Transcript Highlights:

• We know how precious that bond is.
• We know how precious that bond is.
• apart bonds.
• It widens the statute of limitations currently.
• Attorney's Office at this time, and we didn't have a statute of limitations.

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , the bonds...
• And the bonds are issued, 30 years, maximum on the bond. Would have its own CID.
• And the bonds are issued for 30 years maximum on the bonds.
• And so it's simply a function of getting the bonds retired.
• But the bonds still have got 25 years to run.

Summary: The committee heard House Bill 897, which revises Idaho’s data center sales tax exemption. The sponsor said the bill adds new eligibility criteria tied to electricity service agreements that fully recapture costs and to efficient water use, narrows the exemption so it applies only to internal server equipment rather than construction materials, limits the exemption to 20 years instead of indefinitely, and requires annual Tax Commission reporting on foregone revenue. He also noted the bill’s property tax provisions may need more work because they could affect existing entities not involved in drafting, and he asked that the bill be sent to the 14th order for possible amendment. The committee agreed and adopted that motion. The committee then heard House Bill 926, which expands the community infrastructure district tool so counties can create CIDs outside a city’s comprehensive plan. The sponsor said the goal is to ensure infrastructure is built before growth and that new development pays its own costs rather than shifting them to existing property owners. A representative from Tamarack Resort testified in support, explaining that the change would allow a large development outside city planning areas to finance roads, utilities, and other off-site improvements through district bonds and special assessments. After questions about how CID financing works and how obligations are allocated over time, the committee voted to send the bill to the floor with a due pass recommendation. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 934, a technical cleanup bill for last year’s education tax credit law. The sponsor explained that the changes clarify student age eligibility, define tutoring as academic instruction, allow curriculum from multiple vendors, prevent families from combining the advance payment with a prior-year look-back credit, and clarify that students participating only in non-credit extracurricular activities such as sports are not considered enrolled for purposes of the credit. Members asked about impacts on public schools and extracurricular fees, and the sponsor said sports fees are not reimbursable under the credit and that the bill is intended to avoid double payment. The committee then voted to send the bill to the floor with a due pass recommendation. Afterward, the committee approved several sets of minutes and thanked its page, Grace Louder, for her service.

Transcript Highlights:

• Many of these programs have been identified in the Affordable Housing Bond Act, families.
• Is there sort of, is it covered more by your bonding capacity and that kind of thing?
• The last 10 years, I've worked on implementing an affordable housing bond.
• We had a local $950 million housing bond.
• Several speakers today have highlighted the limited funding.

Committee: House Housing and Community Development

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have a 1-minute per testifier time limit.
• So, um, when does the bond authorization limit of $3 billion get maxed out?
• And and these bonds are these bonds.
• </c> defunded by 25% by bonds. defunded by 25% by bonds.
• </c> its credit limit or anything like that. its credit limit or anything like that.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committees heard testimony on five housing-related measures. SB 2232 would create a three-year tiny home grant pilot program within HHFDC, with annual reporting to HHFDC and the Legislature; testimony was mixed, and the bill was later recommended for passage with amendments, including a full-time housing development specialist, a residential-use-only restriction for the tiny homes, and a blanked appropriation. SB 2192 would bar county down-zoning that reduces housing capacity unless equivalent capacity is added elsewhere in the county; it drew support from housing advocates and comments from planning officials, and was also recommended for passage with amendments. SB 2378 would clarify insurance requirements for single- and multifamily projects seeking expedited county permitting; engineers and housing groups supported it, while one testifier opposed it, and it was recommended for passage with a technical amendment. SB 2524 would appropriate funds to the City and County of Honolulu for housing-related departments to comply with prior acts; the Honolulu department supported it, and members asked about prior spending and funding sources. SB 2398 would require residential housing utility availability maps; the Honolulu Board of Water Supply opposed the bill as written, citing infrastructure security, accuracy, liability, and administrative burden concerns, while supporters said it would improve transparency for developers. The chair proposed amendments to make the maps broad and geographic rather than parcel-specific, remove contested-case and reliance provisions, allow disclaimer language, and change the date; the bill was then recommended for passage with amendments, with one member noting reservations. All five measures were ultimately passed out of committee with amendments, with votes recorded and some members excused.

