Transcript Highlights:

• And he could have tried this therapy.
• And he could have tried this therapy.
• It might have helped him, but we won't know. ...and he could have tried this therapy.
• And with proper safeguards and professional oversight, and robust integration therapy, it can provide
• Prior to 1970, there were over 1,000 studies of psychedelic therapy involving roughly 40,000 research

Bills: SB5921, SB5185, SB6182, SB6115, SB6258, SB5916, SB5981, SB5985, SB6019, SB6161, SB6183

Keywords: psilocybin, mental health, therapy, decriminalization, legalization, international medical graduates, preceptorship, hardship pathways, medical practice, licensure, abortion, reproductive health, pregnancy termination, clinic access, abortion access fund, abortion savings account, health carrier assessment, insurance assessment, health insurer tax, Department of Health

Summary: The Senate Health and Long-Term Care Committee held public hearings on several bills, with most of the discussion centered on Senate Bill 5921, which would create a Department of Health medical psilocybin program for adults with qualifying conditions. The staff briefing described licensing for producers and participating clinicians, training and safety standards, data collection, and a 2028 effective date. Senator Jesse Solomon said the bill uses a medical-control model and is intended to provide supervised access for conditions such as treatment-resistant depression and PTSD. Testimony was sharply divided: supporters included clinicians, veterans, first responders, and patients who described personal benefit and argued the bill would create a safe, regulated pathway; opponents and some medical groups raised concerns about missing safeguards, contraindications, monitoring, cost, and the bill’s exclusion of broader decriminalization or community-use protections. The hearing closed with 25 people signed in pro, 140 con, and 7 other. The committee also heard Senate Bill 5185, a pilot program to create a pathway for international medical graduates with clinical experience licenses to obtain full unrestricted primary care licensure. Senator Rebecca Saldana and supporters from the Washington State Medical Association, the Washington Medical Commission, and the International Medical Graduate Academy said the bill builds on an existing pathway, improves access to care, and maintains patient safety standards. No opposition testimony was presented, and the hearing closed with 9 pro and 118 con sign-ins. In executive session, the committee advanced several bills with amendments or substitutes: SB 5916 on non-opioid pain drugs, SB 5981 on 340B drug pricing transparency, SB 5985 on endometriosis resources, SB 6019 on home care rate statutes, SB 6161 on Department of Health dementia information, and SB 6183 on HIV antiviral drug coverage. The committee adopted proposed substitutes or amendments and sent the bills onward, with some referred to Rules and others to Ways and Means. The committee later reopened and completed the hearing on Senate Bill 6115, which would fund a comprehensive cancer education program for students in grades 6 through 12. Supporters, including Cancer Pathways staff, educators, and families affected by cancer, said early education could reduce risk behaviors like vaping and improve prevention; the hearing closed with 33 pro and 665 con sign-ins, and the remaining two agenda bills were postponed to a later hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• . therapy. therapy.
• </c> activities that they do in art therapy. activities that they do in art therapy.
• of therapy.
• But it's therapy and it's of therapy.
• </c> therapy content embedded in all of that. therapy content embedded in all of that.

Bills: HF362, HF2590, HF2760, HF3444

Keywords: massage therapy, Asian bodywork therapy, massage therapist, Asian bodywork therapist, licensure, professional licensing, health occupations, Department of Health, commissioner of health, advisory council, protected title, unlicensed practice, scope of practice, consumer protection, background check, professional liability insurance, continuing education, credentialing examination, state preemption, municipal regulation

Transcript Highlights:

• Music therapy is a health profession licensed by the Department of Health.
• This is a small fix, a follow-up trailer bill on the music therapy licensure bill.
• I'm sure the Music Therapy Coalition would be very happy to oblige. Very nice. Thank you, Rep.
• Music therapy is a fast-growing allied health profession, and music therapy programs are being created
• As a new music therapy program in Washington, PLU will be building a pipeline of qualified music therapy

Bills: HB2286, HB2324, HB2363, HB2098

Keywords: social work, licensure, alternative routes, education requirements, professional regulation, tuition waivers, veterans, education, children of veterans, higher education, military families, music therapy, temporary exemptions, healthcare, therapy practice, funding, tuition, financial aid, state budget, 904

