Transcript Highlights:

• But does screening everybody mean you have, on A in screening, used valid, reliable, and current testing
• That means they're going to have to screen everybody with a valid test, and I'm not sure that's necessary
• , because for everybody it may not be valid.
• The way that I look at the identification is those tests are reliable and valid, and no test is perfect
• “I look at the identification as those tests are reliable and valid, and no test is perfect.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• new technology in the form of drone unmanned aerial systems and new radar technology to be able to validate
• And how do you determine it in the past, in the absence of solid technology to validate and show the
• from a spherical object to an oblong-shaped object, an ice crystal, and what that means is we can validate
• only company that is deploying our operations with drone technology, coupled with the radar-based validation
• And because we can validate and know volumetrically how much we're getting additionally over the course

Bills: HB2024, HB2053, HB2097, HB2116, HB2117

Keywords: stormwater, recharge mapping, water resources, groundwater, appropriation, Arizona, irrigation, non-expansion areas, water management, agriculture, HB2116, Colorado River, litigation fund, water rights, Arizona water law, general fund appropriation, state budget, interstate water compact, Colorado River Compact, water litigation

Summary: The committee began with member and staff introductions, then heard House Bill 2024, which would expand the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority’s water supply development definition to include snowpack augmentation and related planning and facility work. Supporters argued cloud seeding and drone-based silver iodide deployment could increase snowpack and water supply at relatively low cost, while opponents raised concerns about weather modification, uncertainty in the science, and possible environmental or health effects. After debate, the committee approved HB 2024 on a 6-4 vote, with some members expressing reservations and requesting more information before floor consideration. The committee next considered House Bill 2053, which would direct the Arizona Department of Water Resources to update stormwater recharge mapping statewide and provide $100,000 for the work. The sponsor and ADWR said the bill would expand on prior state-land mapping and help identify recharge opportunities on private land; ADWR was neutral and said it could do the technical mapping but could not make legal determinations about appropriable surface water rights. Salt River Project opposed the bill’s language on surface-water rights, arguing that determinations about unappropriated water belong to the courts and that site-specific recharge projects could affect downstream rights. The committee adopted the Griffin amendment and then passed HB 2053 as amended on a 6-4 vote. Chelsea McGuire of WIFA then gave a broad presentation on the agency’s revolving funds, conservation grants, and long-term augmentation efforts, describing past investments, current grant awards, and seven potential augmentation projects under development. She said WIFA’s current budget ask was essentially for no additional cuts, while members asked about costs, project qualifications, and public-private structure. The committee then took up House Bill 2097, which would impose a six acre-feet-per-acre groundwater pumping cap in irrigation non-expansion areas, add reporting and well-measurement requirements, and set a $150 penalty for violations. ADWR said the bill could require additional staffing and that the cap and substitution provisions had technical concerns; environmental groups argued the cap was too high and could still encourage overpumping, while supporters said it would finally place a limit on INA pumping. HB 2097 passed 6-4. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 2116, which would appropriate $1 million to the Colorado River Litigation Fund; the sponsor described it as a contingency for ongoing Colorado River negotiations, and the committee moved the bill forward after brief discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Currently, the department does not have the resources to validate, analyze, or support the expansive
• industries, there usually exists a kind of quality assurance body that does the kind of testing and validation
• within Washington State, if you have really high-quality data, how can that data be used to train and validate
• They have a choice of different companies that they can go to to validate and train their AI or even
• We think that there is not enough resources to do proper validation and training and monitoring.

