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:

• House File 3893 would regulate artificial intelligence from engaging in psychotherapy and counseling
• House File 3893 would regulate artificial intelligence from engaging in psychotherapy and counseling
• have at least a master's psychotherapy have at least a master's degree,<01:18:30.600><c> and</c><01:
• This bill addresses a specific and growing concern: the use of AI chatbots to engage in psychotherapy
• </c><01:20:05.720><c> and</c> As you know and you will hear, psychotherapy is not casual interaction.

Bills: HF3951, HF4005, HF962, HF4585, HF3870, HF4542, HF3893, HF4293, HF4075, HF4057, HF3809

Keywords: submetered utility service, tenant rights, digital payment, eviction protection, housing policy, biometric data, consent, data protection, civil penalties, privacy laws, HF4585, Minnesota, harassment restraining order, HRO, restraining order, temporary restraining order, petitioner notice, service of process, law enforcement notification, sheriff

Transcript Highlights:

• This 3-phase structure is drawn from the best practice in psychotherapy and other clinical trials.
• Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy.
• I personally benefited from ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, which is currently legal in Minnesota.
• Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy is a safe and effective treatment to combat the main drivers of the
• For the past three testifiers, psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy helped me get better personally.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• House File 3893 would regulate artificial intelligence from engaging in psychotherapy and from engaging
• All mental health professionals licensed to perform psychotherapy have at least a master's degree, and
• </c><00:04:03.360><c> have</c> licensed to perform psychotherapy have licensed to perform psychotherapy
• As he explained, psychotherapy is not casual interaction; it is a clinical practice that requires training
• We want to make sure that psychotherapy and therapeutic communication remain in the hands of licensed

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• For the purposes of this section, evidence-based psychotherapy means psychotherapy services that are
• Evidence-based psychotherapy means psychotherapy services that are offered by a psychologist, yada, yada
• In other words, evidence-based psychotherapy is only ESG-based psychotherapy.
• Only ESG-based psychotherapy.
• If it was just regular old psychotherapy, I'd be totally cool with me.

Summary: The House opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, approval of the prior journal, and several guest introductions and proclamations, including a proclamation designating March 10 as Cade’s Day in honor of Cade Keller and suicide prevention efforts. Members also welcomed guests from schools, cities, and medical and advocacy groups, and the clerk announced committee assignments and bill referrals. The chamber then moved through committee-of-the-whole action on several bills. HB 2946 and HB 4018 were amended and given do pass recommendations. In a later committee-of-the-whole, HB 2083, HB 2308, HB 2388, and HB 2389 were considered; HB 2083, HB 2308, and HB 2388 received do pass recommendations as amended, while HB 2389 drew debate over environmental review for power plants, with supporters arguing it would lower energy costs and opponents saying it weakened oversight. The House also retained HB 4030 and HCR 2052 on the calendar. The House then took up third-reading votes on a long list of measures. Bills that passed included HB 2047 on forcible entry and detainer, HB 2127 on special license plates, HB 2344 on the local government investment pool, HB 2371 on dissolution of marriage, HB 2140 and HB 2620 on financial institutions and veterans services, HB 2429 on short-term rentals, HB 2434 on the prescription monitoring program, HB 2437 on emergency medical services, HB 2444 on pharmacy-based testing and treatment, HB 2573 on DUI-related psychotherapy treatment, HB 2601 on state highways and routes, HB 2781 on solar energy power plants, HB 2914 on cameras in long-term care rooms, HB 2968 on evidence in child custody proceedings, HB 4043 on public schools, HB 4064 on municipal improvement districts, HB 4130 on local government budgets, and HCM 2016 renaming a stretch of U.S. Route 191 as Chief Barbonsito Highway. HB 2726 on sleep apnea treatment failed, and HB 2123 failed on reconsideration after a close vote. Several votes featured debate over housing, energy, veterans’ services, pharmacy scope, family-court evidence rules, and the balance between local control and state oversight. The session ended with committee announcements for the following week, personal privilege remarks, and a motion to adjourn until 1:15 p.m. on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, which was adopted.

