Bills: SB311 , SB322 , SB304 , SB313 , SB315 , SB316 , HB489 , SB90

Committees: House Tourism , House Economic Development and Tourism

Keywords: electric transmission, public highways, permit processing, economic growth, infrastructure, rural development, condemnation actions, state regulations, community development district, CDD, annexation, municipal annexation, wet municipality, dry county, wet county, Sunday alcohol sales, ABC Board, alcohol licensing, on-premises consumption, golf course

Bills: HCR22 , HR1039 , HR586 , HR970 , HR877 , HR1228 , HR983 , HR981 , HCR9

Keywords: HIV/AIDS, National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, Black health, public health, HIV testing, HIV prevention, PrEP, antiretroviral therapy, viral suppression, U=U, undetectable equals untransmittable, AIDS, Minority AIDS Initiative, community health centers, culturally competent care, health disparities, racial disparities, health equity, Black Americans, African Americans

Transcript Highlights:

• Even to do the PEP and PrEP treatment, the preventative medication, we would be referring you out to
• Even to do the pep and prep treatment, the preventative medication, we would be referring you out to
• Diane, in the context of HIV and PEP and PrEP, why not pursue just that segment?
• And for PrEP, it's—no, I mean, I guess it shows that it's negative, and PrEP could help prevent HIV exposure
• last two years, and PEP and PrEP is a very important aspect of the bill.

Bills: SB1041 , SB1088 , SB1118 , SB1128 , SB1168 , SB1176 , SB1189 , SB1207 , SB1250 , SB1272 , SB1274 , SB1286 , SB1428 , SB1457 , SB1461 , SB1503 , SB1519 , SB1537 , SB1582 , SB1618 , SB1654 , SB1713 , SB1827 , SCR1012 , SCR1020

Committees: House Appropriations , House House Appropriations Committee of Reference

Keywords: electronic monitoring, nursing care, assisted living, resident rights, privacy, consent, surveillance, cybersecurity, homeland security, artificial intelligence, state appropriation, VPN security, zero trust, housing, zoning, middle housing, urban development, duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes

Bills: SB1014 , SB1094 , SB1146 , SB1177 , SB1192 , SB1194 , SB1214 , SB1372 , SB1390 , SB1398 , SB1399 , SB1494 , SB1557 , SB1561 , SB1564 , SB1602 , SB1603 , SB1621 , SB1628 , SB1629 , SB1713 , SB1752 , SB1776 , SB1813 , SB1814 , SB1821

Committees: Senate Health and Human Services , Senate Senate Health and Human Services COR

Keywords: gender transition, gender detransition, health insurance, medical procedures, insurance claims, official documents, Arizona law, gender reassignment, civil liability, minors, medical consent, detransition, dependent children, foster care, periodic review, court hearings, child welfare, public funds, prohibition, Arizona legislation

Transcript Highlights:

• Here's our question: Is there a slide that shows just the PREP funds?
• And so we're first gonna take the PREP and ARA infrastructure funding.
• That's going to be our first PREP project to complete.
• So is that the same as what we did in PREP 1.0?
• We'll be using those remaining PREP funds on this effort.

Committee: House A&B Transportation Subcommittee

Transcript Highlights:

• But 13 years after the introduction of PrEP, only a third of those who would benefit from PrEP are using
• With other long-acting PrEP medications in development, PrEP users and their clinicians With other long-acting
• PrEP medications in development, PrEP users and their clinicians will increasingly be able to choose
• impermissible cost-sharing for PrEP medications.
• All PrEP medications prior to 2025 have an A rating.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Financial Services

