Transcript Highlights:

• Are we still doing what brings us with the VA, our backgrounds, or are we good with that?
• , were successful in attaining a $600,000 grant from the VA.
• Chair, Senator Block, again, that's a VA cemetery.
• Chair, Senator Block, that is the intent of the VA. That's the best I can say.
• How about VA disability, which is tax-free? Does that also count as income? Mr.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, it's something that the VA federally and HUD have kind of come together to acknowledge that, you
• Um, it's something that the VA federally and HUD have kind of come together to acknowledge that, you
• </c><00:18:47.280><c> And</c><00:18:47.440><c> they</c> from the VA and HUD together.
• And they from the VA and HUD together.
• And the Minnesota VA maintains a list.

Bills: HF2446 , HF2563 , HF2444

Committee: House Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• And currently we have food pantries that serve the Minneapolis VA, but they wanted to have a more statewide
• And obviously the VA sees veterans every day. They have over 100,000 veterans they see annually.
• The federal VA said this is a priority; however, did not give any funding to the VA facilities to start
• </c><00:10:17.600><c> So</c><00:10:18.000><c> at</c> officers, bringing in VA staff.
• So at officers, bringing in VA staff.

Transcript Highlights:

• To all veterans in Texas with the Department of VA to file disability claims and appeals with the US
• they've earned, to access the healthcare, the VA healthcare, and get appointments, doctor visits.
• But we overcome the obstacles they have with VA health care, and they've been very successful.
• We have a federal grant from the Department of VA.
• Which is a non-profit that gets those services to veterans who need them, as well as the VA.

Bills: SB651 , SB897 , SB1814 , SB1818

Committee: Senate Veteran Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• So our bills create a direct, structured homestead exemption for Missouri veterans with a VA-certified
• if the person awarded the exemption does move into a veteran's home or a facility maintained by the VA
• So the VA is deciding your level of disability. Okay. Yes. All right.
• So the VA is deciding your level of disability. Okay. Yes. All right.
• The VA was created on the decree from Abraham Lincoln to care for those who've borne the battle.

Committee: House Veterans and Armed Forces

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and first went into executive session, where it adopted committee substitutes and voted do pass on House Bills 383, 2940, and 1869 by unanimous roll-call votes. The chair then moved to public hearings and announced shortened testimony times because of the late hour. A large portion of the hearing focused on several nearly identical proposals to provide property tax relief to disabled veterans and, in some versions, surviving spouses. Representatives Jobe, Crosley, Bolerking, Schmidt, and Jones described different approaches: tiered exemptions based on VA disability ratings, homestead-based exemptions, county opt-in or opt-out provisions, sunsets, and in some bills relief tied to assessed value or personal property/vehicle taxes. Committee members raised questions about acreage limits, transfer of benefits to new residences, remarriage of surviving spouses, annual recertification, and whether counties should have discretion. Several witnesses in favor, including veterans and veterans’ advocates, urged broader eligibility, especially for 100% permanent and total veterans and those with individual unemployability, and argued the benefit would help veterans remain in Missouri. A public advocate opposed the bills on fiscal grounds, citing large projected costs to local governments, school districts, and state funds. The committee also heard testimony from veterans and advocates on the importance of recognizing spouses and families, and on the need to avoid burdensome county administration. Representative Schmidt presented two related bills, one offering a percentage-based property tax discount and another creating a homestead tax credit with county participation and a market-value cap; members discussed combining the measures and revising sunset and spouse language. Representative Jones presented bills extending relief to 100% disabled veterans and to personal property/vehicles, emphasizing that counties could opt in and that the credit should not shift costs to other taxpayers. The hearing ended before the final witness finished, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• grants for initial construction or emergency funds from VA to take care of safety and health issues.
• Today or by the end of work tomorrow, we should know if Salisaw is recognized by the VA.
• Every other funding source is from outside either VA or out of pocket from veterans themselves.
• The dollar the VA has gone with an annual increase.
• VA is probably about 35%.

Transcript Highlights:

• We don't have the VA numbers. We don't have IHS numbers. Yes, and thank you, Chair.
• VA clinics are historically understaffed.
• You're also affecting veterans in the 14 counties where there are VA facilities.
• For 32 years, I'm not sure if you're aware that the VA clinics and the VA hospital use a lot of contract
• When I deal with the VA Medical Center, it's one of the top. VA Medical Centers in the country.

