Transcript Highlights:

• With a shotgun, I can chase birds for six months a year.
• With a shotgun, I can chase birds for six months a year.
• nine chapters in all corners of the state, working to perpetuate healthy populations of native and wild

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I know that it's been a wild flood and fire season, and I hope we don't continue in that vein throughout
• Two to three years, a little bird over my shoulder. Thank you, Madam Chair.
• Maybe the little bird over my shoulder might, but we can try to get that back.

Committee: House Water & Natural Resources Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• habitat restoration for pollinators across multiple coastal counties, spring habitat for migratory birds
• habitat restoration for pollinators across multiple coastal counties, spring habitat for migratory birds
• The wild land urban interface. Got it. Okay.
• on the wildlife coexistence, I'm just doing a number of me-toos: the Mountain Lion Foundation, the Wild
• for Animals, echoing a lot of the comments that were made before me in support of funding for CDFW's Wild

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They're driven by wild foods.
• We have no concept of the scale of the problem in the wild, so to speak.
• </c> in the wilds, so to speak. in the wilds, so to speak.
• </c> bird feeders before you came in here? bird feeders before you came in here?
• </c> wildlife that is attracted to our bird wildlife that is attracted to our bird fields.<03:40:51.040

Committee: House Environment and Agriculture

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Of all the mammals on Earth, and I'm just talking about mammals, so not birds, fish, bugs, or anything
• else, just the mammals, sixteen percent of them are humans, so that leaves 84 percent as wild animals
• Sixteen percent of them are humans, so that leaves 84% as wild animals, right? ...them are humans.
• So that leaves 84% as wild animals, right?
• Our focus on meat is destroying habitat, eliminating eight in ten wild mammals on Earth.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Higher Education

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Higher Education held its first hearing and heard testimony on a wide range of bills, including hunger-free campuses, FAFSA completion, early college/college-in-high-school programs, banning legacy preferences, AP credit consistency, and tuition equity for the Stockbridge School of Agriculture. Committee leaders opened by outlining the hearing process and noting the three-minute testimony limit. Legislators and advocates generally framed the bills as equity and access measures aimed at improving college affordability, student success, and workforce development. Representative Vargas testified for H. 1466 and H. 1467, arguing that hunger-free campus should be codified because many public college and community college students face food insecurity, and that FAFSA completion should be improved through individualized outreach and an opt-out or completion requirement. Senator Lovely, the Greater Boston Food Bank, and other advocates supported the hunger-free campus bill, citing data that 44% of public university and community college students experienced food insecurity in 2023 and that food insecurity harms graduation rates. Femi Stoltz and Shanti Lopez Toro backed the FAFSA bill, saying many students miss out on Pell grants and need direct support; they pointed to state examples such as Louisiana and to recent state action requiring FAFSA awareness. Committee members asked about the federal FAFSA rollout, regional equity in food access, and the need for long-term funding and data collection. A large panel supported H. 1455 on college and high school/early college, including former Chair Roy, the Massachusetts Alliance for Early College, a student graduate, MBAE, and Tripp Jones. They described early college as a proven model that helps low-income and first-generation students, improves degree attainment, and supports workforce needs; witnesses said the goal is to scale from about 9,000 students and 55 partnerships toward 22,000 to 25,000 students by 2030, with possible future growth beyond that. Members raised questions about funding, public-private partnerships, parental involvement, faculty development, and whether the bill should include data review and more standardized policies across institutions. Representative Garcia also testified for H. 1432 on AP credit, saying students should receive consistent credit for AP scores of 3, 4, or 5. Senator Edwards and James Murphy testified for the legacy preference ban, arguing it is unfair and rooted in exclusionary history; they said some states have already banned legacy preferences in public and private institutions. Finally, UMass Dean Michael Fox, alumnus Dan Mayer, and student Jake Rasmussen supported S. 920 to include Stockbridge associate degree programs in MassEducate, saying tuition equity would help enrollment and support Massachusetts agriculture and green-industry jobs.

Transcript Highlights:

• You're recognized for further introduction. that my mom was a wild cat and I know that my mom was a wild
• Bird, you're recognized. director Emily Havens, Jack M Williams, director Emily Havens, Jack M Williams
• Bird. >> Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
• </c><01:23:02.159><c> Bird.</c> &gt;&gt; Gentleman from Forest, Mr. Bird.
• Bird. &gt;&gt; Thank<01:23:04.080><c> you,</c><01:23:04.400><c> Mr.</c><01:23:04.800><c> Speaker.