Summary: The Joint Committee on Financial Services held a public hearing on a wide range of bills, with testimony first focused on H. 1315/S. 824, which would require insurance coverage for pain management options during IUD insertion. Representative Sabadosa, Planned Parenthood clinicians, and policy advocates said sedation can reduce fear and trauma, improve access to effective contraception, and should be reimbursed so providers can continue offering it. A Tufts OB-GYN resident also testified that pain control should be standard care for intrauterine procedures. No votes were taken during the hearing. The committee then heard extensive testimony on firefighter health bills, especially H. 1230/S. 690 requiring insurance coverage for cancer screenings for firefighters. Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts leaders, a Dana-Farber oncologist, and firefighters themselves described occupational exposure to carcinogens and personal stories of late-stage cancer detection, arguing that early screening can save lives and reduce long-term costs. Representative Crichton and Representative Howitt also spoke in support, and Representative Ayers testified for H. 4012, which would require neurological disorder screenings for firefighters. Committee members expressed support and sympathy, but no action was taken. The hearing also covered H. 3946/S. 756 on hearing aid coverage, with testimony from students, adults with hearing loss, disability advocates, and HLAA representatives describing the educational, social, and financial barriers caused by lack of coverage and urging broader insurance mandates. Later, Representative Donahue and Representative Vargas testified for H. 1337 to expand insurance coverage for opioid antagonists and related medications, including naloxone dispensed at discharge. The committee additionally heard testimony on H. 1134 to improve chronic pain care coordination and non-opioid access, and H. 4162 to improve ostomy supply coverage and access to certified ostomy care, with patients and clinicians describing denials, quantity limits, and non-medical switching. The transcript ends while testimony on H. 1315/S. 824 is still ongoing; no votes or formal committee actions are recorded in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• PrEP is a highly effective... Pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP.
• SB 1023 requires insurers that provide PrEP through the medical benefit to also provide PrEP through
• PrEP is one of our most powerful tools for preventing PrEP is one of our most powerful tools for preventing
• Because the bill only applies to insurers that already cover injectable PrEP, it does not expand PrEP
• bill would not change how injectable PrEP is administered.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Health heard several bills focused on Medi-Cal access, HIV prevention, death certificate amendments, caregiver certification, advance care planning, and sugar-sweetened beverage labeling. SB 1422 by Senator Durazo would restore Medi-Cal access for income-eligible undocumented adults beginning January 1, 2027. The author and many supporters argued the enrollment freeze shifts costs to counties and hospitals, worsens health outcomes, and undermines California’s prior coverage gains. County, labor, health, immigrant-rights, and provider groups testified in support; there was no opposition. Committee members generally expressed support but also raised concerns about funding and the need for new revenue sources. The bill was discussed while the committee lacked quorum, so no vote was taken at that time. The committee also heard SB 1023 on PrEP access, SB 1071 on death certificate amendments after homicide findings, SB 1057 on criminal-history review for CNA and home health aide certification, and SB 1088 on POLST and advance care planning updates. SB 1023 would require insurers that cover injectable PrEP under the medical benefit to also cover it through the pharmacy benefit; supporters said this would reduce administrative barriers and improve access, while health plans and insurers opposed it as an unnecessary mandate that could blur benefit design lines. SB 1071 would allow next of kin to amend a death certificate’s manner of death to homicide after a final court determination; families and law enforcement supported it as a matter of truth and closure, while coroners opposed it as blurring medical and legal findings and potentially distorting public health data. SB 1057 would replace automatic denial with individualized review for certain convictions in CNA and home health aide certification, and SB 1088 would modernize POLST/DNR rules, including electronic signatures, out-of-state recognition, and clarifying who may sign; both drew support, though clinical nurse specialists opposed SB 1088 because they were not included as authorized signers. Several of these bills were heard without quorum, so no votes were taken during the discussion. After quorum was established, the committee heard SB 869 by Senator Weber-Pierce, which would require large chain restaurants to display a clear added-sugar icon next to beverages exceeding 50% of the daily recommended limit. The author and supporters, including the American Diabetes Association and an emergency physician, said consumers need simple, visible information at the point of purchase to better understand health risks tied to sugary drinks. The bill was framed as a public health transparency measure aimed at diabetes, obesity, and other chronic disease prevention. The transcript ends during testimony on SB 869, before any final committee action or vote is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, we are doing a lot within our teacher prep programs.
• So, we are doing a lot within our teacher<00:10:34.320><c> prep</c><00:10:34.560><c> programs.
• And so, our teacher prep programs.
• ,</c> when you talked about teacher prep, when you talked about teacher prep, because<00:15:49.920><c
• And uh even throughout my teacher prep.