Summary: The committee held its first meeting and heard public testimony on four bills. HB 2286 would create an alternative route to social worker licensure by removing the exam requirement for advanced social workers and allowing an enhanced supervised practice pathway for independent clinical social workers. The sponsor and several social workers argued the exam is a poor measure of competence and can be a barrier to licensure, while the Association of Social Work Boards opposed the bill, warning it could weaken uniform standards and create issues with Washington’s social work compact. Committee members asked follow-up questions about the compact, the exam format, and related accreditation issues; no vote was taken. HB 2363 would allow music therapy applicants to practice under supervision for up to six months while waiting for exam verification and licensure processing. The sponsor described it as a technical fix to help newly trained therapists enter the workforce sooner, and testimony from music therapists, educators, and a patient was strongly supportive, emphasizing workforce shortages and the need for supervised practice during administrative delays. There was no opposition testimony and no action taken. HB 2324 would change tuition-waiver eligibility for children of certain disabled or deceased veterans so that, when a disability determination occurs after a child turns 18, the child would have eight years from that determination to use the waiver. The sponsor said the bill is meant to address delays in federal disability determinations that can otherwise cause students to age out of state benefits. The committee heard no opposition, and public testimony was overwhelmingly supportive. HB 2098 would eliminate the cap on the advanced computing surcharge, expand Washington College Grant eligibility up to 100% of state median family income, and reduce resident undergraduate tuition by 10% for three academic years beginning in 2027-28. Supporters, including students, labor, and advocacy groups, said it would improve affordability and access to higher education by asking large tech companies to pay more. Opponents from business and university groups argued the bill would sharply increase taxes, create uncertainty, and reduce tuition revenue without backfilling institutional budgets. Members questioned the existing cap, the use of WEA funds, and the impact on universities; no vote was taken. At the end of the meeting, staff noted amendment requests would be due Monday at 10 a.m. and amendments approved by 6 p.m. Monday if executive action is planned for Tuesday.

Transcript Highlights:

• Individuals receiving PDN may also be eligible for other state plan services, for example, physical therapy
• that's on here, but just to call out some examples, we have enteral G-tube and J-tube feedings, oxygen therapy
• that's on here, but just to call up some examples, we have Entrel G-tube and J-tube feedings, oxygen therapy

Bills: HB2402, HB2555, HB2599, HB2685

Keywords: phthalates, medical equipment, healthcare regulation, intravenous therapy, toxic substances, Medicaid, healthcare, traditional practices, health insurance, coverage expansion, therapy, psychotherapy, mental health, regulation, professional standards, tribal data, data protection, privacy, sharing of information, Indigenous rights

Summary: The House Health Care and Wellness Committee met on February 4 at policy cutoff and first took executive action on four bills, with one bill deferred. The committee advanced a proposed third substitute for House Bill 1589, which would require health carriers to give providers more detailed advance notice and copies of contract changes and payment methodology, and would also add notice requirements for significant payer contract modifications. Members discussed the bill as a way to help hospitals and independent providers better understand carrier contract changes; it passed with a due pass recommendation. The committee also adopted a substitute for House Bill 2402, which delays and adds exemptions to the proposed ban on DEHP in IV solution containers and tubing, after testimony about implementation concerns from hospitals and fire chiefs; it passed. House Bill 2555, concerning Medicaid coverage of traditional health care practices, was reported out with broad support but some concern about state exposure when non-tribal members are treated at Indian clinics. House Bill 2685, on tribal data and disease reporting to tribal health jurisdictions, also passed, though some members raised questions about data use, scope, and a Public Records Act exemption. House Bill 2599 was deferred. The committee then held a work session on private duty nursing in the medically intensive children’s program. The Health Care Authority and DSHS explained how the program serves children with complex medical needs through managed care and fee-for-service pathways, the limited number of children served, and the difficulty agencies face filling authorized hours because of workforce shortages, rural access issues, and frequent hospitalizations. They noted that family members often fill unpaid gaps in care. Public testimony from a home care agency representative and a parent described severe staffing shortages, the burden on families, and support for a model that would allow trusted family caregivers to be paid for some skilled care. The committee also heard from Montana and Massachusetts officials about similar family caregiver or complex care assistant programs in those states, including eligibility, covered tasks, training, supervision, and payment structures, as examples of how other states are addressing care gaps.

