Transcript Highlights:

• What this bill will do is help with the early detection and intervention for children who are deaf or
• housed within the Bureau of Family Health, Office of Public Health, along with the Early Hearing Detection
• You know, the earlier you can detect this type of impairment, it's so significant.

Summary: The House Committee on Health and Welfare met on May 12 and considered a wide range of health, social services, and licensing measures. Early in the meeting, the committee reported favorably HCR 98, which asks the Louisiana Department of Health to study whether SNAP recipients should be allowed to use benefits for grocery delivery fees. The author said the proposal would not change SNAP rules directly, but would examine access issues for elderly, disabled, rural, and transportation-limited residents. The committee also advanced SB 273, a hospice patient-protection bill requiring documentation of hydration, nutrition, and care decisions in inpatient licensed facilities where hospice is provided, with LDH oversight and enforcement authority; members discussed how responsibility is shared between facilities and outside hospice providers, and adopted technical amendments. The committee then approved SB 415, creating the Empower Louisiana Food Purchase Program, a privately funded charitable food-card program intended to let nonprofits distribute food-only cards to people in need. Members and the author discussed whether the cards would be reloadable, which retailers could accept them, and whether prepared foods could be included; LDH said the program could use all SNAP-authorized retailers, and the bill was reported favorably with amendments. SB 437, a cleanup bill for judicially referred residential substance abuse treatment facilities, was also reported favorably with amendments after LDH clarified that facilities providing treatment must be licensed, while residences only housing individuals would not be. SB 451, updating newborn hearing screening terminology and reporting requirements, was reported favorably after testimony that the bill would strengthen early detection and follow-up for deaf or hard-of-hearing children. Later, the committee advanced SB 426, which modernizes the addictive disorder regulatory authority and creates a formal peer support specialist licensing pathway. Supporters said the bill would strengthen the behavioral health workforce, improve accountability, and create a progression from peer support to higher credentials; the committee adopted technical and transition amendments and reported the bill favorably with amendments. SB 236, requiring LDH annual reviews and reports on kidney disease treatment services in Medicaid, was also reported favorably with amendments. Additional measures approved included SB 39, allowing provisional licenses for massage therapy graduates; SB 190, which tightens oversight of poor-performing nursing facilities in the CMS Special Focus Facility Program and sets an 18-month improvement timeline; SB 124, allowing hospitals within the same health system to share peer review records without waiving privilege; HR 174, urging study of fenbendazole as a possible cancer treatment; SB 270, allowing terminally ill patients to use medical marijuana in health care facilities; SB 359, changing terms for certain Morehouse Parish hospital district commissioners; and HR 194, requesting de-identified school visual acuity screening data for research. The committee adjourned after reporting all measures favorably, several with amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• I did not detect any changes in this policy from the current policy that we have been abiding by.
• around that bill, there were some very specific things that were disclosed about Meta's ability to detect
• Meta's ability to detect a kid's age based on their digital exhaust, meaning that their interactions

Keywords: Technology and Science, Joint Commission on, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a quantum sensing company that is detecting methane emissions.
• It's a quantum sensing company that is detecting methane emissions, that their technology has already
• led to 7.5 billion cubic feet of methane being removed from the atmosphere as a result of their detection

Bills: SB20, SB21, SB166, SB177, SB181, SB189, SM6

Keywords: prior authorization, pharmacy benefits manager, PBM, health insurer, prescription drugs, step therapy, formulary, auto-adjudication, electronic portal, appeals, medical necessity, serious mental illness, mental health, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression, substance use disorder, addiction treatment, cancer, autoimmune disorder

Transcript Highlights:

• was that we don't fully understand everything that's in so-called produced water, how to reliably detect
• How to reliably detect everything up to 1,400 contaminants, including volatile organic compounds, carcinogens
• And we don't know how to detect and reliably remove all those things.

Bills: HM45, HB276, HB300

Keywords: Taos County, Questa, produced water, treated produced water, water reuse, water quality control commission, freshwater conservation, rural communities, acequias, Indian nations, tribes, pueblos, water rights, industrial water use, data centers, artificial intelligence, AI, quantum computing, economic development, renewable energy

Transcript Highlights:

• those screening tests and preventive services that we really rely on to prevent chronic disease and detect
• screening tests and preventive services that we really rely on to to prevent chronic disease and detect
• disease at its earliest stages when it's most treatable. to prevent chronic disease and detect disease

