Transcript Highlights:

• It's the same group that has... ...developing their impulse capacity.
• This bill is not about freedom. developing their impulse capacity.
• Their brains are not even fully developed.
• act, the same exact way.
• were at a less advanced stage of development than you are now?

Summary: The committee first heard HB 133, which would lower the minimum age to purchase a long gun from 21 to 18. The sponsor said the bill restores the rights of law-abiding 18-year-olds. Public testimony was sharply divided, with supporters from Gun Owners of America and Florida Carry arguing that adults 18 and older should have equal Second Amendment rights and that current law is inconsistent with other adult responsibilities, while opponents, including gun violence prevention advocates, students, parents, and Parkland-related speakers, said the bill would reverse a post-Parkland safety measure and increase risks of suicide, accidental shootings, and school violence. Several members debated the bill, with opponents emphasizing Parkland, the Florida State shooting, and public polling showing broad opposition; supporters stressed parental responsibility, mental health, and constitutional rights. HB 133 was then reported favorably on a roll call vote of 13 yeas, with several members voting no. The committee then took up CS/HB 289, which would revise Florida’s wrongful death law to allow parents to recover damages for the death of an unborn child. The sponsor said the bill is intended to let grieving parents seek civil remedies, and members questioned how it would apply in situations involving surrogacy, rape, ectopic pregnancy, medical care, and damages calculations. The sponsor said the bill would not allow suits against the mother, would not apply to lawful non-negligent medical care, and would be handled through ordinary wrongful death damage proof before a jury. Public testimony was again split: supporters from pro-life and faith groups said the bill recognizes unborn children and aligns Florida with many other states, while opponents from civil liberties, reproductive rights, and advocacy groups warned it could be used to target abortion providers, helpers, and even families or businesses in miscarriage-related cases, and could be weaponized by abusive partners. The transcript ends during testimony on HB 289, with no final vote shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• multiple-family housing, but this kind of development is a lot different.
• Parcels uh that are developable Parcels uh that are developable developable<00:08:03.520> to<
• amount of time looking for developable amount of time looking for developable property<00:08:19.080
• <00:08:30.479> M develop single family housing develop M develop single family housing develop
• The past two years we went through the same exact cycle.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first reorganized by electing Representative Hart as House co-chair and Senator Douglas as Senate co-chair by acclamation, then approved the December 10 minutes. It then took up deferred and routine contract items, beginning with a Council on Postsecondary Education item that was withdrawn after staff explained the contract had been canceled and should not have come before the committee because the granting authority, not CPE, was issuing it. The committee next reviewed a Department for Local Government contract tied to an Eastern Kentucky flood recovery housing project in Jackson. Members questioned the high per-unit cost and whether renovation was more expensive than new construction. Staff explained the cost included acquisition of an existing downtown building and needed water and sewer infrastructure upgrades, and said developable land was limited in the area. With no motion to object, the contract was allowed to move forward. The committee then considered Kentucky Transportation Cabinet professional services contracts for highway design work. Members asked about the size of the contracts and how much of the available funding is typically used; staff said the contracts are two-year agreements, that the prior cycle reached close to $2 million per contract, and that this year’s limits were reduced because less money is available in the Highway Plan. The committee also approved a PSC amendment contract for the Bridging Kentucky program after staff explained the $150 hourly loaded rate was within the normal range for consultants. Both Transportation Cabinet items were approved without objection. Finally, the committee heard a Kentucky Communications Network Authority contract for an $85,000 study of the dark fiber market. Members asked what dark fiber is, why the study was needed, whether there was coordination with the Office of Broadband Development, and whether existing service meant there was already a market. KCNA said dark fiber is unused fiber that local providers can light to deliver service, that the study was needed because the contractor said no market existed while ISPs said demand exists, and that the report would help both KCNA oversight and broadband development planning. The contract was reviewed without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• , we couldn't give an exact number of people that would be affected because the FDVA did not keep the
• As you recall, we couldn't give an exact number of people that would be affected because of the fact
• They come together in these workgroups to support and develop informed IT policy.
• It invests in economic development for Putnam and Marion counties.
• This bill is the exact opposite of that. This is a retread from last year, Senate Bill 7024.