Transcript Highlights:

• appropriates $300,640,000 in fiscal year 2027 from the State General Fund to the Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
• For veterans to be able to undergo hyperbaric oxygen treatment therapy.
• veterans that could probably use... ...because there's a lot more veterans that could probably use this therapy

Bills: SB1055, SB1065

Keywords: immigration enforcement, law enforcement, illegal aliens, state legislation, civil penalties, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, veterans, military health, mental health treatment, funding allocation, 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> Board of Lenture for Occupational Therapy 2011 K28240.
• This regulation has staff-suggested amendments. 2011 K28240 amends the occupational therapy compact to
• 2011 care 28240 amends<00:03:52.159><c> the</c><00:03:52.319><c> occupational</c><00:03:53.280><c> therapy
• </c><00:03:53.840><c> compact</c> amends the occupational therapy compact amends the occupational therapy
• Board of Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy 2011 K46010 Emergency and 46081 Emergency. 2011 KR460110E

Keywords: :54 – Board of Pharmacy 2:00 – Board of Social Work 3:44 – Board of Licensure for Occupational Therapy 4:43 – Board of Registration for Professional Geologists 7:27 – Board of Imaging and Radiation Therapy 8:33 – Board of Emergency Medical Services 10:38 – Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources 17:37 – Transportation Cabinet 18:37 – Department of Education 25:00 – Department of Workplace Standards 27:06 – Cabinet for Health & Family Services, 958, all

Summary: The Administrative Regulation Review Subcommittee met with a quorum, approved the minutes, and then reviewed a series of agency regulations, most of which had staff-suggested amendments. The Board of Pharmacy regulation on remote prescription processing was amended to make grammatical and KRS Chapter 13A compliance corrections, and the Board of Social Work regulation on continuing education, telehealth training, waivers, and related fees was deferred at the agency’s request. The Occupational Therapy Compact rule update and the Professional Geologists fee increase regulation both received staff amendments and were approved, with the geologists’ board explaining the increases were driven by rising oversight costs and declining revenue. The committee also reviewed emergency regulations from the Board of Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy, the Board of Emergency Medical Services, the Transportation Cabinet, and the Department of Workplace Standards. The EMS package covered licensing classifications, compliance audits, ambulance service rules, and electronic forms; the Transportation Cabinet’s emergency rule established procedures for street-legal special purpose vehicles; and Workplace Standards’ emergency rules updated Kentucky requirements to align with federal standards and House Bill 398, including shortening the discrimination complaint filing deadline from 120 days to 30 days and adjusting appeal procedures. Staff amendments were approved where offered, and members asked several clarifying questions about the rationale and effect of the workplace and EMS changes. The Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources explained rules on aircraft and drone use in taking wildlife and on reciprocal hunting and fishing agreements with neighboring states. The agency said the drone restriction was intended to align with federal law and address hunter complaints, while the reciprocal agreement rule was a cleanup of older agreements that had lapsed or been overlooked; the committee deferred the wildlife regulation 301 KAR 2:031 at the agency’s request. The Department of Education also presented multiple KHSAA-related and standards updates, including academic eligibility, sports timing, health and physical education standards, and career studies/financial literacy standards; staff amendments were approved, and members questioned the athletic forms and the designation of KHSAA as the state’s athletic agent. Finally, the Cabinet for Health and Family Services presented emergency regulations to support a pediatric teaching hospital expansion and related certificate-of-need changes, which the agency said were aimed at improving pediatric and neonatal access to care; staff amendments were approved, and the committee concluded by setting its next meeting for October 13 at 1:00 p.m.

Bills: SB253, SB317

Keywords: massage therapy, licensing board, public safety, criminal background check, temporary permit, emergency order, Alabama Innovation Corporation, board of directors, staggered terms, economic development, entrepreneurship, 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• emergency medical services personnel, interstate medical licensure, nurse licensure, occupational therapy
• , physical therapy, psychological inter-jurisdictional compact, and social work.

