Transcript Highlights:

• The bill provides that for a vehicle owner purchasing the wildflower specialty license plate for more
• The bill provides that for a vehicle owner purchasing the wildflower specialty license plate for more
• Allowing the general public to purchase the plate provides a broader and more reliable customer base,
• Purchased by just law enforcement officers, and this opens it up.
• Next up, we'll have SB 584 Commercial Driving Schools by Vice Chair Avala.

Bills: S0174, S0388, S0470, S0488, S0490, S0584, S0628

Keywords: transportation, memorial, honorary designation, Miami-Dade, Charlie Kirk, license plates, Florida Wildflower, vehicle registration, annual use fee, specialty plates, Fraternal Order of Police, license plate, funding, memorial foundation, law enforcement, motor carriers, fuel tax, military exemptions, safety regulations, electronic submissions

Summary: The Transportation Committee heard and advanced several bills, mostly related to honorary roadway designations, specialty license plates, and Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles administration. SB 628 designated a portion of South Navy Boulevard in Pensacola as “Warrior Sacrifice Way” to honor Ensign Joshua Watson and Petty Officers Muhammad Hatham and Cameron Walters, who were killed in the 2019 Naval Air Station Pensacola attack. The bill passed favorably with no debate or opposition. The committee also considered SB 174, naming a portion of State Road 985 in Miami-Dade County as Charlie Kirk Memorial Avenue. Senator Arrington opposed the bill during debate, citing Kirk’s public statements as inconsistent with the honor, while Senator Rodriguez argued the designation was an honorary roadway naming that did not require agreement with Kirk’s views. The bill was reported favorably. SB 388, which raises the annual use fee for the Florida Wildflowers specialty license plate from $15 to $25 while keeping the lower fee for owners with more than 10 vehicles, also passed favorably after a support-only public comment. Members then approved SB 470, which opens the Fraternal Order of Police specialty plate to the general public and allows redesigns to help sustain sales and increase funding for law enforcement memorial efforts. Public testimony from the FOP supported the change. SB 584 authorized DHSMV to enter agreements allowing county tax collectors to enforce certain commercial driving school provisions, aimed at addressing fraud and licensing abuses, and it passed favorably with support. Finally, the committee approved SB 488, the DHSMV agency package updating IFTA compliance, online filing, crash reporting thresholds, registration procedures, email communications, and tank vehicle definitions, along with SB 490, the companion public records exemption for email addresses used under SB 488; both were reported favorably, with SB 490 noted as requiring a two-thirds vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, and that just allows fire departments more time to make purchases because right now purchases have
• because right now make purchases because right now purchases<00:04:00.879><c> have</c><00:04:01.040><
• </c> clerk's going to take over some schools clerk's going to take over some schools for<00:26:03.039
• ><c> the</c> they don't take the schools for the they don't take the schools for the early<00:29:07.200
• </c> authority to take the school. authority to take the school.

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:00:03 Roll Call 00:00:10 Consideration of Referred Administrative Regulations 00:02:21 Discussion of the Restoration of Voting Rights 00:06:34 Discussion of the Application of NTI Days for Schools Designated by County Clerks as Polling Locations for Elections 00:25:20 Approval of Minutes from July 29, 2025 Meeting 00:32:22 Adjournment 00:32:49, 958, all

