Transcript Highlights:

• outrageous scenarios, including when patients seek preventive care, are merely evaluated but not treated
• when they Access telea Health treated when they Access telea Health and<00:08:13.199><c> never</c><00
• practices and Clinics buy up physician practices and Clinics more<00:14:33.360><c> patients</c><00:14
• By the way, private for-profit physician clinics also charge for their overhead costs, but they do not
• By the way, private for-profit physician clinics also charge for their overhead costs, but they do not

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• The medical field with experience in treating bicycle and pedestrian injuries and a member of an organization
• Licensed physicians and nurses must complete a one-time 2-hour board-approved continuing education course
• The property is within a mile of the municipal utilities mainline and capacity to treat and dispose of
• with connection The property is within a mile of the municipal utilities mainline and capacity to treat
• with connection The property is within a mile of the municipal utilities mainline and capacity to treat

Transcript Highlights:

• That's why I ask everyone—y'all have been great—stick to your time so we can treat everybody the same
• I'm a double board certified emergency medicine and EMS physician.
• When those patients are treated properly and...
• We treat anybody from pediatrics and adolescents to seniors.
• They end up in psychiatry, where they can be treated based upon observation.

Bills: SB1 , SB 1

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• So, moving on with this, um, the disabling condition is established by, let's say, a physician or a medical
• professional physician or a medical professional in a certain disability area.
• without actually having any kind of formality in terms of making sure that that disability is being treated
• than how we treat other other situations<01:29:26.040><c> whereas</c><01:29:26.720><c> I</c><01:29:26.760
• And in that bill itself, it said that EFA students, like all other students, they're treated equally

Summary: The Education Freedom Account Oversight Committee met on March 27 and approved the agenda, adding a request for clarification on how the Children’s Scholarship Fund separates applications for the EFA program and the education tax credit program. The committee also approved minutes from December 30, 2025, and March 27, 2026, with a request that the March minutes include a link to the live stream. Members discussed the status of pending Legislative Budget Assistant audit reports on EFA and special education, noting the reports were still not released and would likely come later in the summer after review by the Department of Education and the Children’s Scholarship Fund. A major topic was the EFA program’s administrative fee, which statute allows up to 10% of deposits. Children’s Scholarship Fund representatives said current administrative costs were under 8%, that staffing had been reduced through the ScholarVia platform, and that any unused amount is reconciled and returned to students at year’s end. Members asked for historical administrative-cost data and a written explanation of how the withholding and reconciliation process works. The committee also reviewed the distinction between the EFA and education tax credit funding streams and was told the two programs use separate applications and separate funds, though both use the same platform. The committee spent substantial time on assessment and accountability. Department of Education staff explained that EFA students may satisfy annual assessment requirements through a portfolio, a norm-referenced test, or the statewide assessment; only about 10 EFA students took the statewide assessment, while most used portfolios or standardized tests such as the California Achievement Test and NWEA. Staff described how statewide assessment data are kept separate by student identifier and can be aggregated for EFA reporting, and members asked for breakdowns by grade, test type, and school district. The department also discussed linking assessments through Lexiles and Quantiles and said it could provide a list of commonly used formative assessments in New Hampshire districts. The committee additionally discussed a possible PSAT addition to the state contract and the costs of the statewide assessment program. Another major issue was special education eligibility and services within the EFA program. Members questioned the rule allowing a medical certification of disability from a licensed professional anywhere in the United States as an alternative to an IEP-based determination. Department staff said the current system allows either pathway, that about 1,000 EFA students are identified as special education students, and that the program does not track growth or service alignment on an individual basis. Members expressed concern that the medical-certification route may be too broad and asked for data on the disability categories used. The committee also discussed career and technical education access for EFA students, noting that Senate Bill 491 would provide guidance and that House Bill 1817 would address access and funding issues, but that current law still allows EFA funds to be used to pay CTE costs. The meeting ended with a request for future agenda items and a decision to leave the next meeting date open until fall, pending further information from the LBA audit process.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is how you're treating everybody the same. This is who's regulating you.
• Pharmacy A to Z is treated the same as far as reimbursement.
• Pharmacy A to Z is treated to the price stuff. Is this, just address that?
• Pharmacy A to Z is treated the same as far as reimbursement.
• And so we do try and avoid 100% getting in between the physician-patient relationship. All right.