Bills: SB2401, SB2402, SB2403, SB2404

Keywords: SB 2401, North Dakota, Century Code, occupational therapy, occupational therapy board, criminal history record check, background check, licensee investigation, physician continuing education, medical license renewal, nutrition education, metabolic health, chronic disease prevention, health occupation boards, medical board, licensure fee, audit response, disciplinary action, Title 43, board of medicine

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, roll call, and a quorum present, then took up second reading and final passage of several House bills related to the Rural Health Transformation Program and other matters. House Bill 1621, requiring the presidential fitness test in school physical education with exceptions and a delayed effective date, passed 43-3. House Bill 1623, appropriating federal rural health transformation grant funds and creating a related loan program and reporting structure, passed 46-0 after extensive debate about using the federal money for community health, infrastructure, and sustainability. House Bill 1622, joining the physician assistant licensure compact, also passed unanimously 46-0. House Bill 1625, authorizing the Ray Richards Golf Course land sale to support a Grand Forks transportation project and golf course improvements, passed 46-0. House Bill 1626, clarifying that the primary residence credit is applied after the early payment discount so taxpayers receive the full $1,600 benefit, passed 40-6.

Transcript Highlights:

• North Dakota Century Code, relating to criminal history record checks by the Board of Occupational Therapy
• North Dakota Century Code relating to criminal history record checks by the Board of Occupational Therapy

Bills: SB2401, SB2402, SB2403, SB2404

Keywords: SB 2401, North Dakota, Century Code, occupational therapy, occupational therapy board, criminal history record check, background check, licensee investigation, physician continuing education, medical license renewal, nutrition education, metabolic health, chronic disease prevention, health occupation boards, medical board, licensure fee, audit response, disciplinary action, Title 43, board of medicine

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a quorum present. It adopted the procedural employment committee report naming Senate staff for the special session. The chamber then took up several health-care and appropriations measures, first adopting amendments to Senate Bills 2401, 2402, and 2403 before moving them to final passage. Senate Bill 2401 passed 44-2 and requires physicians to complete at least one hour of continuing education in nutrition and metabolic health, part of a broader rural health care package. Senate Bill 2402 passed 46-0 after major amendments negotiated between the medical and pharmacy boards; as amended, it expands pharmacists’ prescriptive authority and therapeutic substitution in limited areas while excluding categories such as antidepressants, antipsychotics, chemotherapy agents, Schedule II drugs, biological products, and narrow therapeutic index drugs. Supporters said it would improve rural access and help secure rural health transformation funding, while questions focused on how pharmacist competence would be measured and enforced. Senate Bill 2403, also passed 46-0, creates a short-term medical facility emergency operating loan program through the Bank of North Dakota, reduced by amendment from $10 million to $5 million, to help a financially distressed rural hospital. Senators discussed the hospital’s mismanagement, the need for a bridge loan, and safeguards including a limited application window and expiration in 2027. Senate Bill 2404 passed 46-0 and provides supplemental appropriations to the Information Technology Department for ADA-related website accessibility compliance and to the Public Service Commission for additional legal costs in federal energy-rate litigation. The Senate then made announcements about a Highway Patrol safety presentation and filing deadlines, excused an absent member, and adjourned until the next morning.

Bills: SB2401, SB2402, SB2403, SB2404

Keywords: SB 2401, North Dakota, Century Code, occupational therapy, occupational therapy board, criminal history record check, background check, licensee investigation, physician continuing education, medical license renewal, nutrition education, metabolic health, chronic disease prevention, health occupation boards, medical board, licensure fee, audit response, disciplinary action, Title 43, board of medicine

Summary: The Senate convened in special session with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and roll call establishing a quorum of 45 members present and two absent. The chamber received certification from the Secretary of State and the governor’s executive order calling the special session to address funding for the Rural Health Transformation Program and to act quickly to accept and appropriate federal funds. The main action was adoption of the procedural rules for the extraordinary session. Senator Klein explained the proposed rule changes, which were designed to speed up consideration of bills during the short session, including limits on bill introduction, same-day second reading and final passage, elimination of standing committees for the session, creation of a Joint Policy Committee and Joint Appropriations Committee, and authorization for remote testimony and limited remote participation. The procedural committee’s report on these rules was adopted without opposition. The Senate also adopted reports naming members to the Joint Policy Committee and Joint Appropriations Committee. Announcements noted that the Senate Employment Committee, Joint Policy Committee, and Joint Appropriations Committee would meet later that morning, that the Senate would not reconvene at 4 p.m., and that a Highway Patrol presentation on legislator safety would be held. The Senate then moved through the listed orders of business and recessed, planning to meet in joint session with the House before adjourning until Thursday, January 22, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• In a PHP level of care, they're receiving about 20 hours of group therapy and individual therapy as well
• as family therapy in a week, while also seeing the physician two to three times a week.
• The bill requires master's level clinician providers to deliver this therapy.
• You heard me earlier talk about MST, multisystemic therapies; this is FFT, functional family therapy.
• I'm just speaking more about Functional Family Therapy for those same reasons.

