Transcript Highlights:

• the</c><00:35:36.880><c> Direct</c> the Direct Care crisis yet the Direct the Direct Care crisis yet
• > daily</c> rely upon direct care services for daily rely upon direct care services for daily living<
• Our health care system also has home care and direct care, and the certified direct support professional
• Our health care system also has home care and direct care, and the certified direct support professional
• Direct Care counties DHS churning within Direct Care counties DHS and<01:31:51.520><c> Healthcare</c

Bills: HF2367, HF2319, HF2523, HF1742, HF671, HF2331, HF2722, HF2406, HF1674

Keywords: HF2367, Community First Services and Supports, CFSS, personal care assistance, PCA, consumer-directed community supports, CDCS, home and community-based services, HCBS, direct support professionals, direct care workers, caregivers, support workers, SEIU Healthcare Minnesota & Iowa, collective bargaining agreement, retention stipend, health care cost stipend, training stipend, orientation program, retirement trust

Transcript Highlights:

• Unlike other regulated care settings, Unlike other regulated care settings, the proposed ALR regulations
• My testimony is grounded in over 20 years of direct experience in residential care leadership and advocacy
• Care is delivered through an interdisciplinary... ...management.
• That level of micromanagement does not equate to better care.
• , infirm, and indigent population by providing direct care and administering medications.

Bills: H5243, H5376, S3056, S3057

Keywords: rest home, rest homes, medication administration, medication management, assisted living, long-term care, elder care, older adults, senior care, nursing home, resident care, self-administration, licensed facility, Chapter 111, section 71, Responsible Person, caregiver, direct care staff, care facilities, funding

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> grant that was uh dedicated for direct grant that was uh dedicated for direct care<01:13:40.080>
• </c><01:15:00.800><c> care</c> college students to serve as direct care college students to serve as
• direct care uh<01:15:01.640><c> workers.
• ><c> are</c> the direct care workforce program are the direct care workforce program are providing<01
• </c><01:15:24.520><c> care</c> more people into the direct care more people into the direct care workforce

Bills: HF1767, HF2068, HF4725, HF4637, HF4638

Keywords: human services, community support, integrated care, disability services, stakeholder consultation, homeless youth, grants, funding, Minnesota, mental health, substance use disorder, education, workforce development, licensure, direct care services, healthcare, long-term care, personal care assistants, employment support, medical assistance

Transcript Highlights:

• It also extends direct care and treatment county correctional facility support pilot program appropriation
• In 2024, the legislature appropriated a little over $2 million to direct care and treatment to develop
• Importantly, resources can be directed toward proficient staff with expertise for instruction, care,
• Importantly, resources can be directed toward proficient staff with expertise for instruction, care,
• I don't care. care. care.

Bills: HF3526, HF3375, HF3469

Keywords: home care, licensing, fines, advisory council, grant program, client safety, healthcare regulation, HF3375, Minnesota disability waiver, waiver rate system, human services, individualized home supports, individualized home supports with training, individualized home supports with family training, positive support services, employment support services, employment development services, employment exploration services, billing limits, service authorization year

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:34:47.280><c> Um</c> to direct self-directed home nursing.
• Um to direct self-directed home nursing.
• </c> receiving care. receiving care.
• Metro Care is legit. But We are legit. Metro Care is legit.
• </c> I was taking care I was taking care of I was taking care I was taking care of my<01:30:16.719><c

Bills: HF3174, HF3800

Keywords: background study, disqualification, set-aside, permanent disqualification, Office of Administrative Hearings, chief judge, human services licensing, substance use disorder treatment, SUD treatment, chemical dependency, recovery, rehabilitation, abstinence, foster care, child foster care, vulnerable adults, caregiver background check, license holder, direct contact, risk of harm

Transcript Highlights:

• for direct care treatment um so speaking for direct care and<00:24:41.200><c> treatment</c><00:24:41.480
• direct care and treatment admissions to direct care and treatment mha<00:33:58.600><c> strongly</c><00
• c> we</c> the rest of direct care and treatment we the rest of direct care and treatment we are<00:59
• > within</c><01:06:44.520><c> DHS</c> uh Direct Care and treatment within DHS uh Direct Care and treatment
• Direct Care and treatment demand and uh Direct Care and treatment was<01:15:35.280><c> able</c><01:15