Committee: House Insurance

Summary: The House Insurance Committee met on April 1 with a quorum present and first took up House Bill 938 by Rep. Turner, which would overhaul pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) regulation by setting a flat administration fee, requiring dispensing fees and NADAC-based reimbursement, mandating rebate pass-through, giving the Department of Insurance access to PBM data, and creating a reverse-auction process for PBM procurement. Turner said the bill is intended to level the playing field for independent pharmacies, improve transparency, and reduce hidden PBM practices. The committee adopted amendment set 1444 without objection, and Turner said additional conceptual amendments were still being worked on. Supporters included independent pharmacies and the PBM Accountability Project; opponents included union plan representatives, benefits consultants, and PBM/insurance industry witnesses who warned of higher costs, ERISA preemption problems, and likely litigation. After extended questioning on cost, preemption, and vertical integration, the committee reported HB 938 with amendments. The committee then considered House Bill 870, also by Rep. Turner, dealing with formulary placement and cost-sharing for generic drugs and biosimilars and limiting certain utilization management practices. Amendment set 1540 was adopted, revising and tightening technical definitions. Turner and a representative of the Association for Accessible Medicines argued the bill would help lower-cost generics and biosimilars gain market share and reduce patient costs, citing examples such as insulin and Humira biosimilars. Opponents from Louisiana Blue said the bill would force coverage based on wholesale acquisition cost rather than net cost, would raise premiums for fully insured members, and would mandate coverage of drugs that are not always the lowest net-cost option. Rep. Jordan again raised ERISA and preemption concerns, and committee members discussed whether the bill would interfere with tiering and plan design. After closing comments and a motion by Rep. Glorioso, HB 870 was reported with amendments, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• much earlier, or if people are treated earlier, delay the progression much sooner.
• much earlier, or if people are treated earlier, delay the progression much sooner.
• </c><00:51:39.920><c> it's</c> recruitment of of Physicians it's recruitment of of Physicians it's strongly
• We have ICU physicians in our group. We have a lot of physicians.
• In addition to being an ICU physician, I'm also a PhD-trained immunology researcher.

Summary: The joint hearing opened with House Bill 1462 on crisis services. Testimony from the Department of Law Enforcement, the Community Alliance on Prisons, and the Department of Health supported expanding behavioral health crisis services as an alternative to arrest or incarceration. Witnesses said additional crisis sites would help divert people in mental health crisis to appropriate care, and the Department of Health described its current crisis center in Ewa, including the need for renovations such as a padded room and the time required to get the facility operational. In response to questions, the department estimated the Ewa center’s budgeted cost at about $4.3 million, not including rent or startup repairs, and said a second site’s cost would depend on whether it was freestanding or attached to an existing facility. The committee then heard House Bill 700 on cognitive assessments. The Executive Office on Aging supported the bill’s intent but asked that it be amended to make assessments optional rather than mandated, to pilot the program first, and to allow flexibility in handling HIPAA-protected data. SHPDA also supported the measure but said it should not be mandatory and suggested that payers reimburse for assessments when requested by patients, families, or physicians. The Alzheimer’s Association and caregivers strongly supported standardizing cognitive assessments to improve early detection and access to newer treatments, while noting the existing opt-out provision. The Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities supported the bill but asked that the age 65 threshold be removed because cognitive decline can begin much earlier for people with Down syndrome, autism, traumatic brain injury, stroke, and related conditions. In response to a question, the Office on Aging said a pilot project could likely be done for about $150,000, with data security being the main added cost. The final bill discussed was House Bill 237 on peer support programs. Testimony from Family Hui Hawaii, Early Childhood Action Strategy, peer support workers, and families described peer-to-peer programs as a cost-effective way to reduce isolation, strengthen families, and provide long-term community support. Speakers said these programs help parents and caregivers navigate crises, child welfare involvement, addiction recovery, and other challenges, and can have lasting benefits for children’s development and family stability. Several witnesses tied the bill to broader state goals, including infant and early childhood mental health, trauma-informed care, and child welfare reform. Written testimony from about a dozen organizations and individuals was also noted in support.