Bills: HB231, HB231, HB475, HB488, HB632, HB821, HB1786, HB1955, HB2036, HB2060, HB2659, HB2677

Keywords: HB 231, Texas Water Code, TCEQ, permit exemption, dam, reservoir, erosion control, flood control, floodwater control, sediment control, watershed protection, Natural Resources Conservation Service, NRCS, Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act, local sponsor, water appropriation, small dam, water diversion, maintenance, rehabilitation

Transcript Highlights:

• We know that intensive outpatient therapy and partial hospitalization programs are significantly less

Bills: HB231, HB475, HB488, HB632, HB821, HB1786, HB1955, HB2036, HB2060, HB2659, HB2677, HB231

Keywords: food access, food deserts, communities of color, health disparities, socioeconomic impact, nutritious food, health effects, socioeconomic disparities, legislative recommendations, nutrition, access to food, Medicaid, multisystemic therapy, healthcare, reimbursement, mental health services, education, funding, local control, school system

Transcript Highlights:

• Specifically, I want to uplift $14.5 million for rapid ART, or antiretroviral therapy, $14.5 million
• for rapid ART, or antiretroviral therapy, used to treat folks who get diagnosed with HIV.
• Specifically, I want to uplift 14.5 million for rapid art or antiretroviral therapy $14.5 million for
• rapid art or antiretroviral therapy used to treat folks who get diagnosed with HIV.

Summary: The hearing began with an overview of the California Health and Human Services Agency, which described its 2026-27 budget, major departments, and strategic priorities, including behavioral health, housing and human services integration, children and youth, and aging/disability services. The agency also explained a technical CalHHS/CalHires budget adjustment tied to HR1 compliance and eligibility system work. No LAO concerns were raised on that item. The committee then heard from the Office of Youth and Community Restoration on its budget, its SB 823 realignment report, and related issues. OYCR said county-based realignment has generally succeeded but outcomes and readiness vary widely, and it recommended more climate surveys, youth advisory councils, stronger behavioral management, better programming, improved transition planning, and integrated longitudinal data systems. Members pressed OYCR on “net widening,” county-by-county trends, and the gap between the detailed recommendations discussed in hearing and the more general recommendations in the public report. OYCR also described problems with federal Title II grant timing and a pending $14 million administrative funding adjustment, and discussed implementation of the juvenile justice realignment block grant formula. The Ombudsperson division separately requested two new positions due to rising complaints, site visits, and records-access disputes with counties; LAO noted the proposal would create ongoing General Fund costs. Several other departments presented budget change proposals. The State Council on Developmental Disabilities requested $730,000 General Fund ongoing to cover an interagency administrative support gap with DSS; LAO had no concerns. EMSA presented its department overview, said its AB 716 ambulance-rate report has been delayed after resources were reduced, and requested funding for disaster-response vehicle replacement, IT security assessment work, and additional HR/legal staff; members questioned delays, compliance, and the ongoing General Fund impact. The Department of Community Services and Development sought reappropriation of LIWIP funds and explained a new Proposition 4 process for continuing the farmworker housing component. The Department of Rehabilitation requested authority for $60 million in additional federal funds and 54 positions to meet growing vocational rehabilitation demand, with no General Fund impact. The Department of Child Support Services presented its budget and a supplemental report on full pass-through of child support collections. Members questioned why local agency funding was being restored despite declining caseloads, and staff explained that staffing costs have risen faster than caseload declines and that additional funding is needed to maintain service levels. The supplemental report estimated full pass-through would cost about $150 million General Fund annually, or about $80 million for a state-and-county portion, with $3 million to $5 million in automation costs. Finally, the Department of Public Health gave a broad overview of its $5.1 billion budget and its State of Public Health report, highlighting improved mortality and life expectancy, declining overdose deaths and STI rates, persistent racial and regional disparities, and increasing public health emergency demands. CDPH also warned that federal funding threats and policy changes are creating major uncertainty for state and local public health systems.

