Transcript Highlights:

• </c> don't know, biocurity involves practices don't know, biocurity involves practices and<00:11:56.640
• . collaboration. collaboration.
• </c><01:29:52.880><c> for</c> have uh new devices and practices for have uh new devices and practices
• ,<01:35:59.920><c> cooperation,</c> collaboration, cooperation, collaboration, cooperation, communication
• </c> concerned about the agency collaboration concerned about the agency collaboration cooperation<01

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Department of Transportation is required to collaborate with critical supply chain stakeholders to
• The Department of Transportation is required to collaborate with critical supply chain stakeholders to
• about some ideas he has; we'll consider those and any more we hear from you, and we want to work collaboratively
• And it allows the state of Washington to give preference to military spouses in its own hiring practices
• And it allows the state of Washington to give preference to military spouses in its own hiring practices

Summary: The committee held public hearings on two bills. Senate Bill 5420 would expand access to state benefits and preferences for veterans, uniformed service members, and military spouses by adding the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps and NOAA Corps to various eligibility provisions, extending some employment preferences to military spouses, and updating related protections. Staff and the prime sponsor, Sen. John Lovick, described it as a long-worked-on measure that passed the Senate overwhelmingly. Tammy Pro of the Department of War supported the bill, saying it modernizes state law and better recognizes service members and military families. The committee also heard Engrossed Senate Bill 5649, which would create a Washington State supply chain competitiveness infrastructure program to provide grants and loans for public and tribal port projects tied to freight mobility and supply chain performance. Sen. Marko Liias and port representatives testified in support, saying ports are critical to Washington’s trade-driven economy and that the bill would help fund needed infrastructure, including rail and terminal improvements, especially for smaller and rural ports. Testifiers said the program would fill a gap because ports lack a dedicated state grant program and could help leverage federal funding. An amendment to SB 5649 was explained as limiting eligible projects to those not already eligible for funding from the Freight Mobility Strategic Investment Board, to avoid duplication. The committee paused and later closed the hearing on SB 5649, then returned to SB 5420 to hear additional testimony. No votes were taken, and the meeting ended after the public hearings were closed.

Transcript Highlights:

• After extensive discussions, the pole attachers and electric utilities collaborated to develop a draft
• We received valuable feedback, secured broad buy-in, and worked collaboratively to find areas of compromise
• Just as importantly, the final product reflects genuine collaboration.
• In looking at that practice, there really are a lot of these places that are licenses, a multipurpose
• In looking at that practice, there really are a lot of these places that are licenses a multi-purpose

Summary: The committee first adopted the minutes from February 9 and 10, then heard and approved rules for the Idaho Public Utilities Commission implementing House Bill 180A on pole attachments and broadband deployment. Taylor Thomas said the rule was developed through months of stakeholder negotiation with electric utilities, cable/broadband entities, and others, and was narrowed to focus on permitting timelines, non-discriminatory access, make-ready work, and dispute resolution. He said major sticking points included uncured violations, unauthorized attachments, fee structures, and enforcement, and that several provisions were removed or tightened to better match legislative intent. The committee asked about who owns the poles and how long the process took, then voted to approve the docket. The committee then heard and approved Idaho State Police Alcohol Beverage Control rules. Lieutenant Colonel Russ Wheatley said the changes responded to prior committee feedback and public comments, especially clarifying the “actual use” requirement for liquor licenses so they cannot be held unused as investments. He also explained that the rules remove duplicative statutory language and simplify multipurpose arena requirements by reducing restrictions on food preparation, security staffing ratios, drink limits, service-area diagrams, and monthly event schedules for private rental venues. Members asked about server age requirements, license speculation, and whether unused licenses can be reclaimed; Wheatley said the state monitors usage and can pursue administrative violations if a license is not being used. During discussion on the alcohol rules, Wheatley also addressed the fiscal impact of changes to liquor license transfers. He said the loss of transfer-fee revenue has created about a $900,000 shortfall for ABC, which supports 11 detectives statewide, and warned that reduced funding could affect enforcement and license processing times. The committee then voted to approve the alcohol control docket and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• We believe these are practical amendments that strengthen the bill, protect local taxpayers, and help
• The language in print today has been drafted in collaboration with a wide range of stakeholders across
• society, and international authorities, including those in the EU, recently published the Code of Practice
• The language in print today has been drafted in collaboration with a wide range of stakeholders across
• society, and international authorities, including those in the EU who recently published the Code of Practice

