Transcript Highlights:

• So at developmental disability waiver.
• Hampshire Developmental Disability Hampshire Developmental Disability Service<00:07:29.759> System
• <00:08:34.560> and on the developmental disability and on the developmental disability and
• I mean, disabled or elderly. It's $3,000 if you disabled or elderly.
• <04:27:31.279> or that is uh able that is disabled or that is uh able that is disabled or

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• c> their<00:32:19.919> average<00:32:20.279> credit<00:32:20.639> was disabilities
• their average credit was disabilities their average credit was $1,125<00:32:23.159> which<00:
• with to our seniors and neighbors living with to our seniors and neighbors living with disabilities
• The share of participating households that include seniors or people living with disabilities is actually
• you know, it's certainly working families with kids, but it's a lot of seniors and folks with disabilities

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• would receive in the entire disabled would receive in the entire year.<02:59:07.760> Additionally
• disability compensation benefits. disability compensation benefits.
• In March, Andy did a wonderful job of testifying before the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and
• <03:47:29.359> will associated with these disabilities will associated with these disabilities
• <03:49:13.920> American it forward and disabled American it forward and disabled American

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, July 21, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Project Leo, was originally created in 2016, operated through the Centers for Autism and Related Disabilities
• individuals who are between the ages of 18 and 60 go missing, particularly if they have a developmental disability
• individuals who are between the ages of 18 and 60 go missing, particularly if they have a developmental disability

Summary: The committee met with a quorum present and first took up SB 1376, a bill by Senator Burgess to create an education grant program to help address Florida’s shortage of genetic counselors. Burgess explained that the program would support students pursuing genetics-related careers at state universities, noting the growing need in clinical areas such as oncology, prenatal care, and rare diseases. An amendment was adopted requiring graduate genetic counseling programs to be accredited by the Accreditation Council for Genetic Counseling and to show sufficient clinical training capacity. Members speaking in support said genetic counseling is an important and underrecognized field and that the bill would help expand access to services in Florida. After the amendment, CS for SB 1376 was reported favorably by roll call vote. The committee then took up SB 1570 by President Gates, which would restore a previously sunsetted statewide program, Project Leo, to help locate missing persons with special needs who are at high risk of wandering, using voluntary tracking devices through CARD centers and local sheriff’s offices, with $1 million in nonrecurring funding. Senators Berman and Harrell strongly supported the bill, citing the dangers of wandering, especially for individuals with autism or developmental disabilities, and the potential for the program to save lives. SB 1570 was also reported favorably by roll call vote. No other business was raised, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Project Leo was originally created in 2016, operated through the Centers for Autism and Related Disabilities
• individuals who are between the ages of 18 and 60 go missing, particularly if they have a developmental disability
• individuals who are between the ages of 18 and 60 go missing, particularly if they have a developmental disability

Bills: S1376, S1570

Keywords: genetic counseling, education grants, state universities, faculty recruitment, student financial assistance, missing persons, special needs, autism, search-and-rescue, Florida, voluntary program, funding

Summary: The committee met with a quorum present and first considered SB 1376, which would create an education grant program to help address Florida’s shortage of genetic counselors by supporting students in genetics programs at state universities. Senator Burgess described genetic counselors’ roles in oncology, prenatal care, rare diseases, and other clinical settings, and noted Florida’s limited number of licensed counselors. The committee adopted an amendment requiring graduate programs to be accredited by the Accreditation Council for Genetic Counseling and to show sufficient clinical training capacity. Members spoke in support, and CS/SB 1376 was reported favorably by roll call vote. After a brief recess, the committee took up SB 1570, which would revive Project Leo, a prior Florida program that helped locate missing persons with special needs who are at high risk of wandering or elopement. President Gates explained that the bill would allow participating CARD centers to work with local sheriff’s offices to provide voluntary tracking devices and included $1 million in nonrecurring funding. Senators Berman and Harrell supported the measure, citing the dangers of wandering, especially for individuals with developmental disabilities or autism, and the importance of preventing drownings and other tragedies. The bill was reported favorably by roll call vote. No other business was raised, no senators requested to be recorded on the bills, and the committee adjourned without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for the question, Senator Minkz. ...disabled. It's an appropriation for $4,000.
• We're going now to Developmental Disabilities, Ms. Waltz. Yes, sir.
• It's the second from the bottom, 896 Division of Developmental Disability Services.
• It's the second from the bottom, 896 Division of Developmental Disability Services.
• And those with disabilities or with medical needs.

