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Appropriations panel advances settlement in Atall v. Navarata; companion resolution also moved
Summary
The committee approved House and Senate resolutions approving a court settlement in Isaiah Lindsay Atall v. Nancy Navarata and moved dozens of bills toward the floor; members voiced concerns about psychiatric board policies but said the votes were limited to the court agreements.
The Appropriations Committee voted to advance resolutions approving a settlement in Isaiah Lindsay Atall v. Nancy Navarata, the case naming Nancy Navarata in her official capacity as commissioner of the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.
Representative Walker, the committee's chair for the House side, introduced House Resolution 10 asking the committee to approve the settlement agreement; Representative Nolan moved the motion and the administrator called the roll. Members expressed brief concern about broader psychiatric review board policies during discussion — Representative Nio said she would support the settlement but urged additional policy review of the psychiatric review board’s release and support decisions — but several members emphasized the committee was voting only on the court-ordered settlement.
Senate Resolution 10, the companion measure, was moved by Senator Summers and seconded by Senator Anoir; the Senate roll call likewise proceeded without extended debate. The administrator conducted the roll calls and recorded members' votes.
Why it matters: The resolutions ratify the negotiated settlement in a case brought against the commissioner of the state mental health agency. Committee members repeatedly separated their votes on the settlement from policy debates about inpatient release, public safety, and psychiatric review procedures, and several lawmakers said they would pursue policy changes outside the settlement vote.
What comes next: Both resolutions were forwarded by the committee and will be reported to their respective floors for final consideration and any additional procedural steps.