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Many categorical programs were created to encourage statewide adoption of practices found to be effective
• However, implementing best practices does not necessarily result in the same level of improvement statewide
• In some cases, LEAs do not have the expertise to effectively implement these best practices, or the state
• Community schools give us that different path: restorative practices, trauma-informed care, coordinated
• In Anaheim, this is what collaborative leadership through community schools and redesign looks like.

Summary: The Senate Budget Subcommittee on Education heard the Governor’s proposals on universal school meals, the Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELOP), and community schools, with the Kitchen Infrastructure and Training Grants Program also discussed. For universal meals, the Department of Education supported continued investment, citing high student meal need, reported gains in meal participation and service efficiency from prior kitchen grants, and concerns that federal changes and underreporting could affect funding. The Department of Finance outlined $1.8 billion Proposition 98 General Fund for universal meals and an additional $100 million for a fourth round of kitchen grants, while the LAO recommended rejecting the new kitchen grant round because prior rounds are still being spent and the allowable uses are broad. Members raised questions about federal matching requirements, Summer EBT, and whether immigration-related federal policy changes could reduce meal counts and state/federal reimbursements. For ELOP, the Department of Finance described $4.7 billion ongoing Proposition 98 General Fund plus $62.4 million to set a minimum Tier 2 rate of $1,800 per pupil. The LAO recommended modifying the proposal to fully fix Tier 2 at the current $1,579 rate and tie future changes to program requirements, while CDE supported the Governor’s approach and said the added stability would help districts plan. Committee discussion focused on whether ELOP should remain a standalone before- and after-school program or be folded into LCFF, with some members and witnesses arguing for more local flexibility and clearer outcome measures, while others emphasized the value of guaranteed expanded learning access, especially for elementary students and working families. CDE noted new CalPADS reporting will provide more data beginning with the 2025-26 school year. For community schools, the Governor proposed $1 billion ongoing Proposition 98 General Fund to expand the model to thousands more schools and sustain existing ones, along with stronger technical assistance and future accreditation/self-certification. The LAO recommended continuing the current one-time grant approach instead of creating a new ongoing categorical program, citing concerns about scalability, administrative burden, and the need for earlier planning and clearer accreditation timelines if ongoing funding is adopted. CDE strongly supported the ongoing investment, saying community schools have improved attendance, suspensions, and achievement, and that technical assistance and county office support are essential for expansion. Members and public commenters largely supported community schools, with some urging stronger accountability, more support for county offices and MTSS, and debate over whether non-classroom-based charter schools should be excluded from eligibility. No formal votes were taken in the portion provided; the committee heard testimony and moved through the agenda items and public comment.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:28:46.880><c> efforts</c> we are aware that collaborative efforts we are aware that collaborative
• I do practice in one other state.
• Uh and we practice in one other state.
• Um, to close up, it's a practical local option.
• </c><01:05:24.000><c> local</c> to to close up um it's a practical local to to close up um it's a practical

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, Representative, that is common practice at this point in time.
• That has been common practice. I thought. Yeah, if you could, Lauren.
• Chair, Representative, that is common practice at this point in time.
• That is common practice at this point in time. I think it's probably part of the ZBR process.
• That has been common practice. I thought. Yeah, if you could, Lauren.