Transcript Highlights:

• For the purposes of this section, evidence-based psychotherapy means psychotherapy services that are
• Evidence-based psychotherapy means psychotherapy services that are offered by a psychologist, yada, yada
• In other words, evidence-based psychotherapy is only ESG-based psychotherapy.
• Only ESG-based psychotherapy.
• If it was just regular old psychotherapy, I'd be totally cool with me.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I hold a doctorate in clinical psychology, the certificate of psychoanalytic psychotherapy, and I'm the
• I hold a doctorate in clinical psychology, the certificate of psychoanalytic psychotherapy, and I'm the
• I hold a doctorate in clinical psychology, the certificate of psychoanalytic psychotherapy, and I'm the
• </c><00:12:06.880><c> it</c><00:12:06.959><c> is</c><00:12:07.120><c> our</c> responsive Psychotherapy
• it is our responsive Psychotherapy it is our mission<00:12:07.560><c> to</c><00:12:07.720><c> provide

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:00:00 Roll Call: 00:00:04 SB 02: 00:01:37 Discussion in Opposition to SB 02: 00:09:49 SB 84: 00:22:19 SB 111: 00:30:35, 958, all

Summary: The committee first considered Senate Bill 2, sponsored by Senator Mike Wilson, which would prohibit incarcerated people from receiving cross-sex hormones or gender-affirming surgeries, while allowing a tapering period if stopping an existing treatment would cause physical harm. Wilson said the bill was needed to prevent the Department of Corrections from providing such care by memo or policy rather than statute, and he argued the care was elective and not medically necessary. Senators Thomas, Neal, Nemes, Styers, and others questioned whether any gender-affirming surgeries had actually occurred in Kentucky, whether the hormone treatments were physician-prescribed, and whether the bill would override medical judgment; Wilson said the department reported no surgeries, that 67 incarcerated people were receiving cross-sex hormone therapy, and that he would only support treatment if it fit the bill’s narrow medical-harm exception. Public testimony on SB 2 was strongly opposed. Chris Hartman of the Fairness Campaign said the bill would deny medically necessary care, violate the Eighth Amendment, and target a very small and vulnerable incarcerated population. Dr. Jack Skilles testified that gender-affirming care is medically necessary and supported by major medical organizations, warning that denying it could worsen mental health and lead to suicidality. Hannah Callahan, a transgender woman, described being denied hormone therapy while incarcerated and said the interruption caused severe physical and mental harm, including suicidal thoughts. Emma Curtis, Lexington’s Fourth District councilwoman, also urged a no vote, framing the issue as a matter of compassion and religious duty. The committee then voted on SB 2. Senator Neal explained his no vote by saying he was not medically trained and deferred to doctors; Senator Nemes said he wanted clarification that the bill would not stop ongoing treatment; and Senator Styers argued the bill was a poor priority and noted there was no fiscal note and that only 67 people were affected. Senator Wheeler moved the bill, Senator Reed seconded, and the committee reported Senate Bill 2 favorably. Afterward, the committee began hearing Senate Bill 84, sponsored by Senator Steve Rawlings, which would limit judicial deference to state agency interpretations and require courts, not agencies, to interpret ambiguous laws, citing the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2024 Loper Bright decision overturning Chevron deference.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> using some AI and psychotherapy-like using some AI and psychotherapy-like tools,<00:47:31.520><c
• </c> site psychotherapy site psychotherapy uh<00:54:35.720><c> serving</c><00:54:36.160><c> Colorado.
• AI cannot deliver psychotherapy safely. We know this.
• are licensed in the state of Colorado to deliver psychotherapy appropriately and ethically.
• We also put a carve out psychotherapy.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill would build off this model and protect individuals seeking therapy or psychotherapy services
• Psychotherapy is a planned, structured, skilled, and deliberate clinical intervention, not simply the
• Karthik Sarma, and I practice psychiatry, including psychotherapy at UCSF, San Francisco General, and
• Psychotherapy is a planned, structured, skilled, and deliberate clinical intervention, not simply the
• service, including through the use of artificial intelligence to the public, unless psychotherapy is