Summary: The committee first took up two fire commission regulatory amendments. Bruce Roberts, director of the Fire Commission, explained that one amendment updates financial disclosure reporting rules to align with changes to KRS 95A.55, including revised definitions, reporting requirements, and moving compliance reviews from every four years to an annual basis. The second amendment changes the deadline for fire departments to submit state aid documentation from July 31 to September and adds flexibility for departments affected by natural disasters by allowing a waiver process for missing, lost, or damaged documents. The committee approved the agency amendment by motion, second, and voice vote with no opposition. The main policy discussion centered on a proposed constitutional amendment to restore voting rights for people convicted of felonies after they complete their sentence and probation/parole. Senators Hickden and Herren said the proposal would restore only voting rights, not citizenship or the right to run for office, and would still exclude certain offenses such as treason, bribery in an election, sex offenses, violent offenses, and offenses against a child. They argued that Kentucky is one of only three states without automatic restoration, that the current governor’s executive order is temporary, and that the issue should be settled by constitutional amendment. Members asked about the relationship to expungement, costs, and whether election-related crimes should be included among the exceptions; the sponsors said expungement is separate and that they were open to refining the language. Several members voiced support, and the sponsors said they hoped to continue working on the proposal before the next session. The committee also discussed a practical issue involving schools used as polling places and conflicts with KDE testing days. The chair raised the possibility of adjusting testing schedules or using NI days at affected schools, while members noted that county clerks already have authority to use tax-funded buildings for elections and that schools have long been used because of ADA accessibility. Some members suggested a simpler fix would be to prevent KDE testing dates from overlapping with election dates, rather than changing NI-day rules or limiting clerks’ authority. The committee then approved the minutes and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're close to having 400 school districts participating in that, which allows them to purchase food
• We've seen a lot of... ...that those dollars go toward the purchase of protein to get into local school
• Farm to School, which is really kind of a good complement to our Local Food for Schools program.
• We'll also hope to continue to grow those Local Food for Schools and Farm to School programs and expand
• We purchased those pumps and then and store them until a fire department needs them then they purchase

Summary: The meeting began with a budget presentation from the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry. Secretary Blaine Arthur and Deputy Commissioner Jan Lee described the agency’s divisions and recent efforts to improve efficiency, including expanded online licensing, electronic veterinary inspection certificates, and a new laboratory information system. They highlighted youth and workforce programs, local food initiatives for schools, market development efforts, and ongoing animal health concerns such as avian influenza, equine herpesvirus, and the threat of New World screwworm. They also discussed staffing, turnover, and uncertainty around federal cooperative agreement funding, while noting they were not requesting new or additional appropriations for the upcoming fiscal year. Members asked about meat inspection staffing, the use of one-time forestry firefighting funds, biosecurity and national security coordination, and agency staffing levels. The department said meat inspection was currently in good shape but dependent on federal funding stability, and explained that prior firefighting dollars had been used for equipment purchases. They also said they work with state and federal partners, including DHS and FBI, on threat preparedness and have reduced turnover by adjusting salaries and maintaining staffing at or below prior levels. The Oklahoma Conservation Commission then presented its budget and program overview. Staff described the agency’s long history and current work in water quality, flood control, soil health, unpaved roads, wetlands, and woody species control, especially eastern red cedar removal. They emphasized data-driven, voluntary conservation practices, citing stream cleanups, flood-control dam benefits, pond cleanouts during drought, and the Cherry-Peach watershed project as examples of programs that improve water resources and reduce wildfire risk. The agency said its workload has grown significantly and requested funding for critical dam repairs, local conservation district staffing, continued unpaved roads work, and expansion of woody species control statewide. Members asked about county matching for road and dam projects, who to contact about flooding roads, sediment removal from pond cleanouts, and the effectiveness of county training programs. Commission staff explained that county in-kind work can count as match, local conservation districts are the first point of contact, and the road training has produced measurable savings and better maintenance practices. They also clarified that “high hazard” dams are those where failure could threaten people or infrastructure downstream, not necessarily dams that are structurally failing.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm going to go to high school junior high school, high school grants, high school, Valley Middle School
• , middle schools, schools, and high schools in the state of New Mexico, and we can also benchmark data
• Again, the 2% for locally chartered schools is held by the local school district or the school board.
• schools.
• It's for students with exceptional needs and helps a school district or a charter school to purchase

Transcript Highlights:

• The boys went on to high school, and they died while they were in high school.
• The boys went on to high school, and they died while they were in high school.
• school.
• Hillsdale College is just a wonderful school, a classical school in Michigan.
• Hillsdale College is just a wonderful school, classical school in Michigan.