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The Resources and Conservation Committee met to approve January 21 minutes and then took up three Idaho Department of Fish and Game administrative rule dockets under the Governor’s Zero-Based Regulation process. Director Amber Worthington and staff explained that the rules were largely cleanup and clarification changes, with some substantive updates to public use of department lands, trapping rules, and vendor licensing. Committee members asked several questions about definitions, consistency in language, open-range implications, and the effect of online sales on local vendors. For the public use of lands docket, Fish and Game added definitions for camping and leash to improve enforceability, clarified camping restrictions and stay limits on WMAs, campgrounds, and fishing access sites, and added prohibitions on exploding targets and airsoft guns to reduce fire risk and litter. Members raised concerns about a leash definition and a livestock-grazing provision, but staff said the changes were intended to address enforcement and did not alter open-range obligations. The committee approved the docket after discussion. For the trapping docket, the department added “natural” to bait definitions to distinguish liquid scent from visible bait, increased reimbursement for non-target species to encourage reporting, moved reporting requirements for lynx and wolverine to a separate section, allowed some trapping on snow-covered routes and under certain bridges or culverts, and allowed trapping of gray wolves on private property near an active feeding site. The Idaho Conservation League supported the incidental bycatch reporting changes but opposed inclusion of ESA-listed species language, while the Idaho Outfitter and Guides Association said it was neutral. The committee approved the docket. The vendor licensing docket reduced the active vendor ceiling from 475 to 400, removed out-of-state vendor applications, replaced low-numbered vendor criteria with community-benefit factors, expanded review of employee and contract violations, changed transaction-count language, and allowed vendors to charge a credit card processing fee equal to bank charges. Members asked about the impact of online sales and how the fee would be monitored; staff said online sales have reduced some vendor traffic, especially for nonresident draw products, and that fee compliance would largely depend on customer complaints. The committee approved this docket as well, then adjourned with notice that more contentious rules would be considered later.

Transcript Highlights:

• The inclusion of the word permits in the... ...to upend existing and future water rights practices.
• With the absence of these standards and inconsistent insurance practices, homeowners or tenants face
• AB 2253 targets accounting practices that allow companies to Renee Sharp from N.R.D.C. Welcome.
• AB2253 targets accounting practices that allow companies to AB 2253 targets accounting practices that
• We know that these accounting practices are inherently misleading.

Summary: The committee heard extensive testimony on AB 2218, which would declare state policy to recognize and address water-related inequities affecting California Native American tribes and require several state agencies to incorporate that policy into water-related decisions. The author and tribal witnesses said the bill would codify a seat at the table for tribes and build on existing consultation and equity commitments, while supporters from environmental and tribal organizations backed the measure. Opponents from municipal utilities, water agencies, cities, counties, agriculture, and business groups argued the bill was too vague, could create uncertainty for water supply and project approvals, and might invite litigation. The chair signaled support, and the author said the bill was intended as a consultation measure rather than one that would usurp agency authority. The committee then took up AB 1795, a wildfire smoke-damage bill that would establish statewide standards for inspecting, testing, and remediating smoke-damaged homes and create clearer insurance claim handling rules. The Department of Insurance supported the bill, saying it would bring consistency and accountability after major urban-interface fires, while wildfire survivors and advocates said current insurer practices leave families unable to safely return home. Insurance and local government groups opposed unless amended, warning about cost, implementation uncertainty, and the bill’s scope. Members discussed unresolved issues, including how the bill would interact with a separate wildfire health-and-safety bill, whether it would apply to existing policies, and how presumptions and testing standards should work. The committee voted AB 1795 out on a due pass as amended motion to Appropriations. AB 1642, another wildfire-related bill, was also heard and focused on setting science-based testing and clearance standards for homes, schools, and businesses after urban and wildland-urban interface fires. The author and a Caltech scientist described contamination from lead and other heavy metals in fire-affected homes and argued for a presumption that certain contaminants found after a fire came from the wildfire, to reduce costly disputes. Survivors and many advocacy groups supported the bill, while insurers and other industry groups opposed, saying the testing regime was too broad, the geographic scope was unclear, and the presumptions could function like strict liability and raise insurance costs. Senators pressed both sides on how AB 1642 would overlap with the CDI smoke-claims task force and with AB 1795, and the author said the two bills were intended to be complementary and would continue to be reconciled. The committee also briefly heard AB 1976, which would create a CEQA exemption for pedestrian malls and limit certain local procedural delays for pedestrian and traffic-calming projects. Supporters said it would make it easier to create safer, more walkable, and more livable streets, and there was no opposition testimony. The chair described it as a narrow CEQA exemption for active transportation-related projects and indicated support. The committee then moved on to AB 2026, a groundwater recharge permitting bill, with the author explaining that it would streamline permitting so more recharge projects can capture floodwater and store it for drought years; testimony on that bill began as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• Magnus, the practice of law is much broader than you are positing.
• Concerns about fraudulent practices, unethical practices, such as those raised in lawsuits, this bill
• We obviously don't want the unauthorized practice of law.
• They found that we did not practice law.
• That's the practice of law under Arizona.

