Transcript Highlights:

• Reporting Center.
• My in-home staff needed to report the incident and do the full incident report, report out the team for
• </c><00:59:08.799><c> Reporting</c><00:59:09.200><c> Center</c> Minnesota adult abuse Reporting Center
• Minnesota adult abuse Reporting Center she<00:59:09.839><c> was</c><00:59:10.079><c> hospitalized</c
• ><c> report</c> and do the full incident report report and do the full incident report report out<00:

Bills: HF1662 , HF2115 , HF2159 , HF1095 , HF2160

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Keywords: veterans, veterans affairs, State Soldiers Assistance Program, Veterans Stable Housing Initiative, MAXIS, human services data, data sharing, eligibility verification, informed consent, private data, benefits coordination, veteran housing, veteran assistance, Department of Human Services, Children Youth and Families, state benefits, federal benefits, privacy, public assistance, human services

Transcript Highlights:

• sex abuse, sexual trafficking, and a distorted view of relationships.
• It seems very, very subjective, very subject to abuse.
• It was abusive.
• And what I saw was abusive and violent.
• It led me into an abusive relationship where, though I was being sexually abused countless times, I continued

Summary: The Consumer Protection and Business Committee held a public hearing on House Bill 2112, which would require commercial entities, including some social media companies, to use age verification before allowing access to websites where more than one-third of the material is sexual content harmful to minors. Staff explained that the bill would require reasonable age verification methods, prohibit retention of identifying information, exempt bona fide news and public-interest sites, and authorize the Attorney General to enforce the law through civil penalties. The bill would also require warning notices on landing pages and advertisements, with content to be developed by the Department of Health. Prime sponsor Representative Mari Leavitt said the bill is intended to protect children from harmful online sexual content and argued that parental controls are not sufficient. She cited pediatric and public-health concerns, said the bill is modeled on laws upheld elsewhere, and emphasized that the measure is aimed at commercial entities rather than school-based sharing or general adult access. Supportive testimony from parents, clinicians, and advocates described early exposure to pornography, mental health harms, and the need to place responsibility on platforms rather than families alone. Opposition testimony focused on privacy, free speech, enforcement, and scope. Several witnesses argued that age verification systems create data-security risks even if data is not retained, that the bill’s definitions and one-third threshold are vague and could sweep in LGBTQ, health, educational, or artistic content, and that enforcement would be difficult against out-of-state websites. Some opponents said the law would push users to less-compliant sites and would not effectively protect children. A technology industry witness said the bill is narrow and comparable to carding for alcohol or tobacco, while a Free Speech Coalition representative said the law is ineffective in practice and offered to discuss amendments. No vote was taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• and safe for their child to attend.
• and safe for be right for their child and safe for their<00:07:22.479><c> child</c><00:07:22.639><c>
• And then it's their child to attend.
• They want them to build child.
• You send your child to CCK, you feel a little bit more hope.