Bills: HF2196, HF2586, HF2187, HF2037

Keywords: mental health, emotional disturbance, terminology update, statutory cleanup, conforming amendments, children's mental health, serious mental illness, severe emotional disturbance, case management, residential treatment, outpatient services, crisis services, health plan coverage, antipsychotic drugs, medical assistance, Medicaid, foster care, juvenile court, school discipline, county board

Transcript Highlights:

• Direct primary care and direct primary care-like approaches have emerged in part to help address these
• spending with respect to direct primary care.
• direct primary care.
• direct primary care.
• ><c> in</c> largest direct primary care practice in largest direct primary care practice in the<00:27

Bills: HF2400, HF1724, HF3437, HF4333, HF2874, HF4052

Keywords: real estate, appraisers, disciplinary actions, sanction matrix, Minnesota Statutes, direct primary care, healthcare agreements, medical services, patient care, health insurance, mortgage fees, residential loans, commercial loans, finance regulations, investment properties, insurance, supplemental health insurance, short-term care, home health care, nursing care

Transcript Highlights:

• I direct the public policy program for the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care.
• These bills mandate that at least 75% of public program funds be spent on direct resident care, an essential
• These bills mandate that at least 75% of public program funds be spent on direct resident care, an essential
• </c><01:18:59.920><c> resident</c><01:19:00.400><c> care,</c><01:19:01.120><c> an</c> spent on direct
• resident care, an spent on direct resident care, an essential<01:19:02.000><c> guardrail</c><01:19:02.560

Bills: HF3668, HF2779, HF2771

Keywords: gun violence, public health, Department of Health, prevention, criminal justice, health care transparency, ownership disclosure, control reporting, health care consolidation, private equity, management services organization, MSO, provider organization, health insurer, pharmacy benefit manager, hospital system, affiliate reporting, financial disclosure, public reporting, market concentration

Transcript Highlights:

• care.
• I'm the owner of a direct primary care practice in Auburn, Massachusetts, and I've practiced primary
• As a result, many patients are turning to other options, such as direct primary care, because that offers
• Under the current laws, direct primary care physicians cannot issue an insurance referral for someone
• Last year, I switched to direct primary care, which is a membership-based model where patients pay a

Bills: S2732, S2738, S2739

Keywords: healthcare, direct primary care, insurance, referrals, network providers, payment denial, insurance costs, manufactured homes, homeowners insurance, affordability, state regulations, insurance market, consumer protection, mobile homes, firefighting, water supply, cistern program, rural areas, urban interface, state funding

Summary: The Joint Committee on Financial Services held a public hearing on late-filed matters, with testimony focused mainly on two Senate bills: S. 2738, which would create a special commission to study rising insurance costs for manufactured and mobile home residents, and S. 2739, which would establish a program or fund to help communities install and maintain fire cisterns. Senator Kelly Duner and Representative Lisa Field, along with Taunton officials and residents, described sharp premium increases, limited insurer participation, confusing coverage practices, and the impact on seniors, veterans, and low-income homeowners in manufactured housing communities. Several speakers urged the commission to include residents directly and to produce recommendations for more affordable, transparent, and adequate coverage. Local officials from Taunton, Carver, and other communities echoed those concerns, saying many residents face few options, actual cash value policies, and premiums that can exceed $4,000 annually. On the fire cistern bill, fire chiefs from Hopkinton and East Hampton testified that many communities lack municipal water or hydrants and need year-round dedicated water sources to fight structure fires, brush fires, and newer hazards such as lithium-ion battery fires. They said cisterns improve response times, reduce damage, and can help with insurance ratings, but maintenance and funding are often inadequate. A representative of the Massachusetts Insurance Federation supported the concept of helping fire services but objected to funding the program through insurance policy assessments, arguing that such surcharges drive up premiums and should instead be paid from the general fund. The committee also heard strong support for S. 2732, a direct primary care bill filed by Senator Michael Moore. Physicians and medical association representatives said the bill would let direct primary care doctors make referrals for HMO patients and dispense medications directly from their offices. They argued this would reduce delays, improve continuity of care, lower prescription costs, and help patients with transportation or access barriers. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the chair adjourned after public testimony concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• Direct Primary Care, or DPC.
• This bill ensures that direct primary care payments apply toward the individual's deductible under their
• Members, amid the challenges in our healthcare industry, direct primary care has emerged through the
• It's similar to a husband and wife, and one of them is concierge, or rather direct primary care. and
• Direct medical care. This is an excellent bill.

