Felicia Bermudez

@feliciabermudez.bsky.social

1 day ago

Wisconsin's Smart Move: 12-Month Postpartum Medicaid Coverage Saves Lives and Money #healthcare #workingfamilies #medicaid #policyreform

Citizen Portal News North Dakota

@citizenptnewsnd.bsky.social

4 days ago

Deloitte model forecasts $1.3 billion shortfall for North Dakota water projects; offers seven policy and financing options Deloitte and the Department of Water Resources told the Water Topics Overview Committee that current policy and revenue forecasts leave an estimated $1.3 billion funding gap over 14 years and presented seven options — from caps on large projects to timing changes and bond financing — aimed at reducing near-term pressure and improving long-term predictability.

A new financial model reveals a staggering $1.3 billion shortfall for North Dakota's water development needs over the next 14 years, sparking urgent calls for strategic policy changes.

Learn more here!

#ND #NorthDakotaWater #PolicyReform #CitizenPortal #WaterResourceManagement

Autism Spectrum News

@autismspectrumnews.bsky.social

4 days ago

The Adusu Advocacy Framework: A Strategic Model for Advancing Policy Reform in Developmental Disability Services The Adusu Framework unites stakeholders and data to drive policy reform and strengthen IDD services amid workforce and funding challenges.

A new strategic framework shows how coordinated advocacy can reshape developmental disability policy for the better.

#DisabilityAdvocacy #PolicyReform #DevelopmentalDisabilities #IDD

Citizen Portal News Indiana

@citizenptnewsin.bsky.social

5 days ago

Board approves first-read plan to adopt updated suicide-prevention policy language Trustees reviewed a rewrite of Policy 5350 to align with Indiana code and clarified that school counselors will provide prevention education and link families to external behavioral-health services; board agreed to post resources and move the policy to first reading in April.

Richmond Community Schools is taking a major step forward in student mental health with a revamped suicide prevention policy that connects families to vital community resources.

Learn more here!

#IN #CitizenPortal #PolicyReform #StudentSafety #MentalHealthAwareness

Citizen Portal News Missouri

@citizenptnewsmo.bsky.social

5 days ago

Votes at a glance: Missouri House actions on March 12, 2026 Summary of formal floor actions taken March 12, 2026: House ordered perfection/printing or adopted committee substitutes on multiple bills including H.B. 26-36, 17-18, 21-20, 27-48, 20-35, 32-31, 25-47 and a set of calendar items; several votes were recorded on procedural motions.

The Missouri House made significant strides on March 12, 2026, passing key legislation on everything from mortgage modifications to AI in mental health.

Get the details!

#MO #CommunityInvolvement #LegislativeActions #MissouriHouse #PolicyReform #CitizenPortal

Citizen Portal News Minnesota

@citizenptnewsmn.bsky.social

5 days ago

Public Safety Committee advances omnibus policy package and several agency bills to the general register The committee adopted a sequence of amendments to its HF3990 policy package and re‑referred the package and several agency or technical bills (HF4371, HF4317, HF3496, HF4151, HF4425 and others) to the general register; one bill (HF2817) was laid over for fiscal review.

The House Public Safety Committee has taken significant steps to advance multiple bills aimed at enhancing safety and accountability, with key amendments adopted this session.

Get the details!

#MN #MinnesotaPublicSafety #PolicyReform #CitizenPortal #CommunitySafety #GovernmentAccountability

Citizen Portal News Indiana

@citizenptnewsin.bsky.social

1 week ago

Michigan City workshop: police policy manual revised after new state Brady disclosure requirement Michigan City officials reviewed broad updates to the police department policy manual, citing an April 2025 Indiana law that prompted a new Brady/Giglio disclosure policy and changes to personnel-file retention and internal‑investigation procedures.

Michigan City officials are overhauling police policies in response to a new state law, ensuring greater transparency and accountability in officer records and investigations.

Learn more here!

#MichiganCityLaPorteCounty #IN #CivicAccountability #CitizenPortal #PolicyReform #PublicSafety

Citizen Portal News Minnesota

@citizenptnewsmn.bsky.social

1 week ago

Committee actions: several child‑welfare bills moved or were laid over The Children and Families Committee adopted amendments and referred several bills (HF 3901 and HF 4408) to other committees, laid over HF 4316 for further refinement, and declined to re‑refer HF 3819 after a roll call recorded in the transcript.

Minnesota's Children and Families Committee is making waves with new amendments aimed at improving child welfare transparency and data access—what's next on the agenda?

Click to read more!