Summary: The Senate Education Committee began by welcoming a new Senate Page, Caleb Williams of Shelley, who introduced himself and answered a few light questions about his plans after graduation. The committee then approved minutes from February 10, 12, 16, and 17, 2026, by voice vote. The main action item was Senate Bill 1317, which would create regional service centers to help school districts and charter schools share special education-related staff and services, especially in rural areas. The sponsor and department staff said the bill is intended to reduce duplication, improve compliance with IDEA, strengthen recruitment and retention of specialists, and preserve local control. Testimony from superintendents, teachers, parents, advocates, and others was overwhelmingly supportive, emphasizing high costs for contracted services, staffing shortages, and the benefits of shared regional models. Senator Zito raised concerns about the $1 million fiscal note, the use of real property, and the lack of clarity about how many centers would be created and where they would be located. After discussion, the committee voted to send SB 1317 to the Senate floor with a due pass recommendation; the motion passed with Senator Zito voting no. Following that, the committee received informational presentations on two Idaho education programs: District 91’s PASS program in Idaho Falls, a tiered behavior-support model for young students, and Kootenai Classical Academy’s classical education model, including its curriculum, character education, and strong literacy results. The meeting adjourned at the scheduled hard stop.

Transcript Highlights:

• was not facilitated through the purchase of a phone, it was a brick and mortar purchase, it was done
• who did purchase that ticket through a courier. level summary of boat purchasing and where we are today
• I think a bulk purchase of a scratch ticket might look a little bit different than a bulk purchase of
• to facilitate that purchase, and then went back down after that purchase. that have had an increasing
• after the occurrence of the ball purchased.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Representatives W and Brown and Senators Amab and Carson concerns transfers from the Universal High School
• Chairman, um, um, um, House Bill 1418 would impose a new 5% tax on in-game video game purchases layered
• Whether a consumer purchases a game on a physical disc or via digital game on a physical disc or via
• or digital, of a game, whether physical or digital, and subsequent in-game purchases, but would also
• . and that all of successful in school. and that all of this<01:19:04.800><c> money,</c><01:19:05.120

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• School meals are still important; food banks are still important.
• Katie and I both have kids; they go to the same school.
• We do purchase locally.
• New Mexico has four schools of dental. Hygiene.
• Now, I happily saw all the boys from the Boy's School.

Transcript Highlights:

• This was shared with 319 school districts across California to provide local food for school lunches.
• $200,000 for Modesto City Elementary School District, $185,000 for Desert Sands Unified School District
• schools, and our communities.
• farmers and school children.
• Farm-to-school programs not only improve the quality of school meals, but also help shift perceptions

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Agriculture met with an initial quorum delay, then heard four items: AJR 6 on protecting federal funding for the Local Food for Schools and Child Care program, AB 732 on abandoned agricultural land, AB 1042 on honeybee health, and consent item AB 1506. The chair reviewed hearing procedures and public comment rules before moving through the file in order. AJR 6, authored by Assemblymember Aguiar-Curry, urged federal officials to preserve funding for local food programs that connect California farmers with school meals and food banks. Supporters, including a farm owner and a school nutrition director, said the program benefits children’s nutrition, helps small farms, and strengthens local economies. There was no opposition, and the committee members who were present voted to adopt the resolution; later absent members were added, bringing it to eight votes and sending it out. AB 732, by Assemblymember Macedo, would give county agricultural commissioners a faster enforcement tool against abandoned or neglected orchards and vineyards by allowing civil penalties instead of relying only on liens. Testimony from growers and a county agricultural commissioner described pest infestations, economic losses, and high abatement costs tied to neglected land, and the bill was presented as a response to SGMA-related fallowing and low commodity prices. The committee voted due pass to the Judiciary Committee, and after absent members were added it also reached eight votes. AB 1042, by Assemblymember Ransom, proposed a Managed Honeybee Health Program with grants, research, technical assistance, and an expanded advisory committee to support pollinators essential to California crops. Witnesses from the fresh fruit and beekeeping sectors emphasized that bee declines threaten crop production and the broader agricultural economy. The committee voted due pass to Appropriations, and the bill ultimately received eight votes. The consent calendar item, AB 1506, was also approved and sent to Appropriations.

Transcript Highlights:

• Someone meeting individually with each high school student every year on the high school and beyond plan
• If you don't have to have a new school bus or another school bus, can you move those funds someplace
• But if I am in a school district that has buses that are depreciated and my school district population
• And the construction cost that brings on maybe a need for new schools, improved schools, classrooms,
• of building a school, right?