Committee: House Courts, Corrections & Justice Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• And then on the residential side, around 2023, up until that point, the federal VA was giving our—if
• I were a veteran resident and I needed medication through the VA, I could get it basically free.
• You're responsible to reimburse the federal VA for that medication.
• the federal VA between $250,000 and $300,000 a year.
• So we've been working very hard with the federal VA since the summer of 2023.

Summary: The Finance Advisory Committee approved the minutes of its April 2 meeting and then took up three budget transfers. The first, FAC 2026-6 for the Office of the State Treasurer, moved $75,000 from personal services to other expenses to pay for consultant help applying for federal energy credits under the Inflation Reduction Act’s direct pay provisions. Treasurer’s office staff said the agency had one open position and several others pending posting, and members discussed how the transfer related to vacant positions and the committee’s budget display. The second item, FAC 2026-7 for the Office of the State Controller, transferred $700,000 from personal services to other expenses to cover higher Core-CT software maintenance and licensing costs. Comptroller staff said the office had 21 open positions, most in Core-CT, and explained that the system, implemented in 2003, receives regular quarterly and monthly updates from Oracle. Members also discussed how the system serves payroll, HR, purchasing, accounting, and related functions for many state agencies, including UConn and the Board of Regents. The final item, FAC 2026-8 for the Department of Veterans Affairs, transferred $700,000 from personal services, the veterans opportunity pilot, and headstones accounts to other expenses for year-end operational needs. Commissioner Ron Welch said most vacancies were in the skilled nursing facility, food service, and physical plant, with staffing challenges especially for nurses and aides. He also explained that the veterans opportunity pilot never fully launched, that the Institutional General Welfare Fund has been depleted and the agency now relies more on general fund support, and that the department faces rising food, utility, and pharmaceutical costs, including a federal VA reimbursement change that will leave the state responsible for medication costs by 2027. All three transfers were approved, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill provides a full property tax exemption for veterans who are 100% disabled by the VA, or who
• Trump administration finalized a rule to prohibit the Veterans Health Administration, known as the VA
• This will ensure that veterans who cannot receive abortion care or abortion counseling through the VA
• Under this new policy, the VA can only provide abortion in life-threatening circumstances.
• Despite California's constitutional protections for reproductive freedom, our state's veterans and VA

Summary: The Senate Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs met on June 22 with several members initially absent, so the committee began as a subcommittee and later established a quorum. The committee first heard AB 1775, which would provide California support for transgender service members and veterans affected by a federal executive order requiring their separation from service. The author and witnesses described the policy as discriminatory and destabilizing, and supporters from civil rights and LGBTQ+ organizations urged passage. No opposition testimony was offered, and the chair and members expressed support for helping affected veterans with discharge upgrades, housing assistance, and expedited professional licensing. The committee then heard AB 2022, which expands the disabled veterans property tax exemption by creating a full exemption for certain totally disabled veterans meeting income limits and a 50% exemption for others, while preserving existing benefits. The author, a disabled Marine veteran, and multiple veterans’ organizations testified that the measure would help veterans remain in their homes and keep them in California; a Gold Star spouse also spoke in support. The bill was moved on a due pass motion to the Committee on Appropriations, with the roll held open until additional members arrived, and the consent calendar was later approved 4-0. Next, the committee heard AB 2054, which updates the definition of covered active duty for paid family leave purposes so military families can qualify when service members are deployed, activated for emergencies such as wildfires, or sent to extended training. Supporters, including Department of Defense and veterans’ representatives, said the bill reflects modern military service and protects families during disruptions. The committee also heard AB 2531, which would expand an existing uncompensated care grant program so veterans denied abortion care through the federal VA system can access support, and would add abortion resource information to CalVet materials. Support came from Planned Parenthood, the California Medical Association, the Lieutenant Governor’s office, and others; one member of the public raised concerns about coercion but did not clearly oppose the bill. All three bills were advanced on due pass motions to Appropriations, and the meeting adjourned after the final votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• This will ensure that veterans who cannot receive abortion care or abortion counseling through the VA
• Under this new policy, the VA can only provide abortion in life-threatening circumstances.
• According to HUD and the VA, on a single night this past January, 32,495 veterans were homeless.
• I'm a recipient of the VA; that's the only health insurance I've had for the past 15 years.
• So while the VA is providing all other options, One option is being taken away from them.