Transcript Highlights:

• PrEP is a highly effective... Pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP.
• SB 1023 requires insurers that provide PrEP through the medical benefit to also provide PrEP through
• injectable forms of PrEP has made this tool even more powerful.
• Because the bill only applies to insurers that already cover injectable PrEP, it does not expand PrEP
• but this bill would not change how injectable PrEP is administered.

Committee: Senate Health

Summary: The committee heard SB 1422, which would restore Medi-Cal access for income-eligible undocumented adults beginning January 1, 2027. Senator Durazo and county, labor, health, immigrant-rights, and provider supporters argued the current enrollment freeze shifts costs to counties and hospitals, worsens preventive care, and increases expensive emergency treatment. No opposition testified. Several senators voiced support but also raised concerns about funding and the need for new revenue sources; the chair said she supported the concept and would continue working on financing, but the bill was not voted on because quorum was lost. The committee also heard SB 1023 on PrEP access, SB 1071 on amending death certificates after a homicide finding, SB 1057 on conviction-history review for CNA and home health aide certification, and SB 1088 on advance care planning and POLST/DNR updates. SB 1023’s author and supporters said requiring pharmacy-benefit coverage for injectable PrEP would reduce administrative barriers and improve access, while health plans opposed it as an improper benefit-design mandate; members sought clarification about how the billing pathway would work. SB 1071 drew strong support from victims’ families, law enforcement, and prosecutors who said death certificates should reflect later legal homicide findings, while coroners opposed it as blurring medical and legal determinations and risking data integrity. SB 1057 was presented as a fair-chance workforce measure to expand caregiving jobs for rehabilitated people with records, with no opposition heard. SB 1088 would modernize POLST/DNR rules, including electronic signatures, out-of-state recognition, and clearer signer authority; supporters backed the changes, while clinical nurse specialists opposed the bill for not including them as authorized signers. After quorum was established, the committee took up SB 869, which would require large chain restaurants to display an added-sugar icon next to beverages exceeding half the daily recommended sugar limit. Senator Weber Pierson and supporters from the American Diabetes Association and American Heart Association framed the bill as a transparency measure to help consumers make informed choices and reduce chronic disease risk. The senator responded to opposition concerns by saying existing nutrition information is often hard to find and that the icon would not unduly crowd menus. The hearing continued with testimony on the bill after quorum was reached, but no final vote is reflected in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• So PrEP and... PrEP and ARPA.
• So that's the four major projects on PrEP.
• The other two things that we received from the legislature on PrEP was the PrEP Hangar Fund, $14 million
• So we've done some projects in other areas with the PREP and ARPA monies, or mostly the PREP monies,
• So we've done some projects in other areas with the prep and ARPA monies, or mostly the prep monies.

