioral Health Solutions described growing behavioral health needs in nursing homes, the role of expanded behavioral supports programs, and credentialing delays that slow hiring. No votes were taken; the panel was informational only. The second agenda item was an overview of the palliative care benefit work group report required by 2024 legislation. Nico Jansen of the Office of the Insurance Commissioner explained that the work group, convened with the Health Care Authority, studied a potential palliative care benefit for fully insured commercial plans and also Medicaid, PEBB, and SEBB. He said palliative care is a philosophy of care focused on symptom management, coordination, and support for serious illness, and is distinct from hospice because it can be provided alongside curative treatment. The actuarial analysis concluded that creating a new benefit would likely increase costs, estimating about a 28-cent per member per month increase overall and roughly $2.6 million to $4.5 million in annual state Medicaid costs if implemented in 2027. Jansen said the consultants did not find sufficient evidence to assume savings from avoided hospitalizations or long-term care, though several work group members disagreed and submitted response letters. Senators asked about other states, Medicare, health homes, and whether more research could clarify cost savings; OIC said some states, including Hawaii, are moving ahead with Medicaid palliative care benefits, Medicare covers some related services but not in the same way, and further evidence may emerge over time. OIC did not take a position on whether the Legislature should create the benefit. The final presentation covered health care price transparency tools in Washington and federally. Evan Klein and HCA Chief Data Officer Vishal Chaudry reviewed federal hospital and health plan transparency rules, the state all-payer claims database, prescription drug price transparency, the Health Care Cost Transparency Board, the Prescription Drug Affordability Board, and other reporting systems. They explained that the APCD contains claims from fully insured commercial plans, Medicaid, and public employee programs, but not self-insured employer data except for limited voluntary submissions. They also described how machine-readable files, consumer price tools, and aggregated dashboards are used, and noted that data limitations, delays, and complexity remain significant. Senators asked about voluntary self-insured participation, the role of AI in making data more usable, and whether transparency can really help consumers given access barriers and medical debt. HCA said AI is increasingly used by private entities to mine large transparency datasets, but state agencies still face limits in data access and analytic capacity. The committee did not take action; the session was informational and ended with a discussion of how transparency data might better inform policy and purchasing decisions in the future.

Transcript Highlights:

• Al-Ais. All right. Item number one, AB 805, Fong. Item number two, AB 1245, Stephanie.
• Al-Anise. Aye. Al-A-Nice aye. What are seven? Seven ayes. Alanis. Aye. Alenis. Aye.

Summary: The Assembly Labor and Employment Committee convened for its first hearing of the year, established quorum, and took up a consent calendar containing AB 805 (Fong) and AB 1245 (Stephanie). The committee chair welcomed members, introduced the new committee secretary, and thanked the outgoing Republican consultant for her service. Both bills on the consent calendar were moved with a do pass recommendation and re-referred to the Committee on Appropriations. The committee voted to adopt the consent calendar, with recorded ayes and no noes, and the items were approved without substantive debate. The roll was left open briefly for absent members before the meeting concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• I won't skip someone, um but I feel that I need to call out uh the COP Caucus, uh Bud Al Duran, Terry
• call out uh the COP Caucus, call out uh the COP Caucus, uh<00:04:34.080><c> Bud</c><00:04:34.280><c> Al
• Duran,</c><00:04:34.840><c> Terry</c><00:04:35.160><c> Steer,</c><00:04:35.640><c> Jeff</c> uh Bud Al
• Duran, Terry Steer, Jeff uh Bud Al Duran, Terry Steer, Jeff Witty,<00:04:36.840><c> the</c><00:04:36.960

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The clerk will call the roll: Senator Al Britton, Senator Carley, Senator Coleman, Senator Gudger, Senator
• Senator Al Britton? Senator Carley? Senator Coleman? Senator Gger? Senator Hatcher? ...
• Senator Al Britton? ... Please, Senator Al Britton? Hi. Senator Carley? Hi. Senator Coleman? Hi.

