Transcript Highlights:

• Individualized home supports is a service that provides support to individuals.
• Individualized home supports is service.
• , but a training and support service.
• </c> but a training and support service. but a training and support service.
• service, individualized home supports.

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:

• services to address prevention and mental health promotion, treatment, and recovery support services
• to advise the legislature on statewide behavioral health services to support them.
• I'm kind of curious—you mentioned in the services and supports area you're looking for upstream wins.
• Would you say that our family support centers are a great asset to help coordinate these services for
• I had a support system around me, and it was through DCYF and the FAR services.

Bills: HB2429, HB2171, HB2314, HB2364, HB2415

Keywords: behavioral health, youth support, mental health services, children's health, support services, foster youth, child welfare, education, mental health, dental care, habilitation centers, residential services, healthcare access, patient rights, poverty, task force, legislative, executive, social programs, fatalities

Summary: The committee began with a work session on the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Work Group and the Washington Thriving Strategic Plan. Tisha Kirshbaum of the Health Care Authority described the work group’s recommendations, including making Washington Thriving a state initiative, restoring and funding behavioral health access points, strengthening school behavioral health guidance, supporting 988 operations, and improving coordination across agencies. Members asked about fragmentation among the seven agencies involved, duplication of effort, and examples of upstream prevention; Kirshbaum and Rep. Lisa Callan emphasized a system-of-care model, early intervention, community health workers, school-based services, and better coordination rather than adding more layers. The committee then heard House Bill 2429, which would direct the governor and state agencies to align with the strategic plan, create an executive coordination officer and leadership council, extend the work group, and require alignment by state, tribal, local, and nonprofit partners. Testimony was overwhelmingly supportive from the governor’s office, parents, youth, providers, hospitals, and advocacy groups, though one witness opposed the bill on government-overreach grounds and another urged adding youth mentoring representation. No vote was taken. The committee next heard House Bill 2364, which renames and expands the Legislative Executive Work First Poverty Reduction Oversight Task Force into the Economic Justice and Well-Being Task Force, adds state agencies to the voting membership, and aligns the body with the state’s 10-year plan to dismantle poverty. Rep. Mia Gregerson and DSHS testified that the bill updates the statute to match the evolved poverty-reduction alliance and has no fiscal impact. Support testimony from the Statewide Poverty Action Network emphasized bipartisan collaboration and the need for the law to reflect current work. No action was taken. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 2171 on supporting foster youth. The bill would create an endangered foster youth alert system, require county rapid-response protocols, establish a foster youth empowerment account, create an oversight board, and expand training for foster parents and workers. The prime sponsor, Rep. Mike Steele, was represented by Rep. Brian Burnett, who described the bill as a response to a survivor’s experience of going missing from foster care. DCYF supported the intent but raised legal and cost concerns, noting it already has missing-from-care locators and coordination procedures. Child welfare advocates and the Mockingbird Society supported stronger protections but warned that public alerts could increase risk or trauma for some youth and urged guardrails. The hearing then moved to House Bill 2314 on dental care services at residential habilitation centers, with staff explaining a pilot allowing certain community-based developmental disabilities clients to access RHC dental clinics. Rep. Josh Penner said the bill would use existing, underused state dental capacity for people who cannot access community dentistry, while disability advocates argued it would pull people back into institutional settings and that community-based dental capacity should be strengthened instead. The hearing continued with testimony and no final vote reported.

Transcript Highlights:

• These rebates have funded the HIV support service grants to HIV supportive services organizations, which
• families</c><01:21:57.719><c> and</c> service designed to support families and service designed to support
• </c> Amendment now allows posit Support Amendment now allows posit Support Services<01:46:39.280><c>
• importance of positive support services, specifically despite a growing demand for these services we
• Services to also uh positive Support Services to also ensure<01:51:17.880><c> high</c><01:51:18.079>

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:

• services, Especially getting into supportive housing.
• supportive services for homeless youth.
• ><c> services</c><00:50:10.880><c> so</c><00:50:11.000><c> they</c> support, the wraparound services
• so they support, the wraparound services so they become<00:50:11.520><c> successful.
• services administration at and support services administration at DHS.

