Transcript Highlights:

• Section 2 specifically provides for a minimum fee charge of $100 per enrollment for courses that are
• not graduation requirements and a maximum of $40 for courses required for graduation.
• restriction and allow IDLA to access PSIF with a few caveats, one being, as normal, that their enrollments
• would just give them some flexibility to still be able to use PSIF because they don't know how many enrollments

Summary: The Joint Finance and Corporation Committee met with a quorum from both chambers and first approved a $6.5 million federal supplemental appropriation for the Military Division to replace failing climate control systems in Idaho Air National Guard buildings at Gowen Field. The committee then considered Idaho State Police funding tied to three revenue measures: a beer excise tax distribution change, a new specialty license plate, and a liquor account distribution change. Members discussed the impact on cities and counties, with several noting the shift away from local governments, but the motion to appropriate $6.695 million in dedicated and federal funds for ISP personnel costs passed and received a do-pass recommendation. The committee next took up two pieces of language related to Idaho Digital Learning Academy. One trailer language item tied to House Bill 940, which would change course fee limits for non-graduation and graduation-required courses, was adopted by unanimous consent. A second proposal to restore IDLA’s access to PSIF after a large appropriation reduction failed after members raised concerns about allowing access before the academy spent down its cash balance and about weakening the budget cap. Members then approved language redirecting about $12 million from the Strategic Initiatives Fund to the local highway distribution formula instead of LTAC grants, after debate over whether formula-based distribution or competitive grants better served local needs. Finally, the committee adopted language preventing an automatic transfer from the Budget Stabilization Fund to the General Fund when the fund exceeds its 15% cap, preserving the fund balance unless the legislature acts otherwise. The meeting adjourned after the final do-pass recommendation was approved.

Transcript Highlights:

• The biggest one will be the child care voucher program and how much enrollment to assume in next year's
• The The number of kids that are enrolled and receive the vouchers has also rebounded significantly coming
• Basically Going back to requiring co-pays or allowing states to do a higher percentage of people's income
• Out of the 74,000 kids that are enrolled in licensed child care or an after-school or a school-based
• There are over 10,000 kids enrolled in childcare assistance, but you can see that potential liability

Committees: Senate Senate Finance , Senate House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• program also, part of the goal of that program is to increase the number of students not only who are enrolled
• As a part of that statewide model, they're focusing on enrollment in our advanced courses.
• Part of that statewide model, they're focusing on enrollment in our advanced courses.
• It does require that we have to have someone to rely on, and I can't stress enough...
• That was a school that was in declining enrollment that we thought might close.

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Pre-K-12 Education met with a quorum and first heard a Department of Education program review on three district support programs: assistance to low-performing schools, the Florida Partnership program, and regional literacy teams (RAISE). Dr. Paul Burns described how the Bureau of School Improvement supports schools with D/F grades through regional teams, classroom observations, professional learning, and targeted funding, noting that 104 of 168 low-performing schools improved after 2022-23 and that the share of failing schools fell from 6% to 4%. He also outlined the Florida Partnership’s $4 million annual appropriation for advanced-course teacher training and student access, and the RAISE literacy program’s $5 million funding, universal/targeted/intensive supports, and progress monitoring results. Senators asked about rural participation, post-COVID reading data, parent support, and how long schools remain under monitoring after improving; Burns said rural districts can participate statewide, parents can access school and department support, and schools continue to receive monitoring after exiting low-performing status to prevent recidivism. The committee then received a presentation on the school district education foundation matching grants program from Suzanne Pridgen, who explained that the Consortium of the Florida Education Foundations administers the grants, which require private matching funds and support tutoring, literacy, STEM, career education, professional learning, books, and supplies. She said the program leverages about $1.44 in private support for every state dollar. The committee then moved to the regional education consortia, where representatives from PAEC, NEFEC, and Heartland, along with several rural superintendents, described the consortia as member-led organizations that provide economies of scale, professional learning, HR, risk management, purchasing, legal and operational support, crisis assistance, and leadership development for small and fiscally constrained districts. Superintendents from Lafayette, Holmes, Calhoun, Union, DeSoto, and Hendry counties testified that the consortia are essential because rural districts often have very small staffs, multiple-duty administrators, and limited in-house expertise. They cited support with insurance and hurricane recovery, training for new finance and HR staff, instructional coaching, CTE and leadership programs, and help with turnaround schools. Members emphasized that these districts can be high-performing despite limited resources, and several senators praised the consortia’s value. Senator Gaetz asked about additional back-office collaboration, possible regulatory relief, and FEFP issues tied to scholarship-related enrollment swings; rural superintendents responded that more local control would help. The meeting ended with a motion to adjourn, which was adopted without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• There was an I-94 that is required but is only given typically in an airport or seaport.
• Yes, in this strike-all, we have removed that increased quorum requirement.
• So there are requirements; it can't just be any company.
• There are extensive requirements... ...in Florida, if that's the gist of the question.
• Is there a notice requirement to the insured?