Keywords: MS House Floor - 18 March, 2026; 10:00 AM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Oh, it's a bird survey. I said, okay, do you have, anybody give you permission? Well, no.
• We're an organization that tries to conserve, protect, and restore Idaho's wild and native trout.
• We're an organization that tries to conserve, protect, and restore Idaho's wild and native trout.

Committee: House State Affairs

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• responsibility under Idaho Code to preserve, protect, perpetuate, and manage all wildlife, including wild
• animals, wild fish, and birds within the state of Idaho.

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The committee met to review the general fund update and several budget-setting items, with staff explaining how to track the latest “green sheet” online and how JFAC actions were affecting the FY 2026 and FY 2027 bottom lines. Members also discussed whether work group progress should be summarized more broadly, but leadership emphasized that work groups were intended to remain independent and that members should consult analysts directly rather than have a running public summary of each group’s internal deliberations. The committee then acted on a series of agency budgets. It approved the Idaho State Tax Commission enhancement package after revising it to remove the chief operating officer personnel item and adopted language limiting use of $550,000 for fast tax collection vendor payments, with any unused amount reverting to the general fund. It also approved supplemental and enhancement requests for the Office of Information Technology Services, including Chinden campus furnishings, E-Core grant staffing and funding, enterprise security/firewall upgrades, the IT modernization transfer of 58 positions from Health and Welfare, and a one-time cash transfer language item to cover transition-year health insurance costs. The Military Division’s request for $120,000 for Office of Emergency Management indirect cost recovery was approved, but an alternate motion to also add $190,800 for the state education assistance program failed, and the original motion was later held in committee. The Industrial Commission and Public Utilities Commission budgets were both advanced with dedicated-fund increases for IRIS maintenance, training, disability fund needs, OITS hardware, and replacement laptops. The Department of Fish and Game budget was also advanced, with approval of a large package of dedicated and federal funds for fishery habitat projects, Good Neighbor Authority work, hatchery and laboratory inflation, temporary employees, wolf depredation response, communications, and replacement items, along with reappropriation authority for prior-year funds. The committee then took up the Department of Health and Welfare Division of Public Health Services, where competing motions focused on the Idaho Home Visiting Program, immunization assessment fund restoration, laboratory testing, HIV and hepatitis prevention, suicide prevention, and moving the home visiting program to Early Learning and Development. Both the substitute motion and the original motion failed after split votes in the House and Senate committees, leaving that budget held for later action. Finally, the committee considered new language for the State Controller and State Treasurer to require monthly reconciliation of cash balances between Luma and TARS from July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2026, with a report due by the fall interim JFAC meeting and documentation retained for audit. Members discussed the need for accurate cash reconciliation and the resources available to the Controller’s office, but no final action was taken before adjournment. The chair announced upcoming budget-setting meetings and reminded members to complete work group motions by the end of the day.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think we've have state insects, we have state stakes, we have state birds, and we have a lot of other
• should have happened long before that or not at all, but we took That little girl in, and they're wild

Bills: SB1550 , SB2065 , SB2110 , SB2111 , SB2114 , SB2152 , SB2159 , SB2172

Committee: Senate Agriculture and Wildlife

Keywords: burn ban, drought, emergency powers, county commissioners, fire safety, wildfire prevention, pollinator, state symbols, agriculture, insects, environment, SB2110, eggs, ungraded eggs, graded eggs, egg sales, poultry, farmers market, direct-to-consumer sales, local food

Transcript Highlights:

• How you would be able to monitor, um, Consumption Of, of this product in wild deer.
• In the wild. Um, Somebody determined that this works, right?
• But we're using it in the wild, um, to combat. Fever, ticks.
• Laced corn Uh, to combat fever ticks in the wild.
• It can work in the wild. It's a question of whether it works on screw worms.