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:

• </c> Support Services. Support Services.
• </c> insert for the office of student support insert for the office of student support services<00:39
• and the director of the services and the director of the exceptional<00:39:47.440><c> support</c><00
• </c><00:46:51.640><c> services</c> administrative and support services administrative and support services
• </c><00:47:15.560><c> services</c><00:47:16.240><c> as</c> office of student support services as office

Bills: SB2479, SB2557, SB2861, SB3204, SB3324, SB3325

Keywords: criminal procedure, family violence, dating violence, child abuse, evidence admissibility, reduced sentencing, homelessness, reporting requirements, statewide office, housing solutions, kauhale projects, public oversight, SB2861, Hawaii, Office of Wellness and Resilience, OWR, Department of Human Services, DHS, Kakou Pilot Program, Kakou

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several measures related to criminal procedure, homelessness, family resilience, Medicaid-funded services, and school Medicaid reimbursement. On SB 2479 SD2, the Judiciary testified in neutral opposition with concerns that the bill could require imprisonment even for probation-eligible defendants, expand sentence reconsideration in ways that could undermine finality for victims, conflict with existing sentencing statutes, and require additional judicial resources. The Office of the Public Defender supported the bill’s intent but asked for language changes so people serving sentences could raise the new evidence in Rule 40 petitions and so probation would remain available in appropriate felony cases. Written testimony also included opposition from several county prosecutors and police, and support from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. The chair later deferred SB 2479 SD2, citing unintended consequences and problems with the bill. For SB 2557 SD1, which would require annual reporting by the State Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions, the office said it supported the intent but noted it already produces annual and quarterly reports, that some requested data is already available, and that staffing and cost constraints could make the new reporting burdensome. The State Council on Mental Health supported the measure and suggested narrowing the reporting language to data on individuals with serious mental illness or co-occurring behavioral health conditions, to the extent practicable and in collaboration with relevant agencies. A committee member asked about the availability of point-in-time count data, and the office explained that some figures may not be available every year and may need to be generated through HMIS. Dr. Jack Lewin testified in support, saying the data would be useful for understanding health care costs. The committee passed SB 2557 SD1 with amendments, including a deferral of the effective date. The committee also heard SB 2861 SD2 and SB 3204 SD1, both family resilience pilot program measures. For SB 2861 SD2, the Office of Wellness and Resilience and DHS supported the bill but requested amendments to clarify that the office’s role is planning and advisory, that DHS is a key partner, and that federal compliance safeguards are included. The chair raised concerns about overlap with DHS’s existing Ka Ohana program and asked for language to avoid redundancy while allowing the bill to cover other at-risk children; decision-making was deferred to the next hearing. For SB 3204 SD1, which would create a peer-navigator-based family resilience pilot, the Office of Wellness and Resilience and DHS supported the measure, with the office requesting a two-year pilot period, and both agencies and several advocacy groups submitted support. The committee discussed funding, the proposed five peer navigators, and whether the pilot should be limited to one or two geographic areas; no final action was taken in the portion provided. The committee also heard and supported SB 3324 SD1 on Medicaid home and community-based services, with the Department of Health emphasizing caregiver shortages and the cost-effectiveness of community care, and SB 3325 SD1 HD1 on public school Medicaid reimbursement, where DOE and the Attorney General requested clarifying amendments to reporting language and position titles.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, we are here today to ask for your support for this resolution.
• model to ensure sustained care and support.
• I respectfully urge your support.
• It supports local jobs.
• I'm here to testify in support of House Bill 4230.

Bills: HCR6

Keywords: Meals on Wheels, senior services, nutrition, community support, volunteerism

Transcript Highlights:

• Examples of community residential services businesses include adult family homes, supported living services
• Examples of community residential services businesses include adult family homes, supported living services
• This bill would allow young adults with IDD to receive access to supportive services that will help them
• By starting DDCS services at 20, we can prevent this service cliff.
• I'm Scott Leibungan for MalfaSport Living Services, a nonprofit supported living provider in King and

Bills: SB5681, SB6024, SB6036, SB6063

Keywords: employment services, community inclusion, age limitations, disability services, home and community living, community residential services, oversight, monitoring, service providers, streamlining, foster care, licensure, adoption, child welfare, support services, terminology alignment, social services, Washington state code, department reorganization, legislative amendment