Transcript Highlights:

• And when she talked about the time frame on the geo bonds, so a geo bond is presented in the odd years
• So the GEO bond projects, from the time they're first proposed, is about a five-year time period.
• Institution Bond Act, property tax levies, federal or tribal support.
• As I read it, it doesn't limit Division II schools from applying for the funds.
• As I read it, it doesn't limit Division II schools from applying for the funds.

Bills: SB234 , SB210 , SB243 , SB244 , SM16 , HB8

Committee: Senate Senate Education

Keywords: foster children, school transportation, education funding, public education, child welfare, New Mexico Highlands University, soccer field, women's sports, infrastructure improvement, funding allocation, student athletes, appropriation, New Mexico State University, nutrition, travel support, funding, education, university support, financial assistance, parenting students

Transcript Highlights:

• Coverage for local bonding, and the debt service on that local bonding, is covered by supplemental funds
• It limits the increases in the property taxes in fiscal year 2027 to 3 and 1/2% from the original to
• But if they've done this and other schools have bonded for millions, two, three, four, five million to
• And they're paying through it through their budget, paying back their bond.
• The way it's currently constructed is any bonds that have been taken out by voters prior to July 1st,

Keywords: 926, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• First, it updates limited driving privileges in a common-sense way.
• Speeding over a certain speed limit, that's not a minor.
• And then we're going to have somebody bring up $200 to bond her out.
• And then we're going to have somebody bring up $200 to bond her out.
• It's a job that is available to people with limited English.

Committee: House Special Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 1087 from Senator Joe Nicola, which would update limited driving privileges and create a process to suspend licenses after repeated failures to appear or pay for minor moving traffic violations. Nicola said the bill was intended to improve public safety and municipal court compliance without restoring the pre-2015 system of fines and fees. Supporters, including officials from Independence, O’Fallon, and the Missouri Municipal League, argued that municipal court reform had sharply reduced citations and increased failure-to-appear rates, leaving courts with too little leverage to ensure compliance and creating safety problems for repeat offenders. They said the bill would preserve discretion, protect work and basic travel needs, and help law enforcement and courts address chronic noncompliance. Opponents, including the State Public Advocate, argued the bill would restore a cash-cow system, burden low-income residents, and create harsh consequences for missed notices or address problems. The hearing closed without a vote on SB 1087. The committee then moved into executive session and reconsidered House Bill 2288, ultimately voting to reconsider and then voting the bill due pass by a 10-5 margin. The committee also adopted a substitute and passed House Bill 3006 due pass by 13-1, passed House Bill 2289 due pass by 10-3 with one present, and passed House Bill 2906 due pass by 13-1 after adopting an amendment and rolling it into a substitute. Members discussed procedural issues about quorum and the reconsideration motion during the HB 2288 vote. Later, the committee heard House Bill 3491 from Representative Don Mayhew, which would codify English-language proficiency requirements for commercial driver’s license holders and impose penalties on drivers and motor carriers when those requirements are violated. Mayhew and a Lincoln County prosecutor described a recent Highway 61 incident involving a Minnesota CDL holder who could not communicate in English, could not identify his location, and was taken out of service after a Highway Patrol proficiency test. Supporters said the bill would mirror federal rules in state statute, improve safety, and hold both drivers and carriers accountable. Some members questioned whether the bill was redundant with federal law, whether it would be enforceable before an accident, and whether the language was too broad, especially the phrase about conversing with the general public. The prosecutor said the current tools are mostly reactive and that the bill would help remove dangerous drivers and penalize carriers, but no final action was taken on HB 3491 in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• When we passed PEPRA, our bond ratings in California almost...
• I've worked with the bond industry.
• When we pass PEPRA, our bond ratings in California almost When we pass PEPRA, our bond ratings in California
• I've worked with the bond industry.
• And that's why your bond rating may be affected.

