Transcript Highlights:

• They're already eligible for the federal programs.
• Because the existing program is fairly complicated. It works very well.
• It's not part of the maintenance program, which is what we're talking about here.
• I love the program. It's a funding issue. It really is; it comes right down to it.
• So getting this over to FDACS, we may bring in a lot more of the BMP program.

Bills: S0544, S0636, S0848, S0546

Keywords: golf courses, best management practices, fertilizer regulation, Department of Agriculture, environmental protection, certification, beach management, beach erosion, beach nourishment, coastal resilience, shoreline protection, critical erosion, critically eroded beach, Florida DEP, Department of Environmental Protection, coastal flooding, compound flooding, storm surge, inlet management, coastal engineering

Summary: The Environment and Natural Resources Committee met with a quorum and took up several bills. SB 636 on beach management, by Senator Leek, would create additional pathways for counties and municipalities to obtain critically eroded beach or area of critical state concern designations, shifting the process toward a more proactive approach. Senator Smith and Senator Harrell raised concerns about local capacity and funding, and the Florida Shore and Beach Preservation Association said the bill was an alternative pathway but emphasized the need for more recurring funding. The bill was reported favorably. The committee then considered SB 544, which transfers the Golf Course Best Management Practices Certification Program from DEP to FDACS and establishes certification and training standards there. Senator Smith and Senator Harrell asked about environmental oversight, taxation, and whether the change would affect state park restrictions; the sponsor said it would not change tax treatment or park rules and that DEP would still handle enforcement if BMPs are not followed. The Florida Springs Council opposed the bill, arguing golf courses are not agriculture and warning of weaker protections for springs, while the Florida Golf Course Superintendent's Association supported the move as a continuity and participation measure. After adopting a technical amendment, the committee reported the bill favorably, with Senator Smith voting no. SB 848 on stormwater treatment, also by Senator Trunow, was amended to clarify the role of water quality enhancement areas while stormwater rules are still being finalized and to make public-land project review forward-looking. Resource Environmental Solutions supported the amendment and bill as providing a clearer market for water quality credits, and the Florida Home Builders Association supported the measure. The committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably. SB 546 by Vice Chair Mayfield would require 30-day public notice before meetings reviewing the sale or exchange of state conservation lands, including at water management districts; after a technical amendment, it received support from conservation groups and was reported favorably. The committee also received a DEP presentation on the State Park Amenities Report, which said Florida’s 175 state parks drew over 28 million visitors and generated a $3.6 billion economic impact. DEP identified nearly $759 million in needed repairs and upgrades over 10 years and $1.39 billion in contemplated new construction and development in unit management plans. No votes were taken on the presentation, and the meeting adjourned after no further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• The PASS program is one of the four comprehensive transition and post-secondary programs in Texas.
• master proficiency certificate.
• master proficiency certificate.
• This legislation will repeal the Texas Research Incentive Program, also known as the TRIP Program.
• mastery proficiency certificate.

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, heard the invocation and pledges, and then took up a series of memorial resolutions and recognitions. Members adopted memorial resolutions honoring former President Jimmy Carter and Dr. Alice Gail Hudgens, with remarks highlighting their public service and community impact, and adopted resolutions recognizing Victoria College’s 100th anniversary and May 2025 as Mental Health Awareness Month. The chamber also recognized Texas A&M system interns and later granted permission for several committees to meet while the House was in session. The House then moved through a long third-reading calendar, passing a number of bills on wide margins. Measures approved included SB 304 on municipal court jurisdiction over nuisance abatement ordinances, SB 608 on reporting evidence collection kits, SB 2312 creating a Texas Advisory Committee on Geopolitical Conflict, SB 494 creating a petroleum theft task force, SB 530 on postsecondary accreditation, HB 45 giving the Attorney General a role in prosecuting human trafficking cases, HB 35 on peer support for first responders, HB 47 and HB 3073 on sexual assault policy and prosecution, HB 318 and HB 3000 creating rural sheriff and ambulance grant programs, HB 554 on Juneteenth fireworks sales with county opt-in authority restored, HB 705 and HB 932 joining licensure compacts for cosmetology and occupational therapy, HB 849 allowing county park boards to meet by video conference, HB 1119 on mental health bed reporting, HB 3041 on students with nontraditional secondary education, HB 713 on maternal mortality review reporting, HB 3104 on Webb County bailiff appointments, HB 3970 on electricity planning for large loads, HB 4042 on Railroad Commission safety provisions for gas distribution pipelines, HB 4490 protecting next-of-kin information, HB 1731 on the physician assistant compact, HB 2607 on Walker County Hospital District governance, HB 3689 on Texas Windstorm Insurance Association funding, HB 1788 on continuing education for barbers and cosmetologists about abuse and trafficking, HB 1612 on hospital direct payments for uninsured patients, and HB 138 on health impact cost and coverage analysis. Several bills drew extended debate or amendments. HB 353, creating a trespass offense near schools and daycares, prompted questions about constitutional concerns and property rights before passing. HB 3211 on optometrists in managed care plans received a perfecting amendment and a Medicaid-related amendment setting a minimum payment level. HB 1056 on gold and silver specie and a state-based currency prompted detailed questioning about its mechanics and fees, followed by a point of order challenging the caption. The House also adopted or postponed a number of items, including postponing HB 2520 and HB 1359 until later in the calendar before later passing both, and laying several bills on the table subject to call. Many measures passed overwhelmingly, while a few, including HB 3326 on loan forgiveness for adjunct professors and HB 3237 on energy consumption goals, passed with narrower margins.