Summary: The committee first took up SB 694, which would compensate the descendants of the Groveland Four—Charles Greenlee, Walter Irvin, Samuel Shepard, and Ernest Thomas—for the wrongful convictions, incarceration, and death tied to the 1949 case. Senator Bracey Davis described the bill as a final step after prior state apologies, pardons, and exonerations. The committee adopted a $4 million amendment that divided compensation equally among the four families and updated the recipient for Ernest Thomas’s share. Multiple family members and advocates testified in support, emphasizing the decades of trauma and the need for full justice. Senators in debate largely supported the bill, and it was reported favorably. The committee then approved SB 330, which clarifies disability provisions for firefighters, law enforcement officers, and correctional officers by refining the definition of heart disease and allowing certain officers who transfer agencies to rely on a prior physical under specified conditions. SB 474 also passed, expanding military leave protections to include public officials and employees who serve in the Coast Guard or Florida State Guard, adjusting pay eligibility for federal service, and updating related retirement and assistance provisions. SB 96, the Veterans Dental Care Grant Program bill, was amended to expand eligibility to veterans with incomes up to 400% of the federal poverty level and to move funding into the General Appropriations Act; members debated whether the broader eligibility could increase demand, but the bill was reported favorably. The committee also advanced SB 7018 on child welfare, making the Step Into Success pilot program permanent statewide, adjusting visitor/background-check rules for out-of-home placements, and creating a best-practices program through the Florida Institute for Child Welfare. CS/SB 480 on state IT governance was reported favorably after amendments that strengthened vendor performance metrics and restored state data center security provisions; it creates a new central IT governance structure under the Governor’s office and aims to improve oversight of procurement, spending, and technical debt. SB 1066, addressing partial restoration of the Ocklawaha River and Kirkpatrick Dam, passed after a late-file amendment and extensive testimony from environmental, recreation, and local economic interests. SB 1216, which gives school districts more flexibility in educator compensation, and SB 1120, which increases oversight and reporting for water management district spending, were also reported favorably. Finally, the committee considered SB 1366 on claims against the government, which raises sovereign immunity caps, ties future adjustments to CPI, shortens claim deadlines, and changes attorney-fee provisions. The bill drew support from local government and public-hospital groups as a compromise, but also significant concern from some senators about the impact on self-insured agencies and whether the fee changes would discourage attorneys from taking cases. The discussion remained ongoing, and the bill was still moving forward as the meeting continued.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:06:52.199> and we're a solar and storage developer and we're a solar and storage developer
• development.
• odd juncture in the in the development odd juncture in the in the development of<00:34:18.240>
• <00:44:37.720> if Acres it's a fairly large development if Acres it's a fairly large development
• proud that we're small local developers proud that we're small local developers we<01:17:21.440>

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Schultz, I don't have an exact answer.
• So I don't know the exact breakout. I don't know the exact breakout.
• But I can get you exact breakdown in locations, we can get you that information.
• I don't know the exact breakout. Uh I don't know the exact breakout.
• <00:47:25.840> I But I can I mean, I can get you exact I But I can I mean, I can get you exact

Bills: HF3542

Keywords: data privacy, investigative data, welfare system, public funds, transparency, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And I think it's best, although my talking points were almost exact replication of what's in the bill
• And I think it's best, although my talking points were almost exact replication of what's in the bill
• And I think it's best, although my talking points were almost exact replication of what's in the bill
• And I think it's best, although my talking points were almost exact replication of what's in the bill
• And I think it's best, although my talking points were almost exact replication of what's in the bill

Bills: S0330, S0526, S0862, S1072, S1078, S1192, S1250, S1296, S1298, S1642, S1698, S7022