Summary: The Senate Human Services Committee heard four bills. SB 6024, sponsored by Senator Gildon, would streamline DSHS oversight of community residential service providers by limiting routine reviews to no more than one annual review per subject area, combining reviews when possible, and requiring better document sharing within the department to reduce duplicate requests. The sponsor and provider witnesses said the bill would reduce redundant audits and paperwork so providers can spend more time on direct client care. SB 6063, a DSHS request bill sponsored by Senator Bateman, would update statutes to reflect DSHS’s recent reorganization and rename references to the new administrations; testimony described it as a technical, no-cost cleanup measure. The committee also heard a proposed substitute for SB 5681, sponsored by Senator Cortez, which would lower from 21 to 20 the age at which people with intellectual and developmental disabilities may access employment and community inclusion services, and would rename community access as community inclusion. Senator Cortez and multiple advocates, educators, and service providers testified that earlier access would help young adults avoid a service gap after school, support transition to work, and improve long-term independence; the substitute was explained as changing the original bill’s proposed age from 19 to 20. SB 6036, sponsored by Senator Kaufman and requested by DSHS, would create a narrow exemption from adult family home licensure for certain foster care or kinship caregivers who continue caring for former foster youth who are the only unrelated adults in the home. Senator Kaufman and DSHS said the bill would preserve stability and continuity of care for youth aging out of foster care while maintaining safeguards, and DSHS testified in support. No votes were taken; the chair closed each hearing after testimony, and announced upcoming executive sessions and future hearings.

Transcript Highlights:

• We also provide home care services in the consumer-directed community support program.
• We also provide home care services in the consumer-directed community support program.
• As you know, the idea and intentions were good for Community First Services and Supports, CFSS.
• It replaced Consumer Support Grant and personal care assistant, PCA, services.
• </c> of services. of services.

Bills: HF3797, HF3780, HF4068, HF3935

Keywords: long-term care, insurance policy, healthcare, partnership policy, Minnesota, human services, wage increase, support workers, shared services, community first services, medical assistance, sanctions, healthcare services, monetary recovery, government accountability, assisted living, training, unlicensed personnel, resident rights, safety regulations

Transcript Highlights:

• Today, we are here to seek your support for the appropriation of funding for staff and services needed
• Today, we are here to seek your support for the appropriation of funding for staff and services needed
• It requires meaningful investment in prevention services, culturally responsive supports, and workforce
• We must make sure that the culturally responsive prevention services are available to support active
• </c> and to support kids. and to support kids.

Bills: HF3665, HF3002, HF4217, HF4125, HF4174

Keywords: foster care, early childhood education, child care programs, placement plan, social services, extended foster care, kinship care, relative custody, permanent legal and physical custody, Northstar kinship assistance, independent living plan, transition services, youth aging out of care, medical assistance, Medicaid, child welfare, children youth and families, out-of-home placement, case plan, relative placement

Bills: SB1379

Keywords: human trafficking, victims, prevention, support services, Attorney General, pilot program, grant funding, 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• called day support services.
• We offer integrated community supports, community residential services, and customized living services
• </c> supports and services to lowincome supports and services to lowincome individuals<00:36:13.319><
• For example, the three employment support services currently include the program support component that
• For example, the three employment support services currently include the program support component that

Bills: HF1662, HF2115, HF2159, HF1095, HF2160

Keywords: veterans, veterans affairs, State Soldiers Assistance Program, Veterans Stable Housing Initiative, MAXIS, human services data, data sharing, eligibility verification, informed consent, private data, benefits coordination, veteran housing, veteran assistance, Department of Human Services, Children Youth and Families, state benefits, federal benefits, privacy, public assistance, human services

Transcript Highlights:

• And nearly 500 people were served with intensive therapeutic support services through a partnership with
• </c> support services. support services. uh<00:07:58.000><c> through</c><00:07:58.160><c> a</c><00:07
• </c> service response. service response.
• </c> those services. those services.
• paying, and also the monitoring and supporting the particular participant or recipient of the service

Bills: HF3738, HF2295, HF3520, HF3666

Keywords: pediatric care, hospital discharge, home care, healthcare accessibility, nursing services, family support, mental health, crisis services, Dakota County, mobile crisis response, public safety, treatment services, rehabilitation, behavioral health fund, client eligibility, home and community-based services, case management, waiver services, county services, disability advocacy

Transcript Highlights:

• and remote support can play in<00:24:37.760><c> services</c><00:24:38.279><c> that</c><00:24:38.520>
• offerings providing peer fee for service offerings providing peer support<00:45:07.520><c> in</c><00
• If we want to improve service delivery, support our frontline workers, and ensure Minnesotans receive
• Please introduce yourself for the record and proceed. improve service delivery support our improve service
• </c> support a human services focused support a human services focused artificial<01:37:28.880><c> intelligence