Summary: The committee heard a JLARC presentation on the Department of Health’s oversight of hospital inspections, complaints, and reporting. JLARC said DOH was late on 72% of acute care hospital inspections as of December 2024, had not verified that third-party accrediting standards were substantially equivalent to state standards, did not consistently require proof of those inspections, did not review adverse health event corrective plans, and could make hospital data more accessible. JLARC also raised a possible language-access barrier in the complaint system. Members asked about complaint filing by staff, the meaning of adverse health events, inspection outcomes, and whether the audit compared DOH to other agencies. JLARC said it had not reviewed inspection results or cross-agency comparisons, but noted inspectors were dedicated and working long hours. DOH later said it concurred with the recommendations and outlined a strategic plan with target dates for improving timeliness, verifying accreditation standards, expanding language access, reviewing adverse event laws, and improving public data access, with annual reporting to the Legislature expected. The committee then heard a Department of Health presentation on certificate of need modernization. DOH described the current certificate of need process, which reviews need, financial feasibility, quality, and cost containment for certain facility changes and new services, and said the program has not been modernized since the 1980s. DOH proposed 10 statutory modernization recommendations, including clarifying the program’s purpose, creating a planning entity, adding flexibility, reducing legal costs, updating access-to-care standards, expanding oversight to freestanding emergency departments and urgent care, addressing equity, improving cost control coordination, strengthening long-term funding, and using better data systems. Members asked about oversight of freestanding urgent care and EDs, funding sources, and whether the process could be streamlined or made more responsive to complaints or other triggers. A third panel discussed artificial intelligence in health care. Lucy O’Rourke of the Coalition for Health AI described CHAI’s work on responsible AI principles, technical standards, model cards or “nutrition labels,” testing and governance tools, and educational resources for providers. She said the group is focused on trust, transparency, fairness, safety, security, and privacy, and noted Washington’s AI-related policy work as among the more progressive in the country. No questions were asked. The final portion focused on the financial impact of federal and state health care policy changes. The Washington State Hospital Association said hospitals are facing low or negative operating margins, service reductions, layoffs, and closures, and that state cuts and taxes enacted in 2025, combined with federal HR1 changes, will significantly worsen finances. Providence Swedish leaders described staffing reductions, service cuts, delayed capital investments, and pressure from denials, tariffs, and reimbursement changes, while emphasizing that frontline staffing cuts are tied to service reductions rather than nurse-to-patient ratio changes. The Washington Health Benefit Exchange then began a presentation on expiring federal ACA premium tax credits, state Cascade Care Savings assistance, and eligibility changes affecting lawfully present non-citizens, with examples showing large premium increases for customers if federal subsidies expire.

Transcript Highlights:

• much as possible, trying to set up structures at our state level that are things that we can do to validate
• we're really just trying to minimize the burden on the customer, using the data connections and validation
• The data connections and validation that we already have in place today suggest that we may be able to
• end of the day really just trying to minimize the burden on the customer the data connections and validation
• that we already have in place today so The data connections and validation that we already have in place

Summary: The committee met to hear introductory briefings from the Department of Health and the Health Care Authority on agency priorities, federal changes, and implementation challenges. Secretary of Health Dennis Worsham said his department’s listening tour is focused on strengthening governmental public health, improving health care quality and access, and responding to federal funding disruptions and the shutdown’s effects on programs such as WIC. HCA Director Ryan Moran said the agency is prioritizing coverage preservation, oversight of major contracts, affordability, behavioral health integration, rural health transformation, and internal agency operations. Members asked about licensure delays; Worsham said the backlog had been reduced from about four months to six weeks and should be caught up by January 1, with possible further process changes if needed. A major portion of the meeting focused on H.R. 1 and its Medicaid-related implementation. Governor’s health policy advisor Caitlin Stafford, HCA staff, and interim Medicaid Director Trinity Wilson said the state is working with DSHS, the Health Benefit Exchange, tribes, and other partners to prepare for eligibility changes, work requirements, and six-month redeterminations. They said the state expects up to 30,000 Apple Health enrollees could lose coverage under the law’s non-citizen eligibility changes, and that the work requirement/redetermination provisions could affect about 620,000 adults, with roughly 80,000 also enrolled in SNAP. HCA said it hopes to automate most verification, but about 15% to 20% of cases may require manual review, with technology costs estimated at up to $30 million. Staff also said they are trying to keep H.R. 1 implementation mostly in budget language rather than statute, and that communication and navigator support will be important to minimize confusion and coverage loss. The committee also received an update on the Rural Health Transformation Program created in H.R. 1. HCA said Washington submitted its application to CMS on November 5 after extensive stakeholder engagement, including more than 310 written comments, webinars, and tribal consultation. The application centers on six initiatives: rural hospital innovation, community care and prevention, tribal investments, technology and data, workforce development, and rural behavioral health. HCA said the state is likely to receive less than the full $200 million annual amount assumed in the federal program, and that an advisory committee may be created to help guide spending over the five-year program. Members asked about palliative care, small business impacts, and communication with enrollees; HCA said it expects to share outreach toolkits and that no 2026 statutory changes are currently anticipated, though that could change. The final panels covered organ donation and transplant services. Department of Health staff explained the 2023 “Lights and Sirens” law for organ transport vehicles, including licensing, driver qualifications, insurance requirements, and use of emergency lanes and traffic preemption; the department said one company is currently licensed and there have been no complaints. LifeCenter Northwest described the organ procurement process, the legal framework under the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act, and the rarity and complexity of deceased donation, noting Washington has seen strong growth in donation and transplants over the past decade. University of Washington Medical Center staff then outlined its transplant programs for kidney, liver, heart, lung, pancreas, and multi-organ transplants, describing the multidisciplinary evaluation and waitlist process and the coordination required with donor organizations and hospitals.

