Video & Transcript : 'treating physician' :
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MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House DFL Press Conference 2/4/26
Transcript Highlights:
- we do not appreciate is the intimidation that HHS and the federal government are placing on our physicians
- We also do not accept that this pause in care represents what those physicians or we as parents know
- And the physicians who the federal government is attacking for providing this health care are the same
- physicians families trust every day all across the state to treat other pediatric hormonal conditions
- The physicians are not dangerous.
Summary:
State lawmakers, the attorney general, advocates, and parents held a press event responding to Children’s Minnesota’s announcement that it would pause some gender-affirming care for minors. Speakers, including Rep. Lee Finke, Hannah Edwards of Transforming Families Minnesota, and Jess Braverman of Gender Justice, said the pause was driven by federal pressure and threats from the Trump administration and HHS, not by medical best practice. They emphasized that gender-affirming care remains legal in Minnesota under the state’s Human Rights Act, Trans Refuge law, and insurance protections, and argued that interrupting care harms trans youth and families, especially those who moved to Minnesota for protection.
Testimony focused on the emotional and practical impact on families: loss of trust in providers, delays in treatment, travel and intake wait times, and the stress of having to scramble for continuity of care. Speakers described the care as evidence-based, medically necessary, and life-saving, and said the federal government was using coercion and misinformation to intimidate hospitals and doctors. The attorney general said his office and coalition partners are litigating related federal threats, including a separate RFK Jr. declaration and proposed federal rules, and that Minnesota officials are working to preserve access and enforce state protections.
In response to questions, speakers said the state’s legal tools are strong but limited against federal action, so they are relying on court challenges and enforcement of existing state law. They said Children’s Minnesota had been specifically targeted by federal officials and that the hospital’s pause was tied to that pressure. No votes were taken; the event ended with a call for continued public and institutional support for trans youth and for Children’s to resume care as soon as possible.
AL
Alabama 2025 Regular Session
Alabama Joint Legislative Budget Hearings (PM) Feb 6th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- The Children's Service pilot project is focused on preventing, identifying, and treating trauma-based
- You get him in the hospital, and you realize that some physician has prescribed 130 pills a month to
- But in the budget, you know, we've got increases for Physician Services of 37.9 million.
- Physician Services, 37.9 million. Could you explain that?
- health, and other services. nursing home, pharmacy, physicians, mental health, and alternative care,
FL
Florida 2026 5th Special Session
FL House Floor Session - 2026-02-04 (4:00PM Session)
Florida House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- the dignity and respect that we ourselves would want to be treated with.
- one another with the dignity and respect that we ourselves would want to be treated with.
- Under the current laws, we are told this is comparable to nurse practitioners or physician assistants
- If a person affirmatively says that because parent and guardian is treated differently when it comes
- So if a person just says that, you know, it's treated differently when it comes to privilege, so if a
Summary:
The House convened with prayer, a moment of silence for former Washington County administrator Alan Massey, and the Pledge of Allegiance, then adopted the special order report setting the day’s floor calendar. The chamber also approved the journal and moved into special-order bills. Early action included unanimous passage of CS/HB 967, which creates an electronic payment option for constituents dealing with local governments, and HB 127, which adds cursive writing to required instruction for grades 2 through 5; supporters framed both bills as modernizing basic public services and preserving literacy and heritage. HB 453 also passed unanimously, creating pathways for students in Special Olympics and marching band to satisfy physical education and arts graduation requirements.
The House then took up HJR 583, a proposed constitutional amendment to protect religious expression in public schools. The resolution drew extensive debate over whether it merely codified existing law or could create ambiguity about prayer, religious speech, and discrimination issues in schools and at school events. Supporters argued it would strengthen protections for faith expression and let voters decide; opponents raised First Amendment, church-state separation, and implementation concerns, including questions about what counts as religious expression and how schools would handle potentially offensive remarks. The resolution passed 93-17.
