Transcript Highlights:

• I am not enjoying seeing these preventable diseases again.
• He had meningococcal disease and would die.
• The new CDC guidance recommends vaccines for only 11 diseases instead of the 17 diseases previously recommended
• We manage your parents' chronic diseases.
• They can also prevent chronic conditions or diseases from occurring.

Summary: The Senate Health and Long-Term Care Committee opened its 2026 session with a work session focused on the committee’s priorities of access, quality, and affordability. Health Care Authority staff Michelle Needham and Ross Florey reviewed the Health Care Cost Transparency Board’s work, noting Washington’s uninsured rate has fallen from 15% in 2010 to 5%, but health care spending growth remains above the benchmark. They said 2023 spending grew 6.2% versus a 3.2% target, with prescription drugs, hospital outpatient care, professional services, and non-claims spending driving growth. They highlighted ongoing work on market transparency, hospital spending, primary care, and federal policy changes that could reduce coverage and increase uncompensated care. Dr. Drew Oliva of the Washington Health Alliance added quality and safety data, saying many measures remain below top national performance, primary care attachment is weak, hospital pricing varies widely, and behavioral health data are limited. He urged stronger primary care investment, more transparency, and better patient safety oversight. Committee members then introduced themselves and staff before moving to public hearings. The committee first heard Senate Bill 5877, a technical fix expanding the physician health program surcharge to certified anesthesiologist assistants so they can participate in the Washington Physicians Health Program and related educational resources. The bill sponsor and witnesses from the Washington Medical Commission, the Washington Academy of Anesthesiologist Assistants, and the Washington Physicians Health Program all supported the measure, describing it as a consistency and access fix for a newly licensed profession. The bill drew 12 pro, 2 con, and 0 other sign-ins. The committee then heard Senate Bill 5967, which would preserve access to preventive services by allowing the Department of Health to issue immunization recommendations based on multiple expert sources and by freezing state insurance coverage protections for preventive services and vaccines as of mid-2025, with OIC rulemaking authority to keep coverage at least as favorable. The sponsor, Insurance Commissioner Patty Kuderer, Secretary of Health Dennis Worsham, and Governor’s office staff said the bill is intended to protect existing coverage, not create new vaccine mandates, and to keep recommendations grounded in science amid federal uncertainty. Supporters included Dr. Helen Chu, Dr. Beth Harvey, Dr. Maria Huang, Dr. J. Miller, and Dr. Matt LaGalbo, who emphasized vaccine safety, rising vaccine-preventable diseases, and the importance of no-cost preventive care. Opponents, including Bob Runnels and Natalie Chavez, argued the bill politicizes vaccines, reduces transparency, and expands state authority without adequate fiscal detail. The hearing continued with additional testimony after the excerpt ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• But on top of that, because dementia and Alzheimer's is not just one disease, my father-in-law is also
• It's such a horrible disease, and it's a disease where we tell our loved ones goodbye twice as the disease
• </c><00:03:00.080><c> um</c> Alzheimer's is not just one disease um Alzheimer's is not just one disease
• disease where we we disease and I it's a disease where we we tell<00:03:15.120><c> our</c><00:03:15.280
• </c><00:03:19.519><c> progresses</c> know as they as the disease progresses know as they as the disease

Keywords: Roll Call – 00:14 Discussion on HB 479 – 00:49 Vote on HB 479 – 09:03 Review of 921 KAR 001:400 Proposed – 09:50 Notice of Half-Year Block Grant Status Reports – 10:08, 958, all