Bills: HF1380, HF1166, HF487, HF1553, HF1472, HF258, HF1911

Keywords: psychiatric treatment, human services, mental health funding, per diem rate, Clay County, disability services, assistive technology, remote support, advocacy, training programs, HF487, Wellness in the Woods, Minnesota human services, grant funding, general fund appropriation, peer support, substance use recovery, addiction recovery, reentry services, reentry after incarceration

Bills: HB462, HB8, HB8

Keywords: emergency medical services, military training, licensure, public health, veterans, tobacco regulation, vaping, sales restrictions, youth protection, tobacco compliance, education programs, electronic nicotine delivery systems, campus chaplain, chaplain, school chaplain, volunteer, public K-12 schools, public schools, public charter schools, education policy

Transcript Highlights:

• that's going to change is the billing process because now they're unable to charge for any of that service
• Are they currently billing insurance companies for these services? Thank you for that question.
• reason they do collect data on someone who's completed a suicide that was being served with the services
• So, this bill is to allow case managers and peer support specialists to be employed by the city and counties

Bills: HB3287, HB2947, HB3784, HB3901, HB4275

Keywords: public health, domestic violence, human trafficking, healthcare facilities, hospital protocols, behavioral health, Medicaid expansion, clinical interns, mental health services, licensing requirements, micropigmentation, medical procedure, physician oversight, nursing certification, state regulations, psychological autopsy, mental health, suicide prevention, state health department, investigation

Transcript Highlights:

• that's going to change is the billing process because now they're unable to charge for any of that service
• Are they currently billing insurance companies for these services? Thank you for that question.
• Someone who's completed a suicide that was being served with services that they have.
• So this bill is to allow case managers and peer support specialists to be employed by the city and county
• This bill is to allow case managers and peer support specialists to be employed by the city and counties

Bills: HB3287, HB2947, HB3784, HB3901, HB4275

Keywords: public health, domestic violence, human trafficking, healthcare facilities, hospital protocols, behavioral health, Medicaid expansion, clinical interns, mental health services, licensing requirements, micropigmentation, medical procedure, physician oversight, nursing certification, state regulations, psychological autopsy, mental health, suicide prevention, state health department, investigation

Summary: The Public Health Committee met for its first session and laid over House Bills 3884 and 4410. The committee then heard and advanced several bills. HB 3287 would require hospitals to post discreet notices in areas like X-ray, CAT scan, MRI, or bathrooms telling victims of domestic abuse, sexual abuse, physical abuse, or human trafficking how to alert staff and ensuring they are not discharged before appropriate reporting occurs; members discussed whether to include a phone number, and the bill passed 5-0. HB 2947 would allow clinics to bill Medicaid for services provided by master’s-level mental health interns working under supervision in accredited programs, with supporters saying it could help address rural workforce shortages; questions focused on supervision, liability, whether it would be limited to Medicaid, fiscal impact, and how many interns might participate, and it passed 5-0. The committee also considered HB 3784, as amended by a PCS, which would let permanent makeup artists come out from under physician oversight after three years of experience, while preserving supervision if they use prescription medications such as topical anesthetics; after clarification about the PCS, it passed 5-0. HB 3901 would create a psychological autopsy position in the Department of Health to review suicides and overdoses through voluntary family interviews and records review to improve prevention efforts; members raised questions about cost, whether the work should be housed elsewhere, the pilot nature of the proposal, and what data are currently collected, and it passed 5-0. Finally, HB 4275 would allow case managers and peer support specialists to be employed by cities and counties while keeping their certification, and it also passed 5-0. The meeting ended with adjournment and a notice that the committee would meet again the following Wednesday morning at 9:00.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we actually supported EMD with our engineering services, and then moved up to VP of construction
• And we actually supported EMD with our engineering services, and then moved up to VP of construction
• </c> see the lowest of lows for service see the lowest of lows for service members<00:09:28.120><c> uh
• Representative Seon: No, I appreciate all the support. It's great to see the bipartisan support.
• I support all of their causes.

