Transcript Highlights:

• So let's just clarify, if there's an in-custody death, who is the investigative agency?
• , and all deaths in custody are supposed to be investigated.
• Specialties, if I am not mistaken, include investigating in-custody deaths.
• And they do rely upon the Texas Rangers to conduct those in-custody death investigations.
• . ...independent investigations in custody deaths are retained as vital records.

Bills: HB2814, HB4477, HB5084, HB5108, HB5127, HB5383, HB5611, HB5663, HB5664, SB1563, HB2668, HB3841, HB4114

Keywords: juvenile justice, release documents, children, identification, Texas Juvenile Justice Department, civil service, staffing requirements, local government, positions exemption, Texas legislation, fireworks, Lunar New Year, retail permits, public safety, Texas law, holiday sales, HB 5108, deaths in custody, custodial death, jail death

Bills: HB2814, HB4477, HB5084, HB5108, HB5127, HB5383, HB5611, HB5663, HB5664, SB1563, HB2668, HB3841, HB4114

Keywords: juvenile justice, release documents, children, identification, Texas Juvenile Justice Department, civil service, staffing requirements, local government, positions exemption, Texas legislation, fireworks, Lunar New Year, retail permits, public safety, Texas law, holiday sales, HB 5108, deaths in custody, custodial death, jail death

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a much-needed measure to modernize our state's overburdened death investigation.
• This system aims to ensure that more counties are equipped to provide timely and thorough investigations
• of suspicious, unattended deaths, meaning those without any witnesses, or unnatural deaths.
• elected officials who often lack medical or forensic training to accurately determine the cause of death
• We've had 60 Minutes investigating medical examiners and things from 20 years ago, and it's just been

Bills: SB1370

Keywords: medical examiner, forensic services, county coroner, autopsy, death investigation, forensic pathology, county government, commissioners court, medical examiners district, regional district, public health, criminal justice, Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, Article 49.25, county population threshold, interlocal agreement, 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The agency must also post on its website data regarding noncompliance and fraud investigations related
• I'm learning a lot about the death process.
• My husband grieved. you must have a transfer permit and you have to have a death certificate.
• remains of an unborn child following miscarriage and fetal death.
• After her death, it became clear that there were repeated contacts with DCS and law enforcement.

Bills: HB2180, HB2184, HB2188, HB2194, HB2206, HB2321, HB2322, HB2438, HB2442, HB2448, HB2727, HB2797

Keywords: appropriation, funding, University of Arizona, education, state budget, fetal death, funeral homes, informed consent, abortion, women's rights, medical assistance, emotional support, language acquisition, early intervention, hearing impairment, grant program, deaf education, health care, insurance claims, prior authorization

Transcript Highlights:

• Are there any other states that kind of aggregate this type of data in regards to child deaths?
• But if we're going to single out immunization, Imply cause of death. That's right.
• It's not like the death report's only going to have the immunization history on it.
• But it ought to be very wide and embracing what all could be part of the death of the child.
• It is the fourth leading cause of death in women and the seventh leading cause of death overall in our

Bills: HB946, HB1093, SB26, SB29, SB30, SB195, SB219, SB222, SB255, SB314, SCR2, SCR22

Keywords: healthcare transparency, hospital pricing, consumer protection, collection actions, fines, naturopathic medicine, Louisiana Board of Naturopathic Medicine, licensing, healthcare, prescriptive authority, natural therapies, opioid treatment, regulation, addiction recovery, state law, SB 29, Act 732, coroner, autopsy, child death

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, Senate Bill 1484 expands and strengthens the sudden unexplained infant death investigations
• by requiring the medical examiner's office to investigate different types of sudden deaths in infants
• These include sudden infant death syndrome, sudden unexpected infant death syndrome, sudden death in
• the young, and sudden arrhythmic death syndrome.
• So, yes, they do investigations.