Summary: The committee met with a quorum, passed over House Bill 291, and took up House Bill 479, an act related to dementia training. Rep. Derek Lewis, joined by Rep. Adriel Camel and Mackenzie Wallace of the Alzheimer’s Association, explained that the bill would provide free dementia-specific training for Adult Protective Services workers and help them better recognize and respond to abuse, neglect, exploitation, and the needs of people with dementia. Testimony emphasized the personal impact of dementia on families, the difficulty of navigating diagnosis and care, and the need to connect families to services. A senator asked about the bill’s data and scope, and Wallace explained that the county-level figures reflected Adult Protective Services referrals and diagnosed cases of Alzheimer’s or other dementia among people 65 and older. She also noted broader public health efforts related to brain health and a federal grant effort tied to those issues. Several members spoke in support, including Sen. Denine, who described his father’s recent death after a difficult period with dementia and said the training would help families and workers identify and respond to the disease earlier. After discussion, Sen. Heron moved the bill, the motion was seconded, and the committee voted 6-0 to pass House Bill 479 with favorable expression. The chair said it should pass on the Senate floor. Afterward, the committee briefly reviewed administrative regulation 921 KAR 2:100 and found it reviewed with no questions. A child care block grant item was also presented for information only, with no questions raised. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• And approximately one in five are affected by heart disease and stroke risk factors.
• in diabetes, heart disease, hypertension... ...reduce the risk in prevention of chronic disease in diabetes
• , heart disease, hypertension, obesity, colon cancer, depression, and dementia as well.
• in diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, reduce the risk in prevention of chronic disease, in diabetes
• , heart disease, hypertension, obesity, colon cancer, depression, and dementia as well.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Joint Policy Committee met to hear an overview of North Dakota’s Rural Health Transformation Program before taking up the related policy bills. Department of Health and Human Services staff explained that the state received a $198.9 million CMS award, with funding focused on four pillars: strengthening rural workforce, bringing care closer to home, connecting technology and data, and improving population health through prevention. They emphasized that the program is intended to benefit rural and frontier residents statewide, including areas near urban centers when the project serves rural patients, and that CMS approval, provider readiness, and sustainability will drive what can be funded. Committee members asked about how the program would treat border communities, frontier counties, urban providers serving rural patients, multilingual outreach, tribal consultation, and whether there would be information sessions for applicants. HHS said the website will include sign-up and translation features, more listening sessions and training will be offered, and a rural health tribal liaison will work alongside the existing Medicaid tribal liaison. Members also raised concerns about reimbursement timing, cash flow for providers, and whether projects in urban areas could qualify; HHS responded that urban projects may be eligible if they clearly benefit rural residents. The department then outlined the four policy bills tied to the grant scoring: nutrition continuing medical education for physicians, the presidential fitness test, the physician assistant compact, and pharmacist scope of practice. HHS said these policy actions were incentivized in the federal funding opportunity and that failure to pass them could reduce future funding. The committee did not take final action on the bills in this portion of the transcript and recessed for lunch before moving on.

Transcript Highlights:

• Even though Parkinson's disease is the second most common and fastest growing neurological disease, research
• for Parkinson's treatment and cures is underfunded compared to other diseases.
• Over 120,000. ...and improve the lives of individuals living with Parkinson's disease.
• Even though Parkinson's disease is the second most common and fastest growing neurological disease, research
• for Parkinson's treatment and cures is underfunded compared to other diseases.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Revenue and Taxation met as a subcommittee and heard several bills, with members explaining that measures with significant fiscal impacts would be held for suspense or taken up later. AB 761 would let the Monterey-Salinas Transit District place a local sales tax measure on the ballot with approval from two-thirds of its board rather than needing approval from each member jurisdiction; supporters said it would preserve transit funding for veterans, seniors, and people with disabilities, while an opponent argued it would make it easier to raise a regressive tax. The bill was voted out 5-2 after being called for absent members. AB 1253, which would clarify property tax treatment for wildfire reconstruction beyond substantial equivalence, drew support from the Los Angeles County Assessor and the California Assessors Association but was sent to suspense. AB 8, dealing with hemp enforcement, intoxicating hemp products, and integration of hemp cannabinoids into the cannabis supply chain and tax system, drew strong support from cannabis operators and labor groups and opposition from small cultivators and public health advocates concerned about supply, tax revenue, and voter intent; it was also sent to suspense. The committee then heard AB 1138, a major expansion and modernization of the film and television tax credit program. Supporters, including entertainment unions, workers, studios, and local officials, said the bill would help keep production and jobs in California amid competition from other states and countries; opponents criticized it as picking winners and losers and argued broader business costs were the real problem. The bill was referred to suspense. AB 829, which would create a California Parkinson’s Disease Research Fund and voluntary tax contribution program to support research and services, received unanimous support from advocates and was approved 6-0 to Appropriations. AB 474 would exempt rental income from nonprofit home-sharing programs for low-income homeowners from state income tax and protect participants’ eligibility for certain benefits; supporters said it could help older adults age in place and address housing shortages, and the bill was sent to suspense after members asked for clarification on the fiscal estimate. The committee also heard AB 376, which would exempt wildfire settlement payments from state income tax for certain disaster survivors; supporters from rural counties said the money is meant to help victims rebuild and should not be taxed, and the bill was referred to suspense. Finally, AB 480 would allow developers using low-income housing tax credits to switch from allocated to certificated state credits after an award, with supporters saying it would maximize private investment and stretch housing dollars further; it too was sent to suspense. Throughout the hearing, members repeatedly emphasized the need to balance policy goals with fiscal impacts, and several bills were held or referred to suspense rather than voted out immediately.