Summary: The committee heard AB 2575 on health care AI guardrails, with the author and supporters from the California Nurses Association and labor groups arguing that AI should support, not replace, clinical judgment. They said the bill would require basic disclosures about AI tools, protect workers from retaliation for overriding AI in good faith, and prevent developers or employers from shifting liability to frontline clinicians. Opponents including the California Medical Association, CalChamber, hospitals, and other health care organizations argued the bill would add costs, create uncertainty, and discourage useful AI applications. Committee members discussed bias in health care and accepted amendments narrowing the disclosure provisions; the bill was moved with a 7-1 vote and re-referred to Labor, Public Employment, and Retirement. AB 634 would ban the manufacture, sale, and distribution of products containing tianeptine, described by supporters as “gas station heroin.” The author and law enforcement supporters said the substance is dangerous, easily accessible, and can cause opioid-like addiction, while no opposition came forward. The committee also heard AB 1607 to extend the Maddy EMS Fund, which reimburses emergency providers for uncompensated care. Supporters said the fund is essential to keeping emergency departments staffed, especially amid expected coverage losses; an ACLU representative opposed the funding source because it relies on criminal and traffic fines. Members supported the need for the fund but raised concerns about the fairness and long-term stability of the revenue source, and the bill advanced on a 8-0 vote. AB 1906 would require coverage of at-home cervical cancer screening tests without cost sharing, and the author said the bill would improve early detection and reduce disparities, especially for rural and working Californians. Support came from Planned Parenthood, Health Access, and several health and labor organizations; insurers said they appreciated the amendments and were reviewing their position. The committee adopted amendments aligning the bill with clinical guidelines and passed it 6-0 to Appropriations. The committee also took up AB 2247, the Thrive Act, to create a pilot program for trauma and mental health services for youth affected by gun violence in four counties. Supporters described barriers survivors face in accessing counseling, while members questioned the narrow focus on gun violence, the choice of counties, documentation requirements, and whether the program should instead be housed in victim compensation. The bill passed 8-0 to Judiciary. Later, AB 2531 would expand California’s uncompensated care program so veterans denied abortion care through the federal VA system could receive coverage in California, and would add an abortion resources link for veterans. Supporters framed it as filling a gap created by federal restrictions; opponents argued state funds should not support abortion. Members noted the VA already provides many reproductive services but not this one, and the bill passed 7-0 to Military and Veterans Affairs. The committee also heard AB 1915, which would modernize restaurant facility rules and create a self-certification pathway for some equipment installations. Restaurant and business groups supported the bill as a way to reduce costly delays, while the Contractor State License Board opposed the self-certification provision over safety and inspection concerns. Members generally supported streamlining but echoed public safety concerns and indicated further work was needed.

Transcript Highlights:

• I do get a VA home loan, but I don't qualify based on my VA income.
• My VA income is limited, so I don't get a home loan enough to purchase a house in California.
• And I've been to each different VA. Or I went even to Scott Wiener's office.
• He didn't get any VA housing or VA programs from the Vietnam Army infantry guys.
• Didn't get any VA housing or VA programs from the Vietnam Army infantry guys.

Summary: The committee held an outcome review hearing on AB 519, focused on streamlining California’s affordable housing finance system. State housing officials described the work group process and the resulting report, which calls for a consolidated application and coordinated review process across HCD, CalHFA, TCAC, and CDLAC, while preserving a separate direct path for projects that do not need state subsidy. They said the goal is to reduce duplication, align timelines, and get projects to construction faster, with implementation now being carried forward through the new Housing Development Finance Committee (HDFC) and related reorganization changes. Officials from HCD, CalHFA, and HDFC said the new committee launched July 1 and is developing regulations, a unified application workbook, and review procedures, with public comment and hearings planned before final adoption. They emphasized a two-track system: one for projects needing state subsidy and one for tax credits/bonds only. Members also discussed the transition period in 2027, the need to clear existing pipeline projects first, and the possibility of construction financing tools. Committee members raised concerns about transparency, stakeholder feedback, and whether additional statutory changes would be needed; staff said current authority appears sufficient. Affordable housing developers and advocates generally supported the reforms but said the work must go beyond a single application. They urged fully funding projects, simplifying post-award functions, modernizing asset management, preserving a direct path for locally funded and rehab projects, and improving geographic equity, especially for rural and farmworker housing. Several witnesses stressed that the system also needs stable funding, including general fund support and the proposed housing bond, and that the state should continue engaging stakeholders as the new process rolls out. Public comment echoed those themes and included a veteran describing the difficulty of navigating housing and VA-related systems, reinforcing the hearing’s focus on simplifying access to housing resources.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:15:00.199><c> is</c> us because uh the Fargo VA is us because uh the Fargo VA is responsible<
• </c><01:15:09.360><c> uh</c> have an office at the Fargo VA uh have an office at the Fargo VA uh regional
• We really are the go-between with the federal VA in a lot of these areas.
• to the VA in any way.
• </c> those folks are not connected to the VA those folks are not connected to the VA in<01:42:00.760>