Transcript Highlights:

• The institutional services assistant will provide support for housing operations, and project program
• This assistant will provide support for housing operations, and project program specialists will support
• Item I is a request for continuation of certification differentials for employees at Parks, Heritage,
• and Tourism who have met the certification criteria for wastewater management duties.
• In particular, this request includes three commerce program coordinators and a fiscal support supervisor

Summary: The committee reviewed several personnel and appropriation requests. Item C was a two-for-two position swap with no net increase in authorized positions and was approved. Item D, for South Arkansas College, added three net positions through a mix of growth and swap pool positions, including food service, public safety, housing, and compliance support roles, and was approved. Item E moved positions and $3 million in salary and match appropriation within Workforce Services to consolidate shared services, with no net change in positions, and was approved. The committee then considered a group of continuation items for FY27, covering previously approved growth and surrender pool positions, various differentials, hard-to-fill and on-call pay, a labor market adjustment for crime lab medical examiners, and continuation of grant-funded classifications tied to ARPA and IIJA grants across several agencies. These items were reviewed together and approved. Reports on the agenda required no action and were simply reviewed. On the supplemental agenda, the committee suspended the rules and approved OPM’s request for salary increases for 92 employees whose merit raises would place them over their grade maximums. Senator Dotson asked about several public safety medical examiner positions listed on the salary schedule, and staff indicated they were likely crime lab medical examiner roles. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The institutional services assistant will provide support for housing operations, and the project program
• The institutional services assistant will provide support for housing operations, and project program
• Item I is a request for continuation of certification differentials for employees at Parks, Heritage,
• and Tourism who have met the certification criteria for wastewater management duties.
• This request includes three commerce program coordinators and a fiscal support supervisor expert.

Summary: The committee reviewed several personnel and appropriation items, including Item C, which involved a two-for-two position swap with no net increase in authorized positions and was approved after motion. Item D for South Arkansas College added three net positions through a mix of growth and swap pool requests, including food service, public safety, housing support, and compliance-related roles; it was also approved. Item E moved positions and $3 million in salary and match appropriation within Workforce Services to consolidate shared services, with no net change in positions, and was approved. The committee then took up Items F through O as continuation requests for previously approved or reviewed positions and differentials to carry into FY27. These included growth and surrender pool positions at several agencies, various pay differentials such as second-language, on-call, hard-to-fill, certification, and labor market adjustments, as well as continuation of grant-funded classifications tied to ARPA and IIJA grants and other federal grants. After no questions, the committee approved the continuations in a single motion. Under the supplemental agenda, the committee suspended the rules and approved Item A-1, which authorized salary increases above grade maximums for 92 employees due to merit increases. A senator asked about several public safety classifications listed as Med 14, 16, 14, and 15, and staff indicated they were likely crime lab medical examiner positions. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• And it does that typically every year by issuing a certification opinion, usually in November December
• the legislative session starts and the legislature in the next regular session after the court certification
• The Supreme Court in November issue, the certification opinion for the 2026 session.
• They can work the program or to education and if their energy, the path they take the test there.
• So if they're done with their high school diploma or GED and they come out of the residential program

Transcript Highlights:

• $2 million from the State General Fund to implement the produce incentive program.
• It's still not enough to fully fund the program.
• Madam Chair, the programs and options were also proposed... Thank you.
• SAVE program, which is the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements program in the federal government
• The program again starts at 11. Wonderful, thank you. The program starts at 11.