Committee: Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So there is no limit on the first two yard sales that you have. We didn't change that.
• But we're saying if you had more, you still have to be underneath that $5,000 limit for a small seller
• If there are no bonds that remain outstanding, and if there are bonds that remain outstanding after five
• years, then it would dissolve within a year after those bonds are taken care of.
• The terms of these bonds are traditional On line 17, it says 40 years.

Committee: House Revenue and Taxation

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, what this bill does is just state that the bonding pool, the money in the bonding pool that's invested
• </c><00:03:13.519><c> pool</c> pool, the money in the bonding pool pool, the money in the bonding pool
• </c> the distant future a self-bonding the distant future a self-bonding uh<00:03:26.000><c> pool</c>
• , not just the BLM bonding, so state bonding and Oil and Gas Commission bonding as well.
• Bonding, not just the BLM bonding, so state bonding and Oil and Gas Commission bonding as well.

Bills: SJ0001 , SF0017

Committee: House Minerals, Business & Economic Development

Keywords: mineral leasing, federal lands, Wyoming, energy policy, local control, federalism, forestry management, good neighbor authority, state lands, employee funding, donations, revolving account, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• you know, heavy, large-scale manufacturing consumes—unless you're talking about irrigation and you aggregate
• So that we don't rush into something, as mentioned, a lot of our science progress has been limited by
• We'll limit the next couple to one minute, but I'll give you a chance to come back up to the witness
• On the water side, Missouri is a riparian state, and any policy that would be interpreted to limit access

Committee: House Conservation and Natural Resources

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The revenue growth limit applies to both levies.
• they're exempt from all regular levies on the greater of $70,000 or 45% of the valuation, with the limit
• they're exempt from all regular levies on the greater of $70,000 or 45% of the valuation with the limit
• today representing the Mechanical Contractors Association of Western Washington and the Washington Aggregates

Committee: House Finance

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Amendment A8 and Amendment M, sponsored by Senator Wilson, limit who can file an initiative or referendum
• and requires cabinet agencies to establish publishing deadlines for each credential it issues, with limited
• and requires cabinet agencies to establish publishing deadlines for each credential it issues, with limited
• This doesn't impede our ability to produce aggregate reports on demographic data for both our federal

Bills: SB5973 , SB5892 , SB6081 , SB5842 , SB5827 , SB5968 , SB6034 , SB6035 , SB5888 , SB6123 , SB5853

Committee: Senate State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections

Keywords: initiative, referendum, ballot measure, petition, signature gathering, circulator, per-signature pay, paid circulator, election integrity, voter fraud, ballot title, Secretary of State, Code Reviser, direct democracy, citizen lawsuit, civil penalties, Washington elections, initiative process, referendum process, grassroots petition

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 1171, statute of limitation period for violations involving required reports concerning children.
• HB 1171, statute of limitation period for violations involving required reports concerning children,
• This bill tolls the statute of limitation for the offense of failing to make a mandatory report of known
• Second, it clarifies that any offense wherein the aggregate value exceeds $750 would qualify as a third-degree

