Transcript Highlights:

• that provides subsidies for child care while a parent is working or engaged in approved activities.
• care needs with children, they are not part of the availability of some support.
• for health care or child care support because they have that structure and support already available
• For these families, child care is a basic need.
• Right now, child care is simply not affordable or reliably accessible on a graduate stipend.

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

Summary: The House Early Learning & Human Services Committee held public hearings on House Bill 1873, which would expand Working Connections Child Care eligibility to full-time graduate and professional students with household income at or below 85% of state median income. Staff explained the bill and its copay rules, and Rep. Janice Zahn said the measure would help student parents avoid choosing between graduate school and child care. Student advocates from the University of Washington and Washington State University testified in strong support, describing high child care costs, stipend limitations, and the impact of child care on degree completion and workforce entry. Some members raised questions about likely uptake, cost, and return on investment, and the sponsor said she hoped to gather more data for future versions of the bill. The committee also heard House Bill 2600, which would require DSHS to update the supported living cost report template and convene a work group to develop Medicaid rate recommendations aimed at improving direct support professional wages. Supporters, including SEIU 775 and several direct support professionals, said the bill would add transparency and help ensure state funding reaches frontline workers, citing low wages and high turnover. Opponents from provider organizations argued the current cost report is already detailed and transparent, and warned the bill would add administrative burden and costs without addressing the underlying funding gap. No vote was taken on either House bill during the hearing. In executive session, the committee advanced three Senate bills. It adopted a striking amendment and passed Substitute Senate Bill 5911, which limits DCYF’s use of extended foster care funds and raises the threshold for conserving client funds, by a 9-1 vote. It then passed Senate Bill 5957, expanding the Homeless Youth Advisory Committee, by a 10-0 vote, and passed Substitute Senate Bill 6184, updating Office of Homeless Youth programs and language, by a 7-3 vote. The meeting ended with an interim planning discussion in which members raised priorities including critical incidents and imminent risk definitions, juvenile justice and rehabilitation, homelessness, developmental disabilities, child care funding, and possible committee tours and stakeholder roundtables during the interim.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so if you have income that needs to be known and that child support then needs to be collected.
• And so if you have income that needs to be known and that child support then needs to be collected.
• And so if you have income that needs to be known and that child support then needs to be collected.
• And so if you have income that needs to be known and that child support then needs to be collected.
• We have faithfully cared for our daughter's special needs for years.

Bills: HF2362, HF2136, HF1316, HF2009, HF1918, HF1614

Keywords: youth intervention, funding, mental health, education, community programs, HF1316, child support, new hire reporting, centralized work reporting system, independent contractors, payors, employers, payor of funds, withholding orders, income withholding, child support enforcement, Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families, gig economy, rideshare drivers, delivery drivers

Transcript Highlights:

• for a pairing of a continuum of need for a pairing of a continuum of care<00:16:54.079><c> and</c><00
• </c> health care costs and health care health care costs and health care services services services &
• So long as there is a parent or specified relative caring for a child, it would meet the qualification
• </c><00:32:40.040><c> needs</c><00:32:40.480><c> with</c> increasingly complex care needs with increasingly
• complex care needs with limited<00:32:41.440><c> resources.

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:

• Providers will need to show that the care was provided and that it is helping people stay...
• and procedures relating to the placement and care of a child in its custody.
• A child might be three years old, so is that just the language that needs to be in the bill?
• I don't like step programs for people that are sick and needing medication or care. But... Aye.
• I don't like step programs for people that are sick and needing medication or care. But...

Bills: SB1086, SB1193, SB1318, SB1345, SB1346, SB1451, SB1496, SB1611, SB1630, SB1631, SB1632, SB1672

Keywords: reimbursement, healthcare, laboratory services, noncontracting providers, Arizona health care cost containment, personal identifying information, PII, privacy, confidential records, public records exemption, commercial disclosure, data privacy, licensure, certification, health professions, health care licensing, Arizona Department of Health Services, ADHS, emergency medical care technician, EMCT

Keywords: KY LRC YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbWKSd1kvAQ, 2026-06-21T07:16:57+00:00, 2.2.24, Data collected via generic collector engine, HOUSE BUDGET REVIEW SUBCOMMITTEE ON HEALTH & FAMILY SERVICES 2-3-2021 MEETING START 00:00 ROLL CALL 00:39 DISCUSSION WITH CHILDREN’S ALLIANCE PRESIDENT, MICHELLE SANBORN, RAINEY ESTEP HOME CEO, GINNY ANDERSON, AND PEER SUPPORT SPECIALIST, MARIE LYLES. OVERVIEW OF K-STEP PROGRAM, BUDGET NEEDS OF CHILD WELFARE, CHILD CARE FACILITIES NEEDS, AND FAMILY FIRST PREVENTION PROGRAMS. 02:02, 958, all, 2.2.42, 2.1.47

Transcript Highlights:

• A complex care aide in home health is a trained caregiver who provides specialized in-home support to
• of care.
• Foster care history disclosure that would ensure juvenile justice agencies know when a child in their
• services they need.
• So we need to be caring for their part.