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The committee worked through a very long minority caucus calendar covering a wide range of bills, with many items being described and then either left on consent, pulled from consent, or noted for votes. Topics included bullion and state depository proposals, a produce incentive appropriation, a biennial budget change, veterans services funding, driver licensing and traffic enforcement measures, procurement and public records changes, school board and school facilities rules, SNAP work requirements and verification, child welfare and juvenile justice provisions, housing and homelessness measures, energy and fuel policy, election administration, and several tax, commerce, and licensing bills. Members repeatedly raised concerns about constitutionality, federal preemption, duplication of existing law, and whether some measures were policy priorities that had been vetoed in prior sessions and were returning unchanged. Several bills drew extended debate. Members objected to English-proficiency requirements for commercial drivers and motor carriers, arguing federal law and the supremacy clause would bar them. Earned wage access regulation prompted strong opposition over consumer harm, overdraft cycles, and high effective APRs. School-related bills were criticized for overregulating public schools while not imposing similar requirements on ESA/private-school programs, especially on fingerprint clearance and reporting. SNAP-related bills were also opposed as setting unrealistic mandates and repeating vetoed proposals. Other contested measures included a drag-show criminalization bill, a bill restricting photo enforcement, a bill limiting local regulation of unmanned aircraft, and a bill conforming Arizona tax law to federal changes, which members said would benefit wealthy taxpayers and corporations without a clear funding source. The committee also heard a number of supportive or less controversial measures, including bills on veterans awareness, dementia care telemonitoring, Braille transcription funding, CPA licensure pathways, cash acceptance by retailers, and some child safety and court administration changes. Several bills were pulled from consent for further discussion, while others were noted as having unanimous or near-unanimous votes. The meeting ended with caucus announcements, including an affordability award presentation, an upcoming Latino Caucus discussion on community land trusts, and an invitation to African American Legislative Day activities, followed by adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• provide for establishment of a pilot program.
• provide for establishment of a pilot program.
• the administration of the ABLE Account Program, the Student Tuition Assistance and Revenue Trust Program
• Basin Program Oversight Committee.
• It does not give anyone birth certificates.

Bills: SR126, SR129, SCR71, SCR72, SCR73, SCR12, HB221, HCR54, HCR79, HCR87, HCR94, HCR95, HCR97, HCR102, HCR104, HCR58, SB480, SB514, HB12, HB66, HB145, HB167, HB175, HB196, HB213, HB218, HB222, HB256, HB291, HB325, HB326, HB352, HB401, HB430, HB433, HB434, HB448, HB456, HB476, HB481, HB487, HB492, HB549, HB579, HB608, HB621, HB624, HB626, HB632, HB637, HB656, HB722, HB745, HB749, HB804, HB818, HB821, HB833, HB864, HB867, HB874, HB893, HB909, HB951, HB968, HB969, HB978, HB979, HB985, HB988, HB989, HB1001, HB1005, HB1007, HB1024, HB1032, HB1038, HB1050, HB1051, HB1056, HB1059, HB1077, HB1080, HB1081, HB1086, HB1108, HB1112, HB1153, HB1172, HB1173, HB1175, HB1192, HB1193, HB1204, HB1218, HB1242, HB1244, HB1249, HB1252, HB1254, HB538, SCR3, SCR23, SCR38, SCR24, SB102, SB133, SB151, SB165, SB169, SB170, SB200, SB217, SB280, SB291, SB300, SB303, SB330, SB449, SB489, SB521, SB45, SB156, SB181, SB203, SB274, SB304, SB379, SB396, SB410, SB425, SB427, SB436, SB54, SB72, SB129, SB164, SB232, SB287, SB322, SB374, SB375, SB386, SB409, SB447, SB458, SB222, SB399, SR119, SCR58, SCR65, SCR9, SB35, SB65, SB215, SB246, SB249, SB269, SB282, SB296, SB323, SB363, SB369, SB474, SB490, SB492, SB500, HCR41, HCR47, HCR63, HCR69, HCR31, HB87, HB115, HB162, HB195, HB214, HB217, HB233, HB283, HB290, HB319, HB324, HB345, HB362, HB363, HB368, HB377, HB380, HB382, HB386, HB392, HB406, HB431, HB441, HB466, HB503, HB533, HB559, HB575, HB590, HB593, HB618, HB655, HB664, HB685, HB692, HB707, HB715, HB732, HB738, HB741, HB748, HB776, HB807, HB822, HB856, HB860, HB868, HB887, HB888, HB905, HB908, HB961, HB980, HB990, HB992, HB999, HB1000, HB1010, HB1146, HB1157, HB1233, HB1236, HB1243, HB54, HB137, HB180, HB192, HB310, HB321, HB396, HB512, HB552, HB578, HB638, HB663, HB708, HB717, HB718, HB1009, HB1082, HB1104, HB1107, HB1198, HB1246, HB27, HB143, HB205, HB259, HB267, HB288, HB308, HB403, HB405, HB414, HB417, HB478, HB546, HB548, HB555, HB557, HB609, HB670, HB672, HB740, HB779, HB786, HB796, HB812, HB848, HB915, HB917, HB921, HB930, HB933, HB1095, HB1096, HB1103, HB1129, HB1154, HB1166, HB1187, HB1195, HB1230, HB17, HB36, HB41, HB47, HB73, HB119, HB126, HB129, HB133, HB140, HB159, HB166, HB211, HB226, HB245, HB271, HB280, HB337, HB351, HB354, HB399, HB571, HB677, HB712, HB723, HB726, HB728, HB750, HB759, HB789, HB844, HB850, HB870, HB966, HB1006, HB1018, HB1036, HB1241, SB29, SB42, SB43, SB382, SB441, HB134, HB258, HB359, HB782