Summary: The committee met for an oversight update on how one-time and recurring transportation-related appropriations are being implemented. Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics Director Grayson Artees reviewed ARPA and PREP-funded airport and aerospace projects, including completed or nearing-completion work at Will Rogers, Woodward, Ardmore, Tulsa’s air traffic control tower, and multiple hangar, terminal, taxiway, utility, and UAS infrastructure projects statewide. He also discussed one-time FY25 and FY26 appropriations for airport development, the repurposing of an unneeded Lufthansa project allocation into other aerospace projects, and the department’s aerospace education grants, classroom labs, aircraft-build programs, and internship support. Members asked for lists of participating schools and for a clearer overall accounting of the funding; Artees said the department would provide those materials and estimated roughly $400 million has been invested in aerospace and defense since PREP and ARPA, with about $250 million directed to airport infrastructure. The committee then heard from ODOT Secretary Tim Gatz on the Retro Fund, lake and industrial access roads, ports of entry, and the PACT Fund. Gatz said Retro, created in statute and funded with $200 million in both 2024 and FY25, is helping accelerate rural high-impact road and bridge projects; he reported $249 million awarded so far, supporting about $1.4 billion in construction, with most projects expected to be awarded by September 2027. He also described lake and industrial access projects, including work at the Port of Inola, and updated members on ports of entry, internal way stations, and the replacement of the aging OkiPROS permitting system with ProMiles. On PACT, he said the county road and bridge allocations are being administered, but the Tax Commission’s role in distributing the county road share has created unnecessary bureaucracy; he urged a statutory fix so the money can go directly to counties. Members asked for lists of approved lake/recreational projects and for clarification on the Tax Commission issue; Gatz said ODOT would provide the project list and that he would welcome Tax Commission input on a legislative remedy. No votes were taken, and the meeting adjourned after the updates and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• PrEP is a highly effective...
• SB 1023 requires insurers that provide PrEP through the medical benefit to also provide PrEP through
• PrEP is one of our most powerful tools for preventing PrEP is one of our most powerful tools for preventing
• Because the bill only applies to insurers that already cover injectable PrEP, it does not expand PrEP
• but this bill would not change how injectable PrEP is administered.

Committee: Senate Health

Transcript Highlights:

• PrEP is highly effective. It prevents HIV transmission.
• This bill requires insurers that provide PrEP through the medical benefit to also provide PrEP through
• PrEP is one of our most powerful tools.
• San Francisco AIDS Foundation, my organization, is one of the largest PrEP prescribers.
• There is ample precedent for pharmacy benefit coverage of injectable PrEP.

Committee: House Health

Transcript Highlights:

• in Wenatchee, and Rainier Prep in Seattle.
• For example, at Pinnacles Prep, they use Peak Time, a study hall-style period during the school day,
• For example, Rainier Prep has a practice of celebrating a different culture each month.
• For example, Rainier Prep has a practice of celebrating a different culture each month.
• Innovation High School, Catalyst Public Schools, Rainier Prep, and Pinnacles Prep are making important

Summary: The committee first heard a presentation from the State Auditor’s Office on its current performance audit work plan. The auditor described how topics are selected from a large pool of ideas and coordinated with JLARC to avoid duplication. Four ongoing audits were highlighted: Liquor and Cannabis Board operations, oversight of authorized entities serving students with disabilities, the long-term care provisions of Initiative 1163, and Medicaid managed care versus fee-for-service costs. Other planned topics included housing commission tenant ownership follow-up, DSHS vendor payment growth, implementation of the Since Time Memorial curriculum, and Washington State Ferries operations. Members asked about coordination with JLARC, and the auditor said the office regularly exchanges work plans and monthly updates with JLARC staff. The committee then received the State Auditor’s report on how charter schools identify and support at-risk students. Auditors reviewed four schools—Catalyst Public Schools, Innovation High School, Pinnacles Prep, and Rainier Prep—and focused on English language learners, homeless students, and special education students. The audit found that the schools met nearly all legal requirements reviewed and used many leading practices, including small-group instruction, culturally responsive environments, family engagement, and multi-tiered systems of support. The main recommendations were to improve documentation and written procedures so staff can apply practices more consistently. One area of partial compliance involved language access planning, and MTSS implementation varied across schools. Committee members asked why those four schools were selected, how the sample compared with district and statewide student populations, and whether the audit examined K-2 MTSS requirements. The auditor explained the schools were chosen for student need, geographic diversity, and authorizer representation, and that K-2 MTSS was not evaluated because only one school served those grades. Representatives from the Charter School Commission and charter school advocates responded positively, saying the report reflected strong practices and could help spread effective approaches. Public testimony from the Washington State Charter Schools Association and Excellent Schools Washington also supported the report and urged continued sharing of best practices across schools.