Several health-related measures followed. CS/HB 237, requiring APRNs who use the title “doctor” to clarify they are APRNs when communicating with patients, passed 111-0. CS/HB 363, creating a dental therapy license and a new mid-level dental provider to address access shortages, prompted sharp debate over training, anesthesia risk, and whether the bill would create a lower tier of care; it passed 80-29. HB 375, removing a mandatory supervision requirement for autonomous CRNAs, passed 78-28, and HB 301, authorizing psychiatric mental health APRNs to provide mental health services within existing licensure, passed 88-18. The House also passed HB 863, giving Citizens Property Insurance policyholders the choice between arbitration and court for disputes, by 105-3, and HB 1399, increasing oversight of property insurers’ affiliate transactions, by 160-3. The chamber then began consideration of a local claims bill, HB 6517, for relief related to an incident involving the City of St. Petersburg.
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
FL House Floor Session - 2026-02-04 (4:00PM Session)
Florida House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- would want to be treated with.
- one another with the dignity and respect that we ourselves would want to be treated with.
- Under the current laws, we are told this is comparable to nurse practitioners or physician assistants
- If a person affirmatively says that because parent and guardian is treated differently when it comes
- So if a person just says that, you know, it's treated differently when it comes to privilege, so if a
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- As physicians, physician assistants, and advanced practice nurses submit information on individuals with
- This bill enables physicians in areas of critical need here in the state of Florida to remain in their
- It will ensure that Florida continues to be a leader in how we treat people living with mental illness
- Because this particular piece of legislation shifted the trajectory of the state from treating people
- And many times when you're in recovery and you walk into a church, people treat you some kind of way,
Summary:
The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several introductions, including a resolution honoring the late Bob Graham and a moment of silence for firefighter Roger Timmy Miley. The chamber also adopted a resolution designating August 9, 2026, as Bob Graham Day in Florida. Later, the Senate adopted a memorial-style recognition of the Florida Channel’s 30 years of legislative coverage. Several bills were temporarily postponed, including measures on health care coverage, veterinary licensure, and affordable housing.
The most extensive debate centered on CS/CS/SB 1758, a public assistance/Medicaid and SNAP reform bill. The sponsor described five major changes: stronger anti-fraud authority, a Medicaid work requirement for able-bodied adults, expanded behavioral health services through a waiver, pharmacy program changes to reduce costs, and a SNAP fraud-reduction plan with photo ID and work requirements. Democrats offered amendments to condition the work requirement on Medicaid expansion and to add protections for SNAP photo ID use by caregivers, seniors, disabled people, and domestic violence survivors; both amendments failed. Senators then questioned implementation details, exemptions, and eligibility impacts. The bill was placed on the calendar for third reading. The Senate also passed CS/HB 7031 on taxation, substituting it for the Senate bill and adopting a technical amendment, by a vote of 34-0.
The chamber passed a series of other bills, generally after substituting House companions and adopting technical amendments. These included a computer science education bill adding digital literacy and AI instruction, a Parkinson’s disease registry bill and related public records exemption, a bill designating the SS American Victory as Florida’s official flagship, a local government electronic payments bill, a legal tender bill repealing a sunset on gold and silver recognition, public records exemptions for gold/silver custodians and stablecoin-related entities, a stablecoin pilot program, local government spending transparency requirements, a digital voyeurism bill expanding privacy protections to private fenced yards, an insurance licensing bill allowing high school students to complete insurance/personal finance coursework, and a medical freedom bill addressing vaccine information, conscience exemptions, ivermectin access, and the mRNA mandate sunset. Most of these measures passed with little or no opposition, with recorded votes ranging from 31-3 to 34-0.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee Jun 16th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- So businesses working hard to comply aren't treated like bad actors.