Keywords: firefighter disability, law enforcement disability, correctional officer disability, correctional probation officer, presumptive disability, workers' compensation, line of duty presumption, heart disease presumption, hypertension presumption, tuberculosis presumption, public safety employees, first responders, physical examination, preemployment exam, medical specialist, Medicare reimbursement, employing agency, Florida Statutes 112.18, Florida Statutes 943.13, occupational disease

Summary: The committee heard several bills and confirmations, with most measures reported favorably. Senate Bill 330 clarified the heart disease presumption for firefighters, law enforcement, and correctional officers, codifying the medical definition of heart disease and allowing transferring law enforcement officers to rely on a prior physical if a new agency does not provide one. Support was waived in by the Florida Smart Justice Alliance and the Fraternal Order of Police, and the bill passed unanimously. Senate Bill 526, as amended by a delete-all amendment, addressed commercial construction contracts, permit standards, fee reductions when private providers are used, floodproofing, product approval categories, and adoption of certain electrical code standards; it drew support from several construction and business groups and one opposing appearance, then was reported favorably. Senate Bill 1192 created a pilot program for callback queues at the Department of Commerce and Department of Children and Families to reduce hold times for callers seeking re-employment assistance and public benefits, and it also passed favorably. Senate Bill 1078 established transition procedures for a governor-elect, including agency liaisons, briefing materials, office space, and access to records; an amendment shifted IT support to the Department of Management Services, narrowed access to confidential records, and increased penalties for unauthorized disclosure, after which the bill was approved. Senate Bill 7022 extended a public records exemption for classroom examinations and assessment instruments through 2031 and expanded coverage to school district boards and public schools; it was also reported favorably. Senate Bill 862, as amended, set a $60,000 salary goal by 2030 for state correctional officers, probation officers, and institutional security specialists, with annual raises subject to appropriations; members and witnesses emphasized recruitment, retention, and safety, and the bill passed. Senate Bill 1250 removed the requirement that the Commission on Human Relations use registered mail for certain notices under the Florida Civil Rights Act, allowing less expensive notice methods, and it was reported favorably. Senate Bill 1698 allowed certain employers to post required workplace notices electronically instead of physically, and it passed without opposition. The committee also recommended confirmation of 10 appointees to the Florida Commission on Human Relations and the State Retirement Commission. The most extensive debate centered on Senate Bill 1072, which created an anti-Semitism task force within the Department of Legal Affairs to review anti-Semitism in Florida, improve community relations, advise on law enforcement training, assess digital media literacy efforts, evaluate hate crime statutes, and recommend policy changes. The sponsor said the bill was intended to address a growing problem and noted that Florida already uses the Holocaust Remembrance definition of anti-Semitism in statute. Numerous speakers opposed the bill, arguing it could chill protected speech, especially criticism of Israel, and could be used selectively against students, activists, Muslims, Arabs, and Jewish anti-Zionists; several also said existing hate-crime and civil-rights laws were sufficient and that the task force should include protections against Islamophobia and anti-Arab hate. One member raised concerns about the constitutionality of creating such task forces in light of prior actions by the Attorney General. Despite the opposition, the bill was reported favorably on a party-line style vote with Senator Bracey Davis voting yes along with the majority. Senate Bill 1642, the Freedom in the Workplace Act, was also heard and drew significant questioning. The bill would bar public employers and contractors from requiring pronoun use, certain gender-identity-related training, or non-binary sex options on forms, and would protect employees and contractors from adverse action based on religious, moral, conscience-based, or biology-based beliefs. Senator Polsky questioned whether the bill could interfere with anti-harassment training and workplace discipline, while the sponsor said the measure was meant to prevent government coercion and extend protections similar to those in school settings. The transcript cuts off before the final disposition of this bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Alaska Gasline Development Corporation's funds are reorganized.
• The third change is a new annual check on the Alaska Gasline Development Corporation's money.
• The Senate version flips the default, where the Alaska Gasline Development Corporation now needs the
• If a final investment decision by the developer is not reached by January 1, 2028, the project loses
• Yeah, I'll follow the exact script language here, but I do believe I actually made the motion.