Summary: The Criminal Justice Subcommittee considered a long agenda of criminal justice, public safety, and related bills. Early measures included HB 1171, tolling the statute of limitations for failure to make mandatory child abuse reports, and HB 1403, expanding school safety provisions by allowing child care facilities in the guardian program and clarifying perimeter and door-security rules; both passed unanimously, with HB 1403 adopted as amended. The committee also approved HB 1099, giving law enforcement discretion in arrests involving elderly or medically vulnerable individuals in facilities; HB 1121, strengthening restrictions on misuse of unmanned aircraft systems; HB 1525, creating penalties for impersonating rideshare drivers and clarifying transportation-disadvantaged access; and PCS for HB 687, increasing penalties for repeat DUI/vehicular homicide offenses known as “Trenton’s Law.” Members then advanced HB 847 to create an FDLE grant program for expedited DNA testing, PCS for HB 757 to prohibit altered sexual depictions of identifiable persons and create a civil remedy, and HB 1415 to repeal an obsolete Broward County narcotics enforcement unit. The committee also heard and approved HB 1207, the Tristan Murphy Act, which expands mental health diversion grants, creates a model diversion process, and establishes a behavioral healthcare data repository; testimony from the bill’s namesake’s mother and law enforcement emphasized the need for treatment over incarceration. HB 1351 updated sexual offender/predator registration rules, and HB 1479 created a public records exemption for domestic violence lethality assessment forms; both passed without opposition. Later, the committee approved PCS for HB 1283, making sex trafficking of children under 12 or mentally incapacitated persons a capital felony, despite constitutional concerns raised in debate; the bill passed 13-2. PCS for HB 781, addressing cyber intimidation by publication (doxing), also passed unanimously after supporters described it as a needed tool against online harassment. Finally, CSHB 139 authorized pawnbrokers to use digital transaction forms, and PCS for HB 107 created and enhanced penalties for fraudulent use of gift cards. Most bills were reported favorably, many unanimously, and several were amended before passage.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 1620 appropriately restores balance by limiting the misuse of these agreements.
• Senate Bill 1620 appropriately restores balance by limiting the misuse of these agreements.
• The bill does not tie access to matters within the scope of the board’s duties, does not limit requests
• You have the authority to limit it to who’s in those closed-door sessions.
• It requires compliance with parents' notice requirements prior to installation, limits a parent to one

Bills: S0824 , S1170 , S1620 , S1738 , S7036

Committee: Senate Education Pre-K - 12

Keywords: school district, real property, inventory, land use, education, video monitoring, safety, special education, parental rights, public education, school board rights, transparency, employment conditions, nondisclosure agreements, educational facilities, student safety, teacher accountability, physical plant, school design, construction standards

Summary: The Education Pre-K-12 Committee considered several K-12 bills and resolutions. SJR 1104, by Senator Massullo, would place on the ballot a proposed constitutional amendment protecting voluntary religious expression in public schools; supporters said it simply codifies existing law and protects student and employee rights, while opponents warned it could entrench religious pressure and exclusion. The resolution was reported favorably. The committee also heard SB 1738, by Senator Yarborough, on educational facilities; an amendment removed crime-prevention-through-environmental-design language and adjusted transparency/safe-space provisions, and the bill was reported favorably as amended. SB 824, by Senator Truenow, was amended into a transparency measure requiring districts to submit annual reports on unimproved land holdings to DOE, and it was reported favorably. Appointments in tabs 7 and 8 were recommended for confirmation. The committee then took up SPB 7036, a comprehensive education package by Chair Simon. The bill would expand educational emergency triggers, adjust Title I withholding uses, align charter school rules with school improvement processes, update safety and early learning provisions, expand literacy and math interventions, and revise educator pipeline policies. Members raised concerns about a provision that could allow the state to develop instructional materials; Simon said that section was still being considered and would need guardrails. The committee adopted a motion to submit the bill as a committee bill, and it was reported favorably. SB 1620, by Senator Leak, proposed a “school board members’ bill of rights” giving board members direct access to district documents and staff, limiting district attorneys’ dual representation, strengthening nepotism rules, and prohibiting nondisclosure agreements. Volusia County school board members and others testified both for and against the bill, with supporters citing transparency and accountability and opponents warning about confidentiality, staff pressure, and undermining the superintendent’s authority. The bill was reported favorably. Finally, SB 1170, by Senator Calatayud, as amended, would allow parents of students in self-contained ESE classrooms to request cameras, with district policies governing review, notice, timelines, and appeals. Parents, advocates, and educators testified strongly in support, while one witness opposed it as an unfunded mandate. The committee reported the bill favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• Amanda, the language in the bill says that it includes but is not limited to the purposes.
• During that waiting period, our options are limited.
• Under the current two-year look-back, my school district has been forced to limit the number of hours
• Limiting substitute hours means limited ability to provide continuity for our students and greatly frustrates
• It's just bulk aggregated under the governor's budget.