- I'm a board-certified emergency physician, living and practicing medicine here in Sacramento, and a trustee
- the Attorney General to take enforcement action against fraudulent actors and gives individual physicians
- The physician-patient relationship is built on trust and is core to our profession and the communities
Summary:
The Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee heard a long agenda focused largely on AI-related consumer protection, child safety, and privacy bills. Members first adopted the consent calendar, then took up SB 1050, which would require disclosures when advertisements use AI-generated or synthetic performers. Supporters, including SAG-AFTRA, Common Sense Media, and labor groups, said consumers should know when an ad depicts a non-human performer and that the bill protects both consumers and workers. Opponents from TechNet, the Motion Picture Association, broadcasters, and business groups argued the bill was too broad, lacked a deception standard, could burden accessibility uses and short audio ads, and created litigation risk. The committee voted the bill out on a party-line-leaning roll, with several members noting concerns but supporting continued work on the measure.
The committee also approved SB 1111, which creates liability and remedies for non-consensual digital replicas using a person’s voice or likeness, and SB 1146, which targets deceptive AI-generated health advertisements that depict synthetic health care providers. Both measures drew support from consumer, labor, medical, and child-safety advocates and faced no formal opposition. Members emphasized the need to prevent deepfake abuse, especially in health-related ads where consumers could be misled into trusting fake doctors or medical endorsements.
Several child- and privacy-focused bills were also heard and advanced. SB 867 would place a four-year moratorium on AI chatbot-powered toys for children, with supporters warning about harmful content, addictive design, and privacy risks; some opposition raised definitional concerns and asked for clearer standards. SB 1247 would give child influencers the right to delete monetized content posted during their minority, and it moved forward without opposition. SB 1000 updated California’s AI Transparency Act to align content provenance rules with newer technology and international standards, with support from Google and Adobe and no opposition. Finally, SB 957 would require social media companies to notify users when the federal government seeks their data through administrative subpoenas, give users time to challenge the request, and report disclosures; supporters framed it as a First Amendment and due process protection, while one member opposed it as an overreach against federal law enforcement. All of the measures discussed were reported out of committee, with several rolls left open for absent members.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee Jun 16th, 2026
Privacy and Consumer Protection
Transcript Highlights:
- good-faith safe harbor, and a reasonable penalty cap, so businesses working hard to comply are not treated
- I'm a board-certified emergency physician living and practicing medicine here in Sacramento and a trustee
- the Attorney General to take enforcement action against fraudulent actors and gives individual physicians
- The physician-patient relationship is built on trust and is core to our profession and the communities
Committee:
House Privacy and Consumer Protection
MO
Transcript Highlights:
- We insure 62 not-for-profit hospitals around the state of Missouri and over 2,000 physicians and thousands
- We insure 62 not-for-profit hospitals around the state of Missouri and over 2,000 physicians and thousands
- of nurses, people that the state of Missouri, and over 2,000 physicians and thousands of nurses, people
- And I'm very proud of the manner in which they conduct themselves and treat people fairly.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Legislative Administration (05/08/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- in there that would hold<00:30:56.000><c> harmless</c><00:30:56.559><c> the</c><00:30:56.799><c> physician
- </c><00:30:57.200><c> who</c><00:30:57.360><c> would</c> hold harmless the physician who would hold harmless
- the physician who would render<00:30:57.919><c> the</c><00:30:58.159><c> standing</c><00:30:58.559><
- It's been a really, really good committee, and even when we've disagreed, everyone's treated each other
Summary:
The Legislative Administration Committee met to consider SB 197, which concerns medical supervision for the licensed registered nurse employed by the Legislative Facilities Committee. The main discussion focused on an amendment, 2025188H, that adds language about the chief medical officer’s authority to issue standing orders and includes immunity language for civil or criminal liability when acting in good faith and with reasonable care. John Williams of Health and Human Services explained that the language was modeled on similar provisions used for standing orders such as Narcan and epinephrine, and that it was vetted with the Attorney General’s office. Members raised questions about whether the immunity could shield mistakes or apply beyond the State House nurse; the chair clarified that the provision applies to the chief medical officer’s issuance of standing orders under this section, while the nurse’s practice remains governed by RSA 326.
Representative Wade moved the amendment, which was seconded and adopted on a roll call vote of 10-0. The committee then voted on SB 197 as amended and recommended it ought to pass as amended, again by a 10-0 roll call vote. The bill was placed on consent, and the chair noted that a written committee report would be prepared.