Transcript Highlights:

• In this scenario, there should be potentially a California licensed physician...
• In this scenario, there should be potentially a California licensed physician who provides the attestation
• Treating all out-of-state experience as equivalent assumes a level of consistency that does not exist
• to deliver oxygen for patient comfort and adjust oxygen levels under the explicit direction of a physician
• technician member to the Veterinary Medical Board, extends the deadlines for applicants for the Licensed Physicians

Summary: The Assembly Business and Professions Committee heard a long agenda of licensing, consumer protection, and sunset-review bills. Early items included SB 1148, which would let aspiring security guards complete all required training before a guard card is issued; SB 342, which would soften the penalty for contractors who were licensed during part of a project but had a brief lapse; and several sunset bills for boards and bureaus, including the Board of Registered Nursing (SB 1302), the Board of Naturopathic Medicine (SB 1303), the Respiratory Care Board (SB 1304), the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology (SB 1363), and the Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology and Hearing Aid Dispensers Board (SB 1368). The committee also heard SB 1311, which makes various updates to DCA boards and programs, and SB 1314, which restricts new tobacco retailers from locating within 600 feet of schools or daycare centers and bans nitrous oxide sales and related paraphernalia. Testimony was generally supportive on the training, sunset, and licensing cleanup bills, though several measures drew “opposed unless amended” or neutral positions over scope and implementation details. On SB 1314, supporters including prosecutors and school administrators argued it would reduce youth exposure to tobacco, while gas station, convenience store, cigar lounge, pharmacy, and business groups raised concerns about impacts on existing businesses, transferability of tobacco licenses, and possible de facto limits on future stations; some public health groups shifted to neutral after amendments. On SB 1302, nursing groups supported the board sunset bill, while the California Medical Association objected to allowing out-of-state nurse practitioner transition-to-practice experience to count without a California attestation process. On SB 1304, health facilities and long-term care groups supported the board extension but sought broader clarification so LVNs could perform respiratory tasks consistently across settings. After quorum was finally established, the committee voted to send the consent calendar bills SB 1376, SB 1391, SB 1416, and SB 1315 to Appropriations, and then approved SB 342, SB 1148, SB 1302, SB 1303, SB 1304, SB 1311, SB 1314, SB 1363, and SB 1368, all moving forward to the Committee on Appropriations. SB 1314 passed with some no votes, while the other measures advanced with broad support. The hearing ended after additional members were added on the record and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• In this scenario, there should be potentially a California licensed physician.
• In this scenario, there should be potentially a California licensed physician who provides the attestation
• Treating all out-of-state experience as equivalent assumes a level of consistency that does not exist
• to deliver oxygen for patient comfort and adjust oxygen levels under the explicit direction of a physician
• technician member to the Veterinary Medical Board, extends the deadlines for applicants for the Licensed Physicians

Committee: House Business and Professions

Transcript Highlights:

• physicians on this bill.
• I represent interventional pain physicians.
• And we need an updated fee schedule because if we don't, we're going to have a lot of physicians that
• are not going to treat injured workers.
• Management not treating others with the value that is there.

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 408 by Senator Myers, a major workers’ compensation overhaul centered on creating an all-claims medical database, requiring electronic reporting and billing, and modernizing fee schedule and claims data collection. Myers said the bill was designed to improve transparency, reduce disputes, address outliers and abuse, and help injured workers return to work faster. The committee adopted technical amendments, then considered a large amendment set combining portions of House bills 780 and 1101, which added preliminary determination procedures, fraud language, temporary total disability and supplemental earnings benefit changes, and a fallback deadline for the department to establish a fee schedule if no agreement is reached by 2029. Several members and witnesses objected that the amendments were dropped late and would turn SB 408 into an omnibus bill; supporters argued the package was the best chance for comprehensive reform. After debate, the committee adopted the amendments and reported SB 408 favorably as amended. Testimony on SB 408 was sharply divided. Supporters, including some providers and injured-worker advocates, said the bill’s core value was transparency through the database and that the system needed modernization and a better fee schedule. Opponents argued the added amendments would burden pro se claimants, expand litigation, and weaken injured workers’ rights, especially through fraud and preliminary hearing provisions. Committee members also questioned whether the combined package was germane and whether it should be allowed to move as a single reform measure. Louisiana Workforce Commission staff explained the timeline for data collection, electronic billing, dispute rules, and eventual fee schedule rulemaking, and said the department could execute the law as amended. The committee then turned to House Bill 585 by Representative Chasson, concerning workplace violence and safety plans for small-box discount retailers. The bill was revised through a substitute that required covered retailers to develop and submit a written workforce safety plan, or submit an existing plan if one already existed. Representative Glorioso raised concerns that requiring a written safety plan could create new civil liability under Louisiana’s assumption-of-duty doctrine and increase litigation and insurance costs. Chasson responded that the intent was simply to encourage safety planning and that businesses already had such plans. The committee discussed possible narrowing language, but the transcript ends before a final disposition on HB 585 is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• According to a recent report by the Physicians for Human Rights, flashbang devices are...
• According to a recent report by the Physicians for Human Rights, flashbang devices are military-grade
• chemical, and traumatic injuries that are painful, debilitating, and extraordinarily difficult to treat
• chemical, and traumatic injuries that are painful, debilitating, and extraordinarily difficult to treat
• Current law treats all intentional disruptions of worship services as misdemeanors, regardless of how