Summary: The committee heard a series of Arkansas Department of Human Services budget presentations and questions, beginning with the Secretary’s Office and then the Division of Aging, Adult and Behavioral Health Services. Staff described the divisions’ appropriations, funding sources, and major programs, including senior centers, Meals on Wheels, mental health grants, substance abuse treatment, community alcohol safety, the Medicaid tobacco settlement program, and crisis stabilization units. Members raised concerns about flat or limited funding for senior services, the use and tracing of federal block grants, the lack of a funding source for the veterans’ mental health grant, and the mechanics of the community alcohol safety and treatment programs. The committee also discussed patient benefits funds at state facilities, transportation for senior center clients, and whether some special-language appropriations or fund balances should be revisited. Executive recommendations were adopted for the divisions considered. The committee then reviewed the Division of Children and Family Services and the Division of County Operations. Questions focused on foster care growth, adoption subsidies, professional fees tied to staff training and onboarding, vacancies, the Children’s Trust Fund, and TANF subgrants. Members asked about the reduction or elimination of TANF funding to child advocacy centers and other subgrantees, and DHS explained that prior reserves had been spent down and that the department was now trying to live within the annual TANF block grant and rebuild reserves. County operations questions also covered summer EBT, SNAP employment and training, the farmers’ market program, and the expected impact of a federal SNAP administrative match change, which DHS estimated would increase state costs by about $24 million annually, with roughly $18 million affecting the current year because the change begins October 1. Executive recommendations were again adopted. Finally, the committee heard from the Division of Developmental Disability Services and the Division of Medical Services. DDS testimony covered vacancies, staffing shortages, human development center construction and repairs, the reopening of the Boonville work training program, and funding for infant infirmary and child/family life programs. Medical Services testimony covered the Medicaid program, the current FMAP rate, the Our Kids B CHIP program, Medicaid payments to schools, nursing home distress funding, and large appropriation lines used to provide flexibility for claims and potential facility closures. Members asked for more detail on school Medicaid payments, reserve balances, and why some appropriations were much larger than actual spending. In each division, the committee moved and adopted Executive REC after questions concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• This division provides support and protective services to physically disabled adults, older adults, and
• It doesn't look... ...disabled. It's an appropriation for $4,000.
• We're now going to developmental disabilities, Ms. Walts. Yes, sir.
• We're going now to development disabilities, Ms. Walts. Yes, sir.
• It's the second fund from the bottom, 896, Division of Developmental Disability Services.