Summary: The House convened with prayer, a moment of silence for former Lee County Judge John Carlin, the Pledge of Allegiance, and recognition of FSU Police Officer Cody Popple for stopping the April campus shooter. The Speaker then outlined the final week of session, noting the House had passed 253 House bills and 149 Senate bills to date, but that the 2026-27 budget would not be completed this week. The chamber also adopted the Rules and Ethics Committee’s special order report for the day. The House took up several Senate bills on special order, largely technical or open-government measures, and passed them with little or no opposition. These included SB 100, SB 104, and SB 102 on the Florida Statutes and revisor’s changes; SB 7006, SB 7014, SB 7002, SB 7012, SB 7024, SB 7016, SB 7026, SB 7008, SB 7000, and SB 7004, which extended or preserved various public-records and meeting exemptions for matters such as Public Service Commission proprietary information, social media investigations, military affairs, highway safety records, cybersecurity, emergency shelter contact information, conviction integrity units, and trade secrets. Most passed overwhelmingly, though SB 7006 drew 99-8, SB 7022 on public records for exam integrity passed 101-8 after questions about testing materials and scoring rubrics, and SB 7026 on trade secrets passed 106-3. The most substantive floor debate centered on SB 7040, which recreates the emergency preparedness and response trust fund in the Executive Office of the Governor. Rep. Eskamani offered an amendment to let the fund expire, arguing the money had become a “slush fund” and had been used for the Everglades detention facility rather than emergencies; several members supported her on fiscal and separation-of-powers grounds, while others said the fund is needed for rapid disaster response. The House rejected Eskamani’s amendment and then adopted a Griffiths strike-all amendment adding accountability measures, including spending limits, quarterly reporting, asset tracking, and a sunset/review provision. SB 7040 then passed 82-25. The chamber also passed CS/CS SB 302 on coastal resiliency, CS/CS SB 984 on firefighter cancer benefits, CS SB 474 on military affairs, and SB 488 on Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, which prompted extended questions about vehicle registration requirements, license plate frames, and foreign passport/I-94 documentation; the bill was still under amendment and debate when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, and enroll in the program.
• </c> work requirements. work requirements.
• So, we're broadening work requirement.
• </c> with the SNAP work requirement changes. with the SNAP work requirement changes.
• We're notifying them of the work requirement changes.

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from its September 24 meeting after a motion and second. It then heard a presentation from New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Secretary Elizabeth Gragensky on that state’s early childhood system and planned universal child care rollout. She described how New Mexico consolidated multiple prenatal-to-age-five programs into a cabinet-level department, expanded pre-K to a longer day, and uses a cost model to set reimbursement rates intended to cover true provider costs, including wages, benefits, occupancy, food, and reserves. She also said the state created an Early Childhood Trust Fund and secured a constitutional amendment to dedicate 0.60% of the land grant permanent fund to early care and education, with the department’s budget growing from about $400 million in 2021 to just under $1 billion this year. Gragensky said families can begin applying for universal child care on November 1, with participation voluntary for both families and providers. She reported that New Mexico is aiming to expand capacity by adding 1,000 registered home providers, 120 group homes, and about 55 more centers, supported in part by a $13 million low-interest loan fund and a request for an additional $20 million. She said the state has seen growth in early childhood professionals, including a 64% increase over the last three to four years, and pointed to reported outcomes such as a 21% increase in literacy and a 75% kindergarten readiness rate, while noting that some measures are new and baseline comparisons are still being developed. Members asked about the funding sources, provider profitability, workforce development, and measurable outcomes. Gragensky said the program is designed to support provider sustainability through rates tied to true cost and includes allowances for sick leave, vacation, benefits, and reserves. She also said maternal labor force participation is 10% higher than the national rate and attributed that in part to child care access. The committee then moved to a separate presentation by Department for Community Based Services Commissioner Lisa Dennis and Division of Family Support Director Roger McCann on anticipated cuts to TANF and SNAP, beginning with an overview of TANF as a federal block grant with a fixed annual Kentucky allocation of about $180.7 million.