Transcript Highlights:

• PrEP is highly effective. It prevents HIV transmission.
• This bill requires that insurers that provide PrEP through the medical benefit also provide PrEP through
• PrEP is one of our most powerful tools for preventing HIV transmission, and the introduction of these
• There is ample precedent for pharmacy benefit coverage of injectable PrEP.
• In fact, some insurers already cover the drugs... ...pharmacy benefit coverage of injectable PrEP.

Summary: The Assembly Health Committee heard several bills on June 9. SB 1023 by Senator Laird would require insurers that cover injectable HIV PrEP under the medical benefit to also cover it through the pharmacy benefit, with supporters saying the change would reduce reimbursement delays and expand access, while health plans opposed it as an unnecessary mandate that interferes with benefit design. SB 964 by Senator Smallwood-Quivas would limit prior authorization for certain dose or frequency adjustments to covered medications, especially for chronic complex conditions; medical supporters said it would prevent harmful delays in care, while insurers argued it weakens safety and utilization controls. SB 1323 by Senator Rubio, as amended, would strengthen protections for people in immigration custody receiving medical care by requiring hospitals and facilities to inform staff how to respond to requests and allowing patients to notify family members of their location; it passed with one no vote. SB 1099 by Senator Reyes would clarify local governments’ authority to provide state and local public benefits to all residents under federal PRWORA rules, with supporters saying it would reduce legal uncertainty for safety-net services; it passed, though one member later changed a vote to no on the add-on roll call. The committee also took up SB 895 by Senator Wiener, a proposed $12 billion science research bond for the November ballot that would create a California scientific research funding institute. Supporters from UC, UAW, hospitals, and advocacy groups said the measure would help offset federal cuts, protect research jobs, and sustain California’s leadership in biomedical and other research; there was no opposition, and the bill passed on a party-line style vote with two no votes. SB 944, also by Senator Wiener, would stabilize Medi-Cal coverage for acupuncture, which supporters described as a cost-effective, non-pharmacological treatment for pain and other conditions that has repeatedly been threatened in the budget process; it passed unanimously. The committee also approved consent items SB 918 and SB 1202, and later cleared the remaining measures on call after roll votes and add-on votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• So that's the four major projects on prep.
• The other two things that we received from the legislature on prep was the prep hanger fund, $14 million
• But that is the prep and APA conversation.
• On prep, we have about one, a little over $1 million...
• So we've done some projects in other areas with the prep and ARPA monies, or most of the prep...

Committee: House A&B Transportation Subcommittee

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm also a policy analyst, and I'm assisting Annie on our teacher prep research. Thanks Evan.
• And I know there are a couple of the teacher prep people here.
• It ought to be more the role of the teacher prep programs coming to the legislature asking us that we
• And is that an area That needs to be included or should just be left to the prep programs themselves
• The Martinez Yazi Action Plan has a lot in there for our educator prep programs a lot.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a graduate of Navajo Prep and have returned back to now lead the school.
• Our focus is college prep.
• They are investors in PREP from the time that they agreed that we would be a college prep school to even
• I'm going to go to Navajo Prep.
• Navajo Prep has... do we have? Thank you, Madam Chair.

Committee: House House Government, Elections & Indian Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• in Wenatchee, and Rainier Prep in Seattle.
• For example, Rainier Prep has a practice of celebrating a different culture each month.
• For example, at Pinnacle's Prep, they use peak time, a study hall-style period during the school day,
• For example, Rainier Prep has a practice of celebrating a different culture each month.
• Innovation High School, Catalyst Public Schools, Rainier Prep, and Pinnacles Prep are making important