Summary: The committee heard budget presentations and took executive recommendations on several Department of Human Services divisions, including Aging, Adult and Behavioral Health Services; Children and Family Services; County Operations; Developmental Disability Services; and Medical Services, with most divisions showing little or no significant change in total appropriations. Staff and agency witnesses repeatedly explained that many large appropriations are maintained for flexibility, federal matching requirements, or contingency needs, even when actual spending is much lower than the authorized amount. Members also raised concerns about staffing vacancies, long-vacant budgeted positions, and the use of excess appropriation authority across DHS. In Aging, Adult and Behavioral Health, members questioned federal funding levels for mental health and substance abuse grants, the status of senior centers and Meals on Wheels, the Medicaid tobacco settlement program, community alcohol safety grants, and the veterans mental health grant. Agency officials said federal block grants are largely committed, that senior center funding had been delayed by shutdown timing but was now back on track, that the tobacco settlement program had been moved internally within DHS, and that the veterans mental health appropriation remains unfunded. Senators also criticized the adequacy of support for seniors and asked for more detail on how transportation, meal services, and local contributions are funded. In Children and Family Services, members asked about rising appropriation levels, foster care and adoption subsidies, professional fees, the number of children in foster care, and the Children’s Trust Fund. DHS said increases reflect added flexibility for residential treatment, adoption subsidies, and prevention services, while the foster care population has remained fairly steady at about 3,400 children. The Children’s Trust Fund was described as supporting primary prevention programs such as Baby and Me and community schools, and members asked whether it could be administratively combined with other efforts. Questions also covered TANF subgrants, with DHS explaining that it had reduced outside subgrants after discovering over-obligation and was rebuilding reserves. In County Operations, members focused on the summer EBT program, SNAP employment and training, the farmer’s market program, and the state’s TANF reserve position. DHS said summer EBT is still being funded through temporary appropriations because it is a newer program, SNAP employment and training is largely federally funded and may expand under a pending policy change, and TANF reserves were drawn down after prior over-obligation but are now being stabilized. In Developmental Disability Services, members asked about vacancies, human development center staffing, facility construction funds, and the Booneville work program, and DHS said the program has reopened and staffing recruitment continues. In Medical Services, members asked about FMAP, the Our Kids B CHIP program, school-based Medicaid reimbursements, nursing home distress funds, and several large appropriation lines that far exceed actual spending; DHS said these are maintained for claims payment, nursing home receivership contingencies, and other flexibility needs. Each division reviewed was adopted by executive recommendation after questions concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• so if we're going to look at disability so if we're going to look at what<00:40:37.760> we<00
• member of the family with the disabled member of the family um<00:41:21.000> so<00:41:21.440>
• I will say I have a son with disabilities who uses a wheelchair after his accident.
• I will say I have a son with disabilities who uses a wheelchair after his accident.
• Page 1, line 3, delete “disabled” and after “persons” insert “with disabilities.”

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Committees that require certain slots for people with disabilities for some. with a mental illness for
• We have individuals that receive federal disability, and so they can qualify based on their disability
• Star Kids is our product line that is focused on children and youth with disabilities.
• They're not disabled. They're not over 65. 65. It's those poor Texans.
• Adult Protective Services protects adults over 60. with a disability that are living in their own home

Keywords: budget, House Bill 1, public education, healthcare, border security, federal funding, spending limits

Summary: The meeting primarily focused on reviewing the proposed budget for the upcoming biennium, with substantial discussions around House Bill 1 and its implications for public education, healthcare, and border security. The Comptroller presented a revenue overview indicating a total of $194.6 billion available for general purpose spending, which reflects a slight decrease compared to previous years due to fluctuating economic conditions. Members raised questions regarding spending limits and the impact of federal funding on state programs, highlighting concerns about the sustainability of funding in light of potential changes at the federal level.

Transcript Highlights:

• It opened classroom doors to ensure that every child with a disability could grow, learn, and succeed
• The legislation expanded opportunities for millions of students with disabilities, helping them reach
• This important milestone shows how far we've come in educating students with disabilities.
• students with disabilities and their families.<00:24:42.640> Mr.
• educating students with disabilities. educating students with disabilities.

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

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 7032, a bill to be entitled an act relating to Medicaid enrollment for permanently disabled
• There are almost 21,000 individuals with disabilities on the APD wait list, the pre-enrollment list,
• The intellectual and developmental disability managed care pilot program, also known as the IDD pilot
• There are almost 21,000 individuals with disabilities on the APD wait list, the pre-enrollment list,
• And then the Agency for Persons with Disabilities reverts that money back to us and says, oh, I'm sorry