Summary: The committee heard an extended presentation and discussion on Arizona higher education research security, focused heavily on Arizona State University’s foreign funding, international partnerships, and alleged ties to Chinese military-affiliated institutions. The presenter argued that ASU and the Arizona Board of Regents had not been transparent about foreign gifts, contracts, and research collaborations, especially those involving the Chinese “Seven Sons” universities, and said the committee would pursue a congressional referral and other federal review. A strike-everything amendment to SB 1060 was described but then withdrawn; the underlying SB 1327 was then taken up as a companion measure requiring ABOR to adopt university research security policies and submit annual reports on those policies and on foreign contributions over $250,000. The committee heard testimony in support from Marina Macklin, who said the bill would help protect dual-use and defense-relevant research from being funneled to China’s military ecosystem, and she answered questions about biosecurity, semiconductors, AI model theft, and election systems. After debate, SB 1327 was approved on a 4-2 vote, with Delos Santos and Marquez voting no and Colloden, Powell, and the chair voting yes; the chair stated his support was to keep missile, armor, guidance, and other technology safe from the Chinese government. The committee then heard SB 1803, a veterans’ consumer-protection bill regulating private companies that help veterans file disability claims. The bill would prohibit unaccredited persons from preparing, presenting, or prosecuting veterans’ benefits matters, require service agreements to be filed with the Attorney General, cap compensation, ban certain practices such as overseas call centers and in-house doctors, and create consumer-fraud enforcement authority. Sponsor Sen. Gallin said the measure was intended to add guardrails for veterans and prevent bad actors from taking excessive fees or misleading claimants. Testimony from Veterans Guardian representatives supported the bill as a way to create transparency and preserve veterans’ choice while regulating the industry; they said many veterans seek private help after unsuccessful attempts with free services and that the bill would not eliminate competition. Opponents and skeptical members questioned whether the bill would effectively legalize one business model while restricting others, whether the contingent-fee structure was consumer-friendly, and whether the companies were engaging in the unauthorized practice of law. The discussion also referenced prior federal and state litigation involving similar laws and the possibility of future federal accreditation reform. The transcript ends during continued questioning on SB 1803, before a final vote is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• It was just a practical change of date.
• Expanding pharmacists' scope of practice is a practical solution to address provider shortages and improve
• And then there was full practice authority.
• Hartman, from how the practice works from brand to generic.
• It would not be safe practice.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 2401, which would require physicians to complete continuing education on nutrition and metabolic health as part of the state’s rural health transformation effort. HHS supported the bill, saying it would help physicians better address chronic disease and preserve federal grant points tied to the state’s application. A member of the public also testified in favor, arguing that better nutrition education could improve diabetes outcomes and reduce costs. The committee then adopted an amendment to add the Board of Occupational Therapy Practice to the background-check statute so the occupational therapy compact could proceed, and it passed the bill as amended on a roll call vote. The committee next heard House Bill 1621, which would require the Presidential Fitness Physical Fitness Test in elementary, middle, and high school physical education courses. HHS said the bill was part of the rural health transformation application and could help preserve federal funding, but members raised many questions about the test’s criteria, adaptive options for students with disabilities, equipment needs, and whether the bill should apply to non-public schools. Senator Clemens offered an amendment to limit the requirement to public schools, but it failed. Senator Hogan then offered an amendment to clarify exemptions and allow DPI to align implementation with federal guidance; that amendment passed. A further amendment adding language allowing DPI to establish criteria for and exceptions to the test also passed. The committee then approved the bill as amended on a roll call vote. The committee also considered House Bill 1622, which joins North Dakota to the physician assistant licensure compact. HHS said the compact would improve access to care, especially in rural areas, support military families, and help preserve rural health transformation funding. Members noted the compact had been discussed in a prior session and that many earlier concerns had been resolved. After brief discussion about the compact process and its consistency with other interstate compacts, the committee voted to do pass the bill. Finally, the committee began Senate Bill 2402, which expands pharmacists’ prescriptive authority and therapeutic substitution powers. HHS and the Board of Pharmacy supported the bill as a way to improve access to care and maintain rural health transformation funding. Senator Roers introduced a detailed amendment negotiated with the Board of Medicine and Board of Pharmacy to narrow and clarify the bill, including notification requirements, limits on certain drug categories, and patient-protection language for therapeutic substitution. The Board of Pharmacy then testified in support of the broader bill and explained the CLIA-waived testing provisions and the repeal of the older, narrower pharmacist-testing language. The hearing and amendment discussion were still underway when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's more complex than that and requires adherence to best practices models.
• We remain focused on how innovation is put into practice and diffused across our schools.
• It takes an overhaul of our current practices.
• And so, you know, I very much am in support of high-quality math, but it's more practical.
• We can't really tell them what to do, but we can provide guidance on what those best practices are.