Summary: The committee first welcomed new DSHS Secretary Angela Ramirez, who introduced herself and described her background in public service, federal and state legislative work, and health and human services leadership. Members emphasized the importance of building strong relationships with her and noted her focus on protecting services, using strategic approaches in a tight budget environment, and improving partnerships with the Legislature. Ramirez said she wanted to keep communication open and that her priorities would be shaped by what she learns from lawmakers and agency partners. The next work session focused on the West Coast Health Alliance and the broader Governor’s Public Health Alliance. Department of Health and governor’s office staff said the West Coast alliance, involving Washington, Oregon, California, and Hawaii, was formed to coordinate science-based public health guidance, especially around vaccines, return-to-work guidance, and responses to federal changes. They said the alliance is intended to reduce confusion, counter misinformation, and preserve access to evidence-based recommendations, with early actions including vaccine guidance for COVID-19, flu, and RSV, a statement rejecting any vaccine-autism link, and preparation for possible ACIP changes. Members asked about workload and coordination with other regional alliances, and staff said there is informal coordination but no formal regular meetings. The committee then heard from the Washington State Health Benefit Exchange about open enrollment and the effects of federal policy changes. Exchange leaders said the expiration of enhanced premium tax credits, HR1 provisions, and immigration-related eligibility changes are affecting affordability and enrollment, with some customers facing large premium increases and some counties becoming harder to serve. They reported early open-enrollment traffic increases, nearly 10,000 new sign-ups, and nearly 12,000 active coverage drops so far, while noting that many more people may disenroll later if subsidies are not extended. They also described mitigation efforts such as silver loading, Cascade Care Savings, outreach through navigators and community partners, and planning for future HR1 requirements like ending auto-renewal and adding verification steps. In the final work session, staff from the Health Care Authority and Insurance Commissioner’s office reviewed Washington’s health reform history and the state’s current affordability and access efforts. They highlighted past ACA-related coverage gains, continued work on prescription drug affordability, PBM oversight, primary care and behavioral health access, and a pending legislative proposal to preserve access to preventive services. They also discussed federal changes affecting Medicaid and the exchange, including work requirements, six-month redeterminations, and the need to coordinate across agencies to implement new rules. Members raised concerns about network adequacy, provider access, and the complexity of the health care system, while staff said they are trying to mitigate harm, simplify administration, and keep coverage and access as stable as possible.

Transcript Highlights:

• Earlier this year the foundation purchased a state-of-the-art DNA detection tool called an MVAC machine
• Our detectives believe that’ll be a game changer in certain investigations and solving cold cases.
• Our detect ive s believe that'll be a game changer and certain investigations and solving cold casesul

Summary: The committee heard an interim study on expanding or simplifying sales tax exemptions for Oklahoma nonprofits. Representatives Stark and Schreiber said the issue has been filed repeatedly over several sessions and framed it as a bipartisan effort to keep more charitable dollars in service of communities rather than paying sales tax. Schreiber also suggested broader tax reform or an omnibus approach rather than continuing to add individual exemptions. Marnie Taylor of the Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits gave an overview of the sector, describing nonprofits as a major part of the state economy and safety net, and argued that many organizations are highly regulated, under-resourced, and facing declining donations and funding. She said the current patchwork of exemptions is uneven and that a blanket or broader exemption would help organizations serving public needs. Committee members asked for sources behind some of the poverty, education, and health rankings cited in her presentation. Several nonprofit leaders testified about how sales tax affects their operations. RG Foods described the cost of opening neighborhood grocery markets in food deserts and said sales tax on a Tulsa project would divert about $85,000 from programming. Jubilee Partners, Skyline Urban Outreach, the Pencil Box, the Tulsa Police Foundation, Blue Rose Ranch, and Legacy Parenting Center each explained how exemption status or the lack of it affects food assistance, school supplies, public safety equipment, animal rescue, and diapers and family support. Members asked follow-up questions about food desert definitions, budgets, and how much sales tax savings would change operations. No vote was taken in the excerpt, but the study concluded with closing remarks emphasizing that the exemption would keep more money in direct services and support the nonprofit sector statewide.

Transcript Highlights:

• Early detection and intervention makes a huge difference. right? Absolutely, yes.
• If we could figure out how maybe we did bonuses for early detection.
• I'm trying to think about how do we incentivize the earliest detection. that money.