After the vote, the chair briefly updated members on other upcoming matters, including a Senate message on the Gold Star flag bill, the status of an enroll bills issue, and a Senate amendment to HB 248 on ethics. The committee also discussed scheduling for a joint historic committee meeting and a proposed Wentworth Cheswell portrait item, and members offered closing thanks to the chair, clerk, and staff for their work.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
- My name is Yuri Chandra, and I am a physician with Cardia Health, in strong support. Thank you.
- Abortion is health care, including emergency care, and this bill makes it very clear California treats
- Tim Madden, representing the California chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians, in support
- contrary to the goals of the emergency services law, which encourages emergency departments and physicians
Committee:
House Health
Summary:
The Assembly Health Committee met on March 25, 2025, with Chair Mia Bonta presiding. The committee heard several bills focused on health access and equity, including AB 73 to create a Black Mental Health Navigator certification, AB 499 to lower the state reimbursement trigger for the Robert F. Kennedy Farm Workers Medical Plan, AB 843 to strengthen language access protections in health coverage, AB 257 to pilot a specialty care network using telehealth and virtual services, AB 64 to allow diacritical marks on vital records, AB 315 to expand the Home and Community-Based Alternatives waiver, and AB 40 to clarify that emergency services include reproductive health care, including abortion. Supporters emphasized disparities in care, workforce shortages, cultural and language barriers, and the need to preserve or expand access for Black Californians, farmworkers, people with disabilities, and limited-English-proficient patients. Opposition to AB 40 argued that abortion should not be defined as emergency care and raised concerns about fetal considerations and ER burden.
The committee took testimony on each measure, with many bills drawing broad support from advocacy groups, medical organizations, disability rights groups, and affected individuals. AB 257’s author and witnesses said the proposal would use California-based clinicians and improve specialty access in underserved areas; AB 315’s supporters described it as a cost-saving, dignity-preserving program for medically fragile Californians, with more than 5,400 people on a waiting list. AB 64’s witnesses described personal harm caused by the inability to record names accurately on state documents. AB 843 was presented as aligning state law with federal language access rules to protect patients with limited English proficiency.
Votes were taken after quorum was established, and the committee advanced the measures, generally on party-line or near-unanimous votes. AB 499, AB 73, AB 843, AB 257, AB 64, AB 315, and the committee rules were all reported out, many to Appropriations, and the consent calendar was also approved. AB 40 was approved despite one no vote from Vice Chair Chen. Several items were initially placed on call and later lifted as members added their votes before adjournment.
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- person who, while under the age of 18, received an irreversible gender reassignment surgery from a physician
- The bill allows that person to sue the physician and requires the court to award specified damages.
- It's shocking to any physician to ever tell a healthy girl she wasn't good enough without removing her
- This bill treats a technical lapse the same as murder or treason.
- The system treated it as a private civil matter. And he tragically took his own life.
Committee:
House House Judiciary Committee of Reference
Summary:
The committee heard and advanced several bills on criminal justice, victims’ rights, education, and public safety. SB 1094, which creates a civil cause of action for minors who received irreversible gender reassignment surgery in violation of Arizona law, drew strong opposition from civil liberties and LGBTQ advocates who called it discriminatory and unnecessary, and support from the sponsor and medical-policy witnesses who argued minors cannot consent and that the procedures are not medically supported; it passed 6-3. SB 1635, a bill making it a crime to warn a person of an imminent arrest when the speaker knows police are there to arrest that person, prompted extensive First Amendment objections from the ACLU and others, while supporters said it was narrowly tailored to prevent people from helping suspects evade arrest; it also passed 6-3.
The committee then approved SB 1673, appropriating lottery-funded money for the law enforcement crime victim notification system, after testimony that the program standardizes and improves victim notifications statewide; an amendment increased the amount from $5 million to $8.2 million, and the bill passed 9-0 as amended. SB 1092, which would bar early termination of probation for dangerous crimes against children, drew emotional testimony from victims’ advocates and opposition from defense-side speakers who warned it would remove judicial discretion and could sweep in people whose conduct was nonviolent or based on accidental online clicks; it passed 6-2 with one member present.