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several recognitions, including interns, Denim Day awareness, a resolution honoring Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent Orange, and a remembrance of former Senator Karen Johnson Gendron. The chamber then moved to special order bills. CS/HB 687 on transportation offenses involving death was substituted for SB 138, amended to add warnings and penalties for refusal of breath or urine tests, and passed 37-0. CS/SB 306 on Medicaid providers, requiring broader after-hours access and network availability for Medicaid enrollees, also passed 37-0. The Senate then took up CS/CS/HB 913 on condominium associations, a major post-Surfside reform bill. Senator Bradley explained that the measure was intended to provide financial relief and flexibility while preserving safety and accountability. The bill was substituted for SB 1742, amended several times to limit milestone inspections and structural integrity reserve studies to buildings three habitable stories or more, and then passed 37-0 after extensive debate. Senators from both parties praised Bradley, Pizzo, Garcia, and staff for years of work on condo safety and affordability, with several members describing the bill as a balance between protecting residents and avoiding financial hardship. The final major item was CS/HB 1205, the bill on amendments to the state constitution and citizen petition drives. Sponsors Gates and Grohl argued the bill was needed to combat fraud, identity theft, and misuse in the petition process, citing a lengthy Office of Election Crimes and Security report. The House bill was substituted for SB 7016, and the chamber considered a long series of amendments and substitute amendments addressing petition circulator registration, volunteer participation, submission deadlines, invalid-signature thresholds, voter notification, and fiscal impact statements. Several amendments were adopted, while others were debated over whether they would protect access to the citizen initiative process or strengthen election integrity. The transcript ends during debate on the main substitute amendment, before final disposition on the bill is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• disabled and very medically<00:05:34.000> fragile.
• I'm the president and CEO of the Cedarrest Center for Children with Disabilities.
• Generally speaking, there are four standard deviations: mild disability, moderate disability, severe,
• Uh clinically you may disabilities.
• But thank you for your work." severely and profoundly disabled severely and profoundly disabled categories

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• boards is either waived or lessened, I think always waived, for certain low-income individuals and disabled
• And this adds eligible widowed spouse of a disabled veteran to that definition.
• boards is either waived or lessened, I think always waived, for certain low-income individuals and disabled
• And this adds eligible widowed spouse of a disabled veteran to that definition.
• And this adds eligible widowed spouse of a disabled veteran to that definition.

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee met with a quorum present, approved the prior meeting minutes, and then considered a series of House bills and committee substitutes. House Bill 5438, dealing with changes to Step 7 of the school aid formula and allowable uses of certain education allocations, was amended to adopt the Education Committee’s changes and then reported to the full Senate. House Bill 4087 creating the West Virginia-Ireland Education Alliance was also reported, as was House Bill 4191, which expands child care tax credit eligibility for employer-sponsored facilities and changes subsidy payments from attendance-based to enrollment-based reimbursement; senators emphasized its workforce and economic development benefits. House Bill 5074, which reallocates medical cannabis fund balances and future revenues, was amended to increase the Child Protective Commission pilot funding from $3 million to $5 million and remove proposed ibogaine research funding for Marshall and WVU before being reported. House Bill 5353, regulating virtual currency kiosks and money transmission licensure, and House Bill 5527, creating licensure and oversight for wellness reimbursement program administrators, both received strike-and-insert amendments and were reported. House Bill 5687, which phases down the metallurgical coal severance tax and adds a temporary oil and gas tax reduction with county/municipal revenue adjustments, was amended and reported. House Bill 4418, creating an electronic system for municipal business and occupation tax filing and collection with a 1% administrative fee and a participation threshold, was also reported. The committee then took up House Bill 4245, the Revenue Rules Bundle, which bundles 26 legislative rules from the Department of Revenue and related agencies. The bundle included alcohol, banking, insurance, racing, and tax rules, with several sunset extensions and repeals of outdated rules; the committee adopted a strike-and-insert amendment affecting a lottery consumer protection rule and a pre-need cemetery company rule, then reported the bill. House Bill 5168, providing a $12 million lottery-funded stream for emergency medical services, was amended to clarify the uses of the funds, rename one fund, require a 30% county match for mental health treatment spending, and create two additional county-based EMS funds; senators described it as a needed permanent funding source for EMS, and it was reported. Throughout the meeting, members generally supported the measures, with some discussion on technical details, funding allocations, and the impact of the bills on local services and workforce needs. At the end of the meeting, the chair announced that Senate House Bills 4004, 4006, and 4009 would not be taken up that day, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• would have a lot of pushback and people need to call 911, so there'd have to be features that were disabled
• would have a lot of pushback and people need to call 911, so there'd have to be features that were disabled
• would have a lot of pushback and people need to call 911, so there'd have to be features that were disabled
• would have a lot of pushback and people need to call 911, so there'd have to be features that were disabled
• would have a lot of pushback and people need to call 911, so there'd have to be features that were disabled