Summary: The Interim Joint Committee on Families and Children opened its first meeting with roll call and a reminder about the number of children in out-of-home care with active placements, which the chair said was 8,641 as of June 1, 2025. The committee then heard a presentation from the Center for Courageous Kids, a donor-funded camp in Scottville that serves children with lifelong illnesses and disabilities at no charge. Representatives described the camp’s year-round family retreats and summer sessions, its medically safe and inclusive model, and examples of campers gaining confidence and independence. They said the camp has served more than 43,000 campers from Kentucky, other states, and other countries, and that it is seeking legislative support for two capital projects: a new art barn and a medical lodge, with a combined request of $3.2 million. Members praised the program and asked about awareness, staffing, volunteer recruitment, accreditation, and how the projects would expand capacity; the camp said the medical lodge would help increase volunteer housing and allow future growth beyond its current summer cap of 128 campers per session. The committee then moved to adult protective services and state guardianship programs. Jessica Wayne, director of the Division of Guardianship, and Cliff Bryant of DCBS explained the legal framework for guardianship and conservatorship, including state guardianship as a last-resort option when no family member or private entity is available or appropriate. They outlined the court petition process, emergency appointments, and the distinction between full and limited guardianship or conservatorship. They emphasized that guardianship is based on legal incapacity to make decisions, not simply on a medical disability diagnosis, and noted that state guardianship can be arranged for some 17-year-olds aging out of youth services. The presenters said the state currently serves 4,645 individuals under guardianship, with most cases involving developmental intellectual disabilities, supported community living waiver participants, and people in nursing homes or long-term care facilities. They also described the division’s three branches: field services, which handles visits and day-to-day decisions in all 120 counties; a benefits branch that applies for public benefits; and a fiduciary branch that manages funds and pays bills. They reported 89 field workers statewide, an average caseload of 52, and said the agency is hiring to reduce that load. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, the next question is on reporting the measure. I look to the Vice Chair for a motion.
• It kind of revolves around what a student did versus what the child may need.
• So, in other words, the idea with the child in need of supervision would be more akin to an abuse and
• So it's somewhere in between, where the child is needing additional help versus the child committed a
• There's never a time that abuse and neglect cases are not punitive on a child despite the fact that they're

Committee: Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• So this is just reporting for an inpatient facility.
• But to your point, it requires reporting, and I think...
• Services can continue for three years after the birth of the child.
• Senate Bill 269 is Senator Perry's medical reporting bill that helps ensure that Texas doctors are reporting
• to the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System.

Bills: SB670 , SB1388 , SB627 , SB912 , SB269 , SB528 , HB2711 , HB4819 , HB5248 , HB4175

Committee: House Public Health

Keywords: SB 670, investigational sun protection products, sun protection, sunscreen, FDA approval, clinical trial, phase one trial, patient access, informed consent, physician prescription, Texas Health and Safety Code, Texas Medical Board, compassionate use, experimental treatment, medical freedom, patient autonomy, healthcare regulation, dietitian, dietitians, licensed dietitian

Transcript Highlights:

• , and most importantly, our child... ...operations of the Office of the Child Advocate, and most importantly
• best interest of the child.
• Just one more item to do, which is to have a report of the committee?
• Okay, the report of a committee. The paper from the House is the...
• Sorry, it's not a report of the committee, it's a paper from the House.

Transcript Highlights:

• Is reported favorably.
• By your vote CS for SB 1140, is reported favorably.
• I read this as the false reporting of a crime.
• I'm in strong support of this bill as a child.
• And the FDA alleys uniform crime report state of the Florida saw 106,615 cases in its most recent reporting

Transcript Highlights:

• 45.199><c> with</c><00:07:45.360><c> a</c><00:07:45.599><c> child,</c> there communicating with a child
• ><00:10:18.560><c> orders</c> basically protection from abuse orders basically protection from abuse
• </c> to give the bill a favor report say I. to give the bill a favor report say I.
• Bill gets a favor report. Opposed. Bill gets a favor report.
• </c> "I'm taking this child from this school. "I'm taking this child from this school.

Committee: House Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• The clerk will report the communication.
• </c> has been received the clerk will report has been received the clerk will report the A communication
• </c><00:09:24.160><c> will</c> there is no objections the reports will there is no objections the reports
• The clerk will report the bill.
• <00:31:48.679><c> the</c> report the report the amendment<00:31:51.399><c> bakeberg</c><00:31:51.960>

Transcript Highlights:

• And if I'm contacted by a family and they're reporting what they're hearing from their child, I have
• But when there's evidence, certain evidence that involves a child and sexual abuse, and I know Madam
• But when there's evidence, certain evidence that involves a child and sexual abuse.
• That is the area where we receive the reports of child abuse or neglect.
• later a report for child B.