Transcript Highlights:

• We collaborated on most things fishing and almost always agree.
• We collaborated on most things fishing and almost always agree. Welcome, Dr. O'Keefe.
• And ultimately, the continued success for the scallop fishery will rely on maintaining a collaborative
• And this is a collaborative research effort that we started back in 1999 with the scallop industry.
• That success is due in large part to industry investment in science and collaborative governance.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The joint hearing focused on the Massachusetts sea scallop fishery, especially the economic importance of the industry, federal scallop management, and two policy questions: reopening the Northern Edge area on Georges Bank and allowing permit stacking/permit consolidation. Chairing senators emphasized their interest in hearing both sides, their frustration with federal bureaucracy, and their view that the issue should be guided by science while protecting the long-term resource and local communities. Dr. Kate O’Keefe of the New England Fishery Management Council and Kevin Stokesbury of UMass Dartmouth described the Magnuson-Stevens framework, annual catch limits, rotational area management, and the role of industry-funded surveys and the research set-aside program. They said scallops remain the most lucrative council-managed commercial fishery on the East Coast, but recent changes include more small scallops, lower biomass in some areas, higher natural mortality, and shifting abundance toward Georges Bank. On the Northern Edge, they explained that the council previously considered opening the area through a framework/joint action with habitat management, but discontinued the action in 2024 because of conflicting objectives involving scallop yield, habitat protection, and other species. They said the issue could be revisited through future council priority-setting. Representatives of the Sustainable Scalloping Fund argued that the fishery needs modernization to remain economically viable. They supported reopening the Northern Edge and strongly backed permit stacking, saying it would allow two permits on one vessel while keeping ownership caps in place, reducing costs, improving safety, and helping family-owned fleets avoid financial distress and outside investment. Port of New Bedford representative John Regan stressed the port’s central role in the state economy, the need to protect working waterfront infrastructure, and the importance of any permit changes preserving local ownership and participation. No votes were taken; the hearing was informational, and members asked that the witnesses keep the committee informed as the council and federal agencies consider next steps.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um I know in Oyster River this has been practice for decades.
• Um and has been practice for decades.
• </c> collaborate to perfect this. Thank you. collaborate to perfect this. Thank you.
• So in practice, are we screening two or three times per year? >> It can be.
• </c><05:26:13.360><c> about</c> collaborating together to talk about collaborating together to talk about