Keywords: SR126, Senate Resolution 126, World Preeclampsia Awareness Day, preeclampsia, maternal mortality, maternal health, pregnancy complications, hypertension, high blood pressure, pregnancy-related disorder, obstetrics, prenatal care, prenatal health, infant mortality, preterm birth, premature birth, Woman's Hospital, Louisiana Senate, women's health, public health awareness

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, heard a prayer from guest minister Troy Brigadio, and recited the pledge. The chamber then handled journal approval, committee and House messages, and a large number of resolutions and bills, with many items lying over or being referred to committees. Several Senate resolutions were adopted by voice or machine vote, including commendations for World Preeclampsia Awareness Day, Kathy Holloway, Jensen LeBlanc, and River Bend Station, and the Senate also recognized Senator Mike Reese’s new role as president of McNeese State University. The body spent much of the meeting concurring in or rejecting House amendments to Senate bills. Concurrences were approved on measures including SB 102, 133, 151, 165, 169, 170, 200, 280, 291, 303, 330, 396, 410, 425, 427, 436, 489, 521, 45, 156, 181, 203, 304, and 399. The Senate rejected House amendments on SB 217, SB 300, SB 274, and SB 379, sending those matters toward conference or further work. One notable floor debate occurred on SB 449, where Senator Moore objected to concurring in amendments affecting the North Orleans Belt Railroad; after discussion about corruption concerns and public bid laws, the chamber rejected the amendments 26-9. The Senate also took up numerous House bills on final passage, approving measures on local governance, public safety, education, tax policy, and infrastructure. These included HB 87 on Livingston Parish Gas Utility District per diem, HB 115 on abolishing the police chief office in Edgefield, HB 162 on a neighborhood improvement district fee, HB 195 allowing pepper spray on campus, HB 214 and HB 217 on optional ad valorem tax exemptions for rehabilitated blighted property, HB 233 on jury compensation, HB 354 renaming a bridge as the Caleb Easterling Memorial Bridge, HB 283 on protections for assaulted school employees, HB 290 recreating the Department of Treasury, and HB 319 adjusting civic education commission membership. Several of these passed unanimously or with only a few dissenting votes, and members frequently moved to reconsider and record objections after final passage.

Transcript Highlights:

• Specialty pharmacy programs are developed and designed to avoid any delays in care.
• Second, it requires amended birth certificates and marriage certificates that include a gender marker
• Second, it requires amended birth certificates and marriage certificates that include a gender marker
• It's a basic one, as I'm trying to understand the roles of these programs.
• Yeah, or if you qualify according to the other programs, right?

Summary: The Assembly Health Committee heard a long agenda of health bills focused on access to preventive care, behavioral health, hospital services, and patient safety. Early items included AB 554, which would expand and protect access to HIV prevention drugs like PrEP, including injectable forms and coverage protections; supporters said it would shore up access amid federal threats, while insurers opposed it as a costly benefit mandate. AB 577 would limit insurer and PBM practices that steer medications away from physician offices and require more transparency and patient consent; doctors and patient advocates supported it, while health plans and insurers warned it could raise drug costs and disrupt specialty pharmacy networks. AB 546 would require coverage for portable HEPA purifiers for vulnerable enrollees during declared emergencies, especially wildfire smoke events, with support from air quality and public health groups and opposition from insurers concerned about benefit expansion and cost. The committee also heard AB 224, which would codify California’s updated essential health benefits benchmark plan after a public review process, adding infertility treatment, hearing aids, and durable medical equipment if approved by CMS for the 2027 plan year. DMHC said the state had completed the review and needed legislation to meet federal timing, and the measure drew broad support. AB 1032 would require plans and insurers to reimburse up to 12 additional behavioral health visits for enrollees in wildfire-affected counties for a limited period after an emergency; supporters argued it would fill gaps in trauma care after disasters, while insurers said existing parity and continuity-of-care rules already address the issue and that the bill could create inequities. AB 849 would require trained chaperones for sensitive ultrasound exams and training on how to observe and intervene; it was backed by a survivor and patient advocates, with hospitals and health districts raising staffing concerns. Later, AB 1196 would direct the Department of Public Health to update outdated rules requiring three surgeons for certain heart surgeries using cardiopulmonary bypass; supporters said the rule no longer reflects modern practice and strains staffing, while cardiology representatives had no formal opposition but wanted to review amendments. AB 1113 would codify a right to wear a mask for health reasons in public spaces, with support from disability and public health groups. AB 1386 sought to add perinatal care to the list of basic hospital services, prompting testimony about maternity ward closures, workforce shortages, and rural access; the author said the bill would be amended further and that the committee would need to revisit timelines and implementation details. The committee also heard AB 1429, which would address Kaiser’s repeated mental health parity violations and improve access to behavioral health care, though the transcript cuts off before any action on that bill is shown. Several bills were moved with motions and seconds, but many were held for quorum; AB 1196, AB 1113, and AB 1386 were among the measures advanced to a roll call or held on call, and the committee repeatedly noted that final votes would occur when quorum was available.