Bills: SB568, SCR5, SB57, SB1447, SB27, SB24

Keywords: special education, funding, individualized education program, visual impairments, accessibility, support services, state education code, SCR 5, Senate Concurrent Resolution 5, Texas School for the Deaf, TSD, Robert Rives, gymnasium naming, building naming, honorary resolution, commemorative resolution, deaf education, hard of hearing, Gallaudet University, alumni hall of fame

Transcript Highlights:

• A popular bipartisan approach to preventing fraud and protecting taxpayer dollars is back again this
• Um, your bill is just one of several aimed at combating fraud this session.
• aimed at combating fraud this session. aimed at combating fraud this session.
• <00:03:02.319> this bipartisan efforts to fight fraud this bipartisan efforts to fight fraud
• They have not brought fraud prevention.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But I think if reduction in fraud.
• save in fraud on this? save in fraud on this?
• of fraud. of fraud.
• <01:08:58.319> fraud someone who used to run a fraud fraud someone who used to run a fraud
• fraud changes. fraud changes.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And number two, fraud.
• And number<00:00:33.000> two,<00:00:33.720> fraud.
• number two, fraud. number two, fraud.
• The other thing that we were able to do was work packaged for anti-fraud legislation.
• saying we got to do more, there's fraud saying we got to do more, there's fraud going<00:07:37.680

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: A Minnesota Senate Republican leader reflected on the just-ended session, saying the caucus focused on affordability and fraud while operating with limited leverage in the minority. He highlighted a $254 million reduction in tab fees, saying it would keep money in Minnesotans’ pockets, and said Republicans also advanced anti-fraud measures, including tighter payment processes and provisions to prevent fraudsters from benefiting after being caught. He also noted support for infrastructure investments in roads, bridges, drinking water, and wastewater. The leader said Republicans were disappointed that many priorities were left on the table, especially because Democrats and the governor controlled the process. He criticized the late-session handling of bills, saying members did not have enough time to read or digest measures that appeared at the end. He also said the tax bill included a property tax measure and that Republicans would take their affordability and anti-fraud message into the fall elections. On health care, he explained his no vote on a bill tied to Hennepin County Medical Center, saying the package was too centered on one Minneapolis hospital and did not do enough for outstate and critical access hospitals. He said the session did include the bipartisan OIG bill and other tightening measures, but argued the administration had not been aggressive enough in pursuing fraud. He closed by agreeing that more transparency and compromise would be preferable, and said he hoped future sessions would be more open, especially if Republicans gain the majority.

Transcript Highlights:

• Motans are sick of the fraud. They are sick and tired of the fraud.
• Motans are sick of the fraud. They are sick and tired of the fraud.
• Motans are sick of the fraud. They are sick and tired of the fraud.
• <00:19:07.520> They're sick and tired of the fraud. They're sick and tired of the fraud.
• Fraud requires action. enough. Fraud requires action.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Again, fraud is bad.
• <00:57:48.920> fraud<00:57:49.120> mitigation housing due to fraud fraud mitigation
• tourist fraud people. tourist fraud people.
• for fraud. for fraud.
• the smart fraud people. the smart fraud people.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There are important anti-fraud bill.
• businesses filing fraud protection. businesses filing fraud protection.
• In the last few years, fraud.
• <01:15:31.120> So the Medicaid fraud control unit. So the Medicaid fraud control unit.
• They do a ton of consumer fraud.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• the real fraud on the American people. the real fraud on the American people.
• of an individual for fraud. of an individual for fraud.
• fraud. But this was never about fraud. fraud. But this was never about fraud.
• <03:59:42.000> being story of fraud and how fraud is being story of fraud and how fraud is
• billion is lost to fraud each year. billion is lost to fraud each year.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• He said this property fraud—he read in the paper that they almost stole Elton. Property fraud.
• Yet under current Missouri law, notary fraud, which is also...
• as well as perpetrators of notary fraud.
• And the penalties for notary fraud and impersonation.
• Or catching any fraud.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• administration to take on business fraud administration to take on business fraud and<00:07:49.680
• We got uh on combating business fraud.
• an online fraud reporting.
• implemented a fraud an online fraud<00:21:34.799> reporting.
• <00:21:36.159> I fraud reporting. I think it's great. I fraud reporting.

Bills: SF0082

Keywords: registered agents, corporate governance, entity ownership, business regulations, transparency, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Whether it be a fraud scheme where subjects are sent to a location under false pretenses and then move
• The process can happen and never be detected.

Bills: HB48, HB49, HB 1169, HB1971, HB2584, HB2663, HB2890, HB48, HB49

Keywords: HB 48, oilfield theft, organized theft, petroleum products, oil and gas equipment, DPS, Department of Public Safety, Texas, Railroad Commission, criminal justice, energy resources, theft prevention, organized crime, border region, El Paso, law enforcement task force, asset recovery, pipeline theft, drilling equipment, equipment theft

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:05:11.000> to common type of fraud benan reported to common type of fraud benan reported
• in the 20s um the devastation that fraud in the 20s um the devastation that fraud rots<00:08:11.520
• volunteered to uh serve on the fraud volunteered to uh serve on the fraud prevention<01:03:33.880
• In nature, there's a whole lot of fraud violations of consumer fraud statutes that aren't crimes and
• <01:14:21.159> and a lot of discussion about fraud and a lot of discussion about fraud and