Transcript Highlights:

• I would like to recognize the physical therapy students from Samford University.

Bills: HB384, SB181, HB391

Keywords: food enrichment, corn masa, health regulations, nutritional standards, folic acid, respiratory therapy, interstate compact, public health, licensure, workforce mobility, military families, adverse actions, streamlined practice, traffic offenses, blood testing, law enforcement, chemical analysis, DUI, 1136, house

Transcript Highlights:

• As a reminder, House Bill 2363 allows applicants for music therapy licenses to provide supervised music
• therapy for up to six months while awaiting verification of exam results.
• The very first law I ever made in this state was House Bill 1247 to establish music therapy as a licensed

Bills: HB2498, HB2443, HB2567, HB2363, HB2422

Keywords: nursing education, nursing program standards, board of nursing, state board, national accreditation, accreditation body, nursing school, nurse educator, clinical simulation, simulation director, lead nurse educator, NCLEX, licensure exam pass rate, corrective action plan, technical assistance, higher education, program approval, Washington RCW, professional development, nursing licensure

Summary: The committee held courtesy hearings on three bills before moving to executive action on two unrelated measures. House Bill 2443 would create an Armed Forces Reserve post-secondary education grant. Staff explained the bill as written would apply to Army Reserve members and their spouses/dependents, with eligibility tied to Washington domicile or stationing, enrollment in an in-state postsecondary program, and a service obligation or repayment requirement. Rep. DeFoe said the intent was to extend educational support to reservists similar to benefits already available to Washington National Guard members. A reserve ambassador testified in support, emphasizing the role of reserve components in state and national security and disaster response. No vote was taken on the bill during the hearing. House Bill 2567 would restore Washington College Grant and College Bound Scholarship award levels for students attending four-year private, not-for-profit institutions. The sponsor, Rep. Street, said the Legislature had made a budget-driven cut last session and should reinstate the aid as soon as possible. Students and representatives from private colleges testified that the cuts would reduce access, increase debt, and disproportionately harm low-income, first-generation, and students of color; supporters also argued the aid helps students stay in Washington and supports workforce needs, including health care. Public university faculty and some others opposed the bill, arguing state funds should prioritize public institutions and that public higher education has also faced cuts. The committee heard extensive testimony but took no action on the bill in the hearing. House Bill 2498 would change nursing education standards by limiting the Board of Nursing’s authority where programs are nationally accredited, requiring technical assistance for low NCLEX pass rates, and expediting approval for certain programs. The sponsor said the bill was intended to reduce barriers, address perceived overreach by the board, and improve diversity and workforce supply in nursing. Community college leaders and some nursing educators supported the bill, saying current rules create unnecessary delays and hinder expansion, especially in rural areas. The Board of Nursing, nursing education groups, hospitals, clinical placement organizations, and other nurses opposed it, arguing state oversight is needed for patient safety, local workforce needs, and consistent standards; several said the board is already revising its rules through the existing WAC process. After the public hearings, the committee went into executive session and passed Substitute House Bill 2363 and Substitute House Bill 2422 out of committee with do-pass recommendations, each after adopting amendments that delayed implementation dates. The vote on 2422 was 9-7, with one excused member.

Transcript Highlights:

• And our best Evidence-based therapies are not enough.
• This therapy, I want to be very clear, is not for casual or recreational use.
• I'm certified in psilocybin and psychedelic-assisted therapies Minneapolis area.
• If it wasn't for psilocybin therapy.
• We make psilocybin therapy, legal, local unaffordable.

Bills: HF3454, HF3917, HF2906, HF3832, HF3769

Keywords: social work, licensure, employment titles, health occupations, professional standards, medication repository, drug donation, healthcare, Minnesota Statutes, pharmacy, public health, controlled substances, psilocybin, psilocin, psychedelic, psychedelic medicine, hallucinogen, mushrooms, magic mushrooms, therapeutic use

Transcript Highlights:

• He needed physical therapy every day when he was in the hospital.
• Florida's current occupational therapy statute does not explicitly authorize licensed occupational therapists
• Anita Berry, Florida Occupational Therapy Association, waived in support.
• and community-based services for these individuals: community transition services, peer support, therapy
• palpable for those individuals that do not like to have to go through this, the fail-first type therapies