Bills: SB1238, SB1277, SB1304, SB1378, SB1423, SB1484, SB1501, SR32, SB1502, SB1721, SB1735, SB1832, SB1847, SB1859, SB1876, SB2170, SB2182

Keywords: domestic abuse, domestic violence, assault and battery, strangulation, intimate partner violence, family or household member, repeat offender, felony enhancement, Class B5 felony, stalking, batterers intervention program, court-ordered treatment, protective order, presence of a child, pregnant victim, great bodily injury, animal cruelty, cockfighting, dogfighting, sex offender registration

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, Senate Bill 1484 expands and strengthens the sudden unexplained infant death investigations
• by requiring the medical examiner's office to investigate different types of sudden deaths in infants
• These include sudden infant death syndrome, sudden unexpected infant death syndrome, sudden death in
• the young, and sudden arrhythmic death syndrome.
• This would acquire digital forensic technology investigative tools.

Bills: SB1238, SB1277, SB1304, SB1378, SB1423, SB1484, SB1501, SR32, SB1502, SB1721, SB1735, SB1832, SB1847, SB1859, SB1876, SB2170, SB2182

Keywords: domestic abuse, domestic violence, assault and battery, strangulation, intimate partner violence, family or household member, repeat offender, felony enhancement, Class B5 felony, stalking, batterers intervention program, court-ordered treatment, protective order, presence of a child, pregnant victim, great bodily injury, animal cruelty, cockfighting, dogfighting, sex offender registration

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, prayer, pledges, and a series of guest introductions recognizing doctors, nurses, psychologists, interns, students, civic groups, and special honorees, including a tribute to Senator Paul Rosino’s military service and a citation for 2025 Oklahoma Teacher of the Year Melissa Yvonne. The chamber also adopted Senate Resolution 32 recognizing March 9 as Bob Wills Day at the Capitol, with remarks from Carolyn Wills and musical guests from the Texas Playboys. The Senate then took up and passed a long list of bills. SB 1238 made domestic assault and battery in the presence of a minor a felony on the first offense and passed 42-3 after questions about sentencing impacts and equity concerns. SB 1277 codified weekly work-search actions and passed 46-0. SB 1304 clarified alcohol sample serving sizes and passed 30-15, with one senator recorded as not voting. SB 1378 created the Olympics and Oklahoma revolving fund and passed 46-0 as an emergency measure. SB 1423 repealed the Hospital Advisory Council and passed 39-7. SB 1484 expanded sudden unexplained infant death investigations and passed 46-0. Later measures included SB 1501, which clarified medical marijuana grow remediation and notice requirements, passing 41-5 amid concerns about pending renewals and law-enforcement notification; SB 1502, repealing the Alzheimer’s Disclosure Act Advisory Council, passing 46-0; SB 1721, extending the Oklahoma Advisory Council on Indian Education and passing 40-6 as an emergency; SB 1735, a CareerTech/SDE accreditation cleanup bill, passing 46-0 as an emergency; SB 1832, reauthorizing veterans’ tax checkoffs, passing 46-0 as an emergency; SB 1847, allowing certain Medicaid waiver recipients in assisted living to age in place, passing 34-10 as an emergency; SB 1859, creating an OSBI cybercrime and financial fraud division, passing 37-8 despite concerns about duplication with another agency; SB 1876, modernizing service of process for foreign insurers, passing 45-0; SB 2170, requiring supervised visitation after DHS findings of child sexual abuse, passing 45-0; and SB 2182, creating civil remedies for unauthorized disclosure of intimate images, passing 44-0. The Senate concluded with announcements about the Bible Reading Marathon and an upcoming Ireland-related economic development event, then adjourned until Tuesday, March 10 at 9 a.m.