Transcript Highlights:

• The information required under this amendment is redundant and unnecessary.
• The information required under this amendment is redundant and unnecessary.
• And if we're going to require our hospitals, FQCs, that are already under audit...
• This policy is somewhat complicated and a lot of engagement was required.
• This policy is somewhat complicated and a lot of engagement was required.

Bills: HB2720 , HB2073 , HB2487 , SB5816 , SB5919 , SB5831 , SB6137 , SB6244 , SB6044 , SB6132 , SB5109 , SB5877 , SB6258 , HB2720 , HB2073 , HB2487 , SB5816 , SB5919 , SB5831 , SB6137 , SB6244 , SB5420 , SB5868 , SB6044 , SB6132 , SJM8002

Keywords: behavioral health, emergency services, health insurance, provider access, mental health funding, premium assistance, funding, healthcare, subsidies, insurance tax, state regulation, insurers, taxation, budget impact, juice grapes, agriculture, commerce, market access, fire safety, insurance incentives

Transcript Highlights:

• the budgeting process for universities, we also do it through K through 12, though, we have an enrollment
• We would have had an adjustment on enrollment this year, would a total about $6 million for this across
• It's not a reflection on anything other than just an enrollment number.
• Chairman and Representative Gannon, when we change our primary address, Idaho law requires that we also
• Three fatal flaws with this bill, the biggest one being the retroactive candidacy requirement leading

Committee: House Revenue and Taxation

Transcript Highlights:

• This was a replace-all non-germane amendment, so we required a public hearing.
• Uh, I think the ones requirements were.
• Fair to say, or enrolled in education, right? >> Enrolled in education.
• </c> &gt;&gt; or enrolled in education, right? &gt;&gt; or enrolled in education, right?
• Um some are in uh &gt;&gt; Enrolled in education.

Committee: House Criminal Justice and Public Safety

Summary: The public hearing was on an SP 15 replace-all, non-germane amendment to Senate Bill 15, a proposal to require hard labor for certain serious offenses in the New Hampshire prison system. Representative Jennifer Rhodess, the co-sponsor, said the bill is intended to make incarcerated people productive, help reduce costs, and serve as a deterrent; she also noted a two-year effective date for implementation and said anyone who refuses hard labor would receive a 50% sentence increase. She framed the work as ordinary labor already done by many people in the state and said the committee would later hear related testimony and possible amendments. Committee members questioned how the proposal would work in practice, especially for people already incarcerated, the difference between current prison work and the bill’s “hard labor,” and the impact on prison security and staffing. Rhodess said the bill only applies going forward, not retroactively, and that the Department of Corrections could better address operational details. Members also discussed the terminology, noting that “capital murder” is not a current New Hampshire charge and that the relevant offense is first-degree murder with mandatory life without parole. Department of Corrections officials Jane Graham and Nicholas Duffy testified in a neutral position but raised significant implementation concerns. They said the department would need more resources, vehicles, security equipment, and possibly armed supervision for higher-risk crews, and noted a 47% corrections officer vacancy rate. Duffy described current work programs inside prisons and in the community, including correctional industries, kitchen and education jobs, transitional work crews, and community service projects such as road work and landscaping. He explained that current community crews are limited by custody level, court approval, staffing, and safety, and said C1 and C2 inmates are already in transitional or work-release settings, while C3 and higher inmates would pose greater risks if taken outside the walls. No vote was taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• volume of staff that were required to be volume of staff that were required to be supported<00:19:24.640
• And, you know, while I am definitely not an expert on seclusion, open enrollment is something that I
• As I understand it, getting data about why families are open enrolling is really hard.
• </c><00:54:16.079><c> in</c> Minnesota, an 11-year-old enrolled in Minnesota, an 11-year-old enrolled
• Training is required so that staff know when seclusion is and is not appropriate.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, it would take any employee that's got 14 hours or more and require us to pay 95% of their single
• He said House File 2904 requires employer contributions of 95% and 85% for family and individuals.
• He said House File 2904 requires employer contributions of 95% and 85% for family and individuals.
• House File 2904 requires employer contributions of 95% and 85% for family and individuals.
• House File 2904 requires employer contributions of 95% and 85% for family and individuals.