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and approved the journal and the prayer for the record. The clerk read gubernatorial messages calling the legislature into a third special session and describing the call around House Bill 381, a major natural gas project bill addressing property taxes, municipal taxes, AGDC, reporting requirements, contract approval, an alternative volumetric tax, municipal impact grants, and related provisions. Messages from the Senate reported passage of a Senate-amended version of HB 381 and transmission of Senate Concurrent Resolution 203 to suspend certain rules related to the bill. The House introduced HCR 301 and HCR 302. HCR 301, which suspends rules on carryover of bills into a special session, passed 40-0. The House then took up the Senate amendments to HB 381. The Majority Leader outlined the Senate changes, including new school funding provisions, reorganization and oversight of AGDC funds, a public project dashboard, stricter bond approval requirements, a heating fuel assistance fund, changes to the alternative volumetric tax structure and distribution of revenues, a permanent rather than sunsetted tax break, new deadlines tied to final investment decision and construction, and a new graduated income tax on certain pass-through entities. He urged members to vote no on concurrence, and the House rejected concurrence 12-28. Because the House did not concur, the Speaker appointed a conference committee on HB 381 consisting of Representative Schrage, the Majority Leader, Representative Edgmon, and Representative Ruffridge. HCR 302, authorizing the House and Senate to recess for more than three days, passed 40-0 after members stated the recess was intended to allow conference negotiations to continue and that the body would return on a time certain. The House also received two governor-request bills, HB 3001 and HB 3002, both referred to the Finance Committee. The House then excused several members for specified absences and adjourned until July 1 at 10:30 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• policy intended to protect and develop policy intended to protect and develop the<00:32:19.600><
• like the port infrastructure development like the port infrastructure development program<01:24:
• I'm going to ask you the exact same question I've been asking others.
• We plan to exact all these measures this afternoon—that’s the plan, that’s the hope.
• We will, if we can, exact our seven remaining measures.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And their exact words were, we hope that the courts will respect... ...their exact words were, 'We hope
• Fundamental to the GSP is all the technical work that went into developing those water budgets, developing
• To the GSP is all the technical work that went into developing those water budgets, developing the sustainable
• yield, and developing those undesirable result markers.
• And in Fox Canyon, for example, when we developed ours, not only... ...when we developed ours, not only

Summary: The committee heard several water, wildlife, conservation, and local government bills. AB 362, by Assembly Member Ramos, would add tribal water uses as a statewide beneficial use and strengthen tribal consultation in water planning; tribal representatives and conservation groups supported it as a long-overdue correction, while water agencies, business groups, and agricultural interests raised concerns about CEQA, regulatory uncertainty, and impacts on existing water planning. The bill was moved on a due pass motion to Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials, with some members noting ongoing stakeholder discussions and one abstention. AB 1089, by Assembly Member Carrillo, would expand local permitting authority under the Western Joshua Tree Conservation Act to include commercial and industrial projects. The author and the City of Adelanto argued it would speed housing and economic development in the high desert while preserving the overall conservation framework, but environmental groups opposed it as premature and potentially weakening protections for Joshua trees. The committee approved the bill on a due pass motion to Appropriations. AB 1024, by Assembly Member Harabedian, would require a regional black bear mitigation plan for the San Gabriel Valley and related areas; Sierra Madre officials described rising bear intrusions and the need for state help, and the bill passed to Appropriations. AB 846, by Assembly Member Connolly, would streamline permitting for local wildfire preparedness and vegetation management projects in local responsibility areas by creating a faster review process at Fish and Wildlife and improving mapping coordination with Cal Fire. Local government, fire service, and agricultural witnesses supported the bill as a common-sense wildfire prevention measure, and it passed to Natural Resources with no opposition. AB 263, by Assembly Member Rogers, would extend emergency minimum-flow regulations for the Scott and Shasta Rivers for five years or until permanent rules are adopted; supporters said it protects salmon recovery, tribal subsistence, and the fishing economy during a transition period, while opponents argued it bypasses normal regulatory process and harms farmers. The committee approved it on a due pass as amended motion to Appropriations, with one abstention and two no votes. AB 1044, by Assembly Member Bains, would create a new Tulare County groundwater sustainability agency for undistricted lands after other local agencies split off; the bill passed to Local Government. AB 1426, by Assembly Member Arambula, began testimony on creating a Diablo Range Conservation Program to fund habitat protection and restoration across the range.