Bills: HB 660, HB 4845, HB 3902, HB 5396, HB 4615, HB 1825, HB 1403, HB 4336, HB 4585, HB 4371, HB 863, SB 1589, HB 5223, HB 3195, HB 2734

Keywords: child protective services, adult protective services, caseload limits, call processing goals, child-care licensing, employee workload, reporting requirements, employee caseload limits, protective services, workload management, accountability, Department of Family and Protective Services, employee goals, call processing, child care, human resources, government accountability, Medicaid, provider enrollment, revalidation

Transcript Highlights:

• A complex care aide in home health is a trained caregiver who provides specialized care.
• 21 on Medicaid has medically necessary care, then that's what needs to be given, which is different
• Foster care history disclosure would ensure juvenile justice agencies know when a child in their custody
• A landlord is prohibited by the Fair Housing Act from asking about a tenant's health or health care needs
• So we need to be caring for that part.

Bills: HB660, HB4845, HB3902, HB5396, HB4615, HB1825, HB1403, HB4336, HB4585, HB4371, HB863, SB1589, HB5223, HB3195, HB2734

Keywords: child protective services, adult protective services, caseload limits, call processing goals, child-care licensing, employee workload, reporting requirements, employee caseload limits, protective services, workload management, accountability, Department of Family and Protective Services, employee goals, call processing, child care, human resources, government accountability, Medicaid, provider enrollment, revalidation

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, it seems to me that the care of the child would be the focal point. And it is.
• This includes almost everything related to patient care, including nursing. ...staff, dietary needs,
• That's much-needed funding that goes to these folks in order to provide for direct patient care.
• . and child care licensing services.
• This was a much-needed step to improve the care and attention given to foster children. receive while

Bills: HB660, HB4845, HB3902, HB5396, HB4615, HB1825, HB1403, HB4336, HB4585, HB4371, HB863, SB1589, HB5223, HB3195, HB2734

Keywords: child protective services, adult protective services, caseload limits, call processing goals, child-care licensing, employee workload, reporting requirements, employee caseload limits, protective services, workload management, accountability, Department of Family and Protective Services, employee goals, call processing, child care, human resources, government accountability, Medicaid, provider enrollment, revalidation

Transcript Highlights:

• So the two bills are 1485, that's the personal needs allowance bill that the House sent over, and it
• How they're billing and how that's reimbursed for direct care.
• So I do think we need to put funding in for those, but I think I'd just as soon email the folks on the
• I need to consensus. That was Senator Mathern said yes. So, Mr. Chairman.
• It just needs our machine to move it. Well, Mr.

Bills: HB1012

Keywords: health and human services, DHHS, appropriations, biennial budget, behavioral health, substance use disorder, opioid settlement, medical assistance expansion, Medicaid, basic care, long-term care, child care assistance, early childhood care, child care provider payments, guardianship, conservatorship, housing loan fund, disability services, extraordinary medical needs, community health trust fund

Summary: The Senate Appropriations Human Services Division met to consider House Bill 1012, the Department of Human Services budget, and reviewed three previously made amendments: correcting a reference to $30 million underfunding, changing “human service centers” to “behavioral health clinics,” and revising section 31 language so the department would review medical assistance services and report findings and recommendations rather than directly implement adjustments. The committee also discussed whether to include funding related to two other bills with fiscal impacts, House Bill 1485 (personal needs allowance) and House Bill 2399 (PRTF reimbursement), noting those measures may go to conference committee and that appropriations could be added there instead of in HB 1012. The committee agreed to proceed with HB 1012 and members noted provider inflation questions would be raised later in full committee. The division then approved a due pass recommendation on the amendments to HB 1012 and, after a roll call vote, approved HB 1012 as amended on a 4-1 vote, with Senator Mathern voting no. Senator Davison was named as carrier. Members also discussed House Bill 1577, involving wastewater project financing and possible amendments related to a line of credit from the Bank of North Dakota for specific projects, and House Bill 1619, for which additional amendments were expected before full committee action. The meeting ended with general thanks and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Sometimes I need to make bank transactions, you know, as a business person, we need to take care of these
• It's a journey and most families that have individuals with special needs, disability, whether they're
• HB 1536 is the creative solution the rural Texas child welfare system has been desperately needing.
• Need to feel like and understand that they are collectively responsible for how community-based care
• so they can receive the specialized care they desperately need.