Transcript Highlights:

• However, they're required to bring their loans into good standing in order to continue schooling.
• this funding, we would not be able to have the capacity because it is specialized counseling that requires
• this funding, we would not be able to have the capacity because it is specialized counseling that requires
• So, you know, as originally drafted, this bill would require higher ed institutions to just provide an
• and things like that requirements and things like that members<00:46:53.400><c> I</c><00:46:53.440><

Committee: Senate Higher Education

Transcript Highlights:

• The required supplementary information includes pension and OPEB schedules required under GASB standards
• Is that a change in state law required?
• identified requiring to be reported.
• The ADA requirements have also added some stress.
• required audits or financial reports to the State Auditor's Office as required by Century Code.

Committee: Joint Legislative Audit and Fiscal Review Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• We also have policy initiatives, so right now we have an initiative on dual enrollment, open educational
• Then enrollment—now I say this with a caveat: this data is two years old.
• um and then overlapped with enrollment um and then overlapped with um<00:15:50.839><c> well</c><00:15
• <00:15:58.240><c> in</c><00:15:58.360><c> Minnesota</c> enrollment in Minnesota enrollment in Minnesota
• It does require utilizing the funding a little bit differently.

Committee: House Higher Education Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• The Judiciary and Rules Committee reports that Senate Joint Memorial 107 has been correctly enrolled.
• Having been properly enrolled, Senate Joint Memorial 107 will be signed by the President and then transmitted
• 206, the Judiciary and Rules Committee reports that Senate Joint Memorial 107 has been correctly enrolled
• Having been properly enrolled, the Senate bill, or Senate Joint Memorial 107 will be signed by the President
• America without violating the Constitution's Article 6 Supremacy Clause, which requires that the Constitution

Transcript Highlights:

• But when does the general service required to do these unexpected emergencies?
• Same thing for this other EDD that will require more time.
• In regards to the additional requirements for water safety, I think we should flag line 66.
• There is a requirement; however, the adjudication hasn't fully completed yet.
• It's a 17,000 acre-feet requirement, trying to buy out and retire those water rights. So, Mr.

Bills: HB63 , HB64 , HB184 , HB200 , HB47 , HB48 , HB2 , HB9

Committees: Senate Senate Finance , Senate House Appropriations & Finance

Keywords: water project fund, New Mexico Finance Authority, NMFA, Water Trust Board, water infrastructure, wastewater, drinking water, flood prevention, watershed restoration, water storage, conveyance, delivery, water treatment, recycling, reuse, municipal infrastructure, local government finance, capital outlay, grants, loans

Transcript Highlights:

• The commission may not require... ...at an elementary, middle, junior high, or secondary school.
• But this would require the commission to kind of create the endorsement requirements, or do those not
• To make sure that those endorsements are required and that they are in statute. Thank you.
• How specific is it as far as the requirements for the training?
• Any loss of an instructor position will require a corresponding reduction in enrollment for that program

Committee: Assembly Education

Transcript Highlights:

• This does require statute.
• We have decreased the equipment requirements for birth centers.
• That was abrupt and required a very regional, well-organized response.
• In terms of open enrollment waivers, there were over 1,300 for 2025.
• There's initial progress that doesn't require big operational change.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• It requires voter approval.
• Advance authorization is required.
• Texas requires sheriffs to be certified and also requires at least five years full-time experience as
• No type of required experience or even a minimum age requirement.
• No type of required experience or even a minimum age requirement. 5974 strengthens qualifications and