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several education bills. SB 5841 would require students’ high school and beyond plans to show completion of at least one FAFSA or WASFA application, or a parent/guardian opt-out. The sponsor and supporters said it would reduce barriers to postsecondary education, improve financial aid completion, and bring more students and federal dollars into the state. School groups opposed it, warning it would add an unfunded administrative burden and create verification challenges, especially for small districts and families with undocumented students. Senators discussed data-sharing from the Washington Student Achievement Council and noted the bill’s connection to existing FAFSA outreach efforts. The committee then took testimony on SB 5922, which would let districts petition OSPI to transfer money from transportation vehicle funds to other district uses if they reduce their fleet because of enrollment declines. The sponsor said the bill would free up unused bus funds for other pressing needs. Members asked about whether districts could shift to smaller vehicles and how the funds could be used. The committee also heard SB 5858, which would move the pupil transportation safety net for special passengers into statute. Supporters from OSPI, districts, school directors, and PTA said the program is essential for transporting students with disabilities, homelessness, or foster care needs, and that current funding is far below demonstrated need. No votes were taken on these bills. Finally, the committee heard SB 5943, which would allow limited use of school impact fees for modernization and, in districts under binding conditions or enhanced financial oversight, for up to 25% of operations and maintenance. The sponsor and one superintendent argued it would help districts with aging buildings and new state mandates like safety and energy-efficiency requirements. Builders, business groups, and school coalition representatives opposed the bill, saying impact fees should remain tied to growth-related capital costs and warning it could worsen housing affordability and weaken the nexus required for impact fees. The chair closed by noting the session’s budget constraints and the committee adjourned after the hearings.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's probably the simplest way, so they're going in and bulk purchasing these.
• , and so it's basically saying a $5,000 purchase...
• On these purchases, and so it's basically saying $5,000 purchases within a certain length of time will
• , and so it's basically saying $5,000 purchase.
• Thank you. on these purchases and so it's basically saying $5,000 purchases within a certain length of

Summary: The Senate State Affairs Committee approved the February 6, 2026 minutes and then considered several print requests. Senator Shippy presented RS 33200, which would clarify the law on resistance to a threatened party and the defensive display of a firearm; it was introduced without opposition. Senator Anthon presented RS 33340, a criminal trespass change aimed at preventing intentional disruption of church services, and the committee voted to send it to print. Senator Taves also presented RS 33347, the “conversational AI safety act,” which would require chatbots to disclose that they are chatbots and add protections for children; it likewise advanced to print. The committee then heard House Bill 504, presented by Senator Guthrie and Idaho State Lottery Director Andrew Arulanandum. The bill would prohibit bulk lottery ticket purchases by setting a $5,000 purchase threshold within a certain time period and allowing the Lottery to flag suspicious activity. Supporters said the measure is intended to protect the integrity of the lottery, keep prizes and tax revenue in Idaho, and deter syndicates that target games nearing sellout. The director said the fiscal impact would be essentially zero and noted other states have similar restrictions. After discussion, the committee voted to send HB 504 to the floor with a due pass recommendation. The chair then adjourned the meeting with brief weekend and Valentine’s Day remarks.

Transcript Highlights:

• campuses and school grounds.
• to prevent school shooting.
• I know in my schools, we've got some of our city officers are in our schools, our CFOs.
• Those skills translate whether it's a school building, an elementary school, a high school, or a football
• So you're thinking a school like Couch, a school like Kosh, a school like Ripley County R3.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This legislation addresses two important issues affecting Delaware families with school-age children
• Every year, families begin planning for summer well before school lets out.
• By then, few camps can continue to accept purchase of care.
• “This legislation does not expand eligibility for the purchase of care program.
• “Whether it is only needed for before school or after school, which the state considers half-day care

Bills: SB313, SB296

Keywords: Delaware Health Fund, healthcare access, preventive care, tobacco settlement, public health initiatives, grant program