Bills: HB134, SB217, SB180, HB157, HB92, HB335

Keywords: vehicle registration, disability access, fines, law enforcement, public accommodation, bond financing, municipal bonds, county debt, local government debt, debt service schedule, bond disclosure, public finance, bond underwriter, county commission, city council, refunding bonds, swap agreements, interest rate swaps, derivatives, fiscal transparency

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 33 by Campbell et al. relating to certain prohibited transactions and logistical support
• Senate Bill 38 by Bettencourt et al. relating to the eviction from real property of certain persons not
• Senate Bill 1962 by Bettencourt et al. relating to public school accountability and actions and other
• Senate Bill 2018 by Paxton et al. relating to the strong families credit against certain taxes for entities

Transcript Highlights:

• Eid al-Adha as state holidays in California.
• Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha are among the holiest days in Islam, marked by prayer, reflection, charity
• AB 2017 will bring California in line with these efforts by adding Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha to the
• For Muslim Californians, Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha are among the most important days of the year.
• Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha are explicitly theological, tied to two of the five pillars of Islam.

Summary: The committee heard several bills, with testimony largely in support and some opposition on a few measures. AB 458 would direct the Department of General Services, in consultation with the Department of Justice, to develop model procurement guidelines for state purchases of firearms, ammunition, and accessories so agencies avoid vendors that violate gun laws; law enforcement and San Francisco representatives supported it, and members discussed adding oversight and vetting. AB 1729 would update state telework policy by requiring written telework plans for return-to-office decisions and restoring public reporting on telework savings; supporters cited cost savings, productivity, climate benefits, and worker flexibility, while the author clarified it would not alter collective bargaining under the Dills Act. AB 1754 would require post-completion reporting on bond-funded programs’ goals and outcomes; supporters framed it as a transparency and accountability measure, while counties and water agencies opposed it unless amended, warning of added bureaucracy, delays, and litigation risk. AB 1841 would create a paid state holiday recognizing California Native American Day, and AB 2115 would issue a formal legislative apology to California’s first peoples and install a commemorative plaque at the Capitol; both drew strong tribal and labor support and broad committee praise, with members emphasizing education, historical acknowledgment, and healing. AB 2211 would allow craft distillers to operate a satellite room and use certain alcohol modifiers on premises, and AB 1991 would authorize wineries, breweries, and craft distilleries to conduct sensory tastings for research with guardrails; both had industry support, with AB 1991 drawing one opposition voice from Alcohol Justice. AB 1578 would require elected officials to take anti-hate speech training as part of existing sexual harassment training; it drew sharp First Amendment objections from opponents and mixed committee views, but the motion to send it to Appropriations passed on a recorded vote. The committee also heard AB 1807, which would bar state-owned property from being used for federal immigration enforcement operations; the author and supporters argued it would protect communities and prevent state complicity in federal actions.

Transcript Highlights:

• RSA al kee toh uh. Toh dubuk. Baxxaaqissam dagoo loowo akkel tonnah tonnal.
• </c><00:36:59.560><c>kee </c><00:37:00.400><c>toh </c><00:37:01.240><c>uh</c> RSA al kee toh uh RSA
• al kee toh uh toh <00:37:03.720><c>dubuk</c> toh dubuk toh dubuk baxxaaqissam <00:37:04.976><c>dagoo
• Sanatal saytunnowtam faxxa dooritte abnam kee nanu al abnam.
• House Bill 311 don al umre aldya nanu linoh. Yoo aaminem takkay immay diggos yeey toh.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And there’s an al to pass by Senator Carson, second by Senator Gray.
• </c><00:07:25.599><c> And</c><00:07:25.759><c> there's</c><00:07:26.000><c> an</c><00:07:26.080><c> al
• And there's an al to pass &gt;&gt; All to pass.
• And there's an al to pass by<00:07:26.720><c> Senator</c><00:07:27.120><c> Carson,</c><00:07:28.160><
• Als Als Als &gt;&gt; Thank<00:08:51.920><c> you,</c><00:08:52.080><c> Senator</c><00:08:52.399><c> Carson

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Colleagues, I just wanted to bring awareness to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis month, or ALS, or Lou Gehrig's
• Unfortunately, I have a constituent in my district that is suffering from ALS and wanted to bring attention
• The ALS Association has committed $162 million to help find a cure in the United States and across the

Keywords: 1204, all