Committee: Senate Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• The Marquy Cancer<00:26:07.279><c> Center</c><00:26:07.520><c> that</c><00:26:07.760><c> treated</c><
• Gabby is the Cancer Center that treated Gabby is the only<00:26:10.799><c> National</c><00:26:11.360
• Imagine when you go to your physician.
• </c><00:35:04.240><c> So</c><00:35:04.400><c> as</c> So as your physician spends time talking to you,
• all of this information is automatically captured, diagnosed for the physician to review in a timely

Summary: The House Budget Review Subcommittee on Postsecondary Education met without a quorum and postponed approval of the minutes. The committee first heard from Northern Kentucky University President Katie Short Thompson, who highlighted NKU’s enrollment growth, student success metrics, national recognition for value, lower student debt, and new programs tied to regional workforce needs, including AI, cybersecurity, supply chain analytics, cardiovascular perfusion, and the Norse Network Hub for employer access. She asked for a $5 million recurring base funding adjustment to align NKU’s general fund support with peer institutions, along with support for tuition waivers with FAFSA requirements, continued debt collection authority through the Department of Revenue, inclusion of fire and tornado insurance premiums in base funding, inflation and performance-funding support, and increased asset preservation funding. She also outlined capital priorities for the Hail College of Business building, Nunn Hall, and the MEP building, and requested $5.4 million to match private support for the Young Scholars Academy, a dual-credit program serving first-generation and low-income students. Representative Tipton questioned NKU about the number of older students using tuition waivers and whether the university could continue the program without a statutory age-based mandate. Thompson said the number of students over 65 using the waiver was small, that some students pursue degrees while others audit classes, and that external fundraising could potentially support the program if state funding changed. Tipton also confirmed NKU’s requested priorities and the $5.4 million match for the Young Scholars Academy. The committee then heard from University of Kentucky representative Dr. Cavallo, who framed UK’s request around accountability, workforce development, research, and health care impact. He described a patient story to illustrate UK’s medical mission, cited growth in enrollment, degrees awarded, hospital patients treated, and research grant revenue, and emphasized UK’s role in extension services and disaster response. He said UK is consolidating services for efficiency and is focusing on future workforce needs, especially artificial intelligence, noting the launch of the state’s first AI bachelor’s degree and a partnership with Microsoft to expand AI tools and training across campus and the Advancing Kentucky Together network. He also discussed demographic challenges, the need to retain graduates in Kentucky, and the importance of aligning programs and funding with long-term state needs.

Transcript Highlights:

• These are the diagnostic realities I have assessed and treated in my practice.
• This has nothing to do with somebody coming in having issues and the therapist having to treat them for
• And, not a lawyer, but as a physician, I understand the harm that certain...
• As a physician, I understand the harm that certain non-medical-based practices like conversion therapy
• I'm not going to treat you with any medication or talk therapy.

Summary: The committee first took up SB 934 by Senator Wiener, which would extend the time for survivors of conversion therapy to bring malpractice claims and clarify how expert testimony and scientific evidence may be used in those cases. Senator Wiener and supporters, including a survivor and a licensed therapist, described conversion therapy as harmful and argued that survivors often cannot come forward within current limitation periods. Opponents, including attorneys and advocacy groups, argued the bill was an unconstitutional workaround to California’s existing ban and could chill legitimate therapy or expand liability. Committee members pressed both sides on the bill’s scope, with the author emphasizing it does not bar exploratory therapy or medical treatment, only attempts to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. The bill was moved on a 7-2-1 vote to the Senate Appropriations Committee, with the item placed on call; the consent calendar was also adopted 6-0 and placed on call. The committee then heard SB 1092 by Senator Allen, as amended, concerning manufactured home parks. The bill would require park owners who intend to sell to give residents or their designated representatives notice and an opportunity to submit a competitive bid, with timelines intended to allow residents to organize financing and complete due diligence. Supporters said the measure would help preserve naturally occurring affordable housing and give residents a fair chance to buy the land under their homes, especially after fire-related losses and increasing investor ownership of parks. Opponents from park-owner and realtor groups argued the bill would burden private property rights, devalue parks, and create an unconstitutional taking by imposing long timelines and restrictions that could deter buyers. Several senators questioned the 240-day process and whether the bill should include clearer good-faith or reciprocity provisions; the author said he was open to further adjustments. The transcript ends during committee discussion of SB 1092, with no final vote shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• These are the diagnostic realities I have assessed and treated in my practice.
• This has nothing to do with somebody could come in having issues and the therapist has to treat them
• And, not a lawyer, but as a physician, I understand the harm that certain...
• “Legal remedies are being treated differently in this bill. I don't think that's true.
• I'm not going to treat you with any medication or talk therapy.