Transcript Highlights:

• In 2024, there were over 450,000 non-fatal occupational injuries and illnesses across California's private
• Prohibiting employers from denying leave to employees who must seek care for occupational injuries during
• was applying to all health care, we think it's especially offensive given that it's happening to occupational
• I can basically lie to the doctor and just say that it's not occupational and use my own health care
• I can basically lie to the doctor and just say that it's not occupational and use my own health care

Committee: House Insurance

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There's the Occupational Safety and Health Advisory Council, as I mentioned, the Workers' Compensation
• <00:31:08.360><c> safety</c><00:31:08.720><c> and</c><00:31:08.960><c> health</c> occupational safety
• and health occupational safety and health professionals<00:31:10.840><c> um</c><00:31:11.000><c> it's
• All right, next turning to Minnesota Occupational Safety and Health Act and standards that assure safe
• safety and health act and occupational safety and health act and standards<00:33:13.480><c> that</c>

Committee: Senate Labor

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If you have diseases that are progressive often, and if you have interventions that come early in a disease
• If you have diseases that are progressive often, and if you have interventions that come early in a disease
• If you have diseases that are progressive often, and if you have interventions that come early in a disease
• If you have diseases that are progressive often, and if you have interventions that come early in a disease
• If you have diseases that are progressive often, and if you have interventions that come early in a disease

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The Special Committee on COVID Response Efficacy met briefly without a quorum because many members were tied up in legislative committee of conference work. The chair said the committee would resume in June and, in the meantime, directed members to the committee webpage and the 2024 committee’s report and COVID-19 after-action report, which he said could be reviewed for possible updates and legislative recommendations on how New Hampshire should respond to future pandemics. The chair then introduced two recent articles as framing material: one about the U.S. Supreme Court declining to hear a challenge to the Los Angeles Unified School District’s COVID vaccine mandate, and another about CDC internal emails and alleged failure to publicly acknowledge vaccine safety signals. He argued these examples raised concerns about mandates, transparency, and the balance between individual rights and public health, and said the committee would revisit the issue in future meetings. Representative Pollazok thanked the chair for presenting both legal and medical perspectives and suggested the committee focus on reviewing scientific methodology and the quality of evidence behind competing claims. A member asked whether vaccine pamphlets now include risks and benefits, and the chair responded that FDA-approved products should have patient inserts available on the FDA website, including sections listing adverse events from clinical studies and commercial use. He said he would research and email the committee copies or excerpts. Members also discussed how to evaluate studies over different time periods, dosing levels, and the timing of side effects, as well as the difficulty of comparing vaccinated and unvaccinated outcomes when definitions change over time. Before adjourning, the chair said the committee would ask the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services how it would monitor and assess vaccine or pandemic-related issues in real time and whether additional structures would be needed in a future emergency. He said the committee would likely take July and August off, resume in September, and aim to have a draft report by mid-October and a final report by late October ahead of the November elections.