Bills: HB 451, HB 645, HB 1041, HB 1151, HB 1155, HB 1536, HCR 12

Keywords: commercial sexual exploitation, child sex trafficking, human trafficking, child welfare, foster care, DFPS, Department of Family and Protective Services, juvenile probation, risk assessment, needs assessment, trauma screening, child abuse prevention, exploitation screening, validated screening tool, evidence-informed tool, conservatorship, juvenile justice, at-risk youth, trafficking prevention, Child Sex Trafficking Prevention Unit

Transcript Highlights:

• We're required to provide services to children with special needs.
• If things children with special needs.
• care are are education and child care are are uniquely<01:10:48.760><c> and</c><01:10:48.880><c> inextricably
• </c><01:26:15.920><c> care</c> daughter was abused at a child care center in Blaine.
• </c> that every child is receiving the care that every child is receiving the care that<01:39:12.560>

Bills: HF1660, HF1824, HF1926, HF1002, HF994, HF1915, HF1336

Keywords: children, youth programming, needs assessment, community engagement, state funding, education, funding, school districts, state budget, rural schools, food support, Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches, food shelves, grant funding, Minnesota FoodShare, early childhood, Head Start, education funding, developmental programs, literacy

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 3552 will give child care providers the flexibility to bridge the gap between subsidy reimbursement
• House Bill 4201 simply changes current law regarding master teacher requirements in licensed child cares
• of it that need to be addressed, and we need to get it right.
• care providers.
• Highest rated child care providers.

Bills: HB3131, HB3380, HB3502, HB3552, HB3849, HB3886, HB3907, HB4201, HB4302, HB3448, HB3409, HB4095, HB3637

Keywords: homelessness, shelter standards, safety, accountability, state funding, local governance, regulation, Oklahoma Homeless Shelter Safety and Accountability Act, foster care, child welfare, Department of Human Services, educational opportunities, employment support, technology in child welfare, faith-based organizations, self-sufficiency, financial literacy, HB3502, Oklahoma, children's code

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 3552 will give child care providers the flexibility to bridge the gap between subsidy reimbursement
• House Bill 4201 simply changes current law regarding master teacher requirements in licensed child cares
• cares from license capacity to enrollment.
• of it that need to be addressed, so we need to get it right.
• care providers.

Bills: HB3131, HB3380, HB3502, HB3552, HB3849, HB3886, HB3907, HB4201, HB4302, HB3448, HB3409, HB4095, HB3637

Keywords: homelessness, shelter standards, safety, accountability, state funding, local governance, regulation, Oklahoma Homeless Shelter Safety and Accountability Act, foster care, child welfare, Department of Human Services, educational opportunities, employment support, technology in child welfare, faith-based organizations, self-sufficiency, financial literacy, HB3502, Oklahoma, children's code

Summary: The committee first considered House Bill 3552, which would let child care providers bridge the gap between subsidy reimbursement rates and tuition rates. An amendment was adopted unanimously to make the bill subject to approval by the Administration for Children and Families, with the author explaining it was intended to protect federal DHS funding. The bill then passed on a 4-1 vote. Members then heard several child welfare and human services measures. House Bill 3380, on foster care reform and DHS transparency, passed 5-0 after questions about how public input and scoring would be documented. House Bill 3502, the parental rights and child welfare bill, passed 4-1 after debate over whether the bill addressed a real problem and whether resources would be better spent recruiting foster parents. House Bill 3849, updating and broadening a mentoring program for children and youth, passed 5-0, and House Bill 3886, requiring Health Department personnel to remain on site after an immediate jeopardy finding at a nursing home until a removal plan is accepted, also passed 5-0. The committee also approved House Bill 3907, which would prohibit certain facilities serving vulnerable juveniles and adults from being staffed through temporary staffing agencies, on a 5-0 vote. House Bill 4201, changing master teacher requirements in licensed child care from license capacity to actual enrollment, passed unanimously after discussion of how staffing ratios would work in practice. House Bill 4302, as amended, passed unanimously after removing subpoena language and instead allowing the Office of Juvenile System Oversight to disclose a complainant’s identity to law enforcement when needed to protect safety. House Bill 3448, requiring umbrella insurance coverage for certain child care caregivers, and House Bill 3409, streamlining recertification for five-star child care providers, both passed unanimously. House Bill 4095, reauthorizing and clarifying the 211 collaborative as the state lead entity for hotline services, also passed 6-0. The most extensive debate came on House Bill 3131, which would establish statewide baseline standards for transparency, public safety, and health safety in homeless shelters and create an advisory board. Members raised concerns about local control, rural county burdens, agency workload, and whether the bill duplicated existing requirements, while the author said he was open to further changes, including strike title and possible population-based exceptions. Despite objections, the bill advanced to the Oversight Committee on a 4-3 vote. Before adjournment, the chair said the committee would begin a deeper review of OCCY multidisciplinary teams and CAC child advocacy groups in upcoming meetings.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 2689 concerns the Working Connections Child Care Program. Mr.
• regions and age ranges for infants, toddlers, preschool, and school-age child care.
• Child care providers have played a pivotal role in my own family's history.
• I needed child care to go back to school and build a life for my family.
• He sees every day the needs in the community to keep care local.