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee held a public hearing on multiple bills, beginning with a motion to suspend the five-day notice rule for a long list of Senate bills, which passed on a voice vote. The committee first heard Substitute Senate Bill 6026, a governor-request housing bill that would require cities and counties over 30,000 population to allow residential uses in commercial and mixed-use zones, limit mixed-use/ground-floor commercial requirements in some areas, and allow added height where such requirements are imposed. The lieutenant governor testified strongly in support, arguing the bill would add needed housing capacity without requiring ground-floor retail burdens. The hearing on SB 6026 was then suspended so the committee could move through the agenda. The committee then heard Senate Bill 6294, a broad local government finance measure with eight parts, including expanded uses for certain REET revenues, a new county public utility tax, a new local sales tax for children and family services, expanded housing-related tax uses, changes to county levy structure, longer lid lift periods, and expanded use of rental car tax revenue. Local government, housing, and public health witnesses largely supported the bill, emphasizing flexibility for affordable housing, rental assistance, children’s services, and county fiscal stability. Opponents, including wireless industry, water/sewer district, auto dealer, realtors, energy, and cannabis representatives, objected to specific tax provisions as regressive, costly, or likely to raise consumer prices. Several witnesses requested amendments, including adding public health clinic funding and flood recovery language from House bills. The committee also heard Substitute Senate Bill 5400 on local news sustainability, which would create a state grant program funded by a surcharge on large search engines and social media platforms to support journalism jobs and the Murrow Fellowship program. News organizations, the League of Women Voters, open government advocates, and local journalism supporters testified in favor, saying local news is essential to civic life and that the bill would help sustain reporting without using general fund dollars. Technology industry representatives opposed the bill, arguing it unfairly singles out tech companies and could face legal challenges. The committee then heard Senate Bill 6211, which would let opt-in GMA jurisdictions impose REET-2 without voter approval; cities and counties supported it as a parity and infrastructure funding measure, while Realtors opposed the loss of voter approval. Senate Bill 5650, authorizing local cannabis excise taxes, drew support from some local officials but strong opposition from cannabis businesses, which argued Washington’s cannabis taxes are already too high and drive sales to the illicit market. Senate Bill 6033, waiving penalties and interest for taxpayers who failed to collect new sales tax on certain services, was supported by NFIB as a compliance and fairness measure. Senate Bill 6297, exempting temporary staffing services for nonprofit behavioral health providers from sales tax, drew strong support from behavioral health organizations citing workforce shortages and unsustainable costs. Finally, Senate Bill 6343, extending and expanding tax relief for disaster-damaged property and repairs, was presented as aid for flood recovery; local officials testified in support. No final committee votes on the bills were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> interstate School adding the enrolled interstate School adding the enrolled students<00:09:10.160
• </c><01:55:13.840><c> versus</c> having a two- Mill requirement versus having a two- Mill requirement
• </c><01:57:40.520><c> as</c> currently then they would be required as currently then they would be required
• </c><01:57:42.920><c> to</c><01:57:43.079><c> operate</c> would be required to operate would be required
• </c> maybe I wouldn't really want to require maybe I wouldn't really want to require that<02:39:33.080

Committee: Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• Until 2011, the Higher Education Retirement Plan law required that all new employees be enrolled in the
• The retirement plan law required that all new employees be enrolled in the HIRP plan rather than PERS
• And the state actuary's office is required to complete an actuarial evaluation of the supplemental benefits
• This calculation is only done for members that meet the eligibility requirements, which is being in the
• We are required to perform this study every six years, or I should say at least every six years.

Committee: Joint Pension Funding Council

Summary: The Pension Funding Council met on June 23, 2026, for a work session that began with an overview of the Higher Education Supplemental Retirement Plan (SRP) and a 2025 accounting valuation of that plan. Staff explained that the SRP is a closed defined benefit supplement for higher education employees hired before the 2011 closure, with employer contributions currently pre-funding benefits in institution-specific trusts while institutions still pay benefits on a pay-as-you-go basis. The State Actuary’s office reported that the plan’s accounting position has improved, with combined market assets of about $245 million against $377 million in accrued liability, and that strong market performance since 2022 has increased the asset-to-liability ratio. The office emphasized that this was an educational accounting valuation, not a funding valuation for rate-setting. The council then received the 2025 actuarial valuation report for the state retirement systems. Actuaries reviewed the recent demographic experience study, noting updated assumptions for mortality, retirement, termination, and salary growth, and said the net impact on most plans was small. They reported that most plans’ funded ratios improved, with all plans at least 94% funded and several at or above 100%, and that contribution rates for the 2027–2029 biennium are generally lower than current rates. They also noted that future rates could be affected by market volatility as deferred gains are recognized over the next few years. During public comment, a representative of the Association of Washington Cities urged the council to consider rate reductions to help local governments facing budget pressures. In executive session, the council first approved a motion directing the Office of the State Actuary to perform an actuarial evaluation and analysis of each institution’s Higher Education Supplemental Retirement Plan, including institution-specific contribution rates, asset sufficiency, and funding policy options, due by July 1, 2028. The council then adopted the 2027–2029 pension contribution rates based on the 2025 actuarial valuation report. Both motions passed 5-0, with one member excused. The meeting concluded with no further business.