Summary: The House Health and Human Development Committee met and considered a series of health, human services, and related bills. The committee heard and advanced House Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 13, which standardizes hospital charity care and financial assistance statewide, and Senate Bill 296 with Senate Amendment 1, which restructures the Delaware Health Fund grant process with a more formal, transparent competitive rubric. Both measures received supportive testimony from DHSS, the Delaware Healthcare Association, and the Delaware Nurses Association, and both were released by committee on roll-call votes. The committee also released Senate Bill 313 with Senate Amendment 1, which places a temporary moratorium on acquisitions of nonprofit acute care hospitals by for-profit entities and expands notice/review requirements for sales of hospital real estate; Senate Bill 340 with Senate Amendment 1, which requires long-term care facilities to carry specified liability insurance, with questions raised about the exemption for state-owned facilities; Senate Joint Resolution 20, which directs DHSS to study independent assessment tools for Medicaid home- and community-based services; and Senate Bill 341, which updates Delaware Health Information Network law and formally recognizes DIN as the state’s health data utility. Testimony on these bills was generally supportive, with some discussion on constitutional concerns, insurance coverage, and the rationale for the state exemption in SB 340. Later, the committee advanced Senate Bill 257, which requires new animal shelters to be licensed and inspected before operating and removes a prior exception for certain rescue organizations; and Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 278 with House Amendment 1, which allows earlier pre-authorization for summer child care enrollment and lowers copays for half-day care. Public testimony on these measures came from animal welfare advocates, YMCA representatives, and other stakeholders, all largely in support. Each bill was released by committee, with several votes walked for absent members, and the meeting adjourned after all agenda items were addressed.

Transcript Highlights:

• So if it's hard for us to find that coverage, imagine how hard it is for groups wanting to use school
• have... ...statewide, nationwide, some of the challenges that public school systems have in some of
• Do you think a million dollars in coverage is enough for those large school systems?
• If no such policy is available, the individual would be able to purchase a Medicare supplement policy
• The bill would also provide, again, The bill would also provide a guaranteed issue right to purchase

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Banking and Insurance Committee met with a quorum present and approved the March 4, 2026 minutes by voice vote. The committee first considered House Bill 55, which updates and modernizes workers’ compensation statutes to reflect the privatized system, remove obsolete provisions, and adjust the Workers’ Compensation Board of Review from five members to three. The Insurance Commissioner testified that the bill is part of the cleanup from privatization and would give the governor more flexibility in appointments. After adopting a strike-and-insert amendment and a title amendment, the committee reported HB 55 to the full Senate with a recommendation that it do pass. The committee then took up House Bill 5463, which would reduce BRIM’s required liability coverage for county boards of education from $1.25 million to $1 million per occurrence and eliminate the separate $5 million excess coverage requirement. BRIM’s director testified that the excess market was difficult to access and costly, but several senators raised concerns that lowering coverage could reduce protection for victims and school-related claims. After a divided vote, the motion to report the bill failed, and HB 5463 was not passed by the committee. Next, the committee considered House Bill 4869, creating guaranteed issue rights for Medicare supplement policies, including annual birthday replacement rights and a special right for certain Medicaid recipients losing eligibility. Counsel said the bill would prohibit underwriting barriers during the guaranteed issue periods and require an annual report on premium trends. With no amendments offered, the committee reported HB 4869 to the full Senate with a recommendation that it do pass. Finally, the committee considered House Bill 5462 on mine subsidence insurance. The bill would allow the mine subsidence fund to offset payments by amounts received from other sources and limit lawsuits over claims reported to BRIM. Members debated a proposed strike-and-insert amendment that would have softened the litigation limits and added notice and remedy provisions, but the amendment was rejected. The committee then reported HB 5462 to the full Senate with a recommendation that it do pass, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• For purchases, an alternate purchasing process wherein the county solicits bids from a limited number
• of vendors is available for purchases between $10,000 and $50,000.
• For example, all county purchasing departments would not be required to make purchases for the local
• It would allow the alternative purchasing contract process to be used for purchases of between $20,000
• if it is a purchasing contract.

Bills: HB2313, HB2451, HB2298, HB2566, HB2517

Keywords: grocery stores, public ownership, food accessibility, community services, economic development, tax increment financing, local government, municipal finance, public infrastructure, property title protection, land record fraud, county auditors, voluntary program, real estate, procurement, contracting, transparency, financial oversight, municipal permitting, transit projects

Transcript Highlights:

• We are the school administrators and school business officials from across the state.
• on a formula basis to school districts.
• in the formula basis of school districts.
• school and the eligible area is 30,000 square feet...
• A really big, expensive school today, is it?