Transcript Highlights:

• , whether it be heart disease, diabetes, or cancer.
• With his work, I rise today to support this legislation, the Chronic Disease Flexible Coverage Act. disease
• </c><04:24:13.000><c> epidemic</c> light on The Chronic disease epidemic light on The Chronic disease
• in this country are due to chronic disease.
• </c><04:30:34.680><c> in</c> critical as we fight chronic disease in critical as we fight chronic disease

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm with the Disease Outbreak Control Division in the Department of Health.
• Tan.<01:00:50.319><c> I'm</c><01:00:50.480><c> with</c><01:00:50.720><c> the</c><01:00:50.880><c> disease
• I'm with the disease out control Tan.
• I'm with the disease out control division<01:00:52.319><c> in</c><01:00:52.640><c> the</c><01:00:52.720
• </c> noticed that she was having disease noticed that she was having disease spells<01:29:33.679><c>

Bills: HB1853 , HB1591 , HB1961 , HB1854 , HB1965 , HB1962 , HB1959 , HB2505 , HB2576 , HB1801 , HB1804 , HB1864 , HB2319 , HB2314 , HB2115

Committee: House Health

Keywords: HB1853, dementia, Alzheimer's disease, cognitive impairment, memory care, memory clinic, Hanai Memory Network, Executive Office on Aging, aging services, kupuna, caregiver support, long-term care, elder care, geriatrics, public health, dementia screening, care coordination, referral network, neighbor islands, rural health

Summary: The committee heard testimony on SB 2047, relating to pharmacy benefit managers. The Insurance Division said the bill would require new enforcement resources and estimated an appropriation of about $1.5 million and five positions. Kaiser Permanente asked for an amendment to exclude HMOs from the definition of third-party PBMs, saying the bill should not interfere with integrated care models. PCMA and the Hawaii Pharmacist Association supported narrowing amendments, with pharmacists objecting to section 3 and warning the bill as amended could create major operational burdens and a significant general fund cost. No vote was taken in the portion provided, and the chair moved on to the next measure after questions. The committee then took up SB 2080, which would allow Hawaii to join the psychology interjurisdictional compact. Supporters, including DCR, the Hawaii Association of Health Plans, the Hawaii State Association of Counties, the Grassroot Institute, and others, said the compact would expand access to psychology services, especially for people in rural areas or those needing continuity of care while traveling. Opponents, including the Board of Psychology and a Shamanad University psychology professor, raised concerns about client safety, crisis-response procedures, enforcement costs, FBI background checks, and possible loss of state control over training and specialization standards. The board said Hawaii’s current 1,900-hour internship/postdoc requirement is higher than the compact’s standard and that the state is still implementing a separate provisional licensing law that may address some access issues. The discussion focused on whether the compact would meaningfully reduce shortages and whether Hawaii should instead pursue changes within its existing licensing system. Finally, the committee heard SB 2277 on hospital price transparency. The Office of Consumer Protection initially noted the bill could require significant staffing, but later testimony from SHIP suggested the measure could be handled more simply by working with the Healthcare Association of Hawaii and publicly posting violations. The Healthcare Association of Hawaii opposed the bill, arguing hospitals already must comply with federal CMS transparency rules and that adding state requirements would increase costs and legal exposure, especially if violations were treated as unfair or deceptive trade practices. Steve Fenberg testified in support, saying the bill would simply codify existing federal requirements in state law and that he was open to amendments removing state enforcement and the unfair trade practice language. No final action was taken in the excerpt provided.

Bills: SB99 , SB585 , SB2060 , SB2069 , SB2110 , SB2115 , SB2152 , SB2211 , SB2259 , SB2315 , SB2342 , SB2382 , SB2442 , SB2446 , SB2485 , SB2544 , SB2577 , SB2580 , SB2861 , SB2919 , SB3326

Committee: Senate Ways and Means

Keywords: SB99, Hawaii, Employees' Retirement System, ERS, retirant, retiree rehiring, reemployment after retirement, retirement benefits, benefit suspension, school resource officer, SRO, public school safety, Department of Law Enforcement, DLE, labor shortage, difficult-to-fill position, teacher shortage, charter school, mentor teacher, vacancy rate