Bills: SB 614, SB 872, SB 1199, SB 1212, SB 1278, SB 1573, SB 1588, SB 1602, SB 1660, SB 1704, SB 1723, SB 1833, SB 1858, SB 1946, SB 2009, SB 2146, SB 2177, SB 2373, SB 2460, SB 2785

Keywords: forensic science, capital writs, criminal justice, case review, Texas Forensic Science Commission, prisoner death, investigation, county jail, law enforcement, autopsy, trafficking, prostitution, affirmative defense, coercion, duress, victim rights, child abuse, mandatory reporting, criminal penalties, neglect

Transcript Highlights:

• establish a process that allows the tribe to access outlined regulatory actions, licensing actions, investigations

Bills: SB1001, SB1011, SB1016, SB1052, SB1072, SB1100, SB1112, SB1113, SB1116, SB1118, SB1120, SB1121, SB1122, SB1123, SB1124, SB1125

Keywords: appropriation, economic security, blind individuals, older adults, state funding, medical examiners, sudden infant death, autopsy protocols, forensic pathology, public health, religious exemption, employment practices, COVID-19 vaccination, accommodation, discrimination, assisted living, health care, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, physician orders, informed consent

Transcript Highlights:

• Our leading cause of death in childhood is injuries.
• Senate Bill 1484 requires investigation by a medical examiner of deaths involving sudden infant death
• syndrome, sudden unexpected infant death.
• The measure requires such investigations to include Reviews of the infant's child's immunization and
• We are not trying to tie immunizations to the death of children. That's not the goal.

Bills: SB1421, SB1427, SB1484, SB1503, SB1553, SB1557, SB1564, SB1566, SB1567, SB1591, SB1642, SB1794, SB1837, SB2044

Keywords: mental health, nonphysical intervention, training, youth care, conflict resolution, staff training, pediatric screenings, type 1 diabetes, health care providers, parental consent, reimbursement, state funding, public health, medicolegal investigation, medical examiner, coroner, sudden infant death syndrome, SIDS, sudden unexpected infant death, SUID

Transcript Highlights:

• We oppose the imposition of the death penalty, and the bishops ask for clemency for every person on death
• There are people in this state that have been on death row and are currently on death row who really
• should not be on death row.
• Members, House Bill 3357 addresses a critical public health oversight gap in our death investigation
• Yes, this is the signed death certificate. This indicates the cause of death?

Bills: HB 1194, HB 1221, HB1738, HB1913, HB2177, HB2178, HB2180, HB2229, HB2282, HB2448, HB2492, HB2777, HB2984, HB3357, HB3553, HB3602

Keywords: emergency protection order, protective order, magistrate, criminal procedure, victim safety, family violence, domestic violence, stalking, assault, magistrate's order, temporary protection, court order duration, defendant restrictions, Article 17.292, Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, emergency restraining order, victim protection, firearm restriction, pretrial intervention, reimbursement fee

Transcript Highlights:

• Medical examiners and death investigators frequently respond to the same scenes as law enforcement and
• Nearly half of those years have been spent primarily investigating all types of human deaths.
• M.E.s perform multiple autopsies daily, and investigators are working daily on a wide variety of death
• Death investigators are either working hands-on at death scenes, following up on death investigation
• These M.E.s and death investigators are dedicated professionals, highly trained in the medical-legal

Bills: HB669, HB 1306, HB3173, HB3807

Keywords: healthcare, Medicare, insurance, financial assistance, families, wage theft, employers, penalties, Texas Workforce Commission, employee rights, employer database, worker rights, death investigation, emergency services, medical benefits, exposure claims, public safety, workforce development, TWC, youth workforce

Transcript Highlights:

• me, Senate Bill 1380, is simply requires the healthcare authority to verify Eligibility by checking death
• Senate Bill 1572 is a feasibility study that would designate the state department of health to investigate
• can appoint somebody permanently and Also, at the same time, allow the Department of Health to investigate
• investigation on an infant or a child.
• and the death report.

Bills: SB667, SB904, SB1344, SB1380, SB1423, SB1425, SB1484, SB1500, SB1502, SB1503, SB1555, SB1561, SB1562, SB1565, SB1572, SB1644, SB1749, SB1833, SB2007, SB2044, SB2074

Keywords: chiropractic, licensure, animal chiropractic, Board of Chiropractic Examiners, licensing requirements, gender transition, gender-affirming care, transgender, puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, hormone therapy, sex reassignment, transition surgery, Medicaid, public funds, state facilities, state hospital, Oklahoma, intersex, DSD

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, House Bill 1380 is simply requires the Health Care Authority to verify eligibility by checking death
• By checking death records to make sure that we are disenrolling people from Medicaid rolls that have
• Senate Bill 1572 is a feasibility study that would designate the State Department of Health to investigate
• investigation on an infant or a child.
• and the death report.