Transcript Highlights:

• when making these kinds of certificates available.
• There is no funding anticipated for programs.
• : it goes almost without saying that a good AI program, a good privacy program, a good cybersecurity
• program, relies on a good data program for the state, and they're all connected ultimately and rely on
• it goes almost without saying that a good AI program a good privacy program a good cybersecurity program

Keywords: 907, all

Summary: The committee held a series of informational briefings on information management and technology issues. It first heard from ACLU representatives on data privacy, who argued that Oregon should strengthen protections against private data brokers, government purchases of personal data, reverse warrants, automatic license plate readers, and local police surveillance. They urged data minimization, limits on data sales and retention, and broader transparency and accountability measures. Members asked about practical uses of license plate readers, state sales of data, and how Oregon’s approach compares with other states; the presenters said similar proposals have been adopted elsewhere, including data minimization in Maryland and a state version of the Fourth Amendment Is Not for Sale Act in Montana. The committee then received a detailed update from the Department of Administrative Services and Enterprise Information Services on licensing system modernization for 14 boards and commissions with the most immediate need. DAS said it is seeking a shared procurement approach through an RFP that would create either one scalable system or two tiers of systems, depending on agency needs and security requirements, with contracts expected by September. Committee members emphasized the need for a more unified, user-friendly statewide login and service experience for businesses and residents, and raised concerns about small agencies “figuring it out on their own” without sufficient cybersecurity or technical expertise. EIS said it is overseeing the investment review, security and architecture review, and future implementation planning, and noted that multiple agency requests may still come back to the legislature in the next session. The committee also discussed a revised cybersecurity incident notification concept. Staff explained that the earlier bill had raised stakeholder concerns, so the co-chairs directed further interim work with the Oregon Cybersecurity Advisory Council and other local government and K-12 stakeholders. The goal is a narrower, voluntary “911-style” notification process that would let public bodies alert peers and potentially receive assistance after cyber incidents; a temporary voluntary process is being tested now, with a work group developing language for possible 2027 consideration. Finally, the committee heard updates from the new state chief data officer on data governance, data sharing, geospatial work, and the state transparency website, followed by a briefing on data centers from NCSL and the Technology Association of Oregon. The data officer described efforts to expand data inventories, data governance plans, data literacy, and interagency sharing, along with statewide aerial imagery, geospatial standards, and the open data portal. The data center discussion focused on national and state trends, including rapid growth in data centers, rising electricity and water demand, and legislative responses such as new rate classes, reporting requirements, and cost-allocation rules to protect ratepayers. No votes were taken; the meeting was informational only.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:43:24.240> This apprenticeship grant program. This apprenticeship grant program.
• kinds of apprenticeship programs? kinds of apprenticeship programs?
• early learning program approved early learning apprenticeship<00:52:47.359> program.
• apprenticeship program. apprenticeship program. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes.
• incentive program.

Bills: SB2024, SB896, SB2613, SB494, SB2391, SB2125, SB2614, SB2615, SB3262, SB3325, SB3118

Keywords: charter schools, public-private partnership, school facilities, education funding, community need, education, capital improvement, reporting, transparency, technical expertise, public school land transfer, Department of Education, DOE, land conveyance, fee simple title, tax map key, TMK, Act 307, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022, Act 139

Transcript Highlights:

• Schedule program.
• or a TK program, or where there is a preschool program on campus, we are supporting those programs as
• And these are not just programs. They are not social media programs.
• Two million annually to support a contract for a program certification consultant to help implement the
• Two million annually to support a contract for a program certification consultant to help implement the

