Transcript Highlights:

• 51.360><c> water</c> water issues in the future with water water issues in the future with water treatment
• really as well as distribution treatment really as well as distribution and<00:20:54.320><c> we</c><
• </c><00:21:00.240><c> options</c> assets uh where our treatment options assets uh where our treatment
• generation where water purification next generation where water purification uh<00:21:40.799><c> treatment
• is is a lot more difficult uh treatment is is a lot more difficult than<00:21:43.039><c> it</c><00:21

Summary: The committee heard testimony from Michael McCurley, president of Zo Education and a senior vice president with Zo Group, about the company’s role in providing broadband and managed network services to Kentucky schools. He said Zo Education serves all Kentucky K-12 public school districts in partnership with the Kentucky Department of Education, offering more bandwidth at lower cost than the prior provider and also providing cybersecurity and network protection. He emphasized that reliable connectivity is essential for instruction, testing, remote coursework, and school administration. McCurley also addressed the ongoing contract dispute involving the Kentucky Communications Network Authority and Open Fiber Silicom, saying Zo Education is not a party to the litigation but is concerned about possible disruption to schools and students. In response to committee questions, he said the company incurred unexpected costs when it had to reroute connections and build alternate network paths, including one school move that cost more than $50,000 to serve a site generating under $2,000 per month. He said outages and incidents are more frequent when Kentucky Wired access is unavailable, and that Zo could not have bid at its current price without access to Kentucky Wired. Committee members discussed the broader implications of the dispute and the state’s broadband structure. Senator Williams said the committee’s priority is avoiding disruption to students and noted concerns about infrastructure purchases and upgrades tied to the network, saying he had not seen clear contractual support for some of the expenditures. He also referenced a future audit and said the committee should preserve options and taxpayer funds. The committee then reviewed its report to LRC, including changes related to infrastructure purchases and water asset management technology, and agreed to submit the report without a committee vote. The chair announced the next meeting would be in January, with no December meeting scheduled, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• You have to keep in mind, if we don't have the money for probation officers or treatments, you have people
• And yet, we still push this forward, so how are we supposed to take care of those that need treatment
• Also, it lacks no new funding for probation departments to supervise and connect individuals to treatment
• provide support for community level interventions, house arrest and county jail, and in custody treatment
• So we're telling all of our constituents who aren't independently wealthy enough to afford treatment.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so that is the first item accessing federal funds for PFAS treatment.
• Funds for lake treatments and inspections have proven beneficial, but many concerned residents noted
• An ounce of AIS prevention is worth a pound of lake treatment down the line.
• These are provisions from the MPCA addressing notice requirements for wastewater treatment plants and
• So section one applies only to municipal water treatment facilities or publicly owned treatment works

Bills: HF1587 , HF2293 , HF2218 , HF1208 , HF1482

Committee: House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• of jurisdiction for the purposes of filing an application for court-ordered... ...mental health treatment
• An OPC is a court order that often precedes court-ordered mental health treatment.
• If the hospital finds that the patient needs court-ordered treatment in their mental health unit, then
• In these cases, ...a judge must determine whether the patient can be legally held for treatment while
• This delays critical treatments and strains already limited resources.

Bills: HB 1239 , HB1990 , HB1748 , HB1749 , HB2578 , HB2986 , HB1970 , HB3163 , HB2733 , HB1922 , HB 113 , HB 1088 , HB1938 , HB3004 , HB2637 , HB2960 , HB113

Committee: House Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Transcript Highlights:

• I helped him navigate the house, as well as experimental chemo treatments, while the cancer metastasized
• That's sort of the setup we see in the addiction treatment space.
• We operate substance use treatment.
• Facilities and mental health treatment, as well as our detox, certainly sympathize with the challenges
• That's a pretty big gap there in the amount, but still, um, much less than the treatment of STIs and

Committee: House House Health & Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• The rule says that if the division finds as a result of the postponement of the pesticide treatment that
• pesticide</c> that they need to postpone the pesticide that they need to postpone the pesticide treatment
• and in that case the applicant treatment and in that case the applicant must<00:06:52.039><c> notify
• ><c> adverse</c><00:07:01.840><c> effects</c><00:07:02.160><c> on</c><00:07:02.400><c> human</c> treatment
• that adverse effects on human treatment that adverse effects on human health<00:07:03.039><c> and</c