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, seeing that, I think we are ready for disabled veteran adapted housing.
• Our next preference is a review of a state sales and use tax remittance for disabled veteran adapted
• Once a disabled veteran or service member Once a disabled veteran or service member receives one of the
• The Federal Veterans Administration has awarded 252 housing grants to disabled veterans in Washington

Summary: The Citizens Commission for Performance Measurement of Tax Preferences met on August 6, 2025, with five commissioners present and a quorum. The commission approved the May 7, 2025 meeting minutes and welcomed new commissioner Scott Edwards, who introduced himself. Staff also confirmed the September meeting date had been changed to September 22, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. to accommodate his schedule, and noted that testimony questions for the public hearing would be used at that meeting. JLARC staff then presented preliminary 2025 tax preference performance reviews covering nine preferences. For natural gas used as a transportation fuel, staff said the preferences reduce fuel costs but do not meet emissions-reduction goals, and recommended continuing the public utility tax and natural gas use tax exemptions while modifying reporting requirements; they also recommended continuing the marine-use LNG sales tax exemption and considering the Department of Revenue work group’s findings. For travel agents and tour operators, staff said the small-beneficiary rate appears to support smaller firms, while the larger-beneficiary rate should be reviewed and both should have clearer objectives and metrics. For nonprofit low-income housing development, staff said the preference is helping produce housing but the current metric does not align well with the objective, data/reporting problems remain, and the legislature should decide whether to continue and possibly modify the exemption, including considering annual renewal. Staff also reviewed the multipurpose senior citizen centers exemption, concluding it meets its objective and recommending continuation, with possible consideration of making it permanent. For disabled veteran adapted housing, staff said the preference has very low uptake despite eligible veterans and recommended continuing it but modifying it in consultation with the Department of Veterans Affairs to improve use. For trade convention attendance, staff said the preference aligns Washington with other states and recommended continuation. For agricultural fertilizer and seed wholesaling, staff said the exemption reduces tax layering and recommended continuation, with clarification on whether it is exempt from expiration/performance-statement requirements. For agricultural crop protection products, staff said the preference met its revenue-growth metric and recommended extending it while considering better metrics or recategorizing it as tax relief. Finally, for energy sales to a silicon smelter, staff said the preferences were unused because the facility was never built and recommended allowing them to expire. The meeting ended with reminders about written testimony and the September public testimony session.

Transcript Highlights:

• Minnesota, they have never supported hurting people who are sick, people who are elderly, people who are disabled
• Minnesota, they have never supported hurting people who are sick, people who are elderly, people who are disabled
• elderly people sick um people who are elderly people who<00:02:31.640> are<00:02:31.920> disabled
• > our<00:02:33.400> kids<00:02:33.879> that<00:02:34.000> is who are disabled
• um and our kids that is who are disabled um and our kids that is not<00:02:34.440> a<00:02:34.680

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:57:00.720> injuries returned with severe disabling injuries returned with severe disabling
• > that<04:13:54.159> kind<04:13:54.319> of<04:13:54.560> thing, disabled
• people, all that kind of thing, disabled people, all that kind of thing, right?
• ,<04:30:50.000> disabled<04:30:50.479> individuals disabilities, disabled individuals disabilities
• made in the developmental disability made in the developmental disability area<06:21:20.160>