Summary: The committee heard several bills, beginning with SB 936 on nitrous oxide sales. Senator Blakespear and supporters, including Orange and Humboldt County supervisors and public safety, medical, waste, and local government groups, argued the bill would curb youth misuse, impaired driving, and hazardous waste by prohibiting retail sale of nitrous oxide canisters larger than eight grams while preserving legitimate uses. There was no lead opposition testimony, though members raised questions about enforcement and existing regulatory agencies. The committee ultimately moved the bill on a due pass basis to Senate Appropriations, with broad support and no recorded opposition at the time of the vote. Members also heard SB 1312 on abandoned cemeteries and SB 1340 on small business contracting transparency. SB 1312 would use the existing cemetery workgroup process to develop recommendations for addressing abandoned cemeteries, with the author and the Cemetery and Mortuary Association describing vandalism, theft, and inadequate endowment funds as ongoing problems. SB 1340 would require state agencies to report more detailed small business contracting information, including actual payments, to the Office of the Small Business Advocate; the Controller’s office supported the measure as a way to improve accountability and help small businesses compete for state work. Both bills were moved forward on due pass motions to Senate Appropriations. The committee also considered SB 903 on artificial intelligence in mental health care, SB 1271 on midwifery preceptor data, and SB 1327 on EV charger accuracy oversight. SB 903 drew strong support from mental health and professional groups that said AI should not replace licensed clinicians, while medical and technology groups opposed it unless amended, warning the definitions were too broad and could hinder beneficial tools and research; the author said the bill was meant to keep a human clinician in the loop and allow administrative uses with consent. SB 1271 was supported by midwives and birth workers who said California needs better data on preceptor capacity to expand training and address maternity care deserts; it advanced to Senate Health. SB 1327 would shift EV charger accuracy oversight from CDFA’s weights and measures division to the California Energy Commission; supporters said this would modernize and standardize enforcement, while county sealers and others opposed the shift as unnecessary, costly, and potentially weakening consumer protections. SB 1327 passed on a divided vote to Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications. Several bills were held on call after votes, and the committee established quorum before taking formal actions.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill would build off this model and protect individuals seeking therapy or psychotherapy services
• Karthik Sarma, and I practice psychiatry, including psychotherapy at UCSF, San Francisco General, and
• Psychotherapy is a planned, structured, skilled, and deliberate clinical intervention, not simply the
• Psychotherapy is a planned, structured, skilled, and deliberate clinical intervention, not simply the
• service, including through the use of artificial intelligence, to the public unless psychotherapy is

Summary: The committee heard several bills, beginning with SB 936 on nitrous oxide sales. Senator Blakespear and supporters, including Orange County and Humboldt County supervisors, described growing misuse of large nitrous canisters, impaired driving, youth access, and waste and safety problems. There was no formal opposition testimony, and multiple organizations and local governments voiced support. Committee members generally supported the bill but raised questions about enforcement and the role of existing licensing agencies; the author said amendments addressed concerns about balloons and bags. The bill was moved on a due-pass recommendation to Senate Appropriations and left on call. The committee also heard SB 1312 on abandoned cemeteries, SB 1340 on small business procurement reporting, and SB 903 on AI in mental health care. SB 1312 would build on last year’s cemetery workgroup to address abandoned private cemeteries; the author and the Cemetery and Mortuary Association said the bill is intended to use forthcoming recommendations to improve maintenance and oversight. It was moved due pass to Senate Appropriations and left on call. SB 1340 would require state agencies to report contract and payment data involving small businesses to the Office of the Small Business Advocate; the Controller’s office supported the measure, and it was moved due pass to Senate Appropriations and left on call. SB 903 drew the most extensive debate. The bill would restrict the public offering of psychotherapy services through AI unless a licensed professional is involved, require disclosure and informed consent, and preserve confidentiality rules. Supporters argued that chatbots and AI therapy tools can mislead consumers and create safety, bias, and privacy risks, while opponents from the California Medical Association and TechNet warned the definitions were too broad and could hinder beneficial clinical tools, triage, research, and FDA-approved applications. Committee members pressed the author on clarity, administrative uses like note-taking, and whether the bill would allow clinician-supervised AI; the author said the intent is to keep a human clinician in the loop and continue refining the language. The bill was moved to the Senate Privacy, Digital Technology, and Consumer Protection Committee and left on call. Finally, the committee heard SB 1271 on midwifery preceptor data and SB 1327 on EV charger accuracy oversight. SB 1271 would collect data on licensed midwives’ capacity to serve as preceptors to strengthen the training pipeline; supporters described workforce shortages, rural access problems, and closures of labor and delivery units. It was moved due pass to the Senate Health Committee and left on call. SB 1327 would shift EV charger accuracy oversight from CDFA’s Division of Measurement Standards to the California Energy Commission; supporters said this would standardize enforcement and better match the agency already regulating EV infrastructure, while county sealers and others opposed the move as unnecessary, costly, and potentially weakening local consumer protection. The bill was moved due pass to the Senate Energy, Utilities, and Communications Committee and left on call.