Transcript Highlights:

• pennies for financial institutions, which has resulted in the inability of local governments to pay exact
• So if someone is paying with a credit card or an ACH, the exact amount will always be what is charged
• a uniform policy that clarifies that impact fees should only be paid on the new impact of that development
• and what that development causes.
• This will help reduce the cost of duplicative fees and lower overall development cost.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Summary: The Assembly Local Government Committee met with an author present and began hearing bills before a quorum was established, emphasizing rules for orderly testimony and public comment. The committee first heard SB 1005, which would authorize local governments to adopt rounding to the nearest five cents for cash transactions if pennies are unavailable, in response to a federal penny phase-out. The author and supporters from county treasurers, cities, special districts, counties, and the League of California Cities argued the bill would provide legal clarity and reduce costs; there was no opposition. The committee then heard SB 1036, which would require local jurisdictions to credit prior site uses under the Mitigation Fee Act when redevelopment or adaptive reuse projects occur on sites with similar previous uses. The author and supporters from Spur, the California Association of Realtors, AARP, the California Building Industry Association, and others said the bill would prevent duplicative fees and better align charges with new project impacts; no opposition was presented. The committee also took up a consent calendar including SB 935, SB 1080, SB 1126, SB 1440, SB 1441, SB 1442, and SJR 11, all of which were approved. SB 1005 and SB 1036 were each moved out of committee, and the consent items were also approved, with the roll repeatedly left open for additional members to add on. The hearing concluded after the measures were reported out with unanimous or near-unanimous support as recorded during the add-on votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• So if you have any questions on that, I'm sure that they can give you some exact numbers.
• And I was noticing it seems like the language in both of the bills, I believe, is the exact same language
• But I know... ...of the bills, I believe, is the exact same language.
• The MySAI curriculum developed by Washington University provides high-quality, easy-to-implement lessons
• We quickly worked to develop an internal policy, felt in full transparency.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And if you are waiting to testify and someone or people get up and say the same exact thing that you're
• So, in a bit of respect to everyone who is here, if somebody's saying the same exact things you are,
• We need the kind of universal single-payer health care that all other developed countries enjoy.
• The U.S. is the only developed country that has a for-profit health care system.
• In California, for the exact same drug, insurance billed him $88,106 for the exact same medication.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Health Care Financing held a public hearing on 16 bills, with the chairs noting a busy legislative day and asking speakers to keep testimony brief. The committee first heard testimony on Senate 860/House 1405, the Medicare for All bill, with Sen. Jamie Eldridge and many advocates, clinicians, municipal officials, and patients arguing that a single-payer system would make care a right, reduce administrative waste, lower costs, and protect residents from rising premiums, medical debt, and hospital closures. Several speakers cited the Steward hospital crisis, affordability problems, and polling or ballot questions showing public support for single-payer coverage. No vote was taken during the hearing. The committee then took testimony on S. 863, a bill on non-opioid options for chronic pain. Pain specialists, patients, and advocates said the bill would improve care coordination for MassHealth members, expand access to non-opioid medications, require provider education, and collect data on chronic pain. Testifiers described long delays in diagnosis and treatment, stigma toward pain patients, and the need for multidisciplinary care and transportation support. Again, the committee heard testimony only and took no action. A large portion of the hearing focused on H. 1360/S. 869, which would prevent discrimination against people with disabilities in health care. Disability advocates, clinicians, and patients described being denied or delayed care, pressured into DNR orders, or treated based on assumptions about quality of life rather than medical facts. Speakers referenced COVID-era crisis standards of care, discriminatory metrics, and personal stories involving canceled procedures, inadequate accommodations, and poor treatment in hospitals. Committee members thanked speakers for their testimony and said they would review the bill and its implications, but no vote was announced. The committee also heard testimony on H. 1399, an individual Medicare marketplace option for municipal retirees, where supporters said it would give cities and towns a lower-cost alternative for retiree health benefits through HRAs and individual Medicare plans. The hearing then returned to Medicare for All testimony, with additional supporters repeating arguments about cost, access, municipal budget pressure, and the need for global budgeting and universal coverage. The transcript ends with continued testimony and no recorded committee vote or final action on any bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's the exact same bill. You've heard the bill.
• It's the exact same bill. Bill 154. It's the exact same bill.
• <00:45:04.880> public Public Health to develop public Public Health to develop public education
• agencies to develop public education. agencies to develop public education.
• Shall develop a virtual following.