Committee: House Veterans and Military Affairs Division

Transcript Highlights:

• connected disability to also be provided to the veteran that is 100% disabled due to neglect care at a VA
• Senator, so it's my understanding that if there was a medical malpractice incident at a VA and that was
• Right now, if you are going, if you're if You're 40% disabled and you're going to a VA.
• scenario that happened to a gentleman, as he was 40% disabled because of his knees and his back, went to a VA
• messed them up internally and essentially caused him to be 100% disabled through a procedure at the VA

Bills: HB3257

Committee: Senate Veterans and Military Affairs

Keywords: veterans, disability benefits, federal law, Oklahoma Statutes, military service

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, veterans that go to the VA, I mean, obviously the Minneapolis VA serves over 100,000 veterans a year
• </c> with the Minneapolis VA Medical Center. with the Minneapolis VA Medical Center.
• to help stand up a $50,000 to the VA to help stand up a food<00:08:37.039><c> pantry.
• 41.520><c> VA</c><00:08:42.280><c> serves</c><00:08:42.560><c> over</c> obviously the Minneapolis VA
• </c><00:33:40.040><c> This</c> conditions by the federal VA. This conditions by the federal VA.

Summary: The Minnesota Senate Subcommittee on Veterans met on March 4, 2026, and began with a moment of silence honoring Sergeant First Class Nicole Amore of White Bear Lake, who was killed while serving in Kuwait. The committee then took up Senate File 3956, an MDVA policy bill giving the commissioner clearer authority to direct staff time and other non-monetary resources toward partnerships with organizations serving veterans, especially on food insecurity, homelessness, suicide prevention, and related efforts. MDVA and Disabled American Veterans testified that the bill would help them work more quickly and clearly with outside partners, including food pantry and outreach efforts, while remaining focused on non-monetary support. Senator Howe offered an A1 amendment narrowing the bill to the three named priorities and removing the broader “other critical issues” language; the amendment was adopted after discussion about whether the reporting language also needed adjustment. SF 3956, as amended, was laid over for further consideration. The committee then heard Senate File 3955, which would create a new procedure for temporary closure of a Minnesota veterans home if an involuntary termination notice requires it, bringing state law into closer alignment with federal expectations. MDVA emphasized that it had no intention of permanently closing any veterans homes and that the bill was intended only to establish a temporary closure plan to satisfy survey requirements. Senator Howe offered an A1 amendment clarifying that any closure would be temporary unless the legislature approved a permanent closure; MDVA and the Department of Health indicated the change was acceptable. The committee adopted the amendment and then voted to recommend SF 3955, as amended, to pass and refer it to the full committee. Finally, the committee began Senate File 4072, an MDVA cleanup and conformity bill. After adopting a technical A3 amendment, MDVA explained that the bill would reclassify the Chief of Staff/Deputy Chief of Staff role as Deputy Commissioner for Administration to better reflect the scope of the position, and would also repeal outdated statutes related to environmental hazards assistance and a data-collection requirement that the department said it could not implement. The bill was still being presented when the transcript ended, and no final committee action on SF 4072 was shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• I do get recently, I have a VA home loan that I don't qualify for.
• And I've been to each different VA. Or I went even to Scott Wiener's office.
• And I've been to each different VA, or I went even to Scott Wiener's office, like a week ago.
• He didn't get any VA housing or VA programs from the Vietnam Army infantry guys.
• Didn't get any VA housing or VA programs from the Vietnam Army infantry guys.