Committee: House Agriculture & Livestock

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, we have migratory birds, resident birds, and alligators.
• You know, we have migratory birds, resident birds, and alligators.
• Can you imagine how many birds know where that 10,000 acres is?
• That would be the HNC Bird Island Project, the Grand Bayou Ridge and Marsh Creation Project, and the
• time frames to have 260, 268, both phases of 260, including the terraces, 268, and 276 complete — wild

Summary: The board met on January 21, 2026, approved the agenda and minutes, and received a CPRA implementation update from Executive Director Michael Hare. Hare reported about 103 active projects, with work focused on completing existing projects and moving more into construction. He highlighted several projects, including Port Fourchon shoreline protection, Northwest Little Lake marsh creation, Sugar Ridge Pump Station, a large RESTORE-funded marsh creation project, Schooner Bayou saltwater barrier rehabilitation, Cain Bayou marsh creation redesign, West Shore river reintroduction work, Morganza to the Gulf reaches, NERDA Raccoon Island restoration, and Chenier-O-Tig ridge restoration. He also reviewed recreation and partnership projects such as Bayou Pigeon and Destrehan boat launches, Grand Bayou Marsh Creation, Highway 1 terracing, and four Louisiana projects funded through the National Coastal Resilience Fund. Hare noted the annual plan public meetings were complete and the comment period remained open through February 17, 2026. Board members asked about the Rockefeller shoreline project, and Hare said the Corps and state agencies were working through geotechnical and environmental issues and that leadership remained committed to moving it forward. The board then heard a joint presentation from CPRA and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries on the White Lake Conservation Area and Management Plan. Officials described White Lake as a 72,000-acre property in Vermilion Parish with major habitat, recreation, and revenue functions, but said aging infrastructure, levee erosion, limited water control structures, and maintenance costs made a master plan necessary. The plan, finalized in October 2025, recommends coastal restoration projects, lodge and facility revitalization using private dollars, revenue-generation improvements, and long-term partnerships. Proposed work includes GIWW shoreline protection, Unit 2/Caddo levee stabilization, and north shoreline protection, with about $30 million already secured for engineering and construction and total needs estimated at roughly $120 million to $130 million. Officials also discussed broader habitat management, conservation incentives for private landowners, possible land acquisition in southwest Louisiana, and coordination with federal partners and other state agencies. Members praised the White Lake effort as a model of interagency collaboration and emphasized its importance for waterfowl habitat, public access, and tourism. Questions focused on funding sources, oil and gas revenue, and whether other agencies such as economic development and tourism should be involved. Several members also urged the state to apply similar management approaches to other refuges, including Sabine, Cameron Prairie, and Lacassine, where they said federal management has lagged. The discussion underscored a broader shift toward landscape-scale habitat management and public recreation investment. The final major presentation covered CPRA’s marsh creation design guidelines and related construction logistics. Staff explained that marsh creation makes up a large share of the coastal master plan and that the agency is updating its 2017 design guidelines after nearly a decade of use. The updates will address survey standards, geotechnical methods, dredge production estimates, construction monitoring, and oil and gas infrastructure conflicts. A second presentation reviewed safety, access, and logistics for marine construction, including equipment access routes, pipeline identification and coordination, cultural resources, private landowners, oyster resources, and permitting. Board members asked about reducing geotechnical costs, improving land-rights coordination, considering uncontained marsh creation where appropriate, and managing pipeline impacts; staff said they would consider those suggestions as part of the guideline updates.

Transcript Highlights:

• requires clear labeling for products that are not derived from traditional livestock production or wild
• If you have an airport that is inundated with birds, they'll send dogs out before they let the planes
• take off because we all know that birds and planes don't go well together.

Committee: Senate Agricultural Affairs

Summary: The Senate Agricultural Committee approved minutes from January 29 and February 3, 2026, then printed two committee RSs from Chair Tammy Nichols. RS 33191 would declare Norway rats and roof rats public nuisances/invasive pests and place coordination with the Department of Agriculture; RS 33266 would require clearer labeling for alternative animal protein products and restrict use of meat-cut terms on non-meat products. Both were printed without opposition. The committee then advanced two Idaho Potato Commission cleanup bills from Senator Camille Blaylock. Senate Bill 1242, which removes outdated rulemaking language, repeals an obsolete referendum provision, and deletes a redundant records section, was sent to the floor with a do pass recommendation. Senate Bill 1243, which removes references to the no-longer-used Idaho One Plan, was also sent to the floor with a do pass recommendation. Senate Bill 1241, the Working Animal Protection Act from Senator Brandon Shippey, drew extensive testimony. Supporters from veterinary, agriculture, carriage, outfitting, youth, and recreation groups said it would protect the lawful use of working animals and preserve agricultural and recreational heritage. Opponents, including the Idaho Humane Society and Association of Idaho Cities, argued the bill was too broad, could preempt local animal-control, zoning, and nuisance laws, and could create enforcement problems. The committee voted to send the bill to the amending order for possible amendments. House Joint Memorial 10, presented by Senator Kelly Anthon, urged Congress and USDA to prohibit artificial sweeteners in federally funded school meals and favor real sugar. The sugar beet industry and supporters said it would promote real food and support Idaho’s sugar sector, while a nutritionist testified against it, arguing sugar is highly processed and that schools should reduce added sugar. The committee approved the memorial and sent it to the floor with a do pass recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• requires clear labeling for products that are not derived from traditional livestock production or wild
• If you have an airport that is inundated with birds, they'll send dogs out before they let the planes
• take off because we all know that birds and planes don't go well together.