#MN #DataTransparency #PolicyReform #CitizenPortal #ChildSafety #MinnesotaChildWelfare

Citizen Portal News Washington

@citizenptnewswa.bsky.social

1 week ago

WA529 committee approves year‑round enrollment, removes program refund penalties and simplifies refund and conversion rules On March 18, 2026 the WA529 GET Committee voted unanimously to adopt four reinvigoration proposals: continuous open enrollment with continuous unit pricing; elimination of the program’s 10% refund penalty and related fees; simplified refund options; and expanded lump‑sum conversion eligibility for certain monthly plans.

Big changes are coming to the WA529 program, including year-round enrollment and the elimination of hefty refund penalties!

Learn more here

#WA #PolicyReform #CitizenPortal #FinancialEducation #EducationAccess

Citizen Portal News Connecticut

@citizenptnewsct.bsky.social

2 weeks ago

New Britain board signs off on minutes, policies, contracts and financial report amid special-education budget pressure The board approved routine business—minutes, personnel transactions, two policy corrections, multiple purchase orders and donations—and accepted the January financial report, which staff said shows approximately $5.5–$6.5 million in projected special-education overages for the year.

The New Britain Board of Education tackled crucial policy updates, financial challenges, and generous donations to enhance community services during their latest meeting.

Read the full story

#CT #PolicyReform #CitizenPortal #SpecialEducation #CommunitySupport #NewBritainEducation

Citizen Portal News Washington

@citizenptnewswa.bsky.social

2 weeks ago

Senate unanimously adopts resolution recognizing Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month The Washington State Senate adopted Senate Resolution 8689 acknowledging March as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month and added all members as sponsors. Senators spoke in personal and policy terms about inclusion and the need to strengthen services and lived‑experience representation in policymaking.

The Washington State Senate has taken a powerful step by unanimously adopting a resolution to recognize March as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, highlighting the urgent need for inclusion and support for those with disabilities.

Learn more here!

#WA #PolicyReform #CitizenPortal

International Raw Materials Observatory

@intraw.bsky.social

2 weeks ago

European Court of Auditors Sounds the Alarm on EU Critical Raw Materials Policy - Intraw

⚠️ "Not a rock-solid policy" - EU Court of Auditors verdict
The European Court of Auditors just confirmed what stakeholders have been saying: the EU's critical raw materials policy has problems.

Read our analysis ⬇️
intraw.eu/european-cou...

#EUAccountability #StrategicAutonomy #CRMA #PolicyReform

Citizen Portal News Kentucky

@citizenptnewsky.bsky.social

2 weeks ago

Sen. Douglas seeks statutory fix to allow two E&M units per provider per patient per day Sen. Donald Douglas told the board Senate Bill 201 would correct a coding/regulatory mismatch so coverage limits could not reduce evaluation-and-management services to fewer than two units per provider per patient per day; sponsors said DMS has filed a regulatory amendment but want a statutory fix to prevent future reversals.

Sen. Donald Douglas is pushing for a groundbreaking change that could revolutionize patient care in Kentucky by allowing multiple evaluation-and-management services in a single day!

Click to read more!

#KY #HealthcareAccess #PolicyReform #CitizenPortal #PatientCare

Citizen Portal News Kentucky

@citizenptnewsky.bsky.social

3 weeks ago

Broad Medicaid changes in HB 2 prompt debate over copays, redeterminations and protections for medically frail Lawmakers and stakeholders debated major elements of House Bill 2 — including adjusted redetermination timing, a proposed hardship standard tied to unemployment, data collection and $20 copays for certain populations — with providers and families warning the changes could create access barriers and urging alignment with federal HR 1 timelines and stronger protections for vulnerable beneficiaries.

House Bill 2 is stirring intense debate in Kentucky, as lawmakers and advocates clash over proposed changes that could impact access to Medicaid for vulnerable populations.

Read the full story

#KY #PolicyReform #CitizenPortal #HealthCareAccess #VulnerablePopulations

Citizen Portal News New Mexico

@citizenptnewsnm.bsky.social

3 weeks ago

Board reviews sweeping staff‑conduct policy update; members ask for clarifications In a detailed first reading of policy GBEBB, the board reviewed statutory (HB128/NMAC) language expanding ethical‑misconduct rules to ‘LCPS partners,’ debated limits on giving students rides, reporting timelines to PED, electronic communication with students, and grooming/undue‑influence language, and requested edits for second reading.

The board is redefining ethical misconduct standards, expanding rules to include not just employees but also volunteers and contractors, while tackling critical issues like student safety and communication policies.

Read the full story!

#NM #PolicyReform #CitizenPortal #NewMexicoEducation

Citizen Portal News Utah

@citizenptnewsut.bsky.social

3 weeks ago

Utah's HB 528 is set to enhance transparency in education by requiring school districts to share open-enrollment data with the State Board of Education—without adding any new reporting burdens!