Summary: The committee first approved the prior meeting minutes and adopted the consent calendar without changes. It then took up several administrative rules, beginning with the Missing Adult Program and Missing Vulnerable Adult Alert Program rules (Item 144), which were adopted after the department explained the delay in implementation was due to staffing problems and COVID-related disruptions. The committee then reviewed the Pesticide Control Board’s aquatic pesticide application rules (Item 146), where staff raised a substantive concern that the rule did not clearly explain how the division would reconsider a special permit if treatment were postponed and adverse effects were likely. The agency agreed to consider revisions, and the item was postponed to the March meeting. The Board of Mental Health Practice item was also postponed to April with a waiver of the committee deadline, after OPLC requested more time for a conditional approval request; one member noted concern that the board was not meeting frequently enough. The Department of Revenue Administration’s business profits tax rule (Item 164) was postponed to March as well, after staff said the agency needed to incorporate supporting schedules into the rule text to address a legislative intent issue. The Department of Health and Human Services’ Lead Poisoning Prevention and Control rule was postponed at a member’s request so concerns about dates, requirements, and impacts on businesses could be reviewed against the statute, though the department noted it had already sought stakeholder input multiple times with no response. The committee then approved the Farmers Market Nutrition Program for Women and Children rule (Item 236), which implements a program created in 2023. Staff noted the rulemaking was delayed for nearly two years and pointed out that dried herbs, herb plants, and pickled vegetables are excluded under the state plan; department staff said the delay stemmed from staffing changes and a lengthy contracting process. Members briefly discussed the program’s benefits and the exclusion of herb plants, but the rule was adopted. Finally, the Board of Natural Scientists item was postponed to March with a waiver so OPLC and the board could work on a conditional approval request, and the Board of Psychologists temporary license rule received a preliminary objection because a newly added emergency-practice provision had not been properly noticed for public comment. The committee adjourned after noting the Dental Board matter remained unresolved and was still expected back in April.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill will help shorten the time it takes to receive treatment.
• By not having to travel for treatment, By not having to travel for treatment, residents<00:37:06.960>
• this treatment for more than<01:03:08.400><c> two</c><01:03:08.640><c> decades.
• </c> course of treatment. course of treatment.
• We finally and getting treatment for it.

Transcript Highlights:

• programs receive a smooth or treatment programs receive a smooth transition<00:15:50.319><c> back</c
• There are simply not enough inpatient mental health treatment facilities for youth in Minnesota.
• inpatient and treatment including inpatient and residential<00:19:51.080><c> treatment</c><00:19:51.679
• ><c> options</c> residential treatment options residential treatment options teletherapy<00:19:53.600
• </c><01:15:12.880><c> um</c><01:15:13.080><c> partial</c> inpatient treatment um partial inpatient treatment

Committee: Senate Education Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• an issue, which, you know, which... ...which standard of care were they falling under with that treatment
• vitamins, minerals, herb therapies, therapeutic exercise, medicine, decompression, and among other treatments
• I also cannot submit claims to my insurance company for that treatment.
• I also cannot, you know, cannot submit claims to my insurance company for that treatment.

Committee: Senate Health and Welfare

Transcript Highlights:

• So why are we identifying children early, but allowing health plans to shift the cost of treatment to
• One of the first pictures my mom... ...plans to shift the cost of treatment to taxpayers.
• , including screening, evaluation, and treatment.
• I think AB 432 would have removed that requirement for treatment of certain symptoms.
• options, including innovative new treatments that might not otherwise be covered by insurance.