Bills: S0036, S0864, S0268, S0844, S0514, S1404, S0914, S1758

Keywords: nursing title, advanced practice registered nurse, advertising, professional standards, disciplinary action, uterine fibroids, public records, health privacy, epidemiology, medical information, emergency department, physicians, privacy, personal information, sickle cell disease, sickle cell anemia, pain management, controlled substances, prescribing education, continuing medical education

Summary: The committee first considered SB 268, a public records exemption for emergency physicians. Senator Rodriguez’s strike-all amendment narrowed and clarified the exemption, and testimony from an emergency physician described threats, harassment, and safety concerns tied to mandatory reporting and patient encounters. The committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably as a committee substitute. Members then heard SB 514, creating the Dula Support for Healthy Births Pilot Program in Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach counties for pregnant and postpartum women affected by substance use disorder. Senator Osgood explained the pilot would provide non-medical doula support and data collection, and an amendment changed the funding source to specific appropriations in the General Appropriations Act. Supporters said doula care can improve maternal and infant outcomes and complement medical providers. The committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably as a committee substitute. The committee also approved SB 36 on use of professional nursing titles after extensive debate over whether nurses with doctoral degrees should be allowed to use “doctor” in clinical settings, with concerns raised about patient confusion and the need for clearer identification. The bill was amended to align with the House version and then reported favorably as a committee substitute. The committee next approved SB 864, a public records exemption for uterine fibroid research data, after a technical amendment setting a July 1, 2026 effective date; Senator Sharif said the exemption is needed so the Department of Health can collect sensitive data for the related research bill. SB 844, requiring continuing education on sickle cell disease care management for certain licensed physicians and nurses, was also reported favorably after emotional testimony from patients and advocates describing delayed care and bias. Later, the committee approved SB 1404 on memory care, after a strike-all amendment creating a new memory care specialty license for assisted living facilities that advertise or provide specialized memory care services, while allowing optional supportive services without the new license. Supporters from the senior living industry backed the clarification. The committee then passed SB 914, which clarifies that licensed occupational therapists may perform dry needling, after an amendment adjusting supervision and continuing education language. Finally, the committee took up SB 1758, a broad Medicaid and SNAP reform bill that would strengthen fraud enforcement, impose Medicaid work requirements for certain able-bodied adults, expand behavioral health services, modernize drug purchasing and prior authorization, and require SNAP fraud-reduction measures. Several amendments were adopted, and members questioned the work requirement, implementation costs, EBT card photo identification, and due process concerns; debate continued as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• Four weeks later, however, because it’s an L&I claim, they sent him to physical therapy.
• So he had to wait four weeks to get into physical therapy.
• So he was sent, and he had to wait four weeks to get into physical therapy.
• He gets into physical therapy, and that therapist says there is nothing we can do for you.
• For the same number of sessions, five minutes per death to work through in therapy.

Bills: HB2091, HB2105, HB2218, HB2107, HB2137, HB2243, HB2264

Keywords: public employers, employee information, bargaining representatives, labor relations, union representation, immigrant worker protections, immigrant rights, worker protections, I-9 audit, Form I-9, employment eligibility verification, workplace raid, federal immigration inspection, employer notice, anti-retaliation, retaliation, Attorney General enforcement, private right of action, labor law, workplace rights

