Transcript Highlights:

• </c> more insight and I'll certainly provide more insight and I'll certainly provide as<00:10:12.920>
• </c> barriers the program would provide barriers the program would provide students<00:32:28.000><c>
• </c><00:36:06.160><c> equable</c> future it will begin providing equable future it will begin providing
• </c><00:48:19.720><c> holistic</c> workforce and providing holistic workforce and providing holistic
• providing history of providing<01:18:18.840><c> law</c><01:18:19.080><c> school</c><01:18:19.320><c>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> particular provider. particular provider.
• </c> relating to publication of provider relating to publication of provider networks<00:05:02.480><c
• in MA to render services while located outside of a clinic, provided that the provider is under the
• </c> Section 2 permits outpatient providers Section 2 permits outpatient providers in<00:09:28.560><c
• </c> non-licensed child care providers. non-licensed child care providers.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Cloud Technical and Community College with a stackable credential and pursue their EMT or paramedic credential
• </c><00:45:34.960><c> emergency</c> ambulance Bay and provide emergency ambulance Bay and provide emergency
• </c><00:45:46.960><c> EMR</c> school district and we are providing EMR school district and we are providing
• </c><00:52:42.359><c> us</c> automation that our CRM has provided us automation that our CRM has provided
• Our CRM provides us with a feedback loop that is invaluable.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Sections 7 and 8 amend the statute providing educational benefits to surviving spouses of a deceased
• Sections 7 and 8 amend the statute providing educational benefits to surviving spouses of a deceased
• Many of these companies use veterans' login credentials for VA websites and call centers.
• Stop requesting login credentials to access a veteran's personal information through secure VA websites
• Thank you. credentials to assess to access a credentials to assess to access a veteran's<00:21:53.840

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Behavioral health providers, inpatient discharge planners, housing providers, MCOs, and young adults
• This program provides critical and stabilizing support for him.
• We represent assisted living and skilled nursing providers.
• We also treat and provide wraparound services to the parents or dyad.
• We also treat and provide wraparound services to the parents or dyad.

Bills: SB5998

Keywords: fiscal appropriations, budget, state funding, financial management, operating expenses, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> made for them to provide that receipt. made for them to provide that receipt. so<00:03:37.680><c
• So we'll continue to look at resources to provide to districts.
• </c> provide those spe specific services. provide those spe specific services. as<00:57:17.440><c> I<
• I'd be happy to provide you that language, hand you my paper.
• I applaud you on your accomplishments and, uh, your credentials.

Bills: HB0023, HB0024, HB0025

Keywords: extracurricular activities, public school participation, enrollment, Wyoming, student access, charter schools, application process, authorizers, public hearing, community support, scholarship, education, eligibility, continuous enrollment, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Before they actually go in and can provide the direct care.
• They provide incredible services in our communities.
• clinicals as well as provide any kind of nursing services in there.
• clinicals as well as provide any kind of nursing services there.
• The board has historically provided examinations in English, Vietnamese, and Spanish, and now also provides

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Please come forward and provide your testimony. We're out of order now.
• Please come forward and provide your testimony. We're out of order now.
• Behavioral health providers, inpatient discharge planners, housing providers, MCOs, and young adults
• This program provides critical and stabilizing support for him.
• We represent assisted living and skilled nursing providers.