Other bills considered included SB 1239, extending the statute of limitations for failure to register as a sex offender, which supporters said would help law enforcement and opponents said was redundant because registration violations are already tracked and prosecuted; it passed 5-4. SB 1139, a strike-everything bill requiring GPS monitoring for homeless registered sex offenders, failed after testimony that existing probation tools already cover the same population. SB 1502, increasing penalties for unlawful flight from police when aggravated by danger, injury, DUI, or transporting a child, passed 5-1 despite concerns about over-criminalization and possible impacts on innocent drivers. The committee also passed SB 1248 on county detention education programs, SB 1240 excluding certain DCAC probationers from county probation incentive calculations, SB 1669 narrowing rape-shield evidence rules to physical injury, and SB 1540 creating a new offense for fuel dispenser theft after an amendment removed mere possession of a device from the criminal statute.
MO
Missouri 2026 Regular Session
Emerging Issues Feb 9th, 2026
Emerging Issues and Professional Registration
Transcript Highlights:
- It also treats this program just like any other Missouri program.
- So to me it would be kind of the concept that you've got to treat it a non-discriminatory way.
- My husband was an emergency room physician. We took it really seriously.
- But I also don't think they should be treated worse than any other mass gathering.
- But I also don't think they should be treated worse than any other mass gathering.
Summary:
The committee first heard House Bill 3037, which would allow certain Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Account tax credits, beginning in 2028, to be carried back to the immediately prior tax year. Representative Allen said the bill was a technical timing change that would not alter the credit amount, cap, refundability, transferability, or other safeguards. Supporters, including the American Federation for Children and a representative of the scholarship organization, said the change would help donors better match contributions to their actual tax liability and could increase participation. One member raised concern about the fiscal impact on education funding, noting the Department of Revenue’s estimate of reduced revenue, while the sponsor said the delayed start date was intended to give the state time to plan.
The committee then heard House Bill 2830, which would increase the recorder fee that funds the Missouri Housing Trust Fund from $3 to $9 per real estate document. Representative Collins said the increase would strengthen funding for affordable housing, rental assistance, and homeless prevention. Supporters from Empower Missouri, Love Columbia, Peter and Paul Community Services, and Missouri’s Coalition of Recovery Support Providers testified that the fund is under-resourced, with many requests going unmet and some housing programs unable to support new construction or rehabilitation projects. They described local housing shortages, homelessness, and the need for more capital funding, arguing the fee increase would help meet demand without using general revenue. No opposition testimony was presented.
Finally, the committee took up House Bills 1778 and 2760, both aimed at protecting religious exercise during emergencies. The sponsors said the bills were prompted by COVID-era restrictions on churches and would prevent government orders from limiting worship services, while still allowing compliance with building and fire codes and excluding violence or harm. Members debated whether the bills would create a special exemption for houses of worship and whether they could interfere with public health responses to future outbreaks. A Baptist minister testified in opposition, arguing that religious gatherings should not receive special treatment and that restrictions should apply consistently to all mass gatherings. The hearing ended without a vote, and the committee adjourned after public testimony.
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
FL House Floor Session - 2026-02-19 (10:00AM Session)
Florida House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Violence are treated in the same manner that is currently in Florida statute. That is the bill.
- We treat the crops responsibly so they grow healthy and safe. We mend fences.
- We recognized that when Black men were treated as less than human, institutions failed them.
- Airports are infrastructure, and they deserve to be treated that way.
- So treat people kindly. I heard Senator Burgess talk about the President's name.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Privacy, Digital Technologies, and Consumer Protection Committee Jun 29th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- We absolutely believe that information should be treated with the strictest confidentiality.