Transcript Highlights:

• The town established a, quote, GV2 cost account, and records did not demonstrate a valid public purpose
• P-card purchases: there were some questionable purchases that may not have had a valid public purpose
• P-card purchases, we had some questionable purchases that may not have sort of valid purpose, travel
• Severance is only valid for 20 weeks, and this contract was approved and somehow blessed by somebody
• didn't you notice that you had basically a contract material, substantive contract term that's not valid

Summary: The committee first took up a long-running audit finding involving the City of Daytona Beach’s unexpended building permit fund balance, which has exceeded the statutory cap for several years and was reported at $10.8 million in the latest audit. Mayor Derek Henry and city staff said the city had analyzed the fund, adopted a corrective action plan, waived more than $5.5 million in permit and inspection fees, used some excess funds for a training facility rehabilitation, and is pursuing a $9.4 million City Hall expansion that they say is allowed under a November 2024 Attorney General opinion permitting construction of a building to house the building code enforcement function. Committee members repeatedly questioned whether the city was simply trying to spend down the money, whether the proposed uses were truly lawful, why the balance kept growing despite fee waivers, and where the interest earnings were going. The mayor and deputy city manager said the city’s growth and staffing needs justified the plan, but several members expressed frustration and skepticism. A public commenter also urged accountability and raised concerns about the city’s spending plans and the size of the remaining balance. The committee then received an Auditor General presentation on the Town of Greenville, which found 31 operational audit findings and described pervasive control failures, possible fraud, waste, and abuse. The findings included election paperwork problems that left a council seat vacant, conflicts of interest, late financial disclosure filings, related-party transactions, inadequate meeting notices and minutes, quorum and voting documentation problems, council members’ involvement in day-to-day operations, missing ethics training, budget adoption and monitoring deficiencies, inaccurate accounting records and bank reconciliations, utility billing and rate issues, grant compliance problems tied to an unfinished grocery store project, weak personnel and contracting controls, improper severance and compensation issues, late vendor payments, weak procurement and P-card controls, vehicle-use and property-control weaknesses, poor public records access, and IT access and fraud-policy gaps. Greenville’s mayor and staff said the audit largely reflected the prior administration and that the current council and staff are taking corrective action. They said the town terminated the former manager, adopted seven new policies since the audit began, and is working with the Auditor General to improve procurement, financial controls, inventory management, grant oversight, and ethics compliance. The town attorney said he had alerted federal authorities earlier about concerns, and committee members noted that FDLE has received a criminal referral and is investigating. Several members praised the new leadership’s cooperation but also suggested the town consider consolidation or dissolution if problems persist.

Transcript Highlights:

• Ensures that there are test security procedures to have valid and reliable year-to-year measures.
• I also have to always kind of furrow my eyebrows when I think about how these results are valid and reliable
• So we know that, I had shared with you, About 6,000 valid scores because of attrition or maybe the student
• rates, I mean, there have been different reporting entities resulting in these discrepancies, what validation
• We only include those students that had a valid test score.

Transcript Highlights:

• These reports are submitted each January by TNCs and then validated and prepared for analysis by CPUC
• In recent years, CPUC staff have improved the data submission and validation process for these reports
• , including by refining the data dictionary,... ...data submission and validation process for these reports
• by implementing an online submission portal that performs an initial compliance check and data validation
• If the legal analysis determines confidentiality claims are not valid and the information should be released