Summary: The committee meeting began with a brief explanation of the renamed Joint Legislative Audit Review Committee subcommittee, now called the Committee to Hear SAO Performance Audits, and a presentation from the State Auditor’s Office on its current biennium performance audit work plan. The auditor described how topics are selected from a large pool of potential audits and highlighted several ongoing or planned audits, including the Liquor and Cannabis Board, oversight of authorized entities serving students with disabilities, the Quality Home Care Initiative, Medicaid managed care versus fee-for-service costs, the Housing Commission tenant ownership follow-up, DSHS vendor payment patterns, implementation of the Since Time Memorial curriculum, and the Washington State ferry system. Members asked about coordination with JLARC to avoid duplication, and the auditor said the offices exchange work plans, monthly updates, and quarterly coordination meetings. The committee then heard the State Auditor’s performance audit on how charter schools identify and support at-risk students. Auditors reviewed four charter schools—Catalyst Public Schools, Innovation High School, Pinnacles Prep, and Rainier Prep—and focused on English language learners, homeless students, and special education students. The audit found the schools met nearly all legal requirements reviewed, with only one area where two schools partially met a language-access requirement. The schools also used several promising practices, including small-group instruction, culturally responsive environments, and multi-tiered systems of support, though the auditors recommended better documentation of procedures to improve consistency. Families interviewed generally reported positive experiences, while noting resource constraints. Committee members asked about how the four schools were selected, whether the audit compared charter populations to home districts, and how MTSS requirements applied to the schools reviewed. The State Auditor’s Office said the sample was chosen for geographic diversity, student population characteristics, and representation from both authorizers, and that K-2 MTSS requirements were not evaluated because they applied to only one school. Representatives from the Charter School Commission and charter school advocates responded positively, emphasizing technical assistance, collaboration, and sharing best practices across schools. Two public testifiers also supported the report and said it highlighted effective practices that could be expanded across charter and traditional public schools.

Transcript Highlights:

• do provide very serious college prep and that have data.
• Adult basic ed um college prep, right?
• And so I think if we're college prep.
• Um we have one prep and that have data.
• </c> being the same as as college prep. being the same as as college prep.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I think a key part there is outside of prep because when their students are prep or teachers are
• So we're prepping for safety and taking that seriously.
• Another one, looking at the prep times, I think a lot of school districts, prep times are part of the
• Many districts across the state do not have a provided or protected prep period.
• You said one was mandated prep time. Two, I didn't catch.

Summary: The committee met to discuss special education funding and retention, beginning with approval of the prior meeting minutes and then hearing a presentation from North Dakota United on a statewide special education survey and retention rubric. Presenters described how the rubric and survey were developed from special educator input around four domains: paperwork and due process support, workload, student and staff safety, and paraprofessional management. They reported high levels of stress and burnout, including increased workload, difficulty taking prep and lunch time, concerns about mental health, and widespread difficulty filling special education positions. Committee members questioned the survey’s lack of a general-education comparison group, the interpretation of terms like “rarely” and “sometimes,” and whether results could be broken down further by district size, unit, or disability area. The survey results showed the weakest area was workload, with respondents reporting caseloads increasing without corresponding adjustments, little additional support or compensation when workloads rise, and few negotiated-agreement protections. Paperwork and due process also scored poorly, with many teachers saying they rarely receive dedicated time during the duty day, often work outside contract hours without compensation, and take work home on evenings and weekends. Student and staff safety scored somewhat better but still showed gaps in crisis follow-up, notification about violent behavior, protective gear, and leave options after incidents. Paraprofessional management also drew concern, especially low pay, insufficient staffing, limited administrative support, and the burden placed on teachers to supervise and train paras. Several teachers then testified directly about the practical impact of these issues. One special education teacher described the job as combining instruction, legal compliance, and paraprofessional supervision, often requiring work beyond contracted hours and contributing to burnout and turnover. Another testified that special education case managers are effectively doing three full-time jobs and that the paperwork and caseload demands are a major reason people avoid or leave the field. Committee members discussed whether the problems are primarily local or state-level, whether more funding would solve them, and whether changes to the funding formula or weighting for high-cost students might be needed. No formal vote or action was taken beyond a recess and return to order for the next presentation, which continued the discussion of possible special education study objectives and potential policy directions.