Transcript Highlights:

• And an integration session after that, where the patient would receive psychotherapy to integrate the
• This three-phase structure is drawn from the best practice in psychotherapy and other clinical trials
• I personally benefited from ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, which is currently legal in Minnesota.
• File 29, 0, 6, to create a small, highly regulated trial program of psilocybin assisted psychotherapy
• For the past three testifiers, psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy helped me get better personally.

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:

• This bill would build off this model and protect individuals seeking therapy or psychotherapy services
• Karthik Sarma, and I practice psychiatry, including psychotherapy at UCSF, San Francisco General, and
• Psychotherapy is a planned, structured, skilled, and deliberate clinical intervention, not simply the
• Psychotherapy is a planned, structured, skilled, and deliberate clinical intervention, not simply the
• service, including through the use of artificial intelligence to the public, unless psychotherapy is

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill would build off those efforts and protect individuals seeking therapy or psychotherapy services
• I don't know that I think that's an appropriate place for chatbots to be providing psychotherapy to the
• And, you know, you've done it not just in the chatbot realm, but also looking at the psychotherapy angle
• And, you know, you've done it not just in the chatbot realm, but also looking at the psychotherapy angle
• . ...millions of people that they can get literally unlicensed, quote-unquote, psychotherapy support

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, House File 3893 would regulate artificial intelligence from engaging in psychotherapy and counseling
• All mental health professionals licensed to perform psychotherapy have at least a master's degree and
• > and</c><00:03:25.840><c> counseling</c><00:03:26.239><c> with</c><00:03:26.560><c> human</c> psychotherapy
• and counseling with human psychotherapy and counseling with human beings.<00:03:27.920><c> Legislation
• have at least a perform psychotherapy have at least a master's<00:05:15.680><c> degree</c><00:05:16.560

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• This also would reinforce that the use of artificial intelligence technology in psychotherapy records
• I don't know that I think that's an appropriate place for chatbots to be providing psychotherapy to the
• And, you know, you've done it not just in the chatbot realm, but also looking at the psychotherapy angle
• And, you know, you've done it not just in the chatbot realm, but also looking at the psychotherapy angle
• Millions of people that they can get literally unlicensed, quote-unquote, psychotherapy support at their

Summary: The Assembly Business and Professions Committee heard several Senate bills, with most of the discussion focused on worker training, public safety, and consumer protection. SB 1203 by Senator Smallwood-Cuevas would expand training and de-escalation requirements for private security officers. Supporters, including security workers and labor groups, said the bill would better prepare officers who often respond first to mental health crises and violent incidents. Opponents, including security industry representatives and business groups, argued it would impose major costs, create training bottlenecks, and could reduce licensed security coverage. The committee ultimately voted the bill out on a due pass recommendation to Labor and Employment, with some members noting future amendments to address training capacity and employer-provided training. The committee also approved SB 936 by Senator Blakespear, which would restrict retail sales of nitrous oxide canisters larger than 8 grams while preserving legitimate medical, dental, culinary, and automotive uses. Support came from county officials, public health groups, waste management organizations, law enforcement, and local governments, who described rising misuse, impaired driving, and recycling hazards. No opposition testimony was presented, and the bill passed to Public Safety. SB 1271 by Senator Reyes, aimed at strengthening California’s midwifery training pipeline by requiring data collection on licensed midwife preceptor capacity, also passed unanimously to Health. Supporters said the bill would help address shortages in rural birth care and improve access to training for aspiring midwives. SB 903 by Senator Padilla, which would place guardrails on the use of AI in mental health and psychotherapy settings and prohibit AI from being marketed as a therapist, drew emotional testimony from a mother whose son died by suicide after extensive chatbot interactions. Health and behavioral health groups supported the measure, while several industry and health organizations were opposed unless amended; the committee nevertheless sent it to Privacy and Consumer Protection on a unanimous vote. The committee also approved SB 1165 on consent and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill would expand the use of what it defines as evidence-based psychotherapy.
• But if we read the definition of evidence-based psychotherapy, we'll see that it is anything but evidence-based
• Because, for the purposes of this section, evidence-based psychotherapy means psychotherapy services
• This bill would expand the use of what it defines as evidence-based psychotherapy.
• Because, for the purposes of this section, evidence-based psychotherapy means psychotherapy services