Bills: HCR95 , HB4 , HB244 , HB615 , HB648 , HB1049 , HB1201

Committee: Senate Senate & Governmental Affairs

Keywords: sales tax, exemptions, credits, rebates, uniformity, legislative rules, fiscal report, constitutional convention, Louisiana constitution, electoral process, government structure, delegate elections, delegates, state election, ratification, Louisiana, public meetings, broadcast, transparency, government accountability

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> trafficking, forced labor, and abuse. trafficking, forced labor, and abuse.
• This will ensure UACs will not be placed with criminals or child abusers.
• It also requires every sponsor to be similarly vetted to prevent the rampant child abuse and trafficking
• </c> vetted to prevent the rampant child vetted to prevent the rampant child abuse<05:03:56.638><c> and
• </c><05:21:03.760><c> of</c><05:21:04.080><c> young</c> child trafficking and the abuse of young child

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:05:05.199><c> abuse</c><00:05:06.160><c> because</c> recognizing and reporting abuse because
• Counties investigate reports of child maltreatment. They do so in their county.
• Counties investigate reports of child maltreatment. They do so in their county.
• Counties investigate reports of child maltreatment. They do so in their county.
• Counties investigate reports of child maltreatment. They do so in their county.

Transcript Highlights:

• Read the report. Mr.
• And in some of these cases, it could be a parent that has been abusing the child.
• the child.
• And in some of these cases, it could be a parent that has been abusing the child.
• the child.

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, a recorded quorum, and approval of the prior journal. Members then introduced several guest groups in the gallery, including the City of Maricopa Youth Council, students from Alpha School in Scottsdale, a student shadowing Sen. Gonzalez, Gilbert EduPrize students, InterWest Energy Alliance representatives, and Kingman city leaders. The chamber adopted a proposed amendment to Senate Rule 7A and then adopted the rules of the 57th Legislature, and the Senate also approved a motion to request House consent to adjourn after Wednesday, March 11, until Monday, March 16. A large number of bills were introduced on first reading, and standing committee reports were ordered entered without being read aloud. The Senate then took up numerous third-reading measures. Bills passed included SB 1654 (elections funding), SB 1711 (school safety/age-appropriate information), SB 1743 (campaign contribution address privacy), SB 1747 (assistive technology content), SB 1212 (health insurance reimbursement rules), SB 1284 (moving violations), SB 1336 (State Land Department-related changes), SB 1365 (property tax exemptions/veterans park discounts), SB 1655 (juror summoning/poll worker recruitment), SB 1662 (probation), SB 1803 (veterans’ services), SB 1818 (vehicle statutes), SB 1494 and SB 1497 (school insurance-related changes), SB 1503 (pension benefit plans), SB 1584 (Department of Corrections staffing), SB 1632 (Department of Economic Security), SB 1723 (bail), SB 1206 (insurance claims on reconsideration), and SB 1827 (aviation appropriations on reconsideration). SB 1134 on political signs initially failed, but the Senate later reconsidered and passed it. SB 1544 (probation) and SB 1585 (sex offender monitoring funding) failed. Several votes were close, and members offered explanations for both support and opposition on issues such as election administration, campaign privacy, health care incentives, veterans’ claims assistance, and criminal justice policy. The chamber then resolved into the Committee of the Whole for a long series of bills, adopting committee and floor amendments and recommending do pass on SB 1009, SB 1050, SB 1054, SB 1071, SB 1086, SB 1317, SB 1461, and SB 1672. Testimony in committee focused on topics including high school training standards, veterans’ state park passes, local measures, Arizona Rangers oversight, AHCCCS reimbursement and workforce issues, reentry programming, allied health workforce development, and anti-psychotic drug access. Later, the Committee of the Whole also considered SB 1173, SB 1234, SB 1295, and SB 1611. SB 1173 drew debate over whether additional fingerprint/background checks were needed for AHCCCS providers; SB 1234 and SB 1295 addressed juvenile court representation and inmate medical release; and SB 1611, on the American Indian Health Program, prompted extensive discussion about fraud in the program, tribal consultation, and whether the program should be moved out of AHCCCS. The committee adopted amendments and advanced these bills with do pass recommendations, while members on SB 1611 emphasized both the need for reform and concerns about consultation with Arizona tribes.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then I would like to move on to the staff report concerning the child fatality panel update. >> My
• reported to the Cabinet for Health and Family Services and that are suspected to be the result of abuse
• One relating to substance abuse.
• One relating to substance abuse.
• and not only physical abuse.