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Angelica Willis, and I'm a physician representing Minnesota Doctors for Health Equity.
• I have never talked to a doctor, a researcher, a nurse, a surgeon who says, “I got into this to treat
• They wanted us to treat them on scene, and they really needed to go to the hospital.
• We also purchase debt from physician groups, from anesthesiology groups. We are very open.
• :27:22.480><c> groups,</c> purchase debt from physician groups, purchase debt from physician groups,

Bills: HF1646 , HF2443

Committee: House Commerce Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Shortly, the patient is prescribed their treatment by their physician or health care professional.
• by their physician or health care<00:43:08.359><c> professional</c><00:43:09.359><c> copay</c><00:43
• a wide range of chronic needed to treat a wide range of chronic and<00:43:36.800><c> sometimes</c><00
• feel that you know sometimes Physicians feel that you know sometimes their<01:15:07.600><c> members<
• </c><01:33:49.679><c> and</c> coupons are used to steer Physicians and coupons are used to steer Physicians

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• He is an emergency room physician currently serving in the emergency department at UC San Diego Health
• And he treated them with the highest of respect, and so to pour himself out like that into future generations
• member. response to them just as he would a person considered important like a board member and he treated
• As a physician and someone who has spent countless hours in hospitals here in California and across this
• They are also the centers of learning and innovation, training the next generation of physicians and

Transcript Highlights:

• So initiative four is really about evidence-based approaches to preventing and treating chronic disease
• I just want to emphasize this: if you can train physicians in rural markets, they tend to stay in rural
• And so this isn't just about physician burnout. It's about nurse burnout and those types of things.
• They are often treating not only the child, but the parent.
• Having an exam room with the equipment, with not a little head in a box, but having a full-size physician

Summary: The Rural Health Transformation Committee met to receive an overview from Department of Health and Welfare Director Juliet Sharon on Idaho’s Rural Health Transformation Program, created under the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Sharon explained the $50 billion federal program, Idaho’s application timeline, the state’s ranking and award amount, and the five broad initiative areas in the approved plan: technology and access, innovative care models, workforce development, chronic disease and behavioral health, and rural infrastructure/partnerships. She emphasized that the funding is tightly overseen by CMS, with required reporting, compliance checks, sustainability plans, and the risk of losing funds if Idaho does not obligate money or meet milestones on time. She also outlined the state’s plan to hire a 12-person temporary team and to use a mix of RFPs and competitive subgrants, with monthly reporting to the committee and a shared information space to track solicitations, rubrics, and awards. Committee members questioned several parts of the plan, especially scope-of-practice issues tied to the application, the use of telehealth funding, workforce retention, and the survey process used to shape the application. Representative Tanner asked whether the state could continue pursuing scope changes for dental hygienists and physician assistants and whether legislative action could affect funding outcomes; Sharon said the state would continue to evaluate those policies, but that compliance, timely spending, and performance would be the main factors affecting funding. Representative Healy raised concerns about the survey’s heavy use of “other” responses and about telehealth spending, arguing some telehealth uses may not be practical for specialty care. Representative Manwaring requested a shared drive for real-time data and asked for raw survey results and dollar-based funding caps. Sharon agreed to provide follow-up information, including survey data and additional details on funding limits. Chris Jones of Catalyst Policy Group then presented broader policy observations and examples from other states. He praised Idaho’s application, urged the committee to keep the focus on patient-centered rural access, and highlighted ideas such as community health workers, remote patient monitoring, rural training pipelines, value-based care networks, and telehealth models that reduce staffing needs and improve sustainability. He also cautioned against relying on social determinants of health funding, noted the importance of rural training and partnerships, and praised Idaho’s 3.5% tribal set-aside. The committee ended by agreeing to set up a shared information hub with LSO, to expect follow-up materials and possible solicitation drafts soon, and to tentatively plan its next meeting around CMS’s Idaho visit on May 28.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Physician Manpower Training Commission. It's now called the Healthcare Workforce.
• And whereas for a century, the physicians, nurses... associates, leaders, and volunteers of Saint John
• A century ago, we started as one hospital; today, thanks to our physicians, nurses, associates... community
• message to Oklahoma oil and gas and to all other executives that Oklahoma is open for business and will treat
• you right and treat you well.