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee met on January 20, 2026, hearing several bills related to retirement systems, school employee health coverage, port district pensions, environmental fee accounts, developmental disability services, legislative budget transparency, and a new Apple Health employer assessment. Early in the meeting, the committee heard SB 5834, which would make permanent a temporary expansion allowing certain retirement trust fund earnings to pay broader administrative expenses, and SB 5835, which would raise the lump-sum retirement allowance threshold for Plan 2 members from $50 to $250. Both bills were presented by Department of Retirement Systems staff and supported by the department, with questions focused on the scope of the administrative-expense language in SB 5834 and the technical nature of SB 5835. The committee then entered executive session and moved three bills without recommendation to the Rules Committee: Substitute SB 5249, allowing kit homes as emergency housing; Substitute SB 5053, allowing certain counties to include school district boundaries when forming a public facilities district; and Substitute SB 5203, directing state agencies to develop a wildlife habitat connectivity strategy and creating related accounts. After returning to public hearing, members heard SB 5883 on SEBB eligibility for school employees in their second school year of employment. Supporters, including labor representatives and individual school workers, said the bill would reduce coverage gaps and improve recruitment and retention, while school district officials and administrators argued it would create an unfunded mandate, increase costs, and add administrative burden. No action was taken on the bill. The committee also heard SB 5905, which would exclude certain port district employees from PERS if they are covered by the federal Railroad Retirement Plan or a collectively bargained defined benefit pension plan. Port representatives, labor stakeholders, and the Department of Retirement Systems described it as a narrow technical fix to avoid duplicate pension coverage and retroactive liabilities, and the bill drew support. SB 6151 would create dedicated accounts for Ecology fee revenue tied to laboratory accreditation and landfill methane work; Ecology and county representatives supported the measure as a way to reinvest fees in the programs that generate them. SB 6163 would require the Individual and Family Services waiver for developmental disability services to be budgeted at maintenance level; advocates said it would stabilize services and prevent waitlists, and no opposition was heard. The final two bills were SB 6177, which would require LEAP’s budget website to display additional budget detail such as carry-forward data, program and subprogram expenditures, and balance sheets for all public accounts, and SB 6173, which would create an Apple Health employer assessment on larger private employers with workers enrolled in Medicaid expansion coverage. SB 6177 was framed as a transparency measure, while SB 6173 drew extensive testimony both in support and opposition: supporters said it would help offset expected Medicaid losses after federal work requirements take effect and stabilize the health safety net, while opponents argued it would be an unfunded tax, create administrative and legal complications, and could discourage hiring or reduce hours. The committee heard no final votes on the public hearing bills, and staff reminded members that signature sheets would be held for 24 hours under Senate rules.

Transcript Highlights:

• And that's been a fairly limited program.
• Also, excluding students from PM3 performance would have the effect of limiting the overall utility of
• It's roughly about 1% of testing, so it's very limited use. Again, the law is fairly narrow.
• We have limited data.
• Limited data does show some differences, but it's probably too early to reach a definitive conclusion