Summary: The committee first established a quorum and approved the minutes from the previous meeting. Members then received a staff report on the Kentucky Child Fatality and Near Fatality External Review Panel, including an annual LOIC evaluation of the panel’s operations, statutory compliance, case management system development, member experience, and written procedures. The report noted recent House Bill 778 expanded the panel’s access to records and to TWIST/I-TWIST, and recommended that staff request access and training promptly to avoid implementation problems. Analysts reported the panel has met statutory membership and meeting requirements, and that agency responses to the panel’s 2025 recommendations improved, with all responses meeting statutory content requirements though some were late. They also said the panel still lacks formal written procedures, so a prior recommendation was reissued. The report discussed the panel’s new case management system, now in testing with the Commonwealth Office of Technology, and a survey of panel members showing generally positive views of meetings and case discussions but recurring concerns about SharePoint access, time demands, virtual meetings, and the panel’s lack of enforcement authority. The report included a matter for legislative consideration suggesting the General Assembly may wish to seek additional testimony from agencies when responses are unclear or more information is needed. Panel staff responded that the work is difficult but important, said they are optimistic about gaining TWIST access, and acknowledged that written procedures have not yet been completed because they wanted to align them with the new system. They said both the system and procedures are hoped to be finished by the end of the year, with the new case management system expected to be implemented by September 1 after further testing and migration. Members also discussed trends in child fatality and near-fatality cases, including increases in reported cases since 2013, substance abuse, safe storage of firearms, and concerns about THC/CBD gummies reaching children. No formal votes were taken beyond approval of the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:03:24.959><c> It's</c> child for an excused absence. It's child for an excused absence.
• </c> Section three uh includes physical abuse Section three uh includes physical abuse um<00:09:08.399
• </c> requires the commissioner to report requires the commissioner to report language<00:09:18.240><c
• Section 17 modifies a reporting year.
• JFK2501 ensures that no child, JFK2501 ensures that no child, regardless<00:28:47.039><c> of</c><00:28

Transcript Highlights:

• The case closed in March of that year, despite reports of substance abuse during pregnancy.
• abuse, neglect.
• There was already the signs there of neglect and abuse and violence and child.
• abusive.
• , mandated reporters, their teachers are mandatory reporters.

Bills: HB2720 , HB2073 , HB2681 , SB5467 , SB5820 , SB5863 , SB5892 , SCR8406 , HB2487 , HB2711 , SB5816 , SB5919 , SB5995 , SB6278

Summary: The House convened, established a quorum, approved the prior day’s minutes, and then moved through caucuses and a series of transportation, elections, energy, historical records, cannabis, abortion-access, and fiscal bills. Members repeatedly emphasized that several measures were supplemental or technical updates to existing law, while others involved larger policy disputes over taxes, fees, clean energy, election security, and reproductive health. The chamber also received Senate messages on other bills and briefly recessed for caucus during the day. The most prominent action was final passage of Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6005, the supplemental transportation budget, after adopting a technical amendment and a larger striker amendment. Supporters highlighted preservation and maintenance funding, rail investments, ferry maintenance, road safety, and continued work on major projects statewide; opponents largely reserved comments or noted concerns about future needs. The House passed the bill 93-0 with five excused. The House also passed Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2711 on transportation resources, after adopting a technical amendment that removed the aircraft tax and delayed an RV-related tax change; supporters said it protected businesses and jobs, while opponents objected to trade-in treatment and other tax changes. That bill passed 83-10. On elections, the House considered Senate Bill 5892 to protect the voter registration database. An amendment to reduce penalties from a felony to a civil infraction and remove the emergency clause failed, while the committee amendment passed 50-34. Supporters said the bill was needed to safeguard sensitive voter data and clarify access; opponents argued it created conflicts with federal law and imposed excessive penalties on local election officials. The bill then passed 57-36. On energy, Substitute Senate Bill 5982 updating consumer-owned utility provisions drew debate over carbon capture, resource adequacy, data centers, and clean energy policy. Amendments on carbon capture and blackout-triggered termination failed, while an amendment preserving cogeneration exceptions passed; the bill then passed 57-37. The House also passed Senate Bill 5863 on preservation and inspection of state historical records, after rejecting an amendment to require longer retention but adopting the committee amendment; supporters stressed preserving the history of residential habilitation centers and the value to families seeking records. Substitute Senate Bill 5874, allowing the Employment Security Department to waive penalties for minor employer reporting errors, passed unanimously. Engrossed House Bill 2681, raising cannabis license fees while removing an escalator, passed 52-42. Finally, Substitute Senate Bill 5917 on access to abortion medications saw several failed amendments from opponents seeking to narrow, reframe, or add fiscal limits to the bill; supporters said it preserved flexibility to ensure access and avoid waste, and the bill passed 57-36.