Summary: The Committee on Ways and Means met for decision-making only and adopted recommendations on a long list of Senate bills, with no oral testimony taken. Early actions included SB 99 to pass unamended, SB 585 to pass with a date correction to 2015, SB 2060 to pass with amendments involving public project lists, legislative approval for fund transfers, and removal of certain appropriations, and SB 2069 to pass with amendments extending a sunset date and requiring transit-oriented development zoning. The committee also advanced several other measures, including SB 2110, SB 215, SB 2259, SB 2382, SB 2442, and SB 2485 unamended, while SB 2152, SB 2315, SB 2446, SB 2919, SB 2577, SB 2580, and SB 2861 were moved with various amendments, mostly date changes, appropriation blanks, or technical clarifications. A substantial portion of the meeting focused on SB 2211, where Department of Human Services officials explained how the department was covering costs by using restricted funds and shifting Med-QUEST funding, and noted a need for $14 million plus support for $16.5 million in ACA enhanced tax credit subsidies. The chair indicated the bill would move forward with amendments, including blanking the appropriation pending more information on lapses, and the recommendation was adopted. SB 2544 was also amended to remove a specific appropriation and replace it with a blank cap on funds from DUR, and SB 2342 was amended to require projects to be in transit-oriented development zones and to reflect prior committee concurrence. The most extended debate was on SB 3326, which would address utility restructuring. One senator opposed the bill, arguing it could raise rates, worsen reliability issues, and disrupt an existing utility without a clear plan, especially given island-specific conditions. Supporters argued the bill would separate generation from transmission and distribution, create competition, protect union jobs, and respond to aging infrastructure and financial weakness in the utility sector. After recesses and discussion of the Public Utilities Commission’s role, the chair changed the recommendation from pass unamended to pass with amendments requiring the PUC to conduct a study, provide an interim report before the next session, and a final report the following session. That amended recommendation was adopted, and the meeting then adjourned with no further business.

Bills: HB2118 , HB1764 , HB1815 , HB2117 , HB2436 , HB2438 , HB2532 , HB2566 , HB2573 , HB1736 , HB2425 , HB1590 , HB1913 , HB1573 , HB1542 , HB1804 , HB1976 , HB1704 , HB1996 , HB1541 , HB1926 , HB1703 , HB1866 , HB1710

Keywords: business development, arts, cultural affairs, Hawaii, commissions, administrative transfer, funding appropriation, music education, public concerts, Hawaii State Library, cultural collaboration, music accessibility, State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, SFCA, Performing Arts Grants Program, arts grants, culture and the arts, history and the humanities, King Kamehameha Celebration Commission, Works of Art Special Fund

Bills: HB2118 , HB1764 , HB1815 , HB2117 , HB2436 , HB2438 , HB2532 , HB2566 , HB2573 , HB1736 , HB2425 , HB1590 , HB1913 , HB1573 , HB1542 , HB1804 , HB1976 , HB1704 , HB1996 , HB1541 , HB1926 , HB1703 , HB1866 , HB1710

Keywords: business development, arts, cultural affairs, Hawaii, commissions, administrative transfer, funding appropriation, music education, public concerts, Hawaii State Library, cultural collaboration, music accessibility, State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, SFCA, Performing Arts Grants Program, arts grants, culture and the arts, history and the humanities, King Kamehameha Celebration Commission, Works of Art Special Fund

Transcript Highlights:

• This puts them at risk for crippling, even deadly diseases, not to mention as being also at risk the
• This puts them at risk for crippling, even deadly diseases, not to mention the thousands of students
• <01:09:53.759><c> Has</c><01:09:54.040><c> Fallen</c> diseases Has Fallen diseases Has Fallen what<01
• </c> information from the center of Disease information from the center of Disease Control<01:16:10.320
• </c><01:16:18.120><c> will</c> going to go down this path disease will going to go down this path disease

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• or restricts the among the occupants or restricts the number<01:35:43.679><c> of</c><01:35:43.920><c
• ><c> to</c><01:35:46.080><c> less</c> number of occupants of the unit to less number of occupants of
• limits which fail unreasonable occupancy limits which fail to<01:40:45.199><c> reasonably</c><01:40:
• Again, I I in my in my uh occupants.
• or more is not a three occupants or more is not a discriminatory<01:56:30.840><c> act.