Bills: HB2689, SB5832, SB5922, SB5944, SB5988, SB6151

Keywords: Working Connections Child Care, child care subsidy, subsidized child care, Washington DCYF, Department of Children, Youth, and Families, low-income families, child care providers, licensed child care centers, family child care, market rate survey, subsidy rates, income eligibility, state median income, SNAP, Basic Food, collective bargaining, provider reimbursement, daily payment, half-day care, partial-day care

Transcript Highlights:

• Kate Murphy, we have you as Director of Child Protection Policy, Texans Care for Children.
• I'm Kate Murphy, Director of Child Protection Policy at Texans Care for Children, testifying in support
• They were taking care of their child, and they had family support. Then CPS was called.
• Maybe they had no access to child care.
• to do to get their child back, and then the person that they entrusted to take care of their child is

Bills: HB809, HB 1193, HB1916, HB2558, HB1973, HB2350, HB2399, HB2340, HB 116, HB330, HB2496, HB116

Keywords: digitized signature, waiver of citation, marriage dissolution, electronic notarization, family law, HB 1193, informal marriage, common-law marriage, declaration of informal marriage, confidentiality, privacy, county clerk, vital statistics unit, Family Code, Health and Safety Code, marriage records, public records, personally identifying information, PII, legal representative

Transcript Highlights:

• The number of child care slots remains insufficient to meet the needs of our growing community.
• That the schedule is just rearranged to meet my child care needs. So thank you very much.
• Well, we need and deserve high-quality child care that's affordable.
• child care for him, and we could not afford child care for my daughter.
• We need to make it easier for people to have kids, and we know that child care is a huge burden.

Bills: HF1367, HF2732, HF1897, HF1424, HF1383, HF2728, HF2863, HF1685, HF2929

Keywords: child maltreatment, child abuse, neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, sex trafficking, labor trafficking, human trafficking, child protection, local welfare agency, county social services, Minnesota Department of Human Services, judicial review, district court appeal, venue, out-of-state abuse, cross-border investigation, Minnesota child welfare, family assessment, maltreatment determination

Transcript Highlights:

• The availability of child care slots remains insufficient to meet the needs of our growing community.
• The proposed program under this bill would offer much-needed financial support to child care providers
• </c><00:37:38.520><c> care</c> interpretations to family child care interpretations to family child care
• I understand that the schedule is just rearranged to meet my child care needs, so thank you very much
• </c><00:59:46.559><c> care</c> will we need to change our child care will we need to change our child

Bills: HF1367, HF2732, HF1897, HF1424, HF1383, HF2728, HF2863, HF1685, HF2929

Keywords: child maltreatment, child abuse, neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, sex trafficking, labor trafficking, human trafficking, child protection, local welfare agency, county social services, Minnesota Department of Human Services, judicial review, district court appeal, venue, out-of-state abuse, cross-border investigation, Minnesota child welfare, family assessment, maltreatment determination

Transcript Highlights:

• Parents are taking care of the children.
• But then it stopped there, so what we need to do is we need to add the fourth degree of consanguinity
• But I think our first thing we need to do is the...
• Sometimes transcripts are not needed.
• So it's a matter of specialization.