Summary: The committee held a public hearing on several tax and retirement bills, beginning with Senate Bill 6073, which would move eligible Department of Natural Resources wildland and aviation firefighters from PERS into LEOFF 2 prospectively. Committee staff described the higher retirement age and benefit differences between the systems and noted a small implementation cost and a modest actuarial rate increase. DNR, the Washington Public Employees Association, and a committee member all raised support or questions, with DNR acknowledging additional review with the LEOFF board was still needed. The hearing then turned to Senate Bill 6113, a Department of Revenue request bill making technical and administrative changes to the tax code, including clarifications tied to last session’s ESSB 5814 service-tax changes, a six-month transition period for reclassified businesses, and a section affecting advertising-related exclusions. DOR said the bill was revenue neutral and intended to codify guidance and improve certainty, while school districts, arts groups, broadcasters, newspapers, and business groups testified both in support of the technical fixes and in opposition to provisions they said would continue or worsen unintended consequences from last year’s tax law. Senators also questioned how some definitions would apply, especially to school and higher-education-related services. Senate Bill 6116 would restore the vapor-products tax structure by moving nicotine-containing vapor products back under the per-milliliter vapor tax instead of the 95% other tobacco products tax, and would restore distributions to the Andy Hill Cancer Research account and Foundational Public Health Services account. Public health agencies, cancer research representatives, and some retailers supported the bill as a fix to funding disruptions, while tobacco-control groups opposed lowering the tax and argued it would weaken public health policy. The committee also heard that the current law creates a double-tax issue on pre-existing inventory because products held when the definition changed became subject to a new tax classification. Finally, Senate Bill 6129 proposed a broader nicotine-tax overhaul, including a 90% tax on nicotine products, a 10% tax on flavored nicotine products, higher cigarette taxes, and new revenue distributions and tribal compact provisions. Supporters, including public health organizations, pediatricians, and civil rights advocates, said higher taxes would reduce youth use and restore funding for cancer research and public health; opponents, including retailers, tobacco and vapor businesses, broadcasters, and some harm-reduction advocates, argued the bill was regressive, would fuel illicit markets, and would harm small businesses and adult consumers using lower-risk products. The committee then began a briefing on Senate Bill 6162, a property tax reform bill that would expand senior and disability property tax relief, adjust state property tax rates, and change property tax billing statements, but the hearing on that bill was not completed in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:45:40.400><c> School</c> commission, and school board. School commission, and school board.
• </c> town and school moderators. town and school moderators.
• The school district is.
• </c> school district is what I'm thinking. school district is what I'm thinking.
• So, Vermont has<04:04:19.199><c> school</c><04:04:19.520><c> choice,</c> has school choice, has school

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee convened for a day of public hearings on nine bills, with plans to later execute several early bills and possibly additional measures under House Rule 44. Chair Diane Pauer outlined time limits for sponsors and testimony, announced a lunch break around noon, and noted substitute members would be arriving later. The first hearing was on House Bill 1107, which would allow municipal budget committees to have one to three alternate members. Representative Valon, the prime sponsor, said the bill was intended to help towns like Epping deal with quorum problems during the compressed budget season and noted that alternates are common on other local boards. The New Hampshire Municipal Association testified in support, saying the bill would increase flexibility and help fill seats. Committee members raised concerns about whether alternates should be elected, how they would be selected, whether they would be sufficiently informed to vote, and whether the bill’s one-year term language and rescission provisions were clear. The sponsor and NHMA said the process would be consistent with other local boards, that alternates would typically be appointed after elections, and that they would follow up on possible statutory clarification. The hearing closed with six remote supporters, one paper supporter, and no opposition reported. The committee then heard House Bill 1118, sponsored by Representative Colby, which would raise the daily amount municipal employees may hold before remitting funds to the treasurer from the current $1,500 limit to $3,500. Colby said the existing thresholds are outdated, have not been updated in about 20 years, and create burdens for smaller towns that must make frequent bank deposits, sometimes far from town offices. She said the bill would improve efficiency and allow staff to focus more on serving residents, while still allowing municipalities to keep lower limits if they choose. Members asked about how the remittance process works in practice, what amounts municipalities typically collect, and whether the change reflected a broader trend of updating cash-handling thresholds. The sponsor explained that the bill only changes the dollar thresholds in the relevant statutes and does not require municipalities to adopt the higher limit. The transcript cuts off before any final action on HB 1118 is reported.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, Senator Hart, so you have to be a resident in order to purchase a lifetime license.
• But when you purchase the original time, you have to have been in state for five years.
• Okay, so in the case of someone who purchases this lifetime license and they become a non-resident, what
• My future plans are, after this, I'm just wrapping up school, and then I'm going on a mission for the
• I guess nothing is too surprising because I've gone with my school and visited Boise many times.