Bills: HF1439, HF1004, HF498, HF1326

Keywords: HF1439, Minnesota Grocers Association Foundation, Carts to Careers, workforce development fund, DEED, Department of Employment and Economic Development, grocery industry, food industry, food retail, retail workforce, job training, career pathways, scholarships, certifications, workforce pipeline, one-time appropriation, industry training, labor shortage, youth employment, apprenticeship

Transcript Highlights:

• Um I I don't think I can I can support<01:06:53.880><c> that.</c> support that. support that.
• upstream family support services. children up to the age of 17 would align children up to the age of
• The more that we do this across the state and the more that we continue to fund and support these services
• The more that we do this across the state and the more that we continue to fund and support these services
• Services, the more that we can support families when they need it, uh, which is early and as often as

Bills: HF2136, HF4195, HF4548, HF4432, HF4174, HF3024, HF4389, HF3773

Keywords: youth intervention, grants, community support, early intervention services, nonprofit, Minnesota human services, forecast adjustment, budget forecast, appropriations, Medical Assistance, MinnesotaCare, Health Care Access Fund, general fund, behavioral health, housing support, General Assistance, Minnesota Supplemental Aid, MFIP, DWP, child care assistance

Transcript Highlights:

• , including by improving identification of and access to behavioral health services, supports, and funding
• These fees are meant to support survivor services, and I'm here in strong opposition to House Bill 2430
• I fully support funding survivor services, but revenue based on sentencing is not fiscally responsible
• I strongly support funding survivor services. Thank you very much.
• We do support, or the carriers do support, the goal of strengthening behavioral health crisis services

Bills: HB1316, HB2401, HB2557, HB2720, HB1073, HB2685, HB2640, HB2403

Keywords: postsecondary education, homelessness, foster youth, education access, support programs, commission, gender equity, boys, men, advocacy, state policy, special education, parental rights, educational access, evaluation reports, disability services, behavioral health, emergency services, health insurance, provider access

Summary: The committee heard staff briefings, public testimony, and no final votes on a series of bills. On Substitute House Bill 1128, staff described a proposed second substitute creating a Child Care Workforce Standards Board at L&I with an advisory role only, along with estimated staffing and board costs; supporters said child care workers need a forum to address understaffing and wages, while opponents called the bill duplicative and costly. The committee also heard support for Second Substitute House Bill 1634, which would have OSPI and ESDs develop a technical assistance and training framework for school behavioral health supports, and Substitute House Bill 2636, which would create a public education review advisory council to recommend K-12 policies for JLARC review; staff outlined fiscal impacts for both, and no one testified on 2636. Members then heard House Bill 1316 on expanding the Supporting Students Experiencing Homelessness program so multiple campuses within an institution could apply, with testimony that the current language unintentionally limits access to already appropriated funds. Substitute House Bill 2474 would expand use of the Student Achievement Council Tuition Recovery Trust Fund to cover consumer protection violations tied to private college closures and teach-out obligations, with staff noting no expected fiscal impact from the fund itself. Substitute House Bill 2365 would broaden the State Broadband Office’s digital equity duties and rename the grant program, with supporters emphasizing rural access and the loss of federal digital equity funding; staff said Commerce would bear most ongoing costs. The committee also heard House Bill 2401, creating a Washington State Boys and Men’s Commission contingent on non-state funding, with supporters saying boys and men face worsening mental health, education, and social outcomes. Substitute House Bill 2475 would require the Office of Equity to develop statewide language-access guidelines and a plan to address interpreter shortages, with staff saying the office could absorb the work but other agencies’ costs were uncertain. Substitute House Bill 2517 would give regional transit authorities more flexibility to seek permits before acquiring property for high-capacity transit projects, and Substitute House Bill 2145 would restrict manufacturers from blocking 340B drug access through contract pharmacies and add reporting requirements; testimony was sharply divided over whether the bill protects safety-net providers or increases health care costs. Finally, Second Substitute House Bill 1420 would require a textile and apparel coordinating organization and a needs assessment for a future producer responsibility program, with supporters urging a careful first step and opponents warning it presumes the outcome and adds complexity and cost.

Bills: HB 101, HB1819, HB1875, HB1965, HB2193, HB2914, HB3248, HB3354, HB3531, HB101

Keywords: Texas State Guard, task force, professionalization, state missions, critical infrastructure, veterans, veterans' affairs, mental health, community mental health, behavioral health, grant program, matching grant, non-state match, community services, family support, county population, Health and Human Services Commission, HHSC, public safety, homeland security