Dear friends and neighbors,
Thank you for responding to the survey in my first e-newsletter this legislative session. The three issues our community is most concerned about are affordability, community safety, and k-12 education.
I also asked what the legislature could focus on to have the biggest impact to your household. Many of you shared that reducing inflation, improving government efficiency, and supporting families were your top priorities. Some comments I found particularly useful included:
- “We are raising young children. It’s difficult and expensive and we are fortunate. Many other parents are struggling far more.”
- “Being realistic with our spending, trying to balance the budget without cutting basic services.”
As additional legislative proposals are introduced this session, I will provide you with an update on bills I believe support our community priorities. A full list of legislation I am sponsoring can be found here.
Affordability
Healthcare remains one of the most expensive necessities, with costs significantly outpacing economic growth. As Vice-Chair of the House Healthcare & Wellness Committee, I am committed to advancing simple, common-sense policies that ensure timely access to care without financial hardship.
That’s why I’ve introduced the following legislation to make healthcare more accessible and affordable:
House Bill 1502 strengthens the behavioral health workforce by designating teaching clinics for enhanced reimbursement, ensuring better training, more providers, and improved access to affordable care.
House Bill 1521 ensures family caregivers of children with complex medical needs are compensated by adjusting home health agency payments. This eases financial strain and reduces state costs by keeping children in home care.
House Bill 1566 enhances healthcare preauthorization by setting clear timelines, requiring licensed professionals—not just AI—to decide medical necessity, and mandating insurers to disclose criteria, reducing delays, denials, and costs.
House Bill 1663 expands student access to school social workers through workforce development and community partnerships, strengthening mental health services and reducing long-term intervention costs.
House Bill 1667 creates a statewide cancer education program for grades 6–12, promoting prevention and risk reduction to improve health outcomes and lower future healthcare costs.
House Bill 1812 prevents insurers from capping anesthesiology reimbursements, ensuring patients and providers aren’t burdened by delays. This bipartisan bill targets policies like Anthem’s recently reversed time-based limits.
The Big Picture
Affordability remains a central concern of mine. It impacts everything from housing, economic well-being, childcare, education, behavioral health, and community safety. That’s why I’ve introduced legislation to reduce costs for families including a diaper tax exemption (HB 1318) and mandatory maternity service coverage (HB 1291). As the legislative session continues, I remain committed to policies that increase affordability without adding new taxes.
As always, it is an honor to serve the 42nd legislative district. You can follow me on Facebook for the latest news and always reach out to my office for assistance.
Best wishes,