Committee: House Housing and Community Development

Transcript Highlights:

• Galapo VA Clinic. Anthony Tony J. Gall Galapo VA clinic. I Anthony Tony J. Gall Galapo VA clinic.
• Senior VA clinic.
• </c> VA Medical Center Act of 2025. VA Medical Center Act of 2025.
• Budah VA Medical Center. Captain Paul W. Budah VA Medical Center.
• Tillman VA Clinic.

Bills: HB8595 , HB4288 , HB4647 , HB6963 , HB5362 , HB6007

Keywords: appropriations, State Department, foreign aid, foreign assistance, diplomacy, embassy security, consular services, passport backlog, visa wait times, international broadcasting, Fulbright, Peace Corps, Millennium Challenge Corporation, foreign military financing, security assistance, counterterrorism, nonproliferation, democracy promotion, human rights, global health

Transcript Highlights:

• And so for veterans, and this is obviously determined by the VA, but for veterans that have a disability
• if the person awarded the exemption does move into a veteran's home or a facility maintained by the VA
• So the VA is deciding your level of disability. Okay. Yes. All right.
• Myself, I'm 100% service-connected permanent total through the VA, and I have been for 10 years now.
• The VA was created on the decree from Abraham Lincoln to care for those who've borne the battle.

Committee: House Veterans and Armed Forces

Transcript Highlights:

• He goes to VA and gets a fiscal, and I have the fiscal right here, and the medical review board denied
• this fiscal signed by a doctor at VA, at the VA Hospital.
• a fisal<00:12:48.760><c> he</c><00:12:48.880><c> goes</c><00:12:49.040><c> to</c><00:12:49.240><c> VA
• and gets a fiscal fisal he goes to VA and gets a fiscal and<00:12:50.839><c> I</c><00:12:51.000><c>
• VA at the<00:12:57.959><c> VA</c><00:12:58.360><c> Hospital</c><00:12:59.360><c> and</c><00:12:59.680

Summary: The House Transportation Committee met with a quorum, approved the March 4 minutes, and then took up several Senate measures. Senate Bill 36, dealing with cleanup language for CAVIS and electronic submission of liens and satisfactions, was amended by committee substitute to require lien holders to begin using electronic title and registration systems starting July 1, 2026. After questions from members and testimony from county clerk Jason Denny and title-industry representative Tom Underwood, the committee adopted the substitute and reported the bill favorably with the substitute attached. The committee then considered Senate Bill 43, which updates the medical review board process under KRS 186.444. Senator Donald Douglas and Senator Jimmy Higdon described the bill as a response to complaints about fairness and transparency in medical review cases, including a constituent example involving a disabled veteran whose VA medical clearance was rejected. The bill changes who may serve on the board, adds flexibility and transparency, shifts reimbursement language to allow the Transportation Cabinet to set costs by regulation, and includes provisions aimed at broadening participation by qualified health care providers. Members discussed the role of school resource officers, the use of family affidavits in reporting, and the need to keep costs down; the committee adopted the substitute, approved a title amendment, and reported the bill favorably. Senate Bill 38, concerning stop-arm violations on school buses and the use of cameras and enforcement procedures, also received a committee substitute and was reported favorably. Senator Greg Elkins and supporters said the bill is intended to address widespread illegal passing of stopped school buses and to help fund stop-arm cameras, while critics raised concerns about automated enforcement and the role of a live officer. Members cited survey data and personal stories about school-bus safety, and the sponsor explained that school resource officers would work with local law enforcement on citations, which are contemplated as civil penalties. The committee also heard discussion-only testimony on Senate Joint Resolution 66, which would create a task force on aviation, aerospace, and logistics economic development; no vote was taken on the resolution because it had just passed the Senate and had not yet been formally received by the committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:23:12.520><c> working</c> referred into us from the VA working referred into us from the VA working
• VA.
• But because we get VA per diem rates from the VA, we have always been exempt from actually getting those
• can build a VA for those Home can build a VA for those medications<00:37:06.599><c> that</c><00:37:06.800
• streams on page 18 uh on the VA streams on page 18 uh on the VA um<00:43:07.119><c> with</c><00:43:07.599