Summary: The hearing began with a stakeholder presentation from Let California Kids Hear urging coverage of pediatric hearing aids for children in the large group market. Advocates described the issue as a long-running developmental emergency, argued that existing state efforts have been inefficient, and said the new proposal would cover about 70% to 80% of affected children without new spending by redirecting existing dollars. Public commenters, including parents, audiologists, and children’s advocates, strongly supported the proposal and emphasized the need for timely access to sound. The chair thanked the group and noted hope for a future fix, including continued work on the exchange market. The Department of Finance then gave a broad budget warning about the state’s more than $20 billion structural deficit and said new investments must be weighed against out-year shortfalls. HCAI followed with an overview of its programs, including CalRx insulin and naloxone, reproductive health grants, the Office of Health Care Affordability, seismic hospital compliance, workforce programs, and the Data Exchange Framework. Members asked about geographic targeting of workforce funds, behavioral health pipeline programs, the status of the 21st Century Nursing Initiative, and future CalRx products such as EpiPens and GLP-1s. HCAI also described its enforcement approach for health care spending targets, saying the board would not change the targets in response to H.R. 1, and outlined the diaper access initiative, which will distribute diapers through hospitals in higher-need areas. Several HCAI budget items were discussed and held open, including additional expenditure authority, the transfer of the Data Exchange Framework and Office of the Patient Advocate, long-term care payment transparency staffing, and reporting on health care worker waiting periods. The department also presented its Behavioral Health Services Act workforce initiative and a proposed $100 million General Fund offset, which both the LAO and the chair questioned as unclear and potentially one-time in nature. HCAI said the final workforce plan would be adjusted after stakeholder consultation if the offset proceeds. The department also described the Rural Health Transformation Program, saying California received $233.6 million in federal funds, had to revise its proposal to satisfy CMS, and must obligate the money by October 30; the program will fund rural care models, workforce development, and technology, with grants rolled out on a phased basis. The Department of Managed Health Care then presented its budget and three legislative implementation requests: SB 41 on PBM reform, SB 306 on prior authorization transparency, and AB 1041 on provider credentialing timelines. Finally, the administration outlined a menopause care proposal requiring coverage and education for menopause-related services, provider training, and an outreach campaign, with DMHC requesting staffing and funding to implement and enforce the new requirements. Throughout the hearing, most items were held open for later action, and no final votes were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm here today because wastewater treatment facilities across Minnesota contain a significant, largely
• facilities to serve as the treatment facilities to serve as the primary<00:39:43.680><c> energy</c><
• I'm here today because<00:40:42.880><c> wastewater</c><00:40:43.320><c> treatment</c><00:40:43.600><c
• > facilities</c> because wastewater treatment facilities because wastewater treatment facilities across
• facilities, some of which may treatment facilities, some of which may provide<00:41:20.080><c> real<

Bills: HF4560 , HF4559 , HF2317 , HF3179 , HF4880 , HF2862 , HF4374

Committee: House Energy Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• authorizes physician associates, occupational therapists, and APRNs to practice dry needling, a treatment
• During dry needling treatments, a health care provider inserts a thin needle under the skin to stimulate
• It is a complementary and alternative medicine treatment option that should be widely available, as it
• But again, But again, as was mentioned before, it does allow APRNs to order this treatment, which they
• Basically, we're looking for options for always looking for timely and evidence-based treatments for

Bills: HB359 , HB385 , HB165

Committee: Senate Health & Social Services

Summary: The Senate Health and Social Services Committee met with a quorum, approved the minutes from the prior two meetings, and briefly acknowledged the tragedy at Christiana Care before moving to legislation. The committee heard House Bill 385, which creates a statewide nurse preceptor grant program to expand clinical training placements for nursing students; testimony from nursing organizations, health care associations, and educators emphasized workforce shortages, the need for preceptor stipends and training, and the bill’s potential to help students complete programs and remain in Delaware. Members asked about eligibility and reporting, and several senators asked to be added as co-sponsors. Public comment was uniformly supportive, and the bill was advanced out of committee. The committee then considered House Bill 424, which repeals Delaware’s Autism Surveillance and Registration Program and requires DHSS to expunge protected health information collected through the registry. The sponsor and DHSS said the registry is no longer used for research or policy development and that repeal would reduce outdated reporting burdens; Autism Delaware, the Delaware Health Care Association, and the State Council for Persons with Disabilities support the change. A committee member raised the question of whether families would be notified before records are expunged, and DHSS said that process was not yet clear and would need further verification. Members discussed the issue, and the bill also moved forward. House Bill 419 was next, making children in foster care automatically eligible for the Purchase of Care child care subsidy and extending the same treatment to certain kinship and safety-plan placements through House Amendment 1. The Children’s Department and advocacy groups said the bill would provide immediate stability for children and caregivers, reduce delays from applications and income verification, and support working foster and kinship families. The committee also heard House Bill 359, which would allow cremation as an option for unclaimed and indigent remains when there is no family objection or next of kin cannot be found, addressing a shortage of burial plots and lowering costs; funeral industry testimony focused on preserving next-of-kin rights. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 475, creating a Delaware Nursing Advancement Fund financed by a $10 surcharge on nursing licenses and disciplinary fines to support workforce data collection and analysis through a nonprofit partner, and House Bill 165, authorizing physician associates, occupational therapists, and APRNs to perform dry needling under training and practice standards set by the Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline. All of the bills received supportive testimony, several members added their names as co-sponsors, and the committee adjourned after moving through the agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• Court, Family Court Services Fund, an increased appropriation of $400,000 in the Substance Abuse Treatment
• Court, Mental Health Court, Family Court Services Fund, $400,000 one time from the Substance Abuse Treatment
• Court Services Fund, $400,000 one time from the Substance Abuse Treatment Fund, and $2 million ongoing
• about that peer support program and the evidence-based model that they used in helping in those treatment
• do that in the future and another budget potentially, but I know that's going to be hard for the treatment