Learn more here

#UT #PolicyReform #CitizenPortal #EducationTransparency #DataGovernance

Citizen Portal News Wyoming

@citizenptnewswy.bsky.social

3 weeks ago

Charter advocates urge changes so new schools can access CTE and reimbursable funds sooner Representatives of charter schools and the Wyoming Charter School Authorizing Board asked the committee to examine block‑grant line‑item restrictions that prevent new charter schools from accessing reimbursable funds (special ed, transportation) and CTE allocations during initial years of operation.

Charter school advocates are pushing for immediate funding access to prevent financial setbacks in their crucial startup years.

Learn more here

#WY #PolicyReform #CitizenPortal #StartupSupport #EducationFunding

Citizen Portal News Tennessee

@citizenptnewstn.bsky.social

3 weeks ago

School board deadlocks 3‑3 on instructional program policy after debate over added religious examples A proposed revision to the instructional program policy that incorporated state‑required antisemitism language and added examples (including language referencing anti‑Christian sentiment) failed on a 3‑3 tie after board members questioned whether the examples in effect emphasized a single religion.

The school board's contentious 3-3 tie over a policy revision on religious discrimination highlights the ongoing struggle to balance state requirements with the need for inclusivity.

Click to read more!

#TN #CivicAccountability #PolicyReform #CitizenPortal #ReligiousDiscrimination

Citizen Portal News Connecticut

@citizenptnewsct.bsky.social

3 weeks ago

Committee updates suicide prevention policy; members seek clarity on whether board members are mandated reporters The policy committee reviewed a revised suicide prevention and intervention policy (Policy 5141.5), discussed its referral and triage procedures and sought confirmation on whether board members are mandated reporters under state law.

The district’s suicide prevention policy, last reviewed in 1996, is getting a much-needed update, but questions about board members' responsibilities as mandated reporters are stirring debate.

Get the details!

#CT #YouthSafety #PolicyReform #CitizenPortal #MentalHealth

Citizen Portal News South Carolina

@citizenptnewssc.bsky.social

3 weeks ago

Subcommittee pauses H4639 after doctors and patients warn the bill could narrow fertility care House Bill 4639, which would create state-led research and data collection on reproductive health causes of infertility, was sent back for further stakeholder work after physicians and patients warned its current language could prioritize restorative reproductive medicine and limit access to time-sensitive treatments such as IVF.

House Bill 4639 faces a critical pause as doctors and patients raise alarms about its potential to limit access to vital infertility treatments like IVF.

Read the full story

#SC #HealthcareAccess #PolicyReform #CitizenPortal #SouthCarolinaReproductiveHealth #InfertilitySupport

Citizen Portal News Virginia

@citizenptnewsva.bsky.social

3 weeks ago

Senate committee presses pause on charity-care reporting bill after public testimony The Senate committee carried over House Bill 606 after extended questioning and public testimony that the current Medicare-based charity-care calculation is too complex; staff said switching to gross patient charges could enable reporting and state analysis, and requested further review and a letter to stakeholders.

Virginia's Senate committee has hit pause on a crucial charity-care reporting bill, revealing the complexities that could reshape how hospitals disclose their charity care.

Get the details!

#VA #HealthcareAccess #PolicyReform #CitizenPortal #VirginiaCharityCare #PublicTestimony

Citizen Portal News Washington

@citizenptnewswa.bsky.social

3 weeks ago

Senate passes childcare workforce‑standards board bill after heated floor debate The Washington Senate on March 3 passed second substitute House Bill 11‑28, creating a childcare workforce standards board to study training, background‑check costs and workforce supports. The measure passed 28‑19 with two excused after multiple amendments and hours of debate over scope and cost.

The Washington State Senate has just passed a controversial bill to create a childcare workforce standards board, sparking heated debates about its potential impact on affordability and regulation.

Read the full story

#WA #PolicyReform #CitizenPortal #ChildcareAccess #WorkforceDevelopment

Citizen Portal News Illinois

@citizenptnewsil.bsky.social

3 weeks ago

Lake County advances Housing Lake plan, approves 3-year MOU with CMAP to pursue zoning, funding and modular-construction pilots After a multi-stakeholder summit, county staff briefed the Health and Community Services Committee on Housing Lake's four pillars and a proposed 3-year memorandum of understanding with the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning; the committee voted to approve the MOU to fund a work plan and quarterly deliverables.

Lake County is taking bold steps to address its housing crisis by launching a three-year plan in partnership with CMAP, focusing on innovative solutions like modular construction and inclusionary zoning.