Committee: Senate Agricultural Affairs

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Sustainable Water Network, To Nijoni Ani, I hope I said that right, but Vets Forward, Vote Solar, Wild
• at Heart, Raptor Rescue, who had some lovely birds outside.

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then recognized several visiting groups at the Capitol, including OBGYNs and trainees for Women’s and Reproductive Health Day, environmental advocates for Environmental Day, Arizona Maha Coalition members, nurses for Arizona Nurses Day, aerospace industry representatives for Aerospace Day, and guests for International Mother Language Day and other district visitors. Several proclamations and recognitions were read, including International Mother Language Day, Arizona Aerospace Day, and a recognition of Israeli Supreme Court Justice Daphne Barak-Erez. The chamber also welcomed the Doctor of the Day and a newly appointed commissioner, and the President Pro Tem made temporary committee appointments. The main floor business was a Committee of the Whole on several SNAP-related bills. SB 1002, concerning SNAP/TANF public welfare verification, received a floor amendment from Senator Kavanagh and was advanced with a do pass recommendation. SB 1331, relating to SNAP military employment and training, also advanced do pass. SB 1333, relating to a SNAP error rate forensic audit, was amended by the Health and Human Services Committee and advanced do pass after Senator Gonzalez spoke in opposition, arguing the bill did not address the underlying federal error-rate problem and could increase state costs. SB 1334, concerning SNAP work requirement waivers and exemptions, advanced do pass despite Senator Gonzalez’s opposition, in which she argued the bill would restrict Arizona’s flexibility, especially in rural and tribal areas, and could harm older adults and people with disabilities. SB 1368, concerning SNAP purchase restrictions, was then taken up; Senator Gonzalez began speaking in opposition, but the transcript cuts off before the debate or final action on that bill is completed.

Transcript Highlights:

• responsibility under Idaho Code to preserve, protect, perpetuate, and manage all wildlife, including wild
• animals, wild fish, and birds within the state of Idaho.

Summary: The committee began with a general fund update from Legislative Services, which reviewed the latest green sheet, explained where to find budget information and hearing schedules online, and noted that JFAC actions had updated the FY 2026 and FY 2027 ending balance estimates. Members asked about tracking workgroup progress and were told to consult analysts and workgroup members rather than circulate a public daily summary. The update also noted several bills moving between chambers, including House bills 503, 556, 684, 737, and 759, and Senate Bill 1226. The committee then considered and approved several agency budgets and supplemental requests. The Idaho State Tax Commission budget was reconsidered and approved with a revised FY 2027 motion that removed funding for the chief operating officer salary and set aside funding for property tax education, tax automation, fast tax collection services, seasonal employees, replacement items, and OITS hardware; accompanying language restricted the fast tax collection money to that purpose and required any unused amount to revert to the general fund. The Office of Information Technology Services received approval for FY 2026 supplemental funding for Chinden campus furnishings and the E-CORE grant, and FY 2027 enhancements for enterprise security, the E-CORE continuation, and the final IT modernization transfer of 58 positions from Health and Welfare, along with cash-transfer language tied to SWICAP costs. The Military Division’s request for indirect cost recovery funds passed, but a proposed add-on for the state education assistance program failed. The Industrial Commission and Public Utilities Commission budgets also passed with dedicated-fund increases for IRIS maintenance, training, disability fund costs, and replacement hardware. The Department of Fish and Game budget was approved with a large package of dedicated and federal fund enhancements for fishery habitat work, Good Neighbor Authority projects, hatchery and lab inflation, temporary employees, wolf depredation response, communications, and equipment replacement, along with reappropriation authority. The Department of Health and Welfare’s Division of Public Health Services drew the most debate: one motion would have funded home visiting, immunization assessment restoration, lab testing, ARPA grants, HIV and hepatitis prevention, and related items, while a substitute motion sought to keep some funding but move the home visiting program to Early Learning and Development and restore additional public health items. Both motions failed, leaving that budget unresolved in committee. The meeting ended with new language for the State Controller and State Treasurer requiring monthly cash reconciliations between Luma and TATERS, reporting to JFAC and LSO, and retention of supporting documentation for audit purposes. The committee adjourned after being reminded that budget setting would continue through the week and that Monday’s agenda would include education, administration, building fund, and lottery budgets.