- This is so that AI is treated like every other tool in health care and not a licensed professional, which
- Requiring physicians to maintain and disclose this information may be impractical, may quickly become
- Physician practices and health facilities should remain focused on protecting patient information under
- Finally, this bill adds significant administrative burdens on physicians and health care organizations
Summary:
The Senate Committee on Privacy, Digital Technologies, and Consumer Protection heard several bills focused on privacy, AI, surveillance, and consumer protections. AB 302 would bar schools from excluding students from extracurricular activities because they do not use social media and would require schools to use at least one non-addictive means of contacting students and parents; it drew support from Common Sense Media and no opposition. AB 1705, the Reclaim Act, would require websites hosting non-consensual pornography to verify consent before upload; district attorneys and the Commission on the Status of Women supported it, while TechNet and CCIA opposed or raised concerns. AB 2007 would separate parental consent for a child’s image/likeness from general program enrollment forms in youth programs; educators supported it, while local government and parks groups raised implementation and penalty concerns. AB 2212 would update higher education sexual harassment definitions to include tech-facilitated harassment such as cyberbullying, doxing, and nudification-related abuse; students and advocacy groups strongly supported it, with no opposition. AB 1837 would extend transit agencies’ authority to use camera enforcement in bus-only lanes and at transit stops, with privacy retention limits and human review; transit agencies supported it, while some senators expressed concern about automated enforcement and surveillance, and the bill was placed on call after a split vote. AB 2392 would create an intersegmental higher education working group on generative AI training and procurement standards; it passed 5-0 after amendments removed prerequisites tying AI deployment to completion of the report. The consent calendar was also approved on call. Later, AB 1798 would prohibit life and disability insurers from using non-diagnostic genetic information in underwriting; supporters argued it protects privacy and encourages testing, while insurers opposed the bill as undermining risk-based underwriting, and it advanced on a 3-0 vote on call. Finally, AB 1883 would restrict workplace use of emotion-recognition and neural-data surveillance tools; labor and privacy advocates supported it, employers and local agencies raised safety and litigation concerns, and it passed 3-0 to Labor after narrowing amendments.
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
Governmental Oversight and Accountability Mar 18th, 2025
Governmental Oversight and Accountability
Transcript Highlights:
- I'm a white, Christian, straight mother of four and a critical care physician.
- It's how we treat people. It's how we, just in general, how we perform as a society.
- The mortality penalty for Black newborns was reduced by 58% when cared for by Black physicians.
- I stand here as one person, but I represent so many people who I treat on a...
- DEI has no— it has every place with us, and it doesn't hurt anyone just to treat people with respect.
Summary:
The committee first confirmed Heather L. Turnbull to the Florida Commission on Community Service, with the motion adopted and the confirmation recommended favorably. Members then took up SPB 7022, which sets Florida Retirement System employer contribution rates beginning July 1, 2025, updates rates to address unfunded actuarial liability, and allows certain elected officers to elect a DROP accumulation; a technical title amendment was adopted, the bill was submitted as a committee bill, and it was reported favorably as a committee bill.
The committee then heard extensive debate and public testimony on SB 1710, which would restrict diversity, equity, and inclusion-related policies, trainings, and activities in state agencies, state-funded contractors and grantees, and medical institutions of higher education. Sponsor Senator DiCeglie said the bill is intended to prevent state agencies and contractors from using state funds for DEI programs and to limit state agencies from adopting DEI-related official positions; he also said the medical-school portion would likely be amended out later. Senator Polsky and others questioned the bill’s breadth and how it would affect health-related grants, public universities, historically Black institutions, recruitment, and contractor training. Public testimony was overwhelmingly opposed, with speakers arguing the bill would harm health care, education, access, and inclusion; a few supporters said DEI is ideological, can undermine merit, and should not be used by state agencies or publicly funded institutions.
After debate, Senator Polsky argued the bill was confusing, overbroad, and harmful to serving diverse communities, while Senator Arrington said it was an overreach into private business and could have significant fiscal impacts. Chair Fine closed by saying DEI is political ideology and that the bill is meant to ensure government focuses on talent rather than identity. SB 1710 was then reported favorably on a roll call vote, with Senator Arrington voting no and the remaining members voting yes. The committee then began SB 1678, relating to entities that boycott Israel, and heard the sponsor’s explanation of a delete-all amendment that would expand and clarify state restrictions on dealings with entities engaged in boycotts of Israel, including certain nonprofits, foreign educational institutions, and grants; the amendment was adopted, and the sponsor and a witness began answering questions when the transcript cuts off.