Bills: SB667, SB904, SB1344, SB1380, SB1423, SB1425, SB1484, SB1500, SB1502, SB1503, SB1555, SB1561, SB1562, SB1565, SB1572, SB1644, SB1749, SB1833, SB2007, SB2044, SB2074

Keywords: chiropractic, licensure, animal chiropractic, Board of Chiropractic Examiners, licensing requirements, gender transition, gender-affirming care, transgender, puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, hormone therapy, sex reassignment, transition surgery, Medicaid, public funds, state facilities, state hospital, Oklahoma, intersex, DSD

Summary: The committee heard and advanced a large number of health-related bills, with much of the agenda focused on pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) regulation, Medicaid administration, and health-system cleanup measures. Bills passed included HB 1344 on insulin affordability and state support for low-cost biosimilar insulin manufacturing; HB 1380 requiring the Health Care Authority to check death records to disenroll deceased Medicaid recipients; SB 2007 and SB 2074, both PBM-related measures addressing pharmacist reimbursement, dispensing fees, appeals, and penalties; SB 1572 creating a feasibility study on reorganizing the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services and temporarily allowing the Health Commissioner to serve in a dual role; and SB 1555 updating the definition of intellectual disability to match the federal definition. Members also approved several bills eliminating or repealing outdated councils and programs, including SB 1423 ending the Hospital Advisory Council, SB 1425 repealing the Health Care Workers and Educators’ Assistance Program and Health Care Workforce Resources Center, and SB 1502 eliminating the Alzheimer Dementia Disclosure Act Advisory Council. Other measures passed included SB 1561 changing EMS discipline to a progressive system, SB 244 and SB 667 making chiropractic language and training cleanup changes, SB 1749 on LP gas inspections for food trailers, SB 1484 requiring more detailed medical information for infant and child death investigations, SB 1562 clarifying hospice patient protections, and SB 1644 creating reporting related to alpha-gal to support possible research funding. The most debated bill was SB 1503, which would expand the Choosing Childbirth Act so nonprofits without an Oklahoma physical address could receive grants to connect women seeking abortions with pregnancy resources. Members questioned whether grant dollars and salaries would stay in Oklahoma, whether reporting and accountability would be sufficient, and whether Oklahoma-based providers could do the work instead. The bill passed 5-2 after the sponsor said he was open to amendments and oversight. SB 1833, codifying a SNAP waiver restricting candy and soft drink purchases, and SB 904, modifying the use of certain state funds and facilities for medical procedures, also drew questions and passed on divided votes. The meeting ended after all listed bills were heard and voted on, with most measures passing unanimously or by wide margins.

Transcript Highlights:

• I represented people on death row since 1988.
• We shouldn't allow the person facing the death sentence to make that choice. the person facing the death
• I currently work as a chaplain serving with death row inmates on Rincon 2.
• There are also veterans on death row. That is very personal to me.
• The other thing is I— The death penalty here in Arizona.

Bills: SB1317, SB1655, SB1656, SB1751, SCR1049

Keywords: reentry programs, criminal justice, funding, grants, recidivism, attorney general, jury duty, election worker, Arizona Revised Statutes, temporary appointment, civic duty, family court, professional personnel, parenting time, legal decision-making, evidentiary hearings, child custody, ethical standards, capital punishment, death penalty

Transcript Highlights:

• This is the bill that modifies the vital statistics definition of fetal death.
• is another piece of legislation really asking to use the up-to-date technology to age fetal... ...death
• I like the part... ...about investigating fraud, but I don't think it's realistic.