Transcript Highlights:

• That will be the next report.
• Or postpartum to be reported.
• The bill would require HHSC to complete the biannual report and include additional reporting information
• The proposed substitute would require more detailed financial reporting as well as reporting.
• for a child?

Bills: HB514 , HB1652 , HB2117 , HB2298 , HB3269 , HB46 , HB46

Committee: House S/C on Disease Prevention & Women's & Children's Health

Keywords: maternal health, maternal care, pregnancy, labor and delivery, postpartum, doula, birth worker, midwife, obstetric care, women's health, rural health, health workforce, workforce development, trauma-informed care, public outreach campaign, health equity, minority health, underserved communities, Texas Department of State Health Services, HHSC

Transcript Highlights:

• The people Commit serves often cannot report abuse, neglect, poor care, or unsafe conditions.
• The bills also establish the child sexual abuse and assault awareness and prevention pilot program.
• sexual abuse and assault response policy and reporting procedure.
• Maybe there's a child abuse pilot program we're having questions on.
• Representative Travers, I think you're referring to the child sexual abuse and assault awareness and

Bills: HB4154 , HB4155 , HB4156 , HB4157 , HB4158 , HB4159 , HB4160 , HB4161 , HB4162 , HB4163 , HB4164 , HB4165 , HB4166 , HB4167 , HB4168 , HB4169 , SB1847 , SB1848 , SB1849 , SB1850 , SB1851 , SB1852 , SB1853 , SB1854 , SB1855 , SB1856 , SB1857 , SB1858 , SB1859 , SB1860 , SB1861 , SB1862

Committee: Joint Appropriations

Keywords: HB4155, amusements, amusement industry, entertainment, recreation, state appropriations, biennium, 2026-2027, fees, licensing, regulation, tourism, parks, fairgrounds, carnivals, arcades, HB4156, capital outlay, appropriations, capital projects

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll move on to the next measure, House Bill 239, House Draft 1, related to child abuse.
• certain needs to a child shall not constitute child abuse or neglect if the sole reason the person responsible
• </c><01:02:16.119><c> abuse</c> house draft one related to child abuse house draft one related to child
• by clarifying that the failure to provide certain needs to a child shall not constitute child abuse
• abuse or neglect I guess it's child abuse or neglect<01:09:40.120><c> no</c><01:09:40.440><c> services