LA
Louisiana 2026 Regular Session
Administration of Criminal Justice Apr 8th, 2026
Administration of Criminal Justice
Transcript Highlights:
- When the law treats child presence as an aggravated factor with clear minimum sentencing, it acknowledges
- also reflects modern medicine by recognizing situations involving disclosure, physical guidance, physician
- I'm a physician. I've been working in the field of HIV for almost 20 years.
- I've worked directly with patients treating HIV as well as HIV prevention.
Committee:
House Administration of Criminal Justice
Summary:
The Committee for the Administration of Criminal Justice met on April 8, 2026, with a quorum present and heard several criminal justice bills. HB 322, which would prohibit fees for victims or family members requesting transcripts of executive-session testimony before the Board of Pardons and Parole, was described as a cleanup measure and was reported favorably without objection. HB 635, dealing with criminal activity by agents of foreign adversaries or foreign terrorist organizations, received extensive support testimony from advocacy groups focused on foreign influence and transnational repression; the committee adopted a technical amendment and reported the bill favorably as amended. HB 132, which expands battery of a police officer to cover intentional sound directed at an officer and related conduct, drew strong support from law enforcement groups and significant opposition from civil liberties and criminal defense organizations concerned about vagueness, First Amendment issues, and impacts on parades and protests; after adopting an amendment moving the sound-related language into the general battery definition, the committee reported the bill favorably as amended.
The committee also considered HB 275, which increases minimum sentences when domestic abuse occurs in the presence of a child and extends the penalty to battery of a dating partner. Supporters argued the bill recognizes the lasting trauma to children exposed to domestic violence, while opponents warned that mandatory minimums reduce judicial discretion and that the child-presence language is broad; the committee adopted two amendment sets and reported the bill favorably as amended. HB 808, revising Louisiana’s HIV exposure law to require a substantial likelihood of transmission based on current medical science and to narrow criminal liability for negligible-risk conduct, drew broad support from physicians, advocates, and people living with HIV, with testimony emphasizing that the law should reflect modern science and avoid overcriminalization; after adopting an amendment set, the committee reported the bill favorably as amended. Finally, HB 1054, sponsored by Chair Villio, would allow certain law-enforcement drone footage to be self-authenticating with notice requirements; it received support from prosecutors and sheriffs’ groups and was reported favorably without objection.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- It requires all emergency departments to designate a physician, nurse, paramedic, or physician assistant
- and it aligns D.J.J. classifications with how law enforcement and correctional officers are already treated
- Classifications with how law enforcement and correctional officers are already treated in statute.
Committee:
Senate Fiscal Policy
Summary:
The Committee on Fiscal Policy met and reported a series of bills favorably, covering health care, public safety, insurance, coastal resilience, juvenile justice, drowning prevention, transportation designations, and beach management. Senator Harrell presented CS/SB 68, requiring hospitals with emergency departments to adopt pediatric emergency care policies, training, designated pediatric readiness personnel, and participation in a national readiness assessment; it passed. Harrell also presented CS/SB 340, requiring nursing students to complete two hours of human trafficking identification training before licensure; it also passed. Senator Sharif’s CS/SB 32 and SB 210, creating a new injunction for protection against serious violence by a known person and the related public records bill, were both reported favorably. Senator Garcia’s CS/CS/SB 302 on nature-based coastal resiliency, Senator Jones’s SB 418 on law enforcement interaction with individuals with autism and the Blue Envelope Program, and Senator Martin’s CS/SB 1734 updating juvenile probation and detention officer definitions and related cost-share language were also approved.