Summary: Division 3 opened a work session focused on direct care agencies, with the chair saying the day would center on the Veterans Home and other state hospitals and homes. Members first discussed the upcoming Finance Committee process, including how many bills would be assigned to Division 3, whether they would appear on the House calendar, and how much time would be allowed for each bill. The chair said the division would likely spend about an hour on each bill, then return for a second day of review before making recommendations. Staff later identified three bills expected on the calendar: House Bills 704, 751, and 54. Members also raised a question about the use of educational trust fund money in the budget, but that issue was deferred. The main presentation came from Kim McKay, commandant of the New Hampshire Veterans Home, who described the facility as a long-term care intermediate facility serving eligible veterans. She said the home is licensed for 250 beds, budgeted for 225 veterans, and currently has 135 residents with four more scheduled to arrive. McKay highlighted improvements over the last two years, including a reduction in the admission wait list from more than a year to about three to six months, the creation of an LNA training program, energy-saving and Wi-Fi upgrades, and a new electronic learning management system that will provide mandatory training and continuing education units for staff. She said the home’s long-term goal is to return to a 225-bed census, but staffing remains the biggest hurdle. Members asked about admissions, wait times, staffing, vacancies, and the home’s use of contract nurses. McKay explained that the wait time is measured from the initial application date, not from a completed packet, and that staff now help families gather records and paperwork more quickly. She said the home averages about 45 deaths per year, residents stay about 2.5 years on average, and the vacancy rate is around 35 percent, though some positions are intentionally held open until census grows. She attributed staffing shortages largely to retention problems, citing higher private-sector pay, bonuses, and more flexible hours, and said the home has a handful of contract nurses, mainly on second shift. On finances, she said pharmacy services are contracted, the VA reimburses some medication costs based on disability, and the home is pursuing federal changes to cover high-cost medications and catastrophic disability cases. The discussion also covered the home’s off-book donation account, which is overseen by the state and transferred into the state system when funds are spent.

Transcript Highlights:

• Louis VA Hospital, where I did my concentration in the methadone clinic.
• I worked at a methadone clinic for a year at the VA.
• So I work at the VA, and there I'm on the infectious disease staff, but I— At the VA, I'm on the infectious
• , then we do a lot of work to connect them with the VA.
• side, which has a lot of strict regulations about what I can do on behalf of the VA outside of the VA

Committee: House Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Task Force

Summary: The task force meeting opened with a brief organizational update, including new leadership, roll call, and an explanation of the task force’s statutory duties: to study current and future drug and substance use in Missouri, explore solutions, draft or modify legislation, and report recommendations on prevention and treatment. The chair outlined the summer hearing plan, which would feature field experts, with future sessions expected to cover alternative therapies such as psilocybin and ibogaine and testimony from the Department of Mental Health. Members were encouraged to think about legislative ideas and policy recommendations for the upcoming session. The first major testimony came from Dr. Rachel Winograd, who described Missouri’s overdose crisis as evolving into a “fourth wave” marked by fentanyl mixed with animal tranquilizers such as xylazine and medetomidine, along with methamphetamine and other synthetic drugs. She said overdose deaths have declined for a third straight year, with preliminary 2025 data around 1,200 deaths, but emphasized that the crisis remains severe. Her main recommendations were to focus on demand reduction rather than repeated supply crackdowns, expand evidence-based treatment—especially methadone and buprenorphine—broaden naloxone access, and improve practical supports like housing, transportation, and case management. She also said peer services are valuable but should not be used as a substitute for clinical care, and noted that Missouri Medicaid generally covers evidence-based treatment but reimbursement for peer recovery services remains a gap. Dr. Heidi Miller, the state medical director at the Department of Health and Senior Services, reinforced the call for integrating substance use disorder care into whole-person health care. She highlighted the state naloxone standing order, which supports more than 11,000 Medicaid naloxone prescriptions annually, and urged five best practices: integrating SUD treatment into primary care, maternal health, general medical training, EMS initiation of buprenorphine after overdose, and expanded methadone access. She also argued for team-based reimbursement, stronger parity enforcement between behavioral health/SUD and physical health, and caution in regulating emerging substances so policy does not outrun the science. Dr. Doug Burgess of University Health in Kansas City echoed the integration theme, arguing that Missouri’s system is too fragmented and that patients are often stabilized and then left to coordinate their own next steps. He compared ideal SUD care to the coordinated response used for heart attacks, with seamless transitions from emergency care to inpatient treatment, rehab, and outpatient follow-up. He said treatment courts can be effective when they are well coordinated and informed by addiction science, and he stressed the importance of discharge planning, peer recovery coaches, information-sharing, and maintaining Medicaid coverage during justice involvement. No formal votes or committee actions were taken during this portion of the meeting.