Summary: The committee first took up executive action on several bills, deferring action on HB 2091 and HB 2243 and advancing HB 2264. HB 2264 would allow workers who voluntarily participate in an employer-initiated layoff or reduction-in-force plan to receive unemployment insurance benefits if their separation results from the plan. Supporters said it would remove confusing language and help laid-off workers access benefits; a member noted similar confusion from past layoffs. The committee voted 9-0 to report HB 2264 out of committee with a due pass recommendation. The committee then heard HB 2091, which would extend existing collective bargaining information-sharing requirements to state agencies and certain other public employers covered by the Personnel System Reform Act. The bill would require those employers to provide unions with employee contact and job information, including personal email addresses, so unions can communicate with represented workers. The prime sponsor and union witnesses said the change would close a gap left by prior legislation and improve communication; there was no opposition testimony in the excerpt, and action on the bill was deferred. The bulk of the meeting focused on HB 2218, a workers’ compensation bill that would expand provider choice, require notice to injured workers about their right to choose providers, limit employer steering, allow deviation from treatment guidelines when medically appropriate, speed utilization review, expand continued treatment and reopening options for certain claims, and require written notice and appeal rights when providers are removed from the network. Supporters, including labor, injured-worker advocates, firefighters, and physicians, said the current system delays care and over-relies on rigid guidelines; opponents from business groups and the Department of Labor and Industries warned the bill would weaken evidence-based standards, increase costs, and create vague new penalties. No vote was taken on HB 2218 in the excerpt. The committee also heard extensive testimony on HB 2105, as proposed substitute, which would require employers to notify workers after an ICE Form I-9 inspection notice, share inspection results, post worker-rights notices, and limit voluntary disclosure of worker records without a subpoena or warrant, with enforcement by the Attorney General and private lawsuits. Supporters framed the bill as a due-process and worker-protection measure for immigrant workers and mixed-status families, while business and county representatives argued the notice and record-sharing requirements, short timelines, and penalties were too burdensome and could conflict with federal enforcement or discourage hiring. No final action on HB 2105 was taken in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Specifically, I want to uplift $14.5 million for rapid ART, or antiretroviral therapy, used to treat
• Specifically, I want to uplift 14.5 million for rapid art or antiretroviral therapy $14.5 million for
• rapid art or antiretroviral therapy used to treat folks who get diagnosed with HIV.

Summary: The committee heard a series of budget and oversight presentations from CalHHS-related departments and agencies. CalHHS opened with a broad overview of its 2026-27 budget and priorities, including behavioral health, housing and human services integration, children and youth services, and aging/disability supports. OICR then presented its budget and its SB 823 realignment report on youth formerly committed to DJJ, saying county implementation varies widely but that the state has not seen evidence of net widening in the available data. OICR recommended climate surveys, youth advisory councils, stronger behavioral health and education programming in secure youth treatment facilities, better transitional planning, and improved longitudinal data systems. The agency also described a Title II federal grant transition problem, saying it cannot yet pay some subrecipients for prior work and is awaiting federal action on retroactive spending authority and an administrative funding adjustment. The Ombudsperson division requested two additional positions to address a growing complaint workload and access issues with counties over youth meetings, records, and grievance files; LAO raised no policy objection but noted the ongoing General Fund cost. The State Council on Developmental Disabilities requested $730,000 General Fund ongoing to cover the gap between federal limits on administrative overhead and the actual cost of an interagency agreement with the Department of Social Services. EMSA presented its department overview and several proposals, including a delayed AB 716 ambulance rate report, a $2.6 million request to replace aging disaster-response vehicles, a $250,000 security architecture assessment, and four positions plus ongoing General Fund for HR, enforcement, and legal workload. Members questioned the delay in the AB 716 report, the optics and timing of the vehicle replacement request, and whether EMSA was doing enough to prevent future staffing and enforcement problems. LAO repeatedly noted the ongoing General Fund implications of EMSA’s requests. The Department of Community Services and Development sought reappropriation of unspent Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund money for the Low-Income Weatherization Program and described a Proposition 4-funded continuation of the farmworker housing component, which would require a new statewide administrator and program design process. The Department of Rehabilitation requested authority to draw an additional $60 million in federal funds annually and add 54 positions to meet sharply increased Vocational Rehabilitation caseloads; LAO had no concerns. Child Support Services proposed restoring a prior reduction to local child support agency funding and reported higher federal performance incentives, while also presenting a supplemental report on full pass-through of child support collections to CalWORKs families, estimating about $150 million annually for full pass-through or about $80 million for a state/county-only approach, plus automation costs. Members questioned why funding should rise when caseloads are declining, and whether the policy could be made cost-neutral. CDPH closed the hearing with an overview of its $5.1 billion budget and its state of public health report, highlighting record-low mortality and higher life expectancy, but also rising overdose deaths among ages 25-44, persistent maternal and infant mortality disparities, and the need for stable public health and emergency-response capacity; no votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 2610 would expand Medicaid coverage to include physical therapy and dental services. compression

Bills: HB2140, HB2610, HB3121, HB3339

Keywords: maternal health, mortality review, health committee, obstetrics, public health, Medicaid, cancer treatment, healthcare reimbursement, physical therapy, dental services, protheses, compression garments, mortality, morbidity, doula services, disparities, Black women, maternal mortality, health disparities, socioeconomic status