Summary: The hearing focused on transportation network companies in California, with the chair framing it as an informational hearing on the history, regulation, safety, climate, accessibility, and data issues surrounding Uber, Lyft, and smaller or autonomous TNC services. The CPUC described its decade-long regulatory role, including safety rules, background checks, insurance requirements, reporting obligations, and two major legislative programs from 2018: the Clean Miles Standard and the Access for All program. Members asked about complaint trends, data collection and disclosure, program implementation, and how the CPUC uses annual reports for policymaking, compliance, and program oversight. Uber and Lyft said the statewide framework has supported growth while providing safety and access benefits, but both companies emphasized that insurance is a major cost driver and argued that California’s UM/UIM requirement is unusually high compared with other vehicles. They said the Clean Miles Standard is pushing electrification but faces headwinds from EV affordability and charging infrastructure, while Access for All has expanded wheelchair-accessible service but still needs continued support. They also discussed transit partnerships, wildfire response, and the potential role of autonomous vehicles, with both companies saying human drivers will remain important and that future regulation should account for new technology. The final panel, including the San Francisco County Transportation Authority and UC Berkeley researchers, presented evidence that TNCs have increased congestion and reduced transit ridership, especially in dense urban areas. They described prior research showing TNCs contributed to congestion growth in San Francisco and noted that this work helped spur local taxes on ride-hailing trips to fund safety and transit improvements. The panel also discussed the CPUC’s evolving data-disclosure decisions, arguing that public access to TNC trip data is important for understanding transportation impacts and informing local policy.

Transcript Highlights:

• high quality examination, it has been. and vetted for concordance and has been proven both viable, valid
• I know how difficult it can be. to construct a valid test and it was important to me to thoroughly vet
• So do you currently have any evidence of predictive validity?
• So, you said there is no, I just want to be clear, you said there is no evidence of predictive validity
• Well, I think it would, the question I would ask is what do we mean by predictive validity?

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• guidelines. ...guidelines, and finally, a description of the issuer or the agent's oversight and validation
• That determination is made internally within DFPS and is not subject to third-party validation before
• Once a valid request is submitted, DFPS must hold a hearing within 60 days.
• This determination is made internally within DFPS and is not subject to third-party validation before
• the opportunity to contest findings that may unjustly affect their lives. subject to third-party validation

Bills: SB397, SB481, SB596, SB760, SB855, SB1195, SB1196, SB1233, SB1257, SB1318, SB1368, SB1388, SB1398, SB1524, SB1558, SB1589, SB1677, SB1792, SB2034

Keywords: SB 397, telemedicine, telehealth, teledentistry, remote care, virtual care, consent documentation, patient consent, data collection, data sharing, audio-only telehealth, in-person examination, irreversible medical procedure, health professional regulation, Occupations Code, Texas Health and Human Services, medical records, provider compliance, data privacy, consumer rights

Transcript Highlights:

• What we would like to see is that in-home training is more of a competency validation, going into the
• home and validating that these families, as you can see... ...validation, going into the home and validating
• But as a home health agency, we do understand the importance of validating that these parents are able

Summary: The subcommittee held its first meeting of the 2025-2026 term, took attendance, confirmed a quorum, and heard introductory remarks from members and staff. Chair Anderson outlined the subcommittee’s jurisdiction over access and affordability issues, including health facility regulation, insurance, Medicaid, CHIP, and state employee health coverage. The main agenda item was an update on implementation of HB 391, which created a family home health aide program for medically fragile children. Representative Tramont, the bill sponsor, explained that the law was intended to let trained family caregivers be paid through Medicaid to care for their children, reduce reliance on private duty nursing, and relieve families. He and several members expressed frustration that implementation had taken nearly two years and that families still faced barriers. Deputy Secretary Brian Meyer of AHCA and Bridget Royce of DCF said the program was implemented October 1, 2024, with billing available, but no home health agencies had yet launched the required 80-hour training program and no claims had been paid. They described the program’s requirements, including agency employment, background screening, training, a $25-per-hour Medicaid rate paid to the agency, and an annual assessment report. A major issue discussed was that income earned by family caregivers counts toward Medicaid eligibility and could cause families to lose coverage. AHCA and DCF outlined two possible fixes that would require CMS approval: disregarding the income for eligibility purposes or treating the child as a family of one. Members and public witnesses strongly urged changes to avoid forcing families to choose between income and coverage. Several providers said they had begun preparing training programs, but asked for clearer approval processes and more patient-specific training requirements. The committee then heard extensive public testimony from parents and caregivers of medically fragile children, who described the financial, emotional, and logistical strain of caring for children with severe disabilities and argued that the bill should be expanded to include Florida KidCare families and others in the coverage gap. They also raised concerns about the eight-hour-per-day limit, low pay, and the need for simpler rules and direct support. Home health providers and associations supported the concept but asked for modifications, including more targeted training and clearer implementation guidance. The meeting then shifted to a second agenda item on the Andrew John Anderson Rapid Whole Genome Sequencing Program, which was funded in the 2023 budget. Deputy Secretary Meyer said the program has been implemented since January 1, 2024, but utilization has been lower than expected, with only about 60 claims paid and many denials occurring through managed care. Public testimony from a lab, a hospital, and a pediatric rare disease expert said the program is clinically valuable and cost-saving, but managed care billing barriers, prior authorization issues, and DRG-related denials are limiting access; they urged direct billing to Medicaid and possible expansion to all newborns.