Committee: House Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 302, which would repeal the requirement that a provider-patient relationship for medical cannabis certification be established in person first. The Department of Health said it supported the House Draft 2 version as a way to expand patient access, and several testifiers from the medical cannabis community and dispensary industry supported the bill, especially for patients on outer islands or those unable to travel. One witness asked that earlier language removed in committee be restored to further improve access. Representative Shimizu asked whether follow-up in-person visits would still occur, and DOH responded that this varies by provider, with some continuing in-person care and others moving to telehealth for chronic conditions. The committee then took up House Bill 712, relating to the federal 340B drug pricing program and contract pharmacies. The Office of Consumer Protection and the Attorney General’s office both said they supported the bill’s purpose but wanted it clarified and possibly moved into a standalone chapter rather than chapter 481B. Supporters, including Hawaii Pacific Health and the Queen’s Health Systems, said the bill is needed to protect safety-net funding and access to discounted drugs, citing large financial benefits from 340B and losses caused by manufacturer restrictions on contract pharmacies. PhRMA opposed the bill, arguing the issue is not access to discounts but accountability and transparency in how contract pharmacies distribute benefits, and said it was willing to discuss amendments. Members asked follow-up questions about whether there was data showing misuse; PhRMA said it did not have numbers, while hospital witnesses said the program is federally audited and used appropriately in Hawaii. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 1482, HD1, which would tighten hemp and controlled-substance definitions to exclude Schedule I cannabinoids from manufactured hemp products and clarify the treatment of artificially derived cannabis. The Department of Health supported the measure, saying it adds clarity to existing prohibitions. Kūre Hawaii and other supporters said it would close loopholes involving Delta-8 and similar products. An individual testifier urged stronger language to also cover compounds such as HHC, THCA, THCP, and THCO. In response to questions about enforcement against mislabeled hemp products, DOH explained that THC percentages are relative to product weight, that some products can remain under the hemp threshold while still containing significant THC, and that hemp flower is already prohibited from direct retail sale, though enforcement can be complicated and involves both administrative and criminal authorities.

Transcript Highlights:

• All occurrences of alleged abuse, sex trafficking are reported to appropriate authorities.
• All occurrences of alleged abuse, sex trafficking are reported to appropriate authorities.
• Our reporting process: our policy is for reported or suspected human trafficking, we notify the patient
• Where are they coming in to report?
• victims of abuse or trafficking.

Summary: The first meeting of the Human Trafficking and Emergency Department Task Force focused on implementing Act 267 of 2025, which created the body to develop a statewide human trafficking protocol to be incorporated into regional sexual assault response plans. Chair Rep. Kelly Hennessy Dickerson and Office of Human Trafficking Prevention Director Mary Kate Andrepont outlined the task force’s goal of producing a practical, transferable protocol for hospitals and emergency departments across Louisiana, with help from Heal Trafficking. Members and presenters repeatedly emphasized that the protocol should be trauma-informed, survivor-centered, multidisciplinary, and adaptable to different regions and health systems. Hospital, SANE, and advocacy presenters described current practices and gaps. Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport’s Operation Rahab and FMOLHS’s policies highlighted staff education, badge buddies, private screening, reporting pathways, and coordination with the National Human Trafficking Hotline, law enforcement, DCFS, and local advocates. SANE nurses and forensic staff stressed that most trafficking victims pass through emergency departments and that subtle behavioral indicators, rapport-building, and broad staff education are critical. LaFASA described statewide sexual assault advocacy services, emphasizing 24-hour crisis response, legal support, and the role of advocates in helping survivors understand options and regain control. Child and youth trafficking specialists from DCFS-contracted programs, including Unbound Now and BCFS/Common Thread, explained Louisiana’s Act 662 response for minors, which routes reports into coordinated advocacy and care coordination. They said their teams respond statewide within 90 minutes, provide crisis support, and work with CACs, hospitals, and law enforcement. Members raised concerns about major service gaps, especially for adults, transportation, safe housing, and specialized placements for survivors with disabilities. Presenters also noted that male survivor housing remains limited, though Eden Centers now offers some beds. The task force also reviewed a needs assessment showing many hospitals lack mandatory trafficking training, screening practices, written protocols, and confidence in identifying victims. Members discussed expanding education beyond ED staff to residents, nursing schools, student health, mental health, housekeeping, maintenance, and law enforcement. No formal votes were taken, but the chair said the survey results and testimony would be used to draft a protocol before the next meeting, with a final draft to follow after further review and feedback.