Bills: SB5915, SB6025, SJM8002

Keywords: SB 5915, health technology assessment, HTA, clinical committee, medical technology review, coverage determination, state-purchased health care, Washington health care, RCW, evidence-based medicine, cost-effectiveness, safety and efficacy, Medicare coverage, national coverage determination, clinical guidelines, patient advocacy, public comment, medical necessity, rare disease, life-threatening disease

Summary: The committee held public hearings on Substitute Senate Bill 6183, which would require health plans, including public and school employee plans, to cover FDA-approved HIV antiviral drugs without prior authorization, step therapy, or other utilization management when therapeutic equivalents exist. The prime sponsor said the bill is part of Washington’s effort to end HIV/AIDS and argued that delaying access to needed medication is especially harmful for late-stage diagnoses. No one testified in person or remotely, and public testimony was closed. The committee then heard Substitute Senate Bill 6226, which would limit the Board of Hearing and Speech from adopting rules that prevent licensed audiologists, speech-language pathologists, and hearing aid specialists from using clinical judgment to choose telehealth or in-person care. Supporters said teleaudiology expands access, especially in rural areas and for patients with mobility barriers, while some testifiers raised patient safety concerns about first-time hearing aid fittings and asked for amendments or more time to review safeguards. One testifier said the Washington Hearing Society had moved to neutral after discussions on amendments. In executive session, the committee adopted amendments and advanced several measures. Substitute Senate Bill 5185, on international medical school graduate physician licensing, passed with a technical amendment and a do pass recommendation. Substitute Senate Bill 5845, on timing of claims payments, was amended to include tribal health care systems, shorten carrier refund-request timelines, and delay implementation to January 1, 2028, then passed 17-1. Senate Bill 5915, prioritizing certain health technology assessments, and Senate Bill 6025, modifying the definition of fetal death, both passed unanimously. Senate Joint Memorial 8002, asking the federal government to change Medicare policy, passed 15-3. The committee then adjourned.

Bills: HB461, HB465, HB469, HB473, SB94, SB303, HB461, HB465, HB469, HB473, SB94, SB303

Keywords: fundraising, Alabama Educational Television, state authority, public broadcasting, legislation influence, emergency management, public funds, educational materials, promotional materials, state agency, ambulance services, balance billing, health insurance, emergency transportation, reimbursement rates, water recreation, public access, water bodies, recreational use, water commissions

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill closes the loophole and adds that they should be required to also investigate deaths caused
• This bill closes the loophole and adds that they should be required to also investigate deaths caused
• This bill closes the loophole and adds that they should be required to also investigate deaths caused
• This bill is about the state investigating deaths of Minnesotans in Minnesota.
• This bill is about the state investigating deaths of Minnesotans in Minnesota.

Bills: HF3405, HF3413, HF3769, HF3768, HF3771, HF3465

Keywords: Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, BCA, Use of Force Investigations Unit, federal agents, Department of Homeland Security, DHS, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, ICE, Customs and Border Protection, CBP, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, USCIS, officer-involved death, use of force, law enforcement accountability, police oversight, independent investigation, criminal sexual conduct, sexual assault, peace officers

Bills: HCR75, HCR93, SB644, SCR2, SCR17, HB2703, HCR92, HCR7, HCR126, HB1615, HB1610, HB1620, HCR86, HCR7

Keywords: Hemphill, bass fishing, tourism, state recognition, conservation, recreational activities, Nacogdoches, Garden Capital, public gardens, sustainability, horticultural heritage, hospice, palliative care, awareness day, healthcare, patient care, state regulation, taxation, education, local authority

Transcript Highlights:

• All it does is require the Health Care Authority to verify eligibility for Medicaid by checking the death
• Medicaid. ...require the Health Care Authority to verify eligibility for Medicaid by checking the death

Bills: SB206, SB640, SB667, SB1344, SB1380, SB1423, SB1425, SB1436, SB1484, SB1500, SB1502, SB1503, SB1557, SB1562, SB1572, SB1644, SB1645, SB1794, SB1796, SB1806, SB1849, SB1984, SB2007, SB2074

Keywords: SB206, emergency medical services, EMS, ambulance, 911 response, emergency response, essential services, federal funding, grant funding, public health, health care facility, municipality, county, ambulance service district, tribal entity, public entity, contract ambulance service, Oklahoma, 63 O.S. 2021 Section 1-2502, emergency clause