Learn more here

#LakeCounty #IL #LakeCountyHousing #PolicyReform #CitizenPortal

Citizen Portal News Maryland

@citizenptnewsmd.bsky.social

3 weeks ago

Subcommittee adopts HB 8-49 and HB 13-21 amendments to codify scholarship prioritization and co-payment rules; MSDE reports faster processing The Childcare Subcommittee unanimously approved amendments to HB 8-49 (prioritization/wait-list exemptions, adding homeless children) and HB 13-21 (application notices, co-payment bands and a 7% income cap). The Maryland State Department of Education told the committee it has reduced processing times to about nine days.

Big changes are coming to Maryland's childcare scholarship program, prioritizing those in greatest need and cutting down processing times to just 9 days!

Learn more here!

#MD #PolicyReform #CitizenPortal #IncomeAssistance #ChildcareAccess #MarylandChildcare

Citizen Portal News Nebraska

@citizenptnewsne.bsky.social

3 weeks ago

Nebraska senators adopt scaled-down workers’ compensation compromise; LB455 advanced Lawmakers adopted AM2401 to LB455, replacing proposed permanent confidentiality for first‑injury reports with a 60‑day 'cooling‑off' period, adding a court advisement of rights, and incorporating a net‑reporting provision for deductible payments; the bill was advanced to E&R initial after unanimous committee amendment adoption.

Nebraska senators have made a significant compromise on workers’ compensation, introducing a 60-day confidentiality period and ensuring injured workers are informed of their rights to seek legal counsel.

Click to read more!

#NE #PolicyReform #CitizenPortal #WorkerProtection #LegalAccess

Citizen Portal News Tennessee

@citizenptnewstn.bsky.social

3 weeks ago

Sumner County library board sends contested collection policy to April work study after heated public comment After hours of public comment for and against a proposed 13-page collection development policy, the Sumner County Library Board voted 4–3 to move the draft to a dedicated work study on April 8 for detailed review and member amendments.

The Sumner County Library Board's heated debate over a contentious collection policy has sparked intense public reactions, leading to a dedicated work study session set for April 8 to hash out the details.

Get the details!

#SumnerCounty #TN #CitizenPortal #PolicyReform #PublicComment

Citizen Portal News US

@citizenptnewsus.bsky.social

3 weeks ago

Speakers urge prompt Department of Homeland Security funding amid security concerns Speakers at a meeting urged immediate funding for the Department of Homeland Security, arguing recent border and overseas developments increase risks; the transcript records partisan accusations but no formal motion or vote.

Committee members are sounding alarms over potential security risks, urging immediate action on Department of Homeland Security funding amid fierce partisan disputes.

Read the full story

#US #PolicyReform #CitizenPortal #PublicSafety #BorderSecurity #HomelandSecurity

Citizen Portal News North Dakota

@citizenptnewsnd.bsky.social

3 weeks ago

South Dakota funding model presented; N.D. lawmakers debate levies, tiers and regional level-D options South Dakota officials briefed the North Dakota committee on their special-education funding mix—local property levies, state aid (~39%) and an extraordinary-cost fund—and lawmakers discussed whether North Dakota should consider similar levies, tiered payments, or regional level-D facilities.

South Dakota's innovative special education funding model, combining local levies and state aid, sparks a heated debate among North Dakota lawmakers on how to better support students with extraordinary needs.

Learn more here!

#ND #PolicyReform #CitizenPortal #NorthDakotaEducation

Initiative for Gender Equity in the Public Sector

@initiativeforgeps.bsky.social

3 weeks ago

(4/4) #MaternalIncarceration #MassIncarceration #FamilyCenteredJustice #CriminalJusticeReform #FosterCare #ParentalRights #ChildWelfare #JusticeInvolvedFamilies #WomenInTheJusticeSystem #PolicyReform #SocialImpact #EquityInJustice #BreakingTheCycle #IntergenerationalJustice #IGEPS

Citizen Portal News Michigan

@citizenptnewsmi.bsky.social

3 weeks ago

Mount Pleasant discusses tenants-rights committee, leans toward a recommending body and education materials At a work session the commission reviewed staff research on tenants-rights committees, heard that tenant complaints make up a small share of rental units, and generally favored creating a recommending committee to collect data, educate renters and propose policy changes rather than granting enforcement powers.

Mount Pleasant is considering a tenants-rights committee to empower renters and improve housing policies—could this be a game changer for tenant advocacy?

Click to read more!

#MountPleasantIsabellaCounty #MI #TenantEducation #PolicyReform #CitizenPortal #HousingEquality #MountPleasantTenants