Bills: HB1427 , SB1403 , SB1448 , SB1489 , SB1546 , SB1557 , SB1614 , SB1377 , SB1990 , SB1439 , SB1630 , SB1632 , SB1696 , SB1796 , SB1824 , SB1362 , SB1849 , SB2066 , SB2071 , SB2104 , SB933 , SB1633 , SB1224 , SB1246 , SB1280 , SB1303 , SB1346

Keywords: tax credit, clean-burning fuel, hydrogen fuel cells, compressed natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, environmental impact, vehicle modification, renewable energy, job incentives, tax rebates, Oklahoma Quality Jobs Program, employment growth, wage requirements, Oklahoma Consumer Protection Act, consumer protection, unfair trade practices, deceptive practices, exemptions, statutory exemptions, Corporation Commission

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill simply changes how the IFS waiver is treated in the budget, aligning it with the way other core
• This bill treats that responsibility consistently.
• the committee, Sean Graham with the Washington State Medical Association, representing the state's physician
• the committee, Sean Graham with the Washington State Medical Association representing the state's physician
• Committee, Sean Graham, with the Washington State Medical Association representing the state's physician

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee met on January 20, 2026, hearing several bills related to retirement systems, school employee health coverage, port district pensions, environmental fee accounts, developmental disability services, legislative budget transparency, and a new Apple Health employer assessment. Early in the meeting, the committee heard SB 5834, which would make permanent a temporary expansion allowing certain retirement trust fund earnings to pay broader administrative expenses, and SB 5835, which would raise the lump-sum retirement allowance threshold for Plan 2 members from $50 to $250. Both bills were presented by Department of Retirement Systems staff and supported by the department, with questions focused on the scope of the administrative-expense language in SB 5834 and the technical nature of SB 5835. The committee then entered executive session and moved three bills without recommendation to the Rules Committee: Substitute SB 5249, allowing kit homes as emergency housing; Substitute SB 5053, allowing certain counties to include school district boundaries when forming a public facilities district; and Substitute SB 5203, directing state agencies to develop a wildlife habitat connectivity strategy and creating related accounts. After returning to public hearing, members heard SB 5883 on SEBB eligibility for school employees in their second school year of employment. Supporters, including labor representatives and individual school workers, said the bill would reduce coverage gaps and improve recruitment and retention, while school district officials and administrators argued it would create an unfunded mandate, increase costs, and add administrative burden. No action was taken on the bill. The committee also heard SB 5905, which would exclude certain port district employees from PERS if they are covered by the federal Railroad Retirement Plan or a collectively bargained defined benefit pension plan. Port representatives, labor stakeholders, and the Department of Retirement Systems described it as a narrow technical fix to avoid duplicate pension coverage and retroactive liabilities, and the bill drew support. SB 6151 would create dedicated accounts for Ecology fee revenue tied to laboratory accreditation and landfill methane work; Ecology and county representatives supported the measure as a way to reinvest fees in the programs that generate them. SB 6163 would require the Individual and Family Services waiver for developmental disability services to be budgeted at maintenance level; advocates said it would stabilize services and prevent waitlists, and no opposition was heard. The final two bills were SB 6177, which would require LEAP’s budget website to display additional budget detail such as carry-forward data, program and subprogram expenditures, and balance sheets for all public accounts, and SB 6173, which would create an Apple Health employer assessment on larger private employers with workers enrolled in Medicaid expansion coverage. SB 6177 was framed as a transparency measure, while SB 6173 drew extensive testimony both in support and opposition: supporters said it would help offset expected Medicaid losses after federal work requirements take effect and stabilize the health safety net, while opponents argued it would be an unfunded tax, create administrative and legal complications, and could discourage hiring or reduce hours. The committee heard no final votes on the public hearing bills, and staff reminded members that signature sheets would be held for 24 hours under Senate rules.

Transcript Highlights:

• We also are in charge of licensing combatants, officials, promoters, and ringside physicians.
• We also are in charge of licensing combatants, officials, promoters, and ringside physicians.
• in calendar year ringside physicians in calendar year 2024<00:41:38.560><c> we</c><00:41:38.720><c>
• employees as employees and rather treating them as independent contractors.
• employees as employees and treating employees as employees and rather<01:20:12.120><c> treating</c><

Committee: Senate Labor