Bills: HB1, HB198, HB11, HB32, HB33, HB34, HB56, HB68, HB72, HB101, HB102, HB110, HB154, HB166, HB168, HB274, SB114, HB1, HB198, HB11, HB32, HB33, HB34, HB56, HB68, HB72, HB101, HB102, HB110, HB154, HB166, HB168, HB274, SB114

Keywords: DUI, driving under the influence, ignition interlock, interlock device, driver license suspension, restricted license, motor vehicle, alcohol offense, first offense, repeat offender, blood alcohol concentration, BAC, license revocation, Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency, ALEA, public safety, traffic safety, chemical dependency, substance abuse, court referral program

Transcript Highlights:

• The developer then said they could change based on how much they were willing to pay, and the developers
• Infrastructure development is in process, and again, here, no vacancy.
• Chilili was the first one to actually develop a housing project, and you're continuing to develop it.
• Finding the exact way to evaluate that is sort of the challenge.
• And it's interesting how other places are doing rural development for economic development.

Transcript Highlights:

• And paragraph B, beginning on page two, line one, provides the authority for development of the merit
• provides the authority for development provides the authority for development of<00:03:41.920>
• Senator Johnson. >> Senator Johnson. >> Yeah, I don't know the exact term that that was made.
• /c><00:18:43.960> don't<00:18:44.160> know<00:18:44.280> the<00:18:44.400> exact
• >> Yeah, it and I don't know the exact >> Yeah, it and I don't know the exact in<00:

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That means incentivizing research and development, supporting our farmers, and creating an environment
• > supporting<00:02:59.680> our research and development, supporting our research and development
• We don't have an exact dollar amount, but we're thinking maybe in the $15 million range just to keep
• We don't have an exact dollar amount, but we're thinking maybe in the $15 million range just to keep
• We don't have an exact dollar amount, but we're thinking maybe in the $15 million range just to keep

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: House Republican leaders unveiled their “North Star Comeback” budget plan, describing it as a focused effort to make Minnesota more affordable, reduce government waste, and strengthen the economy. They said the package would include a $3.8 billion tax cut proposal with one-time property tax relief, elimination of taxes on tips and overtime, childcare relief, lower car tab fees, and funding for schools through scholarship-granting organizations. They also framed the plan as a response to rising costs for groceries, housing, energy, insurance, and childcare. A major emphasis of the rollout was government accountability, especially a strong Office of Inspector General bill and IT modernization to reduce fraud. Leaders said the OIG proposal had moved out of committee and was now in Ways and Means, with a working group continuing to reconcile House and Senate differences. On IT modernization, Chair Paul Torkelson said the plan would likely use a two-pronged approach, with about $15 million for near-term needs and a longer-term fund for ongoing technology upgrades; he said many such investments could qualify for federal matching dollars. The leaders also highlighted Medicaid conformity, saying Minnesota should align with federal changes to avoid losing funding, and they discussed a property tax rebate proposal as a one-time $1 billion return to taxpayers to offset higher property taxes. In response to questions, they said many of the budget items were still moving through the process and some had not met finance deadlines, while others were already in bills. They repeatedly criticized House Democrats for blocking or delaying Republican proposals and said they wanted bipartisan cooperation to pass the plan this year.