Bills: HB3015, HB3521, HB5632, HJR182, SJR57

Keywords: healthcare, direct primary care, insurance deductibles, Texas Health Benefit Plans, telemedicine, police retirement, disability pension, municipalities, law enforcement, retirement benefits, retirement, beneficiary, Employees Retirement System of Texas, divorce decree, beneficiary designation, Veterans' Land Board, general obligation bonds, constitutional amendment, veterans, housing assistance

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> drawing</c><00:15:23.440><c> the</c> careful about immediately drawing the careful about immediately
• </c><00:20:56.159><c> and</c> move the bill in the right direction and move the bill in the right direction
• </c><00:43:15.680><c> of</c> led through uh the directions of led through uh the directions of organizations
• I also just really this direction.
• When you notify the child care center?

Bills: HF2135, HF776, HF1581, HF1158, HF2226

Keywords: child welfare, fiscal analysis, third-party consultant, program evaluation, Minnesota, HF776, Minnesota Family Assets for Independence Initiative, family assets for independence, FAI, asset-building, matched savings, financial literacy, family savings, economic mobility, children youth and families, general fund appropriation, family support, low-income families, financial stability, budget bill

Transcript Highlights:

• For these families, child care is a basic need.
• to be used entirely in compensation for direct care workers and an administrative rate that covers overhead
• Even when directed to use the two-and-a-half rate increase last year on direct care workers, workers
• This industry exists solely because of direct support professionals, caregivers who provide daily care
• And bottom line is we have to take care of our families, we have to take care of our children, and so

Bills: HB1873, HB2600, SB5957

Keywords: child care, Working Connections Child Care, WCCC, graduate students, professional students, higher education, full-time student, affordable child care, subsidized child care, child care subsidy, Department of Children, Youth, and Families, DCYF, income eligibility, state median income, copayment, copay waiver, family support, workforce participation, working families, special needs child care

Transcript Highlights:

• They use us as their voice and the care residents that take care of them.
• </c> care we provide in our own homes. care we provide in our own homes.
• Let me be direct.
• </c> part of a family foster care. part of a family foster care.
• </c> care providers that do. care providers that do.

Bills: HF4491, HF4338, HF4288, HF4566

Keywords: Medical Assistance, Medicaid, prepayment review, claims review, fee-for-service, provider integrity, high-risk provider, high-risk service, fraud prevention, program integrity, Department of Human Services, CMS, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, health care billing, medical claims, provider enrollment, Indian Health Service, Minnesota Statutes chapter 256B, human services, medical assistance

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:03:47.920><c> to</c> have learned more than I ever cared to have learned more than I ever cared
• And if they are not in our care.
• </c> takes care of the kids, sometimes 1.5. takes care of the kids, sometimes 1.5.
• </c> child care centers, which we have, too. child care centers, which we have, too.
• Uh we certainly look else's care.

Bills: HF1027, HF2226, HF1916, HF1915, HF1567, HF1986

Keywords: mortgage foreclosure, redemption, foreclosure surplus, sheriff's sale, junior lienholder, mortgagor, homeowner protections, loss mitigation, dual tracking, foreclosure redemption period, certificate of redemption, certificate of sale, sheriff, county recorder, registrar of titles, homeownership center, lien priority, real property, foreclosure by advertisement, surplus funds

Transcript Highlights:

• providing direct care receive comparable wages and benefits to the individual providers.
• and required employer contributions or premiums for the home care agency workers who provide the direct
• agency workers who provide direct care.
• agency workers who provide the direct care is equal to the total portion from the previous fiscal year
• It ensures that Medicaid home care funds are used exactly as you intended to compensate direct care.