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , you see psychotherapy individual, you see $163,000 $163,000 $163,000 in<00:14:40.880><c> 2024.
• So, I'm assuming that the psychotherapy numbers there are probably on the mental health side.
• ,</c> therapy, psychotherapy, therapy, psychotherapy, you<00:20:49.919><c> know,</c><00:20:50.080><c>
• </c> So, I'm assuming that the psychotherapy So, I'm assuming that the psychotherapy numbers<00:21:06.320
• numbers in terms of the psychotherapy numbers in terms of the numbers<00:23:23.360><c> served.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board reconvened and heard a presentation from the Attorney General’s Office Medicaid Fraud and Abuse Control unit. AG staff described the unit’s structure and work: it investigates and prosecutes Medicaid provider fraud, and also handles abuse, neglect, and exploitation cases involving vulnerable adults in facility settings when asked to assist. They said the office has prosecutors, detectives, auditors, and support staff, works with federal partners, Commonwealth’s attorneys, CHFS, DMS, OIG, and MCOs, and uses a hotline and referral line for complaints. They also explained the MCO referral process, including monthly meetings, stand-down lists, and review of referrals for a “credible allegation of fraud” before the AG office decides whether to open a criminal or civil investigation. The presentation focused heavily on current fraud trends. Staff said behavioral health is a major concern, along with participant-directed waiver services, medically assisted treatment, cash billing for services, controlled-substance billing, and vision and dental fraud. They gave examples such as duplicate time sheets for family caregivers, questionable Suboxone counseling and urine drug screening practices, and a prior optometry case involving false claims for children’s glasses. They also discussed CMS’s estimate that about 5% of Medicaid payments are improper, noted that most improper payments are at the fee-for-service level, and said there is no reliable overall fraud-rate estimate. They highlighted a sharp shift in behavioral health billing after the cabinet’s November 1, 2024 policy changes, saying individual psychotherapy spending dropped while group billing increased, suggesting providers may have moved billing to different codes. Members asked about the scale and timing of cases, how MCO referrals are screened, and whether the data reflected more people being served or just higher spending. The AG office said investigations can take years, with some federal cases still awaiting sentencing from 2018 and 2019 matters, and that they currently had nine individuals awaiting sentencing in federal court. They also reported 58 hotline reports during the referenced period, six cases opened from MCO referrals, and four additional MCO referrals not accepted for active cases. Several members raised concerns about home-based services and the risk of abuse or fraud when family members are reimbursed, and asked whether the process could be streamlined; the AG office said it had no immediate recommendations but would be willing to return with suggestions after further review.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Children and Families Child-Parent Psychotherapy provides that.
• The Children and Families Child-Parent Psychotherapy provides that.
• </c> Families child parent Psychotherapy Families child parent Psychotherapy provides<00:24:51.240><c
• So child-parent psychotherapy has seen over a thousand clients.
• Child-parent psychotherapy has seen over a thousand clients.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In 2026, we're seeing some significant drops in some of the reimbursement levels for psychotherapy and
• In 26, we're seeing some significant drops in some of the reimbursement levels for psychotherapy and
• So ABA and psychotherapy tend to be provided outside of team-based care, or maybe not in that setting
• So we're seeing ABA and psychotherapy—their adjustment from a financial perspective is to pay less in
• down what we reimburse, what we pay, compensate, reimburse, in the behavioral health space for psychotherapy