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In my practice, as a sane doctor, I see patients that meet these conditions.
• Shelpa Matthew, also practicing OBGYN in Sacramento, in strong opposition. Thank you.
• The practical effect of Lurkey has been a profound statewide chaos.
• It's been difficult to implement this in practice.
• It's been difficult to implement this in practice.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It doesn't change anything in practice.
• Again, no practical change. Thank you, Mr. Strong.
• It doesn't change anything in practice.
• Again, no practical change. House File 1049 also has no practical effect on lines 1.7.
• </c> no practical change. Thank you, Mr. no practical change. Thank you, Mr.

Bills: HF1048, HF1049, HF745, HF2210

Keywords: charter schools, education funding, revenue calculation, general education revenue, special education, school library aid, education finance, school districts, funding eligibility, compensatory revenue, task force, free meals, school funding, education equity, HF2210, school unemployment aid, Minnesota Department of Education, general fund appropriation, unemployment insurance, unemployment claims

Transcript Highlights:

• Practically, our recommendations mean not approving any new spending. That's...
• Practically, our recommendations mean not approving any new spending.
• “That was a collaboration between the Boston Consulting Group and the administration at that time.
• We have no intention of circumventing any kind of working together or collaboration on this.
• We have collaborated for years. We’ve been through COVID.

Summary: Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 6 heard the Governor’s May Revision proposals for the judicial branch, the Board of State and Community Corrections, the Department of Justice, and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. The Legislative Analyst’s Office opened with a warning that the state budget remains structurally imbalanced and urged the Legislature to avoid new ongoing spending unless offset by reductions elsewhere. In the judicial branch discussion, the Judicial Council highlighted language access funding, appellate court security, a backfill for the state court facilities construction fund, and an extension of the lactation room mandate; Finance supported most items but suggested reporting language on interpreter costs and reducing the General Fund backfill. Members raised concerns about judicial vacancies, long-term salary freezes, remote hearings, and the lack of progress on court staffing in some counties. For the Board of State and Community Corrections, the administration proposed $10 million one-time each for the Missing and Murdered Indigenous People grant program and a human trafficking vertical prosecution grant program. The LAO said both should be weighed against other priorities and suggested the Legislature consider whether the Tribal Nations Grant Fund could support MMIP work, while Finance said it preferred General Fund support and wanted more review before any fund swap. Members strongly supported MMIP funding and asked whether ongoing support would be considered. On the human trafficking grant, Finance said BSC was a good fit because of its grant administration experience and prior vertical prosecution work, while legislators asked why the program was not placed with the Office of Emergency Services as originally contemplated in prior legislation. The Department of Justice presented antitrust litigation funding, Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse staffing, completion of organized retail criminal enterprise cases, and trailer bill language for a continuous appropriation from the Victims of Consumer Fraud Restitution Fund. The LAO supported the antitrust account use but questioned the Unfair Competition Law Fund’s ability to cover the full request without General Fund repayment, and recommended against a continuous appropriation for the restitution fund in favor of a more limited mechanism with legislative oversight. Finance said the fund would remain solvent and defended the continuous appropriation as necessary to pay victims promptly. In the CDCR portion, the largest discussion centered on the Boston Consulting Group efficiency review and sharply reduced savings estimates; LAO said the department had not fully explained the proposed position eliminations or future $100 million savings target, while Finance said the work reflected deeper analysis and ongoing efforts to find savings. Members repeatedly pressed CDCR and Finance on the gap between earlier promised savings and the revised figures. CDCR also outlined population projections showing continued declines in prison and parole populations, while LAO again urged the state to close an additional prison to save ongoing costs. The department then walked through several May Revision items, including workers’ compensation funding, a Corcoran honor housing dorm, incarcerated firefighter pay implementation, an incarcerated menopause program, mental health receiver staffing, mental health resource teams and crisis intervention teams, medical classification staffing changes, and AI note-taking for the electronic health record. LAO generally recommended limiting-term funding and more reporting for many of these proposals, while Finance defended them as necessary ongoing investments or court-ordered obligations. Members questioned the cost of workers’ compensation, the need for more prison closures, the lack of funding for women’s facility violence prevention, and the timing and transparency of the BCG savings process. No votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• This action allows for further collaboration among law enforcement agencies and additional resources
• ><c> law</c> further collaboration among law further collaboration among law enforcement<00:07:55.360
• ,</c> in a team while also gaining practical, in a team while also gaining practical, hands-on<00:09:
• </c><05:22:02.080><c> are</c> rapidly and new best practices are rapidly and new best practices are developed
• Thank you. collaboration on this bill, and I want collaboration on this bill, and I want to<05:27:05.280