Transcript Highlights:

• Breckinridge County Fiscal Court, addressing the validity of Breckinridge County's ordinance imposing
• Fiscal Court, Breenidge County Fiscal Court, addressing<00:04:05.439> the<00:04:05.599> valid
• <00:04:06.159> validity<00:04:06.640> of addressing the valid validity of addressing
• the valid validity of Breenidge<00:04:07.360> County's<00:04:07.680> ordinance<00:04:08.159

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And with that, we can look at our autonomous control validation with digital twins and looking at the
• So your point is completely valid.
• If we're trying to... 25 years from now, so your point is completely valid.
• We have deep expertise with bench scale and research going to pilot scale validation of industry systems
• Enabling activities include validation of technical performance, techno-economic analysis to evaluate

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And with that, we can look at our autonomous control validation with digital twins and looking at the
• So your point is completely valid.
• If we're trying to... 25 years where, so your point is completely valid.
• We have deep expertise with bench-scale and research going to pilot-scale validation of industry systems
• Enabling activities include validation of technical performance, techno-economic analysis to evaluate

Summary: The meeting opened with remarks about the value of public engagement and the quality of questions from the group, followed by a series of technical presentations from Idaho National Laboratory staff. Joe Renovitz described recent nuclear regulatory changes tied to presidential executive orders, including NRC Part 53 for advanced reactors, the forthcoming Part 57 for very small reactors, and DOE updates to reactor authorization standards. He emphasized efforts to align DOE and NRC processes, use risk-informed and performance-based licensing, support reactor deployment for AI/data centers and national security, and use AI to speed communications and crosswalks between DOE and NRC requirements. In response to questions, he said there was no plan to merge agencies, but rather to improve coordination and public outreach through groups like GAIN and NEI. David Tolman then discussed the nuclear fuel cycle, including uranium mining, conversion, enrichment, fuel fabrication, spent fuel storage, transportation, disposal, and reprocessing. He explained high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU), why it is needed for advanced reactors, and DOE’s HALEU Availability Program and related investments in enrichment, transportation, deconversion, and supply chain development. He also covered spent fuel management, the possibility of centralized storage or a fuel-cycle campus, the Center for Used Fuel Research, and ongoing work on high-burnup cask testing and reprocessing technologies. Tolman described aqueous, pyrochemical, and fluoride-volatility reprocessing approaches, noting the advantages and waste characteristics of each, and said several companies are working with INL on these technologies. Ashley Shields presented INL’s AI and nuclear work, focusing on the Genesis initiative and the Prometheus effort to use AI to design, license, build, and operate reactors with far less human intervention. She described INL’s broad use of generative AI tools, the need to manage large volumes of legacy technical data, and applications in reactor design, materials discovery, autonomous laboratories, and digital twins. Shields said AI is being used to reduce the enormous documentation burden in nuclear licensing and to support autonomous or remotely operated reactor demonstrations, while stressing that humans remain in supervisory roles. In discussion, she addressed data security, model access, and the continued need for software engineers. The session then recessed briefly and resumed with Mitch Kerman beginning a presentation on critical minerals and materials.

Transcript Highlights:

• A license may produce a valid AIA-approved digital... ...digital just simply inserting the word valid
• to ensure that it is uh the license is valid.
• <00:50:13.280> AIA<00:50:13.839> approved license may produce a valid AIA approved
• license may produce a valid AIA approved digital<00:50:15.359> just<00:50:15.599> simply
• :16.559> word digital just simply inserting the word digital just simply inserting the word valid

Bills: HB1, HB198, HB11, HB32, HB33, HB34, HB56, HB68, HB72, HB101, HB102, HB110, HB154, HB166, HB168, HB274, SB114, HB1, HB198, HB11, HB32, HB33, HB34, HB56, HB68, HB72, HB101, HB102, HB110, HB154, HB166, HB168, HB274, SB114

Keywords: DUI, driving under the influence, ignition interlock, interlock device, driver license suspension, restricted license, motor vehicle, alcohol offense, first offense, repeat offender, blood alcohol concentration, BAC, license revocation, Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency, ALEA, public safety, traffic safety, chemical dependency, substance abuse, court referral program

Transcript Highlights:

• Lastly, this bill requires employers to produce corroborating evidence to validate surveillance output
• I want to validate the comments by my colleague from Thousand Oaks, my colleagues from Simi Valley and
• Again, the bill in print today validates that stance.
• Transfer the ticket to another individual in validating their access to that ticket.
• But the bill puts the onus to determine the proof of purchase validity and connect it to an actual ticket

Summary: The committee heard several bills and took up multiple votes. AB 576, dealing with updates to California’s charitable fundraising platform registry after AB 488, was presented as a technical fix to help charities and platforms more quickly update eligible listings; there was no opposition testimony, and the measure was later moved on a due pass basis. AB 1160, on law enforcement drone programs, was presented with proposed amendments requiring U.S.-based data storage and limits on sharing or selling collected data; supporters said it would protect sensitive drone-collected information while preserving affordable drone use, while there was no opposition testimony, and it was also later passed out on a due pass as amended basis. AB 75, which would require insurers to give notice before collecting aerial images of homes and provide homeowners access to those images, drew support from the Department of Insurance and consumer advocates, while insurers opposed it unless amended, arguing aerial imaging is a cost-saving inspection tool and that the bill could worsen availability and affordability; the bill was moved to Appropriations on a due pass basis, with the roll held open for absent members. The committee spent the most time on AB 325, which would address algorithmic price-fixing and collusion. The author and supporters argued that competitors using the same pricing software or algorithm to set prices can function as collusion even when the agreement is hidden behind code, and cited examples involving housing, frozen potatoes, gas pricing, and other industries. Opponents, including apartment, business, hospital, retail, chamber, and tech groups, said the bill was too broad, could sweep in lawful software and public-data market research, and might chill legitimate pricing tools, especially for small businesses and housing providers. Committee members raised concerns about clarity, intent standards, and whether the bill should focus more narrowly on nonpublic competitor data; despite those concerns, AB 325 was moved to Appropriations on a due pass basis, with the roll held open. Later, AB 1221 was presented as a workplace surveillance bill that would prohibit certain invasive or discriminatory surveillance tools, require notice to workers, limit sharing of worker data, and require corroborating evidence before discipline based on surveillance outputs. Labor and consumer groups supported the bill, saying modern surveillance technologies can track speech, movement, emotion, and other sensitive traits and can be biased or abusive. The Security Industry Association opposed it, warning that the bill’s broad definitions could restrict legitimate security systems, emergency sharing with first responders, and employer responses to misconduct or unsafe behavior. The transcript cuts off before any final vote on AB 1221 is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, until HAVA went in, there was no validation check on the data that was ever typed in.
• disenfranchised by bad actors who conduct a Google search and with no other evidence challenge the validity
• the address on the list of registered voters, but the list of registered IDs in this bill that are valid
• It doesn't necessarily serve as an additional validation of somebody's eligibility to vote.
• And then one of the valid reasons for reasonable impediment declaration is if you lost your ID.

Transcript Highlights:

• the concerns are and getting those to a conclusion next Thursday, unless there is some very strong, valid
• the concerns are and getting those to a conclusion next Thursday, unless there is some very strong, valid

Summary: The committee first took up several subcommittee reports. The Claims Review Litigation Reports Oversight Subcommittee report was adopted after noting two Department of Corrections settlement reviews and one affirmed denial/dismissal by the Claims Commission. The JBC Personnel Subcommittee report was also adopted, covering governor’s letters and amendments, with items related to the Auditor of State and Lieutenant Governor sent back for further review and one Lieutenant Governor amendment not passing. Next, the peer review subcommittee report was adopted after discussion of various temporary appropriations, ARPA and infrastructure-related appropriations, reserve fund transfers, and a resource reallocation. Two DHS-related items were held, including a discretionary grants item and a contract with DHS and EMS/LINQ; one hold was later released after additional information was provided. A member asked about returned ARPA funds, and staff explained the money was being returned to the federal government because it was not fully expended within the federal time frame. The committee then discussed several bills and amendments with special language, including Senate Bills 63, 67, and 73 and House Bills 1089, 1090, and 1093, along with amendments to the Department of Health, the Office of the Treasurer, and the State Board of Election Commission. Leadership warned that holds on bills should be resolved by the following Thursday or be released, and members were encouraged to work with agencies and notify leadership if agencies were not responsive. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Next Thursday, unless there is some very strong, valid reason, those are going to be released by this
• the concerns are and getting those to a conclusion next Thursday, unless there is some very strong, valid

Summary: The committee heard several subcommittee reports and adopted them. The Claims Review Litigation Reports Oversight Subcommittee reported on two Department of Corrections litigation settlements and one denied and dismissed claim, and its report was adopted. The JBC Personnel Subcommittee reported on Governor’s letters and amendments; all items were released back to the Joint Budget Committee as adopted except item 3, the Lieutenant Governor’s Office amendment, and items 3 and 4 were sent back for further review. The peer review subcommittee reported approval of several temporary appropriations, ARPA and IIJA appropriations, reserve fund transfers, and a resource reallocation. Two items were held: DHS K-2 discretionary grants and an L-4 DHS/EMS contract; after additional information was provided, the hold on the contract was released and the report was adopted. A member asked about returned ARPA funds, and staff explained the money was being returned to the federal government because it was not fully expended within the federal time frame. The committee also referred several measures to special language, including Senate Bills 63, 67, and 73 and House Bills 1089, 1090, and 1093. Special-language amendments were noted for the Department of Health, the Office of the Treasurer, and the State Board of Election Commission. The chair urged members to resolve any remaining holds by the following Thursday or they would be released, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• And at its core, it asks insurers to do what they already promise: pay valid claims promptly and communicate
• And at its core, it asks insurers to do what they already promise: pay valid claims promptly and communicate
• And at its core, it asks insurers to do what they already promise: pay valid claims promptly and communicate
• And at its core, it asks insurers to do what they already promise: pay valid claims promptly and communicate
• And at its core, it asks insurers to do what they already promise: pay valid claims promptly and communicate

Bills: HB0117, HB0126

Keywords: informed consent, abortion, civil liability, coercion, healthcare rights, fetal heartbeat, termination of pregnancy, medical emergency, Wyoming legislation, rights of minors, healthcare regulations, parental consent, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• investigations so it doesn't fall all in the LEOs to make a determination about whether there is a valid
• investigations so it doesn't fall all in the LEOs to make a determination about whether there is a valid
• <00:39:33.560> complaint<00:39:34.000> about whether there is a valid complaint about
• whether there is a valid complaint about animal<00:39:34.760> cruelty<00:39:35.760> and
• That the bill is DOA, and that's not the case here, because there is a valid need for this, but there's

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The subcommittee work session focused on HB 153, a bill intended to improve law enforcement response to animal cruelty cases. The bill’s sponsor explained that the proposal would require one sheriff or deputy and one state trooper in each county to receive specific training in animal cruelty laws so they could serve as knowledgeable resources. The sponsor described real-world examples where agencies were unclear about jurisdiction, veterinary involvement, and response protocols, arguing that better training was needed because animal cruelty cases can require quick action and many towns do not have animal control officers. Jerry Sorenson, a retired UNH professor and longtime animal cruelty instructor, described the existing training structure at Police Standards and Training. He said recruits receive a required two-hour introductory block at the academy, while additional animal cruelty materials and a more comprehensive online resource library are available through the Benchmark system for certified officers. He noted that the older two-day in-service course he taught was more detailed and guided, but the current online materials are more of a self-study resource and are not mandated for in-service officers. He also said the committee could track usage through Benchmark analytics. Kurt Arenberg of the Humane Society of the United States and Rob Johnson of the Farm Bureau both supported the goal of ensuring a trained law enforcement contact is available statewide, but they questioned whether assigning one trained officer per county would be the best way to achieve it. They emphasized the need for a real-time response and for officers to know where to find help and guidance, rather than expecting one person per county to handle all cases. Vincent Greco of State Police said the agency is willing to help and has handled animal cruelty matters, but he said one trooper per county would not realistically meet the goal given coverage demands and vacancy rates; he suggested broader access to resources and training may be more effective. Representative Freeman asked how cases are handled now and was told State Police responses generally follow standard criminal investigation steps, with assistance from animal control, veterinarians, and other resources when available. No vote or final action was taken during the work session.