Summary: The Senate Finance and House Appropriations Committee considered several FY 2027 budget items, beginning with the Idaho Judicial Branch. The committee approved an additional $3.9007 million from dedicated funds for court operations, including $800,700 from the Senior Magistrate Judge Fund, $700,000 from the Drug Court/Mental Health Court/Family Court Services Fund, $400,000 from the Substance Abuse Treatment Fund, and $2 million ongoing from the Court Technology Fund. Members noted the technology fund had grown enough to sustain the ongoing transfer, while Senator Wintrow remarked that funding for a treatment-court peer support program had not been restored. The motion passed with a do-pass recommendation. The committee then approved a Guardian Ad Litem Division budget increase of $165,300 in general funds, including $77,900 ongoing for the Second Judicial District CASA program and $87,400 to restore a one-time FY 2027 rescission. Supporters described the CASA request as funding a trainer-recruiter position and related office costs, and several members spoke favorably about the role of guardian ad litems. The motion passed, also with a do-pass recommendation. Members next took up the Millennium Income Fund. They approved $9,872,200 from the fund for recommendations including the Idaho Children’s Trust Fund, Youth Assessment Centers, children’s advocacy centers through the Idaho Domestic Violence Council, an additional recovery center in Kamiah, and a statewide drug awareness media campaign. A substitute motion added $30,000 one time to restore funding for statewide training and coordination of school resource officers, which passed after discussion about whether the Millennium Fund committee had been consulted. The committee then adopted maintenance and new language for the Millennium Fund items, including reporting and oversight provisions, and later adopted language for reappropriating unspent state archives move funds for the Idaho State Historical Society. Finally, the committee approved the Idaho State Historical Society budget, adding $486,300 from dedicated funds for archival moving and OITS hardware. Members explained the move would be handled in phases and funded through dedicated sources rather than general funds. The committee also adopted statewide appropriations language making conditions, limitations, and restrictions in budget bills binding law, and adjourned after announcing the next day’s agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• involuntary commitment petitions, to provide a declaration in support of an assisted outpatient treatment
• 47 in the state of Washington, have the opportunity to submit and sign a petition for involuntary treatment
• and assisted outpatient treatment for individuals to get more access to treatment and to follow the
• The legislation does not change the way that a final decision is made about assisted outpatient treatment
• or involuntary treatment at the end, but it is just about opening up that possibility for individuals

Bills: HB2548 , HB2453 , HB2640 , HB2095 , HB2386 , HB2239

Committee: House Civil Rights & Judiciary

Keywords: health care market standards, hospital consolidation, merger review, health care transaction notice, attorney general review, antitrust, provider organizations, hospital systems, contracting affiliation, material change, nonprofit conversion, for-profit conversion, health care acquisition, asset sale, Washington RCW, health care competition, price transparency, market oversight, premerger notification, antitrust revolving fund

Transcript Highlights:

• Substance abuse treatment records are covered by 42 Cfr.
• These protections ensure individuals are not deterred from seeking treatment, but they present roadblocks
• Then those provided by HIPPA, for example, HIPPA permits disclosures without consent for treatment payment
• that can authorize all future uses and disclosures of their part to records for the purposes of treatment
• Substance use treatment confidentiality for 42 Cfr part 2.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:11:37.120><c> centers</c> would allow alternate treatment centers would allow alternate treatment
• Thank you. the Marramac Wastewater Treatment Plant the Marramac Wastewater Treatment Plant about<00:16
• </c><02:58:31.200><c> And</c> treatment centers here in the state.
• And treatment centers here in the state.
• </c><03:04:08.640><c> they're</c> functioning, the treatment they're functioning, the treatment they're