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:10:39.000> and<01:10:39.120> fraud specifically focused on fraud and fraud specifically
• focused on fraud and fraud prevention<01:10:40.640> I<01:10:40.719> can<01:10:40.880><
• fraud prevention efforts into we worked fraud prevention efforts into every<01:12:19.239> aspect<
• fraud prevention and those were all fraud prevention measures<01:13:10.840> that<01:13:11.040>
• of worker misclassification fraud or employer misclassification fraud.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The committee met under a new Senate power-sharing arrangement with co-chairs, began with member and staff introductions, and then received a jurisdiction overview from Senate counsel. The overview explained that the Labor Committee’s jurisdiction has not changed from the previous biennium and covers fair labor standards, minimum wage, workers’ compensation, occupational safety and health, and related agencies and boards such as the Department of Labor and Industry, Bureau of Mediation Services, PERB, and the Workers’ Compensation Court of Appeals. It also noted that some topics, including paid leave, fall under other committees, while earned sick and safe time remains within Labor and Industry jurisdiction. Commissioner Nicole Blissenbach and Josiah Moore then gave a detailed Department of Labor and Industry presentation. They reviewed the department’s funding sources, emphasizing that workers’ compensation funds and construction codes/licensing revenues make up most of the budget, while the general fund is a small share. They described the department’s major divisions, including workers’ compensation, construction codes and licensing, labor standards, nursing home workforce standards, and OSHA consultation and compliance, and highlighted practical examples of their work. Examples included return-to-work assistance for an injured worker, compliance training that reduced penalties for self-insurers and claim administrators, and use of the Special Compensation Fund when an employer lacked workers’ compensation insurance. The labor standards section highlighted enforcement actions involving unpaid overtime, pregnancy and parental leave retaliation, wage deductions, and child labor violations, along with totals for 2024 collections and inquiries. The presentation also noted the Nursing Home Workforce Standards Board’s adopted rules, the expansion of construction licensing exams statewide, and OSHA consultation programs such as Min-SHARP and MINSTAR, including a Minnesota employer that recently achieved MINSTAR status. No votes or formal committee actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Against workers' compensation premium fraud.
• Construction industry workers' compensation fraud and tax fraud have a price, as Rep.
• Construction industry workers' compensation fraud and tax fraud have a price, as Rep.
• and tax fraud.
• the fraud model.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Financial Services held a public hearing with about 43 witnesses and a 1:00 p.m. hard stop, and the chair repeatedly asked speakers to keep testimony to three minutes. Much of the hearing focused on S. 747/H. 1336, which would extend paid family and medical leave and unemployment insurance to graduate student workers. Supporters included legislators, union leaders, graduate workers from MIT, Harvard, BU, WPI, UMass Lowell, and others, and legal advocates. They argued graduate workers perform full-time teaching and research work, pay taxes, and should not be excluded from basic safety-net benefits; several witnesses described personal hardships involving childbirth, serious illness, mental health crises, funding cuts, or fear of losing income. Testifiers also said the change would be revenue-neutral or revenue-generating and would not create major administrative burdens for universities, which already provide similar benefits to other employees. The committee also heard testimony on insurance-related bills. Christopher Stock of the Massachusetts Insurance Federation supported H. 1113 on public adjusters and H. 1345/S. 753 on flood-zone notifications for homebuyers, but opposed H. 4112, which would add a $2 surcharge on home insurance policies to fund fire cistern programs. The Metropolitan Area Planning Council strongly supported H. 1345, saying flood disclosure is needed because Massachusetts lacks statewide flood-notification requirements and flooding risks are increasing. Karen Alvarado supported H. 4352 on travel insurance, and John Fielding supported H. 1186 on pet insurance; both said the bills would create uniform regulatory frameworks and consumer protections. Rep. LeBoeuf testified for H. 4061 on workers’ compensation premium fraud, describing the bill as a transparency measure to combat fraud in construction by creating a public certificate-of-insurance database and QR-code verification system. Joe Bright of the carpenters’ union also supported H. 4061, citing fraud, misclassification, and the harm to injured workers. The hearing also included testimony on H. 4112, a bill to create a statewide fire suppression water resource fund and cistern program. Rep. Hogan and a Stowe fire chief described drought, brush fires, and the need for dedicated cisterns in communities without municipal water systems, saying the tanks provide reliable water for firefighting and are relatively low-tech once installed. Committee members asked questions about tank capacity, siting, maintenance, and funding. No votes or formal actions were taken during the hearing.