Keywords: 907, all

Summary: The committee held an informational hearing focused first on Oregon Medicaid coordinated care organization (CCO) finances and rate setting. Oregon Health Authority staff explained how 2025 CCO financial results will inform 2027 capitation rates, including reserve requirements, subcapitation arrangements, and major cost drivers such as behavioral health, pharmacy, rural hospital costs, and dental directed payments. They said the Legislature’s added 2025 funding materially improved CCO margins and that, without it, the program would have been negative overall. Members asked about retained earnings, subcapitation, behavioral health utilization, ABA therapy, and whether outcomes are being evaluated; OHA said rate setting is actuarial and that CCOs, OHA, and other partners all play roles in monitoring efficacy and access. OHA also reviewed House Bill 4039 changes intended to increase transparency and give CCOs earlier access to rate information and reconciliation exhibits. CCO representatives then testified that the system is under significant financial pressure and that behavioral health state-directed payments, benefit changes, and federal uncertainty from H.R. 1 are reducing flexibility. CareOregon said it has lost more than $500 million over the last couple of years and is now making provider terminations and other network changes to align spending with available funding, while emphasizing that CCOs must make hard decisions about which services and providers can be sustained. Eastern Oregon CCO said rural and frontier factors, cost-based hospitals, air ambulance needs, and statewide efficiency adjustments are not fully reflected in rates, and that dental funding is especially strained. Trillium similarly warned that state-directed payments and benefit expansion pressures are constraining the global budget model and that H.R. 1 could worsen acuity and volatility. Members pressed the witnesses on who is responsible for evaluating treatment effectiveness, especially for ABA and psychotherapy, and on how utilization limits and reimbursement changes are being used to control costs. The committee then shifted to an overview of the Affordable Care Act and Oregon’s commercial insurance market. Department of Consumer and Business Services staff explained actuarial value, metal tiers, premium tax credits, medical loss ratio rules, and the main drivers of premium rates: cost trend, utilization trend, and administrative costs. They said mandates have likely added only a limited amount to premiums over the past decade, though the exact effect is difficult to isolate, and they gave examples of how high-cost, low-volume services versus broad, high-utilization services can affect rates differently. Staff also noted that Providence Health Plan and PacificSource Health Plans are withdrawing from the individual market, though consumers should still have at least three insurer options in every county and may have four in many counties. The division said it is in the middle of reviewing proposed 2027 rates and will continue its public rate review process, including hearings and written comment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, they went through there's about 67 discredited types of psychotherapy
• Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, they went through there's about 67 discredited types of psychotherapy
• Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, they went through there's about 67 discredited types of psychotherapy
• 45.880><c> discredited</c><00:32:46.880><c> types</c><00:32:47.399><c> of</c><00:32:47.760><c> psychotherapy
• </c> 67 discredited types of psychotherapy 67 discredited types of psychotherapy and<00:32:48.960><c>

Keywords: Consideration of HB 9 00:02:20 Consideration of HB 495 00:08:53 Consideration of HB 520 00:46:51 Consideration of HB 622 00:54:39 Consideration of HB 635 00:59:25, 958, all

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 9, which would create oversight for Medicaid-related policy through a board modeled after the Public Pension Oversight Board. Sponsor Rep. Adam Bowling said the measure was intended to bring legislative, executive, and stakeholder voices together to vet issues and make better-informed Medicaid policy. Members generally supported the concept, though some questioned the proposed board’s party breakdown and whether the language should be updated now rather than later. After discussion, the committee voted 19-0 to pass HB 9 favorably. The committee then heard House Bill 495, which Rep. Hail said would protect mental health care professionals, institutions, and ordained ministers from discrimination when providing what the bill calls protected counseling services. He described the bill as a parental-choice measure that would allow counseling aligned with family values and said it also creates a civil cause of action for harmed parties. Opponents argued the bill would shield conversion therapy, with Dr. Eric Russ, Brandon Long, Dr. Brandon Creech, Brenda Rosen, Chris Hartman, and Dr. Bobby Glass testifying that conversion therapy is discredited, harmful, and associated with depression, anxiety, self-harm, and suicide risk. They said professional medical and counseling organizations oppose such practices and urged rejection of the bill. During questions, Rep. Layman pressed the sponsor on whether the bill would protect therapies even if a child was not in distress and on whether the committee should be endorsing a practice discredited by professional organizations. Rep. Hail responded that he viewed the issue as a parental choice and said he believed the bill protects providers offering those services. The transcript ends during continued discussion of HB 495, with no final vote shown on that bill.