Summary: The Finance Committee met on October 30 to act on a series of bills that had been considered during the budget process, with many being recommended for inexpedient to legislate because their funding or policy language had already been handled in House Bill 2. Early actions were largely unanimous. House Bill 54, allowing alternate treatment centers to operate for profit, was recommended ought to pass and was approved 25-0, then placed on the consent calendar because it carried no appropriation. House Bill 97, a wastewater and infrastructure appropriation, was recommended inexpedient to legislate because its funding had been replaced in HB 2; Representative Rum opposed the motion and argued the grant funding helps local taxpayers and housing development, but the committee adopted ITL 14-11, with a minority report to follow. House Bill 111, dealing with the right-to-know ombudsman, was also unanimously recommended ITL because the budget had already made related reforms. The committee then took up House Bill 164, and adopted Amendment 225-2979H, which appropriates $150,000 in FY 2027 to the Secretary of State’s Division of Archives and Records Management for a local government records manager position. The amended bill was then recommended ought to pass as amended and approved 25-0. House Bill 197, the Property Tax Relief Act, drew the most extended debate. Supporters said it would restore a state contribution to retirement costs for local employers and provide property tax relief, while opponents argued the earlier change was largely offset by employee contribution increases and other retirement-system adjustments. The committee ultimately adopted ITL 14-11, and a minority report was requested. The committee also acted on House Bill 215, a landfill-related bill. Members explained that most of its language had been included in HB 2 but was removed in conference, so the bill was retained and amended to apply more narrowly to new landfills. Amendment 2025-2970H was adopted unanimously, and the bill was then recommended ought to pass as amended by a 25-0 vote. House Bill 216, which would change retirement eligibility rules for certain workers injured on the job, was recommended inexpedient to legislate after its sponsor said the fiscal impact was too uncertain to support. Finally, House Bill 219 received Amendment 2025-2988H to change its effective date to July 1, 2027, and discussion began on the bill’s broader purpose of returning about $5.7 million annually from RPS funds to ratepayers.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:06:15.360><c> and</c> hospital medication treatment and hospital medication treatment and billing
• ,</c><00:06:41.039><c> the</c> condition of the of treatment, the condition of the of treatment, the
• </c> determine what the treatment order is. determine what the treatment order is.
• Um, 95% have no treatment at all. 95% of rare diseases have no treatment.
• ,</c> care and not lead to delayed treatments, care and not lead to delayed treatments, poorer<02:03:

Committee: House Commerce and Consumer Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• Third reading of the bill: An act relative to wastewater treatment and disposal in the town of Sandwich
• An act relative to wastewater treatment and disposal in the town of Sandwich, House No. 1073.
• An act relative to wastewater treatment and disposal. an act relative to wastewater treatment and disposal

Summary: The House opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and adopted two ceremonial resolutions: one commemorating the 111th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide and another honoring the Veterans Brotherhood VMC, Massachusetts chapter for its service to veterans. The Committee on Steering, Policy and Scheduling then reported several local bills for consideration, including measures on recall elections in Rutland, oversight of the Boston Finance Commission, manufactured housing payments in Attleboro, validation of Stow proceedings, public meeting notices in Uxbridge, firefighter appointment age limits in Westfield, and special police appointments in Norwood. These bills were read a second time and ordered to a third reading without objection. The House then took up several local bills on third reading and passed them to be engrossed, including bills concerning wastewater treatment in Sandwich, preliminary elections in Longmeadow, additional liquor licenses in Southbridge, and an additional liquor license in Salem. The chamber also welcomed guests of Representative Sylvia of Fall River, including election officials from Fall River and Freetown, and briefly recessed subject to the call of the Chair. The major statewide item was House No. 5350, an act modernizing the Commonwealth’s cannabis laws. Because it required a separate constitutional vote on the emergency preamble, members voted by division and the preamble was adopted by a 3-0 tally. The bill then passed to be enacted. The House adopted the order to meet again Monday at 11 a.m. and adjourned accordingly.

Transcript Highlights:

• Of times the person was maybe touched in the course of treatment.
• It doesn't matter how many providers participated in the course of treatment, and it focuses instead
• That's all part of the course of treatment, and there might be maybe multiple errors.
• Anyone who's received medical treatment has gotten what is the bill.
• So if someone has to receive treatment going forward, they submit their bills to the fund.

Committee: House House Health & Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• facility services for children treatment facility services for children and<01:01:28.319><c> young</
• A psychiatric residential<01:33:52.960><c> treatment</c><01:33:53.199><c> facility</c><01:33:53.600><
• c> working</c> residential treatment facility working residential treatment facility working group<01
• This enables timely treatment and allows for coordinated care.
• This enables timely treatment and team.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services