Summary: The committee held a public hearing on the Senate operating budget proposal, beginning with a staff briefing from James Kettle. He described the budget as built on relatively flat revenue after multiple forecast updates, with substantial mandatory cost growth, especially in Health Care Authority, DSHS, and DCYF. He highlighted major policy-level additions and savings, including large tort liability costs, continued support for long-term services, reductions tied to child care and K-12 items, several assumed revenue bills, and major transfers from reserves and other accounts. Kettle also noted the four-year outlook remained positive overall, with about $1 billion ending fund balance in the final year and roughly $3 billion in total reserves. A committee member asked about a diagram showing the loss of federal funds, and staff said they would follow up. Public testimony then focused first on K-12 education, where school leaders, teachers, OSPI, PTA, and rural district representatives largely opposed the proposed cuts to local effort assistance, transition to kindergarten, bus depreciation, and related school funding items. Many argued the reductions would disproportionately harm rural and property-poor districts and weaken early learning access, while several students and educators spoke in favor of career and technical education and IT Academy funding. The committee also heard support for wildfire prevention funding from the Commissioner of Public Lands, who thanked the Senate for restoring those dollars but raised concerns about recreation program reductions. Higher education testimony was mixed but generally supportive of the Senate proposal compared with the governor’s budget. Community and technical college leaders warned that the budget still shifts compensation costs to tuition and reduces Running Start funding, while university representatives from Western, Eastern, Central, WSU, and UW thanked the committee for avoiding deeper cuts. Private vocational college students and administrators urged extension of Washington College Grant eligibility for students already enrolled, and others asked to preserve IT Academy and related certification funding. In early learning, child care and advocacy groups praised the decision not to cap Working Connections Child Care but warned that child care and transition to kindergarten still bear a disproportionate share of cuts; they also requested continued support for Dolly Parton Imagination Library and Pierce County early childhood programs, including Family Connects. The hearing continued with testimony on employee compensation, mental health, and human services. State employee and retiree groups supported the budget’s COLA and wildfire funding but objected to cuts in retiree health benefits. Behavioral health and public safety advocates supported mentoring, Trueblood-related funding, crisis stabilization, and the Recovery Navigator Program, while others opposed reductions to those programs and to community-based recovery services. In human services, witnesses thanked the committee for funding victim services, child welfare supports, health homes, adult day care, community health centers, energy assistance, and disability services, while urging the committee to avoid further reductions to skilled nursing, case management, and recovery navigation. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• . providers. providers.
• This change would then allow IRMS teams to have a psychiatric care provider who is credentialed to prescribe
• This change would then allow IRMS teams to have a psychiatric care provider who is credentialed to prescribe
• This change would then allow IRMS teams to have a psychiatric care provider who is credentialed to prescribe
• This change would then allow IRMS teams to have a psychiatric care provider who is credentialed to prescribe

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And I would list all of her credentials and all she has done, but we all know what the challenges of
• Tomorrow morning at 9 o'clock, Hearing Room 6, donuts are provided. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
• Tomorrow mornings at 9 o'clock, hearing room 6, donuts are provided. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the providers are adequately credentialed to bill Medicaid.
• and uh ensuring um that the credentiing and uh ensuring um that the providers<00:42:05.599><c> are</
• c><00:42:06.240><c> adequately</c><00:42:07.040><c> credentialed</c><00:42:07.760><c> to</c> providers
• are adequately credentialed to providers are adequately credentialed to bill<00:42:08.960><c> Medicaid
• So, it's just nine small providers. providers. providers.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes and then approved an agency amendment to a health and family services regulation. The amendment reversed a prior change so that neonatal ICU beds would remain subject to regular review rather than nonsubstantive review. The remaining administrative regulations were then reviewed without objection. The main presentation was from State Auditor Allison Ball on a report finding $836 million in concurrent Medicaid capitation payments from 2019 through 2022, involving individuals enrolled in Kentucky and at least one other state. Ball said Kentucky relied on the PARIS system, which has limitations because it is updated quarterly and depends on voluntary state participation, while a better federal data source, T-MSIS, was not fully available to the state. She said the audit found weak internal controls, siloed processes, outdated guidance, and a low-priority attitude toward residency checks, all of which contributed to missed alerts and improper payments. She also said the report identified additional problems, including payments made after beneficiaries died and cases involving multiple states paying for the same person. Ball recommended better access to federal data, stronger MCO contract provisions, and more active oversight by the Department for Medicaid Services and managed care organizations. She said the contracts reviewed did not provide a clear way to recoup the improper payments, though she and her counsel suggested possible equitable legal theories might be explored. Members expressed concern about the scale of the waste and the lack of contract enforcement, and asked whether any money could be recovered. Ball said the audit did not identify a clear contractual path to recoup the funds.

Transcript Highlights:

• Ascensus is our program manager, and Vanguard provides investment management for everything except The
• Ascensus is our program manager, and Vanguard provides investment management for everything except the
• Employers are finding that providing these benefits are very good tools in helping recruit and retain
• As previously mentioned, nationally H.R. 1 expanded 529s to professional credentials and expanded K through