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, May 19, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• HE TURNED PRE-HISTORIC CREATURES INTO BELOVED CREATURES IN "WE'RE BACK" AND COLLABORATED WITH STEVEN
• There are so few holistic practices that are recognized, and I'm so glad.
• I use acupuncture for migraines; it is really a great practice.
• You can't overdose, you can't become addicted to it, so it is one of the best medical practices.
• FROM THESE USUROUS AND EXPLOITIVE PRACTICES.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened, approved the prior day’s journal, and then processed a large number of motions to discharge bills from committees and substitute identical Senate or Assembly versions for third reading. The chamber also adopted the resolution calendar with exceptions and took up several resolutions and ceremonial recognitions, including a resolution mourning Hudson Talbott, a Dairy Month resolution highlighting New York’s dairy industry, and introductions honoring Niskayuna academic teams, Gabriella Scheer for receiving the Liberty Medal, the Hartstein family’s civic engagement, and Diana Cochran’s advocacy for safe firearm storage. The Senate then moved through the calendar and passed many bills on topics including insurance, public health, education, labor, social services, banking, local government, veterans, public service, consumer protection, criminal procedure, cannabis, parks, taxation, election law, and highway matters. Several members explained votes on notable measures: support for acupuncture insurance coverage, consumer protections for doorbell-camera data sharing, expanded protections in debt collection cases, trauma-informed procedures for sexual assault survivors, a Legionnaires’ disease awareness program, changes to mandatory minimum sentencing, and universal safe storage of firearms. A number of home rule and local authorization bills were also approved, including parkland alienation measures and local tax exemption authorizations. Most measures passed with broad bipartisan support, though some drew recorded opposition. Notable roll calls included the consumer debt uniformity bill, the mandatory minimum sentencing bill, the safe storage/firearms bill, and the public housing and public health measures, each with more divided votes. The chamber also accepted a lengthy Rules Committee report sending many additional bills directly to third reading, and then began the supplemental calendar, passing at least the first items before the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• But we really appreciate the collaboration of Representative Chakotcha, Senator Pinckney, Governor Meyer
• , ...the collaboration of Representative Chakotra, Senator Pinckney, Governor Meyer, and his administration
• private equity's entry into health care, and unfortunately, it is becoming an increasingly common practice
• An increasingly common practice, as seen with many examples throughout the country, most notably just
• I want to say we greatly appreciate the collaboration and partnership again from Governor Meyer and his