Summary: The committee heard and advanced Senate Bill 1396, sponsored by Senator Lakey, which repeals Idaho Code 67-452 and removes Idaho’s obsolete membership in the Pacific Fisheries Task Force. Lakey said Idaho has not participated since 2022 and that the task force is no longer necessary. The committee had no questions and voted unanimously to send the bill to the floor with a due pass recommendation. The committee then considered House Bill 855, presented by Representative Petsky, which changes the residency requirement for purchasing a lifetime hunting or fishing license from six months to five years. Petsky and Idaho Department of Fish and Game representative Ellery Tucker Williams said the bill is intended to close a loophole used by people moving to Idaho briefly to obtain lifetime licenses, then leaving the state while still benefiting from resident-style tag access and lower costs. After questions about how residency is verified and whether other approaches, such as grandfathering or revoking licenses after a move, might be better, the committee voted to send the bill to the floor with a due pass recommendation, with one member requesting to be recorded as opposed. House Concurrent Resolution 34, sponsored by Senator Harris, was also introduced and advanced. The resolution supports Idaho’s rights under the Bear River Compact, calls for studies and feasibility work on storage and recharge projects, and directs investment in stream gauging to document water use and support future claims. Paul Arrington of the Idaho Water Users Association testified in support, emphasizing the need for better information and planning for the Bear River Basin. The committee asked about potential costs, and Arrington said the resolution concerns study work first, with project funding to be addressed later. The committee then voted to send the resolution to the floor with a due pass recommendation and approved the February 25 minutes before concluding with remarks to a departing page and a final statement that the committee’s work for the year was essentially finished.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we're trying to purchase back. We have.
• Can you purchase líneas with less DFA oversight with that other fund?
• We participate in career days and have a National Archery in the Schools program.
• I also work with schools.
• schools to reach out because the Kids in Parks program is really neat.

Transcript Highlights:

• New farm equipment provides both in a single purchase.
• New farm equipment provides both in a single purchase.
• into one state school property tax levy.
• It excludes before- and after-school care provided in person and on-site by elementary schools from the
• As the previous speaker said, the school districts right now are in a very ...speaker said, the school

Summary: House Finance held public hearings on several tax and property-related bills. HB 2584 would create a sales and use tax exemption for qualifying farm machinery and equipment purchased by eligible farmers, with supporters arguing it would ease financial pressure on farmers, encourage investment in more efficient and environmentally friendly equipment, and help rural economies. County officials opposed extending the exemption to local sales taxes, warning of cumulative revenue losses for local governments. HB 2376 would consolidate the state school property tax levy and expand property tax relief for seniors, people with disabilities, and veterans by raising income thresholds, increasing exemption amounts, and simplifying the income calculation; county assessors and local officials supported the bill as a way to help residents age in place, while opponents argued it would raise taxes for others and weaken the 1% cap. HB 2610 would broaden the nonprofit homeownership development property tax exemption to allow limited interim rental or community use without losing the exemption, and testimony from affordable housing groups supported the change as a practical way to keep projects moving and reduce costs. HB 2615 would codify the Department of Revenue’s voluntary disclosure program and create a temporary tax amnesty period for certain unpaid business taxes; supporters said it would bring businesses into compliance and generate revenue, while one sponsor noted technical issues still needed to be resolved. In executive session, the committee advanced four bills. HB 2194, allowing a county and city within it to concurrently impose a cultural access program sales tax, passed 10-5. Substitute HB 2257, a broad tax code cleanup and technical changes bill, passed unanimously 15-0 after members said it clarified ambiguities from prior legislation. HB 2528, which would remove voter-approval requirements for certain cities to impose a local real estate excise tax, passed 11-4 despite objections that it reduced voter control over tax increases. HB 2175, exempting certain nonprofit providers of free durable medical equipment from sales tax on repair parts, also passed unanimously 15-0. The chair announced that HB 2584, HB 2610, and HB 2615 would be scheduled for executive action the following day, with no amendments allowed.