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The Senate Education Committee approved minutes from January 28, January 29, and February 2, 2026, each by motion and voice vote. The committee then considered RS 33-246, relating to pending and temporary rules from the State Board of Education’s Division of Career Technical Education, and voted to print the RS. The main presentation was an update on the Ideal Idaho College Savings Program (529 plan) from Executive Director Don Hall. He described the program’s structure, tax advantages, investment options, and expanded allowable uses, including K-12 expenses, trade schools, apprenticeships, student loan repayment, and professional certifications. He also highlighted program growth in 2025, increased participation across the state, partnerships with Idaho colleges for matching programs, and employer participation through payroll direct deposit and a tax credit for employer contributions. Committee members asked about whether state tax credits could be combined with 529 deductions, and staff agreed to verify the answer and report back. Members also asked how the program is being promoted; Hall said outreach includes social media, broadcasters, sports sponsorships, libraries, newsletters, and chambers of commerce, and a senator suggested using children’s fairs as another outreach venue. The meeting ended with no further action beyond the approved minutes and the printed RS, and the committee adjourned until the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• We will provide an opportunity for public comment before any votes are taken, generally following the
• CDFA and NASS work together to provide relevant, accurate, and unbiased...
• Providing health care for Californians here in California and the impact of H.R. 1.
• So we're hoping that the subcommittee and the Legislature can provide that funding. Thank you.
• So we're hoping that the subcommittee and the Legislature can provide that funding. Thank you.

Summary: The subcommittee heard May Revision proposals from the Department of Food and Agriculture, the Government Operations Agency, the Department of Technology, and the Franchise Tax Board, with public comment to come later and all items held open. CDFA presented funding for the animal care program implementing Proposition 12, including a one-time $5.2 million General Fund transfer to the Ag Fund and $2.8 million ongoing, and the LAO recommended approval while noting the Legislature should revisit the funding once litigation and federal preemption questions are resolved. CDFA also proposed ending state oversight of industrial hemp and moving to the federal USDA program by January 1, 2028, with an $8.3 million General Fund transfer to cover startup and transition costs; the LAO supported the transition. Additional CDFA items included $204,000 ongoing and one position to preserve agricultural statistics reporting after USDA reorganization, and trailer bill changes to clarify the department’s 5% indirect cost cap; both drew no objections from Finance or LAO. The Government Operations Agency and Cradle to Career items focused on implementing the new federal Workforce Pell program. Finance described trailer bill language establishing state eligibility processes, with the California Student Aid Commission as the authorizing entity in consultation with the Workforce Development Board, and proposed $1.3 million one-time General Fund for Cradle to Career to build data linkages. The LAO urged caution because federal rules were just finalized and said more information was needed on workload, costs, and whether existing data systems could support the work. Senators raised policy concerns about limiting the program to public institutions and about aligning the proposal with broader workforce and labor goals. The committee also briefly discussed SB 53/Cal Compute, with GovOps saying no appropriation had been provided for its consortium work, and Finance saying the administration was not proposing funding at this time. The Department of Technology presented a $30 million operational backstop for the Middle Mile Broadband Initiative, intended to cover any shortfall if expected revenues from the Golden State Net third-party administrator do not materialize in time. The LAO initially recommended rejection over broad spending authority, then suggested amendments with stronger reporting and legislative review; committee members questioned the revenue assumptions, oversight, and whether the request could recur. CDT also sought $1 million for Poppy, the state’s GenAI digital assistant, to expand secure statewide use; the LAO had no concerns, and members asked about data security, model bias, training restrictions, and possible local-government use. Finally, FTB proposed realigning CalFile resources after the federal Direct File program was discontinued, retaining three ongoing positions and returning the rest of the funding and positions to the General Fund; the LAO said the reduced scope was reasonable, and members discussed keeping the free filing system user-friendly and ready for future federal changes. The committee also heard the administration’s digital pre-written software tax proposal, which would extend sales tax to electronically delivered software and SaaS beginning January 1, 2027, generating an estimated $450 million General Fund in 2026-27 and $900 million ongoing, plus local revenue. The LAO supported modernizing the tax base but recommended broadening the proposal to include more digital products while considering a business-use exemption or reduced rate, and flagged a newly added video game exemption as a revenue downside. Senators generally supported the goal of raising revenue and aligning California with other states, but questioned the local revenue distribution and equity effects, and one senator said they would not support expanding the tax to books, music streaming, and similar consumer products. All items were left open without votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• The money that the state is providing is seeding a program that's going to provide economic development
• Provided housing. And that's key. I want to say this delicately.
• What they can provide is expertise in very niche areas.
• The infrastructure you guys have provided us to do that.
• the rest of the services that we provide.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• 2009, with the vision of making Texas a version of the Military Academy, the program was designed to provide
• shifting the focus to workplace skills, bills, and experience rather than exams or state-specified credentials
• In this instance, the federal law provided more benefits and more efficiency and ease to the service
• You've left an important document out; you need to provide this to us."
• The agency to provide that.