Transcript Highlights:

• It hands students real information at the exact moment it matters the most.
• It hands students real information at<00:09:54.000> the<00:09:54.080> exact<00:09:54.600
• at the exact moment it matters the most. at the exact moment it matters the most.
• ,<00:10:12.000> or<00:10:12.160> something<00:10:12.520> entirely development, or
• something entirely development, or something entirely different.<00:10:13.880> And<00:10:14.000

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Is that for the exact same services? Mr.
• Chair, Representative Murphy, so it's for the exact same PRTF service.
• with a lower rate, all things being equal, and facilities that had a lower occupancy and maybe the exact
• But I would say that you're not wrong that because we look at occupancy in terms of developing the rate
• and when that facility, We look at occupancy in terms of developing the rate, and when that facility

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 2399, concerning therapeutic leave days for psychiatric residential treatment facilities (PRTFs). Sarah Aker from the Department of Health and Human Services explained the current Medicaid rate-setting methodology, how occupancy affects rates, and why paying the full rate for leave days would create additional fiscal impact. Members debated whether the bill should pay the full Medicaid rate, a flat reduced rate, or a tiered rate, and discussed whether a cap or department authorization should be used to control use of leave days. The department said it was not supporting the change as it was not in the governor’s budget, though it supported family engagement in care. After discussion, the committee settled on a compromise motion to set therapeutic leave days at a $500 daily rate and require department authorization of the number of leave days. The motion passed 6-2, with Representative Anderson voting no and the rest of the recorded members voting yes. The committee then moved on to Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation budget materials, where Michelle Zander walked through detailed population and rate calculations for women’s and men’s facilities, county holds, deferred admissions, transitional facilities, work release, and proposed reentry, man camp, and Grand Forks-related costs. Members asked about the county jail reimbursement rates and the overall pool of funds, and Zander explained the calculations and noted the proposal was roughly break-even depending on assumptions. The committee also heard an overview of DOCR IT requests from Amy and NDIT staff, including data processing, medical modules, a new client management system, body scanners, data management tools, facility management software, medical software upgrades, college solutions, and body cameras/tasers. Staff explained that the new client management system would likely be a multi-phase project with a wide cost range based on vendor selection and scope, and that the current request was for phase one. Members emphasized the importance of better data tracking, staff safety tools, and information that could help explain programming and release outcomes to the public. The committee planned to continue with Veterans Affairs the next day and then return to Senate Bill 2015.

Transcript Highlights:

• I didn't round up; I did exact straight math by the data. passed and the in it's got an inflat on passed
• that's why it's 137 I didn't round up I that's why it's 137 I didn't round up I did<00:01:22.680> exact
• 01:23.960> by<00:01:24.680> the<00:01:24.880> data<00:01:25.320> so did exact
• straight math by the data so did exact straight math by the data so you<00:01:25.880> know<00
• <00:13:41.600> practical years of experience developing practical years of experience developing

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• <02:04:21.920> and state for biotechnology development and state for biotechnology development
• 14.960> therapies<02:07:15.680> at developing a pipeline of therapies at developing a pipeline
• <02:08:05.520> innovative small companies developing innovative small companies developing
• we can do the exact same math, the exact we can do the exact same math, the exact same<02:11:35.840
• charged then with developing charged then with developing and<02:28:11.800> enforcing<02:

Keywords: 1191, senate, all