The Senate Rehabilitation and Social Services Committee convened its first meeting of the 2025 legislative session and took formal action on a package of bills ranging from administrative reports to high-profile policy proposals.

The committee approved or re-referred multiple bills by recorded roll call, including measures directing state agencies to prepare reports, expanding program coordination for foster youth housing vouchers, and moving complex proposals to the finance committee for additional consideration.

Notable committee actions included: A motion to re-refer Senate Bill 819 (community-based resources for patients released from psychiatric hospitalization) to the Education and Health committee passed by roll call (Ayes 14, No 0). Senate Joint Resolution 271, a proposed constitutional amendment regarding the right to work, was re-referred to Privileges and Elections (Ayes 14, No 0). A bill to create a recurring report on inmate deaths and trends was approved for reporting (Ayes 14, No 0). Senate Bill 1020, directing the Department of Social Services to assess the restaurant meals program and report by Dec. 1, 2025, passed the committee on a roll call (Ayes 15, No 0). Senate Bill 811 (making third‑party alcohol delivery permanent) passed by roll call (Ayes 13, No 0). Senate Bill 773 (foster-care housing services / HUD Family Unification Program coordination) was reported and referred to Finance (Ayes 15, No 0). Senate Bill 818 (notification to foster youth about federal benefits) was reported (Ayes 15, No 0). Senate Bill 834 (tied‑house exceptions clarification) was reported (Ayes 15, No 0). Two high-profile, debated measures — the adult‑use cannabis framework (SB 970) and the solitary‑confinement limitations bill (SB 1409) — were both reported and re-referred to the Finance Committee on narrow recorded votes (Ayes 8, No 7 for each). Several bills were allowed to “go by for the day” without final action.

Why it matters: the committee’s referrals to Finance mean budget and revenue details will be evaluated before those measures can advance. The narrow votes on cannabis and solitary‑confinement reforms indicate these items are contested and likely to draw further floor and committee debate.

Votes at a glance (selected, committee roll calls):
- SB 819 — Referred to Education and Health. Ayes 14, No 0.
- SJR 271 — Referred to Privileges and Elections. Ayes 14, No 0.
- Inmate-deaths reporting bill — Reported. Ayes 14, No 0.
- SB 1020 (restaurant meals / SNAP report) — Reported. Ayes 15, No 0.
- SB 811 (third‑party alcohol delivery) — Reported/adopted. Ayes 13, No 0.
- SB 773 (foster-care housing / HUD vouchers) — Reported to Finance. Ayes 15, No 0.
- SB 818 (benefits notification for foster youth) — Reported. Ayes 15, No 0.
- SB 834 (tied‑house exceptions) — Reported. Ayes 15, No 0.
- SB 970 (adult‑use cannabis regulatory framework) — Reported to Finance. Ayes 8, No 7.
- SB 1409 (limits and reporting on solitary confinement) — Reported to Finance. Ayes 8, No 7.

What’s next: Measures referred to Finance will receive fiscal review; bills reported without finance referral will move to the full Senate docket according to Senate rules. Several items that “went by for the day” may be rescheduled at risk of late hearing slots.

Ending: The committee completed its agenda and adjourned; several contested items will continue in Finance and subsequent hearings.