Bills: SB1538, SB2883, HB1734, HB2340, HB2350, HB3376

Keywords: digital court reporting, court reporting, court reporter, electronic recording, audio recording, video recording, transcription, verbatim record, judicial administration, Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial System, courts, depositions, grand jury, referee, court commissioner, court technology, courtroom technology, access to justice, accuracy

Transcript Highlights:

• She has 11 different special needs.
• When a caseworker sees a child, they need to take a picture of them.
• Quality of care is not up to where it needs to be in prison.
• I view the state's role in child care a little bit differently.
• I view the state's role in child care a little bit differently.

Bills: SB1052, SB1115, SB1118, SB1120, SB1121, SB1124, SB1171, SB1172, SB1174, SB1175, SB1214, SB1233, SB1235, SB1316, SB1345, SB1372, SB1399, SB1458, SB1494, SB1496, SB1564, SB1602, SB1621, SB1628, SB1630, SB1631, SB1668, SB1672, SB1814, SB1821

Keywords: assisted living, health care, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, physician orders, informed consent, AHCCCS, remote work, state agency, employment, public health, housing, zoning, middle housing, urban development, duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, townhomes, historic preservation, radiation protection

Transcript Highlights:

• a court-appointed surrogate parent who represents them in their special education needs.
• This history shows up, and they have been denied medical care for a medically fragile child.
• This history shows up, and they have been denied medical care for a medically fragile child.
• all future care. ...or even the removal of a child.
• That could be child abuse. So I think we need to be very careful on how we look at this.

Bills: HB136, HB451, SB425, SB466, SB905, SB1986, SB2311, SB2450, SB2805, SB2826, SB2919, SB3001

Keywords: Medicaid, lactation, healthcare, consultation, reimbursement, maternal health, infant care, commercial sexual exploitation, child sex trafficking, human trafficking, child welfare, foster care, DFPS, Department of Family and Protective Services, juvenile probation, risk assessment, needs assessment, trauma screening, child abuse prevention, exploitation screening

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and announced it would vote on pending bills at 10:30, with public testimony limited to two minutes. It first took up Senate Bill 905, a TDLR cleanup bill on licensing regulation of speech-language pathologists and audiologists. Senator Zafferini said the committee substitute would streamline advisory board consultation, remove obsolete provisional licenses, and allow any licensed physician to authorize hearing instruments for minors; the substitute was adopted and the bill left pending. The committee then heard House Bill 451, which would require universal screening for commercial sexual exploitation risk for children in DFPS conservatorship and youth under TJJD jurisdiction. The author and witnesses from Children at Risk, the Fort Bend Anti-Trafficking Collective, and Texas CASA supported the bill as a prevention tool with existing infrastructure and training; the committee adopted the substitute and left the bill pending. The committee next considered Senate Bill 466, which would clarify that families may request a fetal death certificate at any gestational age, while keeping existing filing requirements for physicians. A constituent father testified about losing his 11-week-old daughter and being told he could not obtain a certificate, which he said prevented funeral arrangements; the substitute was adopted and the bill left pending. Senate Bill 2311 followed, requiring residential treatment centers to have a written agreement with the school that will educate resident children before becoming operational. The author cited a local dispute where an RTC and school district lacked communication, and witnesses from Texas CASA and Disability Rights Texas supported clearer educational planning while suggesting the Education Code may need conforming changes; the bill was left pending. The committee then heard Senate Bill 2826, known as Alyssa’s Law, which would create a statewide education program on medical child abuse for medical students, health care professionals, and CPS caseworkers. The author and Sheriff Bill Weyburn described Alyssa’s case as involving repeated unnecessary surgeries and argued the bill would improve awareness and early identification, while several witnesses and members raised concerns about false accusations, impacts on medically fragile children, and the need for scientific, peer-reviewed training and safeguards. After extensive discussion, the chair left the bill pending. The committee also heard House Bill 136, which would add certified lactation consultants as Medicaid providers to expand breastfeeding support; witnesses from lactation and nutrition fields said the bill would improve access, maternal and infant health, and long-term savings, and the bill was left pending. Finally, the committee took up Senate Bill 2805, a surprise-billing/arbitration measure that would clarify provider identifiers and shift arbitration costs to the losing party. The author said the substitute was a legislative counsel draft with no substantive difference, and witnesses from the Texas Medical Association, Texas Society of Anesthesiologists, and U.S. Anesthesia Partners supported the bill as a modest improvement that would reduce administrative confusion and make arbitration fairer without weakening patient protections. Members discussed how arbitration costs affect settlement behavior and how to define the “winner” in close cases. The bill was heard but not voted out during this segment.