Bills: HB102, HB300, SB2255, HB102, HB300

Keywords: military education, early registration, ROTC, corps of cadets, higher education, military academy, scholarship, military, Texas Armed Services, military spouses, occupational licensing, state agency, license requirements, reciprocity, training and education, debt obligation, voter information, ballot, elections, transparency

Transcript Highlights:

• She's an excellent provider.
• </c> that's provided by the hospitals. that's provided by the hospitals.
• </c> That would provide economic development. That would provide economic development.
• </c> GAP funding has been um provided. GAP funding has been um provided.
• </c> and it provides some type of liability. and it provides some type of liability.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so that's provided a humongous benefit for us and for those students.
• for the student who's providing the service, as well as the student who can...
• And so the individuals did not have someone who was credentialed to serve as a mentor.
• We already provide that students have six career exposure activities.
• And it just says Louisiana Workforce Commission should provide the districts.

Summary: The House Education Committee met on March 18, 2026, with 11 members present and adopted prior meeting minutes without objection. The committee first heard HB 649 by Rep. Brass, which would create a statewide common application portal for dual enrollment. Supporters from the Pelican Institute and the Board of Regents said the bill would simplify enrollment, reduce paperwork for counselors and families, and improve awareness of dual enrollment options. Members asked about nonparticipation by institutions and access for nontraditional students; the bill was reported favorably without objection. The committee then took up HB 807 by Rep. Brass, which would establish the Workforce Instructor Capacity Investment Program within LCTCS to help recruit and retain instructors for high-demand workforce programs. Testimony from River Parishes Community College, Dow, and the Louisiana Chemical Association described instructor shortages as a bottleneck for training workers for major industrial projects, and said employer-sharing models and apprenticeships have been successful. An amendment expanded eligibility to include LSU Eunice and Southern University at Shreveport, and the committee adopted the amendments. After debate about whether the state needed a new fund versus using existing systems, the bill was reported favorably by a 13-1 roll call vote. Next, the committee heard HB 285 by Chairman Bacala, which authorizes school boards to cooperate with banks and credit unions to operate branches in high schools as part of financial literacy programs. Bacala said the bill clarifies statutory authority, and an amendment added banks to the original credit union language. Members discussed ethics, exclusivity, student access, and whether the branches could market products; supporters from LABI and financial industry groups said the programs improve hands-on financial education. The bill was reported with amendments without objection. The committee also considered HB 28 by Rep. Owen, which adds a BESE-level appeal for certain teacher certification applicants affected by administrative or contractor errors. Owen described a case in which applicants paid for certification programs but were denied because of a mentor-signature issue, and said the amendment would require BESE or its designee to act within 30 days. Department of Education staff said the Teacher Certification Appeals Council had already granted extensions rather than outright denials in the affected cases, but the committee advanced the bill after a 9-4 roll call vote. Finally, the committee began HB 268 by Rep. Carver, which would strengthen career exposure requirements for students by tying activities more closely to high-wage, high-demand jobs and adding an annual exposure requirement in K-5; testimony emphasized early workforce awareness, and discussion focused on keeping the requirements manageable for schools.

Transcript Highlights:

• It provides an exception. In the statute. Let me find the words here.
• She You, you'll have to register to provide testimony. Anyone else? OK.
• So if you want to see that, I'm happy to provide that. And I have this.
• I have witnesses here that'll provide more information.
• We work in collaboration, provide oversight with over 60 Alliance partners providing needed programming

Bills: HB163, HB 296

Keywords: judicial liability, personal bond, felony offenses, judges, criminal justice reform, voter registration, election procedures, change of address, residence requirements, Texas Election Code, Texas election law, residence address, precinct voting, county move, same-county move, Election Code, registrar, statement of residence, polling place, local elections

Transcript Highlights:

• continue to provide to help providers continue to provide service<00:30:02.399><c> and</c><00:30:02.559
• What happens to that provider provider provider &gt;&gt; commissioner?
• > services</c> providers who've been providing services providers who've been providing services for<
• I've provided provider in Wright County.
• So, I had to call the provider<01:35:15.760><c> helpline</c> provider helpline provider helpline to<01

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:08:57.640><c> so</c> do but they don't have a credential so do but they don't have a credential
• It provides that opportunity for both the district, the students, and the educators.
• </c><01:20:32.600><c> that</c> call substitute teacher uh provides that call substitute teacher uh provides
• What it does provide is it provides paraprofessionals the opportunity to go and become a short-call sub
• ><01:57:03.320><c> professionals</c> provide is it provides PA professionals provide is it provides PA

Keywords: 1187, senate, all