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the filter and their minor was disabled the filter and their minor was exposed<01:41:34.760> to
• If you go towards the end of the bill, it's about disabling the device, so it will set up the parent
• that could the parent be disable that could the parent be prosecuted<01:53:18.040> for<01:53:
• this filter for a anyone who disables this filter for a minor<02:25:18.960> will<02:25:19.120
• Representative Smith followed up with an example involving the Disabilities Rights Center.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on House Bill 232 from prime sponsor Representative Mark Pearson, who said the bill is intended to protect conscience rights for health care professionals and students, especially in relation to abortion and sterilization-related procedures. He argued that protecting ethical objections would help retain and recruit medical workers in New Hampshire, reduce moral injury, and preserve patient access to care. Pearson said the bill is not meant to allow discrimination based on protected characteristics and emphasized that it is limited to objections to specific procedures, with an amendment added to address concerns raised by Chairman Lynn. Members questioned Pearson closely about the scope of the bill and amendment, including whether it could apply to non-physician staff such as schedulers or receptionists, whether a provider could refuse emergency care, and who would determine when an emergency exists. Pearson said the bill does not apply to emergency situations or to treatment after an abortion has already occurred, and he stated that emergency triage would control in obvious emergencies. He also said the intent was not to allow a person to take a job and then unexpectedly refuse duties, and he suggested the amendment could be tweaked to clarify its application to facilities and staff. Additional questions focused on whether the bill should be broader than the procedures listed, how it would interact with federal conscience protections, and whether it could affect contraception-related services, including pharmacies. Pearson responded that the bill addresses the specific issues raised by people he and his wife had spoken with, and he was open to revising the amendment to reduce ambiguity. No vote or final committee action was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:49:54.440> has student with or without disabilities has student with or without disabilities
• learn the department of disabilities learn the department of education's<00:50:08.079> program
• Before IDEA was enacted, states often refused to accommodate students with disabilities.
• <00:59:11.359> students the Ada that protect disabled students the Ada that protect disabled
• Schools must now provide disabled Schools must now provide disabled children<00:59:48.599> the

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It minimizes the voices of our aging and disabled population.
• as documented in their individualized education plan, IEP, or 504 plan as valid proof of their disability
• a costly start over, time-consuming re-diagnoses that can discourage students from seeking the disability
• Across California, students with permanent disabilities, including ADHD, autism, dyslexia, and epilepsy
• For example, UCLA's own Disability Services Office tells students to call and find out for themselves

Keywords: 988, house, all

Summary: The Assembly convened after initially lacking a quorum, completed the prayer and pledge, and then held a lengthy Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month ceremony. Members from both parties and several caucuses spoke in support of HR 107, emphasizing AAPI contributions, resilience, and the need to oppose hate and discrimination. The resolution was adopted by voice vote, and the chamber then recognized 13 honorees for the 2026 observance, including community leaders, educators, advocates, business leaders, and cultural institutions. After guest introductions, the Assembly took up the Daily File and passed a series of measures, including AB 2050 on HOA reserve funding, AB 2106 on lawsuits involving licensed design professionals, AB 1794 on direct home delivery of enteral formula, AB 1829 on CalWORKs-related student aid, AB 2038 extending wildfire insurance moratorium protections, AB 2281 on election cybersecurity, AB 2448 on protecting sensitive medical information, AB 2568 on water district board compensation, and AB 1658 on county public contract change-order authority. Most of these bills passed with broad support, though AB 2050, AB 2038, and AB 2448 drew some no votes. The Assembly also adopted AJR 29, a resolution opposing a federal executive order affecting vote-by-mail and election administration, after a contentious floor debate over election trust, voter access, and decorum. Additional measures passed unanimously or near-unanimously, including AB 2125 on notice in water-rights adjudications, AB 2784 on State Bar fees, AB 1614 on e-bike passenger restrictions, AB 2503 on high school heat safety guidelines, AB 1703 on osteopathic title protections, AB 1920 on community college Promise eligibility, AB 1999 on veterinary workforce and animal shelter care, and ACR 123 recognizing Duan Wu Jie. The chamber then began consideration of ACR 189 designating May 2026 as Foster Youth Awareness Month, with supportive remarks from members, before the transcript cuts off.