Committee: Senate Commerce

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I've actually seen that courage in many of you as you protected your communities during the recent occupation
• the</c><00:04:58.880><c> recent</c> communities during the recent communities during the recent occupation
• :01.120><c> on</c><00:05:01.320><c> both</c><00:05:01.600><c> sides</c><00:05:01.960><c> of</c> occupation
• And some on both sides of occupation.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair Melo: Next up, PCS for HB 513, Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Initiative.
• Three years ago, the House passed House Bill 299, which established education about Alzheimer's disease
• Florida has the second-highest number of individuals living with Alzheimer's disease in the country.
• PCS for HB 513 requires the Alzheimer's Disease Advisory Committee to meet annually to evaluate and make
• I would say Alzheimer's is one of the most challenging diseases for families to have to deal with.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senators, this is the appropriation for the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses.
• The appropriation for the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses provides enhancements to
• Senators, this legislation reflects a lot of work from our folks at the Division of Occupational and
• Senators, this legislation reflects a lot of work from our folks at the Division of Occupational and
• of occupational and professional licenses. It's been five, six years, seven years.

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• or any childhood diseases.
• </c><00:39:16.599><c> and</c><00:39:16.720><c> if</c> disease or any childhood diseases and if disease
• there are other one childhood disease there are other childhood<00:39:30.359><c> diseases</c><00:39:
• </c> Services with other childhood diseases Services with other childhood diseases on<00:39:44.160><c
• It's an autoimmune disease.

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I am here to advocate for sickle cell disease.
• Sickle cell disease affects the entire body.
• I'm also a caregiver to my daughter who is living with sickle cell. disease.
• Sickle cell disease is a disease that impacts the black community predominantly.
• But it's a disease that everybody needs to be aware of.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our first docket is the Idaho Reportable Disease Rules.
• They include diseases such as Ebola and Marburg virus.
• Each state has a reportable disease program.
• And this would be under Rule 65 investigation and control of reportable diseases. of reportable diseases
• It used to be in every single individual disease.

Summary: The committee reviewed several Idaho Department of Health and Welfare rule dockets under zero-based rule review. For the Idaho Reportable Disease Rules, department staff said the revisions mainly reduce duplication and shorten the chapter, while adding viral hemorrhagic fevers and lowering the lead-poisoning reporting threshold from 5 to 3.5 micrograms per deciliter. Members questioned whether stricken language on records access, daycare restrictions, inspection authority, and reporting duties changed policy; staff and the state epidemiologist said the edits were mostly consolidations or removals of language already covered by statute or federal law, and that no substantive reporting requirements were intended to change. Concerns were also raised about limited time to review the large docket, public notice, and trust in the department’s explanations. The committee approved the radiation control rules, which were described as being reduced by about 70 percent, with incorporation by reference removed and a new requirement that out-of-state licensees register within 30 days. It also approved the docket on use and disclosure of department records, which staff said simply removes repeated references to the Idaho Public Records Act, HIPAA, and other governing authorities without changing what records are protected. The reportable disease docket drew the most discussion; after debate over whether the rule changes were merely cosmetic and how statutory changes affect rules, a substitute motion to hold the docket for one week was adopted on a 5-9 roll call vote, with the docket set for reconsideration on February 3. Later in the meeting, the committee received Your Health Idaho’s annual report. Executive Director Pat Kelly said the exchange remained financially self-sustaining, had no state funding, and continued to post record enrollment, with more than 144,000 Idahoans selecting plans during open enrollment 2026. He said most enrollees receive tax credits, but the expiration of enhanced premium tax credits drove affordability concerns, increased disenrollment, and shifted many consumers into lower-cost bronze plans. Members asked about plan changes, enrollment math, assessment fee revenue, and the effect of premium increases versus the loss of enhanced subsidies. Kelly said the exchange’s net premium increases were driven mostly by the subsidy expiration, and the committee adjourned after the report.