Keywords: 988, house, all

Summary: The hearing focused first on behavioral health, especially hard-to-treat serious mental illness through the lens of anosognosia, and the impact of potential federal Medi-Cal reductions under H.R. 1. A family member, Dawn Marie Anderson, described her son’s long cycle of psychosis, homelessness, arrests, jail-based stabilization, and repeated relapse when treatment ended, arguing that anosognosia is a symptom of illness rather than refusal of care. She and other witnesses urged more consistent, long-term treatment, family involvement, medication support, and stronger county and state coordination. County and provider representatives said the current system still relies too heavily on crisis response and leaves people with serious mental illness falling through gaps between managed care, county specialty care, housing, and justice systems. Testimony from the California Behavioral Health Association, Santa Barbara County Behavioral Health, and the County Behavioral Health Directors Association emphasized that people with anosognosia often cannot self-navigate care, making a “no wrong door” system essential. They said H.R. 1 could destabilize coverage and shift costs to counties, while existing private insurance coverage is inadequate for early psychosis and related services. Witnesses highlighted CalAIM, jail in-reach, assertive community treatment, mobile crisis, supportive housing, and LEAP-style family training as promising tools, but said counties still need more resources and that the state should strengthen both Medi-Cal and private insurance behavioral health coverage. A public commenter from Lake County said private insurers denied most claims, especially for unlicensed staff providing case management and mobile crisis services. The committee then heard an update on the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative, including the virtual services platforms BrightLife Kids and Soluna and the CYBHI fee schedule program. DHCS reported strong growth in app registrations, coaching sessions, referrals, and positive user outcomes, and said the platforms are serving children and youth statewide, including many who had never previously accessed care. For the fee schedule, DHCS said 72% of school districts and 50 of 58 county offices of education are participating across six cohorts, with $9.6 million reimbursed to date and 41,556 students represented in claims. Members pressed the department on the program’s roughly $69.3 million administrative cost, the slow pace of reimbursement relative to the investment, and the late delivery of requested data. DHCS responded that many claims are still being submitted, most denials are correctable, and local implementation is still scaling up through technical assistance and capacity grants.

Transcript Highlights:

• Moving on to HB 2468, relating to internship<00:02:11.960> programs.
• For the house, we internship programs.
• > of<00:05:05.160> available penalties and certification of available penalties and certification
• This is the pilot program design review special fund, with the appropriations.
• This is the pilot program design review special fund, with the appropriations.

Bills: HB2241, HB1163, HB1514, HB1696, HB2021, SB2135, SB2466, SB2727, SB3082, SB3097, SB2861, SCR100, SB3096, SB99, SB2138, HB2289, HB2319, HB1711, HB2270, SB3138, SB3076, HB1642, HB2338, HB2171, HB1785, SB2881, HB2505, SB2552, HB1518, HB1815, SB3125, SB3234, SCR162, SB2614, SB3118, SB2053, SB2494, SB2851, SB3073, HB1678, HB1721, HB2475, HB2246, HB1667, HB1516, SB2532, SB3131, SB3154, HB2297, HB1737, SB2143, SB2398, SB2623, HB1740, HB1920, HB1682, SB2153, SB3140, HB2158, HB1718, HB2207, HB1801, SB3229, SB2338, SB3069, SB2600, HB2300, HB1800, HB1960, SB2999, SB2060, SB2866, SB2239, HB1741, HB1713, HB2023, HB2417, SB2877, SB2598, SB2921, SB2645, HB2547, HB2275, HB2452, HB2329, HB2339, HB1838, HB1509, HB1661, HB2271, HB2272, HB2344, HB1888, HB1707, SB2340, HB2474, HB1576, HB1853, HB1804, HB1854, HB2095, HB2050, HB472, SB3215, SB2247, SB2400, HB1618, HB1802, HB1969, HB1541, HB2310, HB2498, HB2443, HB2218, HB649, HB2104, HB1710, SB2802, HB1973, HB1974, HB1894, HB1891, HB1890, SB177, SB2101, SB3320, SB2487, HB2429, HB1870, HB1839, HB2583, HB1391, HB2094, SB2671, SB2673, SB2892, SB2057, SB3245, HB306, HB2592, SB3157, SB3204, SB3324, SB2580, SB2074, SB411, SB3025, SB2934, SB2567, SB2125, SB3238, SB2367, SB2599, SB3007, SB2001, SB2756, SB3029

Keywords: renewable energy, income tax credit, solar energy, wind energy, low-income households, energy policy, commercial drivers license, non-domiciled, federal regulations, commercial learner's permit, citizenship, lawful residency, Department of Transportation, workers' compensation, vocational rehabilitation, injury recovery, employment services, return to work, commercial driving, driver's license

Transcript Highlights:

• And I'm afraid that people will be dropped from the program who categorically need the program because
• who categorically need the the program who categorically need the program<00:21:33.600> because
• shortening of the SNAP certification shortening of the SNAP certification periods<00:31:28.320><
• , put together good programs, put together good programs, representatives<01:23:38.159> from
• down a pilot program for this in 2023. down a pilot program for this in 2023.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The institutional services assistant will provide support for housing operations, and project program
• The institutional services assistant will provide support for housing operations, and project program
• Item I is a request for continuation of certification differentials for employees at Parks, Heritage,
• and Tourism who have met the certification criteria for wastewater management duties.
• In this request, there were three Commerce program coordinators and a fiscal support supervisor.