Bills: SB313, SB296

Keywords: Delaware Health Fund, healthcare access, preventive care, tobacco settlement, public health initiatives, grant program

Summary: The House Health and Human Development Committee met and considered a series of health, human services, and related bills. The committee heard and advanced House Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 13, which standardizes hospital charity care and financial assistance statewide, and Senate Bill 296 with Senate Amendment 1, which restructures the Delaware Health Fund grant process with a more formal, transparent competitive rubric. Both measures received supportive testimony from DHSS, the Delaware Healthcare Association, and the Delaware Nurses Association, and both were released by committee on roll-call votes. The committee also released Senate Bill 313 with Senate Amendment 1, which places a temporary moratorium on acquisitions of nonprofit acute care hospitals by for-profit entities and expands notice/review requirements for sales of hospital real estate; Senate Bill 340 with Senate Amendment 1, which requires long-term care facilities to carry specified liability insurance, with questions raised about the exemption for state-owned facilities; Senate Joint Resolution 20, which directs DHSS to study independent assessment tools for Medicaid home- and community-based services; and Senate Bill 341, which updates Delaware Health Information Network law and formally recognizes DIN as the state’s health data utility. Testimony on these bills was generally supportive, with some discussion on constitutional concerns, insurance coverage, and the rationale for the state exemption in SB 340. Later, the committee advanced Senate Bill 257, which requires new animal shelters to be licensed and inspected before operating and removes a prior exception for certain rescue organizations; and Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 278 with House Amendment 1, which allows earlier pre-authorization for summer child care enrollment and lowers copays for half-day care. Public testimony on these measures came from animal welfare advocates, YMCA representatives, and other stakeholders, all largely in support. Each bill was released by committee, with several votes walked for absent members, and the meeting adjourned after all agenda items were addressed.

Transcript Highlights:

• As a result, and with the judiciary's collaboration and their understanding of the critical situation
• that we're in, they have agreed that this will be the practice and have agreed to court appoint all
• collaboration and their understanding<00:58:49.520><c> of</c><00:58:49.640><c> the</c><00:58:49.799>
• </c> community these uh these practices community these uh these practices include<01:39:58.840><c> assisting
• </c><01:40:14.440><c> to</c> through evidence-based practices to through evidence-based practices to

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs heard House Bill 4000, the Judiciary’s biennium budget bill for FY 2026-2027. Judiciary Director of Policy and Planning Brandon Kimura testified in strong support, outlining operating requests of about $6.17 million in FY 26 and $6.25 million in FY 27, 17 permanent positions and one temporary position, plus $9.9 million in capital improvements. He described funding needs for specialty courts, preparations for the Wahiawa District Court, an additional district court judge and staff for Kona, cybersecurity upgrades, the Criminal Justice Research Institute, statewide priority items, and restoration of several essential staff positions. He also said the Judiciary was seeking an additional $2 million for the Children’s Justice Center relocation lump sum because updated estimates had risen to about $8 million. The committee also discussed potential impacts from uncertain federal funding and asked for written follow-up on those risks and on the capital request, including coordination with Budget and Finance. Several organizations and individuals testified in support of the Judiciary budget, including the Hawaiʻi State Bar Association, Legal Aid Society of Hawaiʻi, and legal service providers. Mioko Eto asked for an additional $1 million for civil legal service providers, explaining that the current funding is spread across multiple providers and that the need remains high. David Copper of Legal Aid supported the request, citing statewide demand, 105 staff, 7,100 cases closed in the past year, and 15,000 calls received, while noting that many people seeking help cannot be served because of capacity limits. He also said recent federal funding disruptions and proposed cuts could affect legal services and related programs. Committee members asked about the Criminal Justice Research Institute’s mission; Kimura said its primary statutory role is to build a database focused on pre-trial reporting and data analysis, though it is also working on probation and mental health-related projects. No vote or final action on HB 4000 was taken in the hearing excerpt provided.