Transcript Highlights:

• They started kind of weather when we all share bird and even canceled.
• Representative Big Bird. Further discussion to the motion.
• Big Bird.
• It just seems wild to me. the security measures.
• It just seems wild to me. And I understand.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Essentially the bird flu item. Close, close, close, right. There you go.
• And through that process, we've learned that it's factored through our wild bird population.
• birds or if they had backyard flocks themselves. ...but seeing that cross into the human population
• This is a bird flu crisis out there, a request for lots more positions. LAO saying not as many.
• This is a bird flu crisis out there, a request for lots more positions. LAO saying not as many.

Summary: The hearing opened with budget framing from the chair and the LAO, who said the May Revision addresses roughly a $14 billion budget problem and that the environment and transportation subcommittee’s proposals account for about $1.9 billion of the solution. The LAO urged members to focus on solutions that do not worsen out-year deficits, to preserve reserves, and to defer major policy changes that are not necessary to pass the budget, including the newly introduced water-related trailer bills. Members also raised concern about a late-dropped Olympic-related trailer bill, which the LAO likewise suggested should be deferred for fuller review. The first major item was the Delta Conveyance Project and related water quality control plan trailer bills. The administration argued the proposals would streamline permitting, water rights proceedings, judicial review, and land acquisition, and would clarify DWR’s bond authority for the project. DWR said the project is needed to protect water supply reliability against drought, earthquakes, sea level rise, and other climate-related disruptions, and that the tunnel would help move water when conditions are wet and safer for the environment. Committee members from both parties questioned the timing, the use of budget trailer bills for major policy changes, the scope of the CEQA and water-rights changes, the lack of a bond cap, cost growth, and eminent domain protections. The LAO recommended deferring both water trailer bills without prejudice. Public comment was sharply divided, with labor, water agencies, and some business groups supporting the project as climate adaptation and reliability infrastructure, while environmental, tribal, fishing, county, and community groups opposed it as an attempt to bypass public process and weaken protections. The committee then briefly heard the DMV’s Digital Experience Platform fee trailer bill, which would reinstate a $1 system improvement fee to help fund the vehicle-registration phase of the project. DMV said the fee would raise about $7 million annually and offset roughly $59 million to $60 million of project costs, while the LAO noted it would help but would not solve the Motor Vehicle Account’s broader structural gap. The hearing then moved to California High-Speed Rail, where the new CEO presented an updated plan and said the project remains a major climate and infrastructure investment. He reported a revised Merced-to-Bakersfield cost range of $34.9 billion to $38.5 billion, said the agency is trying to reduce risk through direct procurement of materials, and argued that stable annual funding is needed to avoid higher costs from delays.

Transcript Highlights:

• have been killed since December of last year due to the growing bird flu outbreak.
• have been killed since December of last year due to the growing bird flu outbreak.
• have been killed since December of last year due to the growing bird flu outbreak.
• A lot of USAID money is spent to deal with malaria, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, Ebola, and bird flu.
• Bird flu is combed by USAID around the world, and every chicken that gets bird flu in a very poor country

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Friday, February 7, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• DO NOT HAVE THE FLU TODAY THAT WE KNOW OF IN OUR DAIRY AND WE CERTAINLY HAVEN'T HAD ANY COMMERCIAL BIRDS
• SOMETIMES WITH A HURRICANE IT'S NOT LIKE A WILD FIRE.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The biggest week in American birding is sponsored by the Black Swamp Bird Observatory in Oak Harbor,
• Birding in our have to pay any tariffs.
• </c><02:28:41.840><c> by</c><02:28:42.000><c> the</c> American birding is sponsored by the American birding
• </c> conservation of migratory bird conservation of migratory bird populations<02:28:52.479><c> and</
• </c> everyone during America's birding week. everyone during America's birding week.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Thursday, May 8, 2025, 1012, house, all