Committee: Senate Education Pre-K - 12

Summary: The Senate Committee on Pre-K through 12 Education received a Department of Education presentation from Deputy Commissioner Juan Copa on Florida’s K-12 assessment system, including FAST progress monitoring, end-of-course exams, science, writing, alternate assessments, English language acquisition testing, and VPK progress monitoring. Copa reported year-over-year gains in ELA and mathematics, noted that end-of-course and science results also improved, and explained how assessment data are used for school grades, third-grade promotion, graduation requirements, and other accountability measures. He also reviewed the independent study required by SB 1048, which recommended keeping PM3 as the primary accountability measure, proceeding cautiously on further test-length reductions and remote testing expansion, and using PM1/PM2 only as supplemental evidence in limited cases. Committee members focused on whether the new system is improving student outcomes enough, what supports teachers and schools need to use the data effectively, and how Florida compares nationally. Chancellor Dr. Burns said the department is emphasizing implementation of the new standards, high-quality instructional materials, coaching, professional learning, collaboration, and school improvement support, and also pointed to resiliency education standards and mental health supports. Copa said Florida’s latest NAEP results remain mixed but still generally outperform the nation in some grades, while members pressed for more information on best practices, other states’ approaches, and how districts are using the data. Several members requested follow-up information, including the independent review report, breakdowns of PM1/PM2/PM3 results by grade and subgroup, details on VPK outcomes by provider type and full-day versus half-day programs, and data on use of the CLT versus SAT/ACT for graduation concordant scores. The committee also discussed third-grade retention outcomes, computer-based testing, district assessment calendars, and whether some districts still administer additional local testing. No votes were taken on legislation, and the meeting adjourned after Senator Davis moved to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• There's no limitation, so it's everybody. So it gives the expectation.
• or for bond obligations that they may have.
• Now, I will say... ...or bond obligations that they may have.
• But are there any limitations, or do you anticipate limitations on the ability of counties and cities
• We do know that it's going to have an impact on our bonds.

Committee: Senate Appropriations

Summary: The Committee on Appropriations took up SJR 2-F, the proposed constitutional amendment on property tax relief, which would reduce assessment growth on non-homestead property, expand homestead exemptions, create a new exemption for new homesteaders, and direct counties, cities, and school districts to use property tax revenues for specified core services. Senator Avila presented the measure as the governor’s plan to provide historic relief and argued that local governments should tighten budgets and prioritize core functions. Senators raised concerns about the lack of fiscal scoring, the breadth and ambiguity of the permitted uses, the effect on special districts and local services, and whether the proposal would shift costs to fees or other taxes. The committee adopted several amendments, including Avila’s amendment clarifying that ad valorem revenues could be used for county and municipal operations and administration and other expenditures not prohibited by law, and Trumbull’s amendment removing school board ad valorem taxes from the proposal. Other amendments failed, including proposals to allow user fees and non-ad valorem assessments, add a sunset, redirect tourism development taxes, narrow the small-business provision, and change the ballot title to reference local service reductions. Grall’s amendment removing the constitutional trust fund requirement was adopted, while the committee also rejected Berman’s title-change amendment and Smith’s sunset and tourism-tax amendments. The committee then returned to the bill as amended for questions, including extended debate over whether the proposal would affect noncitizen residents, the impact on local government finances, and whether local governments would respond with higher fees or special assessments. The meeting ended with the bill still under discussion after the final round of questions, with Avila saying he would continue working with the governor’s office on the language before the next vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• Meet the goals and expectations set out in the bond language.
• The first is to directly appropriate climate bond funding for the purposes specified in the bond, in
• Throughout the rest of the bond, the funds go to a department.
• On the other hand, most of the bonds had the...
• Backfilling reduces the amount of progress we've made with the bond.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The clerk will read the bond initiatives in the committee assignment. >> Introductory House Bond Initiative
• The clerk will read the next bill. >> House 229, Maryland Transportation Authority Revenue Bond Limit
• </c><00:08:59.680><c> If</c> >> House Bill 229, Maryland Transportation Authority Revenue Bond Limit
• </c><00:09:33.680><c> limit</c><00:09:34.240><c> increase.
• </c> Authority revenue bond limit increase. Authority revenue bond limit increase.

Keywords: House streaming session for Friday, February 13, 2026, 957, house, all