The committee then took up several drowning-prevention measures. CS/SB 606 by Senator Smith would add drowning prevention and safe bathing education to postpartum materials and direct the Department of Health to create standardized materials; an amendment removed a records-retention requirement, and the bill passed. SB 428 by Senator Yarborough would expand the state swim lesson voucher program from children ages 0-4 to ages 1-7; it received strong support from advocates, including a young swim instructor and autism advocates, and passed. The committee also approved CS/SB 246, a specialty license plate bill that was amended to include the UFC plate and a First Responders’ Resiliency Foundation plate, and CS/SB 1028, which revises Citizens Property Insurance and clearinghouse procedures to prioritize admitted carriers and prohibit public funds for the clearinghouse; that bill drew discussion about market competition, Citizens’ exposure, and potential impacts on policyholders.
Additional measures reported favorably included SB 628, designating a portion of South Navy Boulevard in Pensacola as Warrior Sacrifice Way to honor the sailors killed in the 2019 Naval Air Station Pensacola attack, and CS/SB 636 on beach management, which would create a proactive pathway for coastal communities to obtain erosion-related designations and align with federal programs. Beach industry testimony supported the bill’s intent but raised concerns about perpetual easements and funding shortfalls. At the end of the meeting, members recorded additional votes on selected bills, and the committee adjourned.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Cmte on Rules - Subcommittee on the Federal Impact on Minnesotans and Economic Stability - 11/13/25
Transcript Highlights:
- Uh, physicians, researchers, people would meet on Zoom because we couldn't go in person.
- I want to thank the physicians and the researchers and the students at the U who are doing incredible
- And that is because of scientists and<01:19:35.520><c> physicians</c><01:19:36.239><c> and</c><01:19:
- 36.640><c> researchers</c><01:19:37.280><c> and</c> and physicians and researchers and and physicians
- I want to thank<01:19:58.239><c> the</c><01:19:58.560><c> physicians</c><01:19:59.120><c> and</c><01:
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Artificial Intelligence Task Force 2025 (9-11-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- Um, instead, we see ourselves and believe it is appropriate to treat us like most states treat equipment—sometimes
- </c> are uh pediatricians, we're physicians are uh pediatricians, we're physicians uh<01:20:15.600><c
- </c> group of a growing group of physicians group of a growing group of physicians who<01:32:56.800><
- You know, we're both physicians.
- We know You know we're both physicians.
Summary:
The Intelligence Task Force met with a quorum present and approved the minutes from the August 14 meeting. The first presentation was from the National Retail Federation on artificial intelligence in the retail sector. NRF described AI use cases in three areas: consumer-facing tools such as chatbots, product descriptions, and marketing; employee-facing tools such as company-specific apps trained on employee manuals; and internal uses such as supply chain forecasting, inventory planning, fraud detection, cybersecurity, and coding support. The presenters said retail has been among the top deployers of AI and emphasized that the goal is to improve both customer and employee experience.
NRF also outlined its principles for responsible AI use, organized around governance and risk management, customer engagement and trust, workforce applications, and business partner accountability. The group said retailers should maintain strong internal oversight, be transparent with customers, ensure compliance with existing laws, closely review workforce-related uses because they can be high-risk, and clearly define responsibilities between retailers and third-party developers. In policy discussion, NRF urged a tiered approach focused first on high-risk uses such as hiring, health care, financial, mortgage, and rental decisions, warned against fragmented rules that could favor only the largest firms, and encouraged voluntary standards and worker upskilling incentives. In response to a question about dynamic pricing, NRF said its members do not target consumers based on pricing and offered to follow up with more information.
The committee then moved to a follow-up discussion on energy policy and data centers, hearing from Bartley Cleland of NetChoice. He explained that AI runs largely in data centers and that cloud computing shifts processing and storage away from individual devices, which he argued improves efficiency and can reduce costs. He said electricity demand has been rising over time and that AI will increase compute-related electricity use, but framed electricity as a normal input to economic growth. No votes or formal actions were taken after these presentations.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
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- Studies have shown that play-based learning treats trauma and depression through joy and connection.
Committee:
Senate Education