Bills: SB5985, SB6019, SB6161, SB6183, SB6210, SB6194, SB6102, SB6103

Keywords: endometriosis, healthcare, reproductive health, patient education, awareness campaign, home care, home care services, home care agency, home care worker, caregiver, direct care, consumer directed employer, consumer-directed care, Medicaid, long-term care, aging services, disability services, personal care, respite care, vendor rate

Summary: The committee first met in executive session and advanced SB 6102, SB 6103, and SB 6194. SB 6102, concerning the Ambulance Transport Fund quality assurance fee, and SB 6103, concerning payments for rural emergency hospitals, were both given due pass recommendations to the Rules Committee. SB 6194, which would allow cost-based Medicaid payments for certain rural hospitals on federally recognized Indian reservations, was referred to the Ways and Means Committee without recommendation. All three actions were approved without recorded opposition. The committee then held hearings on several public hearing bills. SB 6183 would require health plans, including public employee plans, to cover all FDA-approved HIV antiviral drugs without prior authorization, step therapy, or other utilization management, with one therapeutic-equivalent exception for prevention drugs. The prime sponsor argued it would reduce barriers to timely treatment and prevention, and a person living with HIV testified that insurance changes had once interrupted access to medication. The hearing drew substantial public interest, with testimony and sign-in counts reported as 53 pro, 58 con, and one other. SB 5985 would create an endometriosis online resource center, Department of Health training modules, and related school health curriculum updates. The sponsor and multiple patients and clinicians described long diagnostic delays, dismissed symptoms, and the need for better education; testimony was strongly supportive, though the sign-in count showed both support and opposition. SB 6019 proposed changes to home care rate statutes to preserve parity and set administrative-rate caps; labor and provider witnesses supported it as a technical fix, while the committee also discussed an updated fiscal note. SB 6161 would direct the Department of Health to include dementia risk-reduction information in public health materials and provider resources when appropriate; the sponsor, Alzheimer’s advocates, and family members supported it as a low-cost prevention measure. Finally, SB 6210 would let the Health Benefit Exchange add a new certification criterion for exchange plans to address affordability and access, including county availability and plan differentiation. The sponsor, the Exchange, and supporters said it could help prevent bare counties and improve affordability amid rising premiums and federal subsidy changes, while the Insurance Commissioner requested an amendment to protect rate confidentiality. Carriers, brokers, and some insurers opposed the bill, warning it could destabilize the market, reduce competition, and pressure premiums; AARP and some consumers supported it as a way to preserve access and choice.

Transcript Highlights:

• The child care grants on line six remain at the base amount of $13,000,000.
• Line 187 is a new item for the UMN Centric Care Partnership, totaling $3 million.
• And the health care access fund total is unchanged from its previous base amount.
• We know that rural health care is essential.
• care disparities.

Bills: HF2312

Keywords: higher education, college finance, student aid, financial aid, state grants, North Star Promise, scholarships, tuition relief, Minnesota State, University of Minnesota, Office of Higher Education, work-study, child care grants, Indian scholarships, tribal colleges, Hunger-Free Campus, student parents, pregnant students, parenting students, sexual misconduct

Transcript Highlights:

• The child care grants on line six grant.
• </c> for the UN centric care partnership. for the UN centric care partnership.
• ,</c><00:57:28.480><c> including</c> experience in foster care, including experience in foster care,
• Welcome to the up, center care.
• </c> going in the wrong direction on that. going in the wrong direction on that.

Bills: HF2312

Keywords: higher education, college finance, student aid, financial aid, state grants, North Star Promise, scholarships, tuition relief, Minnesota State, University of Minnesota, Office of Higher Education, work-study, child care grants, Indian scholarships, tribal colleges, Hunger-Free Campus, student parents, pregnant students, parenting students, sexual misconduct

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the legislative director for Direct Care and Treatment.
• I'm the legislative director for Direct Care and Treatment.
• I will try to direct care and treatment.
• </c> bill for direct care and treatment. bill for direct care and treatment.
• </c> direct care and treatment on this one. direct care and treatment on this one.

Bills: HF3935, HF2216, HF4354, HF4210, HF4212

Keywords: assisted living, healthcare, training, unlicensed personnel, resident rights, safety regulations, nursing home, long-term care, guardian, conservator, arbitration, mandatory arbitration, consumer protection, fee increase, rate increase, price hike, private pay, public funds, Medicaid, waiver services

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> direct primary care is not insurance. direct primary care is not insurance.
• ,</c><01:20:00.560><c> please</c> direct primary care or insurance, please direct primary care or insurance
• Direct primary care and direct primary care-like approaches have emerged in part to help address these
• c> direct</c><01:23:13.640><c> primary</c> Direct primary care and direct primary Direct primary care
• direct primary care arrangements carving direct primary care arrangements out<01:23:27.360><c> of</c