Keywords: 1204, all

Summary: The committee reviewed several personnel and appropriation items. Item C, a two-for-two position swap with no increase in total authorized positions and recommended by OPM, was approved. Item D, a Department of Higher Education request for South Arkansas College, added three authorized positions overall, including food service, public safety, housing, and project/program support roles, and was also approved. Item E moved positions and $3 million in salary and match appropriation within Workforce Services to consolidate shared services, with no net change in positions; it was approved as well. The committee then considered Items F through O as continuations of previously approved or reviewed personnel actions into FY27. These included growth and surrender pool positions, various pay differentials, hard-to-fill and on-call differentials, a labor market adjustment for crime lab medical examiners, and continuation of several federal grant-funded positions at Commerce, Emergency Management, State Police, and Military Department. No questions were raised, and the block of continuation items was approved on a single motion. Reports were taken up with no action required and were simply noted as reviewed. On the supplemental agenda, the committee suspended the rules and approved Item A-1, which authorized salary increases for 92 employees whose merit raises would place them over their grade maximums. Senator Dotson asked about the public safety entries on the list, and staff indicated they were likely crime lab medical examiner positions. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• certification and evaluation.
• program as an alternative on-the-job pathway for teachers with a temporary certificate to earn professional
• certification.
• Let's take up Tab 6, SB 1102 on school readiness program by Senator...
• budget so that school readiness program providers who meet minimum program assessment composite scores

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Pre-K-12 Education met and considered a wide range of education-related bills, with most measures receiving favorable reports. Early in the meeting, the committee approved CS/SB 754 on International Baccalaureate bonus funding, CS/SB 1122 on Florida Virtual School updates, and CS/SB 430 requiring public schools to adopt cardiac emergency response plans, train students and staff in CPR/AED use, and maintain accessible AEDs. Testimony on the cardiac bill came from the American Heart Association and the Florida chapter of the American College of Cardiology in support, and the chair noted a survey suggesting many districts already have AEDs in schools. The committee also approved CS/SB 1528 on educational opportunities for military children, which expands coordination and training under the interstate compact, and CS/SB 364, which would move the Council on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys from the Department of Legal Affairs to Florida Memorial University for research and administrative support. The committee then adopted amendments and favorably reported CS/SB 1590 on educator preparation, which modernizes teacher standards and certification pathways, including updates to FEAPs, a revised teacher exam, and an alternative certification program. The SPLC testified in opposition to part of the bill, arguing that language on historical instruction and systemic racism was contradictory and could limit accurate teaching of history. The committee also approved CS/SB 1702 on education, incorporating a wireless-device-in-schools pilot and other education provisions, with support from the Florida Charter School Alliance and others. CS/SB 444 on human trafficking awareness was amended to require no-cost training for school employees and charter schools; FSU law students testified in support, emphasizing the need for school personnel to recognize trafficking indicators. The committee also approved CS/SB 650 on hazardous walking conditions, expanding transportation eligibility for students walking near limited-access facilities, though members noted the bill carried an indeterminate fiscal impact and no dedicated funding. Later, the committee favorably reported CS/SB 1102 on school readiness, which expands how disabilities can be identified for early learning services and ties additional funding to training on early identification of delays. It also approved SB 1382 on access to school readiness programs for economically disadvantaged households, revising eligibility and priority tiers to use state median income rather than federal poverty level and refining the waitlist and forecasting process. Several members recorded votes on bills they had missed during the meeting, and the committee adjourned after reporting all of the above measures favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• program that is currently actually free.
• the program, to participate in the program, and to make it a priority for them to be in the program
• program that is currently actually free.
• know about the program, to participate in the program, and to make it a priority for them to be in the
• program and for the health systems to make it a priority as well.

Bills: HB2050, HB2082, HB2176, HB2195, HB2202, HB2307, HB2584

Keywords: radiologic technologist, radiologist assistant, radiology, imaging, x-ray, diagnostic x-ray, fluoroscopy, mammography, computed tomography, CT technologist, nuclear medicine technologist, bone densitometry, radiation safety, radiation licensing, scope of practice, health workforce, rural health care, critical access hospital, supervision, telehealth

Summary: The committee approved the minutes and then heard House Bill 2050, which updates Department of Health Services rules for radiologic technologists and radiologic assistants. The bill changes school accreditation and training requirements, reduces clinical hours, revises supervision and scope-of-practice rules, adjusts fees, and removes radiologic technologists from the telehealth health care provider definition. Testimony from a radiologic technologist supported the bill as an update to outdated standards and a response to workforce shortages, while a nurse practitioner supported the section allowing NPs to use diagnostic x-ray machines under nursing board standards. HB 2050 passed 7-0 with a do-pass recommendation. The committee then considered House Bill 2082, which creates a Childhood Cancer and Rare Childhood Disease Research Commission and expands the research fund to include appropriations, gifts, donations, and federal grants. An amendment shifted grant-awarding authority to the DHS director, required the commission to set criteria and review applications, and added public meeting requirements; it also tied funding to at least $5 million in available resources and removed the return-on-investment reporting requirement. Supporters said the bill would strengthen pediatric cancer research and leverage an underused funding source, though members raised concerns about oversight. The bill was amended and then passed 7-0. House Bill 2176 and House Bill 2195 both dealt with DHS licensing and complaint-investigation procedures for health care institutions and nursing care institutions. HB 2176 allows DHS to deny licenses or ownership changes based on serious prior licensing problems or safety risks, and it sets notice, investigation, and deficiency-statement rules; speakers from public health and hospital groups supported it as improving transparency and preventing bad actors from cycling through ownership. HB 2195 limits DHS access to certain personnel records, requires deficiency statements within 10 business days, and bars investigations of incidents older than 12 months; an amendment delayed implementation to July 1, 2027 and added corrective-plan and off-site review provisions. Both bills passed 7-0 as amended. The committee also approved House Bill 2202, which appropriates $300,000 annually for a dementia care tele-mentoring program to train providers statewide, especially in rural and underserved areas. The Alzheimer’s Association and a patient with younger-onset Alzheimer’s testified that the program would improve early diagnosis and care, though one senator opposed state funding on the view that medical schools should teach the material. HB 2202 passed 6-1. Finally, House Bill 2307, addressing placement for dangerous, incompetent, non-restorable defendants when secure state hospital beds are unavailable, drew the most debate. An amendment replaced out-of-state placement with a temporary, limited-use solution involving up to three beds at the Arizona State Hospital forensic campus, created a study committee, and shifted some non-psychiatric costs to counties; counties and hospital stakeholders opposed the county-cost language, while sponsors and DHS said the measure was an emergency stopgap. The amended bill passed 4-3. The committee then passed House Bill 2584 4-3, which prohibits public funds from being used for genetic sequencing equipment from foreign adversary countries or entities; supporters framed it as a national security measure, and opponents voted no. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The elderly parole program safely reduced... ...to SB 356.
• of any release program nationwide.
• The elder parole program has sufficient built-in safeguards.
• This program is called the elderly parole program because that's what the science says these people are
• These programs are extremely rigorous. They are structured.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:09:27.800> with have some two plus two programs with have some two plus two programs with
• students graduating from this program students graduating from this program can<00:45:17.960>
• > because<00:57:35.280> we're we take away programs because we're we take away programs
• Minnesota aims to have 70% of adults hold a degree or certificate, and by expanding the program, we can
• certificate and by expanding the program certificate and by expanding the program we<01:23:06.120

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• programming programming at<00:10:16.960> Partners<00:10:17.400> in<00:10:17.480> Development
• So, GM 732, John Kawamura, Board of Certification of Operating Personnel in Wastewater Management.
• Seeing none, the recommendation is adopted for GM 736, Board of Certification of Operating Personnel
• <00:19:14.000> of<00:19:14.200> Operating Board of Certification of Operating Board
• of Certification of Operating Personnel<00:19:15.159> in<00:19:15.240> Wastewater<00:19

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Health and Human Services committee heard and considered several gubernatorial nominations to state boards and councils. The nominees included Jody Hashimoto for the Honolulu County Subarea Health Planning Council (GM 539), Mary Pat Waterhouse for the State Council on Mental Health (GM 556), Shaun Kanani Apuuni for the Juvenile Justice State Advisory Council (GM 564), Chrissy Kiamaluhia Doyle for the Hawaii State LGBTQ+ Commission (GM 732), and John Kawamura for the Board of Certification of Operating Personnel in Wastewater Treatment (GM 736). Each nominee described relevant experience and why they wanted to serve, and supporters from the Department of Health and various community organizations testified in favor of the appointments. Committee members and supporting testimony emphasized the nominees’ experience and the value of their perspectives. Hashimoto was praised for healthcare consulting, management, financial, IT, and organizational expertise; Waterhouse for her lived experience and active service in mental health; Apuuni for juvenile justice policy work and national coalition ties; Doyle for her work in education and community representation; and Kawamura for his long career in wastewater operations and environmental protection. The Department of Health also strongly supported Waterhouse and Kawamura. Because quorum was initially limited, the chair noted that decision-making would occur later in the calendar once more members were present. At the end of the meeting, the committee took up each nomination and adopted the chair’s recommendation to advise and consent on all five measures, with no objections or written reservations noted. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• can increase the funding for programs can increase the funding for programs such<00:46:41.839>
• financial support for crucial programs financial support for crucial programs which<00:47:07.760
• Today, we have with us programming.
• that might include program evaluation to demonstrate program effectiveness so that more programs can
• manager for the PACE program.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all