Bills: HF4493, HF3133, HF4595, HF4143, HF4142, HF3756, HF4289, HF1724, HF2291, HF4568, HF4547

Keywords: opioid use disorder, OUD, medication-assisted treatment, MAT, pharmacist prescribing, pharmacy practice, controlled substances, Schedule III, Schedule IV, Schedule V, DEA registration, Board of Pharmacy, substance use disorder, addiction treatment, buprenorphine, naltrexone, harm reduction, prescription authority, pharmacist intern, Minnesota pharmacy law

Transcript Highlights:

• It's where our ohana and friends gather, where kuna are cared for, and where our kaya are rooted.
• of um something less direction of um something less competitive.<00:38:40.640><c> Sure.
• In your testimony, you commented on direct tools like enhanced PUC oversight, data-sharing mandates,
• This measure allows direct shipment of beer and distilled spirits by certain licensees and requires the
• This measure allows direct shipment of beer and distilled spirits by certain licensees and requires the

Bills: SB3326, SB2911

Keywords: renewable energy, energy storage, cost reduction, public utilities commission, Hawaii energy policies, intoxicating liquor, direct shipment, breweries, distilleries, Hawaii, 912, senate, all

Summary: The committees heard SB 3001 on artificial intelligence in a joint Commerce and Consumer Protection/Labor and Technology hearing. Testimony included support from the Department of Education and Google, comments from the Office of Consumer Protection and the Attorney General’s office, and late opposition from Agentic LLC. The Attorney General raised constitutional and vagueness concerns and suggested clarifying amendments, while Google said the bill’s risk-based approach and proposed amendments could help establish industry-wide safety standards for minors. The committees recessed and then voted to pass SB 3001 with amendments, adopting DCCA/OCP recommendations on data minimization for minors and UDAP clarity, the Attorney General’s proposed clarifications and deletions, and Google’s nonconflicting amendments; the effective date was deferred to July 1, 2050. The vote passed unanimously among members present, with some members excused. The Commerce and Consumer Protection committee then took up several previously heard measures in decision-making. SB 2045 on combat sports passed with amendments reflecting DCCA and boxing commission recommendations, including clarifying the on-site medical professional requirement, reporting duties, promoter payment, removal of the combat sports registry and ambulance requirement, and other technical changes; the effective date was deferred to July 1, 2050. SP 2347 on the residential landlord-tenant code passed with amendments striking landlord requirements so OCP could work on a multilingual tenant-rights notice, and SP 2495 on consumer protection passed with amendments requiring OCP to publish an annual report on potential code violations. SB 2777 on insurance was deferred to February 17, 2026 for further decision-making. At a later CPN decision-making agenda, SB 2471 and SB 2829, both relating to the powers of artificial persons, passed with amendments clarifying the preamble, removing language about foreign artificial persons, and making other consistency and non-substantive changes; both effective dates were moved to January 1, 2027. SP 2033 on renewable energy also passed with amendments clarifying the definition of grid-ready homes, cost-sharing provisions, applicability to interconnecting customers, and safety/certification compliance, with the effective date deferred to July 1, 2050. In each case, the committee voted to adopt the recommendations without objections from members present. The committees also heard SB 3000 on insurance, which would authorize the Attorney General to bring civil actions to recover costs and losses tied to climate-attributable harm and future climate risk, including costs incurred by state insurance-related entities. The Insurance Division and Attorney General’s office offered comments seeking clarification and warning about redundancy, implementation issues, possible representation of private insurers, and concurrent litigation concerns. Supporters, including the Center for Climate Integrity, a resident testifier, Sierra Club, and Green America, argued the bill would help shift insurance costs to fossil fuel companies responsible for climate harms and address rising premiums and nonrenewals in Hawaii. Opponents, including the American Petroleum Institute, argued the bill singled out one industry, raised constitutional concerns, and should be deferred because related climate litigation is already pending. The transcript ends with the committee continuing testimony and discussion on SB 3000 and then moving into SB 3326 on energy, where the consumer advocate and Hawaiian Electric opposed the bill’s proposed separation of generation from transmission and distribution, while the PUC stood on written testimony, Retail Merchants of Hawaii supported it, and